The NFL Combine is officially underway, and the Raiders' offseason just shifted into another gear.

In this episode of the Silver & Black Sports Network Podcast, Jesse Merrick breaks down the biggest takeaways from GM John Spytek’s media availability at the Combine — and what his comments reveal about the direction of this franchise.

Spytek touched on:

• Maxx Crosby and the trade rumors

• Fernando Mendoza and the No. 1 overall pick

• The offensive line

• Free agency strategy

• How the Raiders are approaching roster construction

Plus, Vinny Bonsignore joins the show to provide Combine intel, including:

• Players to watch for the Raiders

• Offensive line targets

• Linebacker fits

• What he’s hearing about Maxx Crosby

• How the Raiders could approach free agency and the draft

CHAPTERS

00:00 NFL Combine and Raiders Offseason Overview

01:46 Spytek on Crosby

03:44 Spytek on Mendoza/Top Pick

07:19 Raiders O-Line Situation/Centers to watch at the Combine

17:20 Vinny Bonsignore Interview

👇 QUESTION OF THE DAY 👇

What was your biggest takeaway from John Spytek’s Combine presser?

Drop it in the comments — and I’ll tell you what stood out to me the most.

—

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The Raiders coaching staff is taking shape — and the narrative that Klint Kubiak would struggle to build his staff in Las Vegas?

That didn’t last long.

In this LIVE episode of the Silver & Black Sports Network Podcast, Jesse Merrick breaks down every key assistant Kubiak has hired so far — what they bring schematically, how they fit this roster, and what it tells us about the identity the Raiders are building.

We dive into:

• The core offensive and defensive hires

• The common theme behind these additions

• What this staff says about the Raiders’ long-term vision

• Why some of these hires matter more than people realize

Then we open it up for a live Q&A with Raider Nation.

👇 QUESTION OF THE DAY 👇

How are you feeling about Kubiak’s staff so far?

Who’s your favorite hire — and why?

Drop your thoughts in the comments.

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The Raiders have a new defensive coordinator — but what kind of defense will Rob Leonard actually run?

In this episode of the Silver & Black Sports Network Podcast, Jesse Merrick is joined by Cody Alexander of MatchQuarters.com to break down Leonard’s defensive background, coaching influences, and what Raiders fans should realistically expect.

Leonard has never called plays at the NFL level — so we dive deep into:

• His background as an assistant coach and run game coordinator — and why that matters

• What he likely learned under Patrick Graham, Brian Flores, Mike Macdonald, and Steve Spagnuolo

• The current NFL coordinator Cody compares Leonard to

• Which Raiders players fit this system — and who might not

• What positions must be addressed in free agency and the draft

• How this defense could stack up in the AFC West

Deep dive on Cody's DC comp for Rob Leonard:

👉 https://www.matchquarters.com/p/jaguars-defense-campanile-fangio-flores

👇 QUESTION OF THE DAY 👇

Do you like the hire of Rob Leonard as defensive coordinator?

What excites you — or worries you — most?

Drop your thoughts in the comments.

—

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00:00 The Raiders' Decision on Rob Leonard

05:00 Understanding Defensive Roles: The Run Game Coordinator's Impact

07:58 Coaching Tree Influence: Rob Leonard's Background and Schematic Approach

11:04 Defensive Strategies: Chaos Agents vs. Passive Pressure

13:56 Why Rob's Defense will be Different from Patrick Graham

16:53 Nickel Defense Trends: Adapting to Modern NFL Offenses

20:03 Drafting for Defense: Finding the Right Fit for the Raiders

29:11 Defensive Strategies and Player Roles

32:09 Free Agency and Key Player Acquisitions

37:06 Adapting to AFC West Offenses

42:03 Coaching Innovations and Future Outlook

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Klint Kubiak is officially the Raiders’ head coach — but what does his offense actually look like from a defender’s perspective?

In this episode of the Silver & Black Sports Network Podcast, Jesse Merrick is joined by former Raiders linebacker Kirk Morrison to break down what it’s really like trying to stop the Shanahan/Kubiak scheme.

Kirk faced Gary Kubiak and Mike Shanahan’s outside zone attack during his playing days — so he knows firsthand why this scheme gives defenses problems.

We dive into how Klint Kubiak’s offense stresses linebackers, dictates terms to a defense, and creates advantages in both the run and pass game.

Then we connect the dots to the Raiders roster — and what this system means for the perceived top pick, Fernando Mendoza, Ashton Jeanty, JPJ, and the rest of the offensive line room.

This is a true X’s-and-O’s breakdown of why the Kubiak offense works — and how it could reshape the Raiders moving forward.

—

⏱️ TIMESTAMPS

00:00 Kirk Morrison's take on Klint Kubiak

04:27 What it's like defending the Shanahan/Kubiak Scheme

07:40 How Kubiak's scheme dictates things to the defense

10:41 Where does JPJ fit & how Kubiak will change the OL room

13:37 How Ashton Jeanty fits Kubiak's scheme

16:43 Fernando Mendoza's fit & DC search analysis

—

👇 QUESTION OF THE DAY 👇

Which Raiders player are you most excited to see in Klint Kubiak’s offense next season — and why?

Drop your answer in the comments.

—

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Klint Kubiak officially took the podium as the Raiders’ next head coach — and there were a few clear messages in what he said… and how he said it.

In this live reaction episode of the Silver & Black Sports Network Podcast, Jesse Merrick breaks down his biggest takeaways from Kubiak’s introductory press conference at Raiders HQ.

We dive into:

• The vision Kubiak laid out for the Raiders

• What he said about Maxx Crosby and the trade rumors

• His thoughts on Brock Bowers and Ashton Jeanty

• The Fernando Mendoza conversation

• What Mark Davis had to say afterward about Klint and Fernando Mendoza

• And what all of it means for the direction of this franchise

This isn’t just about the quotes — it’s about reading between the lines and understanding what today revealed about the Raiders’ future.

👇 QUESTION OF THE DAY 👇

What was YOUR biggest takeaway from Klint Kubiak’s introductory press conference?

Drop it in the comments — let’s talk it out.

—

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Klint Kubiak is on his way to Las Vegas — but the real work is just beginning.

In this episode of the Silver & Black Sports Network Podcast, Jesse Merrick breaks down what comes next after the Raiders’ head coaching decision: building the staff around Kubiak.

Because head coaches don’t rebuild alone, who Kubiak brings with him could shape the direction of this franchise for years to come.

In this episode, we dive into:

• The coaches Kubiak could bring from Seattle
• The relationship-backed hires that make the most sense
• Why these names aren’t speculation — but logical fits
• How could this staff support the Raiders’ rebuild from Day One

Plus:

• Jesse breaks down the latest Maxx Crosby news
• Matt Perrault joins the show from Media Row in the Bay Area for a preview of the Super Bowl and best bets for the weekend

👇 QUESTION OF THE DAY 👇

If you’re Klint Kubiak, who’s the ONE coach you’re bringing with you to Vegas?

Seattle ties or not — drop the name in the comments.

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Klint Kubiak is on track to take over as the new head coach of the Las Vegas Raiders. So we're going under the hood with Cody Alexander to reveal exactly how this new system will transform the Silver & Black.

Everyone is talking about the "Shanahan Tree," but today we’re doing the deep dive to explain what exactly that means for the Raiders. We are breaking down the specific fundamentals of Klint Kubiak’s offensive scheme and how it can redefine the Las Vegas Raiders' identity.

In this episode, Jesse Merrick and Cody Alexander (MatchQuarters.com) pull back the curtain on:

- The Scheme: The true fundamentals of Kubiak’s offense.

- Fernando Mendoza: Why this system would fit him perfectly and what exactly he'll have to adjust to in order to have success in the NFL.

- Ashton Jeanty: Why the back is a "dream fit" for this rushing attack.

- Brock Bowers: How Kubiak will use him as the ultimate chess piece all over the formation.

- The Trenches: How this scheme hides offensive line weaknesses and can help elevate that group.

Question of the Day:

With Klint Kubiak coming into the fold, what is the ONE thing that excites you most about what he brings to this team? Drop your thoughts in the comments! 👇

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The Raiders have their next head coach — Klint Kubiak is headed to Las Vegas.

In this LIVE episode of the Silver & Black Sports Network Podcast, Jesse Merrick reacts in real time to the Raiders agreeing to terms with Seahawks offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak and breaks down what this hire means for the future of the franchise.

We dive into:

- How the Raiders managed to land Kubiak amid a chaotic coaching cycle

- What Kubiak’s offense could look like in Las Vegas

- How the Raiders can build the roster in his image

- What this means for the No. 1 pick/Fernando Mendoza

- Which assistant coaches Kubiak could bring with him to fill out his staff

- Why this hire could change the trajectory of the Raiders long-term

👇 QUESTION OF THE DAY 👇

Grade the hire. Did the Raiders get the right guy?

Drop your thoughts in the comments and jump in the live chat.

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The Raiders coaching search is officially at a turning point — and right now, it feels like one of two things are happening…

Either the Raiders played this perfectly, waited out the chaos, and are now sitting in the best possible position.

OR they already missed on their top candidate — and what we’re watching now is their Plan B.

In this episode of the Silver & Black Sports Network Podcast, Jesse Merrick is joined by former Raiders wide receiver Ryan Hoag to break down the latest coaching search intel and what it could mean for the future of the franchise.

We dive into:

• How the Raiders coaching search has played out so far
• Whether or not it makes sense for Klint Kubiak to leave Seattle at all
• What Davis Webb does — and doesn’t — bring to the table
• And what the Raiders should do if both Kubiak and Webb pass on the job

👇 QUESTION OF THE DAY 👇

Give me your rankings: Who are your Top 3 head coach candidates for the Raiders RIGHT NOW?

(Keep it to candidates who are actually available.)

Drop your thoughts in the comments — let’s talk it out.

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The Raiders coaching search is moving fast — and things are starting to take shape.

In this LIVE episode of the Silver & Black Sports Network Podcast, Jesse Merrick breaks down the latest intel, rumors, and momentum surrounding the Raiders’ head coaching search and how this process could realistically play out.

We dive into the most talked-about names right now, including:

• What we’re hearing about Klint Kubiak

• Where Davis Webb fits into the picture

• How Brian Daboll still factors into the search

• Which other candidates could emerge — and which ones may be fading

This isn’t just about naming candidates — it’s about understanding the endgame.

We walk through all the possible scenarios for how this search could unfold, what could flip the board, and how each outcome would impact the Raiders moving forward — especially with a franchise quarterback decision looming.

👇 QUESTION OF THE DAY 👇

Which coaching path makes the most sense for the Raiders right now — and why?

Drop your thoughts in the live chat or comments and let’s talk it out.

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