Raiders New Coach Is Finding His Voice As Offseason Workouts Start To Ramp Up

Few NFL coaches have been in the spotlight more than Klint Kubiak for the last six months. He’s taking over the team with the worst record in the NFL last year after being the offensive coordinator for a team that won the Super Bowl, so he’s responsible for the turnaround and developing new franchise quarterback Fernando Mendoza. 

It’s a lot, but his players like how Kubiak is handling the spotlight so far. Cornerback Eric Stokes survived the chaos that came with being coached by Pete Carroll last year, and he offered his candid reaction.

“It’s all ball with him,” Stokes said in a piece written by Sam Warren of The Athletic. “And that’s what I love. He steps up, but he isn’t taking no little giggles, no nothing. We about business. We’re coming in, we’re doing this and doing that, there isn’t any other unnecessary stuff going on. Like, nah, he’s just straight ball.”

His focus was apparent during the Raiders’ first open practice during OTAs See of this was prearranged, of course, but Kubiak bounced from one position group to another, according to Warren, providing feedback and instructions. 

Running back Ashton Jeanty made some comments that spoke to Kubiak’s lighter side as he said the coach “cracks a couple of jokes,” which allows the team to “still have a good time,” Warren added, but the coach’s focus was the focus of Jeanty’s comments. 

“He definitely is about his business while we’re in the building,” Jeanty said. “We’re definitely just trying to get better each and every single day, and he’s just trying to translate that to us.”

No one’s helmet has a Raiders logo right now, and that’s by design. That tactic might seem a little sophomoric from the outside looking in, but evidently Kubiak is serious about this “earning the shield” business. 

“We’ll find out if we get it by training camp, if we can uphold the standard that we put in front of these players in our team meeting,” Kubiak said. “If our conditioning level is where it needs to be, if we can practice the right way, if we can handle our business outside of the building and we can represent the shield the right way, then we’ll put it back on.”

Another veteran who spoke well of this approach was left tackle Kolton Miller, who was out for most of the season with a high ankle sprain that turned out to be a stress fracture. Plenty of stories have been leaked about the Raiders’ lack of professionalism last year, and Miller says he’s grateful for the change. 

“It’s his approach,” said Miller, who’s been with the Raiders since 2018. “He wants the best out of everybody. He’s direct, there’s no fluff, everything’s straightforward, real with him, and we all appreciate that.”