March 3, 2022 • 37 mins
The all-time winningest QB in Notre Dame history joins the show on today's episode, as current New Orleans Saints Ian Book takes the guys inside the Saints' unique quarterback room with Taysom Hill, Jamies Winston, and Trevor Siemian, the wild Week 16 that resulted in his first NFL start, his Pro Day and NFL Draft experience, his ascent from unheralded recruit to Notre Dame's all-time wins leader, and his favorite games from his Irish career.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:01):
The volume What's Up, Everybody? Welcome back to the Inside
of Garage podcast from cal Hamilton along with J. J. Wallace,
Conradian and Camp Heart. Last episode we had college Kareem
(00:21):
indie legend. Today we have another indie legend. Uh winning
this quarterback Notre Dame history Ian book, most notably more
wins than offense coordinator Tommy Reese. UM put that out there.
But you know, what's up. I've been doing. What you've
been up to? What's up, guys. I'm glad to be
on here. A good scene. I mean, in northern California,
(00:41):
just getting ready to get back to New Orleans in April.
So working out, throwing and hang out with the family.
That's good. So this is your first like official off season.
How relieved are you to be like out of football
because I know it's been a while since you've had
some off time coming from like college, strange to the
league and everything. That's your first time you've had like downtime.
(01:03):
How's it been like spending time with family and stuff
like that. So it's crazy, like you definitely you're doing
it right now. I mean you're doing two full years
of football basically, you know from your senior season two
training to whatever senior bolt combine and then write into
camp and then you go into your first year in
the league. So you'll know what I'm talking about. But
(01:24):
it's the longest break I've ever had in my life
in terms of taking a break from any sports I've
ever done. Three months off of anything is is wild.
So I'm just trying to learn, like how i want
to do the offseason this first year, trying to figure
out where I want to be, how I want to
do it. How much time do I feel comfortable with
taking off and then getting back into it because you
(01:44):
do need rest. So that's like one thing you hear
from everybody in their agent. They're like, take a take
time off, Like seriously, go go do something that you
want to do. So it's been amazing. I've had some
sweet vacations and not to spend a lot of time
with family and friends and it was going to be
back home. It's in a while. What was the most
um like the most recommended time from like a vet
(02:06):
they said you should take off as a rookie, ye
or its defense too years talking to like I asked,
I asked everybody in my in my locker section, like
I was saying, Jordan's year, whatever it is for him,
he's got a dial down. He was telling me he
did not do anything for like a month month and
a half. You know, he plays every game at defensive end.
(02:27):
He's like, I don't do anything. I'm just hanging out
with my kids. We go on like four or five
vacations like crazy, like you eat it all in at
one time, and then um, he's like, I'll slowly get
into it for a month by like running, and then
I'll do like talking talking basically talking about like never
putting his clicks back on until he has to like
really taking the sun. And then there's someone like I
talked to Jamis, and Jamis is a work horse man,
(02:50):
like he grinds obviously coming off an injury. But um,
I think even if he wasn't coming off this injury,
he'd be doing the same thing, Like he works every
single day. Like I think he probably takes a week.
God it goes back, So it depends on how you are.
You know, I took about a month off and then
I've been back and we'll grind for another two months
before time to really get it gone. So you talked
about Jamie's and I just want to touch on, like
(03:13):
I think everybody kind of understands the QB situation in
New Orleans was really unique this year and like obviously
it's you servicing me and Taysom Hill Jameis Winson, like
gotta be one of the most interesting quarterback rooms in
the league. Um, and I always thought it found it
interesting how quarterbacks that Notre Dame, like you drew like everybody,
(03:34):
even like Phil who ended up transferring, but like, guys
got along in that room even though it maybe like
the most competitive room per se um in the building,
Like how did that translate to the league? Like how
did you guys? Jel is a group in the league.
So it's a great question because I was thinking the
same thing. Like my time at Notre Dame, I feel
like because of the people that Notre Dame recruits, it
(03:56):
was always for the most part, obviously really easy to
get along with everyone, especially in your quarterback position when
only one quarterback can play, that can be pretty awkward.
So I always felt like a Notre Dame like maybe
it was just special because we were at Notre Dame
and everybody's like a good dude. So then I was worried,
Like I'm not really worried, but I just figured once
I go to the league, it's gonna be completely upset,
Like the guy's not going to talk to you. You know,
(04:19):
everyone thinks they're the best. You always hear these stories
of you know, the other guy not helping this guy
because I don't want to take a spot, like this
is his livelihood, how he pays for, you know, supports
his family. I get to the same and just like
it was totally welcomed in by everybody, Like it was
such a unique quarterback room with Jamis, Trevor Taysom. We're
(04:39):
going into camp, like I don't I've never heard of
a team keeping four quarterbacks in my life. It's always
right two with maybe a practice squad guy for three.
So we go into the season all four are on
the man roster, so wild. I don't even know if
that's ever happened. So it's just different because many reasons, um,
(04:59):
you know, just it was amazing, Like obviously Tayson could
do everything and quarterback as well, so there was a
full one quarterback competition with everyone. It was. It was
pretty cool. So I I'm best friends with all of them,
talk to them still to this day, like just asking
what they're doing, and it reminds me of better name.
So I don't know if I just got lucky with
two teams, but I guess you'll see here pretty soon.
(05:20):
It's definitely a blessing. How would you say, um, quarterback
in the NFL is obviously the probably the most well
is the most rigorous and talked about position. Um, how
would you say that all of you guys can stay
ready and be like game ready throughout the week. I
know it's probably hard to split reps with four players. Yeah,
I could definitely get into this for a while, but
it's it's wild in the league. The starter will get
(05:43):
every single first team rep. So in a in a practice,
say we have three team period of ten plays, You've
got thirty places that will all go to the starter.
The backup get zero. So I was four. I definitely
got zero. So it was different, Like one week, you
know I would I would end moving into the check
in our third spot because it takes him was playing
tight end or James Scott injured. Like there was all
(06:05):
this movement throughout the year. But if you think about it,
like the starter gets all the ones in the backup,
get the scout team, so he doesn't get any team reps.
He gets teams running someone else's offense. So I got
a million mental reps and I would stay for practice
and throw throw after. But that's it. So like kind
of with that, can you take us through like the
(06:26):
the week, like when you knew that you were like
kind of starting, like the difference in the preparation, like
your mindset going into that week. Yeah, yeah, that dude,
wild week. I mean, I it's hard to even really explain, like, Okay,
I'll go through it. I'll trying to make this quick.
Games Monday night, right, Monday night, timetime game. We go
(06:46):
to practice. It's Christmas week as well, so we're off Saturday,
so that's gonna be one day on nothing. So we
go in practice on Wednesday, first practice, everybody there, Trevor
was saying he felt sick during warmups. They took him out.
He COVID, so he's gone some Now in my head,
James is hurt too, so I'm like, okay, I'm second now,
so now I better. I'm gonna get Scott team and
(07:07):
I better another place because I'm one play away from
going in next morning before we even can head to
the facility. We get all these calls like practice to
cancel today. So this is Thursday, we're at like twenty
We went from like three guys or whatever to like
twenty before we could even have our second practice. Jason
calls me, he said, I got a team, uh symptoms
(07:28):
as Trevor, I'm like, okay, I'm doing math. Okay, I'm
now one and there's no else. Lock story short, they
canceled that day, so I didn't get rest that day.
Let's see that be now Friday. I gotta walk through outside.
They didn't want to be inside because of COVID, so
we all were math and we got walk throughs. We're
at like twenty five guys at this point or twenty
(07:48):
three and like five coaches. So there was all this
talk to like, okay, maybe the game will get canceled.
I think we had to get to twenty seven the
seven guys to cancel the game to Kurt, and you
don't have enough guy to actually suit it up. We
had to get like a certain number. We got. We
were two aways what I heard. So then Saturday's Saturday's canceled.
(08:10):
It's Christmas, so they sent like a iPad and like
a cowboy remote to the crib with all the with
all the like everything downloaded on it. I just watched
all the film at the house by myself, no coaches, nothing,
just did it all you know through zoom with the
coach and we're watching on my own all day. I
did that all day. Saturday, Sunday we do one more walkthrough,
(08:33):
which was cool. I'm glad I got these walk throughs.
That was my first time, you know, getting snaps under
center with the starting center as well as handing the
ball to Alvin and throwing at least like walk through
routs with the starters. I've never done that all year,
So thank you. I shared. The last game was yeah,
that's so. I uh started Monday night. Yeah, that's crazy.
(08:59):
That is wild because another dame, another dame. I feel
like we had like two games before going into the game,
like Tuesday Wednesday. Practices are like you pretty much walked
through a whole game, practice the whole game like it was.
It was honestly like at the end of it, I'm
so so excited I got to do it. Like I
learned more and just playing that whole game than I did,
you know, learning on the sideline, like just being able
(09:20):
to do it was was was a blessing. Being able
to start a game, be one of thirty two quarterbacks
like all that. It's just great. Like you know, it
was really like a terrible night. I don't have any excuses,
like I did enjoy it. I was having fun, just
trying to be tough, get up, like it didn't go
our way and it is what it is. But I
already feel like so much better going in the next
year knowing that I was out there. It was cool.
It is what it is. So definitely my first real
(09:43):
dressed with the receivers was pre game one. Ups was
my first round. My god, Brocording, it's like go play
linebacker walked through. Can you can you talk about can
you talk about like the speed? How the speed of
(10:04):
the game was obviously not getting no reps or anything
like that in practice, Like how is this speed of
the game? How is the flow of the game? Yeah, um,
I would say, because I did get to go to
camp and get some reps and then I'm just there
every day, Like I could tell that the speed look
different early on and then by the time it was
Monday night. That's kind of what I expected to be
on this speed. I mean, it's definitely different. Everybody's better.
(10:26):
You just I was talking about this earlier. You just
can't make especially position like you just every mistake you
make is so much more like magnified in the league
because people can everybody's so good. Like if you throw
it behind the guy, it's probably picked or he may
be dropped. But like it's you know what I'm saying, Like,
it's just they're so good for our guys though, so
(10:46):
our receivers make it easier on me hold a line
like everybody's good. So that's really the thing. But once
you start doing that for a week or even by
the time camps over, Yeah, I felt adjusted to it.
Did you ever, Like, I mean I still a relationship
with Drew Brees, Like during that process that did he
like talk to you? Get him out like after it
for it? Yeah? I texted him one time like when
(11:09):
we kind of switched spots, which was just like really weird,
Like he went to Notre Dame and I went to
Saint And then there was two or three times throughout
the year that he would come by and we would
all talk and then he shot me a really cool
text um, before I started that Monda night game. So
I talked him a few times, a lot about Notre Dame,
a lot about the Saints. Got a lot of stuff
in common, which is pretty cool. Cool, he's pretty cool guy. UM.
(11:33):
So kind of like walk us through the draft night
and all that stuff, like past that joining the Saints.
How like the season was as a whole, like your
experienced your rookie year and first off with like draft day. Um,
I would say going into it, I kind of had
I mean, you don't know he was gonna draft you,
but I guess, like my agent, I kind of after talking,
we felt like, you know, these five teams or whatever
(11:53):
it was, we feel like, really like me, they've called
three times, they want to do three interviews, they've talked,
you know. So I had the same for one of them.
It was like my first zoom meeting because we didn't
get to meet in person. It was my first um
draft zoom meetings. So I'm nember doing that one first,
and I just felt like it went well. And I
just remember my agency and the whole time like it's
a good spot to you, you know, this could be
(12:14):
good tings, a good good organization, just that so I
had like five teams in my head come draft day. Um,
but draft day was stressful and how you will you
will know that soon and I know for you it's
a little bit different like lock first round, good feelings.
But I will knock on what knock on with knock
on with everybody knock I was. I was here after
(12:38):
this at the house. I only had like my girlfriend, mom, dad, brother,
and my agent and his wife here. So I just
kept it small head like a party after bone to
make sure that party went down. But it was cool.
I got the call. It was actually a Texas number.
I was watching the screen and I knew that the
(12:58):
Saints were coming up next, but I was like, oh, shoot,
maybe it's the Cowboys because they gotta pick coming up
here soon and they want to call me early. So
I was like, that's what I want to be client
to cowboys, cowboys. And then I was just one of
the coach's numbers of the same. So I was pumped,
like a great spot. You know, you wanted to just
go to a good organization who was just doing the
right things. And I feel like I learned in a
really good spots. So that's so do I was the
(13:20):
transitioning process, like day after drift, week after draft month, like,
how was that? So I had like a fun night,
you know, celebrated obviously it was a lifelong dream. And
then who lived in New Orleans, So I don't want
to say it was like a week later. Yeah, we
had rookie minicamp, so that was that was like I
think like ten and fourteen days after the draft. So
I just went out there. You go out there pretty
(13:41):
soon and just that was crazy too. You get that
playbook and it's just the rookies and you get after
It's it's fun. It's really just tough. It's definitely different
because I feel like if you did that in college,
I feel like that would be an advantage in college,
like have all the freshmen. I mean, I guess that's
kind of like earlier rolling, but it's not like fresh
and only. Yeah, like kind of like a seminar type
(14:02):
like yeah, but it's three days, so it's three days,
so three yeah, it's like I think it was just
the weekend. I think it was Triday, Saturday, Sunday, and
then I was off. It was cool to learn to playbook,
meet everybody, get out there. Uh, and then you just
you got all the rookies they can I don't know
(14:22):
there's a number that they can have a guy there.
They got some all the undrafted free agent guys are there,
and then they can also bring back some guys that
are older that they also want to see I guess
try out. We're kind of like a zig zag and
cross like the timeline. But I want to talk about
like Pro Day a little bit because obviously COVID happened.
You guys had the Combine right now, you didn't have
(14:43):
the combine. Combine gets canceled, and Pro Day is pretty
much the only opportunity to get to showcase your skills
in front of coach and stuff like that. And obviously
that's a much longer time training for the Pro Day
that it is training for the Combine. It's probably like
a three week difference depending on your sched it for
the Pro Day. So just like walk us through like
your mindset going into that and how it may have
(15:04):
been different from somebody like me. You're just going into
like a regular comment year. Yeah, I was excited. I
really wanted to do the Combine. Obviously grew up watching
it every single year, but obviously with COVID, that got
that got canceled. But just to hear that we could
actually get our Notre Dame pronade to happen was was
huge because I was able to do the Senior Bowl.
I also wanted to like throw, have a full script
(15:25):
that's mine and throw with all these receivers that I
know how to throw it in terms of timing and
stuff in chemistry. Once we knew that we could have
a Pro day, I was just at m JP Michael
Johnson Performance in Dallas. I trained there for nine just
six weeks maybe or five weeks, and then um I
had a quarterback coach out there and just threw and
worked out every day like you're doing basically, and created
(15:48):
a script, sent it to all the receivers and tight
ends and running backs who were gonna be a part
of that pro day, and I just totally confident about it. Obviously,
when you're in you know, you feel you're gonna feel
confident when you're at Notre Dame. I really wanted to
be and Indie and do all that. Um I would
have been excited for it, but the fact that it
was just the pro day, you know, you just gotta adjust.
I felt confident with it. I've been throwing to these
(16:09):
guys for five years or whatever it is, and just
to be back at Notre Dame was pretty cool after
training and doing NFL type work, you know, seven step
drops and all the stuff that you know, the NFL
wants to see all this owner center on the run
pulling up stuff, so it was really cool. And just
to have all those coaches there. I knew we had
a lot of good players coming out. That's the best
best part about being a Notre Dame. Every team was
(16:31):
going to be there, so I loved it. I was
so excited for the product it was. That was like
that was a super Bowl for me. That's what I needed.
Speaking about Notre Dame, talk about like your process playing
behind um one bush and then earned the starting position
and then going forward, like how was that? How was
it like taking over the atar like the team and
(16:52):
moving up and stuff like that. Yeah, yeah, I've got
to talk about this a lot. I mean, I went
to Notre Dame with a pretty big chip on sugar.
A lot of people say that, but I don't think
anyone thought I would ever play a Notre Dame, which
you know, it was by far the best school I
had by far the best education that I had. And
I was just like, man, why not why not go
there at least at least try and bet on yourself.
(17:13):
So I was pumped. Never even been to the Midwest,
like totally. I was happy. We just wanted to play
in the pect world. That's like all I wanted to
do growing up. So I was committed to Washington State.
I was happy with it and never thought I would recommit.
Like ever, I would have bet all of you. I
would never decommit, I hear. I was like, no way.
And then I got this Notre Dame offer and I
was like, I gotta go at least see it right,
(17:35):
Like I don't even all I know is the movie Rudy,
Like that's it. So I was like, I gotta go.
And I went out there and I was like, man,
this is so I switched in three days, you know. Uh.
We took me three days to like build up some
some courage to call the coach. It was hard. As
a kid in high school. I was like, man, was
(17:57):
was Mike Leach the coach? Yeah? Yeah, I committed to
Mike Leech And I was about to say you would
have been thrown up seven times a game though, but
decision obviously a year. Yeah, But like like every big school,
I went to another name and knew there's gonna be
a five star quarterback pretty much every year. You know,
(18:19):
all the guys there and every year below me, so
you know, Whin Bush is my boy, and that's been
one of my best friends since I met him. Another dame,
but like, yeah, we had to we had to compete.
Only one guy could play, and um, he taught me
a lot and he was a five star, and then
there was me, and then Avery was Avery was a
big time recruit, I don't know, four or five whatever.
Then after Avery was still like every year, just honestly,
(18:42):
there's no point I've been worrying about it. Every year
there's gonna they're gonna bring in a good guy. So
I just figured if I just keep grinding, try as
far as I can, like I'm either gonna be able
to be gird enough to play or or not. So
I'm not. It wasn't even really tripping, And then took
a year and then I was able to get some
reps and start that following year. So it worked out
and it was the best decision probably my life so far.
(19:05):
Kind of stay in the net game team here like
when you played well. I don't know, this might be
a tough question because there's a lot of good games
you played in, But do you have like a favorite game.
I would say I probably have two, probably three, I'm
allowed to have three. That that Clemson game my fifth
year was a blessing like COVID, nothing to like to
(19:29):
joke about or whatever, but just the fact that we
were able to have a season after I decided I
wanted to come back one more year and like strictly
just be like a football player for my fifth year,
I was, you know, like I think two or three
classes and just really fosampleball and get ready to take
that next step for the NFL. I really needed that year.
So just the fact that we were able to play
(19:49):
it was a blessing. Like I just did football all day.
I was you can ask Coachrees, I know I was
in his office all the time that fifth year, always
up there like all day, so just lyne in trying
get better make that year the most you know that
we could. So I would say my favorite game is
that Clemson overtime went for sure, even during the pandemic,
like people storm in the field whatnot. So back to
(20:10):
reality for a little bit. I liked randomly really loved
that Virginia Ted game at home the year before where
I hit where Yea, I was moody. I was in
the moody week, just tired of Like I remember that
after the Michigan I was like, we're winning and like
(20:32):
we lost to Michigan whatever, but like we're winning and
it still feels like we're losing anyway. Yea makes sense.
I got another dame. When you win, sometimes it feels
like you still lose. Like I was like, man that
nobody else matters, but like anyone in this locker room.
And then I remember, of course, like talking to make right.
I was like, okay, I gotta hit this, chill I
(20:56):
gotta hit this, just get everyone to chill out, like
we're gonna be fine. It's the day, we're going to
be good. And we were fine. So that was a
good game. I love that game. And then um, I
would say I didn't know the year now eighteen to
just full last play. That was like wow, that was
like a dream that was on like New Year's Day
(21:17):
dream come true. I was like that went in. Brandon
played the first quarter I played the rest of the game,
and I was like, wow, just to beat l s
U two first games every fine, so those are much
three favorite. Uh just touching on what you said about
saying like Notre Dame like sometimes we win, it feels
(21:38):
like we lose. You we don't quote me on that,
but like we all think about that, Like we all
think that way, and like I remember one specific game
last year. It was two years ago when you were
in your fifth year, after we beat Louisville, Like we
didn't have the best game, we didn't beat them. I
think we beat them in like three years, never beat
(21:58):
wait Louisville at louis at home at home COVID year.
Yeah sorry sorry sorry, Yeah. We went by like yeah
three or something, yeah, something like that, like a low
scoring game. And then because kind of like we won
the game. But then he's like he's pretty much like
we have to blow out pit next week. Like just
like he was like, forget whatever, just don't play like
(22:20):
you're better than them, just you we have to blow
them mountain. That's pretty much what we did. Like do
you remember do you remember how fast the wind was
blowing that game? Game? No, the Louisville game. I do
remember that, Yeah, I do, because I remember it was
I remember growing and being like, oh my gosh, I
(22:43):
could barely get the ball turn yards. But I know
what you're talking about. I mean that's kind of like
I feel like a Notre Dame. That was a cool part,
Like we all had confidence that however shitty we really played,
we were going to come out on top. We all
believed it, which is one thing to help us when
in two I just felt like we do we were
gonna win, like when it came down close to it,
(23:05):
and if we weren't having the best game, we would
do enough to to get that win. Because like all
that stuff we did over the summer, like whatever, it
was like, I feel like we grinded to get out
to win and not every game you can go. We're
not gonna play a perfect game every week. And there
were a few times in Louisville. One sticks out in
your head. You know, I'm with the same thing with
theover Gene Tech game. When you can't get drives going it,
(23:26):
it gets frustrating. But at the end of the day,
we all in our head had that feeling like, all right,
we're gonna get to the end. Of this game. We're
gonna we're gonna win, you know. So that's a cool
part about on her name. I believe in that wholeheartedly,
so that I do know what you're talking about. It's
funny you say that because we've said that like three
times verbat on. What you just said, like like we
will be like down by fourteen the third quarterman, like
(23:49):
we're not. There's like no pressure because we just think
we're gonna win, like we that's like how we carry
ourselves throughout the game. We've talked about three quarters, like
nothing goes your way in three quarters, like all we're
doing the exactly this. Uh, after being out of out
of Nordain for like a year and a half or
whatever has been what it is something that you missed
that you didn't expect you would miss mm hmm um.
(24:13):
I would say little. The locker room, like the walker
room for the Saints is pretty similar. Though honestly, I
don't know if that's just the same thing. But I
can hear about I hear about other teams, and I
hear like now we check in and once that last
means that we're all gone. It doesn't not that way.
Within New Orleans so come in New Orleans. But yeah,
I mean it's not my call. Put in a good
(24:34):
word for me. I did, man, I did know, so
that would be one thing. But um, I feel like
in college, like everybody's so close, Like we all got
to go to class, we all get at the same time.
We all walk over there, whatever you get on the blush,
Like we all do the football too late. We all
got to do homework at like eight, Like it's all
the same, We're all doing the same stuff. Pretty cool.
And then like after games was was always really really
(24:56):
fun with everybody. But I've just heard I have no
played for one team, but it's not like that everywhere else.
You know, it's weird. I got guys on the team
who are one, and I got guys on the team
who are thirty one with three kids, who goes home,
And like it was different for me this year, Like
I can hang out with the rookies because they're kind
of my age coming from college and we kind of
(25:17):
all I wanted to do the same type of things.
And then I had like a different friend group who
was you know, Trevor and Taste them both have kids.
I think Taste some like thirty one or whatever. And
in Trevor's nine, like we're doing different stuff. We're playing
golf and we're going home. We're not outlie, those guys
gotta go home with their kids. Like totally different. That's
one thing that it's definitely different. It is jamis a
(25:40):
big personality in the locker room. Like right, I love
Jamis Honestly, Um, I couldn't say enough good things about him.
Competitor just works so hard. Um, he's really good at
knowing when he needs to be serious and then when
he can be kind of funny. But he also will
be funny in a very very serious moment and then
(26:02):
like after you'll think about it and be like we
kind of needed that, you know what I mean? Like
everything you see online, everything you see online, like whatever
it is. It's like, bro, he is like that, He's
I'm trying to think of somebody at Notre Dame. That's
like kind of like funny like that. But he's he's
his own dude. And he took me to his belt
this year. Taught me a lot. You sent me a
(26:24):
bunch of good texts when he was out rehabbing when
I was playing, Like he's he's the man. He cares
and I think there was like four or five guys.
I saw some interviews later on the Saints that were
like the best team that they ever had to Jamie's
he's the man. I like him. Is he like is
he like an sc It kind of sounds like s
sound like a thing to me, dude, Damian No, no, dude,
(26:50):
I don't know how to explain it, Like like I
don't feel like like Jamie's just come in the room,
start yelling, but yes, yes, come in the room, started yelling,
shouting like the funniest most random stuff, following people out, joking, Um,
all those videos you see, you know, like his trainers
(27:12):
beating him up, that's serious, Like he's that's working. Bro.
He's a very I think he's a very deep person,
which which I respect. It was fun to talk to him,
like he collects me in the locker room like yeah, bro,
like super serious, like you gotta do this, no other
way around it. You gotta do this. You know whatever
it is that he's doing. Workout ways got to start
(27:34):
and you'll get like into like a little speed kind
of like it's kind of like like he's like he's
preaching a little big and he and he's, uh, it's
just hilarious. And then like you'll think the combo is
super serious, and then he'll like shay some joke like
randomly and you're like, wait what, especially as a rookie,
like first two weeks, I didn't know how to rehappen.
(27:57):
And I but he's a good dude. Love to have
a good time, but he's should when it's time to work.
Is sound to work? You know? Yeah, chys, similar is awesome,
Chris went, don't you know, like you just explain it,
Like we're all really close. We go to class together,
we work out together, do everything in to gather. Basically,
what is that like thing in the NFL that you
guys do to create chop bonds outside of football or
(28:19):
yeah whatever outside of football is kind of up to you.
I mean, it's it's so different for me to say
as a quarterback, like just the nature of the position,
I'm pretty much I'm there all day, get there at seven,
leave at seven. It's not like that for other positions.
I mean some guys are, but the meetings are done
and like four you can go home and for like
a lot of people do so like I created most
(28:40):
of the bonds with the quarterbacks because we did Drew
Breezes process, Like Tasso learned from Drew, so I was like,
I want to know what Drew does. I want to
do what he does. It works for Tassom, so then
Trevor and Jamis likes to do his own thing, which
is totally cool. Everyone's got their process. But me, Trevor
and Tasom just did exactly what Drew did throughout the week.
So we just followed his schedule. So that's how I
got to bond with those guys. We're doing the same thing,
(29:02):
watching the same film at the same time with the
quarterbacks every single day. So that's a great way to bond.
I would say going out to eat the best way
to bond. It's different like the same thing in college, right,
hang out, chill. A lot of those guys play video games.
I'm not a big video game guy, but I would
say that's a big way a lot of other guys
connect in the walker room. But it's your job, Like
(29:23):
what do other people do? Grow men do after they
go home and they cook and hang out, their kids
go to bed. So it's it's not like college in
a way where shot one there's no school, but two
it's like you have a limited time and when you
have a family, that's where your energy is going, you know.
I feel like that's one of the coolest parts about
the league is like there's no room for like your
(29:46):
ego and like it's different coming into college because like,
I mean, you respect the older guys, but at the
same time you're like like I'm trying to be exactly
what you're on And I feel like I can be
like this earlier, like obviously like yeah, that would be
like me going into a Chiefs locker room and be
like who am I listened to Tyron Matthew, like this
is obviously proven, and like it's okay for you. Take
a step back and see what these guys are doing
(30:08):
and like take for their process and like put your
egos side and just learn. That's the first thing I said,
especially in age difference, all the quarterbacks are I mean,
I'm twenty three and I think Jamis Is Trevors twenty nine,
taste some thirty one. Like I was like, yeah, I
want to know exactly what you guys are doing. You
guys have all been in the league for seven plus
(30:28):
years whatever, Like I want to why would I not
want to learn that same thing with Drew Brees, thing like,
let me get exactly what I don't try to be
what's on. It doesn't last long for the for those
who come in the weight are come in the facility
for the first time, and I only want to do
what they do and don't have an open mind. I
would think that probably wouldn't end. Well, Yeah, we all
(30:50):
think we're good. Shoot, we all made it to the NFL,
and then it's like it's time to figure out what's
best for you, you you know. M that's the talking about
like falling people's footsteps and taking a step back and learning,
Like does that extend beyond the field to the advice
go there too? I can life and things like that.
Definitely the same thing. Like you guys known that we
on locker room talk can can go in any which direction,
(31:13):
you know what I mean, Like I've got a lot
of life advice just by hanging out with the quarterbacks
every single day for twelve hours a day. You know,
whether that's in the ice tub or in the cafeteria,
or on the field or in the meeting room. We're
in the meeting room so much you talk about football
most of the time. But you can also have learned
a lot from them just about being a father with
(31:33):
like kids, like all this crazy stuff that they did
that I had no idea about. Like, you learn a
lot same thing in locker room talk. It can go.
You guys talk about a lot of stuff. I remember
being a name. It could be anything, you know anything. Yeah,
it's good though. All right, we're moving on the outside
of the garage. Now. This question comes from Harrison Montgomery
(31:57):
and for Ian, what advice would you give to a
high schooler looking to play college football. I would say,
be the best teammate you can be, and everything else
kind of take care of itself. And then I would say,
especially in high school, for like nowadays people take it
so seriously and they pick one sport and they burn
themselves out. I would say, like, have as much fun
as you can high school fridaynight lights, the best, do that,
(32:21):
play basketball, run track, do everything you can. It's all
going to help you be the best athlete you can
be while you're being the best teammate everything else. Just
kind of let it all unfold, don't worry about the
whole recruiting thing, and just have fun in high school
those would be my my two things. I'll take care
of itself. Great answer, that wasn't good ask before? Um alright,
(32:44):
second one, we've done this in the past, but we're
gonna ask. I don't think this is questions, but like yayah,
these are like these are like rapid fire, quick hitters.
And first answer that comes to your head, that's okay,
you got this is uh any Ralph, she asked for
(33:05):
you to do this to your question, that you do
this actually serfically, so are you ready? All right? So
first question Philip rivers a big ben Philip Rivers yacht
or p J p J snowboarding at Jesski snowboy stick,
(33:26):
a lobster steak, no social media for the rest of
your life or no golf for the rest of your life,
no social What do you want to raise a family?
Probably call no kids or six kids? Everybody k not
gonna with a Reese's or Hershey's, Turkey bacon or turkey burgers.
(33:50):
They're both kind of shug I'll say turkey burgers, turkey bacon.
How much money with someone have to pay you to
travel to space for a day and I'm gonna live
for sure? Oh no, maybe it's yeah, my chance none.
I don't need money for that. I'd be sweet, all right, perfect.
What's your perfect day case spot? Hawaii? Your morning or afternoon? Person?
(34:15):
Morning for sure? North callis so calc North count Beach
of Lake like the lake lebron and Kobe. Yeah, yeah,
I grew I grew up a big Lebron fac all right,
SpongeBob and family guy. Would you rather rush for three
times or throw it for two tuds in a game?
(34:35):
I want to throw it for tuds? Yeah? For two? Uh?
Do aliens exist? Yeah? Probably, I think about it. Think
about it man, definitely? Yeah. Would you rather fight a
guerrilla sized duck or a duck sized gorilla? Who put
this off? Probably guerrilla sized duck? Right? Many gorilla? Gorilla
(35:03):
is like this big favorite sport growing up? My favorite
sport growing up when I was it was basketball. M
it's your favorite holiday Christmas? Big dog or small dog?
I liked? Yeah, big dog. What's your favorite movie? My
favorite movie all time? A Shooter? You've seen it? M M, yeah,
good movie. It's a great movie. I gotta let's see
(35:24):
a childhood or adulthood doghood every dinner spot in uh
New Orleans called Dorlton. What dish do you cook? Best?
Do you cook? You? Yeah? Uh? Eggs? Okay, so no
you don't eggs yea eggs scramble it. Would you have
(35:49):
a scott dive? Yeah? Definitely. Would you rather travel to
the past or the future? Future? All right? Last question?
What's your biggest fear? My biggest fear am I suppose had?
On top? I have? Um? It could be. It could
be irrational, like planes or somethhing. I don't like flying.
(36:11):
You don't like flying? I don't. I don't like flying
like I used to be cool with it. It's getting worse.
I don't know. I'm checking myself. I don't like it.
Is it the takeoff? Not my biggest fit, but it's
a fair so let's just ride with that. I don't
like is it the takeoff or like mid mid air
the landing? It's mid air, it's way too high control,
(36:32):
we hit bumps. Nobody says a word. I'm like, bro,
do you remember going to going to Orlando? Your s
Oh my god, Bro? I thought he was doing like
and bro, everybody's like sleep and then all of a sudden,
the plane just jumps up and down like for like
(36:55):
three minutes. I'm like, bro, like it's over with, It's
over with. Thin so nervous. We dropped in a second
and I was like, they don't, the pilot saying yeah,
it's like you just put the seatbelt side on. What
is happening? Ye crazy? Yeah, alright, but but we're gonna
(37:19):
end the episode there. Thank you. I appreciate you coming on.
Been a pleasure. I wish you luck, appreciate your Appreciate you, guys,
good luck with everything, all right, my boy season al right, guys,
thank you. All right,
The volume What's Up, Everybody? Welcome back to the Inside
of Garage podcast from cal Hamilton along with J. J. Wallace,
Conradian and Camp Heart. Last episode we had college Kareem
(00:21):
indie legend. Today we have another indie legend. Uh winning
this quarterback Notre Dame history Ian book, most notably more
wins than offense coordinator Tommy Reese. UM put that out there.
But you know, what's up. I've been doing. What you've
been up to? What's up, guys. I'm glad to be
on here. A good scene. I mean, in northern California,
(00:41):
just getting ready to get back to New Orleans in April.
So working out, throwing and hang out with the family.
That's good. So this is your first like official off season.
How relieved are you to be like out of football
because I know it's been a while since you've had
some off time coming from like college, strange to the
league and everything. That's your first time you've had like downtime.
(01:03):
How's it been like spending time with family and stuff
like that. So it's crazy, like you definitely you're doing
it right now. I mean you're doing two full years
of football basically, you know from your senior season two
training to whatever senior bolt combine and then write into
camp and then you go into your first year in
the league. So you'll know what I'm talking about. But
(01:24):
it's the longest break I've ever had in my life
in terms of taking a break from any sports I've
ever done. Three months off of anything is is wild.
So I'm just trying to learn, like how i want
to do the offseason this first year, trying to figure
out where I want to be, how I want to
do it. How much time do I feel comfortable with
taking off and then getting back into it because you
(01:44):
do need rest. So that's like one thing you hear
from everybody in their agent. They're like, take a take
time off, Like seriously, go go do something that you
want to do. So it's been amazing. I've had some
sweet vacations and not to spend a lot of time
with family and friends and it was going to be
back home. It's in a while. What was the most
um like the most recommended time from like a vet
(02:06):
they said you should take off as a rookie, ye
or its defense too years talking to like I asked,
I asked everybody in my in my locker section, like
I was saying, Jordan's year, whatever it is for him,
he's got a dial down. He was telling me he
did not do anything for like a month month and
a half. You know, he plays every game at defensive end.
(02:27):
He's like, I don't do anything. I'm just hanging out
with my kids. We go on like four or five
vacations like crazy, like you eat it all in at
one time, and then um, he's like, I'll slowly get
into it for a month by like running, and then
I'll do like talking talking basically talking about like never
putting his clicks back on until he has to like
really taking the sun. And then there's someone like I
talked to Jamis, and Jamis is a work horse man,
(02:50):
like he grinds obviously coming off an injury. But um,
I think even if he wasn't coming off this injury,
he'd be doing the same thing, Like he works every
single day. Like I think he probably takes a week.
God it goes back, So it depends on how you are.
You know, I took about a month off and then
I've been back and we'll grind for another two months
before time to really get it gone. So you talked
about Jamie's and I just want to touch on, like
(03:13):
I think everybody kind of understands the QB situation in
New Orleans was really unique this year and like obviously
it's you servicing me and Taysom Hill Jameis Winson, like
gotta be one of the most interesting quarterback rooms in
the league. Um, and I always thought it found it
interesting how quarterbacks that Notre Dame, like you drew like everybody,
(03:34):
even like Phil who ended up transferring, but like, guys
got along in that room even though it maybe like
the most competitive room per se um in the building,
Like how did that translate to the league? Like how
did you guys? Jel is a group in the league.
So it's a great question because I was thinking the
same thing. Like my time at Notre Dame, I feel
like because of the people that Notre Dame recruits, it
(03:56):
was always for the most part, obviously really easy to
get along with everyone, especially in your quarterback position when
only one quarterback can play, that can be pretty awkward.
So I always felt like a Notre Dame like maybe
it was just special because we were at Notre Dame
and everybody's like a good dude. So then I was worried,
Like I'm not really worried, but I just figured once
I go to the league, it's gonna be completely upset,
Like the guy's not going to talk to you. You know,
(04:19):
everyone thinks they're the best. You always hear these stories
of you know, the other guy not helping this guy
because I don't want to take a spot, like this
is his livelihood, how he pays for, you know, supports
his family. I get to the same and just like
it was totally welcomed in by everybody, Like it was
such a unique quarterback room with Jamis, Trevor Taysom. We're
(04:39):
going into camp, like I don't I've never heard of
a team keeping four quarterbacks in my life. It's always
right two with maybe a practice squad guy for three.
So we go into the season all four are on
the man roster, so wild. I don't even know if
that's ever happened. So it's just different because many reasons, um,
(04:59):
you know, just it was amazing, Like obviously Tayson could
do everything and quarterback as well, so there was a
full one quarterback competition with everyone. It was. It was
pretty cool. So I I'm best friends with all of them,
talk to them still to this day, like just asking
what they're doing, and it reminds me of better name.
So I don't know if I just got lucky with
two teams, but I guess you'll see here pretty soon.
(05:20):
It's definitely a blessing. How would you say, um, quarterback
in the NFL is obviously the probably the most well
is the most rigorous and talked about position. Um, how
would you say that all of you guys can stay
ready and be like game ready throughout the week. I
know it's probably hard to split reps with four players. Yeah,
I could definitely get into this for a while, but
it's it's wild in the league. The starter will get
(05:43):
every single first team rep. So in a in a practice,
say we have three team period of ten plays, You've
got thirty places that will all go to the starter.
The backup get zero. So I was four. I definitely
got zero. So it was different, Like one week, you
know I would I would end moving into the check
in our third spot because it takes him was playing
tight end or James Scott injured. Like there was all
(06:05):
this movement throughout the year. But if you think about it,
like the starter gets all the ones in the backup,
get the scout team, so he doesn't get any team reps.
He gets teams running someone else's offense. So I got
a million mental reps and I would stay for practice
and throw throw after. But that's it. So like kind
of with that, can you take us through like the
(06:26):
the week, like when you knew that you were like
kind of starting, like the difference in the preparation, like
your mindset going into that week. Yeah, yeah, that dude,
wild week. I mean, I it's hard to even really explain, like, Okay,
I'll go through it. I'll trying to make this quick.
Games Monday night, right, Monday night, timetime game. We go
(06:46):
to practice. It's Christmas week as well, so we're off Saturday,
so that's gonna be one day on nothing. So we
go in practice on Wednesday, first practice, everybody there, Trevor
was saying he felt sick during warmups. They took him out.
He COVID, so he's gone some Now in my head,
James is hurt too, so I'm like, okay, I'm second now,
so now I better. I'm gonna get Scott team and
(07:07):
I better another place because I'm one play away from
going in next morning before we even can head to
the facility. We get all these calls like practice to
cancel today. So this is Thursday, we're at like twenty
We went from like three guys or whatever to like
twenty before we could even have our second practice. Jason
calls me, he said, I got a team, uh symptoms
(07:28):
as Trevor, I'm like, okay, I'm doing math. Okay, I'm
now one and there's no else. Lock story short, they
canceled that day, so I didn't get rest that day.
Let's see that be now Friday. I gotta walk through outside.
They didn't want to be inside because of COVID, so
we all were math and we got walk throughs. We're
at like twenty five guys at this point or twenty
(07:48):
three and like five coaches. So there was all this
talk to like, okay, maybe the game will get canceled.
I think we had to get to twenty seven the
seven guys to cancel the game to Kurt, and you
don't have enough guy to actually suit it up. We
had to get like a certain number. We got. We
were two aways what I heard. So then Saturday's Saturday's canceled.
(08:10):
It's Christmas, so they sent like a iPad and like
a cowboy remote to the crib with all the with
all the like everything downloaded on it. I just watched
all the film at the house by myself, no coaches, nothing,
just did it all you know through zoom with the
coach and we're watching on my own all day. I
did that all day. Saturday, Sunday we do one more walkthrough,
(08:33):
which was cool. I'm glad I got these walk throughs.
That was my first time, you know, getting snaps under
center with the starting center as well as handing the
ball to Alvin and throwing at least like walk through
routs with the starters. I've never done that all year,
So thank you. I shared. The last game was yeah,
that's so. I uh started Monday night. Yeah, that's crazy.
(08:59):
That is wild because another dame, another dame. I feel
like we had like two games before going into the game,
like Tuesday Wednesday. Practices are like you pretty much walked
through a whole game, practice the whole game like it was.
It was honestly like at the end of it, I'm
so so excited I got to do it. Like I
learned more and just playing that whole game than I did,
you know, learning on the sideline, like just being able
(09:20):
to do it was was was a blessing. Being able
to start a game, be one of thirty two quarterbacks
like all that. It's just great. Like you know, it
was really like a terrible night. I don't have any excuses,
like I did enjoy it. I was having fun, just
trying to be tough, get up, like it didn't go
our way and it is what it is. But I
already feel like so much better going in the next
year knowing that I was out there. It was cool.
It is what it is. So definitely my first real
(09:43):
dressed with the receivers was pre game one. Ups was
my first round. My god, Brocording, it's like go play
linebacker walked through. Can you can you talk about can
you talk about like the speed? How the speed of
(10:04):
the game was obviously not getting no reps or anything
like that in practice, Like how is this speed of
the game? How is the flow of the game? Yeah, um,
I would say, because I did get to go to
camp and get some reps and then I'm just there
every day, Like I could tell that the speed look
different early on and then by the time it was
Monday night. That's kind of what I expected to be
on this speed. I mean, it's definitely different. Everybody's better.
(10:26):
You just I was talking about this earlier. You just
can't make especially position like you just every mistake you
make is so much more like magnified in the league
because people can everybody's so good. Like if you throw
it behind the guy, it's probably picked or he may
be dropped. But like it's you know what I'm saying, Like,
it's just they're so good for our guys though, so
(10:46):
our receivers make it easier on me hold a line
like everybody's good. So that's really the thing. But once
you start doing that for a week or even by
the time camps over, Yeah, I felt adjusted to it.
Did you ever, Like, I mean I still a relationship
with Drew Brees, Like during that process that did he
like talk to you? Get him out like after it
for it? Yeah? I texted him one time like when
(11:09):
we kind of switched spots, which was just like really weird,
Like he went to Notre Dame and I went to
Saint And then there was two or three times throughout
the year that he would come by and we would
all talk and then he shot me a really cool
text um, before I started that Monda night game. So
I talked him a few times, a lot about Notre Dame,
a lot about the Saints. Got a lot of stuff
in common, which is pretty cool. Cool, he's pretty cool guy. UM.
(11:33):
So kind of like walk us through the draft night
and all that stuff, like past that joining the Saints.
How like the season was as a whole, like your
experienced your rookie year and first off with like draft day. Um,
I would say going into it, I kind of had
I mean, you don't know he was gonna draft you,
but I guess, like my agent, I kind of after talking,
we felt like, you know, these five teams or whatever
(11:53):
it was, we feel like, really like me, they've called
three times, they want to do three interviews, they've talked,
you know. So I had the same for one of them.
It was like my first zoom meeting because we didn't
get to meet in person. It was my first um
draft zoom meetings. So I'm nember doing that one first,
and I just felt like it went well. And I
just remember my agency and the whole time like it's
a good spot to you, you know, this could be
(12:14):
good tings, a good good organization, just that so I
had like five teams in my head come draft day. Um,
but draft day was stressful and how you will you
will know that soon and I know for you it's
a little bit different like lock first round, good feelings.
But I will knock on what knock on with knock
on with everybody knock I was. I was here after
(12:38):
this at the house. I only had like my girlfriend, mom, dad, brother,
and my agent and his wife here. So I just
kept it small head like a party after bone to
make sure that party went down. But it was cool.
I got the call. It was actually a Texas number.
I was watching the screen and I knew that the
(12:58):
Saints were coming up next, but I was like, oh, shoot,
maybe it's the Cowboys because they gotta pick coming up
here soon and they want to call me early. So
I was like, that's what I want to be client
to cowboys, cowboys. And then I was just one of
the coach's numbers of the same. So I was pumped,
like a great spot. You know, you wanted to just
go to a good organization who was just doing the
right things. And I feel like I learned in a
really good spots. So that's so do I was the
(13:20):
transitioning process, like day after drift, week after draft month, like,
how was that? So I had like a fun night,
you know, celebrated obviously it was a lifelong dream. And
then who lived in New Orleans, So I don't want
to say it was like a week later. Yeah, we
had rookie minicamp, so that was that was like I
think like ten and fourteen days after the draft. So
I just went out there. You go out there pretty
(13:41):
soon and just that was crazy too. You get that
playbook and it's just the rookies and you get after
It's it's fun. It's really just tough. It's definitely different
because I feel like if you did that in college,
I feel like that would be an advantage in college,
like have all the freshmen. I mean, I guess that's
kind of like earlier rolling, but it's not like fresh
and only. Yeah, like kind of like a seminar type
(14:02):
like yeah, but it's three days, so it's three days,
so three yeah, it's like I think it was just
the weekend. I think it was Triday, Saturday, Sunday, and
then I was off. It was cool to learn to playbook,
meet everybody, get out there. Uh, and then you just
you got all the rookies they can I don't know
(14:22):
there's a number that they can have a guy there.
They got some all the undrafted free agent guys are there,
and then they can also bring back some guys that
are older that they also want to see I guess
try out. We're kind of like a zig zag and
cross like the timeline. But I want to talk about
like Pro Day a little bit because obviously COVID happened.
You guys had the Combine right now, you didn't have
(14:43):
the combine. Combine gets canceled, and Pro Day is pretty
much the only opportunity to get to showcase your skills
in front of coach and stuff like that. And obviously
that's a much longer time training for the Pro Day
that it is training for the Combine. It's probably like
a three week difference depending on your sched it for
the Pro Day. So just like walk us through like
your mindset going into that and how it may have
(15:04):
been different from somebody like me. You're just going into
like a regular comment year. Yeah, I was excited. I
really wanted to do the Combine. Obviously grew up watching
it every single year, but obviously with COVID, that got
that got canceled. But just to hear that we could
actually get our Notre Dame pronade to happen was was
huge because I was able to do the Senior Bowl.
I also wanted to like throw, have a full script
(15:25):
that's mine and throw with all these receivers that I
know how to throw it in terms of timing and
stuff in chemistry. Once we knew that we could have
a Pro day, I was just at m JP Michael
Johnson Performance in Dallas. I trained there for nine just
six weeks maybe or five weeks, and then um I
had a quarterback coach out there and just threw and
worked out every day like you're doing basically, and created
(15:48):
a script, sent it to all the receivers and tight
ends and running backs who were gonna be a part
of that pro day, and I just totally confident about it. Obviously,
when you're in you know, you feel you're gonna feel
confident when you're at Notre Dame. I really wanted to
be and Indie and do all that. Um I would
have been excited for it, but the fact that it
was just the pro day, you know, you just gotta adjust.
I felt confident with it. I've been throwing to these
(16:09):
guys for five years or whatever it is, and just
to be back at Notre Dame was pretty cool after
training and doing NFL type work, you know, seven step
drops and all the stuff that you know, the NFL
wants to see all this owner center on the run
pulling up stuff, so it was really cool. And just
to have all those coaches there. I knew we had
a lot of good players coming out. That's the best
best part about being a Notre Dame. Every team was
(16:31):
going to be there, so I loved it. I was
so excited for the product it was. That was like
that was a super Bowl for me. That's what I needed.
Speaking about Notre Dame, talk about like your process playing
behind um one bush and then earned the starting position
and then going forward, like how was that? How was
it like taking over the atar like the team and
(16:52):
moving up and stuff like that. Yeah, yeah, I've got
to talk about this a lot. I mean, I went
to Notre Dame with a pretty big chip on sugar.
A lot of people say that, but I don't think
anyone thought I would ever play a Notre Dame, which
you know, it was by far the best school I
had by far the best education that I had. And
I was just like, man, why not why not go
there at least at least try and bet on yourself.
(17:13):
So I was pumped. Never even been to the Midwest,
like totally. I was happy. We just wanted to play
in the pect world. That's like all I wanted to
do growing up. So I was committed to Washington State.
I was happy with it and never thought I would recommit.
Like ever, I would have bet all of you. I
would never decommit, I hear. I was like, no way.
And then I got this Notre Dame offer and I
was like, I gotta go at least see it right,
(17:35):
Like I don't even all I know is the movie Rudy,
Like that's it. So I was like, I gotta go.
And I went out there and I was like, man,
this is so I switched in three days, you know. Uh.
We took me three days to like build up some
some courage to call the coach. It was hard. As
a kid in high school. I was like, man, was
(17:57):
was Mike Leach the coach? Yeah? Yeah, I committed to
Mike Leech And I was about to say you would
have been thrown up seven times a game though, but
decision obviously a year. Yeah, But like like every big school,
I went to another name and knew there's gonna be
a five star quarterback pretty much every year. You know,
(18:19):
all the guys there and every year below me, so
you know, Whin Bush is my boy, and that's been
one of my best friends since I met him. Another dame,
but like, yeah, we had to we had to compete.
Only one guy could play, and um, he taught me
a lot and he was a five star, and then
there was me, and then Avery was Avery was a
big time recruit, I don't know, four or five whatever.
Then after Avery was still like every year, just honestly,
(18:42):
there's no point I've been worrying about it. Every year
there's gonna they're gonna bring in a good guy. So
I just figured if I just keep grinding, try as
far as I can, like I'm either gonna be able
to be gird enough to play or or not. So
I'm not. It wasn't even really tripping, And then took
a year and then I was able to get some
reps and start that following year. So it worked out
and it was the best decision probably my life so far.
(19:05):
Kind of stay in the net game team here like
when you played well. I don't know, this might be
a tough question because there's a lot of good games
you played in, But do you have like a favorite game.
I would say I probably have two, probably three, I'm
allowed to have three. That that Clemson game my fifth
year was a blessing like COVID, nothing to like to
(19:29):
joke about or whatever, but just the fact that we
were able to have a season after I decided I
wanted to come back one more year and like strictly
just be like a football player for my fifth year,
I was, you know, like I think two or three
classes and just really fosampleball and get ready to take
that next step for the NFL. I really needed that year.
So just the fact that we were able to play
(19:49):
it was a blessing. Like I just did football all day.
I was you can ask Coachrees, I know I was
in his office all the time that fifth year, always
up there like all day, so just lyne in trying
get better make that year the most you know that
we could. So I would say my favorite game is
that Clemson overtime went for sure, even during the pandemic,
like people storm in the field whatnot. So back to
(20:10):
reality for a little bit. I liked randomly really loved
that Virginia Ted game at home the year before where
I hit where Yea, I was moody. I was in
the moody week, just tired of Like I remember that
after the Michigan I was like, we're winning and like
(20:32):
we lost to Michigan whatever, but like we're winning and
it still feels like we're losing anyway. Yea makes sense.
I got another dame. When you win, sometimes it feels
like you still lose. Like I was like, man that
nobody else matters, but like anyone in this locker room.
And then I remember, of course, like talking to make right.
I was like, okay, I gotta hit this, chill I
(20:56):
gotta hit this, just get everyone to chill out, like
we're gonna be fine. It's the day, we're going to
be good. And we were fine. So that was a
good game. I love that game. And then um, I
would say I didn't know the year now eighteen to
just full last play. That was like wow, that was
like a dream that was on like New Year's Day
(21:17):
dream come true. I was like that went in. Brandon
played the first quarter I played the rest of the game,
and I was like, wow, just to beat l s
U two first games every fine, so those are much
three favorite. Uh just touching on what you said about
saying like Notre Dame like sometimes we win, it feels
(21:38):
like we lose. You we don't quote me on that,
but like we all think about that, Like we all
think that way, and like I remember one specific game
last year. It was two years ago when you were
in your fifth year, after we beat Louisville, Like we
didn't have the best game, we didn't beat them. I
think we beat them in like three years, never beat
(21:58):
wait Louisville at louis at home at home COVID year.
Yeah sorry sorry sorry, Yeah. We went by like yeah
three or something, yeah, something like that, like a low
scoring game. And then because kind of like we won
the game. But then he's like he's pretty much like
we have to blow out pit next week. Like just
like he was like, forget whatever, just don't play like
(22:20):
you're better than them, just you we have to blow
them mountain. That's pretty much what we did. Like do
you remember do you remember how fast the wind was
blowing that game? Game? No, the Louisville game. I do
remember that, Yeah, I do, because I remember it was
I remember growing and being like, oh my gosh, I
(22:43):
could barely get the ball turn yards. But I know
what you're talking about. I mean that's kind of like
I feel like a Notre Dame. That was a cool part,
Like we all had confidence that however shitty we really played,
we were going to come out on top. We all
believed it, which is one thing to help us when
in two I just felt like we do we were
gonna win, like when it came down close to it,
(23:05):
and if we weren't having the best game, we would
do enough to to get that win. Because like all
that stuff we did over the summer, like whatever, it
was like, I feel like we grinded to get out
to win and not every game you can go. We're
not gonna play a perfect game every week. And there
were a few times in Louisville. One sticks out in
your head. You know, I'm with the same thing with
theover Gene Tech game. When you can't get drives going it,
(23:26):
it gets frustrating. But at the end of the day,
we all in our head had that feeling like, all right,
we're gonna get to the end. Of this game. We're
gonna we're gonna win, you know. So that's a cool
part about on her name. I believe in that wholeheartedly,
so that I do know what you're talking about. It's
funny you say that because we've said that like three
times verbat on. What you just said, like like we
will be like down by fourteen the third quarterman, like
(23:49):
we're not. There's like no pressure because we just think
we're gonna win, like we that's like how we carry
ourselves throughout the game. We've talked about three quarters, like
nothing goes your way in three quarters, like all we're
doing the exactly this. Uh, after being out of out
of Nordain for like a year and a half or
whatever has been what it is something that you missed
that you didn't expect you would miss mm hmm um.
(24:13):
I would say little. The locker room, like the walker
room for the Saints is pretty similar. Though honestly, I
don't know if that's just the same thing. But I
can hear about I hear about other teams, and I
hear like now we check in and once that last
means that we're all gone. It doesn't not that way.
Within New Orleans so come in New Orleans. But yeah,
I mean it's not my call. Put in a good
(24:34):
word for me. I did, man, I did know, so
that would be one thing. But um, I feel like
in college, like everybody's so close, Like we all got
to go to class, we all get at the same time.
We all walk over there, whatever you get on the blush,
Like we all do the football too late. We all
got to do homework at like eight, Like it's all
the same, We're all doing the same stuff. Pretty cool.
And then like after games was was always really really
(24:56):
fun with everybody. But I've just heard I have no
played for one team, but it's not like that everywhere else.
You know, it's weird. I got guys on the team
who are one, and I got guys on the team
who are thirty one with three kids, who goes home,
And like it was different for me this year, Like
I can hang out with the rookies because they're kind
of my age coming from college and we kind of
(25:17):
all I wanted to do the same type of things.
And then I had like a different friend group who
was you know, Trevor and Taste them both have kids.
I think Taste some like thirty one or whatever. And
in Trevor's nine, like we're doing different stuff. We're playing
golf and we're going home. We're not outlie, those guys
gotta go home with their kids. Like totally different. That's
one thing that it's definitely different. It is jamis a
(25:40):
big personality in the locker room. Like right, I love
Jamis Honestly, Um, I couldn't say enough good things about him.
Competitor just works so hard. Um, he's really good at
knowing when he needs to be serious and then when
he can be kind of funny. But he also will
be funny in a very very serious moment and then
(26:02):
like after you'll think about it and be like we
kind of needed that, you know what I mean? Like
everything you see online, everything you see online, like whatever
it is. It's like, bro, he is like that, He's
I'm trying to think of somebody at Notre Dame. That's
like kind of like funny like that. But he's he's
his own dude. And he took me to his belt
this year. Taught me a lot. You sent me a
(26:24):
bunch of good texts when he was out rehabbing when
I was playing, Like he's he's the man. He cares
and I think there was like four or five guys.
I saw some interviews later on the Saints that were
like the best team that they ever had to Jamie's
he's the man. I like him. Is he like is
he like an sc It kind of sounds like s
sound like a thing to me, dude, Damian No, no, dude,
(26:50):
I don't know how to explain it, Like like I
don't feel like like Jamie's just come in the room,
start yelling, but yes, yes, come in the room, started yelling,
shouting like the funniest most random stuff, following people out, joking, Um,
all those videos you see, you know, like his trainers
(27:12):
beating him up, that's serious, Like he's that's working. Bro.
He's a very I think he's a very deep person,
which which I respect. It was fun to talk to him,
like he collects me in the locker room like yeah, bro,
like super serious, like you gotta do this, no other
way around it. You gotta do this. You know whatever
it is that he's doing. Workout ways got to start
(27:34):
and you'll get like into like a little speed kind
of like it's kind of like like he's like he's
preaching a little big and he and he's, uh, it's
just hilarious. And then like you'll think the combo is
super serious, and then he'll like shay some joke like
randomly and you're like, wait what, especially as a rookie,
like first two weeks, I didn't know how to rehappen.
(27:57):
And I but he's a good dude. Love to have
a good time, but he's should when it's time to work.
Is sound to work? You know? Yeah, chys, similar is awesome,
Chris went, don't you know, like you just explain it,
Like we're all really close. We go to class together,
we work out together, do everything in to gather. Basically,
what is that like thing in the NFL that you
guys do to create chop bonds outside of football or
(28:19):
yeah whatever outside of football is kind of up to you.
I mean, it's it's so different for me to say
as a quarterback, like just the nature of the position,
I'm pretty much I'm there all day, get there at seven,
leave at seven. It's not like that for other positions.
I mean some guys are, but the meetings are done
and like four you can go home and for like
a lot of people do so like I created most
(28:40):
of the bonds with the quarterbacks because we did Drew
Breezes process, Like Tasso learned from Drew, so I was like,
I want to know what Drew does. I want to
do what he does. It works for Tassom, so then
Trevor and Jamis likes to do his own thing, which
is totally cool. Everyone's got their process. But me, Trevor
and Tasom just did exactly what Drew did throughout the week.
So we just followed his schedule. So that's how I
got to bond with those guys. We're doing the same thing,
(29:02):
watching the same film at the same time with the
quarterbacks every single day. So that's a great way to bond.
I would say going out to eat the best way
to bond. It's different like the same thing in college, right,
hang out, chill. A lot of those guys play video games.
I'm not a big video game guy, but I would
say that's a big way a lot of other guys
connect in the walker room. But it's your job, Like
(29:23):
what do other people do? Grow men do after they
go home and they cook and hang out, their kids
go to bed. So it's it's not like college in
a way where shot one there's no school, but two
it's like you have a limited time and when you
have a family, that's where your energy is going, you know.
I feel like that's one of the coolest parts about
the league is like there's no room for like your
(29:46):
ego and like it's different coming into college because like,
I mean, you respect the older guys, but at the
same time you're like like I'm trying to be exactly
what you're on And I feel like I can be
like this earlier, like obviously like yeah, that would be
like me going into a Chiefs locker room and be
like who am I listened to Tyron Matthew, like this
is obviously proven, and like it's okay for you. Take
a step back and see what these guys are doing
(30:08):
and like take for their process and like put your
egos side and just learn. That's the first thing I said,
especially in age difference, all the quarterbacks are I mean,
I'm twenty three and I think Jamis Is Trevors twenty nine,
taste some thirty one. Like I was like, yeah, I
want to know exactly what you guys are doing. You
guys have all been in the league for seven plus
(30:28):
years whatever, Like I want to why would I not
want to learn that same thing with Drew Brees, thing like,
let me get exactly what I don't try to be
what's on. It doesn't last long for the for those
who come in the weight are come in the facility
for the first time, and I only want to do
what they do and don't have an open mind. I
would think that probably wouldn't end. Well, Yeah, we all
(30:50):
think we're good. Shoot, we all made it to the NFL,
and then it's like it's time to figure out what's
best for you, you you know. M that's the talking about
like falling people's footsteps and taking a step back and learning,
Like does that extend beyond the field to the advice
go there too? I can life and things like that.
Definitely the same thing. Like you guys known that we
on locker room talk can can go in any which direction,
(31:13):
you know what I mean, Like I've got a lot
of life advice just by hanging out with the quarterbacks
every single day for twelve hours a day. You know,
whether that's in the ice tub or in the cafeteria,
or on the field or in the meeting room. We're
in the meeting room so much you talk about football
most of the time. But you can also have learned
a lot from them just about being a father with
(31:33):
like kids, like all this crazy stuff that they did
that I had no idea about. Like, you learn a
lot same thing in locker room talk. It can go.
You guys talk about a lot of stuff. I remember
being a name. It could be anything, you know anything. Yeah,
it's good though. All right, we're moving on the outside
of the garage. Now. This question comes from Harrison Montgomery
(31:57):
and for Ian, what advice would you give to a
high schooler looking to play college football. I would say,
be the best teammate you can be, and everything else
kind of take care of itself. And then I would say,
especially in high school, for like nowadays people take it
so seriously and they pick one sport and they burn
themselves out. I would say, like, have as much fun
as you can high school fridaynight lights, the best, do that,
(32:21):
play basketball, run track, do everything you can. It's all
going to help you be the best athlete you can
be while you're being the best teammate everything else. Just
kind of let it all unfold, don't worry about the
whole recruiting thing, and just have fun in high school
those would be my my two things. I'll take care
of itself. Great answer, that wasn't good ask before? Um alright,
(32:44):
second one, we've done this in the past, but we're
gonna ask. I don't think this is questions, but like yayah,
these are like these are like rapid fire, quick hitters.
And first answer that comes to your head, that's okay,
you got this is uh any Ralph, she asked for
(33:05):
you to do this to your question, that you do
this actually serfically, so are you ready? All right? So
first question Philip rivers a big ben Philip Rivers yacht
or p J p J snowboarding at Jesski snowboy stick,
(33:26):
a lobster steak, no social media for the rest of
your life or no golf for the rest of your life,
no social What do you want to raise a family?
Probably call no kids or six kids? Everybody k not
gonna with a Reese's or Hershey's, Turkey bacon or turkey burgers.
(33:50):
They're both kind of shug I'll say turkey burgers, turkey bacon.
How much money with someone have to pay you to
travel to space for a day and I'm gonna live
for sure? Oh no, maybe it's yeah, my chance none.
I don't need money for that. I'd be sweet, all right, perfect.
What's your perfect day case spot? Hawaii? Your morning or afternoon? Person?
(34:15):
Morning for sure? North callis so calc North count Beach
of Lake like the lake lebron and Kobe. Yeah, yeah,
I grew I grew up a big Lebron fac all right,
SpongeBob and family guy. Would you rather rush for three
times or throw it for two tuds in a game?
(34:35):
I want to throw it for tuds? Yeah? For two? Uh?
Do aliens exist? Yeah? Probably, I think about it. Think
about it man, definitely? Yeah. Would you rather fight a
guerrilla sized duck or a duck sized gorilla? Who put
this off? Probably guerrilla sized duck? Right? Many gorilla? Gorilla
(35:03):
is like this big favorite sport growing up? My favorite
sport growing up when I was it was basketball. M
it's your favorite holiday Christmas? Big dog or small dog?
I liked? Yeah, big dog. What's your favorite movie? My
favorite movie all time? A Shooter? You've seen it? M M, yeah,
good movie. It's a great movie. I gotta let's see
(35:24):
a childhood or adulthood doghood every dinner spot in uh
New Orleans called Dorlton. What dish do you cook? Best?
Do you cook? You? Yeah? Uh? Eggs? Okay, so no
you don't eggs yea eggs scramble it. Would you have
(35:49):
a scott dive? Yeah? Definitely. Would you rather travel to
the past or the future? Future? All right? Last question?
What's your biggest fear? My biggest fear am I suppose had?
On top? I have? Um? It could be. It could
be irrational, like planes or somethhing. I don't like flying.
(36:11):
You don't like flying? I don't. I don't like flying
like I used to be cool with it. It's getting worse.
I don't know. I'm checking myself. I don't like it.
Is it the takeoff? Not my biggest fit, but it's
a fair so let's just ride with that. I don't
like is it the takeoff or like mid mid air
the landing? It's mid air, it's way too high control,
(36:32):
we hit bumps. Nobody says a word. I'm like, bro,
do you remember going to going to Orlando? Your s
Oh my god, Bro? I thought he was doing like
and bro, everybody's like sleep and then all of a sudden,
the plane just jumps up and down like for like
(36:55):
three minutes. I'm like, bro, like it's over with, It's
over with. Thin so nervous. We dropped in a second
and I was like, they don't, the pilot saying yeah,
it's like you just put the seatbelt side on. What
is happening? Ye crazy? Yeah, alright, but but we're gonna
(37:19):
end the episode there. Thank you. I appreciate you coming on.
Been a pleasure. I wish you luck, appreciate your Appreciate you, guys,
good luck with everything, all right, my boy season al right, guys,
thank you. All right,
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