Andrew Janocko - , raiders Event: Press Conference | Date: 2026-09-11 | Full transcript (primary source).
On September 11, 2026, Andrew Janocko addressed the media during a press conference for the Raiders, discussing the team's preparations and adjustments in light of recent player changes. The conference provided an opportunity for Janocko to share insights on the team's dynamics and strategies as they approach the upcoming season.
Transcript
Unknown: How we doing? How you doing? Can you talk about the comfort level for an OC to have a 15-year vet like her leading and mentoring your next generation, but just that comfort level, please?
Janocko: Yeah, I think Coach talked about it last week a little bit. And the guys, he's practiced with a lot of confidence this offseason. He brings a lot of experience to the room, a lot of plays in this league. And with plays comes knowledge, with comes experience. And that way, as our offense, as we learn and we grow, we can feed from some of the knowledge that he brings to the table.
Unknown: Andrew, obviously, not now that Brock Bauer is going to. That's a big change for you guys and what you're planning. How do you compensate for a loss like that?
Janocko: You know, this is a 17-game season. The thing that I would say is in a 17-game season, we have a 70-man roster. So there's going to be different opportunities for each and every single player on this roster at different points between each season. So we prep each week as a different week. We prep each week to get our guys ready to go. Whoever's available, whoever's not available, you know, we're prepping to get the guys that we have ready to go get there the best out of them, do what they do well, and give us the best chance to win.
Unknown: Ashton participated fully yesterday. What did you see from Ashton?
Janocko: We're happy to have Ashton back on the field, get him ready to go. He comes out that big smile on his face. The energy he brings to this offense and to this organization is undeniable. So I'm just happy to have him back out working.
Unknown: What is the sum of those opportunities that guys have, what have you seen from Michael Mayer in this offseason and what makes him ready for this chance?
Janocko: Yeah, I think whether it's Mike, whether it's anybody on our offense, I see our offense, our offense trying to come together, gel together, working, you know, whatever situation we put them in, you know, whether, you know, like I said, like you asked about Michael, but really everybody coming together, making the most of their opportunities whenever they happen and what situations they happen.
Unknown: How does Michael's in particular, how does his skill set stress a defense?
Janocko: You know, Mike does a lot, Mike does a lot of things well. We try to emphasize, you know, what he does well in the run game, what he does well in the pass game. You know, his route running is always improving. His blocking's always improving, hand placement, all the stuff, pad level, and then just the way he finishes each play with the ball in his hand, I think that's something that gives us an advantage.
Unknown: Ian had an exceptional training camp, in my opinion, I don't know about yours, but it really showed off development in his pass-catching skills. How big of an opportunity is this for him?
Janocko: Because anytime you get another chance, it's an opportunity in this league. You know, like I said before, it's a 70-man roster, so every guy's gonna have different opportunities presented to them each week, and what they make most of their opportunity, you know, is what kind of makes such a long season so great, because you get to see guys, you get to see guys step up in different roles. I mean, you saw with Drew last night. You know, Drew comes in and gets a win for that team last night. So, you know, there's always opportunities. Opportunities abound in this league. So, you know, whether Ian, you know, really anybody that's gonna have a shirt on game day that's something we're excited about.
Unknown: How much of you guys having to step up early on and give an opportunity with the guys like Ashton and Brock Bowers really cornerstones of your offense this season? What have you learned so far about the depth that you guys have on the offensive side of the ball this early?
Janocko: Yeah, I think, you know, we have a lot of guys that are excited to prove themselves and excited to go out there and just really do their job. Do what we ask them, play with it, you know, play within, you know, what we're asking them to do, and then, you know, make plays when their number's called upon.
Unknown: How confident do you feel in those guys that are going to have to fill in different roles this early on?
Janocko: Yeah, I mean, that's why we're all here. You know, we all have a job to do. We all have a role to play, and whatever that is each week and it's gonna be different each week, that's the task. That's what we're asked to do.
Unknown: As regards to Mike Washington, would you say he met your expectations about how you played during the training camp at preseason, maybe exceeded the way he's like, you know, come up to speed?
Janocko: I'd say, you know, Mike's done a lot of good things. He's done well, he's come in here, he's competed every single day. We've put a lot of stress on him, whether it be physically, mentally, different things we're asking about him. So, I'm excited to see how that translates to a real ball game, but, you know, Mike works his butt off every day. So, you know, I wanna see what happens on Sunday.
Unknown: How do you approach Fernando's development now that the regular season is up and running?
Janocko: Like I said, it's every week is a different and unique opportunity, and every guy is expected to be ready to go in whatever role he's in. We saw it last night. And so, you know, to me, you know, his development doesn't change. It's, he's growing, learning, preparing to play each and every single snap. You know, sometimes the reps are unique, how he gets it in practice, but, you know, Coach Sullivan does a great job with his meetings, with his individual stuff, and preparing him to play in his role.
Unknown: What do you think of those?
Janocko: You know, they're a young, talented, very talented defense, very well coached. They're a team that, you know, plays very hard, goes after the ball, so it's gonna be a heck of a challenge.
Unknown: What have you seen from Kirk in terms of his physical tools at this point?
Janocko: Yeah, Kirk comes out, you know, everything, just working his feet, working his progressions, how he protects the football, how he gets the ball out of his hands, whether it's, you know, year one or year 14, you know, those are the same things that we're looking for each and every day and how he can improve on those things.
Unknown: What does he need to do to continue to have success for this offense?
Janocko: Just, you know, complete the football, get us into the right plays, get us out of bad plays, don't make bad plays worse. You know, I don't think the blueprint has ever changed with the way we ask our quarterbacks to play.
Unknown: Obviously, you just got Tyler Lindenbaum, who's, you know, has a veteran presence, but Colton on that left side, how much of an impact does he have on the rest of the line, especially going to the season with the young offensive line?
Janocko: Yeah, I think we ask all of our guys in whatever way their role is to be leaders and the veteran guys even more to lead with their actions, lead with their experience, lead with their knowledge and lead with the way they approach practice every day.
Unknown: One of your players told me that you constantly harp on, learn something every day, keep learning, keep learning. So I'm curious, what have you learned about you during this period?
Janocko: I'd say, you know, just being on the details for everybody and knowing that, you know, there's 11 positions that are counting on you to know the details of each and every single play. So just staying on that, the details of the prep squad and how we get the look squad ready to go every day, exactly what we're asking each and every person do and then exactly what we're asking each and every single coach to do. So just growing within the details of this role.
Unknown: What did Fernando Mendoza do during training camp that earned him that backup role?
Janocko: Yeah, I think, you know, just the way he approached every single day every meeting, every walkthrough, when there was nothing to do and how he was preparing, you know, and then, you know, what he did on the field, the goods, the bads, and then how he grew from each experience, whether it be good or whether it be bad, how he grew and, you know, got ready to be in this role for this week.
Unknown: Last question now. What did you saw from Jackson in the Red Card competition to give him the job?
Janocko: Yeah, I think we're always competing. We are constantly competing, but, you know, just saw from him a level of consistency that, you know, that we wanted to see, that he came out each and every day, proved what we needed to see, knew the assignments, knew the complexity of the job, and then just executing at the level we've been asking.
Unknown: Next question. Thanks, everybody.
