Aldon Smith chatted with the media on Wednesday for just the second time as a Raider and the first time since after the season opener. Here’s a transcript of what he had to say.

Q: How do you approach playing against Peyton Manning?

A: We’ve got to make sure we’re all together, make sure we’re communicating, doing a good job of getting to him, getting hits on him, just making him feel pressure.

Q: What kind of special challenges does he create?

A: He’s a savvy vet quarterback, very smart back there. Does a good job of finding his receivers. He makes good decisions when he’s back there, so we’ve just got to make it hard for him back there.

Q: How long do you think it took for you to be fully integrated with the defense?

A: Just the more reps and the more practice I have, every day, every practice I’m just getting more and more comfortable and keep improving every week.

Q: How impressive is the group of pass rushers that will be on the field Sunday?

A: There’s definitely going to be some talent out there, with all of us. Me, Khalil, everybody on this team does a good job, Tuck, rushing the quarterback. Them with Von and DeMarcus, so quarterbacks will probably be getting hit on Sunday.

Q: Is it competitive between you and the other team’s rusher to see who can get more sacks?

A: Just the competitive nature of us, we all want to compete and prove who is the best out of all of us. We’ll all be out there trying to make our mark.

Q: Do you really take pride in your run stopping?

A: I’m not just a pass rusher. I’m overall a defensive player. Stopping the run is something I take pride in just as well as getting to the quarterback, so if you want to run at me, good luck. I’ll stop the run just like I try to stop the pass.

Q: What would a win over the Broncos mean?

A: It would just be what we’re trying to do and that’s just go out every week and be the best team, compete and just show everybody how hard we work?

Q: Do sacks against quarterbacks like Peyton Manning feel a little bit better?

A: (Laughter) Any time you get a guy down that doesn’t go down that much, it makes you feel good.

Q: Do you feel comfortable standing up and coming off the edge like you have the past couple of weeks?

A: Yeah, I think we’re just adjusting every week and we’re doing things to put everybody in position to make plays. If that means I have my hand in the dirt or I’m standing up, I’m for it. I’m trying to get some results.

Q: Does having Khalil Mack on the other side really open things up for each other?

A: Yeah, we all feed off each other. If it’s Mack getting double teamed, me getting double teamed, Tuck or anybody, somebody’s gonna make a play. This team’s full of playmakers. Everybody does a good job taking advantage of the situations.

Q: Does this week’s game against Denver, a divisional opponent and undefeated team, help you guys put last week’s loss in the rear view quickly?

A: Yeah, we can’t focus on the past. We learn from our mistakes and everything, but it’s a long season and sometimes some games won’t work out in your favor, so put in the back, learn from it, move on to the next week and prepare because we’re a good team and as long as we keep that in mind, the sky’s the limit for us.

Q: How are you feeling and how has the transition been going?

A: It’s good. Happy I’m out here, good group of guys, a lot of cool, funny personalities so it’s all good for me.

Q: Will you and Von Miller have a little bit of a competition on Sunday?

A: Yeah, we’ll definitely have a little friendly competition going on. We’ll see how it works out.

Q: Side betting?

A: Maybe.

Q: Crabtree’s approach after last game was to say, ‘Don’t worry, we’re 2-2, we’re still a good team.’ Is that how this team is approaching it?

A: Yeah, definitely. That was a close game. We made some mistakes and like I said, we learned from them. If we start doing the little things better, we’ll surprise a lot of people. We’ve just got to keep improving. As long as we keep doing that, which I know we are, we’ll work out well.

Q: What’s your role as a leader on this team?

A: Just how I practice, how I play, how I come to work. There’s guys who I’m vocal with, but everybody’s different, so it just changes with who I’m talking to and how I’m feeling and how they need to be talked to.

Q: What makes this team such a confident group? Does it start with Jack Del Rio and the mindset he’s instilled?

A: Yeah, that and we all know how good each other are. We all practice hard. You can see it.

Q: What does Charles Woodson’s presence, him playing through injury at now age 39, say to the rest of the team?

A: It’s definitely something we all look at. I’m 26 and I feel like I can’t complain about certain things because he’s doing it and he’s been doing it for a while and he does it at a high level. It makes you want to step up and play hard because you know you’ve got a guy out there who’s been doing it for a long time at a high level.

Q: Do you feel like you had to shake off some rust over the last four weeks and feel more comfortable now?

A: Yeah, that’s just with more repetitions and getting more comfortable with the defense and the team and everything. It’s just going to keep improving week by week. That’s usually how it goes.