With Irvin sidelined, Calhoun getting his chance
Outside linebacker Bruce Irvin has been out the first four practices of Raiders training camp with a minor undisclosed injury, and that’s great news. For Shilique Calhoun, the second-year player from Michigan State, that is.
“Yeah, the chance to run with the first team, take on the offensive starters, and get a lot more reps,” Calhoun said. “I couldn’t ask for anything more to start out camp.”
And it’s not like Irvin isn’t around. He’s on the practice field, nearby, with a towel around his neck, screaming encouragement and non-encouragement at Calhoun.
“I love it,” Calhoun said. “Bruce and Khalil (Mack) are two of the toughest coaches we have out here, besides being great players who watch what they do and how they do it, and try to do it the same way.”
Mack and Irvin combined for 18 of the Raiders’ leaguelow 25 sacks last season, and would love some help getting to the quarterback. That’s where Calhoun could come in, ready to provide for a big jump from the five tackles and half a sack he had in 10 games as a rookie.
Calhoun was drafted in the third round last year because he sacked the quarterback 18.5 times in his last two years at Michigan State. Scouts liked the burst in the 6-foot-4, 251pound package.
Make that 258, as Calhoun put on 7 pounds of muscle in the offseason. He did it on his own, but the Raiders’ coaches and trainers all agree that he looks good and hasn’t lost any speed.
“It wasn’t like I felt I wasn’t big enough last season, but I liked the idea of being a little stronger trying to set the edge,” Calhoun said. “I feel good, and it’s probably helped my confidence out there as well.”
A knee injury sidelined for the last part of last season but the Raiders didn’t make a lot of moves on defense, so Calhoun is a key player for them. As are his roommate Jihad Ward (the defensive tackle is out with a foot injury) and safety Karl Joseph, another second-year player.
“I think Shilique is a good young player,” Raiders head coach Jack Del Rio said after Tuesday’s practice. “He’s being asked to do a lot more right now with Bruce working his way back. He’s getting a lot of exposure and experience right now. Obviously, all the experience of last year, you build on that.
“I think guys like Karl Joseph, ‘Haddy’ (Ward), Shilique, I think those guys all benefit from having a little experience, a little wisdom.”
With Irvin and Mario Edwards sidelined, the Raiders have been going with an extremely young starting front seven the first couple of days of padded practices. Mack, Denico Autry and Justin Ellis, all fourth-year players, flank rookie Eddie Vanderdoes on the defensive line, with Calhoun lining up outside secondyear player Cory James and rookie Marquel Lee at linebacker.
“Youthful energy is never a bad thing,” Calhoun said. “We’re all hungry, all think we have something to offer, and all want to help the already great players here to win. We know that they are looking to us, and pushing us.
“As long as we get a little bit better every day in Napa, we should be OK.”