CSNBayArea.com reporter Scott Bair made note of the transformation in base alignment via Twitter:
The entire AFC West division uses some form of the 3-4 alignment with premier defensive playmakers positioned on the edges. As an early proponent of the 3-4 alignment in Oakland, it's refreshing to see Norton blend in the design to spark his defense.
For the Raiders, the alternative alignment fits their personnel, allows the defense to reshuffle a full deck of talent and optimizes the versatility on the roster.
Personnel Fit
It’s never a good idea to fit a square peg into a round hole. Edge-rusher Aldon Smith played in a 3-4 alignment for four seasons with the San Francisco 49ers. Defensive end Justin Smith occupied blocks at the line of scrimmage, which eased Smith's job in circumventing the line protection for a sack.
Khalil Mack played linebacker in college for four seasons in Buffalo. He graded as the best linebacker in 2014, per Pro Football Focus. The second-year linebacker made a breakthrough toward the end of his rookie year, recording three of his four sacks in the last four games of the season.
As a 4-3 strong-side linebacker, Mack took on lead blockers as a primary run defender on the edge. The 3-4 defensive end would consume the initial blocks, giving Mack a greater chance at taking down quarterbacks as an edge-rusher.
Theoretically, the Raiders only have one prototypical 4-3 defensive end in Justin Tuck. He’s played the position at a high level for 11 years, but he’s now on the downside of his career.
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Article Source: Bleacher Report - Oakland Raiders
