Versatility Is Oakland’s Currency
If there is one thing fans of the Raiders can learn from the team’s safety search, it is that the team values flexibility over scheme. This is a very interesting revelation considering the assumption that defensive coordinator Ken Norton Jr would be a strict adherent to the Seattle Seahawks defensive scheme. He has shown repeatedly that this assumption is clearly false and more importantly he would rather have versatility at every level.
Adding Bruce Irvin was to me the most stunning addition of the three because I thought they would be more interested in a defensive lineman. However, with Edwards, Orr, Autry, and Harris along with a draft full of versatile 5-technique defensive lineman, the Raiders did not see the necessity in pursuing Malik Jackson who was signed to a six-year, $90 million dollar contract. The Raiders also passed on a long line of older veteran edge rushers with limited production and Olivier Vernon who got an absurd contract from the Giants.
There is the assumption that Bruce Irvin will be a pass rusher for the Raiders. He did have 22 sacks in Seattle as a 43 outside linebacker and occasional pass rusher, but that scheme hardly ever blitzes its linebackers. Irvin also stated that a big reason he came to Oakland was because Ken Norton Jr saved his career by moving him to linebacker rather than defensive end. Most importantly, Bruce Irvin is a gazelle of a pass rusher. He either beats you with speed to power or he gets stopped. His inside spin move is rather weak. So why did the Raiders sign him to a four-year, $36 million dollar contract?
Simple, versatility. Irvin is a solid run defender and the Raiders have the personnel to run a 34 bear front otherwise known as a 52 defense. In this alignment the two outside linebackers (Mack and Irvin) will be responsible for holding down the edges. Irvin is a freak and can do this job very well.
This then brings up another question, “what about Aldon Smith”? It has been reported the Raiders have significant interest in bringing Aldon back when he is reinstated. I suspect they will play Aldon at his normal spot and move Bruce Irvin inside next to Malcolm Smith as the inside linebackers. This would give the Raiders two versatile and fast linebackers that can flow to the ball and cover both man and zone. Until then, Irvin will be a very solid player for the Raiders in that outside linebacker spot and he will be able to feast on one on one matchups whether he is a pure rusher or being sent on a blitz.
Along with the combination of Ben Heeney, Neiron Ball, and any other role base linebackers the Raiders add, they can confront any offensive formation at any given time. This allows the defense to have a front seven that is extremely fluid and can adapt to any game need at that time. If they need to be stout against the run they can bring in their run defending linebackers. If it is nickel or dime they will have linebackers for those needs.
The addition of Sean Smith the cornerback form the Chiefs is not one that screams versatility, and if you think about his skill set, he is not terribly versatile. However, his addition allows the Raiders defensive backfield to be flexible. Smith now becomes the big press corner that can man up against big physical receivers such as Demaryius Thomas or Keenan Allen. On the other side, David Amerson can be used situationally to take his best matchup while TJ Carrie can cover the slot receivers and play as a third safety either in a two high safety look or in short zones.
Watching the best defenses in the NFL one would notice that they are highly versatile and utilize multiple safety sets and diverse nickel/dime packages. In order to truly make this part of the plan a reality, the Raiders need to add the right kind of safety, specifically one who can be a significant force near the line of scrimmage. A flexible safety that leans towards a strong safety is what they Raiders need most.
Fans are relatively down on Nate Allen, but he can be a serviceable asset as a deep safety as long as he is not required to be deep all by himself. The only coverage that really eliminates is cover one where he would be the deep lone safety and the rest of the defense would be in man coverage. And even then, the Raiders could roll their coverage to one side favoring a deep threat trusting their single coverage on the other.
In the end, what the Raiders are building is not a system similar to Seattle, but instead a system similar to the Patriots where they mix coverages and assignments game to game but generally keep a consistent front 7 that can play multiple looks and use diverse gap control concepts.