Head Coach Jack Del Rio
The Oakland Raiders are gearing up to take on an AFC West foe this week, the San Diego Chargers. The Silver and Black return home after being on the road the past two weeks, and will look to earn their first home victory of the season. Prior to practice Wednesday, Head Coach Jack Del Rio spoke with the media about getting the team ready for the game this Sunday.
Here are the quick hits from Del Rio's presser:
**He talked about what the Bolts bring to the table and is looking forward to the matchup on Sunday.
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"Looking forward to the matchup, San Diego coming in, a divisional team. A team who's been ahead in each of the two-minute warnings in the fourth quarter, they've had a lead. This is a team that's jumped on people, been way up in the first half. I think 80 to 30 up on people, it's a good football team. Well coached, have a lot of respect for Mike [McCoy] and his group. It's a good football team, so we're getting ourselves geared up for it."
Del Rio shared his thoughts on quarterback Derek Carr's poise in the fourth quarter.
"I think it's really everything with Derek. I think he is super competitive. He is a guy that is very well prepared. He's really, I think, taken a step forward in terms of emotional control, the poise to be, kind of, surgeon-like and just be accurate with the ball and let his playmakers do their thing. So, it's a combination of things but I think he's definitely taken a step forward for us."
He added to Carr's poise, by mentioning the bond Carr shares with Michael Crabtree and the progression of their relationship.
"It's growing and it's been very special. I think from Day 1, Michael has been a guy that we all consider very friendly to the quarterback. He has great hands, he understands how to get open. He's a very competitive guy. Getting all those guys on the same page is huge. I think what's really impressive."
**The Chargers have been injury plagued all season and the Raiders head coach praised Rivers for his competitive spirit.
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"They lost arguably their best guy in Keenan Allen and their best running back, [Danny] Woodhead, yet they're averaging 30 points a game with [Philip] Rivers. What Philip does and what he's done over the years, the guy is ultra-competitive. He's always at or near the top in all the statistical categories for a quarterback. So, I've got a lot of respect for Philip."
Del Rio expressed his excitement about the team's addition of linebacker Perry Riley, Jr.
"We're glad to have a veteran guy, a tough guy, inside linebacker. We'll see how it works and get him up to speed as quick as possible and find out how the rest of our guys are doing…I've actually been talking about him for a couple of weeks now, so I'm glad we pulled the trigger."
