Chandler Jones Making His Presence Felt at Raiders OTAs

The Raiders continue to work at OTAs and progress through their offseason program. With a brand new coaching staff and a significant amount of new faces, this season’s offseason program is one of the most important that the Raiders have seen in many years. Free agent acquisition DE Chandler Jones and defensive line coach Frank Okam among others took to the podium Thursday to discuss their work at OTAs.

“I don’t think I personally ever lose sight of the importance of the OTAs, the minicamp, the offseason program,” Jones said. “I think that this time now is very advantageous for any team because this is the time that you get a jump, you get the edge. Guys are starting to get familiar with their teammates.”

“For us to have a new staff and a lot of new players, I think that’s very important. You don’t want to wait until fall for me to be calling someone’s name and not knowing their number… It’s important for us to be here.”

Defensive line coach Frank Okam discussed Chandler Jones as a veteran leader at Raiders OTAs.

“As a former player, you have to remember in the NFL that we’re coworkers,” Okam said. “For me, I always like to pick the brain of someone who has 100+ sacks because that’s something I never did in my own career. Anytime you can get some lessons from the way they see the game, coaching points, film-study points, anything to help those young guys acclimate to the game faster, I’m all ears. I have no ego in this game, I’m just trying to help the Raiders win football games.”

Jones spoke about his new pass-rushing partner in DE Maxx Crosby.

“He’s already been pushing me. It’s insane almost to this point. Where I am in my career, being 11 years in… there’s been a few times in this camp now where I see Maxx running to the next drill and I’m kinda like, ‘I’ve gotta to go faster, look at Maxx, he’s already over there.’ He’s younger than me, but like I said, he’s pushed me in that sense already… he was a huge reason why I came to Las Vegas. One of the main reasons, to come play with him.”