Josh McDaniels is not actively attempting to bring "The Patriot Way" to the desert. While in the early process of OTAs, he's letting his players and staff create their own culture.
The Las Vegas Raiders have a collection of old and new faces that are trying to get on the right page ahead of Training Camp. This offseason has been one of headlines for the Raiders with the many trades and signings that have transpired, the most notable ones involving All-Pros Davante Adams and Chandler Jones.
Thursday morning was the first day of media access for the offseason program, and while still extremely early in the process, McDaniels is pleased with how things are coming together.
"The effort that they put in, the time that they put in, how much they demand of themselves – which I think you have to do before you can start pushing other people – it just speaks for itself," he told the media. " And then there's a lot of players that are following the right people. Excited about this group, pleased with what they're doing so far. Still got a long way to go and eager to see how that's going to turn out as we go through the rest of the spring."
McDaniels didn't just describe how pleased he is with his players, but also his staff in helping maximize the players' talents and abilities. The six-time Super Bowl champion is cognizant that it will be a full operation to continually reach great heights within the Raiders organization.
"I've been looking forward to an opportunity like this for a couple years now and I'm so blessed to have the staff that we have and the group that we have working, and the support staff that we have around me," said McDaniels. "They make my job easy. I'm just trying to keep us on schedule and on time and those kind of things, but I couldn't say enough things about the staff here.
"The strength and conditioning guys, the trainers, the equipment people that make this thing go – they do a tremendous job. Then our coaching staff is doing a great job. They're here real early, they're here late at night making sure all the information is prepared. I feel like I've learned a lot. I feel like it's slowed down for me, for sure. Doesn't mean anything at this point in time of the year, doesn't have any bearing on what's going to happen down the road, but definitely feel a comfort level now in terms of understanding what my role is and how to do it better."
Even with the new changes taking place within the building, McDaniels has been leaning on the team's established leaders such as Derek Carr, Maxx Crosby and Darren Waller for creating a team culture that is unique. While there's been rumblings of McDaniels attempting to copy the New England style he knows well, McDaniels recognized that "[i]t's hard for anybody to leave there and try to replicate everything that happens there."
The head coach has been vocal about the way things will be handled in his second head coaching stint, and is focused on being true to himself rather than chasing an old recipe of success.
"I think we have a good thing going in terms of the direction that we've started things in," said McDaniels. "The football part of it and the belief in how to win and some of the strategy and those kind of things, very much what I know. But the interpersonal interactions each day, the flow of the day, some of those other things that you could choose to copy if you wanted to – we have a lot of great people, like I said, and so being able to give them their responsibilities, they know what their roles are and let them go do their jobs is really important for me.
"It's really important for them to know that I support them and I'm just here to be a resource and try to help them if I can. If I can't, then I'm going to learn from them. It's been great in terms of just trying to put that into motion here. I think the players and coaches know it's not going to be that way."
In layman's terms:
"I'm not Bill [Belichick] and I can't be. I'm just going to try to be myself and hopefully I can be a good leader for our team."
View the best photos from the third day of the Las Vegas Raiders' OTAs at Intermountain Healthcare Performance Center.
Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Chase Garbers (15) at an Organized Team Activity (OTA).
Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Maxx Crosby (98) at an Organized Team Activity (OTA).
Las Vegas Raiders fullback Jakob Johnson (45) and strength and conditioning assistant Deuce Gruden at an Organized Team Activity (OTA).
Las Vegas Raiders strength and conditioning assistant Deuce Gruden and defensive end Maxx Crosby (98) at an Organized Team Activity (OTA).
Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Hunter Renfrow (13) at an Organized Team Activity (OTA).
Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Derek Carr (4) and defensive end Maxx Crosby (98) at an Organized Team Activity (OTA).
Las Vegas Raiders tight end Darren Waller (83) at an Organized Team Activity (OTA).
Las Vegas Raiders cornerback Rock Ya-Sin (26), cornerback Cre'Von LeBlanc (31) and defensive lineman Myron Tagovailoa-Amosa (69) at an Organized Team Activity (OTA)
Las Vegas Raiders defensive lineman Myron Tagovailoa-Amosa (69) at an Organized Team Activity (OTA).
Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Zach VanValkenburg (54) at an Organized Team Activity (OTA).
Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Gerri Green (56) at an Organized Team Activity (OTA).
Las Vegas Raiders safety Tre'von Moehrig (25) at an Organized Team Activity (OTA).
Las Vegas Raiders defensive lineman Tyler Lancaster (63) at an Organized Team Activity (OTA).
Las Vegas Raiders running back Brandon Bolden (34) at an Organized Team Activity (OTA).
Las Vegas Raiders guard/tackle Alex Leatherwood (70) at an Organized Team Activity (OTA).
Las Vegas Raiders offensive lineman Jermaine Eluemunor (72) at an Organized Team Activity (OTA).
Las Vegas Raiders cornerback Rock Ya-Sin (26) at an Organized Team Activity (OTA).
Las Vegas Raiders offensive lineman Hroniss Grasu (65) at an Organized Team Activity (OTA).
Las Vegas Raiders long snapper Trent Sieg (47) at an Organized Team Activity (OTA).
Las Vegas Raiders running back Ameer Abdullah (22) at an Organized Team Activity (OTA).
Las Vegas Raiders punter AJ Cole (6) at an Organized Team Activity (OTA).
Las Vegas Raiders guard/tackle Alex Leatherwood (70) at an Organized Team Activity (OTA).
Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Gerri Green (56) at an Organized Team Activity (OTA).
Las Vegas Raiders defensive lineman Myron Tagovailoa-Amosa (69) at an Organized Team Activity (OTA).
Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Tashawn Bower (96) at an Organized Team Activity (OTA).
Las Vegas Raiders offensive lineman Jermaine Eluemunor (72) at an Organized Team Activity (OTA).
Las Vegas Raiders guard Dylan Parham (66) at an Organized Team Activity (OTA).
Las Vegas Raiders tight end Foster Moreau (87) at an Organized Team Activity (OTA).
Las Vegas Raiders safety Qwynnterrio Cole (42) at an Organized Team Activity (OTA).
Las Vegas Raiders players and coaches at an Organized Team Activity (OTA).
Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Clelin Ferrell (99) at an Organized Team Activity (OTA).
Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Derek Carr (4) at an Organized Team Activity (OTA).
Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Tyron Johnson (84) at an Organized Team Activity (OTA).
Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Tashawn Bower (96) at an Organized Team Activity (OTA).
Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Chandler Jones (55) at an Organized Team Activity (OTA).
Las Vegas Raiders offensive lineman Alex Bars (64) at an Organized Team Activity (OTA).
Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Derek Carr (4) at an Organized Team Activity (OTA).
Las Vegas Raiders safety Tre'von Moehrig (25) at an Organized Team Activity (OTA).
Las Vegas Raiders safety Bryce Cosby (44) at an Organized Team Activity (OTA).
Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Maxx Crosby (98) at an Organized Team Activity (OTA).
Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Davante Adams (17) at an Organized Team Activity (OTA).
Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Derek Carr (4) at an Organized Team Activity (OTA).
Las Vegas Raiders linebacker Denzel Perryman (52) at an Organized Team Activity (OTA).
Las Vegas Raiders tackle Brandon Parker (75) at an Organized Team Activity (OTA).
Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Nick Mullens (9) at an Organized Team Activity (OTA).
Las Vegas Raiders guard Lester Cotton Sr. (67) at an Organized Team Activity (OTA).
Las Vegas Raiders safety Tre'von Moehrig (25) at an Organized Team Activity (OTA).
Las Vegas Raiders cornerback Darius Phillips (20) at an Organized Team Activity (OTA).
Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Mack Hollins (10) at an Organized Team Activity (OTA).
Las Vegas Raiders defensive lineman Myron Tagovailoa-Amosa (69) at an Organized Team Activity (OTA).
Las Vegas Raiders safety Bryce Cosby (44) at an Organized Team Activity (OTA).
Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Derek Carr (4) at an Organized Team Activity (OTA).
Las Vegas Raiders defensive lineman Tyler Lancaster (63) at an Organized Team Activity (OTA).
Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Davante Adams (17) at an Organized Team Activity (OTA).
Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Chandler Jones (55) at an Organized Team Activity (OTA).
Las Vegas Raiders tackle Kolton Miller (74) at an Organized Team Activity (OTA).
Las Vegas Raiders guard/tackle Alex Leatherwood (70) at an Organized Team Activity (OTA).
Las Vegas Raiders offensive lineman Alex Bars (64) at an Organized Team Activity (OTA).
Las Vegas Raiders long snapper Trent Sieg (47) at an Organized Team Activity (OTA).
Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Keelan Cole (89) at an Organized Team Activity (OTA).
Las Vegas Raiders defensive lineman Tyler Lancaster (63) at an Organized Team Activity (OTA).
Las Vegas Raiders Head Coach Josh McDaniels and kicker Daniel Carlson (2) at an Organized Team Activity (OTA).
Las Vegas Raiders punter AJ Cole (6) at an Organized Team Activity (OTA).
Las Vegas Raiders defensive tackle Bilal Nichols (91) at an Organized Team Activity (OTA).
Las Vegas Raiders running back Brittain Brown (38) at an Organized Team Activity (OTA).
Las Vegas Raiders safety Isaiah Pola-Mao (40) at an Organized Team Activity (OTA).
Las Vegas Raiders linebacker Darien Butler (58) at an Organized Team Activity (OTA).
Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Tyron Johnson (84) at an Organized Team Activity (OTA).
Las Vegas Raiders fullback Jakob Johnson (45) at an Organized Team Activity (OTA).
Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Jordan Veasy (18) at an Organized Team Activity (OTA).
Las Vegas Raiders defensive tackle Bilal Nichols (91) at an Organized Team Activity (OTA).
Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Davante Adams (17) at an Organized Team Activity (OTA).
Las Vegas Raiders safety Isaiah Pola-Mao (40) at an Organized Team Activity (OTA).
Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Derek Carr (4) at an Organized Team Activity (OTA).
Las Vegas Raiders linebacker Kenny Young (53) at an Organized Team Activity (OTA).
Las Vegas Raiders cornerback Cre'Von LeBlanc (31) at an Organized Team Activity (OTA).
Las Vegas Raiders cornerback Rock Ya-Sin (26) at an Organized Team Activity (OTA).
Las Vegas Raiders safety Isaiah Pola-Mao (40) at an Organized Team Activity (OTA).
Las Vegas Raiders safety Roderic Teamer (33) at an Organized Team Activity (OTA).
Las Vegas Raiders punter AJ Cole (6) at an Organized Team Activity (OTA).
Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Justin Hall (12) at an Organized Team Activity (OTA).
Las Vegas Raiders safety Duron Harmon (30) at an Organized Team Activity (OTA).
Las Vegas Raiders safety Tre'von Moehrig (25) at an Organized Team Activity (OTA).
Las Vegas Raiders running back Brittain Brown (38) at an Organized Team Activity (OTA).
Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Derek Carr (4) at an Organized Team Activity (OTA).
Las Vegas Raiders players and coaches at an Organized Team Activity (OTA).
