For the first time as the head coach of the Las Vegas Raiders, Klint Kubiak found his way into the win column on Thursday evening against the Houston Texans. It wasn't a pretty showing in an overall sense, but the Silver and Black gutted it out and came out on top after four hard-fought quarters.
Aidan O'Connell's late-game heroics sealed the deal for Kubiak's squad, and they can now head into the final week of the preseason with a good feeling in the locker room. Of course, the young head coach isn't resting on his laurels, nor is he taking a lot of time to appreciate the moment.
Just as we did last week, we have gone through both of Kubiak's post-game press conferences and have provided everything that the first-year leader said right here. Let's dive in, as he made some general comments, but also touched on Fernando Mendoza and other individual players.
- General Takeaways and Observations
- On Fernando Mendoza
- On Roster Battles
- Roster Evaluation
- On Specific Players
General Takeaways and Observations
Team effort:
"What great heart that we showed in the second half, whole team. Offense, defense, really proud of our guys.”
Resting the starters:
“Yeah, that was the plan all along. When we have those joint practices, they get so many reps that joint practice is the game and the guys understood that going in and that's how we decided to play it.”
Run defense:
“I thought our run defense was really good tonight. I thought they took a big step forward as a defense. I thought they did a really good job.”
First win as an NFL head coach:
“It means a lot to our team, you know? We needed to have that game, especially after that first half. Seen flashes of that from our guys in practice. For them to go do it on a Thursday night game, that's very rewarding to see those young men play their hearts out in the second half.”
On joint practice with the Texans:
"I'm so glad we got the practice against them. That was really important for our team to spend that time in Houston and get some really good work against a different scheme and a really good coaching staff."
What stood out to him about the team after watching film:
"Well, resilience. The resilience sticks out because we shot ourselves in the foot. We had nine penalties, five on special teams. The first half was atrocious. We started slow on both sides of the ball, and in the NFL, it's all about winning the game. And so, we gutted it out and found a way to win, and that's how this whole season's going to be. All these games come down to the wire, and you get to learn a lot about players in practice, but you learn a whole lot more, and when the live bullets are flying in a game, and I learned a lot about guys in a good way last night."
On penalty issues:
“Very concerning, two weeks in a row. That's on me as a coach. Most of them, a lot of them on special teams, I think five of them, so that's on me to get that cleaned up. I said this same thing last week so I better figure it out real quick.”
"Holding guys accountable, working, drilling things that we didn't do as well. For instance, a back block on Roman Hemby, educating guys better on the rules. We got Decam [Decamerion Richardson], made a costly error running out of bounds. I know that's things that we coach them on every day, but we do have a lot of young guys that you can't take anything for granted. So, we put it on ourselves as coaches number one, with how we educate them, what we're practicing, what we're drilling, and it's on us, as coaches, to get it fixed. I don't know if I've seen that many special teams penalties in a game, and you look at the guys that are committing these penalties, and these are some younger guys, and it's not acceptable. So, we have to get it fixed defensively. We get a stop on third down, we taunt a guy and let them stay on the field. Unacceptable. One was a face mask defensively. It's two weeks in a row that, as a coaching staff, we've got substitution penalties. Unacceptable.”
On Fernando Mendoza
His performance:
“Plenty to clean up, plenty to get better at, plenty that we can do better for him as coaches, plenty that he can learn from."
The pick-six and how Mendoza responded:
“I think that defensively they covered the play really well, and the backer did a great job stepping in front of our checkdown. I got to go watch it. But the response is what we've come to expect from him.”
Where he can improve:
"Well, I think if you sat in our quarterback meeting the night before the game, listened to him go through his progressions and reads and adjustments, I was very impressed with how prepared he has made himself. That whole quarterback room, led by Coach [Mike] Sullivan and Andrew [Janocko], have done an excellent job of being prepared. I was pleased with watching the tape. I really like what he did on third down. We were only one of five on third down in the first half. However, we did drop the ball twice, and we threw one short of the sticks on third and long. He had really good ball placement on the first third down of the game with a guy in his face. So, in the critical downs, I thought he was playing his best. There are things that we must get corrected that will be addressed ASAP."
What he needs to get better:
"Reps. I know that's a short answer, but that's the truth."
How to develop him without game reps:
"Yeah, it's a great point, and as to God's honest truth, you're right. We have experience as coaches on developing guys when they're not starting a game if they don't start a game. So, it's staying early, leaving late. It's using some technological tools at your disposal, but it's really a lot of Coach [Mike] Sullivan spending some early mornings and long nights with Fernando [Mendoza] and Aidan [O'Connell]. But then you can build in young guy reps into your practices. There are things you can do. It's never as good as getting all the reps in practice, but you do the best you can with what you got."
On how Mendoza is faring at the line of scrimmage with pre-snap duties:
"He got us a penalty on the second play of the game I was not happy with the cadence, so we've got to get better there."
On Roster Battles
QB:
“We got another week, we're playing. I don't anyone to be comfortable in their job. It should always be that way from all positions. We'll just keep going forward.”
"I know I said it last night, I just don't think it ever benefits a player to know that they've have a spot secured, and if there's always a little bit of uneasiness about that, that benefits the whole team, the player and the team."
QBs, in regard to how many to keep on the 53-man roster:
"Yeah, those guys are going to make us make hard decisions, which is which is a great thing, that competition. We're talking through it. It's part of the discussion."
Generally on how tape plays a factor:
"Yeah, it helps a lot. These game reps are the most valuable ones that we can use. It's not just the defensive tape, but how they're performing on special teams, because so many guys in those positions have to prove their worth on teams. Guys that we can trust. So, it was very helpful for many guys."
Roster Evaluation
Secondary:
“Yeah, last week we had some problems in penalties. I thought the coverage was sticky today. I got to go watch the film, but this next game we just can't get these young guys enough reps because they're all going to be part of us winning games this year.”
"And as far as the secondary, overall, as a defense, I thought we took a step forward last night. I think we’ve got a lot of good work in the joint practice covering some new guys, and those guys need another game under their belt against San Francisco to continue to get better."
Defense overall:
"As a team, being plus one in the turnover margin, that's how you win games. So, with Rob [Leonard] taking it away, with our offense protecting the ball, that's how you win. You've obviously got to score, but you've got to you got to win the turnover battle. That was a huge part of the game."
WR room:
"Yeah, I learned a lot in that we have to get a lot better very fast. That we took a step backwards; doesn't mean we can't go forward. But right now, we are trying to find someone that is accountable and can help us on Sunday. Still looking."
On Specific Players
Mike Washington Jr.:
“I see a very talented young man with a bright future ahead of him [RB Mike Washington Jr.] that's extremely humble and hard working. If he just keeps that mindset, he'll keep getting better. He has plenty that he needs to improve on and he knows that.”
“Yeah, guys are earning roles. We're gathering information. He's a young guy, [RB] Mike [Washington Jr.] is, so we're learning more about him. If guys are having success, then they carve out roles. That's where he's headed, but I'll say it again. Mike's doing a great job running the ball. We got to keep getting him better in all facets of his game.”
Jalen Nailor playing, unlike the rest of the presumed starters:
“Yeah, just was my decision. Yep.”
Matt Gay:
“Yeah, that's why we brought him [K Matt Gay] here. He's a really hard-working guy. I love his demeanor. He's all business. We got another game to go get some more kicks in.”
Caleb Rogers:
"Caleb Rogers in particular, he just needs to continue to get reps as a young player to improve. He has all the talent that you're looking for. We’ve just got to keep getting him better. I like how he works, like the kind of teammate that he is, and he has a bright future ahead of him."
Maxx Crosby:
"I think all players need the reps [in preseason]. I'm not going to be giving him any though."
Aidan O'Connell:
“That's who he is. He's [QB Aidan O’Connell] had a really solid camp. He's got limited reps and when he goes in there, he makes things happen. He's a great leader of the offense, very calm young man. Not surprised that he had success there at the end of the game.”
AOC's leadership:
"Yeah, that's a great point. I think we've said all offseason how much we value Aidan [O'Connell], and what a heck of a second half. He goes out and leads us to 19-point half and 290-plus yard drives in the fourth quarter. He did it with his teammates, but he was a big part of it and was very happy for him."
Cody Lindenberg and Tommy Eichenberg:
"I love the depth. I love what they bring to the special teams aspect. Those are two guys I know that when called upon, are going to play solid football for us. Both guys have been practicing really well. Cody [Lindenberg] made a great interception in practice the other day, but those are two guys that we're really counting on this year."
Jack Bech:
“We played him. The ball didn't find him tonight. But Jack got plenty of reps, just ball didn't find him tonight.”
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