The Oakland Raiders currently own a record of 3-1, the team's best start through four games since 2002. Most notably, all three wins have come on the road in some hostile environments. The New Orleans Saints and Baltimore Ravens gave the Silver and Black a run for their money, with both games ending with the score being decided by one point, in favor of the Raiders. The team has been battle-tested through the first quarter of the season, and is focused on continuing to develop.
Through the first two weeks of the season the Raiders' defense couldn't seem to find its footing. Heading into the game against the Ravens, the defense seemed to be clicking after a nice win over the Titans, limiting Tennessee to just 10 points. Following Sunday's win, the players were back at the Alameda, Calif. facility Tuesday to reflect on the positives and negatives from Week 4.
It's time for another Tell the Truth Tuesday.
**Head Coach Jack Del Rio
**
"There's always a lot of work that needs to be done, a lot of things that you want to fix and make better going forward. I think the biggest thing for us is to find a way to win. We took our team in there playing at that 10:00 Eastern Time, or 10:00 Pacific Time, that early game out there on the East Coast. Going out there with a football team, playing a rookie right tackle, three rookies starting on defense. Then to go in and do what we did as a football team, stay in the fight and battle and come out of there with a really, really great victory."
"Well it's big to win. You can look at it one way or another, winning the next game is huge. For us right now, we're going to talk about this one because it's up to do today. Then it'll be so important that we win next week or this week coming up. It'll be so huge. That'll become paramount. That'll become the main focus and where we want our attention and effort and everything."
"He [Vadal Alexander] played really well. I think the group overall… You're going up a really good defense. They present a lot of different looks. I thought our guys handled it, for the most part, very well. There were a couple times where Derek had to move a little bit and his ability to move helped us there. For the most part we were able to get a hat on a hat and give Derek some time to operate."
Punter Marquette King
"I don't feel like I played my best."
"My best is when I can put a ball inside the 20 from wherever I punt."
"I mean when I play my best game, that's when I'll stop playing. That's how I look at it."
Tackle Vadal Alexander
"Definitely things I can improve on, things I want to improve on. I had a solid performance, but obviously there are some things I want to get better at."
"It's something that happens, whether you agree with it or not, you can see the film for yourself and see if it's true, if it's real. You've got to take it, obviously anytime a penalty is called, there's always something you can improve on with your technique. I look to improve myself and work on things I could've done better."
"Being a rookie in the league you're definitely not going to get the benefit of the doubt, that's no excuse. You've still got to perfect your craft and go out there and perform."
"We want to be aggressive, physical, and just have a tough mentality. Lee [Smith] definitely had that and we think as an offensive line we have that too."
**Linebacker Daren Bates
**
"I just got the opportunity I just did what I'm supposed to do, go out there and make my plays, be a help to the team. Whatever the case may be I'm here for the team."
"You think about special teams, you just go out there and you go hard for that one play, but defense you've got to make sure you know your job. You've got to know what you're doing, but still have to give it all to get to the ball."
"It was all mental, you've got to put it behind you. You can sleep on the plane, when you win. You've got to give it all you've got for your teammates, because you want to win. If you're not trying to win you shouldn't even be out there."
