The Raiders defense got a facelift this offseason, with as many as seven new starters heading into the 2016 season. There’s a whole lot of new, but something old could be the vital to a productive unit.
Personnel is significantly different, but the scheme’s the same. That’s important for interior linebacker Malcolm Smith, a returner responsible for relaying plays in the huddle and arraigning chess pieces before the snap.
Talent upgrades will help. So will Smith’s comfort running the Raiders defensive system, as he helps get others up to speed.
“That’s key for this second season,” Smith said Tuesday on SiriusXM NFL Radio's "Late Hits" program.