The 2023 NFL Training Camp for the Las Vegas Raiders is progressing, and today RB Ameer Abdullah spoke, and we have his entire comments for you.
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00:00 [BLANK_AUDIO]
00:04 >> Amir, you've been around a lot of first day in pads practices.
00:07 This one was pretty physical.
00:09 For you, a guy who likes the physicality,
00:11 are you just, is it exciting to get past the no pads and just play football?
00:16 >> Yeah, real football is what we play on Sundays, right?
00:19 It's always interesting to see how fundamentals carry over from
00:24 non-padded to practice days, padded practice days.
00:28 These are the days that we really lock in on the fundamentals,
00:31 making sure we're keeping it simple.
00:33 And guys are playing with the right technique,
00:34 cuz that always wins football games.
00:35 >> That's something that from your experiences,
00:39 I know you've been on a few different teams,
00:40 is that pretty rare, tackling to the ground during practices?
00:43 >> No.
00:43 >> I'm trying to ask you to, I guess, boast about yourself, but
00:49 obviously the fact that you play in the kicking game, also in catching and
00:53 running out the backfield, would you consider yourself one of, if not the most,
00:57 versatile player on this team?
00:58 And do you take pride in your versatility?
01:00 >> I take pride in executing what my name is called.
01:04 So in short, yes, to answer your question.
01:07 But it's really about the moment, season, the opportunity, and
01:11 just making sure that you represent yourself the best way.
01:15 No matter if it's kickoff, kickoff return, third down, running the ball.
01:19 For me, it's about making sure people remember me on that play, so.
01:23 >> How much of an opportunity is this for you running so
01:25 many reps for the first team?
01:27 >> What was that?
01:28 >> I mean, how much of an opportunity is this for
01:29 you getting so many reps for the first team?
01:31 >> I'm used to that.
01:32 >> I mean, football's made up of a lot of components, but
01:36 at the end of the day, toughness is a big part of it.
01:38 When you have a practice like today, and
01:40 you guys are pretty intentional with the physicality,
01:42 is that something that can carry over or just set a tone in the locker room?
01:46 >> Definitely, I mean, we have a standard here.
01:47 I think our standard is pretty much competitive stamina.
01:52 Every play, bringing the same mindset, bringing the same physicality,
01:56 time and time again.
01:57 The team who can do that longer is typically the team that wins.
02:00 And I think that's what our focus needs to be as a team.
02:03 >> Amiri, it was alluded to a minute ago, all the different things you do.
02:08 But in 11 on 11s, I saw you grab Z, Zemir, and just talk to him for a second.
02:13 It seems like clearly you're a leader, but do you like that he's following,
02:19 that he's wanting all your information, all your tidbits, your wisdom?
02:22 >> Yeah, I mean, I think for one, as players,
02:24 we can always learn from one another.
02:25 I learn from the young guys every single day.
02:27 And the good thing about Zemir is he's so willing to listen.
02:30 He's a sponge, he's a guy who understands that he has a good opportunity right now.
02:34 And for him to listen to guys like me and Brandon, who've done it for
02:38 a number of teams for a number of years,
02:40 is always a good feeling because we grow better that way.
02:43 >> Since you said it goes the other way too, and you learn from young guys,
02:45 what have you picked up from Zemir?
02:47 What have you learned from working with him?
02:47 >> Finish, that guy finishes, man.
02:49 He finishes all the way down the field almost every single time.
02:53 He's a guy who's going to do the little things.
02:56 He takes to coaching really well.
02:57 I think he comes from a very humble upbringing.
02:59 So I think that's what's really molded him to be the adaptable player that he is.
03:05 So just learning from that and
03:06 always humbling yourself is what I've learned from Zemir.
03:09 >> How different is it in that room, Amir, without Josh Jacobs in there right now?
03:12 >> I mean, always different when you don't have a guy like Josh Jacobs,
03:15 best running back in the league last year.
03:17 So of course, not having him there for the most part, just how funny he is.
03:22 That's what I really miss, a guy who can always lighten the mood,
03:25 make sure everyone spears up heading to practice.
03:27 >> I mean, obviously you're a veteran that's been around a while.
03:30 You see how running backs are kind of, I guess, banding together and
03:35 at least expressing themselves a little bit.
03:38 How have you felt about that whole situation?
03:40 >> It's tough, it's definitely tough.
03:42 Of course, I'm always gonna be biased towards what I feel like my position can
03:47 do and what we bring to the game.
03:49 But I'm the type of person, I just live in the present.
03:52 I try to make the most of it.
03:53 I'm not gonna necessarily try to predict what's gonna happen in the future or
03:59 say what we need to do right now.
04:00 I think the main focus right now is getting better on my team, of course.
04:04 But I definitely feel like a running back position is of value.
04:08 And of course, when you get into the season, you definitely see that, so.
04:12 >> You were talking about the chemistry you have with Brandon and
04:15 you guys being veterans in this team.
04:17 A couple of weeks ago, I believe, Coach Dan was talking about how you set an example
04:22 with the effort that you guys put forth.
04:24 Can you feel that in the locker room?
04:25 Like you guys put in that effort on special teams, everybody is like, well-
04:29 >> 100%, 100%.
04:31 It's not easy.
04:33 We got hucky today.
04:33 Today was a lot cooler than what it typically is.
04:36 But first day on pads, guys are a little bit jittery.
04:40 You're exerting a lot of energy.
04:41 You get to about period 15, 16, you got your second special teams period coming up.
04:47 You see guys kind of hanging their head.
04:48 And those are the moments where veterans like myself, Jakub, Brandon Bowden,
04:52 just speaking on the offensive side of the ball, can really set the tempo and
04:56 set the tone in that drill.
04:57 And bust our butts to really show the young guys,
05:00 it's like don't feel sorry for yourself.
05:02 You're here for a reason.
05:04 You already get better.
05:05 And the only way you get better is to push through that fatigue.
05:07 So I'm glad that Brandon gets so excited to play ball.
05:11 He's going into year 4000.
05:12 So for a guy who's been around for that long to still bring the same
05:18 energy to the game is such a big lift for our team.
05:22 >> He was giving you some grief when you were getting picked up on the sidelines.
05:25 He was giving you some grief when you were getting picked up on the sidelines.
05:27 >> Healthy balance, he's also selfish.
05:30 Selfish, selfish, man.
05:32 I hope he sees this.
05:33 [LAUGH] >> What do you think the offense is this
05:37 year compared to the training camp last year when everybody was brand new?
05:41 >> Definitely a lot further along from a cerebral standpoint.
05:44 We understand concepts a lot better.
05:46 We understand why guys are gonna be in a certain place and
05:49 why we need to fit off that properly.
05:52 I think anytime you're building offense, that's the most important.
05:55 Getting everybody on the same page of knowing what everyone is doing.
05:59 Like first year coming in, we all were just focused on,
06:01 I'm just gonna do my job.
06:03 But now understanding, okay, if you get this coverage, we may change this way.
06:08 And this is why, so I need to make sure I play this way.
06:11 Allows you to put your own wrinkles on your own job titles, but
06:14 also to play with a little bit more of a cerebral instinct.
06:18 >> Amir, just observing from afar,
06:21 Jimmy G feels like somebody that just kinda rolls with it.
06:24 >> I love it.
06:25 >> Yeah, I mean, yesterday wasn't maybe the best day.
06:27 Today, he bounces right back and he looked sharp today.
06:29 When your quarterback is wired that way, can that help a team?
06:34 >> 100%, mentally tough.
06:35 He's the guy who's gonna stand in there.
06:37 He's the guy who's a leader.
06:39 He's a guy who is the same if he throws a 60 yard bomb or an interception.
06:44 I think that's what's really important, keeping the same energy.
06:47 Because as a quarterback, everyone's watching you.
06:49 You're the guy, whether it's the fans or your teammates, everyone's watching you.
06:53 So if you hang your head and you're low in your low moments,
06:56 you're high in your high moments, people kinda ride off of that.
06:59 So a guy who's very steadfast is, I think, what this team needs.
07:03 And I'm glad that we got him at the grand polo.
07:05 >> How much has the chemistry, how's that chemistry building been going with Jimmy?
07:09 >> Man, it's been good, it's been good.
07:11 He's very communicative of what he likes from a route standpoint to the backfield,
07:17 to the receivers.
07:18 He's a guy who's played a lot of ball, been in this system before.
07:21 So you see him just settling back in.
07:23 >> You guys good?
07:25 Do you see that?
07:26 I mean, is that real tangible to see that he already knows this system to a degree?
07:30 Cuz when he first got here, he said it was kinda like going from Italian to Spanish
07:33 or Spanish to Italian.
07:34 It's different, but it's the same.
07:36 >> Well, I'm not a quarterback, but this is my fourth team.
07:39 I really say third cuz Carolina was such a blip that it was kinda hard for
07:43 me to even learn the offense.
07:44 But once you leave one team, you have to kinda discard whatever you knew before.
07:50 Because every team runs similar concepts, but
07:53 the language is completely different.
07:55 And I can only imagine playing quarterback where you're really the general,
07:58 telling everybody what to do.
07:59 How hard it is to go from a McDaniel's offense, which is very cerebral,
08:03 to a, what was that, Shanahan offense out in San Fran and back.
08:08 So I can imagine it still takes a little bit to knock off the dust, but
08:12 he's a smart guy and that's why he's been capable in this league for a while.
08:14 >> All right, thank you guys.
08:17 >> Thank you.
08:17 >> Thanks a lot, Andrew.
08:18 Thank you.