Las Vegas Raiders C Andre James Entire Comments

The Las Vegas Raiders Center Andre James spoke after mini-camp practice, and we have all his comments for you.

HENDERSON, Nev.--The Las Vegas Raiders opened mandatory mini-camp today, and after the first practice, C Andre James spoke.

James is a battler and a fighter, and as he enters year five in the NFL, he has gone from a wide-eyed UDFA to a grizzly veteran.

We have all of his comments that you can watch, and read the transcript below:

 Center Andre James 

Q: One of your teammates mentioned playing for Carmen Bricillo. A lot of players play for a coach, but that's a different relationship. He’s kind of part of your guys' group. Can you talk about his relationship with the offensive line? 

James: "Since the first day Carm came in, he's just demanded perfection and you really don't want anything else from a coach, especially an offensive line coach, with the consistency that’s required to play offense line. So, since day one, he came in and he's pushed our group to do better in everything we do. And we really respect that. Like I said, you want a guy like that, just a good guy you want to have in your room. And guys respect him, he's a great leader and it's been great having him." 

Q: I know Jimmy Garoppolo hasn't been able to get out on the field. I saw some videos of you guys hanging out and it seems like that's a big part of what you guys are trying to do in getting to know each other. How's that process gone? 

James: "Jimmy's a great guy. We went and watched the Golden Knights win the first game here, and it was pretty fun. Just have some fun with the offensive line. A lot of guys came out and it was a good win for the Knights. But it was even better just being around the guys, building that chemistry, being around Jimmy outside the facility. So, we're super excited to have him and get to play with him." 

Q: It's a unique relationship – quarterback and center. Not being able to get on the field obviously, but how has that been being able to develop some sort of relationship for when you hit the field together? 

James: "Personally, I think the relationship you have outside of the building, outside of the football field, is just as important, and especially from center to quarterback to another offensive line. That chemistry, that trust you build that outside of the field, outside of the facility, just as much as you do on that field. So, to go out there and have fun with him, spend some time with him, get to know him better; it was awesome. It was a great time." 

Q: Any surprises about Jimmy Garoppolo's personality at all? 

James: "No, everything that I heard when he signed was positive. And that was a good sign. So, everyone that I heard from him was like, 'He's a great guy, he's a great leader.' I've seen nothing less." 

Q: Earlier today, Coach McDaniels was talking about the offensive line. He said, 'Improvement doesn't always necessarily mean acquisition.' So how much confidence do you have in the coaching staff and the team that they were able to kind of keep the offensive line the same and bring back a lot of guys and move forward with that? James: "It gives us a lot of confidence. I mean, we've never kept this many guys around. So, it gives us a lot of confidence. It's exciting because you're familiar with the guys you're working next to. And that's super important with the offensive line, being able to gel and being able to work with guys you're familiar working with and being able to communicate with. So, it's awesome." 

Q: There was a loss last year when Brandon Parker went down early. What is it about Brandon that you think they believe in and how good is it really to have him back and working out with you? 

James: "Brandon is a great player. He's one of the few guys that has been here for six years. Maybe him, Kolton [Miller], a handful of other guys – it's not very many. But first of all, he's a great person. He's a family man. He has an awesome family and beautiful kids. He's a good guy to be around in that room every  He's also a great worker. He knows what to do, he knows how to play the position very well. And that's the kind of guy you want your room, like that, just guys you want to play with are guys like Brandon Parker." 

Q: You mentioned the continuity you guys have on the o-line this year, does that kind of help you guys come in on a different level this year? Becoming kind of more confident, more excited about the possibilities? 

James: "I think anytime you're coming into your second year, returning into a system you weren't familiar with that first year, there's definitely a bigger step to take. There's definitely a familiar sense in what you can do moving forward. So, it's nice not just learning the plays for the first time, but being able to return and having some memory." 

Q: You guys were pretty dominant in the run game all season last year, but the pass game kind of had some ups and downs at times. How have you guys worked in the offseason to take things to another level? 

James: "I think that just goes into – one of their sayings around here is, 'Just stay inside out.' And understanding where your help is and understanding the protection itself. And we've taken a lot of that this minicamp into OTAs, and as a whole just understanding that more and just continuing to grow." 

Q: I know last year is last year, but the offensive line kind of had to be pieced together, it was a process to figure it all out, and maybe some people were looking at it as a little bit of a liability going into the season. By the end of the season, it was one of the strengths of this team. Looking back, and I know last year is last year, but how much pride do you guys take in really turn the corner and becoming a unit that could be relied on? 

James: “I think it's super important to us. We were able to run the ball pretty well. That's not just offensive line that, that goes on everyone. That's Josh [Jacobs], that's the tight ends, wide receivers and that's quarterback making those type of run checks. And as an offense line, you want to hang your hat on being able to run the ball. That's like your main thing. You want to be able to run the ball because that helps setting up pass protection, that sets up play action, that sets up everything else for us. So, to be able to run the ball, we just want to continue to work on that and just keep growing.” 

Q: They bring in Greg Van Roten, who has been very stable, and he's played consistently. I'm just curious; I know there haven't been pads, but just his presence and getting to know him. Can you talk about him a little bit, please? 

James: " Yeah, Greg's a total vet. He's come in and he's learned the system really quick. He's helping out with the young guys and that's great to have a guy like that in here. He's a great person and we're super excited to have him around.” 

Q: You obviously came into the team as an undrafted guy and switched from guard to center. How surreal is it going into your fifth season going from where you were and now being a veteran and leader of this team? 

James: " Man, it's great. Some of these days I walk in this building and it's still like super surreal to me that I'm here and I'm still doing this. So, it's amazing, man. Just try to come in every day, just trying to get better. That's all I can do. You know, not worry about the outside noise or what people are writing about, what people are saying. So, just continue to work and that's been my mindset since day one.” 

Q: Obviously, JJ [Josh Jacobs] is not here, but can you talk about the running backs who are here and what they bring to the table and how that's going to provide continuity for the season moving forward? 

James: " Yeah, obviously JJ isn't here, he's dealing with that. But whoever is running that ball, we have trust and it's a great room that they got there. Brandon [Bolden] has been in there, he's been in the system for a super long time. So, he's been help coach coaching up those younger guys who haven't been in the system or who aren't quite as familiar. So, it's awesome having a guy like him in there coaching up in a familiar system that he's been in.” 

Q: You just talked about the outside noise, and I know last year there was a lot of talk that you guys were ignoring it. You didn't pay attention to what people were saying, but I know you guys were driven by a lot of those words. Do you have to find a new kind of chip on the shoulder now that people are saying they're not that bad, they're pretty good?

 James: " You know what? It was never one of those things where it was like a chip. For me, at least, it's always been all my motivation has been self-motivation. You know what I mean? So, everything that I've always wanted to do, it has been internally pushed by myself.” 

Q: With all the experience and success you've had with Josh Jacobs, if he's not here until training camp or whatever, I'm sure there's no worry that he'll pick up where he left off. Is that fair to assume? 

James: " Oh, yeah, that's definitely the case. He's a smart guy. He's a workhorse. He's going to come in and do what he needs to do no matter if he's been here or hasn't been here. Our trust in him is 100 percent.” 

Q: Have you had a chance to watch film with Jimmy Garoppolo yet? James: " Not a lot.” Q: With the little bit that you have, you know, obviously he played for Josh [McDaniels] a while ago, and you most recently played with Josh in this system. Is there teaching, going back and forth? 

James: " We meet as a whole offense quite a bit. And it's great to do that because you're able to communicate as a whole because that's kind of like how it is when you're out there. So, we'll go and make calls in the room and so we can kind of hear each other. But yeah, I'm super excited to have him out there. I'm sure he'll be back out whenever his time is ready.” 

Q: Do you see yourself as a vet now? And has that changed your approach in the locker room at all? 

James: " Yeah, it's definitely different. You know what I mean? It’s something that still hasn't hit me, like every day like it's still super surreal for me to walk in this building. I'm like, ‘Man, I'm still here, like I'm still doing this.’ So, like I said, I'm still trying to take that same mindset, but I'm also trying to become a leader to kind of motivate the younger guys and trying to lead them in the right direction. And so, that has been kind of a new step for me coming into my fifth year.” 

OTA Offseason workouts: June 12-15

Mandatory Minicamp: June 6-8

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