Las Vegas Raiders Insider Podcast on the State of the Silver and Black Heading Into the NFL Combine, Free Agency, and the NFL Draft
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00:00 everybody this is Hondo
00:08 Carpenter from the Las Vegas
00:10 Raiders insider podcast we are
00:12 of course sports illustrators
00:13 fan nation Raiders today I am
00:15 your reader be writer this is
00:16 our system be writer the one
00:18 and only the legend the man is
00:21 legendary the great. Zeke
00:25 trezevent Zeke how you doing
00:26 buddy doing well on the what
00:28 what's up everybody I'm Zeke
00:33 Trezevent. I'm gonna tell you.
00:34 A lot of things on my mind
00:40 today and. So I would just dig
00:44 in let's just get right to the
00:45 itty gritty from sin city is
00:47 that okay. Let's do it so. I a
00:51 lot of people are saying you
00:53 got to use the San Francisco
00:55 forty niners model when they
00:57 get to the NFL. And I'm telling
00:59 you the NFL model doesn't work.
01:02 Because the Raiders would be
01:04 moving from thirteen not twelve
01:06 which one spot in the NFL draft
01:08 is huge. And going from three to
01:11 one. And it's so I'm talking
01:14 with people around the league
01:15 and I'm told. At the time. That
01:19 the Raiders if they wanted to go
01:21 from thirteen to one would cost
01:23 them. A lot of money. Zeke. If
01:29 you're convinced there's a
01:30 generational guy there. Okay.
01:32 But if you are not convinced
01:34 you're getting the next Peyton
01:35 Manning or Patrick Mahomes. The
01:38 price of poker is way too high
01:42 so let's start there and then
01:43 I'm gonna give you the latest
01:45 intel I literally got this
01:47 morning so start there with me
01:49 tell me. What do you think of
01:51 three ones and three twos.
01:53 Because you were hearing
01:54 Washington's not going to trade.
01:57 I'm being told by people that I
01:59 trust. That New England maybe
02:04 would but is not has not decided
02:07 not to get a quarterback. And
02:09 unless you think all three guys
02:11 are ones you got to go to number
02:13 one. What do you think of that
02:14 cost. Yeah well it's all
02:17 relative right. So you know that
02:19 cost you know for maybe another
02:20 team you know first of all it's
02:22 a lot no matter how you look at
02:23 it but that cost for another
02:24 team might not impact that team
02:26 as much as it would impact the
02:27 Raiders. So I would say you
02:29 know a it's a lot. B. I would
02:31 point out in terms of Sam
02:33 France trade for Trey Lance.
02:35 Look at how it didn't really
02:36 work out. I mean they traded the
02:38 farm and it didn't work out and
02:40 for them it was luckily they
02:41 have a roster that's strong
02:42 enough that can with that was
02:44 able to withstand failing on
02:46 that trade. But the Raiders
02:47 don't. So if the Raiders were
02:48 to make that trade up and- it
02:50 turns out like Trey Lance did.
02:52 The Raiders would be set back
02:53 for at least five years
02:54 probably if not more after you
02:56 trade three threes three like
02:57 come on they that was set them
02:58 back a lot so- I think if you
03:00 know if you're going to make a
03:01 trade like Sam Fran you have to
03:03 be. Sure that you're sure that
03:05 that guy's going to work out
03:06 and I don't. Personally believe
03:07 that guy is in the draft in this
03:09 draft. Right now and here's the
03:11 other point too. They didn't
03:13 lose their jobs because it was
03:15 people above them that wanted to
03:17 pick Trey Lance. In this case.
03:21 It's a P. and P. again I'm not
03:24 I don't think you approach the
03:25 draft of fear you got to
03:27 approach it with confidence.
03:29 But you need to know if you make
03:30 that move your you're putting
03:32 your job on the line. A thousand
03:35 percent- and that's for both AP
03:37 in for telescope right like
03:39 there there's no way around
03:40 that right if you make them
03:41 very. The yes I'm very
03:44 percent yeah there's I mean you
03:46 know you talk about how you
03:47 know the previous regime was
03:48 married to you know the system
03:50 in the Rob Lowe et cetera you
03:52 trade open thirteen to you know
03:54 top five top three top one
03:55 whatever may be you're
03:56 definitely married to that and
03:57 you got to stick with it no
03:58 matter what happens going for
03:59 because you don't have a first
04:00 round draft pick for the next
04:01 X amount of years so you're
04:03 more than married to that to
04:04 that traffic so- I think it's a
04:06 lot I don't think the Raiders
04:07 would be why is it straight up
04:08 that far- they just have to meet
04:10 holes that they have to fill-
04:12 and honestly like we said the
04:13 whole time. They're close right
04:15 there's confidence in there is
04:16 being reckless and I think
04:18 trading up with would cost into
04:19 that line of the reckless in my
04:21 opinion. I'm gonna ask you right
04:23 now. I say this is going to be
04:25 straight trading up that far
04:27 would be reckless right one two
04:28 three four five if there are
04:30 trade you know from thirteen to
04:31 ten okay but anything up the
04:33 high that that would be
04:34 reckless in my opinion. Wow all
04:38 right strong opinions by the Z.
04:39 man I like it when Z. brings it
04:41 strong all right Z. so. I am
04:47 hearing. That from people I
04:51 trust. That they are trying to
04:54 that that okay so I was told the
04:56 other day and I mentioned this
04:57 in a podcast. The Raiders are I
05:00 mean that that that I'm
05:01 expecting now the bears they've
05:03 made the decision they're gonna
05:04 they're gonna use their pick.
05:08 And they're gonna use their pick.
05:11 After I reported and not
05:12 because of my reporting I
05:14 believe though that they knew
05:15 kind of what I knew. He on
05:17 follows the bears. All of it.
05:20 Now the bears are trying to let
05:23 it leak. All we may not trade
05:26 Justin fields I mean. Trying to
05:28 get the draft capital up it's
05:30 really funny. But it now the
05:33 expect before the expectation
05:34 around the league was they
05:36 were gonna stick with one. And
05:39 so now you got potential of two
05:41 teams. In Washington and
05:45 Chicago one. And who knows
05:48 what's gonna happen with the
05:49 wing from New England well
05:50 that doesn't matter I'm not
05:52 doing. So here's the next
05:55 question. Justin fields. If you
06:00 can get him for a two. I'm
06:03 sorry. If you can get him for a
06:06 two. Or two threes I don't
06:09 think you can get him for two
06:10 threes I think that's too low.
06:12 But you're going to get two
06:13 years with them. You pick up
06:15 the fifth year option. Great
06:18 kid. I know very well. Zero
06:22 character issues. None he's CJ
06:26 Stroud. Great kid. But here's
06:29 the other problem Chicago's
06:31 been they've come out and said
06:33 we want Justin just like this
06:35 locker room said. They wanted
06:37 Antonio Pierce. Let him go and
06:41 right now it looks like that.
06:43 You're going to get a guy that
06:45 you know can lead his locker
06:46 room you know guys would like
06:47 him you pair him with a- let
06:49 him compete go pick another
06:50 rookie to compete as well. I'm
06:53 just telling you. There's
06:56 certainly some intrigue there.
06:59 I'm telling you that the
07:00 Raiders have as of this moment
07:02 of our taping. Have not made a
07:05 decision of what they're going
07:06 to do I like them kicking the
07:08 rocks on fields they know get
07:10 see get see in fields had a
07:11 very good relationship. I'm not
07:16 against going there and keeping
07:19 your one in adding a quality
07:21 immediate impact starter you can
07:23 add a Kool Aid McKinstry a
07:25 Terry Arnold the JC Latham and
07:27 there's going to be so many
07:29 great players at thirteen what
07:30 would you think of them either
07:32 going fields or another free
07:33 agent. In terms of quarterback
07:35 I would agree with that a lot
07:37 thousand percent- in terms of
07:39 having someone come in and
07:40 compete with- with Aiden O'Connell
07:42 I think. Justin kind of checks
07:45 the- checks a lot of boxes in
07:46 the sense that a he's talented
07:48 be he's young so while you can
07:49 go get a you know for instance
07:51 occur cousins he's obviously a
07:53 lot older coming off a major
07:54 injury just using him as an
07:55 example. Justin Fields gives you
07:57 a lot more upside to what he
07:58 could. To wake up potentially-
08:02 it's a- so he could potentially
08:04 bring to the table. So yes I
08:06 think kicking the tires on
08:07 Justin will make a lot of sense.
08:09 I think you know with- with
08:11 Justin- you can I don't wanna
08:13 say plug and play necessarily
08:14 but it's the closest thing to
08:15 plug and play that you can put
08:16 in because of his connection.
08:18 To get see so I think kicking
08:20 the- tires on on Justin would
08:22 make a lot of sense and then
08:23 like you said. Use that thirteen
08:25 pick and I know it's very
08:26 conservative- but I'll say use
08:28 that thirteen pick for a- and
08:30 I'm biased but for defender-
08:32 you know whether it's a- you
08:33 know. Like you said a
08:34 cornerback a linebacker or even
08:36 a defensive. Quality defensive
08:38 lineman although I think it
08:39 would be more linebacker
08:40 quarterback than defensive
08:41 line so- yes I would say
08:43 stamp at. Go get you a young
08:45 guy like Justin that just needs
08:46 the right situation. I think
08:48 that's why Justin's teammates
08:49 came out and said Hey we
08:51 support him because they
08:52 understood Chicago wasn't the
08:53 best situation for Justin. Or
08:55 probably any other quarterback
08:57 a lot of other quarterbacks I
08:58 should say- so yes I think that
09:00 that would be the best route
09:01 for the Raiders to go you get
09:02 your quarterback you still add
09:03 talent. You don't trade the
09:04 farm for. You know maybe. You
09:09 know why I'm so mad at you
09:10 right now. I just texted
09:12 Kirk Cousins wonder why I'm so
09:13 mad at you. I don't know Kirk
09:17 since he was in high school.
09:19 He's been in the NFL for thirty
09:22 six years. And you just called
09:25 him all. I mean those so
09:28 respectfully. Thirty six man
09:30 hey. Hey listen I'm a I'm
09:32 almost thirty five thirty six
09:34 NFL years man you're old man.
09:36 This is what I just told Kirk.
09:39 I'm so angry. Zeke just called
09:43 you all what does that make me.
09:46 Hey text me while we're on the
09:48 phone. I'm gonna text you.
09:50 Careful with your old
09:54 references although I am old.
09:58 I am an O. G. there you go.
10:02 All right so let's keep it
10:07 going now- I love where the
10:09 Raiders are I love the way to
10:12 let's go and Antonio are
10:14 operating right now in
10:15 everybody Zeke that I'm talking
10:17 about. I love how they get
10:19 along. Stunned at how they
10:23 listen to one another. You and
10:26 I talked about this. We both
10:30 wanted champ Kelly to get the
10:31 job and I think we both believe
10:34 he deserved it. But I'm not
10:37 going to dislike to let's go.
10:40 He had nothing to do with it.
10:43 And so he deserves all of the
10:45 credit he deserves. And I know
10:47 there are multiple people who
10:49 he and I know it shares friends.
10:52 Love the guy. We talked about
10:55 the dynamic. Coming in and it's
10:58 the only eight piece not as guy.
11:00 Everybody Zeke is bragging about
11:02 the way they get along the way
11:04 that they they respect one
11:06 another. And the way they're
11:08 working through this process
11:10 I'm gonna be honest with you. I
11:13 think he is a strong personality
11:16 and you know at the press
11:18 conference when they announced
11:19 Tom I said it's a peace team
11:22 to let's go maybe the GM but it's
11:24 a peace team. I'm impressed with
11:26 Tom to let's go and how he's
11:28 handled the process and AP as
11:30 well. Your your your opinion.
11:32 Yeah. So I think you know the
11:33 fact that we a lot of us felt
11:35 like champ had earned a job and
11:37 I think that was correct still.
11:40 I think that plays into it in a
11:41 certain kind of way. I think the
11:43 previous regime in terms of
11:44 general manager head coach were
11:45 alike a lot of like obviously
11:46 same with the one before that AP
11:48 and champ a lot of like and I
11:50 think Mark Davis probably
11:51 realized hey we you know for the
11:53 last you know basically two and
11:54 a half regimes if you want to
11:55 count champion AP you know we've
11:57 had two guys that were similar
11:59 and this time he brought in to
12:00 let's go a with the experience
12:02 that AP necessarily didn't have
12:04 a little bit opposite in that
12:05 way and their opposites just in
12:07 terms of personality and
12:08 demeanor but a lot of times and
12:10 specifically in this case being
12:11 opposite kind of has its benefits
12:13 and they can kind of play off
12:14 of each other and then like you
12:15 said I think the fact that they
12:16 work well together is based
12:18 around just a mutual respect and
12:20 as you know right from being in
12:21 and around the NFL you know you
12:23 don't have to necessarily work
12:24 arm and arm with somebody to
12:25 know what they've done or have
12:26 an idea of what they've done and
12:28 then obviously with so let's go
12:29 he was in the division so he's
12:30 been keeping an eye on the
12:31 Raiders anyway AP played all
12:33 those years he knows about AP so
12:34 I think everything with them is
12:35 just based on a mutual respect
12:37 of each other and what the other
12:38 one has done and what the other
12:39 is trying to do and then you put
12:41 those guys in the same room
12:42 trying to reach the same goals
12:44 and they're naturally just going
12:45 to work well with each other so
12:46 so let's go brings a lot of a
12:48 lot of history a lot of
12:49 experience I think AP
12:51 appreciates that I think so
12:52 let's go brings a lot of
12:53 different things that AP may not
12:55 necessarily see and that's just
12:57 from being in different
12:58 positions right general manager
12:59 head coach new head coach I
13:01 think that plays a large part
13:02 into it but I think they're
13:03 going to work well together and
13:05 I think it's just going to get
13:06 better over time as they continue
13:07 to learn each other and what
13:08 works well and what doesn't I
13:10 agree with you a lot Zeke all
13:12 right I want to go to a
13:13 different angle because I think
13:14 it's an important one I think
13:16 it's one that we we got to spend
13:17 some time on and we're going to
13:20 talk about two particular people
13:21 three particular people you know
13:24 this because you've been in the
13:26 media now for several years all
13:29 PR people in college it's called
13:32 the sports information
13:35 department in the pros you know
13:39 it's it's the media relations
13:41 they love to control the
13:44 narrative and the speaker and
13:46 there's nothing wrong with that
13:47 we're not we're not in any way
13:50 that's their job that's what
13:52 they're supposed to do so we're
13:53 not in any way being critical of
13:55 them I think the Raiders are
13:58 learning AP is not going to be
14:01 handled he's going to speak to
14:03 whomever he wants to speak to
14:05 whenever he wants to and he's
14:08 gonna say exactly what he's
14:10 thinking now you and I have so
14:14 much respect for the Raiders PR
14:16 so this is in no way a slam
14:18 against them at all that's their
14:20 job is to practice protect the
14:21 franchise but man going from
14:24 Josh McDaniels where everything
14:26 was buttoned up and you had to
14:27 get everything as a source and
14:30 that certainly didn't hurt us
14:31 but I'm just saying in general
14:33 to now you never know what AP is
14:36 going to do I like it I think
14:40 it's back to the old school
14:42 Raider take his head off take the
14:45 head off the snake I mean he's
14:47 just gonna say any whatever he
14:49 thinks I love that he's so
14:50 genuine I love the fact because
14:53 sometimes Polish comes off as
14:55 fake.
14:57 I love it I love how genuine he
15:00 is I like that he will not be
15:02 handled you try to handle him
15:04 and I'm not gonna be good your
15:07 thoughts on that side of AP so
15:11 when it comes to AP in terms of
15:13 that facet I'm great like you
15:16 said you love it I love it I
15:18 love I think we all do in the
15:19 media it makes our job just more
15:21 fun just you know on a very
15:22 superficial level makes it more
15:23 fun but it also makes our job
15:24 easier because it gives us
15:26 things to work with but in terms
15:28 of the differences between the
15:29 two man night and day it's not
15:32 really even close like and I'll
15:34 be honest with you I think you
15:35 were putting it lightly when you
15:36 said that Josh McDaniels was
15:38 buttoned up like that's putting
15:39 it very very nicely there's
15:41 buttoned up and then there's
15:42 like covered from head to toe and
15:44 you could ask Josh is your name
15:45 Josh McDaniels and he would have
15:46 been like oh we don't know I got
15:47 to look at the film like you just
15:49 never knew if you could get
15:50 anything out of the 20 minute
15:52 answer to tell you no so it's a
15:56 lot different and again we're
15:58 grateful for it but this is what
16:00 I'll say I think although he
16:01 although AP won't be able to be
16:03 handled necessarily as much as
16:05 Josh was I think over time I
16:07 think there you know the Raiders
16:09 guys are kind of kind of going to
16:10 kind of get an AP's ear a little
16:11 bit excuse me and say hey you
16:13 know if you got it I think that
16:14 comment about taking a head off
16:16 the snake might have been you
16:17 know one of those things where
16:18 the guys in the background are
16:19 going to say AP like just watch
16:21 it just a little bit but overall
16:23 you know I love it man it makes
16:24 the job just easier it makes it
16:26 worth it makes it you want to
16:27 you want to come into work right
16:28 because you know but listen 9.9
16:31 times out of 10 AP is going to
16:32 give you the real he's going to
16:34 tell you what it is you need to
16:35 know and so much so that I'll
16:37 give you a small example with AP
16:39 one time I asked him a question
16:40 in the presser and he gave me a
16:41 very cliche answer and he knew he
16:44 gave me the cliche answer I came
16:46 back the next day asked him
16:47 another question and he went
16:48 like six seven minutes just
16:50 answer my question it's little
16:52 things like that that just shows
16:53 awareness of hey he knew nonsense
16:55 out of 10 he's going to give you
16:56 the real but that one time that
16:57 he couldn't he said hey okay let
16:59 me make up for it right those
17:00 kind of things like as media we
17:01 love that so it's night and day
17:03 and it's very much so night and
17:05 day and we noticed it the very
17:06 next day after Josh was fired it
17:08 was like you ask AP a question
17:10 and it's he's off the running so
17:12 I love it I'm always interested
17:14 to see and hear what AP is going
17:15 to say next because he's an
17:17 honest guy I do I I just
17:20 genuinely really like him as a
17:21 person and respect him as a guy
17:24 all right so let's go to a
17:26 little bit different angle
17:27 because even though you're not
17:30 all you've been around a little
17:33 bit now you got people like Max
17:36 Crosby with his own podcast and
17:38 God only knows what I mean we
17:40 literally have one reporter
17:43 Carter Landis whose job is to
17:45 cover Max's and everything Max
17:49 says because he's out there he's
17:50 showing up at UFC he's got a
17:53 pie same way with Devante Adams
17:55 you never know where he's going
17:56 to show up but when he does you
17:57 know he's gonna keep it 100
18:02 this new age of media I think
18:08 it's great I think the NFL went
18:11 through a season where
18:12 everything was buttoned up and
18:13 everything was so polished and
18:14 people were trying to ruin the
18:16 game by you know if you tap
18:18 somebody it was a penalty I'm
18:21 loving where it's going I think
18:24 it's making the game better it's
18:27 better for the players it's
18:29 better for the fans it's better
18:31 you know what it may not be
18:32 better for is the team in the
18:34 league but I'm okay with that
18:36 your thoughts loving it right
18:38 you know back in and this goes
18:39 even back to you know the on
18:41 field celebrations in terms of
18:42 what you're speaking about you
18:43 know a while ago it seemed like
18:44 every aspect of the NFL was very
18:46 just I mean the no fun lead
18:47 right that's what they used to
18:48 call it you know not too long
18:49 ago and that was on the field and
18:51 off the field to your point and
18:53 now you know obviously
18:54 celebrations are through the
18:55 roof you know guys are running 60
18:57 yards to celebrate an
18:58 interception and off the field
19:00 you know guys are speaking their
19:01 mind I think the off the field
19:03 aspect is huge because these guys
19:04 it's making them more
19:05 personable right these guys show
19:07 up on Sunday helmets on pads on
19:08 you don't see their face for the
19:10 most part you don't even know
19:11 what they look like for the most
19:12 part but when they do these
19:13 podcaster they're more human
19:15 right you start to realize like
19:16 hey these guys experience
19:18 feelings thoughts that like
19:19 every other person does right
19:20 when when they break a leg they
19:21 actually broke their leg it
19:22 hurts it affects people right the
19:24 things that people sit at home
19:25 and talk about for entertainment
19:27 you realize when you listen to
19:28 these podcasts that it's not
19:29 entertainment for these guys
19:31 right this is real life and I
19:33 think the podcast helped with
19:34 that and it gives them a outlet
19:36 to speak their mind a little bit
19:38 more freely than again they
19:39 could in a press conference when
19:40 a bunch of cameras in there right
19:41 they're going to be more
19:42 comfortable on that podcast with
19:44 their buddies relaxing and just
19:46 kind of opening up so I love the
19:48 way the league is going in that
19:49 you know in terms of that
19:50 direction and letting the guys
19:51 be themselves I think that
19:53 affects them in a positive way
19:54 on the field to when they know
19:56 okay even also out of you know
19:58 off the field we can be
19:59 ourselves we can have fun we can
20:00 speak our minds freely I think
20:02 for players for grown men
20:03 especially making millions of
20:04 dollars they just want to be
20:06 themselves they want to be able
20:07 to speak their minds and and not
20:09 have to worry necessarily about
20:10 repercussions right and I think
20:12 the podcast you should see these
20:13 guys on and shows that they're
20:14 creating I think that opens up
20:15 for that.
20:16 I agree with you 110% all right
20:18 I want to go in a vein I was
20:22 recently on a national show Zeke
20:25 and I was asked what is the
20:28 biggest single thing that
20:29 Antonio Pierce did and we know he
20:32 did a lot but I'm going to tell
20:34 you what I said and I would love
20:35 your answer I said he infused the
20:40 game of football with the
20:44 game of football with joy and
20:46 having fun and all of a sudden
20:49 now guys were released to have
20:52 you got Max Crosby really
20:54 literally risking his life to
20:56 play and it's what we got to
20:59 watch a film we got to be back
21:01 to business and AP made it fun
21:06 again they worked harder
21:08 multiple players have told me
21:10 they worked harder under Antonio
21:12 than they did under Josh I've
21:14 written a lot about Josh was a
21:16 teacher they spent a lot of time
21:18 in the classroom no they worked
21:20 harder under Antonio he was
21:22 tougher on him you know where
21:24 Josh would walk through hey watch
21:27 a film get better Antonio walks
21:29 in why are you I mean yeah it was
21:34 a harder environment but fun was
21:37 infused now it wasn't rah-rah it
21:40 was better coaching but even
21:42 Patrick Graham was turned loose
21:44 to have some fun with it move
21:45 Tyree inside to me I don't think
21:49 I undersold them and it wasn't
21:51 mean there wasn't other things
21:52 he did but the first thing
21:54 Antonio Pearson said we got to
21:55 have some fun here I think that
21:56 was the biggest thing he did your
21:57 thoughts yes I think that was the
21:59 biggest thing he did but another
22:00 thing I think he did it so you
22:03 pointed out how Josh would have
22:04 those guys watch films film film
22:06 film film film AP was fun fun fun
22:07 fun fun you know for lack of
22:08 better words I think the reason
22:10 why AP was able to be harder on
22:12 those guys is because he let
22:14 those guys play where they are
22:16 naturally good at he played to
22:18 their strengths right it wasn't
22:19 more so hey we're gonna try to
22:20 fit you into a system it's hey I
22:23 know you do X Y & Z well let's
22:24 let you do X Y & Z and therefore
22:26 when you mess up on doing X Y &
22:28 Z that's when I can coach you
22:30 harder because you're this is
22:31 natural to you there's no you're
22:33 good at this we've studied what
22:34 you do well we put you in a
22:35 position to win and you lost so I
22:37 can coach you a little bit
22:38 harder whereas if I'm you know
22:39 in terms of Josh McDaniels go
22:41 watch the film teach teach teach
22:42 teach teach and then I'm trying
22:44 to coach you harder well hell I've
22:46 been in the room all day trying
22:47 to study my film right if I mess
22:49 up now I'm overthinking right and
22:51 I think AP allowed these guys to
22:52 stop thinking and just go play
22:55 and that goes a long way in
22:56 football when you start to
22:57 complicate the game of football
22:59 it's it's not good for the guys
23:00 on the field it's a simple game
23:02 so when you start to think oh I
23:03 got a switch and I got a pull
23:04 like you know I'm an offensive
23:05 tackle that never pulls and now
23:07 I'm pulling right for example
23:08 well when it doesn't work out
23:10 that's gonna lead to a lot of
23:11 frustration right because I don't
23:12 even do this naturally now you're
23:14 trying to force me to do
23:15 something I don't do naturally
23:16 and it doesn't work AP is like
23:17 no this you do this well do that
23:20 and let's go with that so I think
23:21 that plus having fun is why the
23:23 guys turned it around yeah I agree
23:25 with you a great analysis on your
23:27 part Z all right I want to go to
23:29 a different vein I'm gonna spend
23:32 a lot of time on Monday's
23:33 podcast talking about this but I
23:35 love the way AP put his staff
23:37 together he's got some experience
23:40 he's got guys that have played I
23:43 love that he has his son on there
23:45 you know so many coaches and you
23:48 and I've seen it working hundred
23:51 hundred and ten hours a week
23:53 family a lot in a lot of cases
23:55 gets ignored not AP man I want my
23:57 family with me I love that it's a
24:00 great example to his staff I have
24:02 zero issues with his son being on
24:04 staff oh that's not true I have a
24:06 lot of issues and they're all
24:07 good I think it was a great move
24:09 as a father getting that
24:11 opportunity giving your son a
24:13 break give me an if you didn't
24:15 complain that do screwed and was
24:17 on the staff when John was here
24:19 shut up I don't want to hear you
24:20 complain when you know when
24:22 DeAndre's on the staff I like it
24:24 I like the staff he put together
24:26 he's got some head coaches on
24:28 there he's got such a broad group
24:31 I love he has a game manager
24:34 every area that could be called
24:36 a weakness he addressed it showed
24:40 a lot of strength it showed some
24:44 substance I'm going to use a
24:46 different term it showed some
24:48 going out doing the staff he did
24:50 I like it I don't know him all but
24:53 he it's his staff I like the way
24:55 he did it I'm a plus for me your
24:59 thoughts agreed and I work a
25:01 little bit backwards let's start
25:02 with the Sun being on the on the
25:04 coaches that I love that move like
25:06 it doesn't matter who you are
25:08 where you come from if you're in
25:09 a position to put your kids on and
25:11 get them in a better spot in life
25:12 you know in a trajectory that
25:14 they're already going his son
25:15 obviously wants to be a coach of
25:16 some sort one day and he and now
25:18 your dad's like what do you that's
25:19 what you're supposed to do right
25:20 like I don't see how you can have
25:21 a problem with that no matter who
25:22 you are where you're from nothing
25:24 like that's what you're supposed
25:25 to do in terms of a piece the rest
25:27 of his staff man I think it showed
25:29 a lot of self-awareness right it's
25:31 you know you know you sit back and
25:33 you got a P trying to get this job
25:34 and everybody's telling you how
25:35 you know inexperienced you are well
25:37 okay well we'll address that one by
25:38 one and we'll make sure that when
25:40 we're done with this experience is no
25:42 longer an issue and that's what he
25:43 did strategically it doesn't my
25:45 offensive line coach often supported
25:47 just one by one it's like he's just
25:48 knocking down experience experience
25:50 experience and not just professional
25:52 experience a lot of these guys have
25:53 experience on the collegiate level as
25:55 well in different you know head
25:57 coaching positions coordinator
25:58 positions there's so much experience
26:00 in the coaching staff that he that
26:02 he's put together I'll be honest with
26:03 you I'm I would love to be a fly on the
26:05 wall in a meeting with all those
26:06 coaches one day just there would be so
26:08 much knowledge in that room from the
26:10 coaching perspective that AP might not
26:12 have necessarily had so I love the
26:14 hires that he made especially
26:16 especially in conjunction with each
26:17 other right so maybe hiring one of
26:19 those guys alone might not have made
26:20 that big of a deal when you've made as
26:22 many additions as he's made and
26:24 terms of his coaching staff with
26:25 experience it has to add up you would
26:28 think so I think it's a lot of good
26:30 moves that he made
26:32 yeah hundred percent agree I just think
26:35 he put together
26:38 a really good step I'm excited about
26:40 Monday's podcast so
26:42 make sure you check it out because I got
26:43 some inside stuff on the staff I think
26:45 is going to really really impress you
26:47 all right we now turn the calendar
26:50 I'm going to be at the combine all week
26:52 you're keeping fort in Vegas taking care
26:55 of that we brought in Aiden champions
26:58 going to be there with me Carter Landis
27:00 is going to be there in Braden Reedy
27:01 you're going to be keeping for the fort
27:03 down in Vegas I'm really excited about
27:06 the combine this week and for anybody
27:09 wondering gee was Zeke in trouble why he
27:11 didn't go to the combine no Zeke had
27:13 something he had a personal ish stuff
27:16 he's taking care of not bad in Vegas so
27:18 he couldn't go but I and I asked him to
27:20 go yes so he came in trouble Zeke's my
27:24 guy my dog but my guy my point is what
27:28 what do you laugh at that just my guy as
27:30 I'm sorry about that
27:33 okay well you know what amazes me people
27:36 will look for oh there's no there's no
27:38 issues we're telling them um but I want
27:42 to dig in with you a little bit because
27:45 I'm looking forward to this combine
27:49 for a lot of different reasons I know
27:52 who they're going to be I know I don't
27:54 know all but I got an idea who they're
27:56 interviewing I'm hearing from some other
27:59 scouts some interesting stuff we're
28:01 going to have so many articles and
28:02 videos with these players coming out ask
28:04 them about the Raiders I'm really
28:06 looking forward to the combine how about
28:08 you Zeke yeah I think it's going to be an
28:11 interesting time um you know in my
28:12 opinion that's you know right up there
28:14 obviously with the drive is the combine
28:16 just to kind of see how those guys
28:17 perform because for me I always like the
28:20 aspect of it's a different type of
28:22 pressure at the combine right it's not a
28:24 thousand you know hundred thousand
28:25 people screaming at you but a lot of
28:27 ways you know especially when you're
28:28 trying to get drafted that could be a
28:30 you know a little bit more nerve-racking
28:31 right especially when you're standing
28:33 right next to your competition right and
28:34 you know a lot of these guys when
28:36 they're in college they're the main guy
28:37 on campus right at the top dog on campus
28:39 and then you hit the car combining your
28:40 realize hey I'm there's another there's
28:43 about ten more of me right so it's
28:44 always interesting to see how those guys
28:46 react in the combine and I think the
28:48 combine does a good job of showing you
28:49 how certain guys react to you know
28:51 adversity right when you drop that pass
28:53 and your competition staring at you how
28:55 do you respond to that right or when you
28:56 when you mess up on that drill and the
28:58 competition is right next to you and
28:59 they do it better than you do how do you
29:01 respond to that so I love the combine
29:03 it's always interesting to see how those
29:05 guys perform for sure. Zeke I wanted to
29:08 ask you because I am once the combines
29:12 over then BAM they kind of start their
29:14 draft boards fill out then they start
29:17 looking at free agency I know there are
29:21 a lot of players that want to come play
29:23 for AP I know that because of the
29:26 experience of his staff I learned this
29:28 yesterday those guys are now coming in
29:32 hey with what you want me to do this is
29:34 a guy I've coached I know who he is go
29:36 get free agency for me and this will be
29:40 my fifth year this is my fifth year
29:42 covering the Raiders this is going to be
29:46 probably one of the funnest that I've
29:49 covered I am really looking forward to
29:51 free agency the Raiders are going to get
29:53 exponentially better your thoughts I
29:56 couldn't agree more I wanted to say a
29:58 billion percent listen free agency is
30:01 going to be huge this year for the
30:02 Raiders and they have the potential to
30:04 get better very very quickly through
30:07 free agency right I actually wrote an
30:09 article last night and for this today
30:11 for today I believe in terms of
30:13 spending free agency focusing on their
30:15 office of a defensive line now obviously
30:16 they can use free agency for whatever
30:18 they want but like you said with AP there
30:20 with all the different coaches that
30:21 they brought in there's gonna be a lot
30:22 of guys that say like you said hey I had
30:24 my best season or two underneath that
30:26 coordinator underneath that offensive
30:28 coach on it so now hey let me go back
30:30 there right I think it should work out
30:32 very very well for the Raiders and I
30:33 think this is where they have the chance
30:35 to kind of take that next step forward
30:36 in the division right obviously KC is
30:38 going to be you know number one but I
30:40 think hey if you want to compete for a
30:41 wild card or for that wild card spot
30:43 yeah free agency is how you get it done
30:45 for the Raiders and now's the time for
30:47 them to go ahead and make that run all
30:49 right two more questions and I'm done I
30:52 realize we're sitting here and the
30:55 combine starts this week so I'm gonna
30:59 allow you to change your opinion at a
31:03 later date but based on today will the
31:09 Raiders move up and select Drake may
31:13 Jaden Daniels or Caleb Williams one of
31:16 those three no I agree no next question
31:23 will they move up or stay at 13 I and so
31:31 I feel like if they're not going to go
31:32 after a quarterback they're not going to
31:34 move up I think that's the only way they
31:35 would have moved up just obviously try
31:37 to get into that top three top five
31:39 range if you will so I think if they
31:40 don't move up for a quarterback they're
31:42 not gonna move up and I think they're
31:43 gonna end up eventually just staying at
31:45 at 13 I feel like the draft could fall
31:48 you know a certain kind of way to pin in
31:50 their favor depending on who they who
31:51 they value at 13 but I feel like in the
31:53 end they're gonna stay pat at 13 who
31:57 they pick oh that I don't know that I
32:03 they got so many choices I do think
32:05 Kool-Aid from Alabama would be you know
32:07 a great addition and then I think I
32:09 don't I haven't looked at the the names
32:10 necessarily but I feel like linebacker
32:14 Terry and Arnold's the other corner from
32:16 Alabama oh yeah see you later the
32:19 offensive lineman I they could
32:22 definitely go offensive lineman in terms
32:24 of at 13 there's nothing I think
32:26 honestly 13 that might be one of the
32:28 best spots you know 13 through 20 is a
32:30 great spot to drive to offensive line
32:32 and you're not reaching and you're
32:33 still getting the quality alignment so I
32:35 think they're late I'm by this right
32:37 tackle in the draft yeah yeah yeah so
32:40 that so they could definitely you know
32:41 stroke the offensive line that way and
32:42 then all of a sudden they only need to
32:44 add maybe one or two other additions and
32:46 free agency along the offensive line so
32:47 could I see them going offensive line
32:49 yes I love defense so I hope they spend
32:52 that on a defensive player just to kind
32:54 of help that defense to take the next
32:55 step well the defense is really really
32:58 good they got to address the offensive
33:00 line JC late from JC late JC
33:04 three three agents on the offensive line
33:06 they have to they got to figure it out
33:08 for sure 100% agree okay last question
33:12 for me and we're done
33:14 Dylan Parham the most underrated Raider
33:19 this guy is I think now he's only two
33:22 years in he ain't there yet has the
33:25 potential be in the next art shell I am
33:29 you know this there's no bigger
33:33 supporter of Dylan Parham with all due
33:37 respect to his wife and family than me I
33:39 think the kid is a star the NFL loves
33:42 this kid are you shocked it's still the
33:46 lack of love he's getting I mean I
33:49 understand he's an interior offensive
33:51 lineman they don't get a lot of love but
33:52 just Dylan Parham star or not yeah so I
33:56 think he's I think he's a star
33:58 obviously he had like you said two years
33:59 and he's got a ton of potential I think
34:02 you know I think some of the reason he
34:04 might not be getting love is a just a
34:06 position he plays right offensive line
34:07 that's one of those units that you don't
34:09 get a lot of attention unless you're
34:10 messing up I think that's part of it but
34:12 also feel like because he's the
34:13 relatively quiet person he kind of gets
34:15 overlooked sometimes right he's a little
34:17 bit more vocal he would grab a little
34:19 bit more attention but in terms of his
34:21 own the field of production no doubt you
34:23 know and then obviously his versatility
34:25 as well so cerebral kid knows you know
34:28 the game inside and out in terms of the
34:30 on-field presence no question about him
34:32 there but I think he gets a little
34:34 overlooked again because he plays
34:35 offensive line and be because he's just
34:37 on the quieter side of things all right
34:39 by the way I just I got an email
34:41 yesterday that or the other day your
34:43 shoes I bought you the Air Force Ones
34:45 have already shipped but they're gonna
34:47 arrive when I'm in the combine so you'll
34:49 get them next week when I get back but
34:50 you're gonna arrive when I'm at the
34:52 combine they stay in the line I want to
34:54 talk to you Zeke that is the great Zeke
34:56 Trezavant my assistant beat writer
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35:20 handle my ex handle is easy as an
35:24 Ezekiel so easy in the my last name
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35:30 Trezavant thank you everybody we'll see
35:32 you again next time