Raiders DC Patrick Graham from Training Camp

HENDERSON, Nev.--The Las Vegas Raiders have opened their 2023 NFL Training Camp, and Defensive Coordinator Patrick Graham took to the podium to address the media.

You can watch his entire comments below., and read the transcript:

Defensive Coordinator Patrick Graham

Q: Earlier this offseason, you said the biggest thing you learned from last year was just patience overall. How has that kind of applied to your work so far this offseason and through training camp?

Coach Graham: "Well, the way training camp is set up right now in terms of getting acclimated, how every team in the league is doing that, the first few days until we get to pads in I think it's day five or day six. I just think being patient as you build the defense and build the communication and build working on our techniques, because again it starts as real football now, in terms of just getting ready for the season. So, you just got to be patient as we build getting better at our fundamentals."

Q: The Raiders have made the decision to get more turnovers and big plays on defense. You certainly went out and got a bunch of rookies who have a history of that, but then you go get Marcus Peters. How big can he be addressing that need that clearly the franchise has targeted all offseason?

Coach Graham: "Well, he knows more than anybody just having experience in the league that each year is different, and you've got to prove yourself each year. I know he's excited about the opportunity. I'm excited about working with him and obviously what he's done in the past. Haven't seen him on film but been on teams where offensive coaches are aware of where he's at. So, it's definitely a positive to have that type of ball hawking mentality. But we're just working and he's excited about the opportunity and I'm excited to work with him."

Q: When you mentioned a 'ball hawking' mentality, is that something that could be incorporated into other players games? And is there a fine line in there in terms of the confidence to go try to make a ball hawking play without wanting to make a mistake as well?

Coach Graham: "On defense, we talk about defending the field, defending the situations, but it's also about being disruptive. And the number one way to disrupt is to have turnovers. So, obviously, it's one of the main emphasis points we make, it's something that we know we have to work on every day. Coach [McDaniels] is giving us plenty of opportunities in terms of periods and practice to be able to work it. So, we're going to try to instill it in everybody. You want a defense that's looking for the ball."

Q: Marcus Epps in Philadelphia, even when he was younger, was credited with helping people. He just had a high football IQ. Through OTAs and minicamp, have you seen that relate here in Vegas where he's helping young guys and his football IQ is off the charts?

Coach Graham: "I think Marcus studies and works hard. He's a good communicator. He's a good communicator off the field, so it's a pleasure to be around him. But at that position it's hard to play the safety position without communicating. So, you're going to find throughout the league, throughout the years we've been coaching, the safeties are some of the best communicators on the field. And some guys are a little bit better than others, but Tre'von [Moehrig] is back there communicating; [Jaquan] Quan [Johnson] is back there; [Roderic] Teamer is back there communicating, Isaiah [Pola-Mao]. It's just part of the job."

Q: A name that's kind of been going around the locker room with some high praise is Adam Plant. What have been your thoughts of the progression you've seen so far this off season from him?

Coach Graham: "One of the positives, obviously is the size. You want to have some size down there in terms of length, he has that. And really anytime you hear about the positive vibes and stuff, it's because guys are working hard. So, whether it's Plant, whether it's Nesta [Jade Silvera], all those guys are working hard. I mean, again, don't want to single anybody out; Byron [Young], Tyree [Wilson], they're all working hard. That's when the veterans start to talk about them when they're working hard, and they see that they're trying to get better."

Q: Isaiah Pola-Malo played his way into the mix a little bit last year. What's the next step for him?

Coach Graham: "Keep getting better. Right now, at training camp, Coach [McDaniels] laid it out -- we're working on our fundamentals and technique, improving our communication, and it's about getting better each day. So, can you be better on day two than day one? Can you be better on day three than day two? That’s the important part right now, and just keep working and trying to get your body and your mind ready for the regular season but not looking too far ahead."

Q: Can you talk about Divine Deablo, a converted safety, who came on strong last year in terms of pass coverage and now in training camp. What have you seen from him?

Coach Graham: "The thing as he's learned to play the position more and more and more. And as a linebacker, it's about being able to have some anticipation, some awareness pre-snap, that's always key. Because they're usually in some sort of run-pass conflict, and the better they understand that the more likely they are to make plays. And then we'll see when the physicality comes into it when we get to next week with the pads and stuff. But it all starts from film study, him getting his playbook, understanding what we're doing, and understanding the people; how the people around him are working together, leveraging the formation, leveraging coverage, and knowing where he can make plays."

Q: How is Nate Hobbs doing after taking that softball off the face over the weekend?

Coach Graham: "Coach [McDaniels] talked about it. Nate's got smile on his face, so Coach already talked about that."

Q: You guys are still early in the process of roster building overall but also on the defensive side of the ball. When you're a coach and maybe your circumstances aren't ideal, how do you still sort of put pressure on yourself to find ways to garner improvement?

Coach Graham: "I mean, I think any coach in this league, if you don't improve, if you become stagnant, you’re going to be in trouble. It's constantly changing. It's one of the more competitive occupations in the world, in my opinion. Again, I just think with football, there's only 32 of us, whatever position we're at, there are only 32 of us in the world. You got to stay competitive. It comes through similar to what the players do, aside from what happens on the field. Their practice on the field, that's my practice too. The situations there and making calls. But really it comes down to film study, working hard, and just trying to get better."

Q: You've talked about disruptive plays, getting to the quarterback, pressures, sacks and turnovers. How do you set up kind of the goals in the locker room to get those guys wanting to be more competitive and trying to just compete to make that happen?

Coach Graham: "Usually when you talk to these guys, they're driven by goals, right? And if you tell them: 'OK, listen.' And if you show them, like, whether it's statistically, or just showing them how this correlates to winning, turnovers and takeaways, it correlates to winning. And you've got a room full of guys that want to win, so you tell them how important it is, and then we work on it. And then if you're going to emphasize it, if you're going to say something about it, you got to emphasize it at practice and in the meetings."

Q: Statistically speaking, Chandler Jones was playing his best football for about four weeks before that injury cut him down last season. What's the key to him kind of picking up where he left off?

Coach Graham: "Chandler has been doing this for a long time. He knows last year, whatever happened, it doesn't matter. So, for him, it's about just steady improvement, especially at the defensive line position. It starts to become real football now. It's really about getting back to your fundamentals and technique; a body on a body, defeating blocks, getting your reads and your key work. So, it's not anything really specific to Chandler, it's really for all those guys, especially when you're talking about the front guys where they're getting used to real football."

Q: Obviously, it's very early at camp, but Tyree Wilson is working back from an injury. How much is he missing out on and what can he learn as he is not able to take the field right now?

Coach Graham: "Coach [McDaniels] already talked about him heading in the right direction and his time here in the building. He's working hard and working to improve, and we're just trying to get him ready."

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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