ALAMEDA –- Raiders head coach Jack Del Rio tried to light a fire under linebacker Sio Moore using a blowtorch. He said that, after missing most all of training camp, the incumbent weakside linebacker is competing to be a role player right now.
Whether it was a motivational tool or a statement of fact, Del Rio offered a fair assessment. Moore has missed significant time in camp and in the offseason program recovering from hip surgery. Malcolm Smith has played well in Moore’s absence, and has taken first-team reps throughout this period.
Moore is back now, but Del Rio said a man with 22 starts in two seasons won’t hope right back into the starting lineup.