Raiders Jimmy Garoppolo from West Virginia Facility
WHITE SULPHUR SPRING, WV.--The Las Vegas Raiders have come to West Virginia ahead of their contest on Sunday with the Buffalo Bills.
Immediately after practice, QB Jimmy Garoppolo spoke to the media about many subjects, and we are here with him and have all that he said.
You can watch the entire press conference and read the transcript below:
Quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo Q: What is it your third time here? Are you showing guys around? Garoppolo: "Yeah, I've become a regular. I love it out here man, it's cool. You kind of get away from everything but get some time with the guys and just get to hang out."
Q: I saw some guys were going up to the mountain lodge, some guys were fishing. What's your activity out here? Garoppolo: "Football. I haven't had much time honestly. Just getting on the film, getting on the gameplan. Hopefully one of these night's we'll get to get some dinner or something, go out like that. But it's been football right now."
Q: Did you remember a sport coat and tie so you can eat here? Garoppolo: "I'll have to get one out here probably. But no, it's classy around here. It's a cool atmosphere, it's just different."
Q: How would you describe your leadership style? Garoppolo: "Just being myself. I think trying to set the example by what you do, not exactly by what you say. You've got to show the guys that you're willing to do it, and I think that's the best way to do it. Having a live game now, being out there with the guys being in the huddle, you get to see what guys are made of, see in those big moments, you look in a guy's eyes and you can see who wants it and things like that. It's just the way we're growing right now."
Q: I know it seems like an obvious thing, but how important is it to be a leader as a quarterback? Is that something you just have to have in you, is it something you learn? I guess what do you pick it up that kind of thing? Garoppolo: "I think – I didn't grow up playing quarterback. I think it's kind of something that you learn throughout your experiences. Everyone's a little different. Everyone kind of does it their own way. You don't want to be fake with it though, that's one thing I've learned. You have to be yourself. You have to be real, and let these guys know who you are. They'll see through the fakeness."
Q: You have Hunter Renfrow who is an All-Pro who didn't get any catches but didn't care. Jakobi Meyers gets more than Davante Adams, he doesn't care. It is rare, especially at wide receiver, to have guys that aren't prima donnas. It's all about the team. How special is that on the Raiders? Garoppolo: "It's big time. It's big time. They're a great group of guys, fun group to be with, they all pull for each other. I mean, it's even in the run game – you see those guys going in and crack-blocking safeties. That takes some commitment as a receiver, and we have a good group of guys. They're fun to mesh with. I think our relationships are just growing every day out here. But we're in a good spot and those guys pull for each other, that's what makes it fun out here."
Q: After the interception in the end zone, I don't know if you saw it, your whole defense was up cheering like, 'It's okay we got this.' That's rare on a team. What is that like on this team that unity? Garoppolo: "It's big time, it's something - I take great pride in that. I like having that in a team. When the defense is out there, you don't get to see everything, but we try to be up there, see the big plays that they make, and that's what this game is all about. When you separate offense and defense and special teams, that's when it gets a little dicey. But we've got a good group and we're still learning, we're learning each other, figuring each other out. But we're off to a good start and we just have to keep it rolling now in Buffalo."
Q: There's a stat when down 48 points in the fourth quarter your numbers are up there with Patrick Mahomes and Drew Brees. Do you notice a difference in yourself in those moments looking back and think something changes for you in those moments in games? Garoppolo: "Nothing really changes. Maybe things around me change, but you've just got to be the same guy, especially as the quarterback. I mean, when you step in that huddle, guys are looking at you, you're calling the play, you don't get many of those moments, so you have to make them count and just try and make each one of them count."
Q: The pass protection graded out very well in the first game, but a lot of those guys said, 'That's a lot of Jimmy,' too. I guess what can the quarterback do to kind of help the pass protection in front of you? Garoppolo: "I think having a plan pre-snap, knowing where you're going to go with the ball, being quick with it, all those little things. I mean, they gave me clean pockets all day, and that makes it really easy. But when you can get the ball in on time and you're playing in unison with the o-line and backs - I mean, the backs did a great job. Josh [Jacobs] had a couple of big blocks, chip blocks by the tight ends, all those things. It's really all tied together." Q: Obviously your eyes are downfield, you don't see it during the game. But when you watch the film, did you notice how physical your offensive line was when there was a couple of times it was a beat down? Garoppolo: "Yeah, I mean, I heard it a couple times in pass pro. You don't even know exactly who it is or what's happening, but you can hear, you can feel that collision, I guess if you want to say. But yeah, as a quarterback you love having guys like that. They're willing to put on the line just play after play. That's what makes a good football team."
Q: As a captain and a leader, what are some things you say to Michael Mayer, because he's going to end up being a key part of this offense as he grows? What are you doing to help him? Garoppolo: "Just trying to teach him the intricacies. I think the tight end in this offense, there's a lot of little nuances that go unnoticed. Going back to Rob Gronkowski – Gronk was awesome at it. He knew the plays, he knew what we were trying to do. And I think Mike, along with the other tight ends, they're all kind of learning that. Once they get that down, we'll be in a good spot. And I think he's done a great job so far. It's tough as a rookie to play that first game, so I was proud of him on Sunday."
Q: You played a lot of two tight ends so Hunter Renfrow wasn't in there that much, but where's your kind of chemistry with him as you kind of develop that relationship with him out there? Garoppolo: "It's been good. I thought we had a good training camp together. He has a good feel for the offense, for the space that we're trying to get it into. That's kind of what I'm saying with the tight ends. He knows what the whole field is doing, what we're trying to get on each play, and he has a feel for it. So, when you have a guy like that, it's almost like having a quarterback playing receiver."
Q: Back to Michael Mayer, what have you been your impression so far on things he does well? Garoppolo: "He's very physical, very physical. I think that's where it starts, especially with the tight ends. You have to set the tone with those D-ends, does a good job with that. He understands what we're trying to do. Just some of these rookie mistakes, simple things. We all have to fix little things, but no, he has the right attitude for it. It's not easy as a rookie."
Q: I asked you earlier in camp about having lost football, do you come back more appreciative. And I saw something Sunday, I've never seen you smile that much. Was it just fun to be back competing? Garoppolo: "Yeah, yeah, it was. Felt like a lifetime ago I played, man. So, it was good to get back out there, get those juices flowing, the crowd, you can't hear anything at the line of scrimmage. And it's those moments that you live for as a quarterback especially. That's the fun stuff."
The Silver and Black remain on the road this week when they travel to play the Buffalo Bills on Sunday, Sept. 17, at 1:05 p.m. EDT/10:05 a.m. PDT.
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