What can he do to get this team off to a good start against a Miami Dolphins team that obviously is in a rebuild like the Raiders are, but the problem is Kirk Cousins doesn't have his number one target in Brock Bowers.

Yeah, I think the biggest thing for Kirk is just to run a clean operation.

I think that's really what offensive coordinator Andrew Ginoco said on Thursday.

It's the biggest thing that they ask for him is to not create any negative plays, don't make any negative plays more negative by compounding any mistakes.

and just kind of keep the ball moving forward, trying to complete passes, everything like that.

So I think the biggest thing for Kirk is just to make sure that he's on assignment, and that's what the Raiders are asking him to do and what he's shown so far as the quarterback and as the starting quarterback.

So I think that's the biggest thing is...

Should there be some concern, or do you think that Robbie Leonard was kind of just laying back in the weeds and waiting until the regular season to come along to actually show you what this defense could be?

So is there a chance in your mind that Fernando's not the backup quarterback when we get to talk to Coach on Wednesday? Yeah, I mean, we'll

see.

But I think it's, you know, there's positives either way.

I think there definitely is a chance that it is Aiden O'Connell and Fernando is that, you know, emergency third quarterback.

Just given that, like, I think the quote that Mike McCoy had, the assistant head coach earlier, I think this was during, like, mandatory minicamp.

But he said that, you know...

the Raiders have a plan for how they're going to manage Fernando, and they don't really want external factors to affect that plan.

What are your expectations for Jack Bish? I guess the best way to word it in year number two.

Like, what, what are your overall observations? Did you feel, uh, a little bit better about this team coming out of training camp before you did? Or, or, or, like, what are your thoughts?

Yeah, so I, I think I feel better about the offense, um, just seeing them put stuff together during training camp and in the preseason.

Um, you know, I feel better about Kirk Cousins and what he's gonna be able to do, um, as the starting quarterback.

He seems like he's been able to command and control the offense, like, as best as, uh...

As really how Klint Kubiak wants.

Like, he's, he's not gonna be the guy who comes in there with all the arm talent or anything like that, but he's, you know, exactly what, what Klint Kubiak and, and kind of this Shanahan style offense wants, is a guy who can come in there and command things and, um, really not, you know, make too many mistakes and, and hit his reads at the right times and things like that.

So he's gonna be, you know, the point guard back there.

But what am I missing about Rob Leonard himself, the coach perhaps?

But what have you seen? How have you seen this team develop from the time that they got out there, you know, mini camp and training camp throughout the preseason now to the point where they got to make these cuts?

Yeah, I think the biggest thing for me is that, you know, the starting group looks solid.

And then there's, you know, some questions about the depth.

I think last night, seeing Kirk Cousins and the starting offense go out there for two drives, I thought, you know, even though it ended in field goals, I thought they looked really solid.

Kirk really didn't get a chance to continue his defense.

first drive because they ran it three times and ended up having to kick a field goal.

I think he probably, you know, if he gets one chance to throw the ball there, he might, you know, convert that into a touchdown drive.

What is that Aiden O'Connell decision for you?

Overall, what's been your take on that last approach for Fernando Mendoza after he threw that interception and maybe kind of recuperated a little?

Yeah, I think Fernando's stat line from the Titans game looks worse than it actually was between the, the intersection.

Obviously that's not what you want to see, but that's something that he can get cleaned up.

Also, you know, it's he was targeting Mike Washington, another rookie.

They're both kind of getting used.

It was their second game action ever in the NFL.

So a little bit of miscommunication there on the pick six.

But what can you tell us in terms of the hope that he will be back week one? Where is it looking right now with that injury?

Can you just catch us up to speed? What's the Maxx Crosby situation?

Yeah, so I think Maxx came back, and obviously there was a little bit of, um, I think a little bit of disjointedness as, as...

You can't really blame that with the guy coming back after being traded.

But, uh, he comes back into the building.

I think Clint Kubiak wanted him to be there.

Um, how could you not when he's one of the top pass rushers in the game? And, and Maxx has really kind of just bought into what the vision under Clint Kubiak and John Spytek is.

So I think he's happy with the, the off-season moves that have been made.

Is he, is he running the show?

Can you just catch us up to speed? What's the Maxx Crosby situation?

Yeah, so I think Maxx came back, and obviously there was a little bit of, um, I think a little bit of disjointedness as, as...

And you can't really blame that with the guy coming back after being traded.

But, uh, he comes back into the building.

I think Clint Kubiak wanted him to be there.

Um, how could you not when he's one of the top pass rushers in the game? And, and Maxx has really kind of just bought into what the vision under Clint Kubiak and John Spytek is.

So I think he's happy with the, the off-season moves that have been made.

Is he, is he running the show?

Can you just catch us up to speed? What's the Maxx Crosby situation?

Yeah, so I think Max came back, and obviously there was a little bit of, um, I think a little bit of disjointedness as, as...

You can't really blame that with the guy coming back after being traded.

But, uh, he comes back into the building.

I think Clint Kubiak wanted him to be there.

Um, how could you not when he's one of the top pass rushers in the game? And, and Max has really kind of just bought into what the vision under Clint Kubiak and John Spytek is.

So I think he's happy with the, the off-season moves that have been made.

Is he, is he running the show?

Can you just catch us up to speed? What's the Maxx Crosby situation?

Yeah, so I think Maxx came back, and obviously there was a little bit of, um, I think a little bit of disjointedness as, as...

You can't really blame that with a guy coming back after being traded.

But, uh, he comes back into the building.

I think Clint Kubiak wanted him to be there.

Um, how could you not when he's one of the top pass rushers in the game? And, and Maxx has really kind of just bought into what the vision under Clint Kubiak and John Spytek is.

So I think he's happy with the, the off-season moves that have been made.

Is he, is he running the show?

It certainly did from Twitter.

Yeah, yeah, and as much as it worried people on Twitter, the scene was definitely very ominous and somber as well, seeing it out there.

So I think we were all pretty surprised, just given the way that the Raiders reacted, that it wasn't as serious as it appeared to be.

But obviously thankful that Ashton seems to be doing better and seems like it's not gonna be a long-term thing.

Yeah, I think there's no reason for Clint to have to kind of articulate what's going on with Ashton.

He said that they're looking forward to having him back.

So that's the only piece of information that we really got out of it.

What is the perception so far this training camp of Malik Benson?

It certainly did from Twitter.

Yeah, and as much as it worried people on Twitter, the scene was definitely very ominous and somber as well seeing it out there.

So I think we were all pretty surprised just given the way that the Raiders reacted that it wasn't as serious as it appeared to be.

But obviously thankful that Ashton seems to be doing better and seems like it's not gonna be a long term thing.

Yeah, I think there's no reason for Clint to have to kind of articulate what's going on with Ashton.

He said that they're looking forward to having him back.

So that's the only piece of information that we really got out of it.

What is the perception so far this training camp of Malik Benson?

It certainly did from Twitter.

Yeah, and as much as it worried people on Twitter, the scene was definitely very ominous and somber as well seeing it out there.

So I think we were all pretty surprised just given the way that the Raiders reacted that it wasn't as serious as it appeared to be.

But obviously thankful that Ashton seems to be doing better and seems like it's not gonna be a long term thing.

Yeah, I think there's no reason for Clint to have to kind of articulate what's going on with Afton.

He said that they're looking forward to having him back.

So that's the only piece of information that we really got out of it.

What is the perception so far, this training camp of Malik Benson?

But, you know, all in all, this is probably the best case scenario that Raider fans could probably have hoped for.

Absolutely.

I mean, I didn't directly report the prayer circle immediately, but it did happen.

I think it was a pretty somber scene seeing it happen.

Like you said, I didn't exactly have the best look at it, but Ashton dove for a ball that was beyond him from Kirk Cousins and I believe Darian Porter was there in coverage.

I don't think there was contact, but I think Ashton was trying to make a play and just went down awkwardly.

But yeah, he was down on the field for a decent bit.

Jackson Paris Johnson and Caleb Rogers um a good look so um we'll see what happens with that um but you know this is going to be a typical last week of the preseason type of game um you know who do you expect to to gain the most from this uh from this last game besides the guards so I think the

How has the Raiders' O line been in these joint practices with the Texans?

Yeah, it was, it was tough sledding on Tuesday.

Um, I think we all expected that going in.

This Raiders offensive line is still in flux.

They haven't really named starters at positions just yet, and when you're going up against Danielle Hunter and, and Will Anderson Jr. on both sides, and then not even to talk about guys like Sheldon Rankins on the interior, um, even backup guys like Logan Hall were, were picking up some sacks and things like that.

So, um, that's a, that's a tough challenge for this offensive line.

The Raiders knew, knew that going in, and I think there's gonna be some issues for the offensive line.

Do you think at the trade deadline, let's say trade deadline, they're two and six or, you know, something de- or do you think spy tech's like you'd have to give him such a haul?

So I guess first off I'll just start with we've all kinda covered it and heard different analysis, but what did you see from the joint practice, uh, on Tuesday against the Raiders and Texans?

Yeah, so I mean, with all the stuff going on with the Raiders, the quarterback battle between Kirk Cousins and Fernando, um, I was mostly focused on the offense.

And this was, uh, something that was circled pretty much on my preseason calendar for, you know, as soon as the schedule came out and it, it was announced that they were gonna have joint practices with the Texans.

Just because having watched the Texans' defense for the past two years, I know the challenge that they could provide that, that quarterback room, um, the offense and, and all the things that Clint Kubiak wants to do.

So was really interested to see how Kirk Cousins and Fernando Mendoza were going to react, um, to, you know, playing against the, the Texans' defense.

Um, what I did see was that, you know, it was the typical reaction, um, from most NFL quarterbacks.

They were, they were pressured quite a bit.

But where are you at on the battle, and do you think that we could see him sooner rather than later?

Uh, what'd you see?

Yeah, I mean, the, the main thing that stood out to me about both of them was how much the pressure was affecting them.

Um, I mean, I, I think they knew that.

Um, they knew, you know, the Texans' defense going into it.

They knew the two edges that they have between, um, Will Anderson Jr. and Deniel Hunter, and they knew that the offensive line was ha- gonna have some struggles.

Um, but it was obvious that they, those guys coming in off the edges was really, you know, affecting them, speeding up their timing, speeding up their progression.

Kirk looked, I think, as uncomfortable as we've seen so far, um, in his time with the Raiders.

Um, and I, I think they kind of talked a little bit about their, their run defense after practice, right?

But all in all, body of work, what did you feel like you saw from Fernando Mendoza?

Yeah, I think I saw a player that, you know, you saw the flashes of why the guy was a Heisman Trophy winner, a national champion, a number one overall pick.

I think, you know, some of the plays, like the throw to Malik Benson, I think that answered a lot of questions about his ability to play under center, play in this kind of play-action scheme that Clint Kupiak draws up, and the precision on that throw, kind of weaving it through three defenders, that was really impressive to me.

Also, the touchdown after, you know, taking a sack, Really kind of settling his mind there, hitting Ian Thomas to set things up, and then putting the ball right on Zach Bech in the end zone where it needs to be below the defenders.

I think that was a big-time resiliency moment for him.

Also, I think you did see some overzealous moments for him like that sack.

I think he was holding on to the ball a little bit too long.

Should Raider Nation have some concern about the kicking game at this stage?

But what did you see when you saw those two alphas, especially Kirk Cousins, standing up to Max Crosby and saying, hey, that ain't going to fly here?

Yeah, I think it's about time, to be honest.

Like, we're, what, eight days into practices now? And it seems like everything had been pretty, you know, there had been a lot of passion, but...

but I think there hadn't been a whole ton of animosity from either side.

By the time you get to this point in training camp, I think that stuff kind of starts to bubble over.

So seeing how Max has the motor that he has, and the motor that he has is what pushes him to be one of the best pass directors in the league.

But sometimes...

As long as he stays healthy, how big of a year do you think Brock Bowers could be in line for, especially in this offense?

But who has showed out, and who's kind of surprised you in what could be a good or bad way?

Yeah, I mean, the standout from the receiver group, I would say, no matter where they are on the depth chart right now, has been Malik Benson.

He's really made a ton of plays kind of with that second and third group.

His chemistry with Fernando Mendoza working with him has been really evident.

He's made a few big plays, a lot of them on kind of these crossing routes that are kind of a staple of this Clint Kubiak offense.

um he's made a big a few big plays with fernando in team and seven on seven and everything like that so um there's a lot of excitement about what he's been able to do um zach azani the receivers coach tamp down a little bit saying that he's still got a long way to go um but they're excited about where he is kind of in his early development and then The top two receivers have also looked good.

It's pretty clear that Trey Tucker and Jalen Naylor are those two guys that are going to be out there a lot.

Can you tell us about what's happening with that battle?

What are your thoughts on just what you've seen from those guys, Jack Besch, Dante Thornton, Tucker and Naylor as well, just from the wide receivers in general?

Yeah, I think we saw more of it today.

I think there was, in the first couple days of practice, there was a lot of, you know, kind of quick, efficient passes, more, you know, getting the quick game going.

But today we saw more red zone, more shots being taken.

We saw some impressive plays, I think, from Jalen Naylor, Trey Tucker.

Malik Benson keeps getting his name called, and he had an impressive catch.

I think he was out of bounds today, but...

How have you seen him grow the first three days of training camp?

You know, this is your first Raiders training camp, but what are like some of the top three biggest storylines or things that, you know, you're going to be watching for, you know, starting this training camp?

Yeah, I think outside of the obvious in how Fernando performs and how we're looking at Kirk Cousins, I think the biggest thing for me is definitely the offensive line and just seeing how they perform going up against this Raiders defensive line.

Obviously on the edges, there's quite a bit of talent there as well.

But just outside of Tyler Linderbaum and Colton Miller, who are the guys that can kind of really solidify their place in this offensive line and couldn't really tell that during the off season program just because they don't really have pads on and it's hard to kind of see how these guys are performing.

But once the pads come on and they can really make some contacts I think that's going to be something that's really, I'm going to be keeping my eye on just cause that was a major issue for the team last year really held their offense back.

And yeah, I think they're really hoping to get some improvement, especially with a guy like Rick Denison leading that group.

And yeah, um yeah i think the other thing another thing that i'm going to be looking at is just kind of if this defensive versatility and the secondary continues um they were moving around guys a lot um in the secondary with you know the the safeties the nickels um even some stuff with the corners and uh linebackers as well so seeing kind of just how um the kind of second level of this defense works out and how multiple they're going to be.

What are you expecting to see from Rob Leonard early in camp and then as camp progresses? What are you think his main priorities as a new defensive coordinator?

But what other positions are you looking at and monitoring? Who could end up beating out people for those starting spots? And who are you sort of looking at for filling those roles?

Yeah, so I mean, there's really only two positions that seem to be locked down with that offensive line.

And you mentioned Tyler Lederbaum, who got the record contract as a free agent this offseason.

And then you've got Colton Miller, who's kind of been their franchise left tackle returning from injury.

So those two guys pretty much seem like they're, you know, one and two at those positions.

But I think all other positions are pretty much up for grabs.

Left guard, right guard, right tackle.

What are your true thoughts on this? I know we're going to see more once training camp gets going about how far along Mendoza truly is.

What does your gut feeling tell you about the quarterbacks, uh, Kirk Cousins and Fernando Mendoza, and if and when Mendoza gets into the action?

Yeah, I mean, I think everything points to Kirk starting, um, and, you know, him having, uh, having the reins to start the year.

I think all that we've heard from Clint Kubiak, all that we've heard from John Spytek points that way, um, that they wanna have the veteran out on the field, they wanna have... and they have a lot of trust in him, um, to be out there and, and be successful and kind of bring along Fernando, um, behind him.

Um, obviously Kirk said that he doesn't feel like it's a mentorship role, but it-- everything points that way.

So, um, I think we're, we're definitely gonna see Kirk, um, early on, and then, um, I'd imagine that, that Fernando will get some, some playing time because you, you wanna see what the rookie quarterback can do.

Um, but I would lean on that coming later in the season as long as, as long as things go to plan because just everything that we've heard, the Raiders have a plan of when they wanna play Fernando, um, and they don't wanna be influenced by external factors to, you know, to mess with that plan, um, and make sure that they, they're putting him in exactly when they wanna put him in, and they're not disrupting his development.

So, um- Uh, uh, all that, all that, um, points to saying that, that Kirk and the veteran is probably gonna be out there on the field and, and Fernando will come along probably later in the season.

Sticking with Fernando Mendoza and Kirk Cousins, is there a certain amount of games that you think Fernando needs to play, or are you good with, you know, whenever the coaches decide to put him in is when he's gonna be good to go?

And we'll go ahead and I'll jump right into it with you when it comes to Jack Besch, the second round pick out of tcu didn't have a whole lot of burn his rookie year uh what did you see from him if you saw anything from him during the otas and mandatory minicamp

yeah thanks for having me on again q um yeah jack you know we saw a little bit from him um didn't see like a whole ton during otas and everything like that i think you know we're gonna get a little bit better picture of um of what that receiver room looks like when we get into training camp.

It just seems like in the OTAs and mandatory minicamp, they were mixing a lot of guys around.

It seemed like Trey Tucker and Jalen Naylor were the two main guys in there, but a lot of different guys were getting a lot of different reps with different teams throughout those kind of team periods on seven periods.

So didn't see a whole ton of spectacular plays from Jacks, But it seems like they have a lot of confidence in what he's been able to do from year one to year two.

And just by them not making a move at the receiver position outside of drafting Malik Benson, it seems like they have a lot of confidence in what he would be able to do in this receiver room and in this Clint Kubiak offense coming up in year two.

So I think he's

Do you think that there could be a veteran wide receiver on the way at any point?

Can you kind of give us an update about what's going on with those two guys?

Yeah, so with Nakobe, um, he obviously, he wasn't there.

He didn't participate in any of the practices in the OTA sections or the, the mandatory mini camp.

Um, we were kind of in the dark a little bit throughout OTAs.

Didn't see him out there, but, um, he showed up for the team's media day, uh, which was on the Monday, I think, before mini camp.

And then the coaching staff told us that he was in the building, um, for two mini camp practices.

So he's around the team.

... do you think a trade is possible?