JACKSONVILLE – Team reporter Kainani Stevens each week during the 2025 regular season will speak with a media member covering the Jaguars' opponent.
Up this week:
Las Vegas Raiders digital reporter Levi Edwards on the Raiders as they enter the Week 9 matchup against the Jaguars at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, Nev.
Question: The Raiders are in a rebuild under first-year Head Coach Pete Carroll. What are your thoughts on the first eight weeks of this regime?
Answer: A lot of things need to be cleaned up for the Raiders. That has been my reflection. You see some good things happening, and there has been a culture change, which is good. Carroll has come in, and he adds experience of being able to turn locker rooms around and get guys to play for him. I don't necessarily see that being a problem. However, execution has not been at full strength. I think a lot of these guys are still trying to acclimate, especially on the offensive side of the ball, to a new playbook and a new playstyle. Injuries have also played a factor and it hurts when you don't have the depth that you would like on this team. You can't afford to lose guys like tight end Brock Bowers, wide receiver Jakobi Meyers or offensive tackle Kolton Miller.
Q: What are some bye-week changes you're expecting or hoping to see coming up this week?
A: Really just guys coming back and getting healthy. Meyers is back on the field. Bowers is moving around a lot faster and a lot better, and we all know what Brock can do when he's fully healthy. I believe we saw that firsthand last year when the Jaguars came to Allegiant Stadium. Quarterback Geno Smith gets one of his receivers that he's best friends with, Tyler Lockett. He just entered the building, signed his contract and went straight to the practice field – not wasting any time and making sure he gets back on the same page with Smith. What I'm looking forward to coming out of the bye week is the guys just getting healthy, and guys getting back on the field.
Q: What are you hoping to see from the offense as the season goes along and the players get used to the new system?
A: They just need to play faster. Everything just needs to look a lot faster and effortless. Guys are still out there thinking too much. Whether it comes down to the right assignments for running back Ashton Jeanty going through the right reads – when his blocking coming together and making sure they're all collectively doing what they have to do to make sure they are synced up with Smith. There are a lot of little things like that which just need to be cleaned up moving forward. Obviously, there's still a lot of time left in this season, so I'm looking forward to it. However, it's going to be difficult against a Jags defense this week that is pretty impressive.
Q: Obviously, Raiders defensive end Maxx Crosby is always a name that people key on, but what have you seen from the defense as a whole so far this season?
A: The defense has played fairly well in some parts, but it has been in bad field position at times. Offensively, when you have so many turnovers, the defense is back on the field, and you're just kind of struggling. The defense has been kind of a "bend-but-don't-break" unit, but they are still trying to figure it out. They're put in these bad situations on the field but still need to limit to three or zero points. There only have been a couple of times this season where the defense just did not show up. Against the Indianapolis Colts and the Kansas City Chiefs, they just did not play good football. I think every other game this year, you could point to a young guy stepping up and really playing good ball. Obviously, Crosby's doing his thing, but you see some other guys like cornerback Eric Stokes, linebacker Devin White, or defensive tackle Jonah Laulu really stepping up and doing some cool things.
Q: Who are two names that need to play well if the Raiders want to get a win this weekend?
A: It has to start off with Smith. He's the head of the snake, and he's a guy that is uncharacteristically not playing up to the standard we saw in Seattle. There are a lot of factors behind it with the offensive line issues and having young inexperienced wide receivers. I think if Smith can come out and he can play the game that he needs to play, then everything else will take care of itself. A guy on defense that I would name as an X-Factor is Stokes at corner, because now you have to play on Jaguars wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr. Stokes is going to have to make sure he does his job and really lock that down. Stokes has been playing really good football and Thomas is another great challenge for him going into this game.
