Burgess gets work on both ends of line

NAPA — Derrick Burgess has had plenty of success in Oakland lining up as a pass rusher at left defensive end and pressuring the quarterback. While most elite pass rushers prefer playing on the other side of the line in order to be on a right-handed quarterback's blind side, Burgess has always felt more at home on the left side even if it means he often has to deal with a tight end and a tackle blocking him. After talking it over with defensive coordinator Rob Ryan in the offseason, Burgess is now going to move around a bit more this season. "We'll see how it works out," Burgess said. "I'm still going to be on the left side and play both ways. We just hope that it will single up me a little more and open up our rush lanes a little more." Burgess admits he was "stubborn" about making the switch in the past but had a change of heart after getting only eight sacks in 14 games last season. He rarely got the chance to go one-on-one against an offensive lineman a year ago, with teams often lining up the tight end on that side or using a running back to help block him. Even so, he still spent plenty of time in the opposing team's backfield. According to Stats LLC, Burgess led the NFL last season with 18 quarterback hurries. He also knocked down the opposing quarterback 13 times, meaning he was getting plenty of pressure despite a lower sack total. But the Raiders want him to get sacks, not just pressures, this season. So the plan is for him to line up on the weak side of the field without the tight end to get more opportunities. "You've seen Derrick out there on both sides," coach Lane Kiffin said. "We're looking at a number of different things. We'll have him on the open edge, keep him away from tight ends and be able to rush the passer more and play on the split end side." Burgess had 16 sacks his first season in Oakland and 11 the following season, making the Pro Bowl each time. Fellow defensive end Jay Richardson, who will flip to his more natural left side when Burgess takes his place, believes Burgess can be even more dominant in this defense than he has been in the past. "That will make the difference in the football game," Richardson said. "You look at last year, teams slid protections to him, doubled-teamed him, chipped him with backs and he still got eight. If he can get out there on the island like he does and I'll take care of the rest of the garbage over there on the left side, he can do whatever he does and he does it good." Even when he was playing on the left side, Burgess would spend some time each offseason working on his technique on the right side just in case he needed to move during the season. He says he doesn't believe the switch will be too difficult to master even if he will feel quite as natural on the other side of the field. "It's just about getting your steps down," he said. "It's like writing with the other hand, like writing with my left hand. It takes practice. You can do all right at it. You won't be the best at it but you'll be all right at it." Burgess is even dropping back into coverage at times as a stand-up linebacker, chasing receivers in drills some 30 yards down field in coverage in some practice drills. "That makes me tired man," he said. "No, it's cool. The only thing different about that is it's all these different sets and everything. But it's cool. It's nothing. I'm an athlete."