Quarterback Derek Carr and Head Coach Jack Del Rio
Following the Oakland Raiders conclusion of Minicamp Thursday afternoon, Head Coach Jack Del Rio appeared on The Damon Bruce Show on 95.7 The Game FM.
During his time on the air, he discussed a variety of topics, ranging from his thoughts on wide receiver Amari Cooper to the infusion of talent the Raiders have added to their roster.
Here are the highlights from his interview with Bruce.
Del Rio spoke about the team's recently-concluded Minicamp.
"We just finished up. It was a three-day camp, and it's mandatory. Of course we had a voluntary offseason that just finished with this [Minicamp], but we had complete participation the whole time. Our guys are very committed, very into it. We got a lot of good work in. You're talking about establishing how we do things with some of the younger players, making sure they really understand what the Raider Way looks like, and I think veterans stepped forward and helped that process. I was really pleased with that."
He also shared his thoughts about wide receiver Amari Cooper as the University of Alabama-product prepares to enter his second season in Silver and Black.
"He's obviously a year into the system, and he's had the offseason to kind of strengthen and condition and do those things, and then the timing with Derek Carr. I mean, Amari Cooper and Derek Carr, that combination should be good for a number of years."
Rookie quarterback Connor Cook has also been solid through his first few months as an NFL player.
"Connor has been solid. I think for us – and [General Manager] Reggie [McKenzie] and I talked about this – you're addressing a position that is really the most important position you can have on the team, and make sure it's strong, and to get an opportunity to bring in a guy before you need the guy, we have an opportunity to now develop him. He's behind Derek. He's behind [quarterback] Matt McGloin, and we just get to bring him along and develop him. It's a great thing to have strength at that position, and I think we saw an opportunity to do just that and took advantage of it."
He also spoke about the young players the Raiders have added to the mix on the defensive side of the football.
"[Defensive lineman] Jihad Ward, second rounder. [Linebacker] Shilique Calhoun, the third rounder. [Linebacker] Cory James, the fifth rounder. It's a good group of young players that we've added, along with a couple of seasoned veterans, and so we like the way the unit is working. I think [defensive coordinator] Kenny Norton has done a great job – and the defensive staff – at working the guys, and instructing the guys, drilling the fundamentals that we're looking for."
Rookie running back DeAndré Washington has the ability to be a versatile playmaker.
"He's a guy that we think he's got the ability to really do some things if we can get him in space. He's fast. He's quick. He's not overly big. He's about 210, 212 pounds, so he's not a bowling ball or anything, but we think he's got some juice. We think he's got a chance to really help us move the chains and he's really excited about running the ball anyway we can get it to him, but we think he's got a chance to really help us there."
