Las Vegas Raiders DC Patrick Graham spoke for his regularly scheduled press conference, Minnesota Vikings week.
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00:00 >> When you are game planning against the Vikings defense, Vikings offense,
00:05 they have kind of like a little running back thing going between Madison and
00:09 also showing the backfield.
00:10 How do you combat that with their skill set?
00:13 >> Well, the one thing they do, they do a good job,
00:16 the offense line does a great job in terms of blocking as well together.
00:19 They do a good job to be one on one accord.
00:22 So one, you gotta do a good job handling the blocks up front,
00:25 trying to get off blocks.
00:27 The backs are pretty dynamic in terms of good combination of size, speed,
00:32 and quickness.
00:33 The thing that stands out the most is the vision,
00:35 the stretch run game, find those backside cutback lanes.
00:39 So you gotta be disciplined on the backside, that's one thing.
00:42 You gotta do a good job of setting the edge.
00:44 And then you gotta be physical when we tackle them because their guys,
00:47 they break a lot of tackles.
00:48 >> Could you look at the weapons that they have?
00:50 It looks like Jefferson's probably gonna play, Hawkinson, Addison.
00:55 Those are three pretty premium weapons.
00:58 How do you go about kinda managing them?
01:00 >> Stay up late.
01:01 >> [LAUGH] >> It's every week when you face
01:06 the teams in the NFL, pretty good players, dynamic players across the board.
01:12 They're no different than a lot of teams you've seen.
01:14 And what we're gonna do, we're in the lab right now working on a game plan to try
01:18 to see how we can minimize them, take away their strengths and
01:21 try to attack their weaknesses.
01:23 But in terms of the good combination, one, the play calling.
01:26 I think Kevin's done a really good job.
01:28 You can see just even the second half how they were able to adjust.
01:31 And I don't know the stats for that per se, but he does a good job of adjusting.
01:36 So he got ready to combat that on top of dealing with the players.
01:40 And then whoever they have there, a quarterback,
01:42 does a good job of getting the ball, so we're distributing the ball to their skill
01:45 players, and they're a run first team in terms of that's the mentality,
01:50 just what I've seen throughout Kevin's career.
01:52 So you gotta combat that by playing good, sound football,
01:55 making sure that we tackle, get off the blocks, and
01:58 try to win situations in football, third down, right area, two minutes,
02:01 that's what's gonna be key.
02:02 >> How much does Jefferson change that offensive?
02:05 Is there anybody that you would mind doing a little bit of comparison?
02:08 >> I don't like to compare guys.
02:10 I mean, the biggest thing for me, he's one of the best receivers in the league.
02:14 And pretty dynamic with the ball in his hands.
02:17 He runs good routes.
02:18 He can make plays after the catch, and then the willingness to block.
02:24 They ask those receivers to block in the run game, so you see that as well.
02:28 So complete player, a lot of respect for
02:31 what he's done in the league so far, whatever he is for.
02:34 >> Coach, curious as to what goes into your decision as to win two or
02:38 win not two blitz.
02:40 What goes into that?
02:42 >> Based on what we think is best for the team, against that team.
02:45 So, I mean, again, whether you're blitzing five, you're blitzing six, or
02:49 you're simulating pressure.
02:51 It's all based on what we think is best for that team.
02:53 And then when you get in the game, you gotta adjust based on what you're seeing.
02:56 >> Were you able to step away from football for a week?
03:00 Or were you kind of, yeah, I'm kind of away, but I'm really still like-
03:04 >> No, I was able to spend a little bit
03:06 more time with my family.
03:07 So, I mean, nothing different than every other coach in the league.
03:10 But does it ever leave your mind?
03:12 I mean, you end up watching some of the college games.
03:14 Some of my buddies coaching in those games.
03:16 I was happy to see those guys play and coach and win their championship games.
03:22 But it never really escapes my mind too much.
03:24 I'm a football coach, and football coaching, no obvious.
03:29 >> Coach, scoring in the NFL is down.
03:32 I think it's the second straight year that it's down.
03:34 A lot of analytics and
03:36 statistics lean toward winning the red zone, winning that situation.
03:42 What kind of goes into that?
03:43 Is it a mentality?
03:44 Are you guys scheming differently down there?
03:48 >> Well, one thing that happens in the red area, no.
03:52 Brian Flores used to say this when I used to work with him, and
03:54 I know he's a DC fan.
03:55 He said, something messed up happened for you to get down there.
03:58 So when that happens, your mental toughness comes into play defensively, okay?
04:03 Whatever happened, whether it was a kick return, pump return,
04:06 long play on a long drive, something happened.
04:09 So mentally, you gotta refocus, reset, and
04:13 your mental toughness has to show up down there.
04:15 And the number one thing we always talk about is not letting them run it in.
04:19 And that's critical right there.
04:21 So that's something we gotta improve on.
04:23 I gotta do a better job with that.
04:24 But you don't want them to run it in.
04:26 And then you wanna try and force them to throw in those tighter windows,
04:30 because the field's condensed.
04:31 And so that's where you see a lot of defenses,
04:35 when they can stop the run down there and force the throws.
04:39 Again, the throwing lanes is more condensed.
04:42 That's where you see defenses, that separates the really good teams,
04:47 really good defenses from the teams.
04:49 Everybody's chasing those really good red area defenses,
04:51 because they're able to do that.
04:52 Stop the run first, and then you gotta make sure, and
04:55 then try to confuse the quarterback, because the windows are tighter.
04:57 So it's critical there, but it does start with mentality, I would say,
05:02 that because something messed up happened down there.
05:05 >> Coach, AP last week said that a couple of the young secondary members are gonna
05:09 get a little bit of run, especially with the guys that got waved.
05:12 Just going into this last stretch of the season,
05:14 what are some things you wanna see from Ja'Kory and as well as Jack Jones,
05:17 you've just signed?
05:19 >> Same for everybody, just compete.
05:22 Compete in terms of pass coverage.
05:24 Well, first, in terms of fundamentals, it's tackle.
05:27 Because you know how the run game is in this league,
05:29 trying to get the ball out to the corners.
05:31 Try to get out to the safeties with a crack of play.
05:33 So we gotta do a good job of tackling, getting off the blocks.
05:36 And then from a coverage standpoint, compete in terms of winning your leverage,
05:42 timing, good vision, good eye discipline, zone coverage.
05:46 And just really compete and then try to get the ball.
05:49 That's how some of defense back play,
05:52 like you do it really quickly right there, but that's what I'm looking for.
05:55 >> Do you think the game's been able to slow down for
05:57 Ja'Kory now, this late in the season?
05:59 >> I think any time, just no different if any of us were playing.
06:02 Once you get more reps under your belt, does it slow down?
06:07 I mean, after your rookie year, I would say to a certain degree, but
06:11 there's so much more to learn.
06:13 That's the beauty of this game.
06:14 I'm in my 22nd year coaching, 15th year in the league.
06:18 There's so much you learn each week, and you gotta reset each week.
06:21 So, but I'm sure that he's seen a couple things that, okay,
06:25 this happened in week four, this happened in week three.
06:28 And it looks familiar, but there's still a long way to go for all of us.
06:32 >> Coach, other than getting healthy,
06:34 how did the bi-week help you and your defense specifically?
06:37 >> For me, just the chance to, like you mentioned earlier,
06:40 the chance to get away, reset, spend some time with our families.
06:44 That's always critical, especially around the holiday season.
06:46 So happy holidays to you, by the way.
06:48 So that's always critical there.
06:50 And then in terms of the players, I think it's a chance for them to reset and
06:53 understand that once you get it after Thanksgiving,
06:56 that's when real football starts.
06:58 Again, it's cliche.
06:59 You'll hear every, I heard the first time I got in the league when I was a QC and
07:03 didn't have a bi-week, week nine, and I was dead tired cuz we had already played
07:07 13 games, and a real football game was started.
07:10 So I think it's good.
07:11 [LAUGH] And so that's one thing about the league, and it gives you a chance to reset.
07:16 So it's perfect timing for that.
07:19 We got five games left, we gotta take it a day at a time and
07:22 get a chance to reset, re-energize, and let's go get it.
07:25 >> You all good, guys?
07:27 >> Yeah, kind of a bit of a two-parter, but
07:29 with Max going through what he did to play against the Chiefs.
07:33 One, how much does that speak to his fortitude of who he is as a player, but
07:36 also how much do you need for the other edge wrestlers like Poots and
07:40 Tyree to step up with him kind of being down a little bit?
07:43 >> Can't mention enough about Max in terms of, you guys know him,
07:47 spend enough time around him.
07:48 And his approach to the game, his approach to taking care of his body,
07:53 true, true professional.
07:55 Pleasure to be around, I mean, speaks to who he is.
07:58 I mean, that's how he carries himself, again,
08:01 whether it's winning awards for his community service,
08:03 whether it's how he is to his teammates.
08:05 Or when he gives the coaches some sneakers for Christmas.
08:09 That's just who he is.
08:10 I mean, that's who I saw even when he was a young player coming out of college.
08:13 I just liked him a lot.
08:16 I mean, again, I know he's grown since then, but I just really liked him.
08:20 And it's been a pleasure for the last two years to be able to coach him.
08:23 So, I mean, everything he does, character wise, I mean,
08:27 he's right up there with the top guys I've ever coached.
08:30 Just a pleasure to be around.
08:32 And then in terms of what we have to get from other guys,
08:35 I mean, look at it in terms of just compete, good compliments.
08:40 Or not even just good compliments.
08:41 I mean, Malcolm Coombs is playing really good football right now.
08:44 Tyree, look, he's improving each week.
08:47 That's all you can ask for is guys.
08:48 And the guys on the interior, I mean, they're doing a good job in terms of
08:52 defeating blocks, getting middle push in the pass rush.
08:55 I've been pleased with how they've competed each week, how they've improved.
08:59 That's the biggest thing I get as a coach to see their improvement throughout
09:02 the season.
09:03 And again, it's no different, I tell you all the time,
09:05 than a teacher having to teach football.
09:07 I know the guy did results and all that stuff, but when I see improvement,
09:11 that's the biggest thing that I'm proud of.
09:12 >> Thanks, Coach.