Training Camp Notebook 8/3: Intensity in the trenches heightens with pads on

Training camp activities reached a new level of physical intensity on August 3, 2026, as teams transitioned to practicing with pads on. According to reporting from the Las Vegas Raiders, this shift specifically resulted in heightened intensity within the trenches. Parallel to these developments, coverage from Hogs Haven indicates that activities at the Washington Commanders camp involved key figures including head coach Dan Quinn, as well as players Javon Kinlaw and Bill Croskey-Merritt, as the team continues its preseason preparations. Major media outlets, including Fox News and NBC Sports, have focused their coverage on the leadership and roster assessment of the Las Vegas Raiders. Specifically, these outlets highlight comments made by coach Klint Kubiak regarding the current composition of his team.

Kubiak noted that the franchise, which was known in the past for embracing an outlaw image, has evolved. In a direct quote reported by both NBC Sports and Fox News, Kubiak stated, “We don’t have any turds,” signaling a shift in the team's cultural identity and the quality of the current roster. The context provided by the coverage suggests a broader effort by these NFL franchises to establish a specific team culture before the regular season begins. For the Raiders, the transition from an outlaw image to the current state described by Kubiak represents a change in how the organization views its personnel. For the Commanders, the focus remains on the integration of players like Kinlaw and Croskey-Merritt under the direction of Dan Quinn.

The timing of these reports coincides with the critical phase of camp where physical contact increases and coaching staffs make definitive evaluations of player performance. Looking forward, the coverage indicates that observers should monitor how the increased intensity in the trenches translates to game-day performance. While the Las Vegas Raiders continue to refine their roster under Kubiak's standards, the Washington Commanders' progress will likely be measured by the contributions of the players mentioned by Hogs Haven. Further updates from these camps will likely detail whether the current levels of intensity are maintained as the teams move closer to their first preseason matchups, though specific dates for those games were not provided in the current reports.