Angry Pope
All Raider
- Joined
- Feb 2, 2006
- Messages
- 8,458
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Kiffin answers questions...
The Fast Lane with Coach Kiffin
July 4, 2007
From Josh Taylor of Wichita, KS: In your recent interviews regarding OTAs you stressed it's all about competition between players. How did the veterans react to that?
Coach Kiffin: I thought the competition level all off-season throughout our mini-camps and OTAs was very high. Both the veterans and younger players showed a drive to get better. It did not take them long to adjust to our faster paced tempo at practice. I believe that when you create an atmosphere where competition is stressed about every day, players will respond and they will push each other to improve.
From Chuck Ybarra, Season Ticket Holder in Section 127: What do you think of the Oakland Raider fans?
Coach Kiffin: Raider fans are the greatest fans in football. I think their loyalty, passion, and knowledge of the game is fantastic. I have been really impressed with the support the community provides for this football team, and I am glad to be a part of it.
From David S. Wolfe of AFEO Engine 72 Ash Creek Fire Station, Shasta-McCloud Management Unit: Last year the defense was solid! What can you tell me about the defensive draft picks you selected this year? What is their progress and how are they fitting into Coach [Rob] Ryan's plans?
Coach Kiffin: Our draft picks have been working really hard this off-season and have really competed with our veterans since the first day they arrived. Our two rookie defensive linemen, Quentin Moses. and Jay Richardson., have shown great quickness in practice and I am looking forward to them having a good Training Camp. Also, our two defensive backs that we picked in the draft, John Bowie. and Eric Frampton., have shown their speed and have been very competitive. The defense improved this off-season and I am really excited to see them continue to do so.
From Paul Glover: How much flexibility do you have, according to NFL rules, to create extra time before camp for players to study plays, films, assignments, and walk throughs, so by the time the season starts they have an extraordinary edge?
Coach Kiffin: Under the NFL guidelines, clubs are prohibited from making players work during the period of time before Training Camp begins. Players, however, are allowed to use its club’s facility voluntarily. This means that if one of our players would like to use our weight room or our classroom he is allowed to do so as long as it is his choice. It has been positive to see a number of our players continue to work during their summer, and I have been really pleased with their dedication.
From John Azzato of St. Marys, PA: It finally seems we have a coach that says "we will turn it around" and "we will get better," and I finally believe it as I think most Raider fans do. My question is how are the players responding to your youthful, "we're gonna get it done" attitude? Awesome job so far coach!
Coach Kiffin: I have been extremely pleased with the way the team has responded and has worked this off-season. It has been great to see our players’ desire to get better and to see their competitiveness on the practice field. I am really looking forward to our continued improvement as we begin Training Camp at the end of July.
The Fast Lane with Coach Kiffin
July 4, 2007
From Josh Taylor of Wichita, KS: In your recent interviews regarding OTAs you stressed it's all about competition between players. How did the veterans react to that?
Coach Kiffin: I thought the competition level all off-season throughout our mini-camps and OTAs was very high. Both the veterans and younger players showed a drive to get better. It did not take them long to adjust to our faster paced tempo at practice. I believe that when you create an atmosphere where competition is stressed about every day, players will respond and they will push each other to improve.
From Chuck Ybarra, Season Ticket Holder in Section 127: What do you think of the Oakland Raider fans?
Coach Kiffin: Raider fans are the greatest fans in football. I think their loyalty, passion, and knowledge of the game is fantastic. I have been really impressed with the support the community provides for this football team, and I am glad to be a part of it.
From David S. Wolfe of AFEO Engine 72 Ash Creek Fire Station, Shasta-McCloud Management Unit: Last year the defense was solid! What can you tell me about the defensive draft picks you selected this year? What is their progress and how are they fitting into Coach [Rob] Ryan's plans?
Coach Kiffin: Our draft picks have been working really hard this off-season and have really competed with our veterans since the first day they arrived. Our two rookie defensive linemen, Quentin Moses. and Jay Richardson., have shown great quickness in practice and I am looking forward to them having a good Training Camp. Also, our two defensive backs that we picked in the draft, John Bowie. and Eric Frampton., have shown their speed and have been very competitive. The defense improved this off-season and I am really excited to see them continue to do so.
From Paul Glover: How much flexibility do you have, according to NFL rules, to create extra time before camp for players to study plays, films, assignments, and walk throughs, so by the time the season starts they have an extraordinary edge?
Coach Kiffin: Under the NFL guidelines, clubs are prohibited from making players work during the period of time before Training Camp begins. Players, however, are allowed to use its club’s facility voluntarily. This means that if one of our players would like to use our weight room or our classroom he is allowed to do so as long as it is his choice. It has been positive to see a number of our players continue to work during their summer, and I have been really pleased with their dedication.
From John Azzato of St. Marys, PA: It finally seems we have a coach that says "we will turn it around" and "we will get better," and I finally believe it as I think most Raider fans do. My question is how are the players responding to your youthful, "we're gonna get it done" attitude? Awesome job so far coach!
Coach Kiffin: I have been extremely pleased with the way the team has responded and has worked this off-season. It has been great to see our players’ desire to get better and to see their competitiveness on the practice field. I am really looking forward to our continued improvement as we begin Training Camp at the end of July.