Green Bay Packers safety Evan Williams joins Richard Sherman to talk about his growth from NFL rookie to year two, the move from Fresno State to Oregon, and his welcome-to-the-league moment. Williams breaks down the Packers’ young, hungry defense, the impact of Micah Parsons coming over from the Dallas Cowboys, and how Defensive Coordinator Jeff Hafley has built trust and freedom into the secondary. Plus, Williams shares his goals for the season, thoughts on Jordan Love and Josh Jacobs leading the offense, and why Green Bay’s culture and fans make Lambeau so special.
00:00 - Intro00:40 – Evan Williams on Year 2 growth & confidence03:00 – Transferring to Oregon & Senior Bowl journey07:01 – Welcome-to-the-NFL moment vs. Dolphins14:26 – Micah Parsons’ impact on the Packers defense25:51 – Jordan Love, Josh Jacobs & the Packers offense28:19 – Williams’ goals & Super Bowl mindset
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Yeah, then pbu's pay rent and then I iNTS pay mortgage.
Speaker 2 (00:03):
Pay the mortgage, they buy the house. Welcome back to
the Richard Sherman Podcast. We got an incredible guest on today,
Evan Williams of the Green Bay Packers.
Speaker 3 (00:16):
Been playing so well this season. Brother, appreciate you joining us.
Speaker 1 (00:21):
Yes, sir, appreciates you for having me. Man means a lot.
Speaker 2 (00:23):
You deserve it. Talk about the jump from year one
to year two because you started six games as a
rook In my rookie year, I started teen, and you know,
when you get into your second year, it's just like
you feel such a different comfort level out there, such
a different calmness. And then playing with the same guys.
Just walk me through your development and your growth.
Speaker 1 (00:47):
Yeah really, you said, it's it's a comfortability about the
whole thing, you know, being able to have a full
year under the system, right, so just being able to
understand the playbook and kind of not feel like you
to be anywhere too fast really just because you you know,
you got that year under your belt and you know
you kind of understand all the rules as they are.
(01:08):
And then uh yeah, playing with the you know, same
guys going into your second year and really just from
a mental standpoint. Uh you said it like, I don't
feel like, you know, obviously every every game you got
something to prove. But you know, you go out there,
it's not it's not your first time anymore. It's not
your first rodeo. So you're just a little more you know,
comfortable out there on the field. You know, able to
(01:30):
you know, have a complete focus about you when when
you're out there. And uh, yeah, each game I'm feeling
more and more comfortable with the guys around me too.
Speaker 2 (01:38):
So I'm gonna walk your back take me through the
decision to leave Fresno State and go to Oregon.
Speaker 3 (01:45):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (01:45):
Man, I really wanted to finish my college career at
Fresno State. That was you know, my plan, you know,
for my whole really college career until yeah, I had
a little knee injury that kind of sidetracked things my
last year at Fresno State, and that year, you know,
I was able to get surgery, come back and win
(02:07):
a championship there. And so yeah, really just came down
to having talks with my family, talks with friends, you know,
close people around me, and the consensus was, you know,
I really just did all that I could do at
Fresno State. You know, committed four good years there, and
you know, like it or not, scouts are looking at
(02:28):
the level of competition you play against. You know that
that is a big factor and you know where you're
gonna go and draft wise, and so you know, it
wasn't only that, it was also you know, proven it
to myself that I could play, you know, against the
blue chip guys, you know, the best of the best
at their positions, and a yeah, and so you know,
it wasn't an easy decision by any means, but you know,
I'm glad I did it. Got to some great you
(02:49):
know relationships out of it. You know, got that whole
coaching staff, Coach Landing, coach loup Oy, you know, all
of them taught me so much for my one year there,
and uh yeah, I got to you know, compete at
a pretty high level, went to the Paxworld Championship and
all that. So it wasn't an easy decision, but you know, definitely,
looking back, I'm glad I.
Speaker 3 (03:08):
Did it right.
Speaker 1 (03:08):
Right.
Speaker 2 (03:08):
Hey, sometimes you gotta make hard decisions and it pans
out exactly like you need to. You also participated in
the senior Bowl, and I played in the Senior Bowl
before it became whatever bowl it is now because they
say juniors could play in it, I don't know as
the Senior Bowl and everybody get to play.
Speaker 1 (03:24):
But yeah, I don't know about that, right, right, right right.
Speaker 2 (03:27):
But talk about that experience, because they called me after
the first day of practice somebody got injured. It was
kind of disrespectful, but you know, when you going through
that process, You're like, hey, I take whatever I can get,
y'all give me another shot.
Speaker 3 (03:38):
I'm in man.
Speaker 1 (03:41):
And I was kind of in the same boat. I
was a pretty late ad to the Senior Bowl, so
you know, I was hoping to get whatever bowl invite
I was, you know, trying to get Yeah, at that point,
you kind of just scrabbing and clawing. All right, whatever
whatever I got, let me take it and hit the
ground running. But no, yeah, I was thinking East West
Shrine Bowl was, you know initially, and then one of
(04:01):
the last days, like probably less than a week before
you know, they got going, they invited me. Got to
come down and yeah, I honestly met a lot of
people that you know, are in the league right now,
and you know that that was kind of just a
pretty cool process seeing you know, obviously talking to all
those scouts and then yeah, me and a bunch of
boys that you know are going to be lifelong relationships
(04:23):
in the league. It was a pretty pretty cool thing
to be put on in you know. I'm glad I
was a part of it for sure.
Speaker 3 (04:29):
Yeah. It's such a cool game and it's so cool
to play at a high level.
Speaker 2 (04:33):
You don't you don't realize they don't care nothing about
the game until you get to the game and nobody's
there and the scouts. Everybody's gone, but they're there all
week at every practice, you know, watching every one on
one and you're like, why is practice more important than
the game?
Speaker 3 (04:45):
But you know, it is what it is. It works out.
Speaker 1 (04:48):
No, Yeah, for so there was. It was pretty empty.
Now that you say that, it was pretty empty during
the game.
Speaker 3 (04:53):
I was.
Speaker 1 (04:53):
I got a pick too in the game and I'm
looking around for the scouts. I'm like, all right, ain't
nobody around here, right?
Speaker 3 (05:01):
You're like, yeah, they'll see you to tape. They'll see
you to tape. You'll see it.
Speaker 1 (05:04):
Yeah, yeah, they really just want to see your practice habits, right,
and yeah, see, really your character, what you made of
But no, it was. It was a cool experience.
Speaker 2 (05:13):
Regardless speaking of character. And you so now you're drafted
by the Green Bay Packers. You're a California kid. You
go from Fresno State to Eugene. Now you and now
you're in Wisconsin, green Bay, Wisconsin. You know as a
as a as another California kid, I haven't. I've never
been to Green Bay, Wisconsin to live. I've been there
a couple of times. And all I knew before they
(05:36):
got that road house or whatever text the roadhouse they got.
Speaker 3 (05:39):
Now they only had that red lobster and that was
that was it.
Speaker 1 (05:45):
They you know, they got a few more restaurants now
you can come back check them out. But nah, it's
a little more of the same, I must say.
Speaker 2 (05:52):
But but it seems like some of the best fans
in the world. You know, one of the most unique
environments I've ever seen. They seem like they have so
much love and appreciation for the team, and the relationship
with the with the fans and the team is really
unlike anywhere else.
Speaker 1 (06:09):
Yeah, it is pretty unique. Really. I always say that
the fans are just the people really make the town.
Like everybody you run into, you know, two things about them.
They love their packers, and you know they're they're not
gonna do the most when you out in public, like
they definitely understand. And if they under like, if they
know who you are, they're gonna just show their appreciation
(06:30):
in the little ways and not try to you know,
blash an aame ask for a bunch of pictures and stuff,
which I think is pretty cool, just you know, being
able to maintain that a little bit of privacy when
you're with your family and all that. But no, yeah,
Green Bay, it's been a blessing for me so far. Again,
the organization is just pretty one of a cond as
(06:51):
far as how they take, you know, care of everybody.
Every player is like family to them, so you know,
they take care of you and your family in a
certain type of way. And it's really just built around
the culture of winning, right like that. That's kind of
just the standard around here, and you know, being able
to hold everybody to that standard is a is a
pretty cool cool thing to be, you know, be a
(07:11):
part of and expect out out of, you know, other people.
Speaker 3 (07:14):
What was your welcome to the league moment?
Speaker 2 (07:16):
You know, it don't got to be on the field,
It can be on the field, it could be off
the field, it could be an offseason. But what was
your welcome to the league, Like, man, I'm really in
the league. It could be bad, it could be great.
Speaker 1 (07:25):
Uh yeah. I mean there's not many welcome to the
leagues that are positive, I must say, but if I
had to pick one, there was. It was actually pretty
late in the year. I mean, I wouldn't say this
is the first welcome to the league. But we're playing
the Dolphins at in Lambeau. Really cool game, like it's
(07:46):
snow and it's probably around ten degrees. And then yeah,
so Boomer, he moster gets a little sweep around the edge,
breaks through the second level. I kind of get a
late read on it, so I'm not really in the ground, man,
And so yeah, he possed through the whole like untouched,
and I'm kind of on my heels already. I said, Okay,
(08:08):
I gotta reaccelerate real quick. So I reaccelerate in the Yeah,
let's just say I got a face full of hands
for sure, or sure he got moment, but he got
he could run, So he's coming through like he's running.
Speaker 3 (08:24):
Now.
Speaker 1 (08:24):
I'm like, okay, i gotta restart my feet tried to
get going, and uh yeah, he gave me one. I said, okay,
there's levels, right right, there's levels.
Speaker 3 (08:32):
Put that notebook, non wrong with that, right? Yeah?
Speaker 1 (08:35):
Take your notes.
Speaker 3 (08:36):
Keep you pushing, Yes, sir, it happens like that sometimes.
You know. I played.
Speaker 2 (08:41):
Look I feel so old because I'll be like back
in my day, you know, my rookie year, there were
still fullbacks with neck rolls on. So I hit a
full back with a neck roll on coming from a
deep third without no flat defender, and and just just
just just know I was seeing black and white on
one side and cover on the other side, like I
had two different But.
Speaker 3 (09:03):
Yeah, we made it. We made it. We made just
now we're just stronger, because that's that's it.
Speaker 2 (09:09):
Talk to me about Jeff Affley because one of the
one of the best human beings, one of the most
incredible football minds, and just a great human, genuine human being.
You know how he relates to his players, how he
speaks life into his players, and how he does everything
he can to put you guys in position to be
successful and he wants the best for you. Talk about
your relationship and just meeting you know, you came in
(09:29):
as a rook so he's all you.
Speaker 1 (09:31):
Know, yeah, and really, if I could just describe him,
it would be he's a leader of men and he
knows how to do it really well. And as far
as this, like how he talks to us again, he's
a guy that you know, treats you like family, is
always asking you know how you're doing, like, how's your
mental how's your family? The questions that matter, right, like
you want to know that your coach got your back
(09:52):
just like you got his. And so, uh yeah, that's
a guy that you know, showed care, you know as
immediately as I got into this program, you know, how
to a plan for me immediately, you know, as I
came into this organization. And then on the field as
far as scheme, like he just makes our jobs so simple,
just so that you know, and before each game, he
(10:14):
one of the things he always says, he's like, listen,
don't even worry about making mistakes, right, like, just play fast,
Like put whatever mistakes you got, if you got any hesitancy,
that's on the coaches, that's on us. I just want
you to go out there and play as fast as
you can, as violent as you can, and that really
just you know, freez things up, you know from a
player perspective, right like you, I don't got to worry
(10:35):
about making a mistake. You know, I'm coach, not gonna
get on me for that. He will, but you know
he's that's down the road. That's down the road. But no,
just for him to have that trust in us and uh,
you know, to give us assignments that just allow us
to get our cleets in the ground, you know, read
everything in front of us and play fast. He keeps
its simple for us and uh yeah, just puts us
(10:55):
in a great spots and make plays.
Speaker 2 (10:57):
You guys have a really smart and young and a
aggressive secondary. I love watching you guys play because you
guys remind us of when you know our secondary group
so much, because we kind of grew up together and
it's like an offensive line and the secondary is the saying.
Speaker 3 (11:12):
The more time you spend.
Speaker 2 (11:13):
Together, the more you play together, the more you kind
of know each other's habits. You know where he's gonna be,
what to expect, his strengths, his weaknesses. And there's a
different way of like dealing with adversity. So when you
run into adversity and you run into hard moments. It's
not like you guys are like, man, what theF are
you doing? What the eff are you doing? You're just like, hey, hey,
I understand you wanted to do your job at a
(11:33):
high level. Mistakes happen, Hey we getting past that next play,
and so again just to speak to carry on what
you were saying. It's like you guys speak confidence into
each other. Your coach speaks confidence into each other, so
you're not afraid to make a mistake or shoot your
gun because you know they got your back, not only
on the field, but off the field.
Speaker 1 (11:56):
Yeah. Yeah, I mean that's really everything, just building a relationship,
know in that dB room. Yeah, it's huge, you know,
from especially coming off those field. You know, those those
post drive, post touchdown conversations are some of the you know,
most important conversations you're gonna have in the whole game,
just because you know, it really teaches you about the
group itself, how y'all gonna respond to adversity and just
(12:18):
how tight your bond is, right, Like, if you're able
to just acknowledge the problem, get it solved, you know,
and not have to worry about somebody feeling some type
of way just because we you know, we've all been
with each other, We've all been through these adversities before.
Like it's it's nothing new. Everybody's got to, you know,
take accountability at some point. And so yeah, just being
(12:38):
able to you know, get the problem solved as fast
as you can and then yeah, when when you're on
the field to understand that, yeah, these guys got my back.
Or you just know the tendencies of players. Okay, I
know Ex is gonna play this super aggressive, so I'm
gonna let him shoo his gun, and yeah, I gotta
be a little more you know, cautious of this run fit.
Or I know he's gonna probably play the high route
(13:01):
in this scenario, so I can you know, gives me
the opportunity to go make a play. Just you know,
the more reps you stacking practice, the more those things
unconsciously happen and you're able to just play off each other,
and uh yeah, really it's a beautiful thing, you know
when when you see these dB rooms getting the year two,
year three, I mean, how long were y'all together the
(13:22):
lob We were too long?
Speaker 3 (13:24):
Yeah, too long, too long. I think we ended up
getting six together.
Speaker 1 (13:28):
Yeah, yeah, hell yeah, so yeah, being able to just
have that confidence in your brother's Uh, there's really nothing
like it from from a back end perspective.
Speaker 3 (13:35):
No, there's not.
Speaker 2 (13:36):
And waiting until you guys get into some of these
playoff games and you just get oh my god, it's
feel like your brains are tied on the string. You
start to get in the zone. I'll tell you what
it feels. Oh, it's different. We're gonna talk after y'all,
after y'all go to the playoff and y'all boys play well,
and after that, y'all go make that deep playoff run
hopefully get your trophy.
Speaker 3 (13:56):
I'm I'm putting your back on the.
Speaker 2 (13:58):
Podcast, and yeah, you won't be I know what you're
talking about. Like you tied on the string out there,
no question about it. That's gonna that's gonna be fun.
Speaking of you guys were underrated last year for some reason.
I mean, you guys were top five defense, you know,
top six, top five in yards, eight and sacks I
(14:19):
think six and points or something like that, and underrated
because of what I would considered just just star power.
And you know what I mean, because you guys got
a really good group, talented group, young group, and now
you get Micah Parsons, and it almost validates all that
you guys have been and all that you guys are
talk about his arrival and just your mentality because he
(14:39):
seems like he fits right into the culture that you
guys have built. You guys run, you practice hard, you
hit you you care about one another. You guys just
got a quality group of human beings.
Speaker 1 (14:50):
Yeah, he really came in. You know, day one. You're
trying to you know, feel feel him out, just like, okay,
see what he's about. You know, what what what cloth
does he come from? And then and just for him
to come and say what he said, and I mean
just you know, show that he's about the process. I
think that was that was the biggest thing for me.
(15:11):
You know that that got me the most respect for
me is just you know, understanding seeing how he practices,
seeing how he carries himself. And yeah, under like he
told to me that he's like, yeah, I'm you know,
I'm gonna give my all. You know, I'm a guy
that just plays fast, you know, and those guys better,
you know, have my back because I'm gonna be playing fast.
And I know that this is a team that likes
(15:31):
to do that, and so just for him to come
out there and then literally first practice you see his
his get off. He's chasing the ball down the field.
And to have a guy you know that's worth that
much chase the ball, you know, running across, you know,
giving his pass rush and then loop the quarterback and
you know, chase the receiver doubt like that. That's that's
impressive stuff and that that got all of our respect really,
(15:53):
you know, the first couple of days seeing him work,
and yeah, I would say he fits our scheme perfect.
You know. We we're definitely a scheme that you know,
focuses on Russian coverage and you know, when it's time
for those big downs, those third downs, just letting our
you know, guys up front eat and uh yeah, needless
to say, he's a guy that can eat. I mean,
(16:14):
third round he can eat.
Speaker 2 (16:15):
But it's other guys y'all had that Ben eaton Davonte
Wyatt obviously, with Shawan Geary, Luke Vanas gets his gets his.
He makes sure he gets his every time. Eddrian Cooper
look like he always getting his. That's that's what's so
incredible about this group. They were eighth in sacks last year. Know,
Michael Parsons, you know, they had some hunters, and obviously
you lose a great teammate. And Kenny Clark, I've heard
(16:39):
nothing but positive things about him. Great teammate, great human being.
Everything in the Green Bay Packers stand for he represented.
So I know that's tough to lose. But you get
a player like Michael Parsons, you guys elevate defensively. You
gotta be feeling good right now.
Speaker 1 (16:54):
Yeah, absolutely, man, And you said it. I mean we
we really had we felt comfortable coming into this year,
you know, without Micah Parsons, like we had all the
tools that we we needed and we understood what we
needed to do to you know, get to where we
want to be. And then you know, adding Micah, even
if he's not getting to the quarterback, he's again he's
opening these one on ones with you know, the deepness
(17:17):
that we have. You know, at d line, you got
guys coming off, you know that are fresh coming out
out on third down that can just you know, rush
their ass off, and let me tell you it makes
it makes it real easy on the back end, makes
it really.
Speaker 3 (17:31):
And he helps feed your DBS speak.
Speaker 1 (17:34):
Oh yeah, a bunch of food on our plate. Oh yeah,
oh yeah, the.
Speaker 2 (17:39):
First week there can he get a pressure on Jared
Golf flash in front of him. You come out of
your disguise. First off, we're gonna talk about that too.
We're gonna talk about you all late rotations and y'all disguises,
because they're all over there putting it on tape and
I love it, But talk about that play. Let's let's
go there and we don't got to go to deepness.
(18:00):
I understand what you guys were running and all that,
but I'm gonna tell you what I thought it was
on the tape and what you guys like because it
looked like three. To me, it looked like you drop
it into a hook from three, like a uma or
we used to call it maybe ed phoenix check guard.
Speaker 3 (18:17):
You know what I mean.
Speaker 2 (18:17):
It looks like you you dropping into a hook and
X was rotating to the middle of the field. Then
the corners was dropping to a third and you had
to flat defenders, et cetera, et cetera. But how late
you rotated in and how fast you played and triggered
it was. I mean, I just loved everything about it.
Walk me through that, yeah, man, I said it before.
Speaker 1 (18:40):
But I feel like we won that down before the
ball was even snapped, right, Like you got to show
the quarterback something and make him believe it. And so
that that, yeah, definitely takes a lot of reps, right
that that definitely took you know, a year to develop,
you know, just first understanding, okay, what I gotta be
at at the snap, you know, understanding your assignment, what
you got to do. But then also okay, what are
(19:01):
we trying to show as a whole, and how can
I you know, fit in that. But yeah, that play
we were showing showing man, you know, just a one
high if not man and just a one high boundary
rotation and kind of made it look more real with
the with the motion, you know, being able to I
was initially down and then you know, spind and have
(19:22):
X walk down again, give the quarterback what he wants
to see. And we were actually getting to cover two
on that play. X was gonna be the middle runner
he came. I see why you said cover three because
he was a little deep. He was deep, especially for
he was running to yeah middle you know, back line
down there because it was it was low red. But no, yeah,
I was I was just getting to my my curl
(19:44):
landmark for cover two. And yeah, so coming out, you know,
I was able to They gave us a good snap
key just because the place was rawing. Now it's third down,
they got to give a silent count and so you
you you know, tie that in with the you know,
the clock running down in the background kind of see
it gets a six five, Okay, ball's gotta you know,
something's gotta break, you know. And so was able to
(20:06):
get that key. And then also knowing down the distance, Okay,
where I gotta be, you know what landmark should I do?
I gotta be? Should I be aggressive in this you
know scenario? And I felt, you know, like I should
have in that one. And then yeah, knowing who was
in the slot, they had am and raw with a
really plus split from one like he was and he's
not the guy at one. Wasn't like a fade ball
(20:29):
type guy like that you just throw out there, and
you know, had that threat, and so you know, they
just trying to give him space. The ball is going
to find him, you know, on these third downs. And
so yeah, and you knowled it to the last second.
Speaker 3 (20:40):
And you know, the quarter got a backstop. So he
can't run that out exactly exactly.
Speaker 1 (20:44):
I'm not worried about that. And so yeah, it's really
just trusting again, trusting your teammates, you know, trusting the scheme,
and then yeah, when your ob comes, really just taking
advantage of it. Saw the ball out, I mean saw
him kind of am and rad in my peripheral kind
of hookup right there, and uh, Jared Goff initially looked
at me, you know, for a little bit, and then uh,
(21:05):
you know, spiked his eyes to to two and really,
my you know, my feet made the play before I
was even aware it just ran through it, and uh
thought I was gonna get a PBu, but you know,
came up with a nice love.
Speaker 3 (21:15):
But you wanted to be great.
Speaker 1 (21:17):
Oh yeah, good, they're great.
Speaker 3 (21:20):
It is.
Speaker 1 (21:20):
You know what it is.
Speaker 3 (21:21):
I know exactly what it is people he used.
Speaker 2 (21:24):
That's why I'm about to get on Key Sean as
Look I got Key Shan next week.
Speaker 3 (21:28):
I'm on his I'm on his hind parts.
Speaker 1 (21:30):
Yeah, as you should be. As you should be. He's
got to turn one of those into that boy gets
some money.
Speaker 3 (21:35):
Five not downs, and don't book not all of them.
You don't want no money. You don't want to. You
want to drive in a hunger.
Speaker 1 (21:43):
That Yeah, then pbu's pay rent and then I ts
pay mortgage, pay the mortgage, they buy the house, they
buy the house.
Speaker 2 (21:50):
You catch one of those, you catch two, you start
having a whole different conversations.
Speaker 1 (21:56):
Mm hmm.
Speaker 2 (21:57):
But few houses, few houses and green I heard some
afloridable houses. You come on now, make yourself comfortable. Want
to continue. I love the quote that you had after
the game. You said, don't let victory mask your problems.
People don't even understand that level of accountability that the
wins ain't even it's the process.
Speaker 3 (22:19):
It's the process. It's making sure you got great practice happens,
making sure you correct the mistakes. The result is what
it is. And that's a bro. That's such a cool
process from you and in your age, the maturity that
you have to see it and the culture that you
guys are building. Oh my god, man, I just love
to hear that quote. I'm sorry, I ain't even got
a point or question off of that. Nah.
Speaker 1 (22:40):
I mean, and that's the truth, man, because you know
your moment moment, you let those those victories stack and
you know, let that get in the way of you
getting better. Let that you know, blind you from seeing
the the problems that you got to fix is a
you know, the day you get beat that you get complacent.
And so yeah, it's always been about the process, always
been about the little better each each week, each day
(23:01):
however you can. And uh, really the result is the result.
What you put on tape is what you put on tape.
Speaker 2 (23:07):
I love y'all chemistry back there, the three safety looks
that y'all. And then when you come and Javan moves
to Nickel and Howard he first off, he played he.
Speaker 3 (23:16):
Played way bigger than what he is.
Speaker 2 (23:18):
He played big and he plays Fast'll y'all bring him
in prepped and ready to go. He's ready made microwave dinner.
Oh yeah, y'all bring him in quick. But you you
do such a great job. There's so much humility and
the way you play and the way you operate back
there with X And that's what I'm not gonna talk
(23:39):
through everything in y'all scheme because there's a lot of
football and they got to figure out what y'all doing
back there.
Speaker 3 (23:45):
We ain't gonna tell him.
Speaker 2 (23:47):
But the way y'all rotating, the way y'all communicate to
rotating the way y'all make decisions to rotate, and the
freedom that half gives y'all, it's such a cool thing.
Not every coach is gonna give young dvs the freedom
to to pretty much make it look like it needs
to look, make it happen the way it needs to happen.
But he he believes in how smart and how incredible
of the players you are, and that's a that's a
(24:08):
cool trust to have from your DC.
Speaker 1 (24:11):
No, yeah, absolutely, it was probably one of the times
in our recent meetings. Uh he called us the quarterbacks
of the defense, like the the dB safety room, and
uh I brought it back up in our just safety meeting,
just talking about like, you know, it's doesn't always happen
that you know, DC has that much trust, just gives
(24:32):
you the you know, keys to the palace, just like that.
And so that that comes with a certain level of responsibility, right,
that comes with the accountability to you know, handle your disguise,
get everybody in the right track, and that you know
that all starts with communication and so just you know,
being able to be the most efficient communicators on the
field is you know, first and foremost what we got
(24:53):
to be and we take a lot of pride in that,
you know, me and X getting those calls to boil
down that nickel and uh yeah, you know, echoing it
through the rest of the formation. That's really what makes
our defense run.
Speaker 3 (25:07):
Y'all do a great job.
Speaker 2 (25:08):
And another thing that you see that jumps off on
tape for you guys is the effort that you play with,
and that's a thing that it takes no talent. Those
are one of the things that take no talent, and
any great defense, any truly great defense, they're gonna jump
off the tape like that. They're gonna do the things
that take no talent at a higher level. I'm sure
if I went to y'all walked through the attention of
detail and that walk through, I guarantee you it's no
(25:30):
pass is completed. I guarantee you as guys where they're
supposed to be. It's probably noisy guys talking up a storm,
because that's great defense, and you can see it each
and every week. So that's a testament to the work
you guys put in, the care you guys have for
one another, the standard you guys said, and the standard
that you guys are trying to reach every single day.
I see nothing but greatness. I mean even last year
(25:51):
when y'all played the Eagles, I thought y'all played a
great game. You know, Unfortunately the other side of the
ball was pretty beat up. Y'all were beat up. And
the receiver room is to beat the eventual Super Bowl champs.
Without a healthy receiver room, that would that would have
said a lot about y'all. Y'all would have got that done.
But let's talk about that offense. Jordan Love four touchdowns,
no interceptions, Josh Jacobs continuing to do what he does. Uh,
(26:15):
that's another thing that allows for great defense. A run game,
and controlling the clock and the things they do each
and every play, each and every week. They do a
good job of turning your turnovers into points into seven
points and not three. Uh.
Speaker 3 (26:28):
Tell me how how good that offense could be.
Speaker 1 (26:32):
I mean, I think we've seen it through these first
two games, and honestly, I feel like there's a different
level that you know, they can even tap into. We've
been banged up a little bit, you know, early this year,
Jay Red, you know, just recently, you know, got banged up.
But no, I mean I feel like just the more
comfortable people get in this scheme, you know, and MG
(26:55):
starts to come alive because he's gonna come alive. You know,
it's not a matter of right now, it's a matter
of when, you know, because he's gonna get his But no,
I mean just to have that confidence in the you know,
getting the ball back to the offense is everything from
a defensive perspective, you know, it makes us want to
you know, run to the ball, tag the ball at
the you know, the highest level because you know, you know,
(27:18):
once once ten gets the ball, he can do anything
with it. He can you know, sling his sixty yards
downfield or run somebody over if he wants to. Don't
do that again, but he can do it, you know.
But yeah, yeah, I'm cool with that.
Speaker 3 (27:34):
Just do it once. Nah.
Speaker 1 (27:36):
But yeah, being able to have that confidence and you
know your offense to you know, it just motivates you
even more when you want the field too. All right,
we get the ball back to our offense, that's points,
like automatically, that's that's points. And then having obviously having
a run game, you know, be the way it is. Uh,
you know, whenever it gets lay in them games and
you're up a couple scores. Call it Josh Jacobs tan,
(27:57):
you know, because he could just take over a game.
You just give him the ball and you know, see
what kind of magic comes out of that. And he's been,
you know, a workhorse for us these past two years.
And uh yeah, I mean we we got we got
special guys all over that offense, and uh we've we've
sown pieces, but I feel like there's even more of
a level that they could tap into, you know, coming
coming down for the rest of the season.
Speaker 2 (28:18):
Oh, they're they're young too, They're young. You guys are
young there as a group, and you're gonna continue to grow.
What what's your goals come What were your goals coming
into the season. Obviously you own a great track already,
but I just wanted to know what you big picture.
I know the trophy is always the the goal, but
what else.
Speaker 1 (28:37):
Yeah, personally, I wanted to just really be around the
ball this year. Set my mind on you know, double
digit turnovers, you know, mixture of I ts and forced fumbles.
Definitely want to get some force fumbles this year's this year.
I feel like last year I was kind of not
(28:57):
not hunting it, but just taking some downs out to
see myself just wanted to make the tackle more than
being as ball aware as I can be. And I
know that, you know, when our whole defense is you know,
that's the only thing on our mind. That we're a
pretty special group. So that's definitely first and foremost. Trying
to get double digit turnovers was definitely something that you know,
I'm looking forward to. And yeah, I mean I can
(29:20):
name a bunch you know, all Pro Pro Bowl. You know,
those are all things that that you know, our goals
in my mind, but really the ultimate goal is going
I want to know every week and you know, obviously
trying to make it to the highest level that we
can and that's that Super Bowl.
Speaker 2 (29:34):
Baby, you have no question about it, no question about it.
Charles Woodson, a great all time packer, told me, I've
never seen a running back receiver leave without the ball.
So if you once you once you grab at that ball,
they going down or they letting it go. And you know,
he's one of the great turnover machines of all times.
Sixty five books.
Speaker 1 (29:53):
That's ridiculously that's ridiculous. Was that like six a year.
Speaker 2 (29:58):
It's something really um and and the player of the
Year and like year team like, oh my god in
Green Bay, Oh my god, yeah, all time, unreal.
Speaker 1 (30:07):
Yeah yeah, we we got his highlights boring on that
TV at all times, as you.
Speaker 2 (30:11):
Should because you talk about a ball guy, a guy
who can get that rock, he was one of them.
Anything else you want Green Bay Packers fan base or
the world to know about you before we get off
and I stopped taking your off day.
Speaker 1 (30:25):
Yeah nah, I mean I already got a lift in,
so not not really an off day, but not to
Green Bay fans alike. Just uh, you know, prepare for
more the same prepare you know for us. Given our
all each and every week, it's gonna be a fun season.
And uh, just to you, just want to say, you know,
(30:46):
thank you for being all you are for the dB position. Really,
you know, to me, you you definitely, you know, reinvigorated
the dB position. You know, as I'm coming through high school,
especially with your path, you know, coming from receiver to
to I played a little receiver in high school and
used to think that was cool. But you know, you
with the the lob and yeah, Cam and et y'all,
(31:08):
y'all really just made the the DV position, you know,
brought a certain level of swaggers to the DV position
and confidence and uh yeah that was that was really
cool for me. So just just want to say thank
you on that part. Uh your legend, Bro.
Speaker 3 (31:21):
That means that means so much to me. Brother.
Speaker 2 (31:23):
I mean, you know you don't think about that through it,
through the process. You're just trying to put good stuff
on tape, play at a high level and love the
guys you were around and under the game, and that
means a lot more than I can express right now.
I appreciate you honoring me, you know, doing this, coming
on the podcast, doing it with me today, spending your time.
Speaker 3 (31:40):
I know you got your lifting, but I know it's
your off day.
Speaker 2 (31:42):
You could be anywhere doing anything and you decided to
give me your time and it means a lot.
Speaker 1 (31:48):
Oh yeah, absolutely, man, appreciate you having me on again anytime.
Speaker 3 (31:51):
And I'm getting you again, y'all.
Speaker 2 (31:53):
Y'all get that trophy right after you we're done celebrating
and doing all your thing. I'm gi you a month
and a half coming back and you gonna tell tell
me about it.
Speaker 1 (32:01):
Oh yes, sounds good. Yeah, I'm cool with that plan.
I'm cool with that plan.
Speaker 3 (32:05):
I love it, appreciate you brother, I'll see you next time.
Speaker 1 (32:08):
Yes, Sir, appreciate you.
Speaker 3 (32:09):
Man M.
Yeah, then pbu's pay rent and then I iNTS pay mortgage.
Speaker 2 (00:03):
Pay the mortgage, they buy the house. Welcome back to
the Richard Sherman Podcast. We got an incredible guest on today,
Evan Williams of the Green Bay Packers.
Speaker 3 (00:16):
Been playing so well this season. Brother, appreciate you joining us.
Speaker 1 (00:21):
Yes, sir, appreciates you for having me. Man means a lot.
Speaker 2 (00:23):
You deserve it. Talk about the jump from year one
to year two because you started six games as a
rook In my rookie year, I started teen, and you know,
when you get into your second year, it's just like
you feel such a different comfort level out there, such
a different calmness. And then playing with the same guys.
Just walk me through your development and your growth.
Speaker 1 (00:47):
Yeah really, you said, it's it's a comfortability about the
whole thing, you know, being able to have a full
year under the system, right, so just being able to
understand the playbook and kind of not feel like you
to be anywhere too fast really just because you you know,
you got that year under your belt and you know
you kind of understand all the rules as they are.
(01:08):
And then uh yeah, playing with the you know, same
guys going into your second year and really just from
a mental standpoint. Uh you said it like, I don't
feel like, you know, obviously every every game you got
something to prove. But you know, you go out there,
it's not it's not your first time anymore. It's not
your first rodeo. So you're just a little more you know,
comfortable out there on the field. You know, able to
(01:30):
you know, have a complete focus about you when when
you're out there. And uh, yeah, each game I'm feeling
more and more comfortable with the guys around me too.
Speaker 2 (01:38):
So I'm gonna walk your back take me through the
decision to leave Fresno State and go to Oregon.
Speaker 3 (01:45):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (01:45):
Man, I really wanted to finish my college career at
Fresno State. That was you know, my plan, you know,
for my whole really college career until yeah, I had
a little knee injury that kind of sidetracked things my
last year at Fresno State, and that year, you know,
I was able to get surgery, come back and win
(02:07):
a championship there. And so yeah, really just came down
to having talks with my family, talks with friends, you know,
close people around me, and the consensus was, you know,
I really just did all that I could do at
Fresno State. You know, committed four good years there, and
you know, like it or not, scouts are looking at
(02:28):
the level of competition you play against. You know that
that is a big factor and you know where you're
gonna go and draft wise, and so you know, it
wasn't only that, it was also you know, proven it
to myself that I could play, you know, against the
blue chip guys, you know, the best of the best
at their positions, and a yeah, and so you know,
it wasn't an easy decision by any means, but you know,
I'm glad I did it. Got to some great you
(02:49):
know relationships out of it. You know, got that whole
coaching staff, Coach Landing, coach loup Oy, you know, all
of them taught me so much for my one year there,
and uh yeah, I got to you know, compete at
a pretty high level, went to the Paxworld Championship and
all that. So it wasn't an easy decision, but you know, definitely,
looking back, I'm glad I.
Speaker 3 (03:08):
Did it right.
Speaker 1 (03:08):
Right.
Speaker 2 (03:08):
Hey, sometimes you gotta make hard decisions and it pans
out exactly like you need to. You also participated in
the senior Bowl, and I played in the Senior Bowl
before it became whatever bowl it is now because they
say juniors could play in it, I don't know as
the Senior Bowl and everybody get to play.
Speaker 1 (03:24):
But yeah, I don't know about that, right, right, right right.
Speaker 2 (03:27):
But talk about that experience, because they called me after
the first day of practice somebody got injured. It was
kind of disrespectful, but you know, when you going through
that process, You're like, hey, I take whatever I can get,
y'all give me another shot.
Speaker 3 (03:38):
I'm in man.
Speaker 1 (03:41):
And I was kind of in the same boat. I
was a pretty late ad to the Senior Bowl, so
you know, I was hoping to get whatever bowl invite
I was, you know, trying to get Yeah, at that point,
you kind of just scrabbing and clawing. All right, whatever
whatever I got, let me take it and hit the
ground running. But no, yeah, I was thinking East West
Shrine Bowl was, you know initially, and then one of
(04:01):
the last days, like probably less than a week before
you know, they got going, they invited me. Got to
come down and yeah, I honestly met a lot of
people that you know, are in the league right now,
and you know that that was kind of just a
pretty cool process seeing you know, obviously talking to all
those scouts and then yeah, me and a bunch of
boys that you know are going to be lifelong relationships
(04:23):
in the league. It was a pretty pretty cool thing
to be put on in you know. I'm glad I
was a part of it for sure.
Speaker 3 (04:29):
Yeah. It's such a cool game and it's so cool
to play at a high level.
Speaker 2 (04:33):
You don't you don't realize they don't care nothing about
the game until you get to the game and nobody's
there and the scouts. Everybody's gone, but they're there all
week at every practice, you know, watching every one on
one and you're like, why is practice more important than
the game?
Speaker 3 (04:45):
But you know, it is what it is. It works out.
Speaker 1 (04:48):
No, Yeah, for so there was. It was pretty empty.
Now that you say that, it was pretty empty during
the game.
Speaker 3 (04:53):
I was.
Speaker 1 (04:53):
I got a pick too in the game and I'm
looking around for the scouts. I'm like, all right, ain't
nobody around here, right?
Speaker 3 (05:01):
You're like, yeah, they'll see you to tape. They'll see
you to tape. You'll see it.
Speaker 1 (05:04):
Yeah, yeah, they really just want to see your practice habits, right,
and yeah, see, really your character, what you made of
But no, it was. It was a cool experience.
Speaker 2 (05:13):
Regardless speaking of character. And you so now you're drafted
by the Green Bay Packers. You're a California kid. You
go from Fresno State to Eugene. Now you and now
you're in Wisconsin, green Bay, Wisconsin. You know as a
as a as another California kid, I haven't. I've never
been to Green Bay, Wisconsin to live. I've been there
a couple of times. And all I knew before they
(05:36):
got that road house or whatever text the roadhouse they got.
Speaker 3 (05:39):
Now they only had that red lobster and that was
that was it.
Speaker 1 (05:45):
They you know, they got a few more restaurants now
you can come back check them out. But nah, it's
a little more of the same, I must say.
Speaker 2 (05:52):
But but it seems like some of the best fans
in the world. You know, one of the most unique
environments I've ever seen. They seem like they have so
much love and appreciation for the team, and the relationship
with the with the fans and the team is really
unlike anywhere else.
Speaker 1 (06:09):
Yeah, it is pretty unique. Really. I always say that
the fans are just the people really make the town.
Like everybody you run into, you know, two things about them.
They love their packers, and you know they're they're not
gonna do the most when you out in public, like
they definitely understand. And if they under like, if they
know who you are, they're gonna just show their appreciation
(06:30):
in the little ways and not try to you know,
blash an aame ask for a bunch of pictures and stuff,
which I think is pretty cool, just you know, being
able to maintain that a little bit of privacy when
you're with your family and all that. But no, yeah,
Green Bay, it's been a blessing for me so far. Again,
the organization is just pretty one of a cond as
(06:51):
far as how they take, you know, care of everybody.
Every player is like family to them, so you know,
they take care of you and your family in a
certain type of way. And it's really just built around
the culture of winning, right like that. That's kind of
just the standard around here, and you know, being able
to hold everybody to that standard is a is a
pretty cool cool thing to be, you know, be a
(07:11):
part of and expect out out of, you know, other people.
Speaker 3 (07:14):
What was your welcome to the league moment?
Speaker 2 (07:16):
You know, it don't got to be on the field,
It can be on the field, it could be off
the field, it could be an offseason. But what was
your welcome to the league, Like, man, I'm really in
the league. It could be bad, it could be great.
Speaker 1 (07:25):
Uh yeah. I mean there's not many welcome to the
leagues that are positive, I must say, but if I
had to pick one, there was. It was actually pretty
late in the year. I mean, I wouldn't say this
is the first welcome to the league. But we're playing
the Dolphins at in Lambeau. Really cool game, like it's
(07:46):
snow and it's probably around ten degrees. And then yeah,
so Boomer, he moster gets a little sweep around the edge,
breaks through the second level. I kind of get a
late read on it, so I'm not really in the ground, man,
And so yeah, he possed through the whole like untouched,
and I'm kind of on my heels already. I said, Okay,
(08:08):
I gotta reaccelerate real quick. So I reaccelerate in the Yeah,
let's just say I got a face full of hands
for sure, or sure he got moment, but he got
he could run, So he's coming through like he's running.
Speaker 3 (08:24):
Now.
Speaker 1 (08:24):
I'm like, okay, i gotta restart my feet tried to
get going, and uh yeah, he gave me one. I said, okay,
there's levels, right right, there's levels.
Speaker 3 (08:32):
Put that notebook, non wrong with that, right? Yeah?
Speaker 1 (08:35):
Take your notes.
Speaker 3 (08:36):
Keep you pushing, Yes, sir, it happens like that sometimes.
You know. I played.
Speaker 2 (08:41):
Look I feel so old because I'll be like back
in my day, you know, my rookie year, there were
still fullbacks with neck rolls on. So I hit a
full back with a neck roll on coming from a
deep third without no flat defender, and and just just
just just know I was seeing black and white on
one side and cover on the other side, like I
had two different But.
Speaker 3 (09:03):
Yeah, we made it. We made it. We made just
now we're just stronger, because that's that's it.
Speaker 2 (09:09):
Talk to me about Jeff Affley because one of the
one of the best human beings, one of the most
incredible football minds, and just a great human, genuine human being.
You know how he relates to his players, how he
speaks life into his players, and how he does everything
he can to put you guys in position to be
successful and he wants the best for you. Talk about
your relationship and just meeting you know, you came in
(09:29):
as a rook so he's all you.
Speaker 1 (09:31):
Know, yeah, and really, if I could just describe him,
it would be he's a leader of men and he
knows how to do it really well. And as far
as this, like how he talks to us again, he's
a guy that you know, treats you like family, is
always asking you know how you're doing, like, how's your
mental how's your family? The questions that matter, right, like
you want to know that your coach got your back
(09:52):
just like you got his. And so, uh yeah, that's
a guy that you know, showed care, you know as
immediately as I got into this program, you know, how
to a plan for me immediately, you know, as I
came into this organization. And then on the field as
far as scheme, like he just makes our jobs so simple,
just so that you know, and before each game, he
(10:14):
one of the things he always says, he's like, listen,
don't even worry about making mistakes, right, like, just play fast,
Like put whatever mistakes you got, if you got any hesitancy,
that's on the coaches, that's on us. I just want
you to go out there and play as fast as
you can, as violent as you can, and that really
just you know, freez things up, you know from a
player perspective, right like you, I don't got to worry
(10:35):
about making a mistake. You know, I'm coach, not gonna
get on me for that. He will, but you know
he's that's down the road. That's down the road. But no,
just for him to have that trust in us and uh,
you know, to give us assignments that just allow us
to get our cleets in the ground, you know, read
everything in front of us and play fast. He keeps
its simple for us and uh yeah, just puts us
(10:55):
in a great spots and make plays.
Speaker 2 (10:57):
You guys have a really smart and young and a
aggressive secondary. I love watching you guys play because you
guys remind us of when you know our secondary group
so much, because we kind of grew up together and
it's like an offensive line and the secondary is the saying.
Speaker 3 (11:12):
The more time you spend.
Speaker 2 (11:13):
Together, the more you play together, the more you kind
of know each other's habits. You know where he's gonna be,
what to expect, his strengths, his weaknesses. And there's a
different way of like dealing with adversity. So when you
run into adversity and you run into hard moments. It's
not like you guys are like, man, what theF are
you doing? What the eff are you doing? You're just like, hey, hey,
I understand you wanted to do your job at a
(11:33):
high level. Mistakes happen, Hey we getting past that next play,
and so again just to speak to carry on what
you were saying. It's like you guys speak confidence into
each other. Your coach speaks confidence into each other, so
you're not afraid to make a mistake or shoot your
gun because you know they got your back, not only
on the field, but off the field.
Speaker 1 (11:56):
Yeah. Yeah, I mean that's really everything, just building a relationship,
know in that dB room. Yeah, it's huge, you know,
from especially coming off those field. You know, those those
post drive, post touchdown conversations are some of the you know,
most important conversations you're gonna have in the whole game,
just because you know, it really teaches you about the
group itself, how y'all gonna respond to adversity and just
(12:18):
how tight your bond is, right, Like, if you're able
to just acknowledge the problem, get it solved, you know,
and not have to worry about somebody feeling some type
of way just because we you know, we've all been
with each other, We've all been through these adversities before.
Like it's it's nothing new. Everybody's got to, you know,
take accountability at some point. And so yeah, just being
(12:38):
able to you know, get the problem solved as fast
as you can and then yeah, when when you're on
the field to understand that, yeah, these guys got my back.
Or you just know the tendencies of players. Okay, I
know Ex is gonna play this super aggressive, so I'm
gonna let him shoo his gun, and yeah, I gotta
be a little more you know, cautious of this run fit.
Or I know he's gonna probably play the high route
(13:01):
in this scenario, so I can you know, gives me
the opportunity to go make a play. Just you know,
the more reps you stacking practice, the more those things
unconsciously happen and you're able to just play off each other,
and uh yeah, really it's a beautiful thing, you know
when when you see these dB rooms getting the year two,
year three, I mean, how long were y'all together the
(13:22):
lob We were too long?
Speaker 3 (13:24):
Yeah, too long, too long. I think we ended up
getting six together.
Speaker 1 (13:28):
Yeah, yeah, hell yeah, so yeah, being able to just
have that confidence in your brother's Uh, there's really nothing
like it from from a back end perspective.
Speaker 3 (13:35):
No, there's not.
Speaker 2 (13:36):
And waiting until you guys get into some of these
playoff games and you just get oh my god, it's
feel like your brains are tied on the string. You
start to get in the zone. I'll tell you what
it feels. Oh, it's different. We're gonna talk after y'all,
after y'all go to the playoff and y'all boys play well,
and after that, y'all go make that deep playoff run
hopefully get your trophy.
Speaker 3 (13:56):
I'm I'm putting your back on the.
Speaker 2 (13:58):
Podcast, and yeah, you won't be I know what you're
talking about. Like you tied on the string out there,
no question about it. That's gonna that's gonna be fun.
Speaking of you guys were underrated last year for some reason.
I mean, you guys were top five defense, you know,
top six, top five in yards, eight and sacks I
(14:19):
think six and points or something like that, and underrated
because of what I would considered just just star power.
And you know what I mean, because you guys got
a really good group, talented group, young group, and now
you get Micah Parsons, and it almost validates all that
you guys have been and all that you guys are
talk about his arrival and just your mentality because he
(14:39):
seems like he fits right into the culture that you
guys have built. You guys run, you practice hard, you
hit you you care about one another. You guys just
got a quality group of human beings.
Speaker 1 (14:50):
Yeah, he really came in. You know, day one. You're
trying to you know, feel feel him out, just like, okay,
see what he's about. You know, what what what cloth
does he come from? And then and just for him
to come and say what he said, and I mean
just you know, show that he's about the process. I
think that was that was the biggest thing for me.
(15:11):
You know that that got me the most respect for
me is just you know, understanding seeing how he practices,
seeing how he carries himself. And yeah, under like he
told to me that he's like, yeah, I'm you know,
I'm gonna give my all. You know, I'm a guy
that just plays fast, you know, and those guys better,
you know, have my back because I'm gonna be playing fast.
And I know that this is a team that likes
(15:31):
to do that, and so just for him to come
out there and then literally first practice you see his
his get off. He's chasing the ball down the field.
And to have a guy you know that's worth that
much chase the ball, you know, running across, you know,
giving his pass rush and then loop the quarterback and
you know, chase the receiver doubt like that. That's that's
impressive stuff and that that got all of our respect really,
(15:53):
you know, the first couple of days seeing him work,
and yeah, I would say he fits our scheme perfect.
You know. We we're definitely a scheme that you know,
focuses on Russian coverage and you know, when it's time
for those big downs, those third downs, just letting our
you know, guys up front eat and uh yeah, needless
to say, he's a guy that can eat. I mean,
(16:14):
third round he can eat.
Speaker 2 (16:15):
But it's other guys y'all had that Ben eaton Davonte
Wyatt obviously, with Shawan Geary, Luke Vanas gets his gets his.
He makes sure he gets his every time. Eddrian Cooper
look like he always getting his. That's that's what's so
incredible about this group. They were eighth in sacks last year. Know,
Michael Parsons, you know, they had some hunters, and obviously
you lose a great teammate. And Kenny Clark, I've heard
(16:39):
nothing but positive things about him. Great teammate, great human being.
Everything in the Green Bay Packers stand for he represented.
So I know that's tough to lose. But you get
a player like Michael Parsons, you guys elevate defensively. You
gotta be feeling good right now.
Speaker 1 (16:54):
Yeah, absolutely, man, And you said it. I mean we
we really had we felt comfortable coming into this year,
you know, without Micah Parsons, like we had all the
tools that we we needed and we understood what we
needed to do to you know, get to where we
want to be. And then you know, adding Micah, even
if he's not getting to the quarterback, he's again he's
opening these one on ones with you know, the deepness
(17:17):
that we have. You know, at d line, you got
guys coming off, you know that are fresh coming out
out on third down that can just you know, rush
their ass off, and let me tell you it makes
it makes it real easy on the back end, makes
it really.
Speaker 3 (17:31):
And he helps feed your DBS speak.
Speaker 1 (17:34):
Oh yeah, a bunch of food on our plate. Oh yeah,
oh yeah, the.
Speaker 2 (17:39):
First week there can he get a pressure on Jared
Golf flash in front of him. You come out of
your disguise. First off, we're gonna talk about that too.
We're gonna talk about you all late rotations and y'all disguises,
because they're all over there putting it on tape and
I love it, But talk about that play. Let's let's
go there and we don't got to go to deepness.
(18:00):
I understand what you guys were running and all that,
but I'm gonna tell you what I thought it was
on the tape and what you guys like because it
looked like three. To me, it looked like you drop
it into a hook from three, like a uma or
we used to call it maybe ed phoenix check guard.
Speaker 3 (18:17):
You know what I mean.
Speaker 2 (18:17):
It looks like you you dropping into a hook and
X was rotating to the middle of the field. Then
the corners was dropping to a third and you had
to flat defenders, et cetera, et cetera. But how late
you rotated in and how fast you played and triggered
it was. I mean, I just loved everything about it.
Walk me through that, yeah, man, I said it before.
Speaker 1 (18:40):
But I feel like we won that down before the
ball was even snapped, right, Like you got to show
the quarterback something and make him believe it. And so
that that, yeah, definitely takes a lot of reps, right
that that definitely took you know, a year to develop,
you know, just first understanding, okay, what I gotta be
at at the snap, you know, understanding your assignment, what
you got to do. But then also okay, what are
(19:01):
we trying to show as a whole, and how can
I you know, fit in that. But yeah, that play
we were showing showing man, you know, just a one
high if not man and just a one high boundary
rotation and kind of made it look more real with
the with the motion, you know, being able to I
was initially down and then you know, spind and have
(19:22):
X walk down again, give the quarterback what he wants
to see. And we were actually getting to cover two
on that play. X was gonna be the middle runner
he came. I see why you said cover three because
he was a little deep. He was deep, especially for
he was running to yeah middle you know, back line
down there because it was it was low red. But no, yeah,
I was I was just getting to my my curl
(19:44):
landmark for cover two. And yeah, so coming out, you know,
I was able to They gave us a good snap
key just because the place was rawing. Now it's third down,
they got to give a silent count and so you
you you know, tie that in with the you know,
the clock running down in the background kind of see
it gets a six five, Okay, ball's gotta you know,
something's gotta break, you know. And so was able to
(20:06):
get that key. And then also knowing down the distance, Okay,
where I gotta be, you know what landmark should I do?
I gotta be? Should I be aggressive in this you
know scenario? And I felt, you know, like I should
have in that one. And then yeah, knowing who was
in the slot, they had am and raw with a
really plus split from one like he was and he's
not the guy at one. Wasn't like a fade ball
(20:29):
type guy like that you just throw out there, and
you know, had that threat, and so you know, they
just trying to give him space. The ball is going
to find him, you know, on these third downs. And
so yeah, and you knowled it to the last second.
Speaker 3 (20:40):
And you know, the quarter got a backstop. So he
can't run that out exactly exactly.
Speaker 1 (20:44):
I'm not worried about that. And so yeah, it's really
just trusting again, trusting your teammates, you know, trusting the scheme,
and then yeah, when your ob comes, really just taking
advantage of it. Saw the ball out, I mean saw
him kind of am and rad in my peripheral kind
of hookup right there, and uh, Jared Goff initially looked
at me, you know, for a little bit, and then uh,
(21:05):
you know, spiked his eyes to to two and really,
my you know, my feet made the play before I
was even aware it just ran through it, and uh
thought I was gonna get a PBu, but you know,
came up with a nice love.
Speaker 3 (21:15):
But you wanted to be great.
Speaker 1 (21:17):
Oh yeah, good, they're great.
Speaker 3 (21:20):
It is.
Speaker 1 (21:20):
You know what it is.
Speaker 3 (21:21):
I know exactly what it is people he used.
Speaker 2 (21:24):
That's why I'm about to get on Key Sean as
Look I got Key Shan next week.
Speaker 3 (21:28):
I'm on his I'm on his hind parts.
Speaker 1 (21:30):
Yeah, as you should be. As you should be. He's
got to turn one of those into that boy gets
some money.
Speaker 3 (21:35):
Five not downs, and don't book not all of them.
You don't want no money. You don't want to. You
want to drive in a hunger.
Speaker 1 (21:43):
That Yeah, then pbu's pay rent and then I ts
pay mortgage, pay the mortgage, they buy the house, they
buy the house.
Speaker 2 (21:50):
You catch one of those, you catch two, you start
having a whole different conversations.
Speaker 1 (21:56):
Mm hmm.
Speaker 2 (21:57):
But few houses, few houses and green I heard some
afloridable houses. You come on now, make yourself comfortable. Want
to continue. I love the quote that you had after
the game. You said, don't let victory mask your problems.
People don't even understand that level of accountability that the
wins ain't even it's the process.
Speaker 3 (22:19):
It's the process. It's making sure you got great practice happens,
making sure you correct the mistakes. The result is what
it is. And that's a bro. That's such a cool
process from you and in your age, the maturity that
you have to see it and the culture that you
guys are building. Oh my god, man, I just love
to hear that quote. I'm sorry, I ain't even got
a point or question off of that. Nah.
Speaker 1 (22:40):
I mean, and that's the truth, man, because you know
your moment moment, you let those those victories stack and
you know, let that get in the way of you
getting better. Let that you know, blind you from seeing
the the problems that you got to fix is a
you know, the day you get beat that you get complacent.
And so yeah, it's always been about the process, always
been about the little better each each week, each day
(23:01):
however you can. And uh, really the result is the result.
What you put on tape is what you put on tape.
Speaker 2 (23:07):
I love y'all chemistry back there, the three safety looks
that y'all. And then when you come and Javan moves
to Nickel and Howard he first off, he played he.
Speaker 3 (23:16):
Played way bigger than what he is.
Speaker 2 (23:18):
He played big and he plays Fast'll y'all bring him
in prepped and ready to go. He's ready made microwave dinner.
Oh yeah, y'all bring him in quick. But you you
do such a great job. There's so much humility and
the way you play and the way you operate back
there with X And that's what I'm not gonna talk
(23:39):
through everything in y'all scheme because there's a lot of
football and they got to figure out what y'all doing
back there.
Speaker 3 (23:45):
We ain't gonna tell him.
Speaker 2 (23:47):
But the way y'all rotating, the way y'all communicate to
rotating the way y'all make decisions to rotate, and the
freedom that half gives y'all, it's such a cool thing.
Not every coach is gonna give young dvs the freedom
to to pretty much make it look like it needs
to look, make it happen the way it needs to happen.
But he he believes in how smart and how incredible
of the players you are, and that's a that's a
(24:08):
cool trust to have from your DC.
Speaker 1 (24:11):
No, yeah, absolutely, it was probably one of the times
in our recent meetings. Uh he called us the quarterbacks
of the defense, like the the dB safety room, and
uh I brought it back up in our just safety meeting,
just talking about like, you know, it's doesn't always happen
that you know, DC has that much trust, just gives
(24:32):
you the you know, keys to the palace, just like that.
And so that that comes with a certain level of responsibility, right,
that comes with the accountability to you know, handle your disguise,
get everybody in the right track, and that you know
that all starts with communication and so just you know,
being able to be the most efficient communicators on the
field is you know, first and foremost what we got
(24:53):
to be and we take a lot of pride in that,
you know, me and X getting those calls to boil
down that nickel and uh yeah, you know, echoing it
through the rest of the formation. That's really what makes
our defense run.
Speaker 3 (25:07):
Y'all do a great job.
Speaker 2 (25:08):
And another thing that you see that jumps off on
tape for you guys is the effort that you play with,
and that's a thing that it takes no talent. Those
are one of the things that take no talent, and
any great defense, any truly great defense, they're gonna jump
off the tape like that. They're gonna do the things
that take no talent at a higher level. I'm sure
if I went to y'all walked through the attention of
detail and that walk through, I guarantee you it's no
(25:30):
pass is completed. I guarantee you as guys where they're
supposed to be. It's probably noisy guys talking up a storm,
because that's great defense, and you can see it each
and every week. So that's a testament to the work
you guys put in, the care you guys have for
one another, the standard you guys said, and the standard
that you guys are trying to reach every single day.
I see nothing but greatness. I mean even last year
(25:51):
when y'all played the Eagles, I thought y'all played a
great game. You know, Unfortunately the other side of the
ball was pretty beat up. Y'all were beat up. And
the receiver room is to beat the eventual Super Bowl champs.
Without a healthy receiver room, that would that would have
said a lot about y'all. Y'all would have got that done.
But let's talk about that offense. Jordan Love four touchdowns,
no interceptions, Josh Jacobs continuing to do what he does. Uh,
(26:15):
that's another thing that allows for great defense. A run game,
and controlling the clock and the things they do each
and every play, each and every week. They do a
good job of turning your turnovers into points into seven
points and not three. Uh.
Speaker 3 (26:28):
Tell me how how good that offense could be.
Speaker 1 (26:32):
I mean, I think we've seen it through these first
two games, and honestly, I feel like there's a different
level that you know, they can even tap into. We've
been banged up a little bit, you know, early this year,
Jay Red, you know, just recently, you know, got banged up.
But no, I mean I feel like just the more
comfortable people get in this scheme, you know, and MG
(26:55):
starts to come alive because he's gonna come alive. You know,
it's not a matter of right now, it's a matter
of when, you know, because he's gonna get his But no,
I mean just to have that confidence in the you know,
getting the ball back to the offense is everything from
a defensive perspective, you know, it makes us want to
you know, run to the ball, tag the ball at
the you know, the highest level because you know, you know,
(27:18):
once once ten gets the ball, he can do anything
with it. He can you know, sling his sixty yards
downfield or run somebody over if he wants to. Don't
do that again, but he can do it, you know.
But yeah, yeah, I'm cool with that.
Speaker 3 (27:34):
Just do it once. Nah.
Speaker 1 (27:36):
But yeah, being able to have that confidence and you
know your offense to you know, it just motivates you
even more when you want the field too. All right,
we get the ball back to our offense, that's points,
like automatically, that's that's points. And then having obviously having
a run game, you know, be the way it is. Uh,
you know, whenever it gets lay in them games and
you're up a couple scores. Call it Josh Jacobs tan,
(27:57):
you know, because he could just take over a game.
You just give him the ball and you know, see
what kind of magic comes out of that. And he's been,
you know, a workhorse for us these past two years.
And uh yeah, I mean we we got we got
special guys all over that offense, and uh we've we've
sown pieces, but I feel like there's even more of
a level that they could tap into, you know, coming
coming down for the rest of the season.
Speaker 2 (28:18):
Oh, they're they're young too, They're young. You guys are
young there as a group, and you're gonna continue to grow.
What what's your goals come What were your goals coming
into the season. Obviously you own a great track already,
but I just wanted to know what you big picture.
I know the trophy is always the the goal, but
what else.
Speaker 1 (28:37):
Yeah, personally, I wanted to just really be around the
ball this year. Set my mind on you know, double
digit turnovers, you know, mixture of I ts and forced fumbles.
Definitely want to get some force fumbles this year's this year.
I feel like last year I was kind of not
(28:57):
not hunting it, but just taking some downs out to
see myself just wanted to make the tackle more than
being as ball aware as I can be. And I
know that, you know, when our whole defense is you know,
that's the only thing on our mind. That we're a
pretty special group. So that's definitely first and foremost. Trying
to get double digit turnovers was definitely something that you know,
I'm looking forward to. And yeah, I mean I can
(29:20):
name a bunch you know, all Pro Pro Bowl. You know,
those are all things that that you know, our goals
in my mind, but really the ultimate goal is going
I want to know every week and you know, obviously
trying to make it to the highest level that we
can and that's that Super Bowl.
Speaker 2 (29:34):
Baby, you have no question about it, no question about it.
Charles Woodson, a great all time packer, told me, I've
never seen a running back receiver leave without the ball.
So if you once you once you grab at that ball,
they going down or they letting it go. And you know,
he's one of the great turnover machines of all times.
Sixty five books.
Speaker 1 (29:53):
That's ridiculously that's ridiculous. Was that like six a year.
Speaker 2 (29:58):
It's something really um and and the player of the
Year and like year team like, oh my god in
Green Bay, Oh my god, yeah, all time, unreal.
Speaker 1 (30:07):
Yeah yeah, we we got his highlights boring on that
TV at all times, as you.
Speaker 2 (30:11):
Should because you talk about a ball guy, a guy
who can get that rock, he was one of them.
Anything else you want Green Bay Packers fan base or
the world to know about you before we get off
and I stopped taking your off day.
Speaker 1 (30:25):
Yeah nah, I mean I already got a lift in,
so not not really an off day, but not to
Green Bay fans alike. Just uh, you know, prepare for
more the same prepare you know for us. Given our
all each and every week, it's gonna be a fun season.
And uh, just to you, just want to say, you know,
(30:46):
thank you for being all you are for the dB position. Really,
you know, to me, you you definitely, you know, reinvigorated
the dB position. You know, as I'm coming through high school,
especially with your path, you know, coming from receiver to
to I played a little receiver in high school and
used to think that was cool. But you know, you
with the the lob and yeah, Cam and et y'all,
(31:08):
y'all really just made the the DV position, you know,
brought a certain level of swaggers to the DV position
and confidence and uh yeah that was that was really
cool for me. So just just want to say thank
you on that part. Uh your legend, Bro.
Speaker 3 (31:21):
That means that means so much to me. Brother.
Speaker 2 (31:23):
I mean, you know you don't think about that through it,
through the process. You're just trying to put good stuff
on tape, play at a high level and love the
guys you were around and under the game, and that
means a lot more than I can express right now.
I appreciate you honoring me, you know, doing this, coming
on the podcast, doing it with me today, spending your time.
Speaker 3 (31:40):
I know you got your lifting, but I know it's
your off day.
Speaker 2 (31:42):
You could be anywhere doing anything and you decided to
give me your time and it means a lot.
Speaker 1 (31:48):
Oh yeah, absolutely, man, appreciate you having me on again anytime.
Speaker 3 (31:51):
And I'm getting you again, y'all.
Speaker 2 (31:53):
Y'all get that trophy right after you we're done celebrating
and doing all your thing. I'm gi you a month
and a half coming back and you gonna tell tell
me about it.
Speaker 1 (32:01):
Oh yes, sounds good. Yeah, I'm cool with that plan.
I'm cool with that plan.
Speaker 3 (32:05):
I love it, appreciate you brother, I'll see you next time.
Speaker 1 (32:08):
Yes, Sir, appreciate you.
Speaker 3 (32:09):
Man M.
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