Las Vegas Raiders Coach Antonio Pierce spoke exclusively with a handful of beatwriters at the NFL Combine, and we have it for you.
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00:00 >> I would talk to you, you said that it was just run, run, run, run, run, run.
00:04 Is it still kind of in that way?
00:05 >> Yeah, still running.
00:08 Put the staff together, finalized that last week.
00:12 The straight pitch to the combine, look at the next great future Raiders.
00:18 I think it's good that myself, Patrick Graham, Luke, Tim McMahon,
00:23 all get a chance to come up here and be around the players as much as possible.
00:28 Yeah, the workouts is gonna take care of itself, but I think for
00:30 us to really get to know the individuals, get to see them, speak to them,
00:35 feel them, let them see us, ask them questions.
00:38 And then hopefully repeat that process until we get to the draft.
00:41 >> What were your goals and objectives on putting that guy with that first staff?
00:45 How do you feel the process went?
00:48 Do you feel like you guys were able to meet?
00:50 >> Yeah, it was a long process.
00:51 I mean, I interviewed 11 office coordinators, five O-line coaches,
00:56 six O-line quarterback coaches, a lot of guys, man.
00:59 It was a very thorough process.
01:02 I had all the coaches in there as well.
01:04 They were involved in the process cuz I wanted to make sure not just for me, but
01:07 it fit all of us.
01:08 I feel like we got a group of men that are well-rounded, have a lot of ideas.
01:16 Some guys have done it at the highest level as far as being a head coach for
01:18 multiple years.
01:20 Some guys just getting into the game.
01:21 I think I had a mix of both former players, as you see.
01:25 I think we got seven on the staff.
01:29 But then also you got some coaches that when you look at them and
01:35 you really, how does that match with what Luke is doing and what Patrick?
01:40 Well, it might not match, but it's an idea.
01:42 It's something that we were either studying, that we had talked about prior.
01:45 And I said, you know what, let's pull from that system.
01:48 And let's see, at the end of the day, we're gonna still structure everything the way
01:51 that myself, Patrick, and Luke, and McMahon sees it.
01:54 But it's okay to have different ideas and think outside the box.
01:58 >> For you, how important was it, AP, to get people who would obviously respect
02:03 your position as head coach, but weren't afraid to say, hey,
02:06 I think we can look at other ways of doing things?
02:09 >> Yeah, that's one thing I look for.
02:11 I mean, it's not a dictatorship.
02:14 I don't run that kind of program, and that's not how we are.
02:17 And I'm not worried about other people speaking up or voicing their opinion.
02:22 I want that.
02:23 I don't want yes-sirs around me.
02:25 I want people to tell me when I'm right, when I'm wrong,
02:28 come up with different ideas.
02:29 And I'm good enough in my own skin where I'm not worried about having
02:34 former head coaches in there.
02:36 That doesn't bother me.
02:37 Actually, I don't even know how that's a negative.
02:39 I think that's the total opposite.
02:41 When you have the opportunity to bring in people like Marvin Lewis,
02:45 Joe Feldman, to have Rob Ryan around, to have Kaufman still be on, Speed Down.
02:51 That's, man, that's invaluable.
02:54 So for me, just putting that whole group together and then mixing them like we just
02:57 talked about with other guys and coming up with the ideas and
03:02 really problem solvers.
03:04 Cuz there's only a lot of things that happen over the next,
03:07 it's happening now at the combine.
03:09 Things that happen over the next couple weeks and
03:10 months that I won't be prepared for and I won't know.
03:13 And to get that heads up and get that in advance is really good for me.
03:17 >> There's a lot of different flavors of quarterbacks that are gonna be in
03:19 this combine.
03:20 Is there a particular style that fits with what the Raiders wanna do in your mind?
03:24 >> I just want a leader.
03:25 I want a guy that can lead, that wants to compete.
03:28 I want a guy that's not afraid of a challenge,
03:30 cuz it's a big challenge that we have in front of us.
03:32 Especially you got the world champs in our division again.
03:34 You know what you gotta deal with each and every year,
03:39 as long as Patrick Mahomes in that division.
03:40 And I want somebody that says, you know what, I wanna go up for that challenge.
03:42 Cuz that's the same way I look at it going against those four head,
03:45 those other three head coaches in this division.
03:48 And then somebody that just wants to really compete.
03:50 I wanna see that competitive spirit in our quarterback.
03:53 A guy that when the game's on the line, he wants the ball in different ways.
03:58 Either making the throws, doing it with his legs, or putting us in the right call.
04:02 So those are the things I'm really looking for, those intangibles.
04:05 I don't wanna go with the unknown.
04:07 I wanna go with a proven winner.
04:08 And somebody that knows what it's like to grind and
04:10 go through some adversity, cuz we're gonna go through that.
04:13 >> Speaking of the Chiefs, in your mind,
04:14 how close do you feel this team is to be able to beat them consistently?
04:19 >> Yeah, that's the key word, consistently.
04:21 You can do it one time, you can be a one hit wonder.
04:23 I know that's what everybody expects us to do.
04:24 But we're expecting to compete and trying to build a team and a staff and
04:28 a roster to do that.
04:29 And again, it's gonna start with, to be honest, it's gotta start with your defense,
04:32 cuz you gotta deal with the quarterback and the offensive coordinator.
04:35 And the head coach, we're very good, the best of the best, man.
04:37 Gonna go down this party, gold jackets.
04:40 Let's call it spade to spade.
04:42 And how close are we?
04:45 I don't have that answer today.
04:49 Once the roster gets built and you see the staff work together,
04:53 I think that's gonna be the critical part about it.
04:56 I think our mindset is there though.
04:58 I think we believe we can compete with them.
05:00 We just gotta go out there and do it.
05:01 >> When you say proven on quarterback,
05:03 can you see that in a college quarterback in terms of the proven
05:08 to deal with adversity and things like that?
05:11 Can that come from a college quarterback or is it more of a veteran guy?
05:14 >> Yeah, well, I think you want guys with a bunch of stars beneath their belt.
05:16 You don't wanna hit wonder.
05:18 You don't wanna guy that had a one year success and say that's the guy.
05:21 No, I think you want somebody that's been battle tested.
05:23 That, like I said, talked about it, has been through adversity,
05:27 that's had challenges, that had to either have a competition battle.
05:30 He wasn't just handing the keys day one.
05:32 He's kinda went through that, cuz that's gonna be a process here,
05:34 whatever we do.
05:35 You know what I mean? I don't care if we're bringing a veteran or not.
05:37 Aiden's our starter.
05:39 They're gonna beat out Aiden.
05:40 You know what I mean? That's the facts.
05:41 And that's not coaching talk.
05:43 Shit, Aiden did a hell of a job, man.
05:45 And the thing about it, he hasn't blinked.
05:47 With all this noise and all this stuff about the quarterback play,
05:50 he just comes to work every day, works out, does his thing, and
05:52 it's beautiful to see.
05:53 >> Has the game changed at all where we're now looking at young quarterbacks in
05:56 the draft and look at more in terms of impact as opposed to maybe long term
06:00 potential?
06:00 >> So you're talking about the district in the draft?
06:05 >> Yeah. >> Yeah.
06:05 I would hope whoever we draft, that's the route we go.
06:11 If that's who the starter becomes.
06:13 And again, I'll go back if it's Aiden or if it's somebody we draft or
06:16 we bring in, you don't wanna put a band-aid at that position.
06:18 That's old, man.
06:20 That's old.
06:22 I think the Raiders, we've seen that enough in this organization.
06:24 And I know we had Derek Carter for a bunch of years, which before him and
06:28 after him, it's been a bunch of one-stop guys.
06:31 And I don't think any organization wants that.
06:34 You want the face of your franchise to be the quarterback,
06:37 to be that guy you can count on for the next ten years.
06:39 >> You've been through this process kind of on the other side going through
06:42 pro days as a player and having to do these interviews.
06:44 How unique of an experience to have to be on the other side now,
06:48 doing this as a coach?
06:49 >> It's cool, cuz I get to call their bluff.
06:50 I know what NBS is.
06:51 So that's the best part of this interview.
06:53 We've been having a lot of fun with the guys in here,
06:54 cuz they come in there guarded.
06:56 We got this booklet that got thousands of information,
06:59 all these things that we know about the player already.
07:02 And it's cool to sit there and watch and see if they're gonna tell the truth,
07:07 be blunt and honest, or try to guard themselves.
07:10 And we've gotten both.
07:11 You got the guy that's so blunt, okay, hold on, that's a little too much
07:14 information.
07:15 >> [LAUGH] >> And then you got the other guy that's
07:18 just like, nope, never did nothing wrong, nope, nope, come on, man, Mr. Perfect.
07:22 And it's cool to kind of see through that.
07:24 And it's funny, once we have a little bit more dialogue throughout this process,
07:28 they open up more and more.
07:29 But I mean, it's a very stressful time for these guys.
07:31 I mean, multiple interviews, you're on the clock, you hear a horn buzz,
07:36 and people yelling out of halls.
07:38 And so it's really interesting to see who can stay focused
07:42 throughout this time period, and who takes it serious.
07:45 I mean, cuz these guys get drafted, but that don't mean they'll all be good pros.
07:49 I mean, that's just one step of the process.
07:52 So you look for the guys, like I said, they got that look in their eye.
07:55 And you can really feel it, you can see the guys is entitled, got NIL,
07:59 which is an issue, cuz they come in already kind of privileged in that sense.
08:03 And they got money in the bank.
08:04 Well, when I came to the league, I was broke, you know what I mean?
08:06 So every little dollar I got, it meant something to me.
08:08 These guys already got their own jury on, and Louis Vuitton rocking his Rome already.
08:12 So just looking for the right fit for us.
08:15 >> Sometimes you gotta, to get what you want, you gotta go get it, and
08:18 be aggressive in getting it.
08:20 Would you be open to, if you guys fall in love with one of those quarterbacks,
08:23 going up and making it happen, and giving up whatever it might take to make it happen?
08:28 >> Yeah, I'm sure that's something Telesco's already spoke about, but
08:30 that's my personality, as you guys saw and witnessed.
08:36 I'm a go-getter, but obviously that's gotta be a collective agreement.
08:40 >> You are a guy, a lot of guys get your job and they almost become corporate.
08:45 You're who you are and nothing changes you.
08:47 Does that go back to your mom, your grandma?
08:50 Where does that come from in you?
08:52 >> Yeah, cuz when I leave this job, I'm gonna be that guy I was before.
08:54 This is temporary, see?
08:57 I'm not no fool.
08:59 I got hired, I'm gonna get fired.
09:00 But the one thing that ain't gonna change about me is who I am, how I talk,
09:03 how I walk, how I act.
09:05 I don't miss my words, I don't bite my tongue.
09:09 It is what it is, so like it, love it.
09:11 I mean, this is no different.
09:14 I told Mark Davis day one, man, this is me.
09:16 I don't know what else you guys want.
09:17 I mean, I tell everybody, it's not a joke, it's not a gimmick, it's me.
09:21 But I think that's what people wanna see.
09:24 I mean, I've walked through the halls, I see all these head coaches and
09:28 former players and scouts and coaches.
09:30 And those are the same guys that either told me I couldn't do what I was gonna do,
09:35 or had my back, and I keep receipts.
09:38 >> On offense, you can have a quarterback and weapons, but
09:43 it's tough to have success unless you have the offensive line in place.
09:46 Where do you feel you guys need to improve, what you need to look for?
09:48 >> Yeah, I mean, to me, how I'd like to build a team,
09:51 I think you and Chelaska see the same way.
09:52 It's gotta be built in the trenches, man.
09:54 I get it, we can go get a skilled guy, get a quarterback.
09:56 Hell, nobody blocking for him, what does it matter?
09:59 So really, I'd love to see us just really be really sound up front, man.
10:02 I thought our offensive line the last part of the season did a hell of a job, man.
10:06 I thought they got together, they battled.
10:09 You had guys battling through injuries, and they didn't wanna miss one snap, and
10:12 they played for one another.
10:13 But you wanna have that consistent group each and every week.
10:16 And then you wanna have a core group of guys.
10:18 Again, I was fortunate for the organization I played for
10:20 that those guys played together for seven years consecutively.
10:23 And that was impressive to see.
10:25 And when you look at teams across the league, I know it's hard with free agency,
10:27 but you like to see that group.
10:30 Cuz that's the one position where you got the most players on the field at one time,
10:34 right, those five alignment.
10:35 And most teams, when they have this, pretty goddamn good,
10:38 regardless of who's that quarterback, that running back, because they set the tone.
10:42 And I think our guys really took pride in that.
10:44 Colton Miller did a hell of a job.
10:46 Jermaine, Mumford, Dillon.
10:51 I mean, those guys, man, they battled their ass off.
10:52 And I know it's free agency, you don't know who's gonna come back and go.
10:55 But whoever we put in those places, man, that's gonna be the mindset.
10:58 And then on defense, listen, you know we got some hands.
11:02 And them boys showed up, right?
11:03 You know what you're gonna give them, Max?
11:04 Malcolm Coons is coming to his own, and Tyree would be just fine.
11:07 But just how good would it look if you just put a couple more pieces in
11:12 the middle of that defense, man?
11:13 And now Max doesn't have to run so far on our side, cuz that quarterback,
11:19 he can't step up no more.
11:20 You know what I mean? Cuz you got the inside, you got pressure and force.
11:24 So I think for us, and that's my main focus,
11:26 is really just building this team inside out.
11:29 And I'd love to see us get some badass dudes, man, that are heavy-handed,
11:33 physical, that play the game the way that I see it being played.
11:37 >> Do you see Dillon as a guard long term, or
11:38 does this look up in the air a little bit as far as where you're at?
11:41 >> I think Dillon can play any of those positions.
11:42 I think it's all gonna come based off of what we do in free agency in the draft,
11:45 to be honest.
11:46 But you saw a kid that filled in at center right away,
11:48 and did a hell of a job in those two games.
11:49 Putting that guard, I thought, did a really good job going against, like,
11:53 the Chris Jones of the world, you know what I mean?
11:55 Holding his own, that's a tough matchup, but never blink, man, never blink.
11:59 So it's good when you have somebody that has that kind of position flex.
12:03 It gives us a lot of options.
12:04 >> You called Josh Jacobs the heartbeat of the team.
12:06 We asked Tom Zalesko about bringing him back.
12:08 He said, we wanna prioritize bringing our guys back.
12:10 How important is it to get JJ back?
12:12 >> I love it, man.
12:13 Two-headed monster with him and White?
12:15 Watch out.
12:16 Just watch out.
12:16 Like, that's, man, Josh, I have so much respect for Josh,
12:19 because the last four games he battled,
12:22 he tried everything possible to play, didn't work out.
12:25 Didn't work out, but he tried to the very last game, man, to play, and
12:29 he had a lot on the line.
12:30 And that was unselfish of him to do that, and I really respect that and
12:33 appreciate it, but at the end of the day, I know it's a business.
12:36 I know he wants to get paid.
12:37 I hope he gets paid to the Raider, because I still believe that.
12:40 Regardless if he's not here, man, he was one of my favorite players to watch,
12:43 coach, and be around because of his mindset.
12:46 He is an alpha.
12:47 He is what you want at running back.
12:49 He is that guy that, when he talks, people listen, and you respect that, and
12:55 you watch the style of play, and it fits what we want to do.
12:58 >> You can't go into a year with one quarterback, so
13:01 obviously you have to add some, but my question is, every time you talk,
13:06 you bring up Aiden, you believe in Aiden, and I'm just curious.
13:10 Do you think some people overlook him?
13:13 >> Yeah, I mean, cuz it's easy, cuz this is a hell of a draft class.
13:15 It's a really good free agent out there, too.
13:18 But it's no different than after the Minnesota game.
13:20 Everybody thought I should bench Aiden or do something else.
13:23 I stuck with Aiden.
13:24 I said that day one.
13:25 You remember I said, going forward, we're going Aiden.
13:27 I don't go back because of what everybody tells me to do or
13:30 what they think I should do.
13:31 You see the body of work each and every day.
13:34 When you're around somebody, you understand them a little bit more than
13:36 when people just see him, say, on Sunday, or at an appearance.
13:40 I'm watching a gentleman who knows that he has a lot to work on.
13:43 And the first thing he did after the season was over was get his butt
13:46 right back in the building.
13:47 First thing he did when we got the staff was come right up there and
13:50 introduce himself.
13:50 That's a pro.
13:52 That's a pro.
13:52 And it would be disrespectful for
13:54 me to talk about anybody else other than Aiden.
13:56 But Aiden does know there's competition.
14:00 Devontae Adams knows there is competition.
14:02 Max Crosby knows there is competition.
14:04 So if you're gonna do it with the quarterback, you gotta do it with everybody.
14:07 And that's one thing about this team is that they're very competitive.
14:09 They understand this next man up mentality.
14:12 I get the stars and all that, but hell, we're a production based business.
14:15 >> Tom Telesco mentioned yesterday that one of the things that's impressed him is
14:19 how many of the guys are in the building every day.
14:23 He says it talks about their commitment to their craft, but to their team.
14:27 Could you talk about that, please?
14:29 [BLANK_AUDIO]
14:32 >> It's shocking.
14:33 I mean, we're talking anywhere from 17 to 25 players
14:37 since after the Super Bowl, each and every day.
14:38 And I don't know why, but they seem to like to be around the building a bit more.
14:44 They seem to understand what they can do to get better and help us get better and
14:49 win.
14:50 And I said this prior to my last press conference.
14:53 There's some meat on the bone.
14:56 And guys felt like it's unfinished business.
14:59 The season ended and they wanted more.
15:02 And that mindset is carried over into some of our core guys.
15:06 And our main guy who's here every day, Max Crosby at 6 AM,
15:10 which he was there today, they're following his lead.
15:13 And that's good to see, man.
15:15 And like I said, it goes back to even Aiden.
15:16 Those guys are leading by example.
15:19 And whoever we bring in as bad boy, they gotta follow the lead or
15:21 they gotta get out.
15:22 And that's just how we're gonna roll.
15:24 But it's really impressive to see that they wanna be around the building.
15:26 Cuz I know how it was when I was a player when the season was over,
15:28 I was getting the hell out of dodge.
15:30 I wanted to get furthest away from the coaches and the facility.
15:33 And I think we create a culture and a fit at the building where it's okay to hang
15:37 out, we're not gonna step on your toes.
15:39 I give them a wave, see them.
15:40 I don't check in and see if they're doing this.
15:42 And man, I think that we're gonna see the results when we get out there in
15:44 the spring.
15:46 And more importantly, when we get to training camp.
15:47 >> As the coach of the Raiders, you have a pretty big microphone.
15:50 And we saw what happened with the comments we talked about earlier,
15:53 but with Patrick Mahomes' rules.
15:55 And when you see the reaction that some people may have taken that the wrong way,
15:59 do you just kinda laugh because now people are actually keying in on everything
16:06 that you say and what Antonio Pires has to say?
16:10 >> I always heard good press, bad press.
16:12 It's press.
16:13 And if people wanna talk about the Raiders in February,
16:15 then we're doing something right.
16:17 Even if they think it's wrong, they'll be right at some point.
16:20 >> You mentioned Tyree, I know Max said he's been very tough on Tyree.
16:24 As a coach, you gotta love that, I'm sure.
16:26 But you must have something rewarding for Tyree in the long run.
16:29 >> It is, it'll be good.
16:31 I know Tyree took some time.
16:32 Think about it, he didn't have off season.
16:33 Had surgery, couldn't really work out.
16:35 But when we throw him in a fire, he's not quite there yet, you know what I mean?
16:40 And came on very strong at the end.
16:42 And we talked about it, he said, listen, I'm gonna take some time,
16:44 go with my family, which I think he needs to.
16:46 But the one thing I do know is that he's gonna be back here early in March
16:50 before we get started April 15th, and he's gonna be with Max.
16:54 And that's Max's number one job, is to get and bring Tyree along.
16:59 But that's also Tyree's job, cuz we can want it, but Tyree gotta want it as well.
17:03 And I think he does, because last year he got humbled.
17:05 When you're the seventh pick overall and
17:07 you don't have the year that they expected to have,
17:10 you hear all the outside noise.
17:12 And he knows it wasn't good, he knows, it wasn't pretty at the beginning,
17:15 but that's okay.
17:16 He worked on it, he worked on it, and you saw the improvement.
17:19 And that's the one thing you can sit there and say, okay,
17:20 there's a glim of light that you think going forward, that light switch.
17:28 And you never know when that's gonna happen as a player, right?
17:30 Especially as a rookie, cuz they all come in, the alphas, they got money.
17:33 Like he says, 15 AMs running, walking around, it's all good.
17:36 But at the end of the day, it don't matter,
17:37 cuz if you don't produce on Sundays, nobody cares.
17:40 >> One of the positions where you guys had the most movement last year was
17:42 with cornerback.
17:43 Part of it was due to injury, performance, etc.
17:46 How do you kind of view in that position this offseason and
17:48 potentially making some additions there?
17:49 >> Yeah, priority.
17:50 I mean, I think you saw the addition of Jack Jones.
17:52 [SOUND] Big time, good force, confidence, swag, anticipation.
17:58 Lifted the whole group and the defense.
18:01 Nate Hopps, if we could just keep him on the field for 17 games, come on.
18:07 Probably one of the best star nickels that you'll get out there,
18:11 cuz he can cover, he's physical, he can tackle.
18:14 Extremely competitive.
18:15 I thought Amik did a good job.
18:17 I know he's a free agent, see how that plays out.
18:20 And then look at JB Bennett.
18:22 I mean, we threw him in the fire early, started as a rookie.
18:25 Was I don't know, six, seven games, and then off and on after that with injuries.
18:30 But his confidence came back at the end of the season.
18:32 Didn't really get to show up on film, but we saw it in practice.
18:34 Saw him the other day in the facility, looks amazing.
18:37 So you're right, yeah.
18:39 Do we gotta add pieces?
18:40 We gotta add pieces.
18:41 And the pieces we want are guys that wanna compete, short term memory.
18:44 We want the alphas, man.
18:45 I want those guys out there that extremely confident.
18:48 They gotta be. They gotta have short term memory too now.
18:50 Cuz they don't get popped.
18:51 They don't get popped.
18:52 But you want those guys, man, that just, I want that challenge.
18:55 I want Tae every day at practice.
18:57 You know what I mean? I wanna go against Trey Tucker.
18:59 I want Jacobi.
19:00 I wanna go against that guy every day to get better.
19:02 I want those guys.
19:02 I don't want guys that's coming in here to just put on a logo or
19:07 silver and black and say, I'm ready to corner him.
19:10 I want them to have that mindset that I'm gonna be the best.
19:12 And is that gonna happen right away?
19:14 No, but that group overall with who we got in that room is gonna bring the best out of
19:18 them.
19:19 >> Every team, every franchise is different every year.
19:23 But Jack Jones talked on Twitter the other day about people wanting him to go out and
19:28 recruit free agents.
19:30 But he said, I believe in the guys in this locker.
19:32 I'm not gonna go recruit anybody.
19:34 I mean, that's almost Antonio Pierce type swag, isn't it?
19:38 >> Yeah, man, listen, Jack is a loyal dude, man, as you guys have seen.
19:41 A loyal player, a loyal human being.
19:44 And he loves his group.
19:46 And like I said, when he came in, first and foremost, they put their arms around him.
19:50 We need to love up Jack Jones.
19:51 He went through a little bit as well earlier on in his career.
19:54 And he felt that love for those guys.
19:55 So as a player, the brothers, you don't wanna see them go anywhere else.
20:00 And we don't either.
20:01 But it's a business of your understanding,
20:02 you gotta be able to keep all your players cuz of financial situations.
20:05 But to hear your guys, one, go to bat for coach, go to bat for one another.
20:11 What does that tell you?
20:12 Tighten your group, man.
20:15 And that's why when people ask me why I talk or do what I do is because I'm backed up
20:19 by 53 dogs, 53 dudes that's ready to freaking go to war.
20:24 Still, in February, we just gotta temper it down a little bit too, AP as well.
20:28 >> Yeah, I mean, about first, since you took the job,
20:30 whether it's putting together a staff, combine, having your first OTAs.
20:35 How are you approaching that cuz you haven't done it before?
20:37 Are you pulling from different places to try to learn the best approach for
20:40 you, just kinda filling it out as you go?
20:41 Like what's your overall- >> Yeah, past experience, obviously.
20:44 I go back, really, I go back to my playing days, what I liked as a player.
20:48 Then you gotta go to, okay, what's the CBA rules, what's new?
20:50 Okay, what do you do now with all these different?
20:52 Limitations that you have, and then also,
20:55 there's a reason why you brought in Marvin Lewis and Joe Philbin.
20:59 Okay, let's all sit at this table, let's put pen to paper,
21:01 let's come up with some different ideas, let's be creative as well.
21:04 Let's try to mimic things that we can get better at come, say, August,
21:09 when we're in training camp or that happened to us in the season,
21:12 situational football, things of that nature.
21:14 So there's a lot of stuff that's going through that process.
21:16 I'm not gonna mimic what we've done in the past,
21:19 cuz that's not what I was used to doing.
21:22 And that's not a knock to anybody, but this is your first time, like you said,
21:26 to put your stamp on it.
21:27 And there's certain things I wanna emphasize, and
21:29 you just try to build that throughout the offseason.
21:32 I think we're gonna have great participation.
21:35 So then you also gotta reward the guys, so you gotta be smart.
21:38 We're not gonna beat nobody in April, May, June, July.
21:40 It's about just really, to me, just keep building this bad boy so tight,
21:44 where as people poke holes into it or
21:46 try to poke holes into what we're doing, they can't do it.
21:49 >> Imagine cornerbacks like you were just talking about,
21:52 when you evaluate this draft class,
21:53 what do you think is potentially the deepest position coming out?
21:57 >> It's a few, man.
21:57 I think the corner group good, cornerbacks pretty good.
22:01 O-line, interior D-line, pass rushers.
22:06 I mean, to be honest, you wish you had more picks.
22:12 [LAUGH] >> You're like, damn.
22:15 But then you gotta be smart until that's going to stand there, and
22:17 he knows I am.
22:18 I'm like, come on, man, can we get four more picks?
22:20 But that's also what's good about for agency.
22:23 That comes first, so we'll be able to plug some of those holes.
22:25 But it's a very talented group.
22:27 The gentlemen that we've interviewed have done an outstanding job in that process
22:31 of really speaking, telling us who they are, what they know.
22:36 These guys are being coached up well now.
22:37 I tell you, that's the biggest difference, goddamn.
22:39 They know everything that's about to be asked.
22:40 They're sitting in our room and got all our questions, so that's cool.
22:44 But I think the best part about it is just seeing these guys as eager,
22:46 that wanna come out and really put on a show here at the combine.
22:49 And more importantly, we got some guys that said, man, I'm gonna be a Raider.
22:51 And I like hearing that walk through the hall.
22:54 I have more Raider chance than any other team.
22:55 >> One of those quarterbacks, you coached him at Arizona State, Jaden Daniels.
23:00 He was there at the locker room after your last game of the season
23:04 against the Broncos.
23:05 What are your thoughts on Jaden, knowing him at Arizona State and
23:08 then seeing what he did at LSU?
23:10 >> Impressive.
23:11 I mean, I thought he'd win Heisman.
23:12 That was my recruiting pitch.
23:13 He ain't gonna win Heisman.
23:14 Goddamn, he won Heisman.
23:15 >> [LAUGH] >> That was cool.
23:16 I'm like, did he call my name?
23:18 I said, that's even cooler.
23:19 Man, just proud of him.
23:21 When I was recruiting Jaden, 150 pounds wet, everyone was like,
23:25 what are you getting this little skinny dude from San Bernardino?
23:27 But I saw as a winner, saw a guy that's really competitive.
23:32 Always out to prove people wrong.
23:34 Been doubted his whole life because of size or
23:37 certain attributes about him physically or mentally.
23:39 And I think all he's done is prove people wrong.
23:41 And it was good to watch him do it at the highest level of cost of the SEC and
23:45 dominate, it was impressive.
23:47 >> What was it like meeting with him?
23:48 I read that you guys had met with him, now being the head coach of the Raiders, and
23:52 he's a prospect that you never know how things might play out.
23:56 But what was that like?
23:58 >> It's cool.
23:59 It's just cool going through the process.
24:00 It kind of reminds me of Jack Jones.
24:02 I've known Jaden since he was 14 years old, and I've known Jack since he was 13.
24:06 Just watched him grow up to be young man and
24:08 obviously their number one goal is to be in the NFL.
24:11 I just happen to be fortunate to be the head coach of the Raiders and
24:13 there could be a possibility, but we'll have to see.
24:16 >> You mentioned the adversity that Jaden had to face before he became
24:20 the Heisman Trophy winner.
24:22 Did you see a little bit of yourself in him as well?
24:24 >> Yeah, I think every player that if I have a chance to pick is gonna have a
24:27 little bit of AP in them.
24:29 That just makes sense.