ALAMEDA, Calif. -- Last week when he was introduced as the interim head coach of the Oakland Raiders Tony Sparano said he would bring a different philosophy than the man he replaced Dennis Allen, who was fired after the team started 0-4.

On Monday, the Raiders practiced for the first time under Sparano as they returned from their bye week.

Sparano, 29-31 in nearly four seasons as the coach in Miami from 2008-11, implemented several changes as he said he would.

The Raiders practiced Monday for the first time under Tony Sparano as they returned from their bye week and the interim coach implemented a faster-paced practice. Kyle Terada/USA TODAY Sports

He and his players said the practice tempo was faster. He is also changing the team's weekly schedule.

Oakland is practicing and meeting later on Wednesdays. Sparano said he wants the team start the week busy and then "taper down so they have more gas" on Sundays. Also, Sparano said injured players will work inside the building instead of being out at practice.

Sparano, whose team has lost a league-high 10 straight games dating back to last November, had the Raiders bury a football at practice to signify that the Raiders are moving on.

"We've got to look at how Oakland is beating Oakland," Sparano said. "We're doing things faster, we've changed practice schedules, and we've changed a ton of things right now."

Sparano even changed the locker arrangements. Several players - including some veterans - had their seats moved. In the past, the locker-room seating arrangement was essentially done by positions. Now, players from different positions are intra-mingled throughout the room to help create more camaraderie.

"I think that right now there's a fire lit in that locker room," Sparano said. "They see change. They know there's change right now. ... Quite honestly, every single one of us in this building, we were all part of the problem. What happened, happened, but the players in that locker room and the coaches in this building right now and some of the different people that are directly related with football have to answer those questions. So no question about it and justifiably so.

"As far as lighting a fire, they're prideful people in that locker room," Sparano continued. "They've got a lot of pride and I'm proud of them with the way they came out there today and practiced. It's been a tough week for them, too. I realize they got away and that type of stuff, but it's been tough. There's been change. They weren't sure what to expect when they got back here and in some situations, still not too sure. I haven't let all my secrets out there with them yet. I kind of like keeping them, as I told them, a little uncomfortable sometimes. Comfortable is not good. Uncomfortable sometimes isn't a bad thing."

Added standout rookie linebacker Khalil Mack: "We just not to get a win and forget about what just happened." Sparano, who will also keep the role of offensive line coach, said offensive coordinator Greg Olson will continue to call the plays. Sparano said he is involved with the defense with coordinator Jason Tarver.

"I've met with every coach individually and shared my beliefs and what I like to see happen and pretty much what kind of direction that we want to head," Sparano said. "I'll be involved. I'll know the game plan. I'll make my business to be in there, been in defensive meetings with the defensive players, and those type of things, and I've been in my meetings. I will be involved, but I have all faith and trust in the world in what's going on over there with J.T. and with the staff as far as that goes right now."

Sparano said general manager Reggie McKenzie had former Green Bay and Seattle coach and former Cleveland executive Mike Holmgren visit last week to watch film. McKenzie and Holmgren worked together in Green Bay. Holmgren interviewed for a leadership job in Oakland in February 2013.

"It's all part of this self-analysis, looking at all of us," Sparano said. "Reggie wanted to bounce some things off of him himself and I enjoyed getting a chance visiting with him and some of my coaches visited with him a little bit and he got a chance to watch some tape. It's just good to get a different set of eyes, another perspective, somebody that's been there before that's been part of these type of things."