Bruce Irvin Primed for a Breakout Season in Oakland

After four productive years in Seattle, Bruce Irvin comes to Oakland on the verge of a breakout season.

Bruce Irvin left Seattle for one simple reason.

It wasn’t because he had been doing a bad job for the Seahawks’ perennially top-ranked defense.

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It wasn’t because he overvalued himself and thus forced his way out of town.

And it certainly had nothing to do with the 28-year-old as an individual.

Although it was reported that the Seahawks also believed it was best to move on from their star linebacker, Irvin ultimately parted ways with the 2014 Super Bowl champions because he felt his talents could be maximized in a different system.

It didn’t take the former West Virginia standout long to find a new home, signing a four-year, $37 million contract with the Oakland Raiders on Day Two of free agency. Irvin is confident that under head coach Jack Del Rio and defensive coordinator Ken Norton Jr. that he’ll be stuffing stat sheets on a weekly basis in 2016, via the team’s official site.

"“I honestly felt like if I stayed in that [Seattle] system, I don’t think I ever would be the player that I think I can be in this league, and that’s being a pass rusher,” Irvin told Bruce Murray and Kirk Morrison on SiriusXM NFL Radio. “SAM outside linebacker is cool, but you can do your job the whole game at SAM linebacker and you’ll have two tackles. I just want to be utilized more and get put in positions more to make plays. I really think Jack Del Rio and Ken Norton, Jr., are going to do a great job of really allowing me to do that.”"

In a scheme that relies a lot on speed and an unrelenting approach from its’ personnel, it’s easy to see why Irvin appears to be in for a big year.

Outside of the better fit, Irvin is about to reap the benefits of not only lining up alongside the NFL’s best edge-rusher Khalil Mack, but starting in one of the league’s top defenses. From head to toe, Oakland is stacked with talented playmakers ready to take the next step this coming season.

There are few units, as a whole, that boast a more dangerous group of pass rushers than that of the Raiders. Including rookies Shilique Calhoun and Jihad Ward, Irvin joins Mack (15 sacks), Malcolm Smith (four) Aldon Smith (3.5 in nine games), Denico Autry (three), Mario Edwards Jr. (two), and others who are capable of getting after the passer.

With the heat off of him, Irvin will see plenty of one-on-one matchups come his way, matchups he should absolutely feast on. For a guy who has just 22 sacks over the course of 58 career contests, it’s possible that the ex-Seahawk will lead the team in said category in 2016.

"“Being that Khalil had 15 sacks last year, he’s going to command a lot of attention,” Irvin said. “So that’s going to enable me to get a lot of one-on-one matchups, and I feel very confident that I’m going to take advantage of that.”"

Despite being known as a situational linebacker/pass rusher, there’s way more that Irvin brings to the table as an all-around defender.

The 6-foot-3, 260-pounder is an intelligent difference-maker with great instincts. He plays the ball very well and rarely gets fooled by fakes or what have you. Irvin actually graded out better in pass coverage and as a run defender than he did as a pass rusher last season, according to Pro Football Focus.

Based on the deal that Irvin signed with the Raiders, he could end up as the biggest steal of the entire offseason.

No. 51 is primed to really strut his stuff as a member of the Silver and Black, something he wasn’t truly able to do in Seattle. Expect Irvin’s numbers to increase across the board, regardless if he does finish as the team leader in sacks.

Future Pro Bowler? All-Pro? There’s no telling what heights Irvin will reach in Oakland.

Heading into his fifth season in the NFL, the saying “Anything worth having is worth waiting for,” comes to mind.

After four years of waiting, I’m sure Irvin would agree.

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