Q: From what you've seen on film, does what you see jive with the record that you see?
Coach Reid:"No. Listen, these games are close through three quarters. They're playing good football, so all I had to do was turn on the tape. They've got a good scheme. I'm a big Tony Sparano fan. He's a heck of a football coach. [They are] playing tough football, playing good football. [Defensive coordinator Jason] Tarver's got the defense playing well. It doesn't take you long when you turn on the film. There's a very small margin between winning and losing in the National Football League, we understand that."
Q: Why are you a big Tony Sparano fan? What do you think he does well?
Coach Reid:"He's a good football coach. I think he brings toughness. He's got a good scheme. He's a relentless worker."
Q: You've gone through this Thursday routine just about every year in your career. Do you have a system that you stick to in terms of getting ready, or do you tweak it by the year depending on the health of your team and that kind of thing?
Coach Reid:"Some of it is just – like last year, we did it our third game in the season, so it was a little different as far as the players being fresher in the third game than the 10th, the 11th game – I don't even know where we're at here, but we're later in the season. So from that standpoint, it's a little bit different, and then you just see how your team is physically. You've got to look at that and work from there. But basically the same format, yeah."
Q: What were your impressions of Derek Carr through the draft process and how do you think he has done this year?
Coach Reid:"Listen, I think he's done a heck of a job. He's a good football player and I liked him coming out of Fresno State. I liked him a lot. He's got great composure for a young guy and he's got a big arm, a good feel for the game. [He's] got a brother that played in the league so he's been around it and understands it."
Q: You were drafting at a point where you probably weren't going to be around to get him, but did you look at Khalil Mack very closely?
Coach Reid:"That one was out of my range. (laughing) I watched him. He's another good one. You're in good hands with [General Manager] Reggie [McKenzie] there. He knows football players. With time – you know how that goes when you're rebuilding something – with time, you're in good hands there."
Q: As a coach when you look at the film, you realize what this league is like, but is there any part of you that has to sell any of your players on that – when look at a record and see 0-10?
Coach Reid:"When you go to the Black Hole, you better be ready. We know that. That's a given, and this is a great rivalry that's far exceeded my time as a head football coach in this league, so we understand that these are two competitive football teams when they play each other. The records, you just throw the record out."
Q: Do you see it as a fluke or something that you have to rectify, the fact that you don't have a wide receiver with a touchdown catch?
Coach Reid:"I don't know. I think the bottom line is that if we weren't scoring touchdowns, I'd say, 'OK.' I don't really care who scores. You want a touchdown? Come with us, man. We'll put you at fullback, we'll get you touchdown."
Q: What jumps out when you watch the Raiders defensively on film?
Coach Reid:"Their speed. Their speed and quickness. You've got to be on your toes, now, when you play them, because Tarver, he's going to bring people from all over the place. He's gotten us before, so we know the deal. You've got to be on you're A-game."
