Raiders CB Brandon Facyson's Entire Mini Camp Comments

HENDERSON, Nev.--The Las Vegas Raiders held a mandatory mini-camp today, and cornerback Brandon Facyson spoke after practice.

Facyson is in his second stint with the Silver and Black, and this time he has his cousin in rookie linebacker Amari Burney with him.

We have all of his comments that you can watch, and read the transcript below:

Cornerback Brandon Facyson

Q: It's been pretty rotational at cornerback so far throughout OTAs. What's the competition been like so far?

Facyson: "Man, the competition has been great. We're really just trying to work on gelling together as a group, just getting better every day, pushing each other. Trying to figure out the ins and outs of everything, and I think it's been pretty good so far."

Q: Even though a lot of your team in the secondary that were here in your first stint here are still here like Nate [Hobbs], how different is it going against a completely different receiver corps everyday at practice?

Facyson: "It's different, but it's good. It generates healthy competition and sometimes that happens -- a lot of times that happens. So, it's just something you kind of have to adjust to, and like I said it's great work every single day. It's good to go against different receivers. I enjoy going against it Tae [Davante Adams] and all those guys, and I'm sure we all do. They're doing a great job on the offensive side, and we just look forward to competing with them every single day."

Q: When you were here you were a great teammate, you'd love to be here. I don't think you really wanted to go, so what was it like when they called and said do you want to come back?

Facyson: "It was surreal. It was a different type of feeling. My agent called me and he said those exact words and my face lit up. I had a great time here when I was here in '21 and just looking forward to make new memories with these guys this year in '23 and just keep it pushing."

Q: Clearly, there are no pads; people judge way too much before that happens. But work ethic, thoughts on Jakorian Bennett?

Facyson: "Oh man, he's doing a great job. He's come in and really just bought in, learning every single day. He's asking us questions and he's doing a great job. I'm sure he's feeling like he's doing pretty good himself, and we're just happy to have him here. And any way we can help with his development or anything like that, he knows he's always welcome to ask and ask any question he needs to. We're looking forward to having a good group this year, for sure."

Q: Speaking of the rookie class, there's a guy in the class who you should know pretty well named Amari Burney, your cousin. I talked to him the other day and he said that he doesn't try to hassle you or burden you with too much stuff, but even despite that, what are some encouraging words or some advice that you've been able to give him through this process?

Facsyon: "Man, that was a different feeling. When he got drafted my phone blew up, like all my friends were calling me, and I was excited. I got on FaceTime with him, I called him as soon as I heard the news, and we were all on the phone on FaceTime and I got my family in background and everything like that. I'll let him know again that he can bother me with anything. This process is different, especially when you're coming in as a rookie. When I came in, when I was with the Chargers, I didn't really know anybody going to the Chargers until I got there. So, I think it's amazing for him to have somebody especially like family who is here already. I see him around and we talk every single day. I ask him how he's doing. He can never bother me, it's family first you know what I mean? I just tell him just lock in, just stay focused every single day, don't get too down too up on yourself, keep everything kind of even keel. Enjoy the time because this is a very special moment for everyone, our family, and I'm proud of him, super proud of him. I've been watching his story ever since he was at Florida. Ever since he was a kid he was running the 200, winning the 200 in the state of Florida every single year. So, he packed on a few pounds and went to that linebacker spot, so been watching him since he was at Florida, and I'm just super proud of him. I kind of got emotional when I heard his name get called. And yeah, it's just a surreal moment and just blessed to have him here, and he knows he can ask me anything, he won't ever bother me. So, it's all love on my end."

Q: Did you let him crash on your couch?

Facyson: "No. That question never came up, but he knows if he ever needs anything he doesn't even have to ask, he can just come by the crib. But I think he's enjoying his time with his rookie class because that was a very special moment. You get in with that rookie class, that's different. Those are the guys you come in with, those guys your around mostly all the time. I just told him to enjoy it. You don't get those opportunities like that all the time."

Q: This defense last year was totally anemic in creating big plays. When you come in and that's an emphasis, they drafted guys who make big plays, what are some ways that you can alter practice to be more creative in creating big plays for a defense?

Facyson: "I think we do a great job of creating those drills to where we know we can make the big plays. Whether stripping the ball or intercepting the ball, I think you've just got to work it every single day, and you've just kind of have it in your mindset that that's what you want to do every single day going into a game, that you want to take the ball away. And those things will start to come. We practice it every single day, and we'll continue to do those things and continue to harp on those little things to put you in a position to make the big plays, and they'll come."

Q: You're focused on your side of the ball, but any early impressions of Aidan O'Connell, the rookie quarterback?

Facyson: "I think he's doing a great job. He's going against a good defense, and we're going against a good offense. As he's coming in learning, he's a new quarterback and I know it's his first time being in the league. So, regardless of how good or how bad the day goes, it's just something to look forward to the next day because he's learning. So, I think he's doing a fantastic job though. I think we would all agree with that, and just keep coming to work every single day, keep packing that lunch pail, as we said at Virginia Tech."

Q: There's a different staff than when you were here last time. Anything stand out as far as differences between this staff and the last staff?

Facyson: "I feel like there are differences, but at the end of the day it's all about work, all about winning and all about creating this family feeling here. And I feel like we do a good job of creating that. When I was here in '21, it was a family feeling. I feel like it's the same thing right now just new faces, especially for me it's just new faces and that's it. Same feeling -- I love it here, so not too much of a difference. Obviously there's different people, but at the end of the day it's all the same goal."

Q: Obviously the entirety of your NFL career you've kind of been in the same defense with the same defensive coordinator, now this is kind of a new scheme. What are some of the pros that you've kind of learned with Patrick Graham and learning the defense and learning him as a coach?

Facyson: "It's been smooth. I think Coach Graham has been doing a great job. Obviously, like you said I've been with my same coaches the entirety of my career. So being with new people and learning a new scheme, I feel like it's been a smooth transition. At the end of the day, we're just here to win, we're just here to play ball and focus in. That's just what it comes down to, but it's been great."

Q: You hear always about how pass rush and pass coverage work hand in hand. With the Raiders drafting Tyree Wilson in the first round, how does that affect you guys in coverage when you've got a pass rush that's affecting the quarterback like that?

Facyson: "I think it works both ways. It allows us to make plays on the ball. You've got a great defensive line, you've got a great linebacker corps, we're trying to be a great secondary for sure. It definitely works both ways. When we're back there and we try to hold off on these receivers so they get time to get back to the quarterback -- and with a guy like him, he's coming, he's a big guy, explosive, fast. So, I think he has all the qualities and all the tools that they were looking for -- we were looking for -- as far as a pass rusher and everything that he brings to the table I think it's going to be great."

Q: What would you say was the biggest takeaway for you personally these last couple days in this minicamp, specifically?

Facyson: "Just trying to get better every single day, that's really what it all comes down to, just trying to perfect the craft. I know it's a new scheme, but even with that, like I said the end goal is always the same – just trying to take every single day as a stepping stone and trying not to take a step back in those directions and just trying to lock in and make sure I'm coming to work focused every single day, no matter what's going on around me or whatever the case may be. But the last few days of minicamp have been great, very talkative, we're communicating great, and I feel like we're gelling pretty well. So, looking forward to the upcoming portion of the season and we've got camp obviously, so that'll just be another step for us to just gel even more and become one to be honest."

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