Raiders' DE Maxx Crosby's Entire OTA Comments
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HENDERSON, Nev.--Las Vegas Raiders Coach Josh McDaniels spoke today from the team's optional team activities (OTAs), and he took his time with the media to discuss a myriad of issues.
We have his entire press conference below for you to watch as a video and read the transcript:
Defensive End Maxx Crosby
Q: Tyree Wilson was talking to us and he was talking about how he wants to kind of saddle up with you and learn everything. At this level to be where you are in your career and to be kind of respected that way by somebody like Tyree, how does that make you feel?
Crosby: "It's a great feeling. My dad will send me clips of guys talking at the combine and stuff like that. That's really what it's all about. I've always dreamed to be in the position I am right now. I'm not even close to where I want to be, but I know I'm going in the right direction. So having a guy like Tyree [Wilson] in the building and just being able to help him any way I can, that's something I didn't have when I was a rookie. We didn't have a lot of vets or anything like that, especially in the D-line room, we had a different group, but I've always wanted to have a guy like Von Miller. When I was a rookie, I reached out to Von, I reached out to all the top guys and tried to pick their brains. Especially as a rookie, that's what I want to be, a great veteran for all the young guys and just have them come to me if they need anything."
Q: Knowing you to be the football head that you are, I'm sure you've watched film of Tyree [Wilson]. I know he's not out there, but what are your thoughts on what you saw of him in college?
Crosby: "I haven't watched a ton. Obviously I've seen a bunch of highlights and things like that, but just from his physical gifts alone he can be a great player. It's just about the work you put in once you get into league. You can have tools, you can have every bit of talent -- that's the NFL, everybody's talented -- but it's what you do when you get in the building. He's had a great attitude so far, he seems like a great kid. So, I'm going to be there for him. I know Chandler [Jones] will as well and all the other veterans. So, we're here to help not only Tyree but Byron [Young] and all the new guys we brought in as well."
Q: You've got two rookie defensive tackles, two sophomores and then of course, Tyree [Wilson]. A lot of youth on your line. As the leader of this defense, are there certain things you do to lead them? Do you do film sessions? How does that work for you?
Crosby: "I think a big part of what we're doing right now is just becoming closer as a unit, especially D-line wise. We're meeting together, we're doing everything together. We're going out having dinners together, a couple of guys went to power slap last night together. But just getting out of the building and spending more time and building those relationships, because that's the stuff that people don't really notice on the field. You watch the Chiefs, everyone knows [Travis] Kelce and [Patrick] Mahomes are on the same page. You watch the Bills, you know Josh Allen and Stefon Diggs, there's a reason they're on the same page because they're doing more than just playing football together. They're doing things off the field together as well. So, that's kind of my main focus as a leader, taking that next step and just trying to bring the guys together, not only with the D-line but as a defense as a whole and just as a team as a whole, holding everybody to that standard."
Q: Is that slap face a potential career post-football for you?
Crosby: "Hell no. No chance, but I will keep watching it, it's entertaining."
Q: When you talk about being a mentor, and you think about where you were your second season and coming through recovery, having a breakout season and emerging as a star. Do you sort of embrace the added pressure of now being a leader, being a mentor? And maybe how has become a parent helped that? How's that all come full circle going into OTAs?
Crosby: "I love it in every single way. At the end of the day, I do this year-round. I put in everything into my craft, not only on the field but off the field. I want to be the best person I could possibly be, the best leader I could be, the best athlete, the best football player I could possibly be, and that comes with more pressure. The more success you get, that's just inevitable. So for me, I've always wanted to be in this position. Even though it is hard, you're going to get more critics, you're going to get more attention, but that's a good thing at the end of the day. If nobody's talking about you, nobody expects big things from you, you're probably doing something wrong. But I do everything I can to put myself in the best position to help this team, be the best leader I can be and be the best player down-to-down in the National Football League. So, that's my goal every day is to be the best. And I try to show my teammates what that looks like every single day. So, even when the rookies came in, I told them just follow me every single day. If you want to continue building your career, follow me. I'm going to do it the right way. I'm going to keep showing up, and I'm going to do it every single day. And that's what's it's really about is putting your head down and all the extra shit, that's just a part of the game, it's going to come with it. People are going to either like you or they don't. They're going to say this, say that, but at the end of the day, if you put in the body of work every single day over time people are all going to recognize that. So, that's just what I stick to."
Q: First time in a couple of years it's same defensive system that you're coming into in OTAs. You feel that a little bit, that there's a better foundation here, developed a knowledge of this defense?
Crosby: "Definitely. Last OTAs it was a lot. Obviously, Pat [Patrick Graham] was new. He was installing a bunch of new stuff trying to get everything in before we get to camp. So, everything was just like, you're just learning and trying to just figure everything out on the fly. But now, having another year, being able to help the guys that just got in it's going to help them as well. So, things are going a lot smoother. We're focusing on skill development right now, focusing on getting better as football players, because at the end of the day you can call it whatever you want, but if you're not a good football player, it's doesn't matter. So, guys are really locked in right now, we're working. We're working on our craft, and it's been great to see. Everyone's dialed in, we have dudes with great attitudes and with a lot of talent and are showing up every day, so it's been encouraging to see."
Q: As a collective unit, how do you think the defensive front needs to improve from last year?
Crosby: "I feel like I've talked about it many times with Josh [McDaniels], Dave [Ziegler], to everybody. The year before, I felt like that was my best year as far as culture and an environment as far as the D-line came. When we had Quinton Jefferson, those guys, we were all on the same page every single down. Like, I didn't have to say anything to Q [Quinton Jefferson], and he knew what we're doing. And I feel like it took a step back last year just as far as being a group, and it's not easy. You get a bunch of new guys, it’s not easy. It doesn't just happen overnight. And that's what I've been just encouraging everybody, it's like: 'Listen, we've got to do everything together.' And it's like I talked about, it's not only just showing up to practice, working out together. We've got to go out and do things together. Like, I want to know what Matt Butler's kid is doing and what he's up to, you know what I mean? You've got to have those relationships because that's the shit on TV that you see that the normal, regular fan doesn't understand. Like, if you're on the same page, everything is just flowing and that's the real connection that takes guys from being a good group to a great group, and I feel like that's what we're doing right now. We obviously have a lot of work to do, but it's been super encouraging, especially the inside guys. Seeing Jerry Tillery, the work he's putting in right now, Matt Butler, Neil Farrell, all these guys are working like crazy right now and they're super hungry. It's been awesome to see, but it's May right now, we've got a lot of work to do still, and I feel like we're going in the right direction."
Q: We see roster turnover every year in the NFL obviously, and you have a whole lot of new guys this year on the team as a whole. You've been a leader before, you've been a captain and you've had your breakout year. Just how different, how new does it feel with so much turnover going into this next year?
Crosby: "I'm kind of used to it at this point. It's my fifth year and I've had three, four head coaches, four defensive coordinators, four D-line coaches. It's a part of the game. And even when I was in college, it was the same thing. We had new D-line coaches every other year. It's just the nature of the business, but at the end of the day you show up every single day with the same attitude. I can't control any of that, that has nothing to do with me. I've just got to be the best version of me and lead the guys by example every day. No matter who we have in the building, there's a reason why Davante [Adams] is here, why I'm here, why Hunter [Renfrow], Josh Jacobs, those guys – they're foundational guys. We show up to work and people follow, and that's really what we're just trying to do is have everybody on the same page so we can go out and finish and play at our best."
Q: What are some things that you need to improve on this year that you can always work on from last year?
Crosby: "You know, there's a ton. I feel like, like you said, my goal is to be the best. That's why I show up here. I want to be the best at what I do and win. I have a ton to work on. There's always something to work on as far as pass rush and the run game. I'm not going to say exact examples, but I could get better in every single way, and I work on that every single day all year round. It's looking for that 1 percent. I'm looking for that every single day. How can I get better at my routine? How can I get better my nutrition? How can I get better in my pass rush, my counters, stopping the run? I don't leave a box unchecked. I'm constantly seeking to get better every single day, and I'm going to keep pushing until I'm the undisputed. That's the goal every day."
Q: Along the lines of continuity. I think I counted that there's seven players 27 or under that are under contract for kind of the foreseeable future. That's not always been the case here. How important do you think it is -- obviously guys have got to earn their keep and all that but if they do -- building a foundation of young players that can be here together for a little while?
Crosby: "That's obviously what Josh [McDaniels] coming in and Dave [Ziegler], every coach has their vision of what they want to do with an organization. Some people aren't going to agree with it, some people are. You've just got to own what you do, and that's really all it takes. All the outside noise doesn't mean anything, it's all about results and winning and losing. That's all people care about. Josh and Dave are on the same page, they have a vision of what they want and they're doing that and they're sticking to it no matter what anybody says. Being on this team, being a captain, being a leader, I'm bought into that. No matter if it hurts people's feelings, no matter if certain people don't like it, like that’s just what it is. We don't care. We show up, we work, we're the ones putting in the work, and we're the ones that gotta go out there and produce. So we've all got to be on the same page, and if half the people aren't and half are, then you're not going to win – it's as simple as that. So, if we get everybody on the same board, we're going to have a better chance."
Q: When we spoke at the Pro Bowl, you were kind of already fighting the urge to be back in the gym every single day and working out every day, trying to find that balance of getting some rest while trying to go back to work. Did you find that? Were you able to find that balance this offseason?
Crosby: "It's funny. People talk about you need balance in life, I truly just don't believe in that. That's just not where I'm at in life right now. My daughter and football, that's my life, and obviously my wife and my family, that's huge, but I'm on a mission. I've got one goal – I want to be the best at what I do. I've got many big goals I'm trying to achieve, and it takes more than being 50 percent in. It takes all my attention, all year round. So, everybody in my circle, which is a very small circle, they know what my mission is, and they understand what I go through. I'm gone at 5am, I get back at 7pm, so it's nonstop. But that's what it takes to be great, and that's what I'm doing every single day. So, there's no real balance. At the end of the day, I'm on a mission until I stop playing football. All the other stuff, I'm going to do my absolute best to be the best version of myself, but it's a constant mission every single day no matter what it takes and what that sacrifice happens to be."
The Raiders' offseason workout schedule is as follows:
OTA Offseason workouts: May 22-23, May 25, May 31-June 2, June 12-15
Mandatory Minicamp: June 6-8
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