A fifth-round rookie just absolutely stole the show, picking off Justin Herbert *twice* in his first start. Hezekiah Masses, the corner out of California, stepped up big time for the Las Vegas Raiders, and he got named AFC Defensive Player of the Week and AFC Rookie of the Week for it. Talk about a debut!
From Unknown Rookie to Instant Star: Masses Lights Up Herbert
Seriously, this kid exploded onto the scene. Masses got his shot after an unfortunate foot injury to Darien Porter opened a spot. He filled in for Porter against the Miami Dolphins, grabbing a pass breakup, so everyone knew the playmaking was there. But prepping for one of the league’s better quarterbacks like Justin Herbert for your very first start? That’s a huge ask for any rookie.
Masses didn’t just meet the challenge, he crushed it. He secured those two massive interceptions against Herbert. His teammates weren’t even that surprised though. Linebacker Nakobe Dean said it himself, “They’re making plays all offseason, then during training camp, so nobody was surprised at all. It’s confidence. When you’re a cornerback, it’s always great to have confidence.” Masses was a training camp star, consistently around the ball. Even with a mixed bag in the preseason, he just kept getting better. Raiders defensive coordinator Rob Leonard was super proud, saying, “Anybody that puts in the work, you’re happy to see them get the fruits of their labor on game day. My hope now is that he sticks to the same process and staying on them about what got him there in the first place.”
Rob Leonard’s Takeaway Obsession Is Paying Off BIG Time
Masses’ individual heroics are awesome, but it’s really the whole defense buying into what DC Rob Leonard is selling. Leonard put a huge emphasis on generating takeaways and making plays on the ball way back in early training camp. And holy smokes, it’s paying off.
Even though it’s only two games into the season, this Raiders defense is already making noise across the league. They’re tied for the league lead with eight sacks, right there with the Cincinnati Bengals and Minnesota Vikings. They’re second in the league with five total takeaways, just behind the Carolina Panthers’ six. And get this: they’re tied for second with three interceptions. Our very own Seattle Seahawks lead the league with four picks, but Carolina and Pittsburgh also have three. Leonard summed up his philosophy perfectly: “You get what you emphasize. You choose what to focus on. There’s a million things in this profession, in life, taken away from the focus of taking away the ball. Can’t just be empty words. I think these guys have taken it to heart. Being consistent with it will be the challenge.” Defensive tackle Thomas Booker IV added that it’s all about practicing being “ball-minded.”
With that consistent pressure and their ability to get offenses off the field, the Raiders have a real foundation building here. It’s super early, yeah, but this aggressive, ball-hawking defense is something every fan needs to watch. Let’s see if they can keep that consistency going.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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