ALAMEDA, Calif. _ Khalil Mack has found his voice, even if he doesn't share it with everyone.
The hushed tones are for the outside world, media included.
Among his teammates, on and off the field, Mack has assumed a leadership role along with quarterback Derek Carr, with whom he bonded as selections in the 2014 draft.
The two of them, along with third-round pick Gabe Jackson, vowed to lead the Raiders out of the darkness which had shrouded a once-proud franchise for 11 years without a winning season.
Finally, after going 3-13 and 7-9, the Raiders broke through last season, going 12-4 and reaching the playoffs for the first time since 2002.
All of which makes the 6-8 record the Raiders carry in to Philadelphia on Monday night more painful. Mack believes in going forward every play, using every bit of the strength and skill which made him last year's NFL Defensive Player of the Year.
So forgive Mack if he's not particularly chatty with the media, even those he is familiar with, given the backward steps taken by the Raiders in 2017. He takes losing very personally.
His match-up with Philadelphia Pro Bowl right tackle Lane Johnson on Christmas night is must-see TV, but Mack isn't keen on highlighting an individual battle at the expense of the team.
"It's another game man, another game we gotta win, whether it's a Pro Bowl guy, a backup, whoever it is, I'm trying to win," Mack said. "It doesn't really matter."
Asked directly if he has a problem with the press, Mack said, 'Nah, man, I'm just chillin.' Why do you say that?"
It's suggested to Mack that given the frustration of a potential losing season, perhaps he is subscribing to the old adage, "If you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all."
That elicits a smile and a fist bump, and Mack is relieved to be done answering questions.
When Mack arrived as a rookie out of Buffalo, he explained he wasn't a big talker and said he would need to grow into the role of a vocal leader.
In his fourth year, Mack is comfortable gathering the team for pregame inspiration, pushing those around him to be better.
Coach Jack Del Rio thought Mack's sense of responsibility to lead received a jolt when Charles Woodson retired after the 2015 season.
"Everyone in that locker room deferred to Charles Woodson," Del Rio said. "I think him leaving elevated (Khalil) a little bit and we've seen a gradual growth from there."
Cornerback TJ Carrie, also a member of the 2014 draft class, said Mack "is asserting himself a little more vocally and stepping out of his comfort zone, putting himself out there."
It's been accomplished without being forced or fake.
"You have to be authentic. You have to be true to who you are," Del Rio said. "The locker room sees through anybody trying to be something they're not. He asserts himself when he needs to."
John Pagano, the defensive coordinator in his first year with the organization, said Mack is plenty vocal in the meeting room and on the field. Linebacker Bruce Irvin and Mack are clear in that "they want to get it done, and they want to get it done right."
On the field, Mack has recorded at least one sack in five straight games and he remains the most stout run defender in the NFL among those players considered elite pass rushers. He has 10 { sacks for the season, and typically closes with a rush.
In the month of December, Mack's 17 sacks since 2014 are the most in the NFL.
Philadelphia coach Doug Pederson said the Raiders under Pagano have occasionally brought inside linebackers on blitzes, which has given offensive tackles the task of matching up with Mack and Irvin one-on-one.
"Khalil Mack is a tremendous player. Obviously I have a lot of respect for him," Pederson told Bay Area reporters by conference call. "Schematically you're seeing what we call a jammed front, which is you cover up your guyards and your center and you've still got a one-on-one on the outside. It creates some issues your tackles have to be aware of."
Johnson, the Eagles right tackle, has effectively controlled some of the NFL's top pass rushers this year, including Denver's Von Miller and the Chargers' Joey Bosa.
Miller had only one pressure in 49 snaps against Johnson on Nov. 5, with the Eagles tackle trading jerseys with Broncos pass rushing star following the game. A clip of Johnson throwing Miller to the ground went viral.
Mack would be another pelt on the wall.
"They're both great players," Pagano said. "Competition always brings the best out of each other. You're looking for those one-on-one match-ups and sometimes he's going to have that opportunity. When that ball is snapped, you go get it."
