From Raiders Training Camp: C Andre James

The Las Vegas Raiders are into their third week of training camp, and today center Andre James spoke, and we have his entire comments for you.

HENDERSON, Nev.--The Las Vegas Raiders have opened their 2023 NFL Training Camp, and center Andre James took to the podium to address the media.

You can watch his entire comments below and read the transcript:

 Center Andre James 

Q: It seemed like a pretty physical day out there. Did you like the fact that it was against another team and you got the chance to go against somebody else? 

James: "Yeah, it was a good first time to hit someone in a different color jersey. You look forward to that since OTAs. You get tired of hitting the same people all day long. So, it was a good day." 

Q: Even from our vantage point, the intensity is kind of jacked up a little bit. How good is that to get into that kind of mode at this point in training camp? 

James: "Oh, it's really good. These were definitely some of the more live reps we've had since we started. And you need those type of reps, especially getting into it early, before you actually start the season to face other teams and see different fronts and stuff like that. So, it was good." 

Q: It was interesting today watching when the defense was on the field, you guys were the biggest cheerleaders, when you were on the field, they were. It seems like this group has just come together as a team. I know last year was learning, this year, it seems like they are having fun and it was a team? 

James: "Oh yeah, no doubt. It's always exciting cheering for your teammates. We're all out there in the same color jerseys, so it was fun to see those guys get out there and ball, and we actually get to cheer for them when they're not going against you, so a good experience." 

Q: The 49ers run a lot of twists and stunts, how much of that kind of stressed the importance of communication for you all in the offense line? 

James: "It's super important. It's good to get everyone on the same page with that type of stuff and to see different type of maybe stunts and blitzes that we haven't seen before from our defense. With stunts like that, it's just all about communication and following the technique that we've had." 

Q: In a situation like that where you haven't done any film work on them and you're not really prepared for it, how much of that is just making the adjustment on the fly? 

James: "We're kind of familiar because we faced them last year toward the end of the season. So, kind of went back and watched some old film of what we kind of ran against them and stuff. So we had a little bit of familiarity, but yeah it was good." 

Q: Did Jimmy Garoppolo help provide some of that familiarity having practiced against him so much? 

James: "No, we didn't have time to meet with Jimmy [Garoppolo], but he did a really good job today out there leading us and getting us all on the same page, so happy with that." 

Q: You said it was going to take you a lot of reps to get on the same page with Jimmy Garoppolo, how's that coming along? 

James: "It's good. Every rep counts. Every rep is the most important rep. We just look forward to just going out there each day and grinding with him and just gelling." 

Q: How was facing the combination of Arik Armstead and Javon Hargrave? 

James: "It was good. Those guys are really good defensive players. It was a great opportunity for us to go out and face arguably one of the best defenses in the NFL. And that's what you want as a true competitor, is to face a good defense like that. So, it was good work for us." 

Q: Speaking of that defensive line, how cool was it to kind of see a former teammate, Clelin Ferrell, and compete against him? 

James: "It was cool. Cle [Clelin Ferrell] is my guy. We came in and we were in the same draft class, so it was cool seeing him. It sucks to see him in a different jersey, but I'm glad to see him out there grinding." 

Q: Any difference today from Jimmy Garoppolo? Did you see anything different with the 49ers in town or the same old Jimmy? 

James: "Same old. He's cool, calm and collected, man. You want to be with a guy like that, especially at the quarterback position. So, having him in the huddle leading us, wouldn't expect anything else." 

Q: Talking to your coaches earlier this week, you're quarterbacking the offensive line more this year. Is it just comfortable because you have a year in it? Will you talk about that part of your expanded game? 

James: "In the old system, we put a lot on the centers -- not much in this system, it's actually a lot on the quarterback. But now I'm actually just starting to feel a lot more comfortable because I've got a year under my belt with this. So, it's always nice having a having a year in your past kind of understanding the system. Now you can worry more about technique and other stuff like that." 

Q: Does Jimmy Garoppolo know the offense as well as the rest of you guys considering this is your second year in it? 

James: "Yeah, he's came in and adapted pretty quickly, surprisingly. I think he came in as a rookie with this system. So yeah, he came in and I'm really proud to see how he's grown with it so far." 

Q: Your school decided a while ago to leave, but it looks like the Pac-12 is dead? 

James: "Man, it's rough right now for them, bro. I don't know what to say with that. I'm excited to see how it's going to go, there's a lot of teams jumping out of there. But it sucks, bro. Hopefully they can pull it together." 

The Silver and Black open the preseason by hosting the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday, Aug. 13, at 4 p.m. EDT/1 p.m. PDT.

Please tell us your thoughts when you like our Facebook Page WHEN YOU CLICK RIGHT HERE.