HENDERSON, Nev. -- For Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Kirk Cousins, the major difference between Klint Kubiak as a first-time head coach compared to a position coach/offensive coordinator is a greater sense of urgency. After Kubiak tasted what it's like to reach the top of the NFL, winning Super Bowl LX with the Seattle Seahawks, he joined the Raiders to help them try to return to the pinnacle for the first time since 1984 -- something previous coaches have failed to do. And he doesn't want to waste time in doing so.

Cousins, 37, has noticed Kubiak being laser-focused on turning the organization around after four straight losing seasons. That's why Cousins repeatedly checks his watch whenever he is driving to the Intermountain Health Performance Center for practice. "When I'm driving into work in the morning, I'm kind of like, I feel it. I'm like, 'I better be on [time] today,'" said Cousins, who played three of his six seasons for Kubiak with the Minnesota Vikings when the now-39-year-old playcaller was either the team's quarterbacks coach or offensive coordinator (2019-21).

"I check my watch like four times to make sure I'm on time or early, because I just feel like he brings that sense of urgency that the great coaches tend to bring, right?"

Kubiak understands he has a huge mountain to climb. Despite the Raiders improving certain position groups during the offseason, the overall roster resembles a group in the midst of a rebuild, not one that's fully equipped to compete in a crowded AFC West. But the Raiders can't begin paving a way to becoming a winning organization until Kubiak instills his culture and makes sure everyone is bought in. Since the spring, he has made the necessary strides with a candid attitude, strong attention to detail and a team-first approach.

"What you see is what you get. It's no nonsense," wide receivers coach Zach Azzanni said. "It's ball 24/7 here. And if you're not a tough guy mentally and physically, if you don't like to sit through 18 hours of meetings and practice for three hours, this probably isn't the place for you. And that's the culture he's creating."