Raiders' DC Patrick Graham's Entire OTA Presser
HENDERSON, Nev.--The Las Vegas Raiders have concluded their second OTA session of the offseason.
The Raiders' defensive coordinator Patrick Graham had a rough first season. Still, he has a track record of success in the National Football League, and we have his entire post-practice press conference for you.
You can watch the entire video below and read the transcript:
Defensive Coordinator Patrick Graham
Q: I know it’s early in the offseason, but what do you think is sort of the path towards improving your unit overall from last year?
Coach Graham: "Start first with everybody is just looking to improve every day. The beauty of the off season, being voluntary and all these guys being here right now, I mean, I commend those guys and I'm thankful for that because it gives us a chance to work together. Again, a big part of defense is working on the communication, trusting all 11 out there, the other 10 guys at the same time to defend the field, and we're definitely working on that and we're not where we need to be right now, but we're working towards a goal, and you've seen improvement each day. So, that's a big step right there and then just being able to spend time with one another. That was a big point of emphasis, for me, doing a better job of getting to know the guys more, spending some more time with them on and off the field. And you're seeing them start to grow as a unit, where we get comfortable having the easy conversations but the tough conversations. That's what happens when you're starting to build a brotherhood, and that's what we're trying to build right now.”
Q: Your offseason started with you coaching in the Senior Bowl and were able to draft a number of players who participated in the game. What kind of progress have you seen from those players since your time with them at the Senior Bowl?
Coach Graham: "The beauty of the Senior Bowl, and I'm really appreciative that Dave [Ziegler] and Josh [McDaniels] recommended me for that, and also guys down there at the Senior Bowl selected me to do that. You got a jumpstart on the process; you got a chance to coach in real life and you got to see how the guys reacted. And for most of the guys that I was around, and at some point during the week I was around all the guys, they were real receptive to coaching. They worked hard. It was a week-long process, and you're seeing that same attitude, that same work ethic out here on the field. Smart, tough, dependable players, that's what you're trying to build a team around. And they showed some of that when we were with them for a short period of time. So, they're just working on it. But, again, they're rookies. They don't know what they don't know yet. There's no light at the end of the tunnel right now, and they're probably swimming a little bit, but they're learning and working hard."
Q: You're getting Divine Deablo back. What have you seen from him in terms of progress?
Coach Graham: "Big swole. [He] walks around looking big swole right now, arms looking big. He's definitely been motivation for me to get in the weight room and try to get my arms up to his level. But no, I mean, there was stuff he was working on last year; communication, leadership, the athletic ability is there, learned how to be a linebacker in this league. The beauty of it is he has Antonio Pierce in his room as his coach, who's one of the best to ever do it, in my opinion. And he knows how to do it, he knows how to do it at a championship level. I mean, he's just soaking that up and then to have the other guys in the room, [Robert] Spill [Spillane] around them; Spill has been a part of good defenses. You see Luke Masterson in terms of his growth. So, they're starting to gel together as a group, whether it's Darien Butler, the new guys. I mean, it's a good thing, having coached that position before, when they start to build a little brotherhood with each other, whether they're eating dinner together, going bowling or something together, you start to see them grow, get more comfortable communicating, more comfortable being on the same page together. The best linebacker cores that I've been with, they knew before they said anything, what the other guys were going to do; and that's where you could see them growing with that.”
Q: The quarterback of the secondary is the safety. What have you seen from Chris Smith II and what are you most excited about with his game?
Coach Graham: "Okay, so I'm a front guy. So, I might say the linebacker is the quarterback of the defense, but I'll go with that, I'll go with that one right now. But Chris Smith, I mean, same things you saw at Georgia, just playing at a high level there. I mean, this guy, he's smart, he works hard, he's diligent in terms of details, in terms of how he studies. Chris is doing a good job of keeping building each day with him, giving him more and more, and he's able to handle that. And you see obviously the athletic ability, the ability to get to the ball, all that stuff that you saw on tape. And now he's just transferring that to the next level. And again, like most rookies, they don't know what they don't know. It's a different level of competition. He's working on it every day, but he's in here all the time working."
Q: On the interior defensive line, you have a bunch of guys you've drafted in the last couple of years, a bunch of other guys that have played. I know you want competition everywhere, but is that really going to be a battle for those spots and snaps?
Coach Graham: "The beauty of how the roster is constructed right now from Dave [Ziegler], Champ [Kelly], Brandon [Yeargan] helping with the college stuff, and Josh's vision, it's competitive at all the spots. I love it. I mean, we talk about communication, discipline, effort; competition is part of that too, and competition that's going to bring out the best in all of us. I think it's evident in the D-line room. It's evident in all three levels of our defense right now. None of the coaches are going to complain about having a lot of good players competing for a spot because you're going to get the best, and the competition started somewhat during the spring. It's not the physical part yet, that'll come with training camp, but I'm pleased with it, please.
Q: With who you brought back and added through the draft and free agency, do you feel like that about the secondary as well?
Coach Graham: “All three levels. I mean, again, the way the roster has been constructed right now by personnel and our head coach, it's real competitive. And you can see it out there on the field, especially in the spring. There are no starting lineups or anything like that, everybody's rotating around, and guys are just taking advantage of the opportunities and trying to get better every day.
Q: You guys brought in Neil Ferrell, and like many rookies, it was sort of a slow process working into the rotation. What sort of growth have you seen from him going into Year 2?
Coach Graham: “Maturity, but is it unique to him? I mean, most rookies have to go through that process. I think I've said this before, defensive linemen going from college to pros, you got to think about from high school to college. Most of them really have never been blocked before. Like, I mean, I know people attempt to block them, but they're so good in terms of just the talent level that you're dealing with for a lot of them, like they haven't had to play blocks the right way, or truly have to focus on it because they've been that much better than everybody. Once you get to the league, it's the best in the world at what they do, right. You got grown men blocking you, technicians, that have been doing it for a while. They have to learn that that's my experience as a D-line coach in this league, ‘Hey, you got to learn how to play these blocks and defeat blocks at this level because you probably got away with it a little bit more with your athletic ability and just being stronger than everybody.’ So, that's the same process for most young guys. I remember the same thing with Chandler Jones when I first coached him as a rookie. I remember all those young guys, Dalvin Tomlinson, when I was with the Giants. I mean, not that they didn't learn how to play blocks and stuff, but it's just a different level now, and he's just going through that process. The real evaluation comes in training camp, but you definitely see a maturity of focus on detail and working towards that goal that you just talked about.”
Q: That process you just talked about takes some patience from yourself, as well as the players. What’s that fine line between having patience and understanding that there is a growth and development aspect to that position?
Coach Graham: “Well, as a former D-line coach, I'm sure the D-line coaches wish I was a little bit more patient, but that's where my eye tends to go to. But yeah, you have to be patient. I mean, you can't have high expectations and low patience, that's a rap song I heard that from before. (laughter) But I thought he hit the nail on the head when he said it. I think you got to be patient, then at some point it's going to turn up and you got to go. But you got to be patient with those guys and I think they're working through it. You just got to clearly define to them what's right, what's wrong, then develop a plan for them to improve and then make sure we're doing the best to get that done.
Q: When it comes to continuity and getting your philosophy out there, how important is continuity getting into that the second year and getting guys to buy in and everything? And, when Tyree Wilson is going to be out there practicing, how do you envision him fitting into what you want to do?
Coach Graham: “Continuity, again, it starts with me in terms of the defensive philosophy. It’s listening to the people that are here, whether it's the players, the coaches. Especially after last season, doing a lot of self-evaluation, making sure I'm listening. Sometimes you get in this role and one of the things that you could fall on the trap of is not being a good listener. The best coaches I've been around, including Josh [McDaniels], including Bill [Belichick[, they're the best listeners I've ever been around. And so, I had to listen, ‘Ok, you know, figure out what do we need to do for us this year. What's going to be the best thing.’ And then to build that continuity, you got to put in work. No different than with my wife. We're going on year 14, it still takes work. You got to put the work in, and we’re putting the work in right now. And then hopefully we see the rewards of that. When Tyree gets going –I mean, it's been great having him, good energy. He's a big body. His play style is violent. Obviously, the evaluation part comes during the season, during training camp for that position, but it's been a pleasure to be around him. I'm looking forward to seeing how his tools transfer here to this level and he's shown the work ethic so far.”
Q: Patrick, what are your expectations for Chandler Jones this upcoming season?
Coach Graham: "Chan [Chandler Jones] is like my favorite, don't tell anybody though. But Chan has been my favorite for - the sky is the limit with Chan. Chan, the things he did last year in terms of putting pressure on the quarterback, playing the run, I mean I'm just so proud of him because you've got to remember, I coached him as a rookie and then Brendan Daly had him after that and then he went to Arizona and you just see the growth of a true technician, a true professional in terms of the way he can explain the game, the way he executes out there, the way he can see it and his leadership ability. I mean, I'm just so proud of him. And then again he's working hard every day and we'll see how it all plays out, but Chan is a great player. He's a great player who's been doing it for a long time. I'm looking forward to seeing what happens."
Q: I see you rocking the VGK hat and all the guys outside were having the hats on as well as at practice. How cool is it to be able to witness this, another Las Vegas team competing for a championship? Obviously, you had the, the Aces here, bring a trophy home. How much just maybe external motivation is it for you and your guys to say, 'Hey, maybe we could be the next ones?'
Coach Graham: "Two of my favorite things outside of football and my family - I've got to make sure I say that - playoff basketball and playoff hockey. Luckily since I've been here, I've been able to go to some of the playoff games for the Aces, I've been able to go to some of the playoff games for the Knights, and the fact that it's the hometown, I mean it's been great. It's inspirational. When coach was talking about today, I'm sitting here thinking like, 'Man,' because you want to get going because that's the ultimate goal. But really proud of what they've done, proud of what the Aces did last year. I think they're [4-0] right now." and what they're working. Just real proud of them and it's just inspirational to me in terms of trying to work towards a championship. But I know the process is the same for them as it is for us. Get better every day, that's all you can worry about, and good luck on Saturday for them."
OTA Offseason workouts: June 12-15
Mandatory Minicamp: June 6-8
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