Here’s a transcript of new Raiders cornerback Sean Smith’s conference call with the local media.

Q: Do you see a balance of power switching in the division?

Smith: “Oh, it has definitely switched, clearly.”

Q: What is it about the Raiders that makes you think they’re ready to compete?

Smith: “They have a bunch of young talent who’s ready to take that next step. The coaching staff is amazing; you couldn’t ask for a better coaching staff. I just felt like with a few more pieces, this team is ready to contend, for real, for real this time.”

Q: Why did you pick Oakland?

Smith: “To be honest with you, what it really came down to was feeling appreciated and wanted. [Defensive backs] coach Marcus Robertson was over here banging on the table for me to come over here. He expressed how badly he wanted me over here. I just felt like with that combined with being back in California, being around my family again and things of that nature just made the decision pretty much easy for me in the end.”

Q: How do you feel being on that island with playing man coverage?

Smith: “One of the greatest things about playing cornerback, once you cross those lines, you’re on your own, unless the coach calls Cover 2. I mean Cover 1, Cover 3, Cover 4 is all pretty much the same for a cornerback. If a guy runs a comeback, a curl, a slant, a post, you’re on your own. You have to go out there and cover it. You have to compete. I think it’s one of those positions where you have to have that mindset where Monday through Friday, you have to put your ego to the side and really be honest with yourself on your technique and how well prepared you are for the game. Once you get out there, it’s going to be you versus the guy across from you and you definitely don’t want to be on the wrong end of the highlight, if you know what I mean.”

Q: Having played in the AFC West for the last few years, what was your assessment of the Raiders’ secondary before you arrived?

Smith: “The Raiders have always had young talent, and I think it was just time that they added some veteran leadership around there. Like I said earlier, when you’re a cornerback, you’re on your own. Safeties can’t really help you that much, because they have so much going on with the running game and they have to deal with linebackers and things like that, so when you’re out there on that island – as we like to say – being a young cornerback can be tough sometimes. Sometimes you need that vet around you to help you take that next step.”

Q: You’ve played against Derek Carr for the last two seasons. How attractive of an opportunity was it to come to a team with a young quarterback like Carr?

Smith: “It’s funny, because getting prepared for the Raiders in the past, you never know what you’re going to get, because Carr is a guy who is going to go out there, he’s going to sling it. Regardless of if you think your coverage is good or not, he always believes his receivers have a chance of making a play, which he should, because [Michael] Crabtree and ‘Coop’ [Amari Cooper] are two amazing receivers on this team. Just knowing that I’m on his team now and I don’t have to worry about those Brett Favre-like passes splitting between two defenders trying to get a guy a reception anymore is going to be great for me.”

Q: What has been your take on the other Raiders who have signed, other highly-touted guys who chose to come in here and be part of this free-agent class?

Smith: “I think this organization has done a great job of adding players in free agency. We added some O-line help; you can never have enough help for a quarterback and also for the run game. Carr can’t be back there throwing it 45 times a game, so definitely some big guards in there to kind of move the pile a little bit and get the running game going. On defense, you have [Khalil] Mack and we just added [Bruce] Irvin, two pass rushers on the end. I personally know what pass rushers can do when you have two of them on a team, so I can’t wait to see those guys off the edge creating one-on-one matchups for one another. For me in the back end, it’s just trying to get those guys time, cover my guys as long as I can so those guys can get pressure on the quarterback and sacks, and hopefully they can force the ball to come out and us in the back end can get interceptions and takeaways.”

Q: Was it difficult for you to decide to leave Kansas City?

Smith: “It was, it was. I have a lot of close friends, close relationships up there that it was definitely real tough to leave. Words can’t explain how much that place has meant to me the past three years, but at the end of the day, I had to make the best decision for myself and my family, which is coming back to California.”

Q: How will it be lining up against Jeremy Maclin twice a season?

Smith: “Oh, man, I mean we’ve had countless battles in practice along with the other receivers they have over there. It is going to be a little interesting going against him for the first time, but it’s all about the dark side now – Raider Nation.”

Q: You and Eric Weddle go back a long way. Have you started recruiting him to come join you in Oakland?

Smith: “Definitely. I was talking to him before I even came up here. Look, if we were to add Eric Weddle, it would just be so special. But regardless of who we add, I know [assistant defensive backs] coach [Rod] Woodson and coach Robertson are going to make it work in the back end. But Eric Weddle is definitely a special player and I think if we can get him, we’ll be alright.”