Tag: Maxx Crosby

WATCH: Raiders DE Maxx Crosby does insane hill workout

WATCH: Raiders DE Maxx Crosby does insane hill workout

If we have learned anything from social media this offseason, it’s that Maxx Crosby will be ready for the 2020 season. The second-year defensive end continues to up his workouts as he looks to take the next step as an edge rusher in the NFL.

On Wednesday, the former Eastern Michigan star posted a video of him doing hill workouts that make all of us tired just watching him. Here is a clip of Crosby’s workout from yesterday afternoon:

If nothing else, Crosby has continued to bring hope and excitement to the Raiders this offseason as he looks to become a star in his second season. Look for Crosby to be a significantly better player in Year 2 as he reshapes his body for the upcoming season.

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LOOK: Raiders DE Maxx Crosby hits the turf inside Allegiant Stadium

Raiders DE Maxx Crosby spent some time getting used to his team’s new home turf and grass-field tray at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas.

Raiders defensive end Maxx Crosby was one of the first members of the team to move to Las Vegas, the franchise’s new home, and he’s been one of the most active players on social media this offseason.

He’s been an active participant in conventional media, too, granting multiple insightful interviews and representing the Raiders well, detailing their plan to improve on the club’s 7-9 finish in 2019.

Crosby recently toured the spot where the home action will take place in 2020: the Raiders’ new $2 billion home, Allegiant Stadium. He even stepped onto its artificial turf. The Raiders’ natural-grass playing surface will roll into the stadium on a field tray and lay on top of the turf.

He toured the field tray as well, which is outdoors for the time being. But since the turf is permanently inside Allegiant Stadium, standing there made for a great photo opp and likely gave Crosby a preview of games to come.

Here a couple more photos of Crosby checking out his future stomping grounds.

Despite the hardhats in these photos from Crosby’s Twitter account, Allegiant is scheduled to be completed on time. With the country still combating the COVID-19 pandemic, it’s uncertain whether fans will be allowed inside once the season starts.

Allegiant Stadium will outlast the pandemic, however, and at some point, Raiders fans will celebrate the franchise’s new home from inside its friendly confines. Crosby appears prepared to give his fans plenty to cheer about when that day comes.

Raiders DE Maxx Crosby excited about Las Vegas, but says what happens ‘between the lines’ is key

The Raiders have a new home in the entertainment capital of the world, but Maxx Crosby is focused on the football field.

Much will change for the Raiders in 2020. Players will enter a new city, play in a brand-new stadium, and practice at a sparkling-new facility, not to mention find new places to live.

And their new home is in fabulous Las Vegas — the entertainment capital of the world. What was once a vacation destination for some Raiders will become a glitzy backdrop to everyday life.

That could all get a bit overwhelming. But defensive end Maxx Crosby is keeping it simple. While he notes the incredible new stadium and facilities, his attention is attuned to the part of Las Vegas that’s most similar to the Raiders’ previous home in Oakland: the football field.

“The stadium is insane. The facilities are insane. But that’s not going to necessarily help us win football games. It’s between the lines that’s going to help us,” Crosby told SiriusXM NFL Radio. “Obviously, the scenery is going to be huge for us. It’s going to be huge for the whole organization. Having a different fan base —  you know Oakland’s going to travel; LA is going to travel. It’s going to be a party. Every single Sunday in that stadium. That’s obviously huge.

“But all the fancy stuff and all that, that’s definitely awesome. But what we need to focus on is us and this team and getting to the level we need to get to [in order] to make a serious run at it this year.”

Allegiant Stadium, the Raiders’ new home is nearly complete, as is their practice facility in Henderson, Nev., and they appear as impressive as Crosby suggests. Needless to say, the setup in Las Vegas is light years ahead of what Oakland’s facilities offered.

And also as Crosby suggests, the atmosphere at Allegiant, with Raiders fans from all over the nation, will make for a formidable home-field advantage and a Las Vegas party.

But Crosby is smart to simplify his focus. With all that’s changed for the Raiders, the measured lines of the football field never change. Sure, at Allegiant, the natural grass field will roll out of the enclosed stadium when it’s not in use so it can access sunlight, but it’ll still measure 120 yards long and 53 and 1/3 yards wide.

The Raiders’ new digs will certainly help, but buildings can’t block or tackle, of course. The Raiders must outshine their new facilities between the lines on game day. All the newness in Las Vegas could feel a bit hollow if they don’t. If they do, however, it’ll be one serious party every Sunday in the entertainment capital of the world.

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Musical collaboration between Raiders TE Darren Waller, DE Maxx Crosby on the horizon

Two of the best reasons to be excited about the 2020 Las Vegas Raiders are looking to collaborate off the field, too.

Two players that produced much excitement on the field for the Raiders in 2019 — and are set to do the same in 2020 — are looking to create a buzz off the field, too.

Tight end Darren Waller, who just dropped the second single off of his hip-hop album, “Wall Street,” has a like-minded teammate in defensive end Maxx Crosby, who was a rapper while in high school.

The two plan to collaborate in the future, according to The Athletic’s Vic Tafur. Crosby initially spoke of the possibility while on the Keeping it 300 podcast in October last year.

“I sent Maxx a whole bunch of beats, so hopefully when he puts something out he will be using one of mine,” Waller told Tafur. “He is a busy guy, and whenever he is ready to lock in, I am here for him.”

Waller’s beat library is likely deep. He’s been known to get lost in his musical production while on the team plane, and he’s working on an in-house studio in his new Las Vegas home, according to Tafur. You can listen to his album via his YouTube channel as well as his Instagram account.

Crosby’s talent was on display for all to see on HBO’s “Hard Knocks.” As a rookie, he had to perform for the entire team, and instead of getting roasted for poor performance, as is the idea, Crosby actually had a few heads bobbing in approval.

Crosby had this to say about his rap exploits when The Raiders Wire’s Levi Damien inquired, during Crosby’s initial conference call as a member of the Raiders.

“We used to do it for fun. We would stay out of trouble and make music instead of doing all the other crazy stuff other people were doing. We just liked to stay at the house and make music.”

Waller’s passion for hip-hop likely helps him stay on the straight and narrow track, as it did for Crosby. Waller overcame opiate and cocaine addiction early in his career and rebounded with the Raiders in 2020, amassing 90 catches, 1,145 yards and three touchdowns at just 27 years of age.

Crosby impressed as well, notching 10 QB sacks as a rookie. Both Waller and Crosby figure to be foundational blocks for the Raiders for years to come as they attempt to win championships in their new Las Vegas home.

But prepare for them to entertain off the field, too, and they might as well — they don’t call Vegas the entertainment capital of the world for nothing.

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Raiders second-year pass rushers show up among latest 2020 NFL Defensive Player of the Year odds

Raiders second-year pass rushers show up among latest 2020 NFL Defensive Player of the Year odds

The latest odds for the 2020 NFL Defensive Player of the Year are out. Sitting alone at the top is Aaron Donald with 7/1 odds at BetOnline.ag. Right behind him is reigning NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year, Nick Bosa at 9/1.

Bosa was taken second overall by the San Francisco 49ers. The next pass rusher taken was Clelin Ferrell by the Raiders, who was never in the running for Rookie of the Year honors.

It was the Raiders’ other rookie pass rusher who made a run at the award. Fourth-round pick Maxx Crosby finished with more sacks (10) than Bosa (9) and also had better run-defense numbers than his rookie of the year counterparts. But it was Bosa’s insane 80 pressures that had him run away with the award.

Ferrell and Crosby are the only Raiders defenders listed among the odds for Defensive Player of the Year. They are down this list a ways though. Despite Crosby having such a fantastic rookie season, he is sitting at 200/1 odds while Ferrell has shorter odds at 150/1.

That’s tied for 54th in the odds for Ferrell and 72nd for Crosby.

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Raiders DE Maxx Crosby: Weekends in Las Vegas could be an ‘extra challenge’ for away teams

With the Raiders’ new home of Las Vegas, the scenery has definitely changed, for Maxx Crosby’s team and its opponents.

Las Vegas is the entertainment capital of the world, and with its bright lights and nightlife, gambling included, the city acts as America’s playground.

But the city is also the new home of the Raiders. Led by coach Jon Gruden, they’ll have little time to spend on the infamous Las Vegas Strip to party like tourists. Not if they want to win the Super Bowl, anyway.

During an interview with NFL Media, Raiders defensive end Maxx Crosby acknowledged his new situation, and he embraced it. Upon being asked how many of his friends are planning road trips to Las Vegas for Raiders games, Crosby confirmed the buzz surrounding the franchise’s move.

“Everbody. Everyone’s super excited, you know. I’ve had a lot of text messages and calls saying ‘I’ll be there, you just gotta let me know.’ You’ve got to get away from the distractions from all that, but it’s gonna be something else. I’m so excited for this whole experience.”

Crosby knows the Raiders could potentially be distracted, but they’ll get used to living there in time, at least for the most part. So what about road teams? According to NFL Media, the Vegas Knights, the local NHL team, won 29 of its 41 home games its first year in Las Vegas. Could the Raiders have similar home success in 2020?

Once again, people are talking. Crosby said he’s heard America’s playground could become a hometown advantage for the Raiders.

“People are like, ‘It’s going to be an extra challenge for teams that come in on Friday nights and try and stay away from The Strip.’ If they can’t handle their business, more power to us.”

On the way to rebuilding the franchise into a winning one, the Raiders will gladly take any advantage, especially in their first year, which will set the tone for their new high-profile home.

As one of the world’s gambling and partying epicenters, it once seemed unfathomable that the NFL would allow one of its teams to move to Las Vegas. The league has kept its distance from sports gaming to ensure its contests are independent of possible outside influence or harmed by players or officials gambling on games.

But sports in the United States are slowly gravitating toward a more agreeable relationship with the Las Vegas scene, led by the immense popularity of fantasy football.

That, combined with a new stadium partially funded by taxpayer dollars, helped the Raiders land in the entertainment capital of the world. Now, the NFL community gets to watch the previously unthinkable unfold. As Crosby said, it’s going to be something else, and it may give the Raiders an edge.

Raiders DE Maxx Crosby on first year in Las Vegas: ‘I’m trying to have 30 sacks if I can’

Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Maxx Crosby is a humble player, but he’s still shooting for the stars.

Raiders defensive end Maxx Crosby is a humble guy, even after racking up 10 quarterback sacks as a fourth-round pick from Eastern Michigan and finishing second in the Defensive Rookie of the Year voting.

But he still has his sights set high. In an interview with NFL Media, Crosby was told about high praise form Major League Baseball star, C.C. Sabathia, an ardent Raiders fan. Sabathia predicted 14.5 sacks for Crosby in year No 2.

“I hold myself to a high standard. I want to be a 2.0 version of myself next year,” Crosby said. “So if the number is 14 and a half — if it’s … the number doesn’t matter. I’ve just got to be the best version of myself and the results will come.”

Upon being prodded by his interviewer, saying that the Raiders sack record of 16, set by Derrick Burgess in 2005, is within his reach, Crosby loosened up and said he wants to eclipse that number by a longshot.

“I’m trying to beat it,” he said. “I’m trying to have 30 sacks if I can.”

Crosby was perhaps the finest selection from a dynamite draft by general manager Mike Mayock when considering his draft slot and team needs. The Raiders had just 13 sacks as a team in 2018 after trading away star defensive end Khalil Mack. Crosby has helped the Raiders brass, and the team’s fans, turn the page on the controversial deal.

As long as he improves in his rookie campaign, along with other draft standouts, fellow DE Clelin Ferrell, running back Josh Jacobs, wide receiver Hunter Renfrow and tight end Foster Moreau, among others, the Raiders will be in solid shape heading into their new Las Vegas home.

Raiders DE Maxx Crosby finishes with third-most pressures from rookie class

Raiders DE Maxx Crosby finishes with third-most pressures from rookie class

Heading into the 2019 NFL Draft, the Raiders knew they likely wouldn’t have a chance to select Nick Bosa. Bosa was by far the best defensive end prospect in the draft, but there just wasn’t any chance that he would fall to No. 4 overall.

To no one’s surprise, Bosa had a monster rookie season with the 49ers and was arguably the best defender on their team. In the Super Bowl alone, he recorded 12 pressures and nearly stopped Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs by himself.

However, Raiders’ fans shouldn’t feel too bad about missing out on Bosa as they were able to unearth one of the best “diamonds in the rough” in the 2019 draft class in Maxx Crosby.

While Crosby wasn’t quite as dominant as Bosa, he was one of the most productive rookie edge defenders in the league. According to Pro Football Focus, Crosby finished the season with 45 quarterback pressures, the third-most among rookie edge defenders in 2019.

During the 2019 season, Crosby recorded 10 sacks to go along with 16 tackles for a loss, 14 quarterback hits, and four forced fumbles. He even received a few votes for the Defensive Rookie of the Year.

The hope is that Crosby, in combination with Clelin Ferrell, can become one of the better young duos at defensive end in 2020. With defensive line guru Rod Marinelli now on board, expect to see continued growth from Crosby as he looks to repeat his double-digit sack season.

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Winners and Losers for the Raiders in Week 17

The final winners and losers of the season after a another loss to the Denver Broncos 15-16

It’s over; the Oakland Raiders are finally no more after suffering another loss to the Denver Broncos 16-5. After starting the season 6-4 and looking like they had an easy route to the playoffs, it all came crumbling down the stretch going 1-5 and missing the playoffs.

Raiders offense put up all the yards in a world but only managed to score 15 points and one touchdown. They averaged 6.8 yards per play and finished with 477 total yards of offense. They were awful in the red zone, only scoring one touchdown on their five trips in the area, which was their Achilles heel for the whole game.

Carr was up and down but finished with a season-high 391 yards and a touchdown, and the running game was effective as well 97 yards on the day. Going into the offseason, the Raiders for sure need upgrades on the offensive side, and Gruden has to adjust with better plays in the red zone.

The defense put up another high performance, having momentum going into the long offseason. The Raiders only allowed 4.1 yards per play and had Drew Lock under pressure all game. Lock finished with yards per attempt of 6.3 and wasn’t able to hit anything downfield.

The running game was nonexistent, keeping The Broncos in third and long situations. With all the young players on defense and their performances in the last two weeks, they finally could become a top 20 unit next year.

Who are the winners and losers for Week 17? Here are the final winners and losers for the season:

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Raiders players the Chargers must game-plan for in Week 16

Chargers Wire’s Gavino Borquez lists the Oakland Raiders players the Los Angeles Chargers must game-plan for in Week 16.

The Los Angeles Chargers are preparing for their last game played at Dignity Health Sports Park on Sunday against the Oakland Raiders.

The last time the two teams met was in Week 10. It was a close battle, but ultimately the Raiders came out on top.

With that, there are a few Oakland players that the Chargers must be game-planned for in order to avoid being swept by them.

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DE Clelin Ferrell & Maxx Crosby

In their first meeting earlier this season, quarterback Philip Rivers had very little room to breathe, and that’s largely due to the dominance by Ferrell and Crosby who attributed to their five sacks and handful of quarterback hits that night.

Heading into Week 16, the two first-year players have combined for 12 sacks on the season and they’re both eager to bolster up that column on the stat sheet this weekend once more.

With left tackle Russell Okung likely to be a game-time decision, there’s reason to be concerned. If Okung can’t go, Trent Scott or rookie Trey Pipkins will be tasked with protecting quarterback Philip Rivers’ blindside.

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