Defensive End Khalil Mack
The Oakland Raiders wrapped up practice Tuesday afternoon, continuing to prepare for Thursday's preseason finale Seattle. Defensive end Khalil Mack addressed the media after practice to discuss the development of the younger players, and getting ready for Week 1.
Here are the quick hits from his session:
Mack looks forward to seeing the young guys get some game reps.
"Yeah it's been a great week preparing just mentally, physically, just getting ready. Obviously, Thursday is going to be what it is, but it's going to be an opportunity for our younger guys to get out there and do what they do."
He spoke about the run defense, and what needs to be done for it to improve.
"Personally, just from a leadership standpoint, just pinpoint on the attitude and the focus of the defense knowing that we have to have that mindset of no team can run on us in any situation. Just bring that to the forefront along with all the other guys on the defensive side of the ball with Bruce [Irvin] and Reggie [Nelson] and all of them, all the guys. It's just going to be that attitude that we have to have – a dominating attitude against the run."
The communication between the offensive and defensive lines have helped each side develop.
"When you talk about Menelik [Watson] and all of us really, Bruce and Donald Penn, all of us working together, you're talking about guys that really are trying to get better still. Menelik being a younger player like myself, he's coming in and he's asking questions, as well as me asking him questions. So it's been kind of like a conversation."
**Mack is looking forward to a handful of things in Thursday's game, particularly the progression of the younger players.
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"You're talking about progression; just guys getting better. Whether it's getting off the ball or whether it's making reads or whether it's stopping the run, playing off the tight ends. Just different things you see from both of those guys that you can"
He also shed some light on quarterback Matt McGloin's development.
"He's confident in everything he does. He already has that mentality like he's the starter. McGloin is a heck of a quarterback. You know we'll be good with him at that number two spot."
