Star pass-rusher likes the culture the new head coach is creating
Playing for a new head coach isn’t exactly foreign territory for Las Vegas Raiders’ defensive end Maxx Crosby. During his six years with the Raiders, Crosby has played for three different full-time head coaches, four if you include Rich Bisaccia’s interim stint in 2021.
So, the four-time Pro Bowler has been through practices with several regimes. With OTAs starting this week and the Pete Carroll era in Las Vegas officially off and running, Crosby was asked on Wednesday what feels different this time around.
“I would just say, it starts when you walk in the building, and I feel like Pete just does such a good job of creating a culture and an environment where you’re looking forward to being here,” the pass-rusher replied. “Like, we’re playing a kid’s game at the end of the day, but it’s also the most competitive environment, with a bunch of alpha males trying to take each other’s heads off at the same time.
“But it’s one of the hardest jobs on the planet. There’s a reason why there’s only .0001 percent of people that can do it, because it’s not normal. And Pete creates that culture, that energy, where everyone knows it’s hard. You’re going to work your ass off, you’re going to put in all the work, but you’ve got a whole group and an organization of people that all got to be on the same wavelength and go in the same direction.
“That’s one of the hardest things you could do. That’s why there are only 32 [NFL] head coaching jobs in the world. But I think Pete just does an incredible job with that. He just makes it fun and enjoyable every day. You wake up in the morning, it’s 5:00 a.m. and I’m fired up and excited to be in the building and get after it with the guys.”
Considering Crosby has been around the block and is a team captain, his words carry the most weight in the locker room. That makes the comments above more encouraging as the Raiders begin a new season with another new regime.
In Other Raiders’ Links:
- Michael Barrett signed: Las Vegas is bringing in a linebacker who won a National Championship with current Chargers’ head coach Jim Harbaugh, waiving linebacker Wesley Steiner in a corresponding move.
- Christian Wilkins not participating in OTAs: “He’s not ready to get back out. And we’re in the midst of a long, challenging process,” Carroll said as the defensive tackle sat out of practice on Wednesday. “So fortunately, there’s a lot of time.”
- Ashton Jeanty, the receiver: a film breakdown on what the first-round pick can add to the Raiders’ passing game as a pass-catcher out of the backfield.
- Carroll praises Geno Smith’s leadership: “To me, he’s been emblematic of what a leader should be by his habits and by the way he brings himself every day,” the head coach said, via Pro Football Talk’s Myles Simmons. “He’s the first guy out here. He’s the last guy to leave. It’s really important to him that he stands for what leadership is all about. And he’s a good football player, too. He’s looked great in practice so far. So, we’re really excited about what he’s bringing.”