Offensive Coordinator Todd Downing & Defensive Coordinator Ken Norton, Jr.
The Oakland Raiders got back to their winning ways in Week 7 against the Kansas City Chiefs.. The offense saw a huge output of production from wide receiver Amari Cooper, and the defense made crucial stops when it needed to. To recap the performance from their units, Raiders Offensive Coordinator Todd Downing and Defensive Coordinator Ken Norton, Jr., took to the podium Thursday.
Here are the quick hits from their media session:
**Offensive Coordinator Todd Downing:
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Downing talked about No. 89's productive day at the office against the Chiefs.
"He made a couple of great plays and was very opportunistic with the opportunities that he's had. I know that 19 targets shows up as like, 'Wow, that's drastically different than the rest of the season.' But it was not a considerate effort to force feed him. It was all within the scheme."
He shared what he sees from the Buffalo Bills defense, and their areas of strength.
"Very, very well coached. They don't make a lot of mistakes and they're very opportunistic. I think they're plus-10 in the turnover ratio this year so far. It's because they are where they're supposed to be when they're supposed to be there. We know that we need to protect the football. We need to be on point with our field landmarks that we were talking about earlier and timing in the passing game. They're a good team up front."
Downing broke down the play of Bills safety Micah Hyde.
"I've played against him a number of times back to when he was in Green Bay and I was with the Lions. He's a very talented player. He's a savvy guy. He has good vision on the quarterback and he has good ball skills. That paired with him being a coverage guy in background and now playing safety, he's a guy that can ball hawk a little bit. You have to be careful about those opportunity balls in his direction. You have to be on point with your ball placement and anything you're throwing downfield."
Defensive Coordinator Ken Norton, Jr.:
**Norton discussed how the team got linebacker NaVorro Bowman ready for his first game as a Raider.
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"He and the linebacker coach, Sal [Sunseri], spent a lot of time together in the off times before work, after work, a lot of homework. He was dedicating himself. He was obsessed with playing and playing every down. We came into it trying to give him just little pieces of the meal and he wanted the whole feast, he wanted the whole plate. He was prepared, he was ready, he wanted it. His performance was just a result of the way he prepared during the week."
The Raiders Defensive Coordinator emphasized the importance of playing well consistently.
"One thing in our fabric, we've always played really hard. We've always finished really well and I think that the guys take a lot of pride in their effort in stopping in the high two-minute type part of the game. I think that's something that we've always done. We've been inconsistent in some areas, consistent in some areas, but that's an area that we've always been really consistent in – being really strong, finishing strong, making plays when we have to. And I think that a game like that and really looking at the positives – 'Hey guys, this is who you are. This is the fabric of who we are.' That's something that is more consistent."
Norton explained how Bills quarterback Tyrod Taylor can hurt a defense.
"Well, the obvious. We played him last year and it's obvious, he's like [LeSean] McCoy playing quarterback. He's mobile, he's elusive, he's very good with the ball in hands. He can run it, he can throw it, he can run the run, he can throw. He's smart and he's a gamer. He's certainly a really good football player. It's going to be a team effort to stop him and contain McCoy. We're up for the challenge."
