Josh McDaniels: The Standard Comes Down to the Players
The Las Vegas Raiders have begun to mold into a rather experienced group when it comes to the top of the depth chart.
With young players like defensive end Maxx Crosby stepping into leadership roles, along with the additions of a number of veterans this offseason, life has gotten a little easier for Raiders Coach Josh McDaniels, who in his second year as head coach, is still trying to implement a standard.
Our Hondo S. Carpenter Sr. asked McDaniels about his thoughts on the subject in the coach's press conference on Wednesday.
"Yeah, I think ultimately we've said from the beginning it's theirs," McDaniels said. "We can only describe what we're looking for and what we want and try to hold them accountable to a standard of performance each day. At the end of the day, whatever we end up doing ultimately will be what they want the standard to be, the way we work each week, how we play, how resilient we are, when we're behind how ready to close the game out and the second half when we're ahead. How do you bounce back from a defeat? How do you handle victory and success? All of those things, there's a standard that we'll apply.
"So, at the end of the day, I can stand up there and talk all I want to, but the players ultimately, they want to win. And so, it's their standard when they get to the field and they know that, and we're responsible to put them in great positions and help them win. But I think our leadership has been fantastic, and some of the guys you mentioned [Marcus Epps, Marcus Peters, and Robert Spillane] along with a number of other guys who have been here -- Kolton Miller, Maxx Crosby, AJ Cole, Daniel Carlson. I mean we've got a number of guys that have been really assertive in terms of helping their rooms or their side of the ball really understand what they're looking for."
The Silver and Black return to preseason action when they play the Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, on Saturday, Aug. 26, at 8 p.m. EDT/5 p.m. PDT.
Please tell us your thoughts when you like our Facebook Page WHEN YOU CLICK RIGHT HERE.