On Tuesday, the Raiders announced that they have signed former Cowboys’ defensive lineman David Irving to the practice squad. He isn’t expected to stay there long as he will join the active roster once he clears COVID-19 protocols and gets a few practices under his belt. But what can Irving bring to the team once he reaches the field? A lot, actually.
When Irving was eligible to play, he was a highly productive defensive lineman. Notice that I didn’t say “defensive end” or “defensive tackle” because Rod Marinneli used him all over the line. His play usually came at defensive end, but his size and length make it difficult for guards to block him one-on-one.
Before he was suspended for the final time, Irving was quickly turning into a force. In his last 13 games, he recorded 11 sacks to go along with 22 quarterback hits and 13 tackles for a loss. Here are some examples of the types of plays that Irving has been able to make throughout his NFL career:
Here is every sack in #Cowboys DL David Irving's career: pic.twitter.com/oxyhqDqb2n
— Marcus Mosher (@Marcus_Mosher) June 11, 2018
It’s worth remembering that Irving hasn’t played football since early in the 2018 season. But as you can see from above, the talent is special. Hopefully, he will be able to continue to produce under Rod Marinelli, who transformed him into a special player during his time in Dallas.
Look for the Raiders to use Irving all over the defensive line this season, but with most of his snaps coming at defensive tackle. That way, the Raiders can get their four-best pass-rushers on the field at the same time. But don’t be surprised if they eventually move him out to defensive end as that is typically where he is at his best.
Irving has a chance to be one of the better defenders on the Raiders sooner rather than later.
