Oakland Raiders: Bruce Irvin, from team captain to being released
The Oakland Raiders decided to cut ties with one of their more vocal leaders in defensive end Bruce Irvin. What led up to the transaction?
Initially, Bruce Irvin opened the season as a captain for the Oakland Raiders. The defense needed someone to step up as the voice of guidance and an exemplary pass-rusher following a trade that sent Khalil Mack for the Chicago Bears.
According to Vic Tafur of The Athletic, the Raiders released Irvin Saturday.
Defensive coordinator Paul Guenther came into the year with high expectations for Irvin, double-digit sacks, per ESPN.com’s Paul Gutierrez:
"“Obviously, we know what he can do as a pass-rusher. Hopefully, we can get him over a double-digit [sack] mark this year. That’s the goal for him.”"
Irvin won’t reach that goal with the Raiders, but it’s possible he’ll land with another team for the second-half of the season as a situational edge-rusher. Head coach Jon Gruden talked about the 31-year-old’s poor fit within the team’s 4-3 base defense Friday via NBC Sports Bay Area’s Scott Bair:
Gruden on Irvin's decreased snaps: "We're a 4-3 team now, so in the base defense sometimes he doesn't fit the role we need done. ...He's an edge rusher, + we haven't had the lead a lot. ...His role has been reduced. I know he's frustrated. I'm frustrated. ...He's a good player."
— Scott Bair (@ScottBairNFL) November 2, 2018
Based on the timing of Irvin’s release, there seems to be something more than scheme fit that triggered this transaction. Did the coaching just figure out the seventh-year veteran didn’t translate to their system? Could he have moved to strong-side linebacker to help that struggling unit?
Who knows. Frustration on both ends may have been the cause for the move. After an embarrassing 27-3 loss to the Seattle Seahawks in Week 6, Irvin didn’t have much to say about the team’s performance and opted to comment on his life away from the field, per Gutierrez:
Some possible personal perspective from #Raiders DE Bruce Irvin? "We lost, but I've got a beautiful wife I get to go home to, boy. I'm going to try to make some babies, man."
— Paul Gutierrez (@PGutierrezESPN) October 14, 2018
The Raiders are still on the hook to pay approximately $8.3 million on Irvin’s deal, per Spotrac. Despite his lackluster play and a reduced role to 48.45 percent of defensive snaps, he still led the team in sacks with three, which is an indication of the non-existent pass rush.
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Clearly, Gruden isn’t done cleaning house whether the team owes a player money or not. Because of his significant drop in snaps, it’s clear Irvin didn’t factor into the Raiders’ long-term plans. The front four will move on with Arden Key on one side and a mix of Fadol Brown, Frostee Rucker and likely Shilique Calhoun on the opposite end.