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Bruce Irvin: Raiders ready to make jump to top of AFC West

Steven Bisig / USA TODAY Sports

The Oakland Raiders stocked up on talent during free agency, especially on the defensive side of the ball, with linebacker Bruce Irvin being one of the club's marquee signings.

After four wildly successful seasons with the Seattle Seahawks - that included a Super Bowl win in 2013 and another appearance in 2014, 46 regular-season wins, and two division titles - Irvin knows a thing or two about how to create a contender in the NFL.

The 28-year-old apparently doesn't envision the success he's enjoyed so far in his NFL career to dip, as he believes the Raiders are primed to take a run at unseating the Denver Broncos from atop the AFC West.

"You could definitely tell it's a tight group," Irvin said, according to Paul Gutierrez of ESPN. "We're on the way up. You have a lot of guys who are willing to listen to the older guys, so that's the greatest thing about coming to a situation like this … I have to say, it's a bunch of guys who are hungry. They are ready to take the next step. We know what we have to do. We've seen the blueprint to win a Super Bowl - it's running the ball and playing great defense. I think we are ready to take that next step and really capture this AFC West."

Irvin will likely be deployed as a pass-rusher in Oakland more than he was in Seattle, as the Raiders hope to draw attention from superstar Khalil Mack - a prospect that Irvin is relishing.

"I feel like I am a versatile player and I can do a lot of different stuff," Irvin said. "But, I would prefer to go forward (and rush the passer) more than going backwards (in coverage), obviously, in Seattle these last three years. So, that's the plan and, hopefully, Khalil can draw double- and triple-teams and let me just run free and get those sacks."

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