ALAMEDA — There was a time and place when Raiders linebacker Bruce Irvin wanted to be on the other sideline for Sunday’s home-opener against the Atlanta Falcons.

At least, that’s what Irvin said back in May 2015. Frustrated that his former team, the Seattle Seahawks, elected to not pick up his fifth-year option, Irvin told BlackSportsOnline.com that he wanted to come to Atlanta in 2016.

“I’m going to be in Atlanta next season. I’m ready,” Irvin told the website at an Atlanta Hawks playoff game.

To a follow-up question asking how he’d respond if Seattle offered him a big deal, Irvin said, “Atlanta is where I want to be. Believe that.”

It would’ve been a natural move for Irvin, who hails from Atlanta. It also would’ve been a reunion with his former Seattle defensive coordinator Dan Quinn, now in his second season as the Falcons head coach.

Obviously, that’s not how things worked out. The Raiders delivered a four-year, $37 million contract that the Falcons didn’t keep up with and Irvin is partnered with Khalil Mack to form what Oakland hopes will be a ferocious pass rush. Irvin started it off with a sack and forced fumble on the third play of the season against the New Orleans Saints.

Irvin said Sunday’s game won’t have any extra emotion facing the Falcons.

“Oh man, not really,” Irvin said. “I’m where I’m supposed to be at. Atlanta is home, that’s where my family lives, that’s where I’m from. But it’s just another ball game. I’m not tripping on that. I’ve just got to go out here and play good football.”

Facing Quinn will be special though and not just for Irvin. Ken Norton Jr., the Raiders defensive coordinator, was Quinn’s linebackers coach in Seattle and another Raiders linebacker, Malcolm Smith, also played for Quinn and was the Super Bowl MVP when the Seahawks won the title after the 2013 season.

“It’s going to be interesting,” Irvin said. “DQ’s a competitive guy, so I expect him to try to really focus a lot this week, especially cause Norton was there, Malcolm was there, we were all there with him. It’s going to be interesting. It’s going to be a really good game.”

Quinn is also excited to catch up with his former Seahawks.

“Lots of respect for those guys,” Quinn said on a conference call. “I’m looking forward to seeing all of them. I had a lot of fun with Kenny and Malcolm and Bruce, both in coaching and then just for those guys as teammates and being a part of it. Lots of respect for them, and I’ll look forward to seeing them after the game for sure.”

The Raiders brought in Irvin with the idea that he’d blossom as a pass rusher in their scheme after Seattle had him more of a mix between coverage and rushing the quarterback. Quinn thinks Irvin is ready to make a big jump in his game.

“Bruce has terrific quickness, a great get off, and a real knack for when to come under, when to find the rush,” Quinn said. “I think he’s just kind of hitting his stride right now right in the middle of his career, and (he’s) off to a good start obviously with the sack-forced fumble.”

Irvin said making that play against New Orleans was particularly satisfying.

“It felt good, just to let the people know that I came here to play ball,” Irvin said. “They see me on Twitter and talking (mess) on Twitter, but I didn’t come here for that. I came here to play ball and I’m just happy I could go out there and play a good ballgame.”

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