Las Vegas Raiders Insider Podcast: the Season Ahead, Darnay Holmes #lasvegasraiders #raidernation

hello everybody this is Hondo Carpenter your Las Vegas Raiders beat writer on Sports Illustrated it is great to be with you I'm the host of the Las Vegas Raiders Insider podcast joined by this guy now you know him one of my dear buds he is a tremendous man he just keeps accumulating promotions at SI like I gain pounds just looking at a a glass case full of donuts this guy's a rising super star he's my assistant V writer covering the silver and black but like I said more importantly he's my good buddy the great Zeke tresan Zeke how you doing friend doing well Hondo how about yourself good it's been a great off season tomorrow game week we are literally seven days away you and I are both GNA be in la la land for the Raiders versus the bolts let's talk about it let's dig into it let's get a little bit going let's start right away Zeke and and let's talk about this off season and more importantly let's talk about the training camp I thought it was a great Camp I think the most disappointing part was quarterback and it wasn't because both quarterbacks were bad it was because neither took another step forward but if you have to take solace I mean right now the Raiders are hoping Brock Bowers becomes a star now all indications are that he will but because he's never done it yet in an NFL real game you're only living in Hope Aiden oconnell and Gardner menu have both done it in real games so while neither took another step forward I don't think it's as as dim as some are making it because both have a proven track record of doing it in the league where am I wrong no no I think you hear it right on the head um I think both quarterbacks obviously Gardner has done it longer he's done it more than Aon uh but you know conversely Aiden has done it with this team uh only for nine games but he still did it you know with pretty much this exact same team uh plus or minus a few parts I think that the Doom and Gloom uh that you may sense or that is you know s around rer nation is just the fact that you know it's the quarterback position and everybody wants to have the the sexiest quarterback uh that they can possibly have and you know as well as Aiden played and as well as Gardner has played neither of them are the sexiest quarterback or really even close to the sexiest quarterback however that does not mean that they can't get the job done uh this season for the silver and black I could not agree with you more and we're not pretending like they are that they have to go out and show it but I know some media are just Doom and Gloom because negativity sells and some fans because they have been in this relationship with the Raiders not winning for years dear God you can't really blame them Zeke but when you look at it in that perspective I just don't think the rumors of demise of the Raiders are as as real as some are making it let's flip over now let's talk about the offense let's talk about that offensive line I think jpj will eventually work his way into the starting lineup obviously I don't think he'll be there at first could be I don't think so but man how good is it for them to have Colton Miller back huge uh a huge difference obviously one of the best uh left tackles in the National Football League and hell even bigger than that I believe it was pro football focused uh ranked him as the best uh 15th uh draft 15th overall draft pick in the last decade or so so that kind of shows you it doesn't even matter what position you're talking about they still ranked him as the best 15th overall draft pick so speaks volumes uh and then if you just you know recall those couple of games last season where the Raiders did not have him out there it was a noticeable difference so you know to have one of the best left tackles back uh it's a huge thing for the Raiders offense especially when you have a new quarterback in there agreed Andre James and Dylan parm had very very good camps but so did DJ glaze and theer Mumford I'd like you to talk about those and and and by the way Cody white here nobody's pretending Cody whiter was extremely good too let's talk about those guys that did show up and show out yeah so I think there you know he's I think he's ready I think he's motivated obviously like you said he had a great Camp um I would say I don't want to say I'm proud of but I was definitely excited to see that DJ glaze had um you know a good camp as well just because of the talk that was around him when the Raiders drafted them there's a lot of uh experts that felt like they they reached on them but again as we talked about on draft night it may have been a reach for other teams but the Raiders were confident in their coaching staff and what they can get out of DJ honestly at this rate they might be able to get something out of him sooner than even they thought when they drafted him so uh hopefully he keeps on being a productive player out there for them I I could not agree with you more all right let's go now and turn to tight ends man they got a bunch of these Fellers on the team and they're all good I mean you got br Bowers who when he's been on the field and to his credit they have held him back as of late wanting him to be 100% it's not him they've been protecting him from him they've got him I think Michael May's been the best tight end on the field and Harrison Bryant my Lord as he look good talk about those tight ends Zeke they're deep at tight end right they're deep at that position and I think you know if you don't mind me being a nerd right now but I think the fact that they can do so many things with Brock Bowers you want to line them at a back you want to split him out that's going to make room for Bryant to still get on the field even with Michael Mayer even with Bowers so uh you know it all you know you can see a lot of the things that the Raiders are doing roster wise it makes a lot of sense but again you know you hit it on the head in terms of Brock I think his play is is going to speak for itself he hasn't done it yet I think it's gonna speak to for itself and uh you know we talked you know privately one-on-one in terms of Michael mayor uh I'm expecting a productive year for him as well uh for various reasons uh whether Brock plays or whether he does not play I think we should expect a big year from um for Michael Mayor so they're deep at the position and I think all of those guys are going to see the field a decent amount this season you and I both like Michael the person but I think he's playing with a chip on his shoulder and not because of Brock I think he's playing on a chip on his shoulder because the Raiders called him and said hey we're picking Brock but we believe in you but a lot of people go oh means they've given up on May I think he took it personally I think you said it to me the other day quote I think he's playing pissed unquote get into that littleit because I think that's good to see the Fighting Irish youngster yeah so I think we all have to remember that when he was in college Michael Mayer was outside of Brock Bowers Michael Mayer may have been the best tight end in college football the last three four five years Michael Mayer had a very respectable career at Notre Dame so he you know he's no slouch uh and then he came you know the Raiders traded away an extra draft pick to move up in the second round last year to to draft him and then and let me pause H listen I'm sure and I know for a fact the ERS plan on using both of the tight ends 11 for you know we we get it right however there is not a football player there's not a professional athlete in the world that you can call and say we're using a firstr Draft pick on your position and expect them just to take it like it's like there's no problem so yes I do think mayor you know he understands that the Raiders tried to get better by drafting Bowers it wasn't anything personal but he's a professional he's entering his second year in the league and even without Bowers being drafted Michael Mayer had something to prove this season uh so then you add Bowers to the equation he's got even more to prove so I don't think it's a Bowers related motivation for Michael Mayer I think it's a personal thing but he just wants to show everybody hey I can play football too yeah I agree 100 perc all right let's go to the wide receivers I don't even think it's been close jacobe Myers has been the best offensive player on this team all of training camp I can't talk about all the things they've done because it hasn't been shown but we broke the story if they went with two quarterbacks he'd be the third that's been confirmed this guy he's just been a weapon of mass destruction at Mass positions yeah I am a Jobe Meyer guy I had in fact I had a person emailed me yesterday a fan and just said it I'm trying to buy a jersey here's the one I had he had seven jerseys tell me the name the most important name I'm missing I put jacobe Meyers how excited are you to watch him this year very excited and I think the one thing that has made me you know the most excited is just seeing the Improvement that he's already made and the desire that he has to improve even more on top of that Improvement so there's been times I think it was against the the Vikings He Slipped after catching the ball and he was upset but it was like Jobe you just you just gained 15 yards on the play like it's okay right so he he you know he's holding himself to that standard but there is an undeniable Improvement that has happened uh for jacobe and he played good last year right he he almost had I think he was about 7800 yards last year probably could have knocked on a th yards if he didn't miss that one game with injury but to improve on top of that his route running has gotten smoother his hands have gotten smoother you've seen uh gsy put him in so many different positions it's it's going to make a defense's head spin um and that was without Devonte out there on the field so once you do throw Devonte out there on the field you do get Brock Bowers get the full offense going expect big things from jacobe this year humongous things I can't wait and we're gonna talk more at the end of the year you know what I'm talking about we're gonna talk more at the end of the year about him not getting those thousand yards last year what maybe played into it behind the scenes we'll get into all that at the end of the year this year Zeke and I will let's turn you know Trey Tucker has I mean fantastic uh preseason and DJ Turner GJ Turner is jacobe Meers 2.0 let's talk about Trey and DJ yeah I I'll start I'll actually start with DJ I think DJ is the the icing on the cake if you will right we we know what devonte's is going to do we know what jobe's going to do uh you know and and then we have a pretty good idea what Trey Tucker is going to do obviously still needs to go out there and do it as well but we have a pretty good idea what those guys are going to do with DJ it's one of those things where you're going to have enough you know a difficult enough time trying to stop the other three plus the the tight ends and the running backs out of the backfield you know you throw DJ on top of that it's it's going to be hard to stop so many different talented pass catchers so everybody on the team the coaching staff everyone is expecting DJ to take an even you know another step this year and if he does the offense should be in pretty good shape totally agree with you 110% all right now Tyreek I raml to bring these two guys udfas so you're not you're not paying them more than basically a ham sandwich but you get two really good fast explosive guys I love this team that says listen Jaylen gon we appreciate you you were with Tom Tesco in Los Angeles but I'm sorry it isn't where you're drafted who you know what you know these are two udfas they've earned the spot they get the spot I thought this told that locker room I I talked with a couple players who were really thrilled at the amount I mean 10 rookies they were thrilled at the amount of of these udfas that are getting a shot and think it sent the right message we don't care where you're drafted the size of a contract you're the best player you're gonna make the team You're Gonna Play I was thrilled for roml thrilled for Tyreek your thoughts yeah 100% just on a very broad level right we got to remember who the head coach is right and he if I'm remembering correctly he wasn't drafted you remember who the the starting linebacker is for the team uh he wasn't drafted if I'm not mistaken right you go down the list so they're sticking true to what they've already shown right come play well and you're gonna and you're gon to make the team right uh but in terms of the guys you mentioned specifically value right great great great value uh and for where the Raiders are that's a huge deal so you know those two guys are going to add a different uh element especially to the Special Teams potentially side of the field for the Raiders and now they're they're strong in all three assets right offense or they should be strong in all three assets offense defense and special teams so I think it was a good move for the Raiders and and like you said it sent a message saying hey doesn't matter where you come from where you were drafted if you were drafted you come you play well we have a spot for you all right I'm gonna dig in with you for a minute okay I'm just gonna dig in with you a little bit I I was told I was talking to an executive another team I said what did you think of the Raiders initial 50 and this is what he told me he said they just made a statement to every future udfa why go anywhere else who keeps more than us he said I think it just helped them to get better udfa crowds in the future all right let's switch gears real quick the Raiders I mean they go at at darne Holmes how big of a pickup was that that's a guy they liked they liked even before the season started they liked before cam started they liked back but he wasn't really avail Able by the Giants the giants made him Expendable they grabbed him you put him on a team with jakorian Bennett Nate Hobs uh Jack Jones and then of course de camon talk to me Zeke that's pretty good group versatility depth uh I would also say also say self-awareness right knowing where you are are not necessarily as strong uh in different uh position groups so I think he's going to be a great addition to quarterbacks I would say was probably the weakest link on the defense but not necessarily by much right so now you throw him in there and you know they should be a lot better so the cornerbacks they they have so many different options at quarterback that they should be able to figure out you know which combination works best for them so I think the addition uh of darn is going to go a long way for them and let me just say to everyone watching as soon as Zeke's done we're bringing on a guest very familiar with darn who's gonna talk about darn all right let's talk about the defensive line how big I mean this defensive line to me is is is a very big strong point on this team they let Byron young go Matthew Butler but sign him back to the practice squad I mean this this defensive line is loaded and uh I'm looking forward to them deep very very deep unit and uh you know deep with quality players right deep with quality starters and they're working on the depth right that line the the defensive line behind the starters uh but even those guys that they still need to work on they're good they just need to see the field more and the only reason they don't is because they're playing behind Max Crosby Christian Wilkins Etc right so the defensive line is is what's going to make this defense go uh and it's going to be what they hang their hat on so um I'm excited to see them play can't wait it's going to be a really good one so for your point you got Max you got Christian Wilkins you've got spills you you turn around you got Marcus EPS I mean right up the middle they're strong but I want to talk about a guy Amari Gainer you you and I are big Divine Diablo guys we like him personally we like him as a player but I'm telling you he's a udfa that hasn't played a game I'm not trying to overhype this kid but he's the real deal is he not he he looked good I mean I'm speaking about the last preseason game he looked like a natural I think that's the word I would use for him you you didn't really look out there and say Hey you know what's wrong with that guy he just looked like he meant he was meant to be out there playing the linebacker position um and it allows the Raiders to solidify the position right you're already good with with Spain you're already good with Diablo but if something were have happened to one of those players they might not have been as good right they're not as necessarily as well off as they are now with Gainer now he just needs more reps which is why he played so many plays in that last preseason game but all signs show that he's gonna he's gonna pan out for the team yeah we're gonna have a lot on ourari Gainer tomorrow on Labor Day which is a day set aside to honor hard work we're just going to call it Amari Gainer day tomorrow very special podcast on Amari Gainer you don't want to miss it Zeke last question for me and I'm going to let you go you're sitting here now you've seen the team what's your prediction your record prediction on the year record prediction I want to stay somewhat consistent H I don't recall what I said when you asked me this at the beginning of the year exact number what I said uh but I feel like they're going to add a couple of wins uh on to what they had last year so I'm going to be optimistic I'm going to call it 10 and seven I'm expecting a big year for them this year and uh hopefully they come through all right Zeke we're going to let you go and bring on a special guest to talk about darn Holmes I'm gonna be calling you in about 15 minutes so stay by your phone okay brother yes sir I'll talk to you soon that's the great Zeke tell everybody what's your ex handle yes uh EZ tzor SII is in Sports Illustrated all right thanks brother yes sir talk to you soon all right now we're gonna bring in a great guest and uh welcome her to this program she's no stranger she's been here before we love having her she is the one and only the princess of Gotham our Sports Illustrated beat writer who covers the New York Giants she's one of the best that we have players love her coaches love her owners respector and the fans adore her the great Patricia Trina how are you Patricia I'm doing well Hondo how are you my friend I'm doing great be uh when we're done with the podcast I need you to stay on the line I got to talk to you I have to tell you uh something funny about Germaine luminor that I need you to bring up with him he s he sends his greetings by the way I talked to him not too long ago yeah he's a great guy and uh I'm gonna I texted him something funny and I'm gonna share it with you and I want you to tell them so we'll have a good time with that soon as the podcast's over I'll tell you to tell what to tell them but Patricia Raiders went out now let me just say something I'm a little shocked that the Giants cut darn Holmes I'm going to tell you why a little shot the Raiders had interest in him well before the camp started and if if if the Giants saw him as a potential guy to cut I'm surprised they weren't trying to finagle trades with him they were not um but that shocked me I think this was a great hire Patrick Graham loves them think he's a great player break him down for Raider Nation would you yeah sure um darn homes 510 195 we lost you Patricia we lost your audio hang on we lost your audio here oh Patricia all right your mic isn't working Patricia we lost you there we go all right well Patricia we lost you it says your mic isn't connected so sorry we can't hear you we're trying to get her to work we'll get that going in a minute we want to hear from her but while we're waiting on her darne Holmes is a guy that the Raiders were very thrill I'm sorry it's the first time we've ever done it where we bring a guest in mid podcast so I hope you'll show me a little Grace we're trying to make it work but Dar Holmes is a guy that the Raiders were very surprised was available and and again here's Patricia again so let's try this again go ahead okay you got me now I got you now okay my apologies on that I don't know what happened I was trying to fix it but anyway Dar Holmes 510 195 fourth round draft pick 110th overall for the Giants in 2020 out of UCLA interesting player in that at UCLA he was primarily in outside cornerback they converted him to a slot at the Giants I guess because of the size he's always been a guy who has played very um I I want to say larger than his size he's he's physical he's um aggressive uh he's not afraid he's Fearless so you know those are some of the the very good aspects of him now um he had two years I think it was with Patrick Graham when Patrick Graham was the DC over here and the Giants uh those being 20 and 2021 um and he had his strong Seasons with Pat Graham the Giants converting him to a slot quarterback but you know what in 2022 that's when things started to fall off uh for darn homes it was interesting because the Giants starting in 2021 they started to draft over him try to replace him with draft picks try to replace with free agents and in 2022 the first year with wink marale as the defensive coord coordinator was not a good year for darn Holmes he led the team with penalties with nine um he had his highest coverage rate uh which as you know the lower the coverage rate for a Defender the better and just seven Miss tackles I mean it was just not a good season for him so then comes last year 2023 and suddenly he's reduced totally special teams with a spot occasion um appearance on defense in the slot so darne Holmes as a cornerback the pros for him very aggressive not afraid to hit the negatives is that sometimes that aggressiveness can get him into trouble with Taking Chances taking bad angles um committing stupid penalties you know aggressive type penalties and you know just things that you have to watch for him but as a special teamer he was one of the Giant's best special teamers last year he played punt Gunner others and he was I think the second top tackler on the giant special teams last year you know he played so well under Patrick and I'm just curious because there was a market for him why in the world did the this just seems like a front office blunder why not trade the guy rather than wait and cut him because there was a market I i' I talked to a couple of other teams that thought there was a market for him um a seventh sixth round a seventh maybe conditional to become a six what were they thinking this just seems like a blunder by the gmen yeah I I don't know the answer I don't know what they were thinking because you know look if you're gonna cut an establish veteran why not see if there's a market for him why not see if you can get something for him the worst that can do is is people say no and you say okay we'll cut him maybe the Giants uh maybe teams around the league you know figured okay the Giants drafted Drew Phillips he's going to be their new slot cornerback so maybe they figured okay the Giants are going to cut darn Holmes anyhow but I don't think that was necessarily a given because as I said darn Holmes last year was so good on special teams for them so I'm perplexed like you are Regarding why you know there wasn't a trade attempted and you know the Giants they don't really talk about that you asked them and they're like ah you know we don't want to go into that but you would have thought that you know maybe darn Holmes could have brought something uh in in a trade market yeah I got a I was talking to an executive for another team that said to me that they would have been players he said we would have offered a seventh or a seventh conditional that could have gone to a sixth he goes Raiders got him and and he said almost as soon as he hit the Waiver Wires the Raiders were on him and the Raiders had him because of his relationship with Patrick he said we would have been players I that's why he goes he put this is why the this is what he told me this is another executive another team said this is why the Giants have been the Giants I thought that was a very fascinating quote um of why they've been in the in the predicament that they've been in all right so lastly I'm gonna i w to ask you this question because I think it's an important question um I have heard from multiple people that this guy's a hard worker he's good in the locker room that he's not a guy but some have tried to make his reputation I've but people I trust that know him told me great kid they don't think that there's anything other than upside with him reuniting with Patrick would you agree with that yeah for sure he you know one of the guys in the locker room um who was always working who didn't create any problems I mean you know really the the issue with him I think was on the field some times he was a little too aggressive which led to stupid mistakes and sometimes those were ill time mistakes and I think that's maybe why he lost some favor amongst you know the coaching staff that being said darne Holmes you know I've spoken to him many times hard worker very intelligent you know very diligent I mean he's gonna be great you're gonna love talking to him if you haven't already had a chance to meet him so you know I think the Raiders got him got the themselves a good player I think you know Patrick Graham knows how to deploy and get the most out of his talents and uh I'm I'm looking forward to seeing what they do with him I totally agree all right she's the great Patricia trainer she covers the gmen on Sports Illustrated and Patricia tell everybody your ex handle it because I know there's some people that are gonna want to follow you I appreciate it it's Patricia unor tra t r a i n a remember you can find at si.com NFL giiants is where you'll find all of her great content additionally she's the host of the locked on Giants podcast you'll hear it with my buddy Q Meers on his on his locked on podcast when the Raiders take on the Gman but more importantly she's just known in Gotham she's the princess of Gotham the princess of East Rutherford that's where she resigns that's her kingdom and that's where she rolles she's one of in the business thank you everybody make sure you're following us don't forget tomorrow special Labor Day podcast talking about honoring all the hard work we're going to talk with one of the new talk about one of the newest Raiders who made this team because he's the embodiment of Labor Day and he's a very hard worker we'll see