Offensive Coordinator Greg Olson stepped up to the mic for his first press conference of Training Camp and went into detail on the changes to the offensive line, new weapons for Derek Carr and expectations for the season ahead.
Here are some of the best soundbites from Thursday's media availability.
On the offensive line:
"Playing together is always important with the guys up front and that's no matter what level of football you're playing at. If you have continuity there with those five guys because of the communication then certainly you're going to be ahead of the curve. Again, we got new players, new positions. Andre James but he's been here. Alex Leatherwood, a very intelligent guy. He's picked it up very quickly and then the communication with our guards who are veteran guys has been great going out to him on the outside."
On G John Simpson:
"John Simpson ended up being our strongest player coming out of the offseason program. ... If his work ethic has anything to do with how he's going to take the next step this year, if that has anything to say about it, he'll be a much better player. But he again, he gained more weight, he gained more strength and yet he didn't lose his flexibility or the athleticism that we saw when we drafted him, so we're excited about him."
On the new offensive weapons:
"You're always looking for skilled players or players to get the ball to and we've got we feel like capable players right now at every position. Nelson Agholor will be a tough guy to replace, but we really feel good about both Bryan [Edwards] and Henry [Ruggs III] right now. And we brought in John Brown who's looked good. Willie Snead is a guy that's come over and has looked very good in OTAs and looked good here the first two days, so we have some capable guys that we think can step up, but again the more weapons that you have certainly the harder you are to defend down there."
On WR Henry Ruggs III:
"He came back in tremendous shape with the weight gain, which a lot of times when guys gain weight like that, they lose their speed, or they lose their conditioning, but he's looked in really good shape these first two days, so we're excited about his body transforming and how he looks."
On his expectations for QB Derek Carr:
"We know he's an intelligent player, we know he's a very accurate player in terms of throwing the football. Again, when we looked back at what can we do better; explosive plays, explosive plays down the field is one of those areas that we will look to improve upon. And it's a mindset too, but I think he's aware of that as well. I mean he's aware of what we're asking him on every play and what the progression will be and when we want him taking chances and when we don't."
View photos from another day of practice at Intermountain Healthcare Performance Center during 2021 Training Camp.
Las Vegas Raiders linebacker Nicholas Morrow (50) on the field for practice at 2021 Training Camp.
Las Vegas Raiders cornerback Trayvon Mullen Jr. (27) on the field for practice at 2021 Training Camp.
Las Vegas Raiders tight end Matt Bushman (84) on the field for practice at 2021 Training Camp.
Las Vegas Raiders Head Coach Jon Gruden on the field for practice at 2021 Training Camp.
Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Willie Snead IV (17) on the field for practice at 2021 Training Camp.
Las Vegas Raiders safety Roderic Teamer (33) on the field for practice at 2021 Training Camp.
Las Vegas Raiders tackle Kolton Miller (74) on the field for practice at 2021 Training Camp.
Las Vegas Raiders tackle Kolton Miller (74) on the field for practice at 2021 Training Camp.
Las Vegas Raiders guard John Simpson (76) on the field for practice at 2021 Training Camp.
Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Derek Carr (4) on the field for practice at 2021 Training Camp.
Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver John Brown (15) on the field for practice at 2021 Training Camp.
Las Vegas Raiders Head Coach Jon Gruden on the field for practice at 2021 Training Camp.
Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Derek Carr (4) on the field for practice at 2021 Training Camp.
Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Marcell Ateman (88), wide receiver Henry Ruggs III (11), wide receiver Hunter Renfrow (13) and wide receiver John Brown (15) on the field for practice at 2021 Training Camp.
Las Vegas Raiders guard John Simpson (76) on the field for practice at 2021 Training Camp.
Las Vegas Raiders running back Josh Jacobs (28) on the field for practice at 2021 Training Camp.
Las Vegas Raiders running back Josh Jacobs (28) and quarterback Derek Carr (4) on the field for practice at 2021 Training Camp.
Las Vegas Raiders running back Josh Jacobs (28) on the field for practice at 2021 Training Camp.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive tackle Solomon Thomas (92) on the field for practice at 2021 Training Camp.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive tackle Darius Philon (96) on the field for practice at 2021 Training Camp.
Las Vegas Raiders tight end Alex Ellis (81) on the field for practice at 2021 Training Camp.
Las Vegas Raiders running back Garrett Groshek (46) on the field for practice at 2021 Training Camp.
Las Vegas Raiders tight end Derek Carrier (85) on the field for practice at 2021 Training Camp.
Las Vegas Raiders tight end Nick Bowers (82) on the field for practice at 2021 Training Camp.
Las Vegas Raiders running back Garrett Groshek (46) on the field for practice at 2021 Training Camp.
Las Vegas Raiders cornerback Damon Arnette (20) on the field for practice at 2021 Training Camp.
Las Vegas Raiders guard/tackle Jaryd Jones-Smith (72) on the field for practice at 2021 Training Camp.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Maxx Crosby (98) on the field for practice at 2021 Training Camp.
Las Vegas Raiders offensive lineman Alex Leatherwood (70) on the field for practice at 2021 Training Camp.
Las Vegas Raiders Head Coach Jon Gruden on the field for practice at 2021 Training Camp.
Las Vegas Raiders fullback Alec Ingold (45) on the field for practice at 2021 Training Camp.
Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Zay Jones (7) on the field for practice at 2021 Training Camp.
Las Vegas Raiders cornerback Casey Hayward Jr. (29) on the field for practice at 2021 Training Camp.
Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Henry Ruggs III (11) on the field for practice at 2021 Training Camp.
Las Vegas Raiders cornerback Trayvon Mullen Jr. (27) on the field for practice at 2021 Training Camp.
Las Vegas Raiders safety Tre'von Moehrig (25) on the field for practice at 2021 Training Camp.
Las Vegas Raiders cornerback Nate Hobbs (39) on the field for practice at 2021 Training Camp.
Las Vegas Raiders linebacker Javin White (53) on the field for practice at 2021 Training Camp.
Las Vegas Raiders linebacker Max Richardson (54) on the field for practice at 2021 Training Camp.
Las Vegas Raiders linebacker Nick Kwiatkoski (44) on the field for practice at 2021 Training Camp.
Las Vegas Raiders linebacker Tanner Muse (55) on the field for practice at 2021 Training Camp.
Las Vegas Raiders linebacker Darron Lee (58) on the field for practice at 2021 Training Camp.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive lineman Kendal Vickers (93) on the field for practice at 2021 Training Camp.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Yannick Ngakoue (91) on the field for practice at 2021 Training Camp.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive tackle Quinton Jefferson (97) on the field for practice at 2021 Training Camp.
Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Henry Ruggs III (11) on the field for practice at 2021 Training Camp.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive tackle Matt Dickerson (95) on the field for practice at 2021 Training Camp.
Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Marcell Ateman (88) on the field for practice at 2021 Training Camp.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Yannick Ngakoue (91) on the field for practice at 2021 Training Camp.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Carl Nassib (94) on the field for practice at 2021 Training Camp.
Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Derek Carr (4) on the field for practice at 2021 Training Camp.
Las Vegas Raiders guard Denzelle Good (71) on the field for practice at 2021 Training Camp.
Las Vegas Raiders guard Denzelle Good (71) on the field for practice at 2021 Training Camp.
Las Vegas Raiders offensive lineman Alex Leatherwood (70) on the field for practice at 2021 Training Camp.
Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver DJ Turner (19) on the field for practice at 2021 Training Camp.
Las Vegas Raiders tight end Darren Waller (83) on the field for practice at 2021 Training Camp.
Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Caleb Scott (10) on the field for practice at 2021 Training Camp.
Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Dillon Stoner (16) on the field for practice at 2021 Training Camp.
Las Vegas Raiders Head Coach Jon Gruden on the field for practice at 2021 Training Camp.
Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Henry Ruggs III (11) on the field for practice at 2021 Training Camp.
Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Derek Carr (4) on the field for practice at 2021 Training Camp.
Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Derek Carr (4) on the field for practice at 2021 Training Camp.
Las Vegas Raiders kicker Daniel Carlson (2), long snapper Trent Sieg (47), punter AJ Cole (6), long snapper Liam McCullough (48) and punter Corliss Waitman (9) on the field for practice at 2021 Training Camp.
Las Vegas Raiders kicker Daniel Carlson (2) on the field for practice at 2021 Training Camp.
Las Vegas Raiders long snapper Liam McCullough (48) on the field for practice at 2021 Training Camp.
Las Vegas Raiders punter AJ Cole (6) on the field for practice at 2021 Training Camp.
Las Vegas Raiders long snapper Trent Sieg (47) on the field for practice at 2021 Training Camp.
Las Vegas Raiders players and coaches on the field for practice at 2021 Training Camp.
Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Zay Jones (7) on the field for practice at 2021 Training Camp.
Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Derek Carr (4) and assistant head coach and special teams coordinator Rich Bisaccia on the field for practice at 2021 Training Camp.
Las Vegas Raiders safety Johnathan Abram (24), defensive end Yannick Ngakoue (91) and defensive tackle Johnathan Hankins (90) on the field for practice at 2021 Training Camp.
Las Vegas Raiders linebacker Nicholas Morrow (50) on the field for practice at 2021 Training Camp.
Las Vegas Raiders Head Coach Jon Gruden on the field for practice at 2021 Training Camp.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive tackle Niles Scott (78) on the field for practice at 2021 Training Camp.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Malcolm Koonce (51) on the field for practice at 2021 Training Camp.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Yannick Ngakoue (91) on the field for practice at 2021 Training Camp.
Las Vegas Raiders tackle Sam Young (79) and defensive end Clelin Ferrell (99) on the field for practice at 2021 Training Camp.
Las Vegas Raiders tackle Sam Young (79) and defensive end Carl Nassib (94) on the field for practice at 2021 Training Camp.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive tackle Solomon Thomas (92) on the field for practice at 2021 Training Camp.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Yannick Ngakoue (91) on the field for practice at 2021 Training Camp.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Yannick Ngakoue (91) on the field for practice at 2021 Training Camp.
Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Derek Carr (4) on the field for practice at 2021 Training Camp.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Maxx Crosby (98) on the field for practice at 2021 Training Camp.
Las Vegas Raiders center Nick Martin (66) on the field for practice at 2021 Training Camp.
Las Vegas Raiders center Jimmy Morrissey (65) on the field for practice at 2021 Training Camp.
Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Derek Carr (4) and running back Josh Jacobs (28) on the field for practice at 2021 Training Camp.
Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Willie Snead IV (17) on the field for practice at 2021 Training Camp.
Las Vegas Raiders cornerback Nate Hobbs (39) on the field for practice at 2021 Training Camp.
Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Willie Snead IV (17) on the field for practice at 2021 Training Camp.
Las Vegas Raiders cornerback Keisean Nixon (22) on the field for practice at 2021 Training Camp.
Las Vegas Raiders offensive lineman Alex Leatherwood (70) on the field for practice at 2021 Training Camp.
Las Vegas Raiders tight end Darren Waller (83) on the field for practice at 2021 Training Camp.
Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Derek Carr (4) on the field for practice at 2021 Training Camp.
Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Henry Ruggs III (11) on the field for practice at 2021 Training Camp.
