I'm going back to receivers again because I

can't help it.

Because now, like Malik Benson, does he get four? Does Jalen Naylor get five opportunities? Trey Tucker, does he get three? Does Jack Besch on third down get four? Like, think about it.

I'm just giving you the reps out there that are opportunities.

We're talking about just 60 plays.

What if they only get 50 plays? What if they get 65? You know what I mean? What if we're in the fourth quarter and we're running the football because we want to drain the clock out? So that's plays that are taken away from certain position groups.

So it goes back to everything that we talked about.

What do you thought about the second year or first year guy, I should say, second round pick being there at the starter on the depth chart?

So that's a good thing.

Yeah, it was almost like a one-for-one, right? Because you bring in Darrell Looter, you claim him off waivers, and then you release the Camry and Richardson.

So you felt like, okay, there was an upgrade out there that was available for you, and the Raiders jumped on it.

I think I was a bit shocked and surprised when with the number one waiver claim was only one guy coming in in Looter that we just mentioned.

But then I always thought about in some of the conversations that I've had with some of our personnel guys is that when you do bring in a guy, from a waiver claim, he's got to be able to help you yesterday, right? Not today.

You know what I mean? You're bringing in a guy who's going to help you week one.

You're not bringing in a project or we're hopefully project this guy in a couple of games.

And that'd be awesome.

So when you got the initial paper, the waves, the releases, the guys that were put on IR, I guess what stood out to you the most about the Raiders' current roster?

I mean, what stood out to me the most was my guy, Keyron Crawford, man.

I was so excited for him that I thought that he was going to be in a situation that was going to help him out.

He was going to have some success.

But I remember seeing that injury happen where actually, I don't know if you remember, when he went down, we were interviewing John Spitek in the booth on the TV broadcast.

And so you saw him go in the tent, and there was just a look on John Spitek's face that throughout that period of time when Keyron was in the tent because we're trying to interview him.

Now we're doing a commercial break, but you can tell he was focused on, you know, his third round pick, Keyron Crawford in the tent.

Were you surprised by that, or did you think that was just about right?

Who do you like outside? Who needs to step up outside to give Cousins or eventually Mendoza or however that's going to look a true deep threat on the perimeter?

That's been the tough part.

Not only just offseason, but throughout preseason, there was an expectation that a guy like Trey Tucker, who went to Cincinnati, and then there was also Jalen Naylor, who went to Michigan State, played early in his career with the Minnesota Vikings.

was always kind of a third, fourth option with their Vikings team, but a guy who had double-digit touchdowns in his time over there.

So you have all of these guys who you expected to take this leap.

You drafted Jack Besch in the second round from TCU last year, and there was an expectation that these guys would be what you needed outside the numbers, and it really hasn't progressed in the way I think some would have wanted to.

So I feel like this team possibly could make a move at wide receiver just because no one really truly separated themselves.

Ideally, buddy, how does this season go with Mendoza? How does that go? If everything goes according to plan, what does this season look like with Mendoza and Cousins? I mean, to be honest, if everything

But to Robbie Leonard's point, just, you know, what is it about fixing one thing at a time? How do they go about doing that when a lot of Raider Nation is panicking? by what they saw from the defense so far?

Yeah, I mean, I think everybody wants to panic because we all want to see right now everything be ready to go.

I mean, let's just be honest.

We still got 20 days.

Yeah.

20 days.

You know what I mean? Almost three weeks before the first game.

What is going on with the college game? Where are we at right now where guys are getting cut from the Browns and getting back to college? Like, where are we at right now? I just got to ask

How much are you going to be focusing on the trenches and what that Texans defensive line goes up against the Raiders offensive line looks like?

Yeah, I told people before training camp even started, I may have even told you, I know I told Vinny Bonsignor, but I said we can, no matter what happens from now until August 17th or August 18th, I'll know more about this football team when they travel down to Houston.

And for me, the big part is about this offensive line.

That is what I'm excited to see what they do in terms of going up against a Daniil Hunter and obviously on the opposite side, Will Anderson Jr.

I love the secondary.

I love the linebacker.

This is the number one defense, I think, in the National Football League.

That was my guy.

How beneficial do you think that was for the coaching staff to see what he looks like with the first team and for him to get those first-team reps as well?

You know what? It's very interesting that it all happened the way that it did, that he got those first-team reps, right, on Saturday because Max was held out.

And it was funny, after Max and Kirk Cousins had that little thing, you know, I was also doing some interviews for SiriusXM and NFL Radio.

Kirk Cousins was right before Max.

And so to see those two dudes hugging like brothers right after all, you know, this whole thing, like, oh, the dust up, like, these are two competitors, two dudes that want to win.

And that's all that was.

And they were held out of Saturday and they gave, like you mentioned, Fernando Mendoza some of those reps.

Yes.

I think that's a positive step forward for sure.

It is, and that's what I hope the preseason is really all about.

I mean, Eric Stokes doesn't have to take another snap.

during his preseason because he's already on the roster.

I know what Eric Stokes can be, and I know what I think he can be going into this season in terms of taking the ball away.

The reps really need to go to those younger players.

I want to see more of Darion Porter.

What does, in your opinion, ride for the brand and play with shocking effort mean to you?

I

mean, you're watching the rotations go in.

And you're seeing guys get opportunities early on that I think last year they didn't get those opportunities.

Seeing a young Tonka Hemingway in year two going out there, making an impact, being a disruptor.

We know what Max Crosby's going to be.

But I'm like, man, who's this number 95 guy? That's Quiddie Paye.

You know what I mean? You've got a first-round type of player now playing on the opposite end of Max Crosby who's been, I think, a guy who can really turn some things back to Max.

How much of a difference can they make in terms of freeing up a Max in a 3-4 when he's out there kind of freelancing a little bit and the things that they can do? I think

I

mean, you're watching the rotations go in.

And you're seeing guys get opportunities early on that I think last year they didn't get those opportunities.

Seeing a young Tonka Hemingway in year two going out there, making an impact, being a disruptor.

We know what Max Crosby's going to be, but I'm like, man, who's this number 95 guy? That's Quiddie Paye.

You know what I mean? You've got a first-round type of player now playing on the opposite end of Max Crosby who's been, I think, a guy who can really turn some things back to Max.

You're not going to be able to run at Quiddie Paye.

How much of a difference can they make in terms of freeing up a Max in a 3-4 when he's out there kind of freelancing a little bit and the things that they can

H- how do you think they're handling things in Las Vegas with the relative interest in Maxx Crosby, but also having a franchise cornerstone who got back on the franchise?

You know, Patrick, I had a chance to talk with the team yesterday just about, you know, the media requirements that are upon all NFL players, the obligation to talk to the media.

But I really just r- let the guys know that no matter what happens during the season, that the conversation is always gonna be around certain players.

And Maxx Crosby has actually earned that conversation because of the type of player that he is.

One of the best players in the NFL on the defensive side, getting after the passer, being a disruptor on defense, that a lot of teams would love to have a number 98 Maxx Crosby on their roster.

That being said, we have to handle the day-to-day of Maxx Crosby as a Raider.

I think we all know what happened this off-season, the trade that was made that didn't h- end up happening.

What are you going to be looking for? What's the vibe around Clint Kubiak's camp?

Just kind of be that inner guy, that in-between guy, because you've been on both sides of it now.

Well, just make sure you're getting your message across.

Because nationally, everybody who doesn't cover the Raiders on a local level, their whole thing is Fernando Mendoza, Kirk Cousins.

It's Max Crosby.

It's Clint Kubiak.

So my thing is, like, they don't know, so we're going to make sure they know.

And that's by everybody going out and performing and practicing hard.

The Raiders haven't had that in the past, and it feels like they've brought those guys into the organization now.

... tell you? Do you think he wants to return, and do you think that he will?

will?There's a possibility, Jim.

And, and with Aaron Donald, I wouldn't put anything past a guy who loves the game, values the game, respects the game.

But that being said, I, I don't think that that's something that he may want to do.

I think, yes, it, it... is it...

the possibility is always there.

I, I get that.

Great job, dude.

Do you think he wants to return, and do you think that he will?

There's a possibility, Jim, and, and with Aaron Donald, I wouldn't put anything past a guy who loves the game, values the game, respects the game.

But that being said, I, I don't think that that's something that he may want to do.

I think, yes.

It, it, is it...

The possibility is always there.

I, I get that.

Great job, dude

The team and the coaching staff, don't they have a pretty good idea who's going to be on that 53 right now?

Yeah, because the economics of the NFL tell you that.

I've always known that.

The economics of the NFL tell me who is going to make this team, who's possibly on the bubble of making this team, and who's possibly an older veteran who's making a lot of money on the possibility of a verge who could be released or cut.

The economics tell me that.

Everybody's playing with the same playbook or grocery list, I should say, or budget, I should say, when it comes to the NFL.

And you start to realize where can we save money here if we've got a guy who is playing at a higher level, who may be a younger player that we are not paying a king's ransom to that can give us a similar type of production.

What is the 8v8?

How do you answer that question? When people ask you, I know you've got family and friends that say, hey, man, what do you think about the new direction of the team? How do you respond to that?

That's a good question, Q. I actually answer it different ways.

someone would ask me, what do you think about the direction? And I would say, this is new.

It's different.

But I think that our alignment is probably the best that I've seen in the time that since I was a player.

I would say that the structure is better than since I was a then Oakland Raider.

And I'm talking about the hierarchy of just the football team.

With his acquisition, healthy Colton Miller, and obviously this competition along that offensive line, how much better could you see this offensive line being as opposed to what it was last season?

How effective do you think Ashton Gentee with the healthy Brock Bowers can be?

I think he could be, man, he could be up there.

I think the numbers are going to be different.

And I think it's also the plan in which I believe Trent Kubiak has, and we'll see when the season starts.

I think we'll see a lot of the 12 personnel that we envisioned last year under Chip Kelly.

I think we'll see a different version of it and how, but Kubiak utilized that to run the football.

And I think right now you're seeing around the league 12 personnel, 13 personnel, you know, one back, two tights, one back, three tight ends.

And even if you use the check down, I mean, that's just going to make a guy like Kirk Cousins or Aiden O'Connell or Fernando Mendoza, whoever's behind center, that'll make them more comfortable out there on the field, won't it?

Okay

...

when it comes to, like, an exam.

Um, you've had a lot of chance to do a lot of the coursework and the paperwork, and when you comes to minicamp, it's just to see how much that you've learned, how much that you have been able to go out there and process the information that's been given to you, and can you go out there and, and do it mistake-free, or there's some things to still work on.

The, the roster is not set, the roster is not made, but minicamp is just a good indication of where you're at.

Like, OTAs is more of a slowed down version of it.

Minicamp is, "Here we go, we're going out there to practice a little bit." Just with the helmets on, nothing too much, but, you know, you get an opportunity to see where the team is at, and that'll be the last time that the Raiders will be on film before training camp.

How do you envision, and I know it'll, it, it will reveal itself, but how do you kind of envision a, a, a plan for Jalen Nailor, who was a priority free agent that the Raiders brought in?

Okay

...

when it comes to, like, an exam.

Um, you've had a lot of chance to do a lot of the coursework and the paperwork, and when you comes to mini camp, it's just to see how much that you've learned, how much that you have been able to go out there and process the information that's been given to you.

And can you go out there and do it mistake free, or are there some things to still work on? The, the roster is not set, the roster is not made, but mini camp is just a good indication of where you're at.

Like, OTAs is more of a slowed down version of it.

Mini camp is, here we go, we're going out there to practice a little bit.

What do you kind of... how do you envision, and I know it'll, it, it will reveal itself, but how do you kind of envision a, a, a plan for Jalen Naylor, who was a priority free agent that the Raiders brought in?

But I asked him straight up about Quay Walker and that linebacking room, and this is what Captain Kirk had to say.

Yeah, I mean, those two guys are gonna be covered up, Nakobe Dean and Quay Walker.

They're gonna be...

When I say covered up, it's gonna have five guys in front of you, five defensive linemen or defensive ends, combi- combination of the two.

And so to me, those guys now are gonna have basically free runs to the football.

People call it, I, I've told you before, it's...

People are gonna call it 3-4, but it's actually a 5-2 in my opinion.

Hmm

How does a team determine if they're going to be one of those that carries two quarterbacks or, no, we're going to go and carry three quarterbacks?

See, I'm a little biased in this one because I kind of started my broadcasting career and I was with the Los Angeles Rams when they moved back to Los Angeles.

So my first crack at being a broadcast team was seeing Jeff Fisher play when the Rams drafted Jared Goff, the third quarterback.

Well, Jared Goff is drafted number one overall.

You traded up to get him.

How can he be your third quarterback? But that's what it was.

Case Keenum was the number one.

Like, they're one play ahead of everybody else.

How long do you think it's going to take Fernando to become the starting quarterback? Do you think we see it midseason or could it take longer?

You know, honestly, it depends on Kirk Cousins.

That's, to me, the answer I'm going to give you because Kirk Cousins right now is really in tune.

He's really sharp right now.

And Clint Kubiak's offense, offense he's very familiar with.

So he's been able to go out there.

He's getting guys lined up.

me, Kirk.

[laughs]

Like, every, every year now, we have this time in which the social media teams all across the NFL have now put out all of these videos in regarding the schedule.

And you know what? They're actually pretty good.

I just don't know when did it become this sort of thing now, the competition.

And right now, I will be honest with you, the, the team that's leading the competition is who? The Los Angeles Chargers.

Every year putting out one of the great schedule videos, one of the straight hype- great hype videos, I think, of the NFL, and it's exciting to see just where this thing has gone.

It sort of just started with, "Oh, okay, here's the schedule," and you announced it.

It was a Tuesday as well.

What kind of player are the Rams getting in McDuffie, and do you think he makes a significant dent, significant impact in shoring up what was their biggest weakness last year, at least defensively?

Well, I think he's only one player.

Um, you know, he-- is he gonna have the impact that I thought Jalen Ramsey had for the Rams when they traded for him from the Miami Dolphins back in the...

Sorry, from Jacksonville back in the day.

I thought that that was, uh, a guy who came right in, and immediately he changed that secondary around for the Rams.

Can Trent McDuffie have that same type of impact that Jalen Ramsey had? I don't know.

I, I really don't.

But just in your opinion, do you think it's best for Max Crosby to try to stick it out as a veteran presence as part of that rebuild, or do you think it's best for the Raiders and/or Max for them to part ways?

As an NFL vet that I know yourself, how could an NFL team be this bad?

Oh, man.

I mean, I thought I was a part of one of the worst teams in Raider history, no lie.

The 2006 Raiders with Art Shell as head coach.

I think with Tom Walsh was our offensive coordinator who Art Shell hired, who was working out of bed and breakfast.

Like, it was bad.

It was bad.

When it comes to the playoff, where do you sit on the James Madison and Tulane are in there to try to play Cinderella spoiler?