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Q: What was it like being in Arizona?
MJ: Okay. Yeah, it’s great. I think there’s a connection here with Tyler Owens, he’s our head coach who was at Alabama, some of their assistants. It’s cool to see those guys and what they’re building here. I really appreciate and we really appreciate them allowing us to use their facilities. It is a really good school.
Q: I wanted to ask you about working with Marcus Jones on offense and I think coach [Matt] Patricia said he doesn’t practice offense a ton during the week, but how is it integrating and using the ball on the offensive end?
MJ: Yes, he is a smart player. Works great on defense, obviously we see that and obviously on special teams. He is a swiss army knife type of player and working with him, he did a good job. He stands in the right place, knows what to do and cares. So those are the three biggest things. Everything else will take care of itself, performances and all that. He does a really good job.
Q: How nice is it to be at quarterback when a guy like that throws a screen and can take it 50 yards to the house?
MJ: Yeah, I think it’s super dynamic. We have a lot of guys like that, which is good. Quick, quick to boot, boys like it. So we have that at our skill positions and it’s just about making sure we finish those plays and get those explosives.
Q: Matthew Slater said yesterday that he and some other veterans have been encouraging you all year to talk more than you already do. How much do you think you’ve grown in this regard?
MJ: Yes, I think it’s important. I think after a workout is always a good time to deliver a message. It’s not every day in the team, but in the attack for sure. Just trying to move things along and appreciate our day. sometimes good and sometimes bad. So you have to learn from any situation and have a message that, ‘What does it take to win, what does it take, what do we have to do, what’s here to create a good product. On the pitch?’ “Just talking about it and obviously during film and stuff like that. Everybody’s talking, everybody’s working together. It’s my job as a point guard to make sure that by the end of the week, whatever happens, it’s in place and everything looks good and we’re ready to go.”
Q: How would you describe your leadership style?
MJ: I think I always try to lead by example, just by working hard. Always try to do more, it’s all you can do and hopefully people will see that. I know it is, but I’m not a super, very talkative person, but I like being with my teammates and getting the message across. But at the end of the day, it’s all about enjoying the game and having fun, whatever you try, whatever you do. Sometimes you have good practice, sometimes bad. So like I said, you work it out and lead both ways. It doesn’t matter if you’re up or down. So just try to lead and be consistent and all that.
Q: Mac, when you look at the problems the Raiders are creating defensively, how much does it start [Chandler] Jones and Max Crosby?
MJ: Yeah, I think they have a great defensive line. They’ve got great players everywhere, great scheme, doing a lot of different things, they’ve got a big library to pick from, it just depends on what they want to pick. They have great rushers, so respect those guys. This will be a big challenge for us. At the end of the day, we got to practice against them and all that. So we saw them and we knew they were a really good defense. Just a great group and a great coaching staff.
Q: You were asked how this trip was for the team in terms of being in Arizona, staying here, and if not, how was it?
MJ: Yeah, it was good. It’s a bit cold, but we’re used to it. But it was good. I think everything was great, but at the end of the day, we’re here to practice, play football and win. It doesn’t matter where you train, whether you’re coming home or on the road. Just go out there and stick to your routine and do your thing. By the end of the week, you should feel primed and ready to go.
Q: I saw you go to Kendrick [Bourne] In some key situations of the endgame. How has your relationship with him evolved over the past two seasons?
MJ: Yes, KB [Kendrick Bourne] He is a big brother. Fun, likes to play soccer. With him, just making sure I can get him the ball and run with him. He’s a great route runner, great with the ball, catching yards and everything. We’re really happy with those guys and how they’re fighting and working, we’ve had a lot going on in this last game, injuries and things like that. They just work together, play different positions they don’t normally play and just try to help the team. It’s really cool to have this group. I really feel like they’re really improving, we just have to get the ball and let them work.
Q: Mac, do you have an idea of who you will have available on Sunday?
MJ: I’m not sure. Let’s see, shall we? I think whoever’s going to be there, he’s going to be there. She is confident in every boy. I got reps with them, whether it was in the offseason or preseason, when we got together, just shooting with different guys, ready for everybody. At the end of the day, we have a great group and there is no let down.
Q: Mac, you guys have brought in a lot of guns lately, is that what you’re running because that’s what you’re comfortable with? Or is it just something you guys have decided as a group is best for you?
MJ: I think there are things the coaches look at and all that. As I always say, I played wing-T in high school, so I was under center in every situation. It was the opposite in college. So I did both. Then, obviously, in the NFL, both have been done, as both have no advantage. I think both are good. It’s all about making plays.
Q: Why do you think you’ve been using it as much as you’ve been lately?
MJ: I’m not sure. You have to ask the coaches. I know there are specific things, but you have to ask them about it.
Q: Are you going to see Josh? [McDaniels] on the other side. What do you think about one, his team, and two, the transition you guys have had offensively without him?
MJ: I think so, Josh [McDaniels] He is a great coach, a great person, just a great leader. He prepared me very well last year. Obviously, he had a chance to coach the football team, and he did a great job. After all, we are against their protection. Then obviously they are against our protection. You have to look at it that way, but he knows a lot about us. Then of course we know them too. I think it’s a good match. He’s done a good job there, watching his games whether it’s a crossover movie or on TV. I did a good job, played in a lot of close games, it could have gone either way, so it’s just a good football team to be ready for.
Q: The second part here about the transition with the offense, how would you describe how that transition went from being coordinated to today’s setup?
MJ: I think Josh was a great coach and we still have great coaches. You just have to learn from everyone who trains you, just learn from them. Everyone is a little different. That’s what I learned at Alabama, I just had different coordinators, but the same system worked. This is where we are. Just try to learn from everyone and take something away, okay, and add it to your bankroll, whatever you can do. I am really glad to have experience with him. Then obviously this year we worked on a lot of things, got experience with the guys that we have and they did a great job. Like I said, there’s crossover, but we’re also doing some new stuff.
Q: In the event that Devante [Parker] or jacket [Meyers] He won’t play this weekend and the team has to bring someone up from the practice squad, what have you seen from a guy like Tre Nixon, Lynn Bowden [Jr.] And the boys in the training group?
MJ: I guess like I said, we’ll see, right? It’s not my choice and I hope these guys feel better. But at the end of the day, we’re all confident. I think the guys on the practice squad work hard. They run around here, they do scout team and stuff. I think Lina [Bowden Jr.] It helped me a lot, just being a smart player, trying to learn different things and always asking questions. Tres [Nixon] in the same way. All those guys, Tre works hard and everything. They all do. At the end of the day, they hold each other to a good standard and that’s what we’re all trying to achieve, is to play together and play without falling apart. I feel like we’re getting there. It’s definitely going to take time, but I just have to keep working on it all.
Q: We talked about understanding Josh and getting to know you, which obviously goes both ways, through a few days of practice and preparation, do you think you have a good understanding of how they want to attack you on Sunday?
MJ: Yeah, we’ll see, right? He knows me quite well. But at the end of the day, as I always say, they can do what they want. They can blitz 11, they can blitz none. Whatever they want you to do, you just have to read, react and play the play as it is. The same goes for our defense. We went against them and that’s all, a lot of familiarity. But at the end of the day, it’s all about the competition and just executing and doing the fundamentals right and then we’ll see where we are. Awesome, thanks.
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