The Oakland Raiders appear to be a team on the rise in the NFL after over a decade of despair in the Bay Area. Oakland's brass has rebuilt the squad with Derek Carr, Khalil Mack, and the return of head coach Jon Gruden as they head into a different era.

During a recent interview with ClutchPoints, Raiders legend Tom Flores talked about his new book, Tales From The Oakland Raiders Sideline. Flores also shared his thoughts on Carr and Mack, in addition to the team's pending move to Las Vegas.

What are your thoughts on the Raiders moving to Las Vegas? 

TF: “I'm old-fashioned. I'm not really for it, but I don't have any say, unfortunately. They gave Oakland every chance, in my opinion, to come up with some kind of solution, but they couldn't come up with it. Not a lot of money in that area right now.

“I've been in Vegas on a few occasions in the recent months. They're really excited down there, and the more I think about it, the more it'll work, but I just hated to leave Oakland. I started here in 1960. I was the quarterback and I think that's where they belong. I think the Chargers belong in San Diego, but it's not my decision.

“I think they'll succeed there, though. I think the people there are excited. The townspeople. The community. The business people. Vegas has changed over the years.”

You and Derek Carr both have Fresno ties. What are your thoughts on Carr and where he's headed? 

TF: “He's a wonderful person. Great kid. Wonderful family. You put in him the fourth quarter with a chance to win. That's what he does well.

“Some guys just thrive on the close game. In his very young career, he's done that many times. Just taking them deep in the fourth quarter from behind and won. That speaks for itself.”

Khalil Mack, Raiders
Marcio Jose Sanchez/The Associated Press

Khalil Mack is arguably one of the best players in the NFL. What do you think of Mack, and does he remind you of players of the past? 

TF: “He reminds me a little of a smaller version of Howie Long maybe. He's got that kind of motor. Howie Long had a great motor from day one. The difference between Howie and Mack is that Mack came in more polished. Howie was just a young raw 270-pounder that could run like a deer that never stopped where Mack was more polished as far as pass-rushing and things of that nature.

“He just awesome. When I first went out to practice I said, ‘Don't tell me where he is. I'll find him.' It didn't take long to find him. He's the real deal. You surround him. We need another pass rusher, and we drafted well, but we don't know if we drafted well, I should say because our No. 1 went on injured reserve and our No. 2 missed most of the season, so we have some young defensive backs that haven't performed yet because they've been hurt.”

Was parting ways with Ken Norton Jr. as defensive coordinator the right move? Did that send the right signal to the players? 

TF: “It's hard for me because I'm not in the locker room, so I don't get the pulse of the locker room and the practice facility. I don't know what goes on in meetings. I don't know what the game plans are and things of that nature. I try to stay out of that part of the critique, but when you look at the defense, it was out of position too many times. Because of that, they were getting burned a lot.

“You have to blame somebody, so I guess Jack [Del Rio] finally felt we got to make a change. You have to show the players that you're trying to get better, and it's unfortunate for Ken because he worked hard. Ken is a good guy. A good defensive guy, but it just wasn't working I guess.”