Raiders’ Irvin is loving new role
If new Raiders defensive coordinator Paul Guenther had gotten his way, Bruce Irvin’s NFL career might have started in Cincinnati rather than Seattle.
Guenther was the Bengals’ linebackers coach in 2012 when Irvin entered the league and said Sunday that he “was pushing to draft” Irvin out of West Virginia. Cincinnati had the 17th pick. Two picks earlier, Irvin was selected by the Seahawks, with whom he would play four seasons and win a Super Bowl.
Despite his title at the time, Guenther said he saw Irvin mainly as a defensive end who could get after the quarterback. Now that he has Irvin in his defense in Oakland, that’s how Guenther plans to use him.
“I just think his best gift is going forward,” Guenther said. “And that’s what he should be doing each and every down. So instead of playing linebacker, dropping off
in coverage, we’ve got to utilize his and really everybody else’s talents to the best we can.”
It’s a change that Irvin, entering his seventh NFL season, is embracing. In 2017, Irvin matched his career high with eight sacks (set as a rookie). This month on Twitter, Irvin quoted a story about the Raiders hoping to help him reach double-digit sacks and added a comment: “I need that s— bad !!!!!!!! ”
On Sunday, Irvin said that for him, the defensive-end position feels “more natural.”
“Less thinking, more reaction,” Irvin said. “It’s me just running around and flying to the ball.”
That was on display in the Raiders’ first training-camp practice Friday. During team drills, Irvin chased down Marshawn Lynch on a running play and punched the ball out from behind, creating a fumble that was recovered by the defense.
Irvin, who has said one of his favorite things about the move is not dropping back into pass coverage as often, dropped back into coverage on another play — and intercepted Connor Cook’s short pass, returning it for a touchdown.
The interception did not change Irvin’s stance on dropping into coverage.
“I’d rather have a sack than a pick-six any day,” Irvin said.
Still, the turnovers — two of four created by the defense on Day 1 — reflected what Irvin considers the biggest difference running Guenther’s defense.
The Raiders last season recorded a league-low five interceptions and tied for 30th with 14 total forced turnovers, contributing to the team’s minus-14 turnover margin. Overall defensive struggles led to coordinator Ken Norton Jr. being fired after Week 11 and replaced with John Pagano, a move that did not sit well with Irvin, who is close with Norton.
Irvin has credited Norton with aiding his early career by guiding his move from defensive end — where he was buried on the depth chart in Seattle — to linebacker. But just as his return to end allows him to play via “reaction,” Irvin said, he sees Guenther’s defense having a similar effect on teammates.
“The defense is like night and day to me from the past two years to this year,” Irvin said. “And you know Norton is my guy, I love Norton. But guys are flying around, guys are doing less thinking. … Guys are battling and guys are trying to get the ball. That’s what we preach, that’s what we harp on: getting the ball and getting it back to our offense as much as we can.”
The Raiders also finished 24th in sacks last season, despite the presence of Irvin and 2016 Defensive Player of the Year Khalil Mack. Part of the plan to help Irvin and Mack this season was the drafting of defensive tackles Maurice Hurst and P.J. Hall to improve the interior rush, as well as Arden Key as a potential third edge rusher.
“I think our rookies are really going to help us — I mean, they’ve really got no choice. We need them,” Irvin said. “Those guys are picking it up good.”
When the Raiders held a rookie minicamp in May, Irvin stopped by the team facility in Alameda on the first day to talk to the draft picks. He’s maintaining a leadership role in camp, something he said he’d be doing even if Mack, who’s in a holdout for a new contract, were in Napa.
As for Mack, Irvin said he talks with his fellow edge rusher “every day.”
“He misses it,” Irvin said, “but you know how it is, man. He’s working his butt off. And when he gets here, he’ll be ready.”