Raiders' Patrick Graham Details How to Stop Potent Chargers Offense

LAS VEGAS, Nev. --The Las Vegas Raiders will face off against the Los Angeles Chargers on Monday Night Football. It will be the Raiders' first home game of the season and rookie running back Ashton Jeanty's first appearance in a primetime game as a professional.

Graham spoke to the media before practice on Friday.

To hear today's comments, view below

Raiders quarterback Geno Smith spoke before Thursday's practice. Below is a partial transcript.

Q: What do you think about that catch that Dont'e Thornton Jr. had on that third down play from you?

Smith: "That was sweet. We've been setting that up, trying to find the right time in the game to get to that. We felt like Carlton [Davis] was playing a little bit aggressive on those in cuts, and so we found the perfect time. What other time than third-and-20 with the game on the line? Could have made a better throw. I think he would have scored if I could have set my feet and got it out there for him, but he came back and made a great catch, and it was great to see him do that because he's a guy that, again, we're going to continue to try and count on and put him in positions to make those plays as well.”

Q: Chip Kelly has a very intricate offense, and you just seem to be right at home and comfortable with it. What is it about Chip that you and him have built such a great relationship?

Smith: "Yeah, I think it's all the time we spend together, all the time in the meeting rooms, just hearing his voice and directly from him exactly what he wants to get accomplished with each and every play. When I think about Chip [Kelly], man, like he's so cerebral and such a smart coach, and he's always thinking of the next thing, the next layer to attack the defense. And that's something that I'm always doing as well. So I think we mentioned that in that area, we're football junkies, football nerds. He loves the game, I love the game. And I mean, it's just we love being around each other. I think it's just great synergy."

Q: You learned so much as a veteran quarterback versus being a young one and just getting thrown into the game, so what's the biggest thing you've learned about creating a culture with your receivers on and off the field, season and offseason?

Smith: "Yeah, I think the biggest thing is just discipline and routine, just the day to day details that you go throughout. I think when I was a young quarterback, there were a lot of things that I didn't know about preparation and how to study film, and 'What am I looking for? How do I build a game plan?' As I got older, I began to develop more of that, and now I feel like I'm in a good place, but I want to continue to improve on that.

And so having Tom [Brady] around and all the coaches that we have, KP [Kenny Pickett], having Aidan [O'Connell] and just guys to bounce ideas off of is going to help me. But overall, man, I just think it's just an ongoing process of trying to get better and trying to find a way to be better each and every day."

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