Ellis seeing results of slimming down
Raiders defensive tackle Justin Ellis is nicknamed “Jelly” for obvious reasons. He once weighed 360 pounds in college.
It’s probably fair to say the fourth-year veteran hasn’t been an impact player, which is why it was surprising to see him wreaking havoc in the early going of Oakland’s preseason opener Saturday. “Jelly” was spreading himself up and down the Cardinals’ offensive line and backfield and finished with three tackles (one for a loss) and a forced fumble in a quarter and change of action.
No offense intended, but what got into him?
“I’m lighter,” the 6-foot-2 Ellis said, smiling. “I am down to 338, about nine pounds off of last season. More lean muscle. I feel like I have been having decent seasons, but I wanted to do better, so I figured I would try this, move around a little better, be more active.”
Ellis will be part of a rotation up front with Mario Edwards, Denico Autry and rookies Eddie Vanderdoes and Treyvon Hester.
Easy money: A lot of people are putting their money on the Raiders.
More bets have been placed on the Raiders to win the Super Bowl than on any other team at sportsbooks in Las Vegas. After opening at 20-1, Oakland has been bet down to 6-1.
The Raiders have attracted nearly twice as many bets to win the Super Bowl as any other team at William Hill’s 108 Nevada sportsbooks, ESPN reported. Oakland is also No. 1 in Super Bowl bets at Caesars Palace, Station Casinos, South Point, Westgate Las Vegas and CG Technology sportsbooks.
The Patriots are still the consensus favorites to win the Super Bowl at 3-1, but obviously bettors want a little more of a payoff, so they’re going with the Raiders.
The team is moving to Las Vegas in 2020, but sportsbook managers think its popular at the betting window for a more obvious reason.
“I don’t think it has anything to do with the Las Vegas angle,” Westgate assistant manager Ed Salmons told ESPN. “Last year, the Raiders played really high-scoring games, and they started covering spreads. That is just the dynamic of a public team.”
Oakland went 10-6 against the point spread last season.
Briefly: Fullback Jamize Olawale had a big day at practice, with two catches that went for long touchdowns. He ran past rookie middle linebacker Marquel Lee on the second one and Derek Carr dropped the ball right in over Olawale’s shoulder . ... Second-round pick Obi Melifonwu, sidelined with an undisclosed injury, ramped up his work with trainers after practice, and the safety seems closer to returning to the practice field . ... Thursday is the last day of training camp in Napa, with the team returning to its practice facility in Alameda after Saturday’s game against the Rams.