Look, I’ve been living out here in the Valley for 20 years now. I'm originally a New Yorker, but Las Vegas is home, and Raider Nation is my family.
Every summer, I watch folks complain about the July heat. Yes, it’s 95 degrees by 7:30 a.m. out at the Intermountain Health Performance Center in Henderson. But as I always tell people: it’s a dry heat. There is zero humidity. Plus, being a bald guy, I don't have to worry about sweat ruining a haircut—I just slap on some sunscreen and enjoy the morning breeze while our squad puts in the work.
If you couldn't score a ticket to the sold-out morning sessions, don’t stress. I was on the grass for the first 48 hours of camp, and I’ve got the full blueprint on exactly how this team is shaping up.
Skip the national media noise; here is the real story.
The Last 48 Hours:
What I Saw on the Field the energy under new head coach Klint Kubiak is entirely different. It’s fast, physical, and focused. Here are the biggest takeaways from the first two days of unpadded practices:
Kirk is the General (For Now): Coach Kubiak squashed any immediate drama by handing Kirk Cousins the bulk of the first-team reps. Cousins looked like the 15-year vet he is—calm, moving smoothly, and getting the ball out fast.
The Mendoza Hype is Very Real: Rookie Fernando Mendoza ran with the second unit, but he stole the morning. In 11-on-11 drills, the pocket collapsed, and instead of panicking, Mendoza stood tall and fired a beautiful dart down the seam to tight end Ian Thomas.
His 6-foot-5 frame and pure athleticism during a physical scramble had the entire sideline erupting.
A Shocking Rise at Cornerback: The biggest surprise of the last 48 hours was fifth-round rookie Hezekiah Masses pulling down first-team boundary snaps right out of the gate.
He’s rotating heavily with Darien Porter, proving this coaching staff means it when they say positions are earned, not given.
Maxx is Back and Explosive: The best sight of the week? Maxx Crosby out there with zero restrictions.
He spent six months rehabbing a January meniscus surgery, but he looked completely unbothered, bending the edge with his usual relentless violence.
Linebacker Nakobe Dean and rookie corner Jermod McCoy were also full participants.
Tight End Dominance: Michael Mayer and Brock Bowers are going to be a nightmare for opposing defensive coordinators. Mayer made the play of the week, fully laying out to haul in a deep crosser with a defender draped all over his back hip.
My Big Three Subplots to Watch
1. Wide Receiver by Committee
Kubiak is throwing out rigid depth charts. He explicitly noted we will see a fluid, multi-role committee approach at receiver. Watch out for Malik Benson; he’s already taken advantage of the rotation, pulling down tough, contested sideline grabs against our first-team secondary.
2. A Brutal Reality Check for the Run Game
With older veterans gone, Ashton Jeanty and Roman Hemby are fighting for touches. The defense isn't making it easy.
Defensive tackle Adam Butler set the tone early in 11-on-11s, blowing past the line to tackle Jeanty in the backfield.
This run game is going to have to earn every single inch in Henderson.
3. Shutting Down the Trade Noise
Off the field, General Manager John Spytek did what a real leader does: he completely shut down the outside distractions.
Despite the media circus and aggressive trade noise coming from owners like Jerry Jones trying to pry Maxx Crosby away, the front office reiterated that Crosby is a Raider for life. He’s locked in, healthy, and leading this locker room.
The foundation is being built right now in our backyard. Keep it tuned here as I track the battles all the way through the roster cutdowns on August 30.