Raiders DC Patrick Graham Talks Defense

WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS, W.Va.--The Las Vegas Raiders (1-0) are excited to be practicing this week here in West Virginia before heading up the road to take on the Buffalo Bills (0-1) this weekend in Orchard Park, NY.

Defensive Coordinator Patrick Graham updated the franchise's defense as the team practices here in West Virginia this week.

Below, you can watch all of Graham's press conference and read the transcript as well:

Defensive Coordinator Patrick Graham

Q: There were a couple times where guys launched themselves at offensive players to make a big hit without the wrap up and missed the tackle. Did that concern you? How do you look at that?

Coach Graham: “The start of the season comes down to fundamentals defensively in terms of tackling, getting off blocks, defending the deep part of the field, win our leverage in coverage. And we're just looking for improvement from week to week. It's the first time playing as a group and we got to do a good job of tackling; that includes the wrap, the approach, everything there. But the first game of the season across the league is where you see the teams that tackle the best usually are the teams that are playing the better defense to start the season. We're in the process of trying to improve that as much as possible.”

Q:How would you assess Tyree Wilson’s performance? And what do you want to see from him going forward?

Coach Graham: “The group as a whole, I thought the front did a solid job in terms of trying to minimize the run and trying to contain the pass rusher. There's some stuff that we need to work on as we move forward, especially as our focus is shifted to the Buffalo Bills, where you're dealing with dynamic quarterback, both passing the ball and also having the ability to run the ball. And the skill players they have offensively, the running backs, the receivers. So, as we start to work forward on that everybody's working hard as a group to improve. The early part of the season just trying to improve our fundamentals in terms of the run game and the pass game. Not to single any one player out but as a group, including myself, we have a ways to get where we want to get to.”

Q: Jakorian Bennett as a rookie got the start outside at cornerback. He had a couple of pass interference calls against him, but then he kind of stood his own. How beneficial was it for him to dive in headfirst and get that experience?

Coach Graham: “Experience is a great teacher for all the young players. Get a chance to play in the NFL for the first time, get a chance to work the match-ups, work the coverages, the tackling. The thing that you're looking for, for those young players, is to see the improvement there. And it comes from getting experience. The speed of the game, the physicality of the game, that’s the best teaching and the best learning that they'll get is actually to do it. So, I would think it's a great benefit for him and for the rest of the young players.”

Q: As a coach, how proud were you just to see the defense digging in, the grit, the fight, and the no quit in the second half?

Coach Graham: “It starts with the personnel evaluations from the personnel department. They do a good job of bringing in smart, tough, disciplined football players. And you hope that through the habits you built through spring and training camp and practice, that all that stuff becomes a habit from the way we practice and the way we prepare. And as a coach you just want it to show up on the field on Sunday. And so, as you look at the film, obviously room for growth, but the fact to be able to have some grit during the third and fourth quarter, I would say definitely proud of that just, but just recognizing that we have a long way to go.”

Q: Did you know Jakorian was this physical of a tackler as he is and as willing a tackler as he is? And to have him and Nate [Hobbs] step up the way they did and make tackles, what does that do for the defense?

Coach Graham: “It all starts from the evaluation process; we value smart, tough, disciplined football players and whether it's the cornerback position, the safety position, defensive line, linebacker. To play defensive football in this league you have to be able to tackle, especially with the skill players were facing on a week-to-week basis. These guys are pretty dynamic. The offenses are trying to get them in space to create angles in the run game. trying to create space in both run and in the pass. And it's important for us to be able to get these guys on the ground. That's the main focus, aside from limiting points, we got to be able to get the ball carriers on the ground. So, that all goes into the evaluation process for all of them.”

The Silver and Black remain on the road this week as they travel to play the Buffalo Bills on Sunday, Sept. 17, at 1:05 p.m. EDT/10:05 a.m. PDT.

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