Being overlooked is one of the worst feelings that a person can ever experience. When this occurs time and time again, the chip on your shoulder that is left is so giant-sized that it could feed the homeless population of South Florida. These chips are in our lives not to make us bitter, but to make us brilliant.
Feeling hungry?Â
The Oakland Raiders starting linebacker Khalil Mack is. Playing for the Raiders is no easy task, and Mack is one of the rookies that is not talked about often. Soon enough though, he will have a the attention of the NFL world.Â
Mack is no stranger to being overlooked. In fact, he might already have grown fond of the dark. Playing for the Buffalo Bulls in college, Mack left the school with a variety of records including most tackles for losses, most sacks and most forced fumbles. His accolades gave him the opportunity to leave college as the fifth pick in the 2014 NFL Draft. Â
Currently Mack has not disappointed during his time in Oakland. He is one of the best young talented linebackers in the NFL today, and yet he still doesn’t get the attention he deserves.
His stats are not mind-blowing (24 combined tackles on the season) but in football we can never judge a player on their statistics, but we can judge them on their impact.Â
What Mack does have is an impact that few can teach. He has a very quick first step and that allows him to always apply pressure around the football.
The Patriots got to see it in the third game of their season when Mack was creating havoc on the field.
In week four playing against the Miami Dolphins in London was a bit of a different story. Since the Dolphins understood how good Mack already is, they game planned against him and his skill level. This time it worked, neutralizing Mack to only five tackles and no quarterback hits.
The Raiders defense is smart for using Mack in many ways because he is an intelligent player. He has run stopping ability, he can fly off the edge as a pass rusher, and he has enough speed and quickness to run around the field in coverage a bit.
Miami Dolphins Coach Joe Philbin said this before his game with the Raiders:
"Is he a linebacker in a 3-4 scheme? Is he a defensive end in a four-down scheme? Is he playing off the ball? Is he to the left or the right?… You see the burst. He can chase down plays outside the numbers. He moves really well. You can see some of the pass rush skill. He’s good.’’"
When you’re a rookie and getting complimented from your opponent only four games into your NFL career, then you are doing something right. Most NFL fans appreciate Mack’s game.
Thankfully we will get to see him play for the next 10 years and watch him develop into one of the best linebackers in the NFL.
The argument can already begin if Mack is one of the best players on the Raiders roster, because that franchise is in desperate need of a silver lining.
We get to see Mack and the Raiders play in two weeks against their AFC West rival the San Diego Chargers.
More from FanSided.com
NFL Power Rankings Week 4: Cowboys rise
College Basketball: Preseason AACÂ power rankings
NBA Power Rankings: 2014-15 training camp edition
Derek Jeter and MLB’s 20 richest players
All 30 NHL franchises ranked by all-time greatness