Strong safety Mike Mitchell battled a knee injury much of last season and this offseason, but he said he’s finally healthy and ready to make an impact for the Raiders. Oakland drafted Mitchell in the second round in 2009 out of Ohio, and he came to the Raiders with a reputation as a big hitter. After his first practice of training camp on Monday, an optimistic Mitchell talked about the upcoming season.
You look fired up and you don’t even have pads on yet, so what can we expect once you get pads on?
Mitchell: “Everyone knows me by now. They know what type of guy I am. Today was more business focus for me. I still got my guys that I love on this team, and we’re going to joke around, but for me personally I was really out there with something to prove today and that’s really how I’m approaching this camp, you know. They haven’t seen me, this is a new coaching staff and I have a lot to prove. I do pay a little bit of attention to some of the forums that people put out there, and there’s certain things that I stick up in my locker for motivation, and I think the coaches saw the intensity that I brought today. I’m a hundred percent healthy now. It’s sad to say, but this is the second time in my four years that I have ever come to a camp healthy. My second year was my best year I had in the league, I was healthy. This year, I’m healthy, so I’m just ready to go out there and compete. There’s no doubt in my mind I’m going to make this team and help this team win games.”
How does it feel without Al Davis here?
Mitchell: “It’s a little sad for me because obviously he meant so much to me. He changed me and my entire family’s life forever, so there’s a lot of loyalty. I’m a very loyal guy, so there’s a lot of sadness with that, but Mr. Davis is still here in a way. Mark (Davis) took over, (and) I still got the same loyalty for him. (Al Davis is) still here, he’s still in our hearts. The new regime, they haven’t forgotten about Mr. Davis. We still talk about the commitment to excellence, just winning, you know. Those things carry over. His legacy will not be forgotten, and like I said we got a lot of players that have been here with him so we’re all carrying him in our hearts as well. But with the changes and everything, it’s an exciting time. A lot of guys know we have a lot to prove. No one’s safe. Well, Richard (Seymour’s) probably safe. Outside of him, there’s a lot of positions that are open.
On the play where you broke up a pass to Richard Gordon, you were really excited. Was that a reaction from having to be out for so long with the injury?
Mitchell: “I haven’t had a chance to compete. I did a whole lot of boxing, but that’s a different sport. This is the sport that I love, this is the sport that I was born to play. I haven’t had a chance to play in 2012. Well, that last game -- but (not in) January, February, March. You know, I was always injured, the knee was nagging me, so I couldn’t get out there. I was getting to where it was just good enough and then it would swell up. It was just so frustrating. (Monday) was my first time to go out here, put my hands on people, compete, and just play the game that I love. So I did get a little excited.”
Can’t think of anyone who would be looking more forward to getting pads on than you. Is that a fair assessment?
Mitchell: “I mean, there’s a lot of rookies out here that are hungry. I’m just a guy that loves playing football, man. I try to deflect those big hitter, Jack Tatum, Ronnie Lott comparisons as much as I can because if you’re trying to live up to a Hall of Famer, it’s very easy to disappoint a lot of people. I’m Mike Mitchell. I’m a hard working guy from Kentucky. I do enjoy hitting, but at the same time I’m here to make the best play, not necessarily the big hit. If I can blow you up, definitely, that’s what I want to do. I kind of like that feeling of dominating another man. … It’s kind of that primal instinct. There’s something about that that I really enjoy, but you can’t always do that; I learned that early in my career. You’re going to miss tackles. No one wants to see that.”
Who were some of your influences growing up?
Mitchell: “Growing up, dead honest truth -- it was Rod Woodson because he used to come and beat the crap out of the Bengals and right where I’m from in Kentucky, right across the river is Cincinnati, so I used to come and watch him come and just destroy the Bengals when he was with Pittsburgh. So, I tried not to be in awe the whole time we were in meetings the first two weeks last year when he was my coach. but I learned so much from him and Kevin Ross in one year it was ridiculous.”
Follow Raiders reporter Eric Gilmore on Twitter: @CBSSportsNFLOAK.
