Even before the Raiders played a regular-season game under Jack Del Rio, it appeared the team’s new head coach would be a difference-maker.
His experience, the assistants he hired and his approach all felt different for a franchise that has gone since 2002 without a winning record or a trip to the playoffs.
This summer, he even counseled former Raiders players and coaches who visited training camp to be positive.
“I told them, ‘You guys can really help us by not referring anymore to negative things that have occurred here,” Del Rio told a reporter in August. “Let’s just talk about what we’re going to do going forward and the positives and bring us that great energy. That’ll help.”
Darin Gantt of Pro Football Talk also noted that Del Rio brought in a “mindset coach” to work with the coaching staff to help keep everyone focused, healthy and positive.
And, through the course of this season, Del Rio and his staff have gained the trust of their players and helped young talents such as Derek Carr, Amari Cooper, Khalil Mack, Mario Edwards Jr., Clive Walford and Gabe Jackson grow and thrive.
As the 6-7 Raiders prepare to host the 9-4 Green Bay Packers this Sunday (1:05 p.m. kickoff), it’s also apparent that Del Rio knows how to push the right emotional buttons of his team, too.
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When his Raiders came into their locker room in Denver this past Sunday trailing 12-0, he took an unusual approach by being upbeat and positive as he addressed his team. Vic Tafur of the San Francisco Chronicle reported that Del Rio, in fact, was smiling as he spoke to his players.
“I’m always aware of what I think the team needs at that time,” Del Rio told Tafur. “We talked about playing for 60 minutes, bringing our best ball for 60 minutes. I really felt that. I really believed. I think it was important that the team felt that belief.
“ ‘Put a smile on your face, go out there and have fun, play these last 30 minutes full of effort and energy and believe that it will be good enough.’ Our guys, I thought they responded really well.”
The Raiders put up 15 points in the second half while holding the Broncos scoreless and came away with the upset over the AFC West-leading team.
Linebacker/defensive end Khalil Mack – who had five sacks in the victory – told Tafur that Del Rio’s approach helped set the tone for the second half.
“Knowing that he believed in us pushed us and (drove) us to go out and get it by any means we could,” said Mack.
