After 2 sacks, rookie getting some notice
Marshawn Lynch sitting for the national anthem wasn’t the only surprise in store for Raiders head coach Jack Del Rio on Saturday night. Rookie linebacker LaTroy Lewis, after a very quiet training camp, had two sacks in the preseason opener at Arizona.
“Like we talked about Thursday, somebody is going to jump out and make plays that maybe we didn’t think he was going to make, or nobody really saw that coming,” Del Rio said. “That is just one of those good stories. The kid comes out and works his butt off and makes a couple of nice plays.
“I am sure he will get a little more scrutiny this week. We will see if he can keep it up.”
Lewis wasn’t the only rookie with two sacks, as defensive tackle Treyvon Hester, a seventh-round pick, also had a big night.
“Good to see a couple of young guys getting a pass rush,” Del Rio said. “Knowing we’re going to need some other guys (besides Khalil Mack and Bruce Irvin) to step up and give us pressure, in particular inside.”
Undrafted out of Tennessee, Lewis attended a Raiders tryout in May and knew the secret handshake with general manager Reggie McKenzie and director of player personnel Joey Clinkscales, both Tennessee alums. At 6-foot-3, 254 pounds, Lewis did well enough at the team’s minicamp to get signed.
Lewis had all of 4.5 sacks in four seasons at Tennessee, and said he took what he learned at camp into Saturday night.
“I’ve had my ups, I’ve had my downs,” Lewis said. “I just keep rolling with them, learning and absorbing as much as I can.”
He chased down quarterback Blaine Gabbert twice in the second half, and credits watching teammates Shilique Calhoun and James Cowser in the first half.
“They could have had this and that, and I could see them working,” Lewis said. “They kind of set it up for me to get around the edge. I knew I was going (with) speed as soon as I can; I got the corner and I knew.”
As for Hester, he wasn’t that big of a surprise as he was running with the first team in offseason workouts while third-round pick Eddie Vanderdoes was finishing classes at UCLA.
Hester had two other tackles Saturday, and benefited from a nice outside push from defensive end Denico Autry.
Like Lewis, Hester gave thanks to teammates — but this time, on offense.
“We have great offensive linemen on our team,” Hester said. “They work hard every day, and they demand us to work hard in practice. If you don’t bring your best move, you’ll get stunned at the line. I thank them every day.” Briefly: Using Instagram, first-round pick Gareon Conley posted photos and video clips of him running and his shin getting treatment Sunday. The cornerback has yet to practice in Napa at training camp, which ends Thursday. … Receivers Jaydon Mickens and Johnny Holton led the Raiders in rushing against the Cardinals, taking end arounds for 24 and 19 yards, respectively. Behind backup linemen, the four running backs who played totaled 29 yards on 17 carries.