PRO FOOTBALL DAILY REPORT : RAIDERS : McGlockton Would Make All-Swat Team

Some defensive players seem to specialize in sacks. Others go for interceptions. But tackle Chester McGlockton might be working on his own unique category: Most swats.

In the third quarter of last Sunday’s game against the Houston Oilers at the Coliseum, McGlockton barreled through the line and, as quarterback Billy Joe Tolliver pulled his arm back to throw, McGlockton slapped the ball free with a flick of his wrist, showing the hand speed of a magician.

Fluke play?

The next time Houston got the ball, Tolliver was again back to pass and McGlockton was again back to join him for yet another swat. Raider teammate Nolan Harrison recovered both fumbles.

Those were the highlights of another big day for McGlockton, who also recovered a fumble and recorded two sacks and seven solo tackles.

It was also a typical day for McGlockton, who leads the Raiders with five sacks and has been dominant in the middle.

“He’s been playing like that all year,” Coach Art Shell said. “You may not see it stat wise, but he’s always in the area of the quarterback when he’s throwing the ball. He’s always one of the first guys there, always making tackles up and down the line of scrimmage.

“People talk about all these defensive tackles in the league. I don’t know if there’s one better than this guy. You might say I’m prejudiced, but the guy is a great player.”

The spotlight has been elsewhere on the line. Anthony Smith, who came into the season with 36 sacks over the three previous years and was getting his first chance to be a starter, got much of the attention at the beginning. Scott Davis got his moment in the spotlight by avoiding it, disappearing for two weeks to take care of unspecified personal business. Jerry Ball has drawn a lot of notice. So has Harrison, who has effectively switched from tackle to end to make room for Ball.

McGlockton? A player who rarely talks to the media and likes to keep a low profile, he has, however, been getting most of his attention from opposing teams.