5 Oakland Raiders who helped themselves vs. Tennessee Titans

2. Eddie Vanderdoes

Last season the Raiders suffered because of a lack of an inside pass rush. If this week is anything to go by, that may be a different story this season. The Raiders drafted Eddie Vanderdoes out of UCLA with their third-round selection. A native of northern California, Vanderdoes being drafted by the Raiders seems like a bit of a homecoming story.

Vanderdoes had a lot of hype surrounding him prior to tearing his ACL. However, he lost some weight and rehabbed properly, and is reaping the benefits now. From his play in the preseason and his performance in the opener, Vanderdoes looks like a mid-round steal.

While he doesn’t have a lot to show on the stat sheet, only recording one tackle, Vanderdoes easily passed the eye test. His impact was clearly visible, getting pressure on Marcus Mariota on multiple occasions. Specifically, in his 20 pass rush attempts, Vanderdoes had four quarterback hurries. For a rookie in his first ever regular season appearance, that is not too shabby.

He also was vital on the Raiders only sack of the game, pressuring Mariota enough for him to flee into the arms of Mario Edwards and Justin Ellis. His explosiveness off the line and sheer power were apparent, and if he keeps it up the Raiders’ pass rush will be better than last season.

Vanderdoes needed a strong start to earn more reps to really prove what he has. It also must be good for his confidence, impressing his teammates and staff will motivate him even more. The Raiders really may have struck gold with Vanderdoes.