Raiders take UConn S Melifonwu, UCLA DL Vanderdoes on day 2
ALAMEDA — Covering tight ends has been a major bugaboo for the Oakland Raiders ever since Jack Del Rio arrived as coach in 2015.
The Raiders hope that using a second-round draft pick Friday on a 6-foot-4 safety in Obi Melifonwu, who has the speed to thrive in coverage downfield, will solve that issue heading into this season.
“It’s no secret we’ve struggled the past few years covering the opponent’s tight ends,” Del Rio said. “We think this is a guy who can help with his length to match up against some of the bigger tight ends, the better tight ends.”
Over the past two seasons, Oakland has allowed opposing tight ends to catch 161 passes for 1,938 yards and 19 TDs, ranking near the bottom of the league in all three categories. After taking Melifonwu with the 56th overall pick, the Raiders targeted another defensive need in the third round when they took UCLA defensive tackle Eddie Van-
derdoes with the 88th selection.
Oakland finished last in the league with 25 sacks last season, with 18 of them coming from edge rushers Khalil Mack and Bruce Irvin. Finding a player who can provide an inside push was a key need this offseason.
Vanderdoes had just 1 1/2 sacks last season when he was out of shape at about 340 pounds in part because of three high ankle sprains. But he lost 40 pounds since the end of the season and is eager to prove that he can get back to the form he had before a torn ACL ended his 2015 season after only one game.
“I need to be the guy to
step in and do what I do and dominate,” he said. “I definitely think people slept on me a little bit this past offseason. I love the fact that they slept on me. I think that’s what motivated me every morning waking up, knowing that I get to prove people wrong.”
Fixing the defense was the top priority for the Raiders, who ranked in the bottom 10 in most defensive categories last season despite winning 12 games and making the playoffs for the first time since 2002.
They have focused entirely on that side of the ball so far, having taken Ohio State cornerback Gareon Conley in the first round. They still have a big hole at inside linebacker that could be filled with one of five picks on the final day of the draft.