Raiders’ Antonio Pierce gives final comments for Bengals

Below is a partial transcript of defensive coordinator Patrick Graham’s press conference on Thursday:

Q: Obviously, Cincinnati has some good players. Ja’Marr Chase, what challenges does he present?

Coach Graham: “Some good players? Yeah, I mean, he’s one of the best in the league. If you want to say he’s the best, I don’t have a real good, strong answer for that, between him, (Justin ) Jefferson and a few other guys. And on top of that, they have a whole team of receivers. They’re all fast, they’re all big on how they’ve shaped the team offensively that I’m competing against him, and I’m really impressed with the quarterback in terms of his toughness. Before you start talking about just straight up skill level, you’re talking about the toughness that he exhibits in the pocket, in there, the ball. gets down the field, gets into the throws, his intelligence out there. You can see him playing. We’re all on the same page, the receivers, the O-line, the backs. So kudos to those guys in terms of what they have done with the human resources department and bringing those guys together. I mean, you see there are some smart players, not just because they have the Ivy League guy, but there are some smart players who are really skilled and bring a lot of challenges. So it will be a difficult one.”

Q: I know it’s probably not exciting to get ready?

Coach Graham: “Oh yeah, it’s exciting. I’m a competitor.”

Q: I think seeing a player like that for the first time, like diving into a guy like Joe Burrow, is that a fun challenge for you?

Coach Graham: “Yeah, it was fun. I mean, on Monday you hear us in the office talking like some guys have gone against him before. I’m sitting there saying, ‘Gosh, this guy’s good, man’ and I’m smiling because the challenge. I understand it causes later nights and some headaches, I think, but I’m excited to go against him. And then the backs, really impressed with the backs, (Chase) Brown and (Zack) Moss , I mean, in terms of their ability to get into the gap and get to the second level, I think they have a good combination. Again, I think the personnel department has done a good job. The job is to that staff and that group together, and they are clearly well coached.”

Question: Yesterday Antonio Pierce talked about Tre’von Moehrig and how playing in the box has allowed him to make more plays. What went into that transition for him? I know in the past he had mainly been post security. What kind of play have you seen him play over the last few games?

Coach Graham: “Football is a big man’s sport, and he’s a big man, so get him close to the action there. And the other thing is he does both. He does both. He’s in the deep end off the field, he’s down. That’s really part of the position, especially in today’s league, where you have to operate from a split safety look, drop it and stay there ) has just grown as a footballer I think GA (Gerald Alexander) has done very well. When we arrived here two years ago, Chris Ash did a good job of bringing him along, and now GA (Gerald Alexander) is here and. he just grows and grows, maturing. And again, as I told you before, it’s a choice they make, a choice they make to say, ‘Okay, I’m a professional football player, I don’t really have anything else. to do then get good at football’, and then you have to put that work in. I’m really proud of what he has done. And he’s always had this level of skill, and you’re just now starting to see him reap the rewards of his hard work. Really proud of that guy.”

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