With The First Pick
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Ken Norton Jr. Ruining Oakland Raiders Defense

By Carl Cockerham

Nov 1, 2015; Oakland, CA, USA; Oakland Raiders defensive coordinator Ken Norton Jr. encourages the defense before the start of the game against the New York Jets at O.co Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 1, 2015; Oakland, CA, USA; Oakland Raiders defensive coordinator Ken Norton Jr. encourages the defense before the start of the game against the New York Jets at O.co Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports /
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October 16, 2016; Oakland, CA, USA; Kansas City Chiefs running back Spencer Ware (32) runs past Oakland Raiders outside linebacker Bruce Irvin (51). The Chiefs defeated the Raiders 26-10. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
October 16, 2016; Oakland, CA, USA; Kansas City Chiefs running back Spencer Ware (32) runs past Oakland Raiders outside linebacker Bruce Irvin (51). The Chiefs defeated the Raiders 26-10. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports /

His Boys From Seattle

I understand Norton wanted Malcolm Smith because he knows the defense from Seattle. But he is undersized, too small to cover big tight ends and not particularly good against the run. He was a coverage specialist in Seattle and now he’s an every-down player.

Smith couldn’t go against the San Diego Chargers so the Raiders signed Perry Riley to fill in for  him. Then against the Chiefs, Norton went with Smith more and the Raiders got run on. He and fellow inside linebacker Cory James are too small to stop the run.

A bunch of hype started when outside linebacker Bruce Irvin signed and it was all for not. I don’t know why because Irvin never had 10 sacks or more in his career. The two sacks he has with 1-on-1 blocking came when the quarterback held the ball for four and five seconds respectively.

The Raiders pay him almost $10 million a year and opposing offenses don’t have to game-plan for him. And he does not set a good edge, giving up all the long runs outside in Week 6. Irvin was at his best in coverage when he was in Seattle so don’t act surprised.

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