Yes, it’s only August, but progress is progress. Just ask Las Vegas Raiders defensive star Maxx Crosby. The benefit of joint practices for Silver and Black is exponential—starters, Pro Bowlers, etc. are all going at it. Football is back, and Crosby likes what he sees, even if it’s just “August.”
While speaking with Sports Illustrated’s Hondo Carpenter, Crosby shared some candid thoughts on the state of the defense. More importantly, No. 98 emphasized how crucial this week’s joint practice was for his team.
“Yeah, obviously it’s only August, so things are going well right now, but it’s an everyday process. But yeah, I think we’re going in the right direction. We have guys playing for each other, and at the end of the day, it’s a player’s game. We do it; we’re the ones out there; we’ve got to be at our best, and when it really comes down to it, we’re the ones getting things done, so we’ve all got to be on the same page.”
Whether you’ll allow yourself to be optimistic for a second isn’t my job to convince you, but things have been looking bright in Henderson. Prior to the joint practices, reports out of the desert indicated that the defense was on fire. The most common theme has been “aggressiveness.” Going up against one of the best squads in the NFL will certainly sharpen iron; that’s nothing new. However, even more so than in preseason, this is the time when many of the projected starters will see playing time. Let’s face it, the likelihood of seeing Crosby suit up during the preseason is zilch.
Right now is the time to establish not only rapport but, more than anything else, communication—you’ve got to get everyone in sync.
Trust us, Maxx Crosby knows this as well.
“It comes down to every single one of us and the coaches’ trust in us, and Pat [Patrick Graham] and Josh [McDaniels] and all of them have been preaching that like it’s all about us. So, we’ve got to go out there; it doesn’t matter who the opponent is. We’ve all got to be on the same page and fly around and have fun and just don’t think, just go.”
Let’s face it, this isn’t Crosby’s first rodeo anymore. In fact, he’s a veteran on this defense now, but, first and foremost, he’s tired of losing. In fact, he’s “tired of that s***.” Well, that’s one thing all Raiders fans can agree on.
*Top Photo: Official Raiders YouTube Channel