Los Angeles Rams general manager Les Snead and head coach Sean McVay discuss updates heading into the 2025 NFL Draft, the new draft venue at LAFD’s Air Operations Headquarters, welcoming players back for offseason workouts, and more!
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
After h Q at L a f D air operations
on each of you and your reactions to that being
where it's being hosted.
Speaker 2 (00:07):
This Hey, Sean, don't you love these dual press conferences
where you don't know answers?
Speaker 3 (00:13):
First is that you refer.
Speaker 4 (00:14):
You on these I'll let you take it and then
I'll follow you up.
Speaker 2 (00:20):
You know what that that's I think I think it
that goes without being said all that that occurred in
in this area and what right, h the first responders,
especially the fire department did uh uh Hey, they just
they just woke up and did their job.
Speaker 3 (00:36):
But it was a heck of a job that they did.
Speaker 2 (00:39):
Not everyone uh right has that type of responsibility, So
it's an honor to somewhat honor them.
Speaker 3 (00:46):
Uh. Living probably in an area that has been affected.
Speaker 2 (00:49):
By fires, it's definitely something that's personal to me and
in this community, personal to a lot of people who've
been affected a lot. Let's call it harder than I have.
Speaker 5 (01:00):
Yeah, Now, I think it's perfectly said by Less and
it's a great opportunity really to use the platform that
we're blessed with to recognize the real heroes. And you know,
I think Less and I talk about all the time
being servant leaders. Making a choice to go into that
profession embodies, you know, serving others, being a part of
something bigger than yourselves, and then really being called to
(01:22):
action when things that are way bigger than football occur.
And so it was awesome when Less and I got
a chance to go over there and meet so many
of these special people that will be amongst in you know,
in a couple of days. And then you know, the
debate was between Less and I, who's Goose and who's Maverick?
Speaker 3 (01:42):
All right, we need to show a hands.
Speaker 4 (01:45):
Yeah, I get you guys attention on that one.
Speaker 3 (01:47):
Show a hand Sean as Maverick? Oh man, All right,
let's I did tell seanat settle for being Goose.
Speaker 2 (01:58):
Seems you know, I think it's been a while since
I've seen top gun, but I think I was a
Goose fan.
Speaker 3 (02:04):
I'd have grown up and become Goose if I could have.
Speaker 6 (02:09):
Adam.
Speaker 7 (02:09):
Thanks.
Speaker 8 (02:12):
I don't know how I'm going to follow that up.
But Sean, in January you talked about looking to have
a more versatile offense in twenty twenty five, How if
it all has that goal changed the way you've approached
the draft or evaluated prospects who have come across your desk.
Speaker 5 (02:28):
Yeah, I think you know, it's constant communication between Less
his group, you know, myself and our coaches, and that's
the best thing we've got is collaboration. I think we'll
have a lot of clarity. You know that you talk
about all the different contingency plans. You talk about doing
a good job with the players that we know for
sure will be a part of our offense moving forward.
And then a lot of that entails study and teams
(02:49):
that you have a lot of respect and reverence for
around the league and figuring out, all right, what is
that vision? How do we want to make sure that
we're working towards that vision while also having the necessary
fluidity and ability. So I think there'll be a little
bit more clarity in the direction that we want to go.
But I think I think if last year taught us anything,
it's that let's set really good foundations. There's things that
(03:10):
are consistent, whether you're talking about offense, defense or in
the kicking game, that if you're going to play at
a high level, you have to be able to do
and then how you evolve and adapt and adapt tactically,
you know, always starts with your personnel, how you're attacking
the scheme, and then you know what's the availability of
your players, and so feel really good about the you know,
the communication that's existed in the different directions that we
(03:31):
can go, especially as it relates to add and quality
players just for our team in general this weekend.
Speaker 8 (03:37):
And unless you talked after Matthews restructure about looking toward
adding his eventual successor as soon as it made sense.
So without going into specific prospects, how do you look
at this year's quarterback crop?
Speaker 2 (03:53):
I don't think I could truly answer that, honestly, so
I'll keep that internal.
Speaker 3 (03:59):
How we you know, how we view it. I think
you're always it's interesting.
Speaker 2 (04:02):
I The only thing I can add or any insight
would be I think I think when you prepare for
a draft, there's probably, however many other positions there are,
and it can get pretty micro and nuanced. Whether you're
a star, whether you're out in corner, whether you're OLB,
whether you all those things. I do think all those
positions you kind of evaluate in a in a bucket,
(04:25):
and then you and if you're gonna get.
Speaker 3 (04:27):
Down and go down the quarterback path.
Speaker 2 (04:30):
That's a that's an entirely different bucket based on all
the requirements it takes, you know, play QB in this
league at a successful rate.
Speaker 6 (04:38):
Thank you, Gary. Okay, this question is for Maverick McVeigh
and Iceman's.
Speaker 4 (04:48):
What a name Jenny, Gary to she.
Speaker 2 (04:53):
Madrick McVeigh that he'll never that he's Maverick from this
point out.
Speaker 4 (04:57):
What did we just do?
Speaker 6 (05:00):
Anyway? I just wanted to ask in light of kind
of the success you guys have had, especially in the
last two drafts, do you do you feel like you
guys are on something of a hot streak in terms
of drafting players.
Speaker 4 (05:16):
Well, I think less In his group, I think they've
done a great job.
Speaker 5 (05:19):
I got to give them a ton of credit, you know,
for the discipline and really his group as a whole,
for the amount of information that they're able to gather
and try to put together ways of measuring things that
are really hard to you know, have tangible measurements for
There's been a specific theme that we followed, and it
always starts with the person. Obviously there's a bottom line
(05:41):
of production that's necessary when you watch the tape, But
I think there's been a consistent buy in. There's been
a vision for all of these guys, and I think that,
you know, like I said, Less in his group deserve
a ton of credit. The collaboration that exists between coaches staff,
I think has been paramount in the success and then
ultimate lead. These players have come in and delivered and
(06:02):
they're wired a certain way, and I think you want
to make sure that when you look back, there's been
a lot of really good decisions that we've made, and
then there's been some different things that we can always
learn from. And I think that's one of the best
things about Less about our group as a whole, is
you know, there's consistent after action reviews from the good
the bad, and let's try to apply those things so
that we're able to replicate good decisions by betting on people.
(06:25):
And I think that's what we've done each of the
last couple of years. This is a people first business.
It always has been, always will be. And we've hit
the mark on special human beings that are wired the
right way and then have physical traits that allow them
to reach and realize their highest potential when you put
them in an environment that we hope to create and
cultivate on a daily basis.
Speaker 6 (06:48):
Less what do you think?
Speaker 2 (06:50):
Yeah, to add to that, that was a really good
answer to the continuity that's experience agevin. So now you
have a really good understanding of the schemes being deployed.
And then as Sean and his staff evolve, as he said,
based on what the league, how the league's evolving, how
people are defending or offending us, you know, depending on
(07:11):
what side of the ball.
Speaker 3 (07:12):
So that is really neat.
Speaker 2 (07:13):
Now what's even hard is within that comes disruption and
new coordinators, new coaches. So even with continuity, there can
there can be disruption and and think, but I think
that really allows us to really look at okay, right,
how does a player give us an edge both right,
I call it on the field, off the field, they
(07:34):
need to have both. I think those when players can
give us right an edge and there's a vision of
how the coaching staff right uses that edge, and then
that players make up provides an edge for him to
come in and actually just be coached, go on the field,
do his her job at a at a right successful level.
(07:54):
It usually leads to it's called better better draft picks.
When you look back on the Wikipedia page.
Speaker 6 (08:01):
We were talking with Matthew yesterday and one of the
questions that came up was regarding, you know, if if
the Rams decided to draft a quarterback, you know, how
would he feel about that? Do you guys, if you
were going to draft a quarterback, whether it was in
the first round or later rounds, is that something you
would discuss with Stafford before you did it or in
(08:22):
the in real time?
Speaker 5 (08:24):
Yes, yeah, no, those are I think there's been a
lot of instances where, you know, you never regret over communicating,
creating clarity for people as opposed to why you know,
when we drafted stets and Bennett a couple of years ago,
you know, made sure to communicate with him beforehand. But
I think, you know, you want to be as inclusive
as you can, especially to players that are in his position,
(08:47):
and so that would be something that we would do,
just like we did when we drafted Stetson a couple
of years ago.
Speaker 6 (08:55):
And then finally, not necessarily related to the draft, but
in Miami made it known that Jalen Ramsey could be
you know, can be traded. Just curious from both of
you if you'd be interested in reacquiring Jalen.
Speaker 2 (09:12):
Uh I know, I know I've had discussions with with Miami,
so we've we've discussed getting through the draft.
Speaker 3 (09:18):
I mean, and I know there's a lot of.
Speaker 2 (09:19):
Nuances to that situation based on all the things that
come with the trade contracts and things like that.
Speaker 3 (09:25):
So not sure where they're they're at in the process.
Speaker 2 (09:28):
And what's interesting in this a lot of teams are
right now folks on the draft, but this is this
is when a lot of teams reach out, not just Jalen,
but oh, by the way how things go on in the draft,
there's other players that could be available.
Speaker 3 (09:42):
So you have to you almost come.
Speaker 2 (09:44):
Back to a second free agency per se, get with
your pro scouting staff and and kind of figure out
if trades are made and it's player for player things
like that.
Speaker 3 (09:53):
So that's all part of the process. So whether it
being Miami and Jalen, I can't say, there's a lot
of teams with other players that I'll keep in house.
Speaker 5 (10:03):
Sean, Yeah, I mean, he's a great player, we know
him very well, you know him intimately. He would certainly
never rule out the possibility of that. But I think,
like less articulated, our focus and concentration is on this
week's upcoming draft. There's a lot of layers that would
need to be worked out with a player of his
magnitude and some of the different things that accompany that,
(10:24):
But you would never eliminate the possibility of adding a
total stud and a guy that can do a lot
of different things like he's continued to do, like he
did here, like he did in Jacksonville, and like he's
done for the last couple of years in Miami.
Speaker 3 (10:37):
Thanks very much.
Speaker 9 (10:38):
You're welcome, Wyatt, Thank you both for doing this for less.
Nicole Blake is one of the people who got a
title bump after the departure of James Clodstone. What are
some of the new responsibilities that she's been given and
what's kind of your evaluation of how she's handled those things.
Speaker 3 (10:58):
I give her an a plus.
Speaker 2 (11:00):
We you know, put a lot on our desk when
we did leave, because when when James left and then
subsequently Jake, there was there was an element of uh right,
you had a couple of starters who were now out,
so we had to we had to somewhat get together
and say how it triadje. It can't replace the people,
as Sean says, they're all you know, they're all different
(11:20):
in their own ways, but there were responsibilities that we
had to continue executing.
Speaker 3 (11:25):
So that's what we tried to do.
Speaker 2 (11:27):
And she's someone that uh, you know, has been evolving
with us over the last few years. So she was
definitely up for the task. And you know, I'd give
her an A plus. She's probably never made below an
A plus considered her academic career, being a Duke alum
and Stanford NBA, so a plus. This is what she's
(11:47):
used to you, I've never made an A plus. I
wonder what that feel was like.
Speaker 9 (11:55):
And uh, for Sean, what are What's just kind of
the mood been in the building the last couple of
is getting the players back in the building.
Speaker 4 (12:02):
No, it's been great.
Speaker 5 (12:03):
You know, I think you realize how much you love coaching.
There's just an extra little bit of energy that you
feel being around these guys. There's just so much more
life in our building. This is why you do it,
This is why you love. What a blessing it is
to be able to, you know, start building these relationships,
start building this team from the ground up, setting those foundations.
Speaker 4 (12:25):
Love these guys, and.
Speaker 5 (12:26):
I'm really excited about you know, the players that we
brought back, signing them through free agency, and then being
able to add four new players, one which we were
obviously very familiar with in Coleman.
Speaker 4 (12:37):
Shelton got six new coaches on the staff.
Speaker 5 (12:39):
That's a light turnover year for us, and so really
excited about the journey and started yesterday and I think
guys have done an excellent job of understanding that what
the intent is in two good days.
Speaker 4 (12:52):
In the book so far.
Speaker 9 (12:54):
Thank you both.
Speaker 4 (12:56):
You're welcome. Jordan.
Speaker 7 (13:00):
Hey, uh, first one for either of you, Just a
quick like point of clarity on the record, if possible.
There's been some like buzz pre draft buzz about you
guys hosting a Top thirty visit. It was my understanding
that you guys don't do thirty visits. You send like
Andy Sugarman and Kellen Off to do the specific missions
(13:22):
at the schools. Can you clarify have you guys changed
your process in that regard or are you still not
doing the thirty visits?
Speaker 3 (13:30):
You know what I'd say, Jordan.
Speaker 2 (13:32):
I used to say that you can't believe everything you
read it only costs a quarter. I think the internet's
for free, so maybe who you work for? Jordan you
got to buy a subscription, so that's you know, that's
a little different.
Speaker 4 (13:43):
Can you understand our process, It hasn't changed.
Speaker 1 (13:47):
Thank you.
Speaker 7 (13:48):
And then Sean, what what traits are you looking for
in receivers as you kind of rebuild that room with
Puka and Davante?
Speaker 4 (13:57):
Such a good question.
Speaker 5 (13:58):
You know, there's a lot of guys in our receiver
room right now, there's a lot of guys that are
available in this draft, and I think, you know, at
the crux of it is, you know, are they mentally
wired the right way? Are they able to get open
and catch the football? But there's different types of things
that are brought to life. Are you a guy that
plays with a big catch radius? Do you have aggressive
(14:19):
and soft hands? Can you run and create after the catch?
Are you a speed guy that's tracking the ball down
the field? And I think there's all different types of
receivers that are going to be productive and valuable. I
think when you look at the guys that if we
got into eleven personnel right now, obviously three really special
players in Devonte Puca and two to two really excited
about Jordan Whittington. Xavier made the most of his opportunities,
(14:41):
but they're very different, and so I think it's ultimately
being able to see are they going to be able
to produce in this league and what would be the
vision and the fit that we have for him. But
to say there's one standard approach, I think when you
just look at the guys, if we got out an
eleven personnel right now with two two Davante and Houka,
all of those guys are very good players, but they're
(15:03):
very different, and I think they have complimentary skill sets
while also having all around skill sets. And so I
don't know that there's a straight answer. I think you'd
have to say, all right, let's talk about a specific player,
what would that vision be. There's a lot of guys
on our current roster, there was guys in free agency,
and there's guys in the draft. You know, that doesn't
answer your question much, but that is the truth.
Speaker 7 (15:26):
And then for either one of you or both, you
guys did a lot of work structurally to kind of
pair your offensive line together for at least most of
them for at least the next two seasons. I'm Rob
Havenstein obviously on the last year of his contract entering
this season, so naturally I think we'd look at right
tackle as something you guys might be looking at. But
(15:49):
in terms of the group overall, as you look for
depth and possible people to the lights just shut off
on me.
Speaker 1 (15:57):
Also possible people to potentially start for you guys at
some point, what are you looking for just for the
group as a whole, if anything.
Speaker 5 (16:09):
Yeah, I think continuity overall, toughness, communication, clarity and whatever
it is, whether it's the run or the past game.
I think when you look at some of the different things,
you know, some guys that were kind of new to
the mix last year couldn't have been more impressed with
Bolmmer's ability to be able to do everything that he did,
all the things that we asked of him. I thought
(16:29):
Warren mc clennon when he came in, particularly on the
right side, played really well in Rob's absence. You look
at the amount of valuable playing time that ad Justin
Deetitch ended up getting for us. I thought we saw
good things in Dylan McMahon. So I think when you
really look at it, really excited about re signing Alaric.
You know, Rob played really well, you know, I think
(16:49):
being able to get a couple of those shoulder surgeries
cleaned up where he's feeling good, he's able to really
start a good program, to set a foundation, feel good
about our tackle spots. And then you know Steve going
through some challenging things where he has the injury, he
comes back, plays really well for us and really got
a lot better as the season progressed. And then I
(17:09):
thought Kevin Dotson had a complete season, really was available,
was able to play in all the games, has a physicality,
has a joy that he plays with that I think
emanates across the line of scrimmage. And then we're fired
up to be able to have Coleman back guy that
has great command, great competitiveness, and toughness, good production in
both phases. So I think some of the depth that
(17:30):
we were able to develop from the inside just based
on those injuries. Warren McLennan gaining valuable experience really on
the left and the right side. But you're continuing to,
you know, really just be able to add quality players
to that group. You're not naive to the fact that
when you just look at it year in and year out,
you need to have eight guys, if not nine and ten,
and for our case last year was ten to eleven.
(17:53):
But you need to be ready to play a lot
of those guys in our ability to draft develop, continue
to do that in how this is going to be
key and critical. And when we were playing well up front,
it usually translated to everybody else playing really well. And
then when there was challenges, it really you know, creates challenges.
And if last year wasn't a great example that everything
(18:14):
starts up front on both sides, I don't know what
was for us. And that's going to be things that
I think when you look around the league that they're
really good teams lean into and we've got to continue
to be able to do that, both with the way
that we onboard people and how we develop and how
we you know, have contingency plans that people go down.
Speaker 7 (18:33):
Thanks also Adam O's Gary Sushi dinner because we bet
that he wouldn't do the top gun reference.
Speaker 4 (18:40):
I mean I laid him up for that. I should
get half of that. That's pretty good, Gary, I like it. Man,
you shot your shot. You switched it.
Speaker 3 (18:49):
Pal, Take more threes, Gary, take more threes. And then
we'll wrap with Sarah and then Eric.
Speaker 7 (19:02):
Hey, guys, this is for both of you.
Speaker 10 (19:05):
Been working together for a while now, How have you
seen the way you work together and maybe your communication
style change and evolve over the years.
Speaker 4 (19:16):
You want this Less or me?
Speaker 3 (19:17):
You go ahead than I think you're gonna do a
hell of a job answering this question.
Speaker 4 (19:21):
You know I would say this, Sarah.
Speaker 5 (19:23):
I think there was an immediate rapport even when I
interviewed in terms of seeing the game through a similar lens.
I couldn't be more appreciative of the evolving relationship.
Speaker 4 (19:35):
But it's always been great from the jump. I think
we're even closer.
Speaker 5 (19:38):
I think some of the challenging things that you know
I've gone through, and feeling the support and the really
care that's bigger than are we winning and losing on
a Sunday. I truly cherish, you know, leading alongside Less,
working alongside him. I have such a high level of
respect for Number one, who he is as a person,
the way that he moves, the way that he does
(19:58):
certain things, but then also the way that we see
the game, the way he works at it, the caliber
of evaluator he is, the caliber of principles and core
values that he stands for. And then I do think
while we have a different personality, I think that's there's
there's there's a beauty in that, but there's a friendship
at the foundation of all of it where we really
(20:20):
care about each other. And I think it's only gotten
better through experiences. I think that's one of the things
that he kind of alluded to earlier. You go into
year nine, there is an understood collaboration connection, camaraderie that
exists that you don't take for granted.
Speaker 4 (20:35):
I think that's been an edge for us. You look
at around the league. You know, we are one of
the longer tenured head coach GM combinations, and I think
we complement each other really well. We don't want to
do each other's job, but we want to be able
to assist in any way that we can to serve
to really help us be the leaders and the ambassador
is this organization that the kron Keys want us to
(20:57):
be able to be, And you know, it's it's only
gotten better. And I think we can have comfort in
some of our disagreements, and we know each other when
when we get to certain levels, and I think we're
one of the few people for each other that can
kind of get each other back to normal or be
able to kind of make a joke to laugh.
Speaker 5 (21:14):
At ourselves and it's it's something that's a real edge.
But I'm very grateful for the relationship that we have.
That's that's bigger than the work relationship.
Speaker 3 (21:25):
Great answer.
Speaker 2 (21:26):
If I get on a lighter note, I guess the
personality differences would be why he's Maverick and Goose.
Speaker 3 (21:31):
I'm assuming, but I think I'll added anything there was.
Speaker 2 (21:36):
As Sean said from the start, there's a right, a
natural chemistry. We shared similar values as humans and saw
the game very similarly. But a good friend of mine,
Bronco Mendenhall, who's been coaching It's Vince a long time,
says that, Okay, then when you go do hard things together.
One of the tests of times of really meaningful, impactful
(21:58):
relationships are Uh, when you do get to the end
of those hard things doing those hard things together, do
you want to continue doing them like you want to?
Not that Oh, by the way, you know where partners
we have to do it. Do you want to do
hard things together? And that's the cool thing. Uh, where
we're at so many years in is uh. I want
(22:21):
to do hard things with Sean and then along the
way enjoy some of the less hard things.
Speaker 10 (22:29):
You guys, were here, you were here first, but it
seems like I think the last two contracts, I believe
you guys have been lined up together. What does I
guess that sense of partnership and kind of being tied
together like that mean to you or I guess how
you feel about that?
Speaker 2 (22:45):
You know what, if I were to say one thing,
I mean, you know, when Sean got here, we and
mainly threw him, implemented the we then me mantra. So
in a football operation, whether it's the head coach, GM, owner, president,
a lot of players, I mean, it's not a you know,
it's not seeing it was tennis. So I think at
the end of the day, that all that represents that,
(23:06):
you know what, we're partners.
Speaker 3 (23:09):
We got each other's back. We're going to both show
up and try to pull our weight, no doubt.
Speaker 6 (23:16):
Thank you, You're welcome.
Speaker 7 (23:19):
Eric.
Speaker 11 (23:22):
Hey, guys, thanks again for doing this. Two questions. The
first question question it's already kind of been answered. I'll
try to all ask well, I'll ask a different way.
In terms of the quarterback evaluation, you guys have brought
in Jimmy g Baker, Carson Wentz, guys that were drafted
by other teams, that said, how important is it in
(23:44):
terms of evaluating these guys with the fact that you
might have another chance at them, you know, a different way,
whether it's trade or phrase.
Speaker 3 (23:53):
You know what, Eric, I think you paused at the
first part of that question, so I might have.
Speaker 2 (23:59):
So you did so so you could if you might
better answer to ask that one again.
Speaker 3 (24:03):
Sure. Uh.
Speaker 11 (24:05):
In terms of evaluating this year's draft class, you've brought
in guys like Jimmy g and Baker and Carson that
you didn't draft initially.
Speaker 3 (24:14):
Uh.
Speaker 11 (24:14):
Is it important to kind of get a good read
on guys in this year's class considering you might have
another chance to get them a different way?
Speaker 3 (24:23):
Yeah, I'll answer that.
Speaker 2 (24:24):
I think it is interesting when you go meet with
QB as that is, there's many uh, Right, you want
to learn about them for this class. You also, as
you said, if you get to know them now when
they are maybe unrestricted free agency or some version of
a trade.
Speaker 3 (24:38):
You you have that that data point as well.
Speaker 2 (24:41):
And and then and then even it can even be
when you go play against these players, right, you can
learn about who your enemy on that Sunday is going
to be. So there's there's many variables to to getting
to know these people for sure.
Speaker 11 (24:56):
And then lastly, you guys talked about the owner meeting,
the toush push and kind of the back and forth
that's going on there. Can you just kind of talk
again about why you're for banning that play?
Speaker 5 (25:09):
Yeah, I don't know that it's exclusively that I think.
I think the crux of the issue is around really
pushing other players, but making sure there's clarity in terms
of how it's going to be officiated. My understanding is
that'll probably be something that's revisited in May. I think
one of the things that I would talk about is,
you know, it was really allowing that play to get
in in the first place. But I will acknowledge that
(25:31):
I don't believe in being a hater because the Eagles
and the Bills do it better than we were capable of.
If we executed it at that kind of level, we
would probably be doing it as well. But I think
really what it revolves around is saying, Okay, we're not
in the game in the business of pushing other people
are assisting in, you know, helping the runner.
Speaker 4 (25:51):
We've kind of allowed that into the game.
Speaker 5 (25:52):
And then when you go back a handful of years
and then there's some issues in conversations around the field
goal field goal block play, but I do I do
think that where the issue will end up really coming
to a head is talking about do we want to
prevent the assistance of pushing the runner and that could
take away some positive plays that we had last year
(26:14):
where guy gets kind of stood up and you're pushing
a pile.
Speaker 4 (26:16):
There was an example of that against the Jets.
Speaker 5 (26:18):
Even a you know, a screen that we threw to
a coup against the Vikings in the in the playoff
game would be one of these, and so I'll be
interested to see. I would imagine that's a rule that's
going to be proposed. But I think it is also important,
you know, everything revolves around health and safety, but also
making sure that there's clarity for the refs to be
able to officiate this and then us to ultimately get
(26:39):
it communicated to our players in regards to what our
expectations are, how it's.
Speaker 4 (26:44):
Being viewed, what is going to be deemed legal and illegal.
Speaker 5 (26:48):
But it was more the optics of the play that
I had a problem with, while also acknowledging that if
we did it as well as the Eagles, we would
probably be activating it a little bit more as well,
and I'm not afraid to admit that.
Speaker 3 (27:01):
So how about our quarterbacks snakes though, Eric, what about
those tobacks?
Speaker 5 (27:05):
They're actually pretty good on the hivbe sneaks last year
and hey, someone off guard the evolution of.
Speaker 2 (27:12):
Our relationship, show them being able to write be a
voice for the competition committee. You know what, I never
I never saw that on the Bengo card when we
started nine years ago.
Speaker 4 (27:21):
That's a good one.
Speaker 11 (27:23):
So, Coach, do you kind of want to go back
to way it was previously officiated when you couldn't add
on when a guy was running, like get to the
goal line and you could push him.
Speaker 4 (27:32):
Yeah, here's what I would say.
Speaker 5 (27:34):
I think what I what needs to occur, Eric, is
a proposal and understanding of how that language would be interpreted,
and then I'd be better equipped to answer it. You know,
there's a lot of layers to that, so I think
I'd want to understand. But that that's really probably where
the next discussion is. As opposed to exclusively just voting
on taking out the tush play, I think it's going
(27:55):
to be more along the lines of preventing yourself from
pushing or assisting a runner, and that manner and the
tust play would fall under those parameters, as with some
other ones that I think it'll be interesting to see
where that goes, so I'll be better equipped after the
main meetings and kind of where this goes to give
you my true opinion.
Speaker 11 (28:14):
Are you enjoying your time on the Competition Committee, Coach Evett?
Speaker 4 (28:18):
Yeah, No, it's been good.
Speaker 5 (28:19):
I've appreciated the inclusion of it, and I've learned a lot.
You get exposure and access to some really special people,
and I think, really, when you look at it, the
intent is this game has been such a blessing to me.
Speaker 4 (28:31):
I've been a part of you know.
Speaker 5 (28:33):
Obviously I got into this business because of the legacy
that my grandfather set, and so for Troy and for
Commissioner Goodell, and getting a chance to work with some
of the other people on the committee, I've really enjoyed it.
I've learned a lot, and I think with the goal
in the emphasis of continuing to move our game forward,
both from health and safety, but also just making it
(28:54):
as good of a product and as clean and crisp
as possible, this game has sure given me a lot
and if it's one of those ways that you can
give back while also getting a chance to meet some
really special people. I have enjoyed it each of the
last couple of years.
Speaker 11 (29:09):
Thanks guys, appreciate it.
Speaker 4 (29:11):
Thank you Eric.
Speaker 3 (29:12):
You took debait. You know what, distract Eric with a
competition committee question. They don't ask about the draft.
Speaker 2 (29:18):
Now Artists is closing this up and we can get
out of here without you going.
Speaker 3 (29:22):
Who are you picking at.
Speaker 11 (29:23):
Twenty six unless you aren't going to give us anything anyway.
Speaker 4 (29:26):
All right, Maverick mcgraig out Garry. I'll give you that one.
See you, guys,
After h Q at L a f D air operations
on each of you and your reactions to that being
where it's being hosted.
Speaker 2 (00:07):
This Hey, Sean, don't you love these dual press conferences
where you don't know answers?
Speaker 3 (00:13):
First is that you refer.
Speaker 4 (00:14):
You on these I'll let you take it and then
I'll follow you up.
Speaker 2 (00:20):
You know what that that's I think I think it
that goes without being said all that that occurred in
in this area and what right, h the first responders,
especially the fire department did uh uh Hey, they just
they just woke up and did their job.
Speaker 3 (00:36):
But it was a heck of a job that they did.
Speaker 2 (00:39):
Not everyone uh right has that type of responsibility, So
it's an honor to somewhat honor them.
Speaker 3 (00:46):
Uh. Living probably in an area that has been affected.
Speaker 2 (00:49):
By fires, it's definitely something that's personal to me and
in this community, personal to a lot of people who've
been affected a lot. Let's call it harder than I have.
Speaker 5 (01:00):
Yeah, Now, I think it's perfectly said by Less and
it's a great opportunity really to use the platform that
we're blessed with to recognize the real heroes. And you know,
I think Less and I talk about all the time
being servant leaders. Making a choice to go into that
profession embodies, you know, serving others, being a part of
something bigger than yourselves, and then really being called to
(01:22):
action when things that are way bigger than football occur.
And so it was awesome when Less and I got
a chance to go over there and meet so many
of these special people that will be amongst in you know,
in a couple of days. And then you know, the
debate was between Less and I, who's Goose and who's Maverick?
Speaker 3 (01:42):
All right, we need to show a hands.
Speaker 4 (01:45):
Yeah, I get you guys attention on that one.
Speaker 3 (01:47):
Show a hand Sean as Maverick? Oh man, All right,
let's I did tell seanat settle for being Goose.
Speaker 2 (01:58):
Seems you know, I think it's been a while since
I've seen top gun, but I think I was a
Goose fan.
Speaker 3 (02:04):
I'd have grown up and become Goose if I could have.
Speaker 6 (02:09):
Adam.
Speaker 7 (02:09):
Thanks.
Speaker 8 (02:12):
I don't know how I'm going to follow that up.
But Sean, in January you talked about looking to have
a more versatile offense in twenty twenty five, How if
it all has that goal changed the way you've approached
the draft or evaluated prospects who have come across your desk.
Speaker 5 (02:28):
Yeah, I think you know, it's constant communication between Less
his group, you know, myself and our coaches, and that's
the best thing we've got is collaboration. I think we'll
have a lot of clarity. You know that you talk
about all the different contingency plans. You talk about doing
a good job with the players that we know for
sure will be a part of our offense moving forward.
And then a lot of that entails study and teams
(02:49):
that you have a lot of respect and reverence for
around the league and figuring out, all right, what is
that vision? How do we want to make sure that
we're working towards that vision while also having the necessary
fluidity and ability. So I think there'll be a little
bit more clarity in the direction that we want to go.
But I think I think if last year taught us anything,
it's that let's set really good foundations. There's things that
(03:10):
are consistent, whether you're talking about offense, defense or in
the kicking game, that if you're going to play at
a high level, you have to be able to do
and then how you evolve and adapt and adapt tactically,
you know, always starts with your personnel, how you're attacking
the scheme, and then you know what's the availability of
your players, and so feel really good about the you know,
the communication that's existed in the different directions that we
(03:31):
can go, especially as it relates to add and quality
players just for our team in general this weekend.
Speaker 8 (03:37):
And unless you talked after Matthews restructure about looking toward
adding his eventual successor as soon as it made sense.
So without going into specific prospects, how do you look
at this year's quarterback crop?
Speaker 2 (03:53):
I don't think I could truly answer that, honestly, so
I'll keep that internal.
Speaker 3 (03:59):
How we you know, how we view it. I think
you're always it's interesting.
Speaker 2 (04:02):
I The only thing I can add or any insight
would be I think I think when you prepare for
a draft, there's probably, however many other positions there are,
and it can get pretty micro and nuanced. Whether you're
a star, whether you're out in corner, whether you're OLB,
whether you all those things. I do think all those
positions you kind of evaluate in a in a bucket,
(04:25):
and then you and if you're gonna get.
Speaker 3 (04:27):
Down and go down the quarterback path.
Speaker 2 (04:30):
That's a that's an entirely different bucket based on all
the requirements it takes, you know, play QB in this
league at a successful rate.
Speaker 6 (04:38):
Thank you, Gary. Okay, this question is for Maverick McVeigh
and Iceman's.
Speaker 4 (04:48):
What a name Jenny, Gary to she.
Speaker 2 (04:53):
Madrick McVeigh that he'll never that he's Maverick from this
point out.
Speaker 4 (04:57):
What did we just do?
Speaker 6 (05:00):
Anyway? I just wanted to ask in light of kind
of the success you guys have had, especially in the
last two drafts, do you do you feel like you
guys are on something of a hot streak in terms
of drafting players.
Speaker 4 (05:16):
Well, I think less In his group, I think they've
done a great job.
Speaker 5 (05:19):
I got to give them a ton of credit, you know,
for the discipline and really his group as a whole,
for the amount of information that they're able to gather
and try to put together ways of measuring things that
are really hard to you know, have tangible measurements for
There's been a specific theme that we followed, and it
always starts with the person. Obviously there's a bottom line
(05:41):
of production that's necessary when you watch the tape, But
I think there's been a consistent buy in. There's been
a vision for all of these guys, and I think that,
you know, like I said, Less in his group deserve
a ton of credit. The collaboration that exists between coaches staff,
I think has been paramount in the success and then
ultimate lead. These players have come in and delivered and
(06:02):
they're wired a certain way, and I think you want
to make sure that when you look back, there's been
a lot of really good decisions that we've made, and
then there's been some different things that we can always
learn from. And I think that's one of the best
things about Less about our group as a whole, is
you know, there's consistent after action reviews from the good
the bad, and let's try to apply those things so
that we're able to replicate good decisions by betting on people.
(06:25):
And I think that's what we've done each of the
last couple of years. This is a people first business.
It always has been, always will be. And we've hit
the mark on special human beings that are wired the
right way and then have physical traits that allow them
to reach and realize their highest potential when you put
them in an environment that we hope to create and
cultivate on a daily basis.
Speaker 6 (06:48):
Less what do you think?
Speaker 2 (06:50):
Yeah, to add to that, that was a really good
answer to the continuity that's experience agevin. So now you
have a really good understanding of the schemes being deployed.
And then as Sean and his staff evolve, as he said,
based on what the league, how the league's evolving, how
people are defending or offending us, you know, depending on
(07:11):
what side of the ball.
Speaker 3 (07:12):
So that is really neat.
Speaker 2 (07:13):
Now what's even hard is within that comes disruption and
new coordinators, new coaches. So even with continuity, there can
there can be disruption and and think, but I think
that really allows us to really look at okay, right,
how does a player give us an edge both right,
I call it on the field, off the field, they
(07:34):
need to have both. I think those when players can
give us right an edge and there's a vision of
how the coaching staff right uses that edge, and then
that players make up provides an edge for him to
come in and actually just be coached, go on the field,
do his her job at a at a right successful level.
(07:54):
It usually leads to it's called better better draft picks.
When you look back on the Wikipedia page.
Speaker 6 (08:01):
We were talking with Matthew yesterday and one of the
questions that came up was regarding, you know, if if
the Rams decided to draft a quarterback, you know, how
would he feel about that? Do you guys, if you
were going to draft a quarterback, whether it was in
the first round or later rounds, is that something you
would discuss with Stafford before you did it or in
(08:22):
the in real time?
Speaker 5 (08:24):
Yes, yeah, no, those are I think there's been a
lot of instances where, you know, you never regret over communicating,
creating clarity for people as opposed to why you know,
when we drafted stets and Bennett a couple of years ago,
you know, made sure to communicate with him beforehand. But
I think, you know, you want to be as inclusive
as you can, especially to players that are in his position,
(08:47):
and so that would be something that we would do,
just like we did when we drafted Stetson a couple
of years ago.
Speaker 6 (08:55):
And then finally, not necessarily related to the draft, but
in Miami made it known that Jalen Ramsey could be
you know, can be traded. Just curious from both of
you if you'd be interested in reacquiring Jalen.
Speaker 2 (09:12):
Uh I know, I know I've had discussions with with Miami,
so we've we've discussed getting through the draft.
Speaker 3 (09:18):
I mean, and I know there's a lot of.
Speaker 2 (09:19):
Nuances to that situation based on all the things that
come with the trade contracts and things like that.
Speaker 3 (09:25):
So not sure where they're they're at in the process.
Speaker 2 (09:28):
And what's interesting in this a lot of teams are
right now folks on the draft, but this is this
is when a lot of teams reach out, not just Jalen,
but oh, by the way how things go on in the draft,
there's other players that could be available.
Speaker 3 (09:42):
So you have to you almost come.
Speaker 2 (09:44):
Back to a second free agency per se, get with
your pro scouting staff and and kind of figure out
if trades are made and it's player for player things
like that.
Speaker 3 (09:53):
So that's all part of the process. So whether it
being Miami and Jalen, I can't say, there's a lot
of teams with other players that I'll keep in house.
Speaker 5 (10:03):
Sean, Yeah, I mean, he's a great player, we know
him very well, you know him intimately. He would certainly
never rule out the possibility of that. But I think,
like less articulated, our focus and concentration is on this
week's upcoming draft. There's a lot of layers that would
need to be worked out with a player of his
magnitude and some of the different things that accompany that,
(10:24):
But you would never eliminate the possibility of adding a
total stud and a guy that can do a lot
of different things like he's continued to do, like he
did here, like he did in Jacksonville, and like he's
done for the last couple of years in Miami.
Speaker 3 (10:37):
Thanks very much.
Speaker 9 (10:38):
You're welcome, Wyatt, Thank you both for doing this for less.
Nicole Blake is one of the people who got a
title bump after the departure of James Clodstone. What are
some of the new responsibilities that she's been given and
what's kind of your evaluation of how she's handled those things.
Speaker 3 (10:58):
I give her an a plus.
Speaker 2 (11:00):
We you know, put a lot on our desk when
we did leave, because when when James left and then
subsequently Jake, there was there was an element of uh right,
you had a couple of starters who were now out,
so we had to we had to somewhat get together
and say how it triadje. It can't replace the people,
as Sean says, they're all you know, they're all different
(11:20):
in their own ways, but there were responsibilities that we
had to continue executing.
Speaker 3 (11:25):
So that's what we tried to do.
Speaker 2 (11:27):
And she's someone that uh, you know, has been evolving
with us over the last few years. So she was
definitely up for the task. And you know, I'd give
her an A plus. She's probably never made below an
A plus considered her academic career, being a Duke alum
and Stanford NBA, so a plus. This is what she's
(11:47):
used to you, I've never made an A plus. I
wonder what that feel was like.
Speaker 9 (11:55):
And uh, for Sean, what are What's just kind of
the mood been in the building the last couple of
is getting the players back in the building.
Speaker 4 (12:02):
No, it's been great.
Speaker 5 (12:03):
You know, I think you realize how much you love coaching.
There's just an extra little bit of energy that you
feel being around these guys. There's just so much more
life in our building. This is why you do it,
This is why you love. What a blessing it is
to be able to, you know, start building these relationships,
start building this team from the ground up, setting those foundations.
Speaker 4 (12:25):
Love these guys, and.
Speaker 5 (12:26):
I'm really excited about you know, the players that we
brought back, signing them through free agency, and then being
able to add four new players, one which we were
obviously very familiar with in Coleman.
Speaker 4 (12:37):
Shelton got six new coaches on the staff.
Speaker 5 (12:39):
That's a light turnover year for us, and so really
excited about the journey and started yesterday and I think
guys have done an excellent job of understanding that what
the intent is in two good days.
Speaker 4 (12:52):
In the book so far.
Speaker 9 (12:54):
Thank you both.
Speaker 4 (12:56):
You're welcome. Jordan.
Speaker 7 (13:00):
Hey, uh, first one for either of you, Just a
quick like point of clarity on the record, if possible.
There's been some like buzz pre draft buzz about you
guys hosting a Top thirty visit. It was my understanding
that you guys don't do thirty visits. You send like
Andy Sugarman and Kellen Off to do the specific missions
(13:22):
at the schools. Can you clarify have you guys changed
your process in that regard or are you still not
doing the thirty visits?
Speaker 3 (13:30):
You know what I'd say, Jordan.
Speaker 2 (13:32):
I used to say that you can't believe everything you
read it only costs a quarter. I think the internet's
for free, so maybe who you work for? Jordan you
got to buy a subscription, so that's you know, that's
a little different.
Speaker 4 (13:43):
Can you understand our process, It hasn't changed.
Speaker 1 (13:47):
Thank you.
Speaker 7 (13:48):
And then Sean, what what traits are you looking for
in receivers as you kind of rebuild that room with
Puka and Davante?
Speaker 4 (13:57):
Such a good question.
Speaker 5 (13:58):
You know, there's a lot of guys in our receiver
room right now, there's a lot of guys that are
available in this draft, and I think, you know, at
the crux of it is, you know, are they mentally
wired the right way? Are they able to get open
and catch the football? But there's different types of things
that are brought to life. Are you a guy that
plays with a big catch radius? Do you have aggressive
(14:19):
and soft hands? Can you run and create after the catch?
Are you a speed guy that's tracking the ball down
the field? And I think there's all different types of
receivers that are going to be productive and valuable. I
think when you look at the guys that if we
got into eleven personnel right now, obviously three really special
players in Devonte Puca and two to two really excited
about Jordan Whittington. Xavier made the most of his opportunities,
(14:41):
but they're very different, and so I think it's ultimately
being able to see are they going to be able
to produce in this league and what would be the
vision and the fit that we have for him. But
to say there's one standard approach, I think when you
just look at the guys, if we got out an
eleven personnel right now with two two Davante and Houka,
all of those guys are very good players, but they're
(15:03):
very different, and I think they have complimentary skill sets
while also having all around skill sets. And so I
don't know that there's a straight answer. I think you'd
have to say, all right, let's talk about a specific player,
what would that vision be. There's a lot of guys
on our current roster, there was guys in free agency,
and there's guys in the draft. You know, that doesn't
answer your question much, but that is the truth.
Speaker 7 (15:26):
And then for either one of you or both, you
guys did a lot of work structurally to kind of
pair your offensive line together for at least most of
them for at least the next two seasons. I'm Rob
Havenstein obviously on the last year of his contract entering
this season, so naturally I think we'd look at right
tackle as something you guys might be looking at. But
(15:49):
in terms of the group overall, as you look for
depth and possible people to the lights just shut off
on me.
Speaker 1 (15:57):
Also possible people to potentially start for you guys at
some point, what are you looking for just for the
group as a whole, if anything.
Speaker 5 (16:09):
Yeah, I think continuity overall, toughness, communication, clarity and whatever
it is, whether it's the run or the past game.
I think when you look at some of the different things,
you know, some guys that were kind of new to
the mix last year couldn't have been more impressed with
Bolmmer's ability to be able to do everything that he did,
all the things that we asked of him. I thought
(16:29):
Warren mc clennon when he came in, particularly on the
right side, played really well in Rob's absence. You look
at the amount of valuable playing time that ad Justin
Deetitch ended up getting for us. I thought we saw
good things in Dylan McMahon. So I think when you
really look at it, really excited about re signing Alaric.
You know, Rob played really well, you know, I think
(16:49):
being able to get a couple of those shoulder surgeries
cleaned up where he's feeling good, he's able to really
start a good program, to set a foundation, feel good
about our tackle spots. And then you know Steve going
through some challenging things where he has the injury, he
comes back, plays really well for us and really got
a lot better as the season progressed. And then I
(17:09):
thought Kevin Dotson had a complete season, really was available,
was able to play in all the games, has a physicality,
has a joy that he plays with that I think
emanates across the line of scrimmage. And then we're fired
up to be able to have Coleman back guy that
has great command, great competitiveness, and toughness, good production in
both phases. So I think some of the depth that
(17:30):
we were able to develop from the inside just based
on those injuries. Warren McLennan gaining valuable experience really on
the left and the right side. But you're continuing to,
you know, really just be able to add quality players
to that group. You're not naive to the fact that
when you just look at it year in and year out,
you need to have eight guys, if not nine and ten,
and for our case last year was ten to eleven.
(17:53):
But you need to be ready to play a lot
of those guys in our ability to draft develop, continue
to do that in how this is going to be
key and critical. And when we were playing well up front,
it usually translated to everybody else playing really well. And
then when there was challenges, it really you know, creates challenges.
And if last year wasn't a great example that everything
(18:14):
starts up front on both sides, I don't know what
was for us. And that's going to be things that
I think when you look around the league that they're
really good teams lean into and we've got to continue
to be able to do that, both with the way
that we onboard people and how we develop and how
we you know, have contingency plans that people go down.
Speaker 7 (18:33):
Thanks also Adam O's Gary Sushi dinner because we bet
that he wouldn't do the top gun reference.
Speaker 4 (18:40):
I mean I laid him up for that. I should
get half of that. That's pretty good, Gary, I like it. Man,
you shot your shot. You switched it.
Speaker 3 (18:49):
Pal, Take more threes, Gary, take more threes. And then
we'll wrap with Sarah and then Eric.
Speaker 7 (19:02):
Hey, guys, this is for both of you.
Speaker 10 (19:05):
Been working together for a while now, How have you
seen the way you work together and maybe your communication
style change and evolve over the years.
Speaker 4 (19:16):
You want this Less or me?
Speaker 3 (19:17):
You go ahead than I think you're gonna do a
hell of a job answering this question.
Speaker 4 (19:21):
You know I would say this, Sarah.
Speaker 5 (19:23):
I think there was an immediate rapport even when I
interviewed in terms of seeing the game through a similar lens.
I couldn't be more appreciative of the evolving relationship.
Speaker 4 (19:35):
But it's always been great from the jump. I think
we're even closer.
Speaker 5 (19:38):
I think some of the challenging things that you know
I've gone through, and feeling the support and the really
care that's bigger than are we winning and losing on
a Sunday. I truly cherish, you know, leading alongside Less,
working alongside him. I have such a high level of
respect for Number one, who he is as a person,
the way that he moves, the way that he does
(19:58):
certain things, but then also the way that we see
the game, the way he works at it, the caliber
of evaluator he is, the caliber of principles and core
values that he stands for. And then I do think
while we have a different personality, I think that's there's
there's there's a beauty in that, but there's a friendship
at the foundation of all of it where we really
(20:20):
care about each other. And I think it's only gotten
better through experiences. I think that's one of the things
that he kind of alluded to earlier. You go into
year nine, there is an understood collaboration connection, camaraderie that
exists that you don't take for granted.
Speaker 4 (20:35):
I think that's been an edge for us. You look
at around the league. You know, we are one of
the longer tenured head coach GM combinations, and I think
we complement each other really well. We don't want to
do each other's job, but we want to be able
to assist in any way that we can to serve
to really help us be the leaders and the ambassador
is this organization that the kron Keys want us to
(20:57):
be able to be, And you know, it's it's only
gotten better. And I think we can have comfort in
some of our disagreements, and we know each other when
when we get to certain levels, and I think we're
one of the few people for each other that can
kind of get each other back to normal or be
able to kind of make a joke to laugh.
Speaker 5 (21:14):
At ourselves and it's it's something that's a real edge.
But I'm very grateful for the relationship that we have.
That's that's bigger than the work relationship.
Speaker 3 (21:25):
Great answer.
Speaker 2 (21:26):
If I get on a lighter note, I guess the
personality differences would be why he's Maverick and Goose.
Speaker 3 (21:31):
I'm assuming, but I think I'll added anything there was.
Speaker 2 (21:36):
As Sean said from the start, there's a right, a
natural chemistry. We shared similar values as humans and saw
the game very similarly. But a good friend of mine,
Bronco Mendenhall, who's been coaching It's Vince a long time,
says that, Okay, then when you go do hard things together.
One of the tests of times of really meaningful, impactful
(21:58):
relationships are Uh, when you do get to the end
of those hard things doing those hard things together, do
you want to continue doing them like you want to?
Not that Oh, by the way, you know where partners
we have to do it. Do you want to do
hard things together? And that's the cool thing. Uh, where
we're at so many years in is uh. I want
(22:21):
to do hard things with Sean and then along the
way enjoy some of the less hard things.
Speaker 10 (22:29):
You guys, were here, you were here first, but it
seems like I think the last two contracts, I believe
you guys have been lined up together. What does I
guess that sense of partnership and kind of being tied
together like that mean to you or I guess how
you feel about that?
Speaker 2 (22:45):
You know what, if I were to say one thing,
I mean, you know, when Sean got here, we and
mainly threw him, implemented the we then me mantra. So
in a football operation, whether it's the head coach, GM, owner, president,
a lot of players, I mean, it's not a you know,
it's not seeing it was tennis. So I think at
the end of the day, that all that represents that,
(23:06):
you know what, we're partners.
Speaker 3 (23:09):
We got each other's back. We're going to both show
up and try to pull our weight, no doubt.
Speaker 6 (23:16):
Thank you, You're welcome.
Speaker 7 (23:19):
Eric.
Speaker 11 (23:22):
Hey, guys, thanks again for doing this. Two questions. The
first question question it's already kind of been answered. I'll
try to all ask well, I'll ask a different way.
In terms of the quarterback evaluation, you guys have brought
in Jimmy g Baker, Carson Wentz, guys that were drafted
by other teams, that said, how important is it in
(23:44):
terms of evaluating these guys with the fact that you
might have another chance at them, you know, a different way,
whether it's trade or phrase.
Speaker 3 (23:53):
You know what, Eric, I think you paused at the
first part of that question, so I might have.
Speaker 2 (23:59):
So you did so so you could if you might
better answer to ask that one again.
Speaker 3 (24:03):
Sure. Uh.
Speaker 11 (24:05):
In terms of evaluating this year's draft class, you've brought
in guys like Jimmy g and Baker and Carson that
you didn't draft initially.
Speaker 3 (24:14):
Uh.
Speaker 11 (24:14):
Is it important to kind of get a good read
on guys in this year's class considering you might have
another chance to get them a different way?
Speaker 3 (24:23):
Yeah, I'll answer that.
Speaker 2 (24:24):
I think it is interesting when you go meet with
QB as that is, there's many uh, Right, you want
to learn about them for this class. You also, as
you said, if you get to know them now when
they are maybe unrestricted free agency or some version of
a trade.
Speaker 3 (24:38):
You you have that that data point as well.
Speaker 2 (24:41):
And and then and then even it can even be
when you go play against these players, right, you can
learn about who your enemy on that Sunday is going
to be. So there's there's many variables to to getting
to know these people for sure.
Speaker 11 (24:56):
And then lastly, you guys talked about the owner meeting,
the toush push and kind of the back and forth
that's going on there. Can you just kind of talk
again about why you're for banning that play?
Speaker 5 (25:09):
Yeah, I don't know that it's exclusively that I think.
I think the crux of the issue is around really
pushing other players, but making sure there's clarity in terms
of how it's going to be officiated. My understanding is
that'll probably be something that's revisited in May. I think
one of the things that I would talk about is,
you know, it was really allowing that play to get
in in the first place. But I will acknowledge that
(25:31):
I don't believe in being a hater because the Eagles
and the Bills do it better than we were capable of.
If we executed it at that kind of level, we
would probably be doing it as well. But I think
really what it revolves around is saying, Okay, we're not
in the game in the business of pushing other people
are assisting in, you know, helping the runner.
Speaker 4 (25:51):
We've kind of allowed that into the game.
Speaker 5 (25:52):
And then when you go back a handful of years
and then there's some issues in conversations around the field
goal field goal block play, but I do I do
think that where the issue will end up really coming
to a head is talking about do we want to
prevent the assistance of pushing the runner and that could
take away some positive plays that we had last year
(26:14):
where guy gets kind of stood up and you're pushing
a pile.
Speaker 4 (26:16):
There was an example of that against the Jets.
Speaker 5 (26:18):
Even a you know, a screen that we threw to
a coup against the Vikings in the in the playoff
game would be one of these, and so I'll be
interested to see. I would imagine that's a rule that's
going to be proposed. But I think it is also important,
you know, everything revolves around health and safety, but also
making sure that there's clarity for the refs to be
able to officiate this and then us to ultimately get
(26:39):
it communicated to our players in regards to what our
expectations are, how it's.
Speaker 4 (26:44):
Being viewed, what is going to be deemed legal and illegal.
Speaker 5 (26:48):
But it was more the optics of the play that
I had a problem with, while also acknowledging that if
we did it as well as the Eagles, we would
probably be activating it a little bit more as well,
and I'm not afraid to admit that.
Speaker 3 (27:01):
So how about our quarterbacks snakes though, Eric, what about
those tobacks?
Speaker 5 (27:05):
They're actually pretty good on the hivbe sneaks last year
and hey, someone off guard the evolution of.
Speaker 2 (27:12):
Our relationship, show them being able to write be a
voice for the competition committee. You know what, I never
I never saw that on the Bengo card when we
started nine years ago.
Speaker 4 (27:21):
That's a good one.
Speaker 11 (27:23):
So, Coach, do you kind of want to go back
to way it was previously officiated when you couldn't add
on when a guy was running, like get to the
goal line and you could push him.
Speaker 4 (27:32):
Yeah, here's what I would say.
Speaker 5 (27:34):
I think what I what needs to occur, Eric, is
a proposal and understanding of how that language would be interpreted,
and then I'd be better equipped to answer it. You know,
there's a lot of layers to that, so I think
I'd want to understand. But that that's really probably where
the next discussion is. As opposed to exclusively just voting
on taking out the tush play, I think it's going
(27:55):
to be more along the lines of preventing yourself from
pushing or assisting a runner, and that manner and the
tust play would fall under those parameters, as with some
other ones that I think it'll be interesting to see
where that goes, so I'll be better equipped after the
main meetings and kind of where this goes to give
you my true opinion.
Speaker 11 (28:14):
Are you enjoying your time on the Competition Committee, Coach Evett?
Speaker 4 (28:18):
Yeah, No, it's been good.
Speaker 5 (28:19):
I've appreciated the inclusion of it, and I've learned a lot.
You get exposure and access to some really special people,
and I think, really, when you look at it, the
intent is this game has been such a blessing to me.
Speaker 4 (28:31):
I've been a part of you know.
Speaker 5 (28:33):
Obviously I got into this business because of the legacy
that my grandfather set, and so for Troy and for
Commissioner Goodell, and getting a chance to work with some
of the other people on the committee, I've really enjoyed it.
I've learned a lot, and I think with the goal
in the emphasis of continuing to move our game forward,
both from health and safety, but also just making it
(28:54):
as good of a product and as clean and crisp
as possible, this game has sure given me a lot
and if it's one of those ways that you can
give back while also getting a chance to meet some
really special people. I have enjoyed it each of the
last couple of years.
Speaker 11 (29:09):
Thanks guys, appreciate it.
Speaker 4 (29:11):
Thank you Eric.
Speaker 3 (29:12):
You took debait. You know what, distract Eric with a
competition committee question. They don't ask about the draft.
Speaker 2 (29:18):
Now Artists is closing this up and we can get
out of here without you going.
Speaker 3 (29:22):
Who are you picking at.
Speaker 11 (29:23):
Twenty six unless you aren't going to give us anything anyway.
Speaker 4 (29:26):
All right, Maverick mcgraig out Garry. I'll give you that one.
See you, guys,
Popular Podcasts
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Special Summer Offer: Exclusively on Apple Podcasts, try our Dateline Premium subscription completely free for one month! With Dateline Premium, you get every episode ad-free plus exclusive bonus content.
The Breakfast Club
The World's Most Dangerous Morning Show, The Breakfast Club, With DJ Envy, Jess Hilarious, And Charlamagne Tha God!
Crime Junkie
Does hearing about a true crime case always leave you scouring the internet for the truth behind the story? Dive into your next mystery with Crime Junkie. Every Monday, join your host Ashley Flowers as she unravels all the details of infamous and underreported true crime cases with her best friend Brit Prawat. From cold cases to missing persons and heroes in our community who seek justice, Crime Junkie is your destination for theories and stories you won’t hear anywhere else. Whether you're a seasoned true crime enthusiast or new to the genre, you'll find yourself on the edge of your seat awaiting a new episode every Monday. If you can never get enough true crime... Congratulations, you’ve found your people. Follow to join a community of Crime Junkies! Crime Junkie is presented by audiochuck Media Company.