With group of veterans including OLB Bruce Irvin, FS Reggie Nelson, CB Sean Smith, and OG Kelechi Osemele being added in free agency this offseason, the Raiders are now have higher expectations. Afterall, that is a lot of talent that has been added to the team.
But according to ILB Malcolm Smith, that talent is just part of the reason for those expectations. He sees what second-year head coach Jack Del Rio is doing along with defensive coordinator Ken Norton Jr. and offensive coordinator Bill Musgrave and likes it very much.
Of course, the team has to come together and jell but it’s still a young team that has to learn. Talent will get you far but the best way to be great at anything is to know you to do what you’re doing. And Smith feels like the team has done a great deal of learning this offseason.
He told Sirius XM NFL Radio with Mike Keith and Bill Polian, “ We’ve taken a big step. I feel like, especially in the offseason, just learning, increasing our football knowledge. That was one thing we had in Seattle was a really high football IQ as a team.
“That’s something Jack’s preaching and, obviously, Ken Norton as well and then coach Musgrave. I think that’s going to take us to the playoffs. That’ll be the difference making our season this year.”
A high IQ as team a team is great for the Raiders, who have amassed a plenty of physical talent of late. OLB Khalil Mack, WR Amari Cooper, and SS Karl Joseph are the team’s last three first-round picks with QB Derek Carr and DEs Mario Edwards Jr. and Jihad ward coming in Round 2.
The sky is the limit if the team can get its team IQ up to its talent level.