5 reasons why Jon Gruden, Raiders will win AFC West

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OAKLAND, CA – DECEMBER 03: Orleans Darkwa #26 of the New York Giants is tackled by Bruce Irvin #51 of the Oakland Raiders at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum on December 3, 2017 in Oakland, California. (Photo by Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images) /

4. Bruce Irvin makes the move to defensive end

It is no secret that Bruce Irvin does not like to play in coverage, and he made that known on Twitter this offseason. The new regime in Oakland has said they will move him to the edge this season, teaming him with Khalil Mack.

What that means is that the Raiders will have one of the better defensive end tandems in the NFL in 2018. Irvin is a sack machine when he is put in that role, and he will take some of the focus off of Mack in the pass rush.

Mack is a generational talent, and he has been incredibly productive despite not having much help on defense. The team has added talent everywhere, and the combination of Irvin and Mack will rival any team they play during the 2018 season.

Oakland re-signed Justin Ellis this offseason, and he will slide into the starting lineup once again. If they can put another big body next to him on the defensive line, then new defensive coordinator Paul Guenther will have the perfect personnel to run his 4-3 scheme on defense.

The move to the edge is going to make Irvin even more productive, and he still racked up eight sacks last season despite being in coverage too much. That is not his forte, and in the new defensive schemes this team will run, he will be an even more dominant figure for the team next season.

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