Las Vegas Raiders safety Marcus Epps

Safety Marcus Epps Q: How have you felt the chemistry of the defense now that the roster is not 90 guys out there? Epps: "I feel like it's been going really well. l feel like every day we're growing, we're learning each other more and more. So, we've just got to keep that up, going through finishing out the week and then going into game week next week." 

Q: It feels like the energy has kind of transferred from preparing for the season and training camp to kind of starting to think about an actual opponent and an actual game. Does that kind of give a little bit of an adrenaline rush? Epps: "Yeah, I feel like you kind of start to feel it a little bit as you get closer to the season, but I think it's important that, this week especially, we kind of just stay in-tune to the things that we need to work on and grow at as a team and finish this week out strong before we really start getting into the season." 

Q: Now that the roster's kind of set, do you look around and think, 'This team has what it takes to be able to compete to the level you guys want?' Epps: "Yeah, I like where we're at. I like the guys that we have on our team. I like the group we have in the secondary. Got a lot of trust in those guys, and I see what we've been bringing to the table every day in terms of work ethic and coming to work, and I like that about our group. I feel like we've just got to keep at it and keep growing and getting better every day." 

Q: Your coaches and teammates have talked about how and Tre'von Moehrig are kind of joined at the hip in the facility. Did that kind of happen organically or did you feel like it was important for you to kind of partner up with a young player like that to help him? Epps: "I think it was a little bit of both. It's definitely very important for the two safeties back there to be on the same page and the secondary as a whole. So, it kind of just started organically, just talking about ball and things like that, and then just as a secondary and just us as well just trying to hang out off the field get to know each other and whatnot. So, I feel like that transfers a lot onto the field with chemistry as well." 

Q: Tre'von Moehrig came here with a lot of promises a second round pick. What do you see in him? Epps: "I mean, he's very athletic. He's got the skill set you need for a safety in this league, he can do it all. So, I really like where he's at and how much he's grown, and I'm expecting some big things out of him." 

 Q: How important is it starting off on the right foot when you look at that schedule when you've got back to back road games, three of the first four on the road? How big is that game in Denver? Epps: "I think in the NFL, every game is very important, especially a divisional game. So, I think it's very important for us to not really look ahead and just stay at the grind each day, take it one day at a time, one game at a time." 

Q: It's your first taste of the AFC West, what have you heard about the rivalries because Raider Nation they don't like the Broncos, the Chargers and the Chiefs? Epps: "I've heard about it. I try not to get too wrapped up into it, but coming from the NFC East, there's some big rivalries there, too. So I kind of know how those rivalry games go, they're a little more intense. But like I said, can't get wrapped too much into it. Got to just go out there and play ball and approach it as any other game." 

Q: You guys talk about process a lot and believing in the process. A couple of years ago, you were with the Eagles when you came in here and it was kind of a low point for you guys, losing that game and the record wasn't all that good. You eventually got on a run in that season, but was that kind of proof of just kind of sticking with it even though things might not look great early on, but sticking with it and good things will happen? Epps: "Yeah, definitely. I'm huge on just trusting your process, not panicking when things hit the fan and you've really got to just - if you believe in something, you've got to stick to it, approach it day by day and trust and have faith that if you put that work in, it's going to work out in the end and you've got to stick it out." 

Q: You've obviously had success with some teams. What is your message to the young guys maybe of what it takes to have success and sustain it once you get it? Epps: "It's pretty redundant, but I think that it's just routine, your approach of just coming to work every day. I think that's the biggest thing of what I try to pass down to them is I've been in those shoes where you're kind of just trying to work your way up. If you try to look too far ahead, you're not going to accomplish what you need to accomplish in the moment. So, you've just got to stay in the moment and approach things day by day." 

Q: Did you have to learn that or is that something that was kind of natural to you? I guess was there somebody that gave those messages to you? Epps: "Little bit of both. I mean, always kind of been that underdog to where I've had to keep working my way up. So, it's just continuing to learn that as well through the league because I mean we're human, it's only nature to look ahead or worry about things. But you've always just got to stay in your mind and have that belief, have that faith, and trust your process, trust your work ethic and just bring it each day." 

The Silver and Black open the regular season at the Denver Broncos on Sunday, Sept. 10, at 4:25 p.m. EDT/1:25 p.m. PDT.

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