The Las Vegas Raiders DC Patrick Graham spoke to the media today, ahead of the New York Jets and we have it all for you.
Category
🥇
SportsTranscript
00:00 >> Coach, you were very vocal in wanting Antonio on your staff,
00:04 and you saw a lot in him that people are seeing now.
00:09 What was it in him you saw before others did?
00:12 >> I don't know about before others.
00:14 I mean, he's been around this league and
00:17 then a lot of people have known him throughout this league for a long time.
00:20 But when I met him, somebody that worked hard, had good knowledge of the game,
00:26 and was a good head leadership quality, so that's what I saw when I met him.
00:31 >> Coach, he has not been put on IR yet.
00:35 Do you expect to be behind the envelopes to be back this week, or
00:37 do you think he might be out a little bit longer?
00:40 >> That's always a question for the head coach.
00:41 I don't deal with the injury questions, but we'll be happy to get him when he
00:46 comes back, and I'm sure he's working hard to get back on the field as soon as possible.
00:51 >> On the back end of that, what have you seen from the other linebackers that have
00:54 been recently signed, guys like Jim Smith and Malik Reed?
00:57 What have those guys been able to contribute to the team so far?
00:59 >> First thing, they're all professionals.
01:02 They come in, work pretty hard in the classroom and on the practice field.
01:06 Great energy from both of those guys.
01:09 And when they got their opportunities to get in the game, being physical,
01:14 able to make tackles, that's always a positive and playing with great effort.
01:18 >> When you have eight sacks in the game, how is that possible?
01:22 What are the things that people don't really necessarily see that equate to
01:25 that success?
01:27 >> It starts with the players first and foremost in terms of executing
01:31 their assignments and the game plan for that game.
01:35 They did a good job of that.
01:36 But the thing that stands out the most when you look at all the pressures was
01:39 the effort, just the guys' relentless pursuit to the ball.
01:43 They were hungry to get to the football.
01:45 And I would say, again, I can't give you the exact number, but
01:48 a lot of sacks throughout this league, it starts with the effort of those guys,
01:52 the players, playing really, really hard on each play and making the play.
01:58 That's where a lot of sacks come in this league.
02:00 And a combination of that and obviously on the back end, the coverage.
02:04 Just sacks aren't possible with the coverage.
02:06 It has to all tie together.
02:07 So again, it's all about team defense, the coverage and
02:10 the rush all being tied together.
02:12 >> Sorry, could I just- >> No, you're fine.
02:14 >> The results were obviously great on Sunday, but
02:16 how did everything go communication-wise, logistically?
02:19 There's obviously a very quick turnover.
02:21 How does all that stuff go?
02:23 >> The players, they did a good job communicating on and off the field.
02:28 The coaching staff, each day is new and you have to adjust with it.
02:32 And it worked out on Sunday.
02:34 So it's a new week this week and we'll see how it goes this week, but
02:39 it worked out on Sunday.
02:41 >> Coach, your players call themselves the misfits.
02:44 And this is a defense where maybe there isn't a ton of people nationally known,
02:50 but the sum of their parts, they're playing well.
02:52 For you, how much pride do you take in that it's more about the we than the me?
02:57 >> For me, you can't play defense without the we.
03:01 It's 11 people out there trying, we're not calling plays,
03:04 we're calling the defense to defend the field and or the situation.
03:08 And you need all 11 to do that.
03:10 So I'm proud, I'm proud of those guys, how they're playing.
03:13 And playing for each other, playing together.
03:15 And just proud about the way they're improving each week.
03:18 So that's the biggest thing.
03:20 >> Spillane is a guy that's not getting a lot of national attention, but
03:24 he's doing a lot in your quarterbacking your offense, I mean your defense.
03:28 Excuse me.
03:29 Can you talk about his play and your thoughts on him, sir?
03:32 >> I really enjoy being around him.
03:34 He's great in terms of leadership, good energy every day.
03:38 He's really consistent, really consistent.
03:41 And thankfully, he can get off blocks, he can tackle the ball carrier,
03:45 he can communicate.
03:46 Those would be on the checklist for a linebacker, so those are always good.
03:51 >> Amik talked about after the game, he was joking, but
03:54 cuz he had made a mistake earlier on his interception.
03:57 Had to get that for PG, had to get that for PG.
03:59 >> [LAUGH] >> You can't even talk about Amik
04:02 without coaches and teammates laughing.
04:05 What is it about his gregarious attitude that has endeared him to this franchise?
04:10 >> I love that word, I remember that on a spelling test once upon a time.
04:13 That was one I fell in love with.
04:15 Miscellaneous was the first word I fell in love with.
04:18 Gregarious, that might have been in the top ten.
04:20 Missed my English class in fourth grade, anyway.
04:25 >> [LAUGH] >> But his personality, again,
04:30 he's always smiling, has good energy around the building.
04:34 And it's all about resetting after one bad play.
04:36 I mean, again, I can't speak on what play he's talking about.
04:39 But I mean, I just know that he's doing a good job for us.
04:43 He's a ball hawk who gets to the ball.
04:45 And his toughness always shows up.
04:48 That's one thing, whether it's tackling, in tight man to man coverage,
04:53 being able to mentally tough to be able to bounce back from a bad play.
04:57 That's the thing that stands out with me for him.
04:59 >> In the early parts of kind of evaluating the Jets film,
05:04 A, what are the threats that you feel like Garrett Wilson provides for
05:07 your cornerbacks?
05:08 And also, when you look at Brees Hall,
05:10 what are some things that he can do that you guys don't have to limit?
05:13 >> To start with those two, yeah.
05:17 I'll say with Hall, the thing is, everybody's in point of attack.
05:22 No matter where the play is designed to go, he can go anywhere with the ball.
05:26 And then for the receiver, just in terms of the combination of speed,
05:30 quickness, and the ability to catch the ball from all different types of angles.
05:34 His catch radius is pretty dynamic, in my opinion.
05:37 And he presents a lot of challenges, and they do a good job of moving him around,
05:40 and finding ways to get him the ball.
05:42 So both very skilled players, very skilled players, and
05:46 it's gonna be a challenge on Sunday.
05:49 >> Coach, halfway through his first season,
05:50 can you talk a little bit about the development of Tyree Wilson?
05:54 >> Getting better every day, getting better every day.
05:56 Love his work ethic.
05:58 I love the fact that his physicality showing up on the field as a rookie
06:02 edge player, but that's the thing, working hard to get better every day.
06:06 You can see it out there on the field, I'm happy for him.
06:10 >> You have a team that's playing,
06:12 a part of your company coming up that plays on a Monday night game.
06:15 Is that gonna change the preparation a little bit?
06:18 You have to wait a little bit to see the last game, but everybody's watching it,
06:21 you know your players are locked into it.
06:23 >> I don't think it changes.
06:24 We've gone through it before, so it's nothing new.
06:26 And we're not the only team that has to deal with it during the season, but
06:29 nothing really changes in terms of that.
06:31 But you might wait a little bit just to see the game to add it to your scouting
06:35 report, but by the time it's Monday night,
06:38 we're already along with the game planning and looking at the opponent.
06:42 >> In that case, do you sometimes see something and you say, wait,
06:46 maybe we didn't see that, maybe we didn't understand that?
06:49 >> Absolutely, that always happens, that always happens, but
06:51 that's nothing unique to us, that always happens.
06:54 >> Last one, Honda.
06:55 >> You have a unique relationship with your players, it's very close,
06:59 your defensive guys, the way they are with you.
07:03 Is that something that developed maybe the way you were raised?
07:06 Is it how maybe you were as a player, what you saw in other coaches?
07:09 But what is that?
07:10 Because you've been around the game long enough to know that isn't always
07:13 the norm.
07:13 >> Well, me as a player, I was terrible, so that's one thing to start there.
07:18 So I had to get relationships with my coaches just to stay on the team.
07:23 But no, but I know this,
07:25 one of the coaches that had the most influence on me in my life,
07:28 Coach Brooks, who's at Dartmouth now.
07:30 I consider him like an older brother figure.
07:33 I had a great relationship with him because the way he poured into us.
07:38 And when we all get on, whether it's Zoom or text messages,
07:43 he has a really tight relationship with all of his former players.
07:47 And I don't know, for all the years he's been in the Ivy League, and
07:51 the Ivy League doesn't have a bunch of captains per team.
07:53 I mean, I would say he probably had coached his position,
07:58 probably 15 to 20 captains, for whether it's Yale, Dartmouth, whatever it's been.
08:03 So he's been a great influence to me.
08:05 The relationship I have with the players here, it starts with listening.
08:09 And I learned that early in my career, you gotta be a good listener.
08:13 Sometimes I'm good at it, sometimes I'm bad at it.
08:15 But thankfully, have a relationship where they could give me a little forgiveness
08:19 once in a while when I'm not doing a good job of listening.
08:21 But that's the main component right there.