TEMPE, Ariz. -- Matt Shaughnessy is coming home.

Well, in a football sense.

After playing the last two seasons with the Arizona Cardinals as an outside linebacker, Shaughnessy moved to defensive end this offseason, trading places with Kareem Martin.

The idea of being a defensive end isn't new to Shaughnessy, who spent his first four seasons, all with the Oakland Raiders, at defensive end but in a 4-3 scheme. Playing end in a 3-4, which the Cardinals run, has been an steady adjustment.

"It's different," Shaughnessy told ESPN. "I played the 3-4 end once when I was in Oakland because they're predominantly 4-3. But I think the biggest thing is just getting my hands right and I think once I get that down, it'll get easier."

By playing the three-technique, Shaughnessy will be facing a different type of blocker.

He was facing off against tight ends and running backs as an outside linebacker, compared to guards tackles as a 3-4 defensive end.

Cardinals defensive line coach Brentson Buckner said Shaughnessy's toughest challenge will be working in a tighter space as an interior lineman.

"Now he's dealing with 330 pounders every day," Buckner said.

"But because he had to drop in coverage and do some things foot-speed wise, it's going to help him coming back down (with his hand in the dirt) because now he's dealing with bigger guys size-wise but foot-speed wise they're a lot slower than chasing those tight ends and running backs."

Shaughnessy tallied three sacks in two years with Arizona -- all coming in 2013. He had 15.5 in Oakland with a career high seven in 2010.

In Arizona, his role has been different. He was asked to contain the run off the edge, which Shaughnessy said he can still do from the three-technique. He's seen "plenty of examples" on film of 3-4 ends setting the edge, but his size and speed will be an advantage against the slower offensive linemen that Buckner cited.

As Shaughnessy continues to adapt to his new role, he has leaned on one teammate to bounce questions off.

Veteran defensive lineman Frostee Rucker tried getting Shaughnessy to move inside at times last season, Shaughnessy said. Now that the move is official, Shaughnessy said Rucker has been helpful by answering any question.

Overall, Buckner has seen Shaughnessy adapt "well" to his new position.

"He's playing well," Buckner said. "He's coming back home. He's taking some time but he's starting to get back in the feel of things. You can see the natural defensive lineman come out of him."