Josh McDaniels on Players Becoming Leaders

Las Vegas Raiders Coach Josh McDaniels spoke at training camp about his players stepping up and coaching other younger players in practice.

The Las Vegas Raiders are preparing for the 2023 season in hopes of improving from a disappointing 2022.

Part of that preparation is the continued process of acclimation into Coach Josh McDaniels’ system. 

McDaniels is entering year two with the Raiders, hoping to get more comfortable with the players around him and implement his system to its highest efficiency.

His players have begun buying into the system as well, as veterans on the team have been helping younger players learn and get more comfortable in their roles.

McDaniels addressed the media during training camp and spoke about what it is like to have players act as coaches for younger players on the practice field.

“Yeah, I think there’s just so much more confidence in knowing their job, knowing what’s being asked of them, their side of the ball, their unit,” McDaniels said. “We have great guys, we have great leadership, great people. They come to work every day with the right mindset. And now the comfort level in the system with the communication, the expectations, what every period in practice actually means. I mean, last year, I remember they’d look at the practice schedule and kind of go like: ‘What is that in period five,’ because it was just new to him. Now, they know all the drills, they know all the things we’re doing on a daily basis. So, they’re willing to use their voice to help the young guys or new guys, guys who might not be as comfortable as they are. And good teams function like that and bond together and help one another, and I’ve seen a lot of that so far.”

The first year of a new coach implementing his system can oftentimes be difficult. Now that more players are comfortable in the system, they can teach young players or newcomers the daily routines of practice and their roles in the system.

For a Raiders team that has so many new faces, whether it be through free agency or the 2023 NFL Draft, the quicker players can get adjusted to the system, the better, and they have veteran players to help them do that.

The Silver and Black open the preseason by hosting the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday, Aug. 13, at 4 p.m. EDT/1 p.m. PDT.

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