BigTron
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The Fast Lane with Coach Kiffin
May 21, 2007
http://www.raiders.com/Common/Article.aspx?id=22778
032907 Lane Kiffin walks over to greet the media.Raiders Head Coach Lane Kiffin answers your e-mail questions! Each week, Coach Kiffin will answer five questions from The Raider Nation and we'll post his answers in Q&A format.
From Mike Baltzer of Long Beach, California: What do you feel you need to do to improve the special teams play on kickoffs and punts and do you feel you drafted some players that will help? If so, which players?
Coach Kiffin: There is always room for improvement when it comes to all three phases of football, special teams, offense, and defense. We are going to direct a lot of attention and focus to kickoff coverage and punt coverage this year. What we try to do is to go back and study old game footage, and we also are constantly evaluating talent. We feel that with the skill players we drafted this year, they bring a lot of speed and experience with special teams to our football team.
From Marcel Esslinger of Neckarsulm, Germany: First of all, I’d like to thank the Raiders organization for giving me the chance to be so close to the team with this great website! Coach Kiffin, how important is discipline for the team’s success – on and off the field?
Coach Kiffin: Discipline plays a large role in a team’s success both on and off the field. On the field, players must always keep their composure. There are going to be times when teams are faced with some sort of adversity during the course of a game, and the teams that have strong discipline and don’t lose focus are usually the ones who respond well to those types of situations. Off the field, it is important that players remain focused and continue to try and improve themselves in the classroom and in the weight room.
From Jim Norquist of Modesto, California: During mini-camp I noticed the sign "I'm In." Whose idea was that? It lets the players and fans know that there is a plan and direction the Raiders are taking. By the way, my family is "In."
Coach Kiffin: The idea behind the “I’m In” sign was thought of by our coaching staff and the significance of the sign is that when we are on the field practicing, nothing else matters but football. It means that all other outside distractions do not carry over to the practice field. Our players have responded well and are really fired up about staying focused and working to get better each and every day. Thanks, we really appreciate the support.
From Craig Simons of Rapid City, South Dakota: With basically a whole new coaching staff and a lot of the same players here that have had several position coaches over the last several years, does there seem to be a trust factor between players and coaches even though it's pretty early yet?
Coach Kiffin: Right now we are in the process of building close relationships with our players and coaches. Trust and respect are a huge part of that foundation. Both players and coaches want the same things, and those are to be successful and to win. Our players and coaches have a great rapport going right now and I am looking forward to it carrying over into the season.
From Rich Canote of San Diego: Many people talk about character in the league, however it can mean many things. How would you best define “character” and what character are you looking for from your players?
Coach Kiffin: I think the term character describes a person’s positive qualities that he or she has. The kind of character I look for in a football player is someone who never quits on himself or his teammates. That kind of passion is unique and rare, but it tells a lot about a person. It means that no matter how tough things get, that individual is going to persevere and is going to give it 100 percent.
Click here to submit your question for Coach Kiffin! Be sure to include your first and last name, and where you are from.
May 21, 2007
http://www.raiders.com/Common/Article.aspx?id=22778
032907 Lane Kiffin walks over to greet the media.Raiders Head Coach Lane Kiffin answers your e-mail questions! Each week, Coach Kiffin will answer five questions from The Raider Nation and we'll post his answers in Q&A format.
From Mike Baltzer of Long Beach, California: What do you feel you need to do to improve the special teams play on kickoffs and punts and do you feel you drafted some players that will help? If so, which players?
Coach Kiffin: There is always room for improvement when it comes to all three phases of football, special teams, offense, and defense. We are going to direct a lot of attention and focus to kickoff coverage and punt coverage this year. What we try to do is to go back and study old game footage, and we also are constantly evaluating talent. We feel that with the skill players we drafted this year, they bring a lot of speed and experience with special teams to our football team.
From Marcel Esslinger of Neckarsulm, Germany: First of all, I’d like to thank the Raiders organization for giving me the chance to be so close to the team with this great website! Coach Kiffin, how important is discipline for the team’s success – on and off the field?
Coach Kiffin: Discipline plays a large role in a team’s success both on and off the field. On the field, players must always keep their composure. There are going to be times when teams are faced with some sort of adversity during the course of a game, and the teams that have strong discipline and don’t lose focus are usually the ones who respond well to those types of situations. Off the field, it is important that players remain focused and continue to try and improve themselves in the classroom and in the weight room.
From Jim Norquist of Modesto, California: During mini-camp I noticed the sign "I'm In." Whose idea was that? It lets the players and fans know that there is a plan and direction the Raiders are taking. By the way, my family is "In."
Coach Kiffin: The idea behind the “I’m In” sign was thought of by our coaching staff and the significance of the sign is that when we are on the field practicing, nothing else matters but football. It means that all other outside distractions do not carry over to the practice field. Our players have responded well and are really fired up about staying focused and working to get better each and every day. Thanks, we really appreciate the support.
From Craig Simons of Rapid City, South Dakota: With basically a whole new coaching staff and a lot of the same players here that have had several position coaches over the last several years, does there seem to be a trust factor between players and coaches even though it's pretty early yet?
Coach Kiffin: Right now we are in the process of building close relationships with our players and coaches. Trust and respect are a huge part of that foundation. Both players and coaches want the same things, and those are to be successful and to win. Our players and coaches have a great rapport going right now and I am looking forward to it carrying over into the season.
From Rich Canote of San Diego: Many people talk about character in the league, however it can mean many things. How would you best define “character” and what character are you looking for from your players?
Coach Kiffin: I think the term character describes a person’s positive qualities that he or she has. The kind of character I look for in a football player is someone who never quits on himself or his teammates. That kind of passion is unique and rare, but it tells a lot about a person. It means that no matter how tough things get, that individual is going to persevere and is going to give it 100 percent.
Click here to submit your question for Coach Kiffin! Be sure to include your first and last name, and where you are from.
a lot of the time. Kid Kiffin seems cut from the same cloth. Not a bad thing.
