Raiders make a switch: Heeney loses green dot
A lot was made in training camp of the Raiders coaches’ decision to give second-year middle linebacker Ben Heeney the helmet with the green dot. Del Rio was talking big picture and not just the Saints game Sunday, as Heeney and Smith both played all 69 defensive snaps. [...] it could be a sign that sixth-round pick Cory James may take some snaps from Heeney soon. James, who only had one defensive snap on the road Sunday, had a strong preseason. The 2015 fifth-round pick out of Kansas had three tackles in Sunday’s 35-34 win. “We just put him behind the ball and he’s done a great job of learning it, applying it and going out there and making plays,” linebackers coach Sal Sunseri said before the opener.