Josh Grizzard, Skip Peete & More on System Upgrades | Press Conference | Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ Offensive Coaches Josh Grizzard, Kefense Hynson, Kevin Carberry, Biran Piccui, Thaddeus Lewis, Bryan McClendon, Justin Peele and Skip Peete spoke to the media during 2025 Offseason Assistant Coach Availability. They discussed their new rookie additions and uploading a new offense.

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Nice to be in sock.

Speaker 2 (00:09):
How's coming, I mean in terms of for when you're
hired to win your first games, you're kind of at
a midway point, and just how you feel about putting
things together, installing things the way you want to.

Speaker 1 (00:19):
Yeah, I feel really good about it.

Speaker 3 (00:21):
From the start, just making sure the staff was in
place and getting all that in order, and then going
through the NFL free agency and attacking that, moving on
to the college draft and being able to come away
with with Mech and Tez that was great. And then
having the guys here and being able to get into
the installs and actually be out on the field, and
not that we're going against the defense quite yet, but

(00:41):
just getting the conditioning. Now we've harped on these guys
running as much as possible and grinding it out, and
they've done unbelievable jobs so far.

Speaker 1 (00:47):
So everything's been good.

Speaker 3 (00:48):
Looking forward to OTAs and being able to go against
the defense a little bit, but now it's been great
up to this point.

Speaker 4 (00:55):
You have with them being as far as light in
Bulls drafting.

Speaker 1 (00:59):
I'm sorry, how much input did you have?

Speaker 5 (01:02):
How much did they consult you at.

Speaker 1 (01:04):
All on who?

Speaker 5 (01:05):
Oh?

Speaker 3 (01:05):
Absolutely, Yeah, it was very collective from the time we
started watching his tape to meeting with him in Indy.

Speaker 1 (01:11):
It's something's very.

Speaker 3 (01:12):
Collaborative between myself and b Mack and of course coach
Bulls and Jason the rest of his staff. So we
go through anybody who's really draft eligible as well as
after the draft, and we were aligned and trying to
get him here and very fortunate to do.

Speaker 6 (01:25):
So what do you think he brings to the team.

Speaker 3 (01:29):
For one, he's just so tough, smart, coming from a
winning program, coming from a great head coach, receiver coach
that he's prepared for, and he just embodies everything that
we believe in here when it comes to being selfless, tough, discipline,
being able to play multiple positions. You heard about it
going into the combine about how great of a guy
he was from I had a couple of good buddies

(01:50):
on that staff, but meeting him it just confirmed everything
that we'd already heard. But it was great to spend
some time with him and trying to get him up
with speed here.

Speaker 2 (02:01):
How do you think everyone's responding to returning back, coming
into a similar offense with maybe some new terminology and
everything like that. How do you think everyone's taking to
the new information.

Speaker 5 (02:12):
It's been.

Speaker 3 (02:13):
It's been great from the time that we started this
thing off. It wasn't like last year was how we
wanted to end it. So everybody's hungry, and we started
off talking about what it was the end of season
and losing a home playoff game and how that's not
why we do what we're doing right now. So you
can see the hungering guys to be able to push
on into the playoffs and make a run. And you

(02:33):
can tell through the meeting rooms the questions they're asking.
The stuff we're getting done on the field has been
I wouldn't want to compare it exactly this point last year,
but you feel like you're even a step further because
we didn't change a lot in the system, and now
it can get into the nuances of route running and
how we're hitting blocks and getting into the shape we
need to get into.

Speaker 1 (02:53):
So they've been they've been hungry.

Speaker 3 (02:55):
Nobody's resting on any of the statistical success we had
last year because ultimately team wise and in the playoffs
is far from what we're trying to do.

Speaker 2 (03:03):
You mentioned about the statistical success last year. Probably the
biggest difference between you and the two first time coordinators
before you, is that they had.

Speaker 6 (03:11):
Kind of ample room for growth. You inherit a top
five offense.

Speaker 2 (03:15):
What do you think it's a different challenge, But what
do you think the key is to sustaining and even
adding to the success they had last year.

Speaker 3 (03:23):
What we've been harping on is that even though in
different categories it was a good statistical year, but still
the end of the day, where the points per game
can always go up, every essentially everything can go up,
and through our fundamentals and techniques and asking the right
questions and pushing the guy beside you, we're gonna look
at it like the scheme is a scheme like what
can we do individually this time of the year to

(03:43):
improve their fundamentals, because then that will allow for us
to make a deeper run in the playoffs and score
more points.

Speaker 2 (03:50):
You have an offensive line that's completely back. You have
a running back room that's very talented and had a
breakout start of what led to the success last year
in the ground game.

Speaker 6 (04:00):
Had he build on top of that this.

Speaker 3 (04:01):
Year it was getting to the point where the scheme
was molded to fit what the old line was good at.
What the backs were good at and that's how we
left the season. So we can now have a starting
point for what we feel like was our put our
players in the best position to make plays, so you
can always improve that.

Speaker 1 (04:20):
There's always new things.

Speaker 3 (04:21):
I mean we spent I know we're talking about the
combine and the draft, but we spent a lot of
time looking around the NFL for different schemes that we
feel like can be implemented. We watched so much tape
on the college prospects that you picked up four to
five plays just watching Mecha's tape or Tesa's tape on
things that we've already implemented, so you can find it
from anywhere. We had international coaches in here the last

(04:44):
couple of weeks, and so they've got things.

Speaker 1 (04:46):
That we've never heard of, so you can get it
from anywhere.

Speaker 5 (04:49):
I would you.

Speaker 7 (04:49):
Expect the rotation or the usage of your running backs
to be similar different I mean, Bucky obviously emerged at
the end of the season as a starter, for whatever
that's worth, but you know, Rashad still has a role,
and I would think you'd want to get Sean.

Speaker 8 (05:04):
Involved for sure.

Speaker 3 (05:06):
Yeah, I'll say how we ended ended last season was
was essentially where we would take off.

Speaker 1 (05:10):
But to your point, there's a spot for all three
of those guys.

Speaker 3 (05:13):
You can see, of course what what Bucky can do
and uh being in his rookie year, but what Rashad
brings to the table from a pass catching standpoint, and
even in the run game, but really good route runner.
We all know he's really got the ball in his
hands on screens, drop back, pass game. And I don't
want to compare him to a lot of other guys,
but he is close to, if not as good as
as anybody we see in terms of pass protection in

(05:34):
the NFL. So that is testament to what he can
do from understanding Blitz patterns of communication with Bake and
Graham and the old line, so he's done an unbelievable
job with that. And about Tuck as well, I know
he had the opportunities there in New Orleans and a
couple of games down the stretch, but he's looked really
good in the in the drills we've been doing right now.
So hoping to see an increased role for for for

(05:56):
Sewan as well.

Speaker 9 (05:57):
Just I think one of.

Speaker 2 (05:58):
The goals in keeping in a house of promoting you
is the continuity of having someone that have been this offense.
But you'll, I'm sure there are things you'll want to
tweak and it just to make it your own without
tipping your hat with that, without giving anything away, Or
are there things you think of that will be subtly
different about this offense if it's the way you want.

Speaker 10 (06:16):
It to be.

Speaker 3 (06:17):
There are I would say the players know that there
are based on the installs and things we've done. If
you just went out and watched what we just did,
I don't think you would look at it as overly different.
But it's just more in the schematics and the behind
the closed doors of nuanced changes and a couple of
the way things are called. But in terms of how
it would look just watching it, I don't think you'd

(06:38):
see a whole lot of difference.

Speaker 7 (06:40):
How much of an advantage Finally you know these guys
have had or you're like the forty coordinator I think
in four years. But schematically least, maybe the language is
the carryover continuity is so important.

Speaker 9 (06:52):
For these guys to not have to start with a
new playbook every year.

Speaker 3 (06:55):
Well, we show a slide up there of a run
concept or what we're doing in our drop back protection
or a route concept unless we slightly change the name
of it.

Speaker 1 (07:05):
They should know the fundamentals of.

Speaker 5 (07:08):
What that is.

Speaker 3 (07:09):
And it really just allows them to be coaches as well,
to be able to now help mech help tes, help
some of the josh coming in at half back to
them be the coaches as well, versus they're just trying
to take care of their business.

Speaker 2 (07:23):
Last year, he's still figuring out kind of how the
mechanisms of the offensive staff will work and who will
handle what. But one of the new fixes is conveens
to hints to you know, well, just ask you what
he brings in that and now he'll fit into the stat.

Speaker 3 (07:36):
Yeah, it's been even I expect it to be great,
but it's been even better just because he had not
been here right so he didn't know the system.

Speaker 1 (07:45):
So now installing it to him.

Speaker 3 (07:46):
And him being able to nitpick does that make sense
or if this is unclear to him. We've always looked
at like coaches, if it's unclear to us or it's
a gray area for us, the tight end the receiver
is going to have no shot. So being able to
pick his brain on what makes sense has been invaluable
and then his.

Speaker 1 (08:04):
Ability to evaluate the free agents.

Speaker 3 (08:07):
And the guys coming from college, and especially with him
and b Mac, these guys coaching college for that many years,
they got.

Speaker 5 (08:12):
A good idea.

Speaker 3 (08:13):
The tape is the tape, but who is that guy?
That's why you get the Meccas and the Tezes because
you know of the character. So he's been invaluable on
that side of it as well.

Speaker 11 (08:22):
Baker Mayfield is obviously a big part of the offensive
success last season. What is your communication, benlink with him
throughout the offseason? Where do you want to see him
take that next step?

Speaker 3 (08:31):
Yeah, it's something we talked about from the from the start,
and that is he's always been a great leader, but
it's not like there's a ceiling on his ability to
do that. So it is his offense has been his offense,
but then now taking that and giving it to the
rookies and then just harping on he plays the game
like a like a UFC fighter and trying to take
a couple of the hits off of him and not

(08:54):
playing like that all the time. And we address not
only him, but with the whole unit on the turnovers
or we're unacceptable from It's not just him or the
backs of the receivers, but being something that needs to
go down from what it was last year. But it's
been open dialogue with all those guys and they've taken
to it, and we've harped on it and they've they've
done a good job so far and some of the

(09:14):
drills we've been doing.

Speaker 11 (09:16):
Do you expect him to maintain the level of efficiency
that he had last year? I mean, he pleaded seventy
one percent of his passes, which was way above any
other year.

Speaker 2 (09:24):
In his career.

Speaker 10 (09:25):
Yeah.

Speaker 3 (09:25):
I think he looks at it like the whole rest
of the unit looks at it. We're just trying to
if the points per game or where they need to
be him, we're scoring a bunch of points. Whether that
means he's throwing at a bunch or we're running at
a bunch. He just wants to win, So I don't
know if he necessarily looks at it. I look at
it like, hey, we got to hit seventy two percent.
We're just trying to win games and put the ball
on the end zone.

Speaker 2 (09:45):
How important is his leadership to this overall group, even
like in biting the rookies out and everything this year already.

Speaker 9 (09:52):
Yeah.

Speaker 3 (09:52):
I mean it goes without saying what he's able to
do from for the rookies and him talking to Mech
the night he got drafted and spending time with him
the next day when he's able to get at Tampa.

Speaker 1 (10:01):
But he makes it go. It all goes through him.

Speaker 3 (10:03):
He's the one that runs the show, and they all
gravitate towards him, and rightfully so, and you can tell
that he's just even more comfortable in that. And then
having the success he's had and those guys leaning on
him because they know they can trust him and he's
got their best interests at heart.

Speaker 5 (10:19):
I don't think Jason, I.

Speaker 2 (10:20):
Don't think Jason Lighte has mentioned you this offseason without
also mentioning Lizard like North Carolina. See if you've been back,
and obviously they've been proud of you for a long time,
but what it's like to go back as an NFL coordinator.

Speaker 3 (10:32):
Yeah, it's always great to go home. That's where my
family lives, right there near the intersection. I don't know
if you guys have seen the show that he was
speaking about, but that's right there. It's not actual town,
but it's as it is, an intersection and I go
home a good amount.

Speaker 1 (10:44):
I always try to get home after the season see
my family.

Speaker 3 (10:46):
They're all their grandparents, brother, all my buddies from high school,
and then over the summer get a chance to see
him too.

Speaker 1 (10:51):
So everybody's excited for the season ahead.

Speaker 3 (10:53):
There's definitely more people that want to, hey, we're gonna
come to this game, in that game.

Speaker 1 (10:57):
But that's been fun, all right? Thank you guys.

Speaker 12 (11:02):
Appreciate it, Oh, because how nice it is to have
somebody who wasn't here and wasn't in this offense to
kind of bring a fresh perspective on things.

Speaker 6 (11:17):
How has that been for you?

Speaker 2 (11:18):
And how how well have you kind of gotten comfortable
and familiar with everything in Tampa.

Speaker 5 (11:23):
It's been fun. It's been great.

Speaker 13 (11:25):
I mean, just as a football guy, you always love learning,
So just coming in here and trying to figure out,
you know, what they do, how they do it, uh,
why they call the players what they call them. And
I think it's some benefit as well, because I'm you know,
you could consider me a rookie, you know, so when
you get guys like mech coming in here, you can
kind of go, hey, if it doesn't make sense to
me as a new guy coming in there's a good

(11:45):
chance it won't make sense to him or whoever's coming
in here. So uh, sometimes it gives you a good perspective.
On the other end of it gives me a great
perspective in terms of just learning football, and uh, it's
all stuff that I'm familiar with. It's just learning a
different language. You know, we call it this here. When
I was at school X we called it that, et cetera,
et cetera.

Speaker 2 (12:05):
What was your initial impression of the offense watching it?
From the quarterback to the talent, the skilled players everything.

Speaker 13 (12:11):
I love it, you know, I've been a fan of
the style of offense. Watched it last year, followed it
obviously with my connection with Grids, just watching it and
picking his brain on stuff last year during the season. Uh,
stuff that we tried to incorporate at the school I
was at. But I've always been a fan of the
system from Afar.

Speaker 7 (12:28):
So how do you see if Buka integrating as a rookie.
He's playing, He's capable of playing all three positions. He
may be more of a slot receiver than anything in
the next level, but who knows. But like, what is
what is his IQ? It's supposed to be really high.
Like just do you see him just jumping in as
a rookie and making a big.

Speaker 9 (12:46):
Contribution right away.

Speaker 13 (12:47):
Yeah, and he already has I think I think you
said it. He's got position flexibility.

Speaker 9 (12:51):
You know.

Speaker 13 (12:51):
I think people say receivers, but there's really three, really
four spots, potentially five.

Speaker 5 (12:56):
Do youn't know how many you play with?

Speaker 13 (12:58):
Uh, he's got the mental compete to learn all three
and not just learn it, but actually be good at it,
which I think is the thing that people forget about
the most. You know, I could learn how to box,
but I probably wouldn't be very good at it. So
he can excel at all those positions. He gives you flexibility,
which means he's an awesome chess piece because you can

(13:18):
put him on the field with other core skill guys
and now you can build a system and you really
get everything you want because you got all those pieces.
And I think we have multiple guys that can kind
of fit different pieces, And so as a coach putting
together a system, I think it's really a fun challenge
to figure out how you can manipulate the board and

(13:38):
put your best people on the field relative to what
you're trying to do.

Speaker 6 (13:42):
Good a position where you're not tethered to one room.

Speaker 2 (13:45):
Do you have a sense for where you might find
yourself the most or or where you'll be involved.

Speaker 5 (13:49):
That's fluid.

Speaker 13 (13:51):
Right now I'm in the quarterback room, which has helped
me learn the whole system. But I mean I've coached
really every skill position in my past and feel good
with all of it. So it might change weekly, it
could change daily, it could change by period and practice
whatever Griz needs me to do. You know, we've given
ourselves the ability to kind of do that. But right
now I'm in the quarterback room.

Speaker 7 (14:13):
What's your impression at Baker Mayfield and just where you
see him improving his game?

Speaker 13 (14:21):
First impressions, just seems like a really good human being,
which is where I think you start.

Speaker 5 (14:26):
Got a really good sense of humor.

Speaker 13 (14:27):
I think he's got a good balance of keeping things
jovial but still handling business. You know, you can tell
right away that the building loves him, players, everybody. I
think he's a leader. I think just in terms of improvement.
Year two in the offense, I think is where guys
can improve. He's got a great skill set, he understands
the system, but now with a year of doing it,

(14:50):
an off season where it's not brand new to you,
you can take some steps, whether that's shortcutting concepts and
kind of knowing okay when we got this last year
versus Carolina, you know, just some some real life experience
running these plays. I think you can grow from it.

Speaker 2 (15:06):
What do you make of the Bucks tight ends and
their past catching ability?

Speaker 5 (15:09):
Specifically enjoyed that room.

Speaker 13 (15:12):
Uh you know, I was at Oregon State, saw a
couple of those guys at the University of Washington and
and they're good players.

Speaker 9 (15:18):
Man.

Speaker 13 (15:18):
I think when I was coming in learning the offense,
you know, my family wasn't here yet, so I'll spend
a lot of time in this building. Uh Caate Oten
shows up on tape a lot, right, and he's not
always the number one guy in the progression, but the
guy makes plays, He makes catches, he runs out to
the catch, he's blocking. I think pain I like that group,
and so I think there's some versatility in that group

(15:40):
as well, and I think they could really do as
much as we ask him to do. And it's just
a matter of, you know, week to week, what the
what the load is on those guys.

Speaker 2 (15:50):
You've going into so much interaction with players this this
time of year, offseason as it is, But just ask
you compared to what you thought this team was, or
what you thought the strength was his work, any anything
that mighty surprised you and impressed you.

Speaker 13 (16:03):
I just think it's a good group of people, you know.
I think just as a team, I think everybody genuinely
likes each other.

Speaker 14 (16:09):
Uh.

Speaker 13 (16:09):
There's nobody that you just kind of deal with because
you have to.

Speaker 7 (16:13):
Uh.

Speaker 13 (16:14):
And I think that's rare when you get, you know,
as many guys as you got in this in this outfit.
I mean, you know, we had one hundred and five
or whatever we had in college, and uh, it's hard
to get a group of people that massive. And I'm
talking training staff, cafeteria, like the whole.

Speaker 10 (16:29):
Building is aligned.

Speaker 9 (16:30):
Uh.

Speaker 13 (16:30):
And so it's been really refreshing for me as a
new person coming in here. It has not been hard
at all to to get going because everybody's been super
welcoming and in Tampa just seems like that kind of
place where people come and they really just want to
stay and be here. And that hasn't been lost on me.

Speaker 7 (16:46):
What's your observations of Josh as a kind of vois. Yeah,
and you know, obviously having called plays, but you know,
taking over and expectations and just how he'll how he'll
handle that.

Speaker 13 (17:01):
Well, it's an awesome question. So when I first met
Josh was two thousand and nine when I was coaching
at Yale and he was I think a sophomore. We
had never coached together. Obviously, we've had a relationship going
back to then, and when he got into coaching, you know,
he and I talked a lot and kept in touch,
and every step of his journey, every step of my journey,
we kind of grew up in this thing together. I

(17:22):
was a relatively young coach at Yale, and so it's
been fun for me to see his development up close
and personal because I think he's absolutely ready for this opportunity.
I was just talking to a buddy of mine yesterday
just about him, a guy that was with us at Yale,
and I think it's awesome. I think the dude's ready.
I think he knows what he doesn't know, he's not,

(17:44):
there's no ego to him. He'll lean on all the
support he's got around here. We got a really good
group of offensive coaches which has been awesome to work
with these guys, and he's not, you know, his ego
won't getting the way of him asking a question, which
I think is the most powerful thing a leader can do.
So for me, it's been a mixture of just excitement, pride.

Speaker 10 (18:06):
I love the dude.

Speaker 13 (18:07):
I'm you know, really working to try to help this
dude go as far as he wants to go on
his coaching thing. And so it's been excited. I look,
really I'm learning from him. It's been really fun. It's
been really fun.

Speaker 8 (18:21):
Anything else, Hey, you don't get to see it.

Speaker 2 (18:30):
All right, the off season and priorities that it has
to be nice to start with with having your offensive
lineback completely.

Speaker 6 (18:38):
Intact and it starting five. How much does that help
as you go to moving forward as them as a
building block for this offense.

Speaker 8 (18:46):
Yeah, it certainly helps.

Speaker 15 (18:46):
Have the you know, the guys that started most of
the year last year coming back, the continuity the language,
you know, and there's some things that he still want
to revisit those things throughout the off season, start back
over as it's a new year, but with the familiar
already just speaking the same language, knowing what the expectations
are and we want to re establish all those things,
re establish the expectations and standards. But really just there's

(19:12):
certainly a level a continuity of those guys and then
there's new guys that we got to bring along.

Speaker 16 (19:16):
Like look at Graham Barton's rookie year. You know where
it began, how it ended with a mistake in a
playoff game, whatever that was. It just you know what
you think he was able accomplish as a rookie, and
where you see him moving in year two, because it's
obviously a.

Speaker 15 (19:32):
Different Sure, yeah, I fully expect Graham Contune improving it better,
just like he did throughout the course of the season.
Grant's mental toughness is off the charts, and you need
that really for any position in the NFL. There's certainly
the offensive line position, and also the center position because
at the center position, the other four guys are counting
on you.

Speaker 8 (19:50):
And so.

Speaker 15 (19:52):
The mental toughness of Graham is shown throughout the course
of the season was exactly like we had thought it
would be. An expected we continue that to be an
I set forming a separator for him as a player
and then physically on the field, So will certainly continue
improving it better.

Speaker 2 (20:09):
What do you see from Cody Mauk last season, and
what are your expectations for him going.

Speaker 17 (20:13):
Into year three?

Speaker 15 (20:15):
And just continue to improve. I think he improved throughout
the course of the season from camp all the way
through throughout the season. And just continue to be proficient
at the skills necessary to play the guard position in
the NFL pass protection run blocking. Cody's play style is
off the charts, his professionalism is off the charts, And
just discontinue to improve the technique and fundamentals that are

(20:38):
required for each specific run, for each specific protection and
then also who you're going against, and that's more specific
who you're playing that week. But just continue to develop
his technique, fundamentals and develop his toolbox as it relates
to developing an all around player.

Speaker 4 (20:54):
Where said this offseason that Cody's recovery he makes an
initial mistake is really really good. You see, he's one
of the best he's ever seen. Is that just hyper
believe from a teammate or is there some substance to that?

Speaker 8 (21:07):
No, that's real.

Speaker 15 (21:08):
That's an important position, uh, for all the guards and
pass protection for everybody, and tackles too, and centers that Okay, hey,
you're going against a really good pass rusher every week
and tackle knows whomever, and they're gonna edge you, they're
gonna get on, they're gonna swipe your hand, or they
can get a nage, and then your ability to recover

(21:28):
is critical, and Cody does have the balance. The foot
quickness is unnecessary to recover to keep ultimately in pass protession,
to keep your body between the defender and the quarterback.
But Cody certainly, certainly does have an ability to recover.
It certainly one of those fundamentals we work on that
we want to continue to have our guys continue to improve.

Speaker 7 (21:50):
Biggest improvement obviously it was the run game that was
talked about a lot, you know, being last in the
previous two years.

Speaker 9 (21:57):
To go to the level you guys did.

Speaker 10 (21:58):
What was the key to that?

Speaker 9 (22:00):
You know how much?

Speaker 7 (22:01):
Not that these guys have eyes in the back of
their heads, but understanding now Bucky is a good inside
runner as opposed to maybe you thought he was going
any more. But but the timing and the understanding of
those backs, like how much better can they get?

Speaker 15 (22:13):
You know with all of that, Yeah, certainly it's a great,
great question. So each run, you know, the ball, the
runner's track, the ball himdling between the quarterback and the
runner are all relative to how we hit a block,
whether it's a gap scheme, run his own scheme, run,
whatever may be, a perimeter run, a draw scheme, and
so it's critical to have that understanding of where the

(22:35):
ball is going to hit and then how we want
to hit this block. It relates to where the where
the runner is going and a full understanding of that
system and each play it takes time and throughout the
course of the week you try to build runs depending
on the opponent that are might be different but have
some similarities like Okay, hey, this is a different run,
but we're still at the garden tackle. Are still going

(22:55):
to hit this combination the same way as it relates
to a different play, But the full understanding is critical
for all five guys and the tight ends and the runner.

Speaker 2 (23:05):
He talked about the work that's been done by Elijah
Kline behind the scenes and the role of importance he's
going to have this year as a death piece with
Robert Hainsey not here anymore.

Speaker 15 (23:14):
It's a critical piece. It was a critical piece for
us last year, you know, as the eighth lineman. Dressing
on game day. It was critical for him. And he's
got to continue to develop to grow as at both
guards that can play both sides as well as center.
And he's been working really hard in doing a good job.
When did a good job last year progressing throughout the
course of the season while not getting reps with the

(23:34):
first team, he was making the most of the reps
that he was getting given a look to the defense
in the individual setting and post practice setting, and like
where Cody's at, or excuse me, where clients at when
it seem continuity to get better.

Speaker 11 (23:47):
Well, the team didn't draft an offensive what are your
thoughts about bringing in someone like Ben Chickluma and like
his ability to develop behind trist and work someone gettick.

Speaker 8 (23:57):
Well, it's a great opportunity for him.

Speaker 15 (23:58):
And you know, with Ben's limited background of football, you know,
not going back to high school and then really moving
here from Nigeria, it's a unique set of circumstances.

Speaker 8 (24:09):
But he has physical traits that are.

Speaker 15 (24:11):
Unique and that are rare to find, and he's taking
this thing full on. He's dove right in and appreciate
the work he's put in so far, but yeah, excited
about you can where he's going.

Speaker 11 (24:23):
And then Jake Majors as well, the center from Texas.
He has an opportunity to maybe become a back.

Speaker 15 (24:28):
Sea our guy, all our guys do. I'm excited about
Ben and Jake. I remember I remember Ben coming out
in their cream process. He went to Saint Louis High
School in Hawaii and then went to Arizona State and
the Nebraska and uh, you know, same high schools like
Owen Cruits, Marks, Mariota and a number of other alumps
in at school. And then I actually recruited Jake Majors
when I was at Stanford. He was a prosper high

(24:50):
school and so certainly had familiarity with those guys coming out.
And I know both of the about both of those
guys played a ton of football respectively at Texas and
then at Nebraska and Arizona State.

Speaker 2 (25:00):
Those are you like reminding him that after the draft
in terms of, you know, connections that might help them
pick here or is that just going to.

Speaker 15 (25:08):
I think in this case, it was just a unique
set of circumstances that for guys like Jake and Ben
and Choke, there's unique set of circumstances. We didn't draft
the lineman, and so I think those guys see those
see that as a positive form and then our room
and how it's saved and it's a great opportunity for
those guys to grow and develop.

Speaker 7 (25:24):
Last year, Luke Ketaki had tocome missing a lot of
time with a concussion. It's a tough thing to get
back into the flow in the middle of the season.
But you know, you watch what he's done, just like,
what is the ceiling for this guy? He's almost played
at a Pro Bowl level last year or so.

Speaker 15 (25:41):
He's played at a high level, And like Luke's mental
toughness is really really high at a high level to
come back from that injury, missing the Detroit Denver fill
in Atlanta games, and that's a big stretch of some
court of the season and it was a challenge for
him to be out. He missed it, and but he

(26:01):
came back right a roll and did a good job
for us and through out of the way he returned
and played at a high level all year.

Speaker 11 (26:08):
Inside of just mental toughness, what would you say is
an area that got has thrown the most.

Speaker 15 (26:14):
Oh, jeez, JS has just come with experience playing with
the red tackle, and I would say pass protection, knowing
his tools, knowing what makes him a good pass protector,
changing his set angles, changing his hand use in pass protection,
knowing the type of rusher is going against. And this
is I think a lot of it just does in
fact come with experience and getting more reps. And he's
made the most of him and takes a lot of

(26:35):
pride in his work and continue to get better. And
then just being a physical player in the run game.
I thought he was a He was a real.

Speaker 8 (26:42):
Weapon for us in the run game offense.

Speaker 7 (26:45):
Another offensive coordinator in Josh Gazzard, but not a guy
you're unfamiliar with, right, But this is a new role
for him.

Speaker 9 (26:51):
Just just from us.

Speaker 7 (26:52):
A collaborative How collaborative is he just stepping back just
that in the prediction business necessarily, But how do you
think he will.

Speaker 6 (27:00):
Evolve into that role?

Speaker 15 (27:01):
Yeah, it's been very collaborative, and it was last year too,
and his role as passing game coordinator as it relates
to the protections, the screens, third down, all those things.
And so yeah, it's been great so far. It was
great last year in terms of the collaboration, and it's
always great when it's easy to work with somebody you
got to question about something, you just walked down to
their office and talk talk about something, and it's it's

(27:23):
nice to have an easy conversation, just like we did,
like we were able to last year with the whole staff,
but everybody on the staff.

Speaker 2 (27:29):
For you to add the run game title, obviously you
and Brian kind of working together on the line much
like last year.

Speaker 6 (27:35):
What's different for you.

Speaker 2 (27:35):
In terms of things that you're now handling maybe you
weren't before.

Speaker 15 (27:39):
Not much really just still you have involved in the
run game plan and but we were all as a
staff active in it and deciding those things.

Speaker 8 (27:47):
And I want to move forward and just you.

Speaker 15 (27:51):
Know, I would just say with a new coordinator, just
you know, working with him and lockst up in terms
of like, hey, this is the intent of this run,
this is when we want to run it, These are
the types of defense we want to run against, so
forth and so on. SA, I'm sweat, I just came
up the practice field.

Speaker 8 (28:09):
Thanks, how you doing?

Speaker 10 (28:13):
Ready to roll?

Speaker 2 (28:18):
I would ask you just how much continuity helps and
how much easier it is when you know the five
you have going into a year and you know already
the chemistry and the KOI.

Speaker 18 (28:28):
Oh, it's a lot easier you get all five guys back.
You know, we tweak some things as we go through
our EVL stage in the run and pass, but these
guys we put a lot on their plate last year,
more than probably previous staff of previous offensive line coaches,
and these guys handle a lot of stuff up front,
a lot of stuff well. So having those five guys
communication wise is very, very important and they kind of

(28:49):
understand where we're at right now in the running pass
game where they know what they need to fix things.
Defense is due to us that they need to change
and tweak throughout the season. So communication piece is huge
and all five guys back.

Speaker 17 (29:01):
What was your reaction when the team resigned Ben Bradison?

Speaker 10 (29:04):
Oh?

Speaker 18 (29:04):
Awesome, Right, he earned that contract, right, so he's on
that one year deal.

Speaker 5 (29:07):
Really happy for Ben.

Speaker 1 (29:08):
He's he's the glue for us.

Speaker 18 (29:10):
Up front, the tough guy, the hard nos guy, the
guy we can rely on weekend and week out, and
outside of Hainsey, he's probably the most influential on Graham
as far as communication throughout the season, helping Graham out
in his rookie year.

Speaker 7 (29:24):
Absolutely, so that communication was important to Grant to watch
him evolve. He hadn't played center since his freshman year
at Duke and all the responsibility at that position. How
was he able to handle that and how much better
was he at the end of the year going through
that process.

Speaker 18 (29:38):
Yeah, well, Carbs and I went back and we actually,
Carbs will watch a ton of tape and we went
all the way back to that year. I think it
was the COVID year right where he was center. And
you've got to give him credit for coming into that program.
He didn't even have a spring, came right in played
center there. Obviously there was a learning curve when he
first got here at center and we started out, you know,
during Phase one and two and then OTAs. But you

(30:00):
know the guys that helped him out a lot where Hainsey.
Hainsey had some of that you know play behind him
that you know, really Carbon talks about all the time,
pros pro that's what Hainsey was. And then Graham could
fix some things at the line of scrimmage when Hainsey
wasn't in there during during the game. But those two guys,
I think Graham will tell you there were tremendous assets
for him this past year.

Speaker 6 (30:20):
But your starters.

Speaker 2 (30:22):
You're back, but with Handy gone, with Gooolly gone, you've
got a chance for some new Damn absolutely to ask
you of these young guys and the rookies, you're just
getting to know the rookies.

Speaker 6 (30:31):
Who's impressed you?

Speaker 18 (30:32):
All three really have impressed us. They had a great
rookie camp. But we were talking about it the other
day as soon as the rookie camp ended that we
probably had a better rookie showing as far as being
able to compete, being able to execute than a year
ago at this time with the other guys. But really
happy with those guys, two guys that have had over
fifty starts in their career. And then Ben, who's got

(30:55):
the traits that you're looking for in that position. Only
thirteen games starting, but athletically, athletic, long, a guy that
you can look forward to developing down the road.

Speaker 9 (31:04):
Yeah, who's gonna who's gonna take? That's such an important right.

Speaker 18 (31:09):
Yeah, losing Hansey and school. Really, those two guys are
great leaders. Are your swing center and guard and then
you swing tackle. Right, But I think Graham understands. I
think Carbs talked to Graham about this too. He's going
to take on a leadership role where maybe even in
a pass protection meetings where Graham leaned on Hainsey and
and Baker a little bit and the protections.

Speaker 5 (31:26):
He's already moved up.

Speaker 18 (31:27):
In front of the room next to Ben and you
could see the development. I'm excited to see where he goes.
And you know, listen, you know Graham. Graham's hard on himself,
so he's gonna end up stepping up this year and
he knows he needs to be a leader.

Speaker 2 (31:40):
Plingers at other positions that talk about how close the
offensive line is as a group, what have you seen
from them, you know, as they evolve as teammates and
how much has that led to the on field success?

Speaker 18 (31:51):
Well, I think they were a pretty tight group when
when I came in here, even though they're a young
group by age, I think a lot of these guys
have been together. You know, Carbs leadership has been uh
instrumental for those guys up front. Is consistency with those guys.
But those guys hold everybody accountable in that room. And
you know, uh, you know, Tristan's been here for a
while even though he's young, and you know, Jason does

(32:13):
a great job. And Jason staff does a great job
and bring the right character into that room.

Speaker 2 (32:18):
Like you and Clemden and CAF say that have recent
college experience, just ask how that perspective helps.

Speaker 6 (32:26):
Just obviously the two sides of.

Speaker 2 (32:28):
College and pro borrow from each other kind of steal
the best thoughts for that.

Speaker 6 (32:32):
What's that been like to have that.

Speaker 18 (32:33):
From a scheme point or from a player's standpoint. Yeah,
from a scheme scheme standpoint. You see some of the
things that other teams are doing. I think we did
some things, whether you call it college or spread offense type.
Chris Gris has that background there too. He's been in
the league for a long time. You see the Commanders
do a lot of that stuff where they evolved from
some of the college stuff. But we can handle lot.
We've thrown a lot at our guys, whether it's spreading out,

(32:55):
condensing it down. And then you know, being able to
handle these young guys that came in college. I understand
where they come from. And you know, me handling some
of the rookie meetings early in the morning, try to
get those guys caught up the speed. It's really been
good for me too.

Speaker 9 (33:11):
All right, Thank.

Speaker 5 (33:13):
You, thanks great, Thanks.

Speaker 19 (33:16):
An know, yeah, good, were you standing on the table
for your first round pick?

Speaker 5 (33:30):
For sure? I think we all are.

Speaker 14 (33:32):
You know, as the offensive guy, you want more weapons,
you know, and as a defensive guy you want more weapons.
You got a defensive head coach, so uh, thanks to
him and Jason, they gave us another weapon. So we
just have to make sure we do the right things
with a mecca, get him up to speed, get them maculamated,
and make the pit worthwhile.

Speaker 5 (33:51):
You know, for sure, for you you're.

Speaker 2 (33:56):
One of the few people that that's been here through
each of these offensive incarnations and chain just what you
like about this? Obviously part of the design in promoting
Josh's continuity and having a similar offense, But what do
you like about what this offense should be?

Speaker 6 (34:09):
This fault.

Speaker 5 (34:11):
Baker?

Speaker 14 (34:12):
Don't have to learn something new again, right, You might
change a few terminology, a few things, make something better improvements,
But for a quarterback to succeed and thrive, he has
to have the same system, speaking the same language, just
to be his first time doing that in three years,
you know, so for two years in a row having
the same system, so it looks for him to excel,

(34:33):
you know, and to master it. And now you can
give the quarterback ownership because he's doing the same thing
that he's done a year before. So that helps the
offense out, especially the guy that's touching the ball every time.
You know, to be able to teach the guys and
see things of how he wanted, you know, and just
go out there and play to the best of his ability.

Speaker 2 (34:50):
What have you learned about Bigger over the years now
that you've worked with him.

Speaker 14 (34:55):
He has a chip on the show. No matter what, good,
bad and different. He's always had to prove himself. But
he's his own worst enemy, right. I just got to
get him out of harm's way. I like his competitive nature,
but I don't like it to the expense where he
keep getting hit and he won't be available. He's getting old.
He turned thirty, so I joke with him, not welcome
to the thirty club. You're older now, So them hits

(35:17):
you took when in your twenties, you know, might affect
you a little different in your thirties. So you know,
just to get him to start being smart, take less hits,
you know, throw it away, maybe get down and only
you know, be competitive in situations called gotta have it situations.
You know, first down, touchdown, end of the game, things
like that. But I love him to death. I wouldn't

(35:39):
trade him for nothing or his competitive nature.

Speaker 7 (35:42):
That's that's the type rope, right that because it talked
to top bulls and about you know, even turnovers.

Speaker 10 (35:48):
He may we all remember him, you know.

Speaker 1 (35:53):
Get sad friend, right.

Speaker 7 (35:54):
You know you're like no, no, no, oh god, yes, you
know how you don't want to coach that out of him,
but you would like to have him for the whole season.
And he's managed to stay healthy enough to do that.

Speaker 14 (36:05):
That that that right, there was a guy to have it,
so that was the guy to have it moments. So
I would want that guy to show up and the
guy to have it moments early in the game. If
it's if it's not there, I would prefer him to
throw it away or get down or in instances check
it down. Add to the punt. You know, let's play
a little team ball. We got a good defense, you know,
let's flip the field. We don't have to get it

(36:27):
all in one shot. You know, in certain instance instances
he thought he had he had to put us on
his back and make certain players like that, which he did.
And you know, it's a fine line of that. But
now that's the thing that you find tune it okay
when and when not? And if we can get that
under control and limit the turnovers, and I think, you know,
we can be unstoppable as a team for sure.

Speaker 2 (36:47):
How much if you had to lead with him to
either slide or get out of bounds on a particular funt.

Speaker 5 (36:52):
All the time, even in practice.

Speaker 14 (36:55):
I mean, I might say, hey, man, you gotta get
down of it. To me, don't think I can run
him over. I know you can run them over, but
I'd rather you get down and I have you the
next play, you know. And I say, but that's just
him joking his competitive spirit. But that's the next step
for him, you know, and it's gonna be moving forward
because the older you get, you know, your ability, your
mobility and ability goes away sometimes, so you have to

(37:16):
be smart and you know, just to start getting him
to play heady, you know, and and understand the situations
and getting out of harm's way. You know, that'll help
us a lot because that also a limit turnovers, you know,
because he's thinking in that manner, he don't have to
be a superman.

Speaker 7 (37:31):
It is right if there's one area you don't want
to You want him to make those great plays, but
turnovers absolutely can still kill you. And if there was
one area, it might have been here. Let's get those
interceptions down, you know.

Speaker 9 (37:44):
And we talked about it.

Speaker 14 (37:46):
I would thank him he had fourteen picks, eleven of
them or eleven of them came in a situational football
red zone two minutes, you know, and just understanding where
we can be aggressive and where we could cut our losses.
So now you just you know, emphasizing on situational football,

(38:08):
what to do with it, what not to do with it,
and you know that's what all season about, you know.
And he was honest with himself. He understands that we
cannot turn the ball over if we want to be
a great team to compete in the NFC, you know,
be one of the top dogs. And I cut it close,
like we have the last two years.

Speaker 2 (38:25):
Two backup quarterbacks that the people don't know about just
because they haven't played very much.

Speaker 6 (38:28):
A nice problem to.

Speaker 2 (38:29):
Have to ask you about Trask and about Pratt and
just the competition you have there and what do you
like about those two?

Speaker 14 (38:34):
You know, Trash is a vent in his own right,
that hasn't played because he's been around, right, He's been
with Brady's and then he's been with Baker, but he's
been in the system as well, where so Pratt is
getting it from the ground up, and he obviously have
an opportunity to prove himself as well. But I say
that Trash actually takes that next step, you know, in

(38:55):
his development and being around you know, and it's being
year five, you know, and and approaching the game as
if Bake go down, I'm ready to step in at
any moment. And with Pratt being a year two, you know,
just the competitive nature of learning it and just trying
to compete and make him Trash better. And I think
competition make us all better. And I hope there can

(39:16):
be some competition, you know, just to push the needle
a little bit for him, you know, because I think
the last couple of years he didn't have that, you know,
But now you got a guy that's just as talented
as you, especially more athletic as you, you know when
it comes to prep running around. So that's that should
like the whole room up. And I'm pretty sure to
make us better as a group.

Speaker 11 (39:37):
Right as someone who like during his time in college
he had different offensive coordinator every year, and then Baker
Mayfield in the NFL, he has had so many different
offensive coordinators. How does it really help a quarterback understand
just so many nuances of an offense.

Speaker 14 (39:51):
You're doing the same thing, but you learn a different language.
So that's just like if I was learning, you know, French, Spanish, Italian.
You know, we all saying the same thing but speaking
the different language. So those guys have an innate ability
to be able to do that and understanding and process
it and learn it really fast, And that's hats off
to them and show how smart those guys really are.

(40:12):
I had the same situation as well as my playing
career and in college. So one thing you do, though,
you learn how to to to manage the system and
get it down pretty fast, you know, because you went
through it so many times. So I guess they help them.
It's an advantage for those guys.

Speaker 5 (40:27):
Anything else, how's it going? Good?

Speaker 10 (40:35):
Good?

Speaker 5 (40:41):
When I see it.

Speaker 2 (40:41):
I don't know what your expectations were going into the
draft terms of getting help right at your position, but
just to have two rookies that and then have new
toys to play with.

Speaker 20 (40:50):
It sure just just how sure well, anytime you add
to the talent pool that you already have, you you
get really excited about it. The thing that I'm probably
the most excited about out when it comes to Mecca
and Tez is the people that you bring into the building.
You know what I mean, They're just great human beings
and so I mean anytime you add that into any organization,
I feel like you're gonna be able to help. I mean,

(41:12):
those guys be able to help instantly in some ways,
shape or form. So that's probably what you're most excited about,
just when you're dealing with those guys on a day
to day basis, It's just how good the people that
they are and how eager they are just to want
just to want to help. You know, both of those
guys come from great programs. They both very similar to
j Mack last year. They came from rooms and that

(41:33):
had talented guys already there, you know, so them coming
into an NFL room doesn't shock their system at all.
They know they kind of have to go in and
put the work in and try to figure out kind
of how it works for them. And as we do
the same thing as coaches, So I mean, like I said,
you excited about those guys as players, but most of all,
you really excited about those guys as people too.

Speaker 17 (41:54):
You mentioned Millan in there.

Speaker 2 (41:55):
How important was the growth of him towards the end
of the season scoring all those touchdowns.

Speaker 20 (42:00):
Well, you know, anybody that scores touchdowns, man, you're happy with.
But nah, I mean just his growth just as a
as a person. Also, I think it went hand in
hand with his growth as a player, and just you know,
just and that's very natural. That's very natural when you
get guys in and you look up and your midway
through an NFL season, and that's towards the end of

(42:21):
a college season, and it's like, oh man, it looks up.
You look up and you got six more games left
to play in the regular season. And so I think, man,
once you get through and just find a really good routine,
which he did, you know, really commit to it, and
you start seeing the fruits of the.

Speaker 5 (42:35):
Labors when it comes when it comes up.

Speaker 20 (42:36):
That so the best thing that he did was, like
I said, man, just his growth as a as a person.
I really think mirrored his growth as a player and
just his approach to every day of understanding of how
important walkthroughs are, how important meetings are, and and we're
just striving.

Speaker 5 (42:52):
To be as good as we can be that day.

Speaker 20 (42:54):
That was kind of a real big focus of ours,
not just with his but just abouturs in the room
in general. It's just how good we can be that day,
you know, because if we if we string strain together
enough good days, then Sundays to take care of themselves.
So I mean, we just if it's Monday, like today's Tuesday, man,
we're gonna try to have the best Tuesday we possibly can.

Speaker 5 (43:11):
You know.

Speaker 20 (43:12):
And if Tuesday's not over, we still got the still
got some more work to do. But I mean, we
just want to strain together as many good days as
we can. And I think he really took to that
and that really helped him out Right.

Speaker 2 (43:24):
The injuries last year, I pressed a lot of guys
onto the field, Yeah, such to where now you have
any right for rosters, but his fall that have game
experience and he can't keep all of them is right.
How it's a nice thing to have in terms of
having that many people competing for a limited.

Speaker 9 (43:39):
Amount of spot.

Speaker 6 (43:40):
How do you see that competition? What are the most
important things that will decide those last spots.

Speaker 5 (43:44):
Yeah, I think it is.

Speaker 20 (43:47):
It's a good thing because it's a blessing in disguise
because other guys had to take meaningful reps and there's
nothing that gets guys better than truly taking multiple meaningful
reps down after down after down.

Speaker 5 (43:59):
And so but you said, we can't keep everybody.

Speaker 20 (44:02):
It's really gonna come down to not just showing what
all you can do to help us win offensively, but
you know it goes into special teams as well.

Speaker 5 (44:09):
That's gonna be a huge part of it. It's gonna
be a huge part of it.

Speaker 20 (44:11):
And so the guys quite frankly, they give us the
best chance to win in all areas, not just offensively
but special teams wise, those are the guys that will
probably get the leg up and being able to being
able to hang around. But you know, it's the room
is full of good players and good people too, and so,
like I said, it's gonna be really really good, really
good competition and and a lot of facets of it,

(44:32):
but not just in my room. It's gonna be good
competition when it comes to who's who's helping us win
on special teams as well.

Speaker 2 (44:38):
You came to this team, getting to coach Mike Evans
and Chris gott With. Now that you spent more time
with them, what are those expectations like going in and
now that you've worked with them, How are they not
just as talent but you know leaders behind the scenes.

Speaker 20 (44:50):
Yeah, I think you you do. You hear a lot
about who these guys are. You know when you when
you step in the building and you know, when you're
getting introduced to the organization. I mean, everyone tells you,
you know, how how good, how good are people that
they are, But it really hells in comparison to you know,
what they what they truly are when you get a
chance to work with those guys. I mean, just that

(45:10):
whole saying don't meet your heroes, I mean it does not.

Speaker 5 (45:12):
Apply to those guys, It really doesn't.

Speaker 20 (45:15):
I mean what they bring to the organization on a
daily basis, not not not every now and then and
not just on game days, but on a daily basis,
just by who they are, the expectation that they have
of themselves, uh, the expectations for them to go out
there and then play at a high level, and the
work that they put in to be able to meet
those expectations. I think that's that's big. That's one of

(45:35):
their biggest superpowers for both of them. And so, you know, no,
Ego truly truly happy with everybody else getting success. I
mean it's the complete uh player person that you were,
that you would really really enjoy coaching. And so, I
mean I said that it's onet to be. It's been
one of my funnest years coaching. It's and it's because
of not just those two guys, but the room we had,

(45:57):
you know, I mean it was it was just really
good people and uh and guys that truly want to
do everything they can do to help the team win.

Speaker 5 (46:03):
And when you have that, that's fun.

Speaker 2 (46:06):
You've got guys that you either coached the Canster recruited
just was curious with mac uh.

Speaker 5 (46:13):
You would be correct. Yeah, do you remember conversation.

Speaker 20 (46:17):
Oh yeah, I remember recruiting him vividly and uh so
now we we remembered each other.

Speaker 5 (46:23):
So it was good. I got a chance to sit
down with him.

Speaker 20 (46:25):
Uh and when we met with him at the combine,
and that was kind of the first things that we
were talking about and we we we we laughed and
stuff about that. But no, I mean, you know, The
best thing was was you noticed he came from a
good family.

Speaker 5 (46:37):
Then, you know, I mean his mom.

Speaker 20 (46:40):
Dad, step dad, their their family. Man, they did a
great job raising him. I mean and and and and
stilled a bunch.

Speaker 5 (46:46):
Of the right stuff in him.

Speaker 20 (46:47):
And uh, I mean and and this's and it pays
and obviously it's paid off over here in the long run,
but it was it was good being able to kind
of catch up on old times and you get the
samsu to see not just him, but you know a
lot of guys that you might have recruited and everything
else kind of you know, work up through the ranks
and to be able to get to.

Speaker 5 (47:03):
Word they're getting over here in the NFL as well.
So that's pretty fun.

Speaker 11 (47:06):
For someone like Tedes Johnson, he already has a site
set on being the returner this year, But how do
you see him maybe contributing offense and sure utilizing his
skill set?

Speaker 20 (47:15):
Sure, I think, uh, you know, tz, you know, he
first of all, he's very eager.

Speaker 5 (47:18):
He's very very eager to do well.

Speaker 20 (47:20):
But tess, he does have a skill set that that
that can lead him to be a good player outside
of just being a returner. And so you know, the
step one is right now is just getting down what
to do, like like all like all rookies, and and
uh so, man, we're really really honing it in on
exactly what to do. Then we'll start mastering how to
do it and making sure we're doing it at a
high level enough for us to win as.

Speaker 5 (47:40):
It gets closer to the season.

Speaker 20 (47:41):
So that's that's pretty much the process of not just him,
but a Mecca as well. But not just them, you know,
that's every rookie probably right now in the NFL, and
we just got to make sure that we're doing it,
you know, as good as, if not better than the
other teams.

Speaker 2 (47:53):
How does the pick of a Mecca become knowing that
Chris Godwin's coming off?

Speaker 20 (47:59):
Sure, well, you know those are two independent of themselves,
be honest with them. I mean, it really had no
factor at all, uh into us drafting O Mecca. You know,
the conversation that I had with with everybody, I mean
that we were trying to find the best player we
possibly could at that pick, and that's what we did.
And so I mean, you know, with Chris Man, we
we're excited to kind of you know, with his progression

(48:21):
and we'll see kind of where things go with there.
But they were too independent of themselves really, so one
didn't have anything to do with the other.

Speaker 5 (48:33):
Absolutely, Thanks Josh, all right, just you.

Speaker 2 (48:44):
Have almost everybody back in terms of the room you
have just changed to. What's different for you to be
in this offense and be around this team for a
year now.

Speaker 9 (48:51):
Yeah, I mean you're two. It's I mean, it is
the same room. I don't know how many times that's
happened in my career. It's we're all comforting, you know,
it's the come for level. Obviously, same terminology. Obviously grizz
uh Griz taken over. But we're running. You know, it's
the same system and it is nice to be around
the guys for with the same group of guys. They

(49:11):
know me, I know them. It's it's it's it's a
comfortable room.

Speaker 17 (49:18):
Belief of the players in that room since you know
they didn't address.

Speaker 10 (49:21):
Tight end of the dread.

Speaker 9 (49:24):
I guess, I guess what do you mean by that?

Speaker 6 (49:26):
Just like your trust believe?

Speaker 9 (49:28):
Yeah, I mean those guys, those guys did a nice
job last year. It's like I said, it's a fun
room to coach. They they know their role, they know,
you know, they know who they are and and you know,
the greatest thing about all they want to do is win.
They'll do whatever, you know, whatever there is asked of
them to do to help this team win.

Speaker 2 (49:46):
Do you think of Durham and how they were able
to pick up the slack for for Kate later in
the in the season when he went down for.

Speaker 9 (49:52):
A little Yeah, that was that was that was big
for us. Obviously, Kate is so much a part of
our offense. And for those guys to step in, they didn't.
They did a nice job, you know, and it just
goes It's really that room in general. You know, co
stepped in a few times as well. And what's fun
about coaching those guys is it's important to them. They

(50:13):
work at it, they study it, they you know, they
asked the right questions. They work to get better. And
so it was not a surprise that obviously you don't
want to lose kid obviously, but uh, for those guys
for Pain and and dev and and Code to step up,
it was it was nice to see for she.

Speaker 4 (50:28):
Was called I mean, I guess like a young player,
you want to see him get better. Towards the end
of the year, which he did, he had an.

Speaker 6 (50:34):
Impact later in the year.

Speaker 4 (50:36):
What do you foresee for him from him this year?

Speaker 9 (50:38):
Really much of the same, just continue to get better
with it. You know, coming in as a rookie, it's
hard to play the position, right, guys are so much bigger, faster, stronger,
and and dev took some time to adjust to that.
And then just the every day routine. You know, he
finally found he found a routine and he started to
get comfortable with it, and you know, you could see

(50:59):
him just start to to grow as the year went on,
and then for him to step in and have a
you know, I think it was it was a Carolina
and New Orleans if I'm not mistaken. He you know
produced right, he made some big two three, two or
three really big time catches for us, So that that
was fun to see. So you just like to see
him continue just to grow and improve and everything that

(51:20):
he does.

Speaker 6 (51:22):
About the same size that the US as rookie. I
you're you're in the NFL.

Speaker 9 (51:26):
She can throw. Yeah, I mean I think he's him
and I have talked about it, you know, a guy
is We've talked about where he wants him to be
the biggest thing with dev is just getting stronger with it.
And then that's just you know, like you said, a
year in the NFL and the in the way that
we train here, and he'll he'll just get stronger and
continue to grow.

Speaker 2 (51:44):
Big year for Kado and going into a contract year,
what are your expectations for him?

Speaker 17 (51:49):
How does he get better as a tight end?

Speaker 9 (51:52):
You know, him and I have had those conversations, and
if he wants to talk about him, that's fine. But
the overall goal for for not just k but for
everybody is to be a better player than you were
last year. And I mean I've said that for years.
Every tight end that I've talked to coming off of
a season is you know, and it's not about numbers.
It's Okay, we want to get better at this, this
and this, and you know we'll see where see where

(52:12):
it goes and that and Kate will Kate very confident
he will do that just because of who he is.
You know, he's played a lot of ball, and you know,
for a guy going into his fourth year, you know,
he's essentially started for two and a half almost three years,
and he plays a lot of snaps, but he continues
to get better he's look he's looked looked the best
that I've seen him. He looks a lot better right

(52:34):
now than he did last year. And it's just because
he's more confident in what we're doing and he's playing faster.

Speaker 11 (52:40):
What did you like seeing kayot And when he stepped
up the middle of the season with Mike and Chris
going down, he saw him get better and he had
the four game stretch where he looks like one of
the best tight ends.

Speaker 10 (52:49):
In the league.

Speaker 9 (52:50):
Yeah, and I think that it's a credit to him
and the way that he that he way he works
at it, and you wouldn't he never says anything, you know,
which he doesn't, never gets upset, He's never you know,
I want the ball ball, while he just goes on
and does his job. And it's funny with a guy
like Cad where the ball just finds him, you know.
I think it was the Baltimore game, maybe one or
two of those plays where quote unquote game plan plays,

(53:12):
but a lot of it's just him playing ball.

Speaker 17 (53:15):
You know.

Speaker 9 (53:15):
Obviously he's got a trust with with Bake. They've got it.
They've got a good relationship. They see the game the
same way. So it was it was fun to see.
How's you know, half for him and you know, hopefully
we don't have to lose Chris and Mike again. But
but it's a comfort knowing that he's part of he's there.

Speaker 11 (53:33):
And then with strides, did you see Kate make last
year as a blocker? He kind of set the tone
in that room as well.

Speaker 9 (53:39):
Yeah, he does. He's uh, you know, and it was
we talked a lot in the last off season just
about his technique. You know, he's he's got the strength,
he's got the willingness. It's just sometimes you got to
clean up the technique and that takes a couple of
years to do because you and a lot of these
guys aren't asked to do a lot of it in college.
And I'm sure and actually I know he did some
of it in college. But just the consistent technique and
understanding technique when blocking at the tight end position is

(54:03):
everything because you're blocking guys that are bigger and stronger
than you, right, so how do you win? You got
to have perfect technique and he really really focused on
that and it really came to life.

Speaker 2 (54:15):
He's not in your room justin but but as an
Oregon guy, did you did you know Ted Johnson?

Speaker 6 (54:19):
Have you watch more of him over the last two years?

Speaker 10 (54:21):
Oh?

Speaker 9 (54:21):
Yeah, man, whenever whenever we get whenever we get games.
The problem with it East Coast and Organ always plays
at like eight o'clock and then if I see halftime,
I'm shocked and usually go on to Saturday Night. But no,
it's I'll tell you didn't. My father in law loves
him because he went to work, so I hear, I
hear all about him, and no, he's a he's a.

Speaker 1 (54:40):
He's a.

Speaker 9 (54:41):
He was a fun kid to watch and hopefully we'll
do much of the same.

Speaker 11 (54:44):
When you look at the tighter tenant the tight end room,
do you think that Kate, Pain and Devon each have
like their own specific like traits, Like you see Kate
is like all round guy, Pains like the red zone threat,
and then Devin's kind of that speed threat.

Speaker 9 (54:58):
Yeah. I mean, I think all those guys have a
role in our room, and that's where the which is.
It's fun to coach, but now we need to just
continue to grow, you know, expand our roles. And yeah,
I mean Kaiden is a very solid at everything that
he does. You know, Pain is probably the more physical
but Pain needs to work on his technique. You know,

(55:19):
dev is probably the better athlete, but he needs to
work on the same and they're all they all have
their you know, you know Coe in the same way.
So it's they're fun to coach in that aspect of
the goal and the challenges to get better in everything
that we do. That's good. Appreciate it.

Speaker 10 (55:43):
I guess what I'm ready for you.

Speaker 2 (55:46):
It's a lot like Justin who was just in their
room and that your room is almost exactly the same
was a year ago.

Speaker 5 (55:51):
How much does it.

Speaker 2 (55:52):
Change coming off the overall run game season you had, this,
the success they.

Speaker 6 (55:57):
Had last year.

Speaker 21 (55:59):
I'd say that the most important thing is that obviously
we have the same guys, but I think they're a
year older. I think they know the offense a little
bit better than it did a year ago. So that's
gonna obviously help the room then, and they obviously be
able to play a little bit more relaxed because they
won't be thinking as much.

Speaker 2 (56:17):
The way that Bucky just burst onto the scene as
fourth brown pick kind of taken over the reins. How
often have you seen that in your career someone just
take the ground running like he did.

Speaker 10 (56:27):
A couple of times.

Speaker 21 (56:30):
If you have a talented young guy that comes in
the building, and obviously you foresee him having success. And
I think, you know, that's kind of what Bucky did.
But it wasn't really any different than like Felix Jones
in Dallas or DeMarco Murray in Dallas. So those guys
came in and immediately were impacted on the offense. So
I think Bucky was kind of looked upon to be

(56:51):
that same type of back, and I think he did.
But I think the one thing that we got to
all understand is that we need them all.

Speaker 10 (56:59):
I mean them all.

Speaker 21 (57:00):
I don't think I've ever been in a room where
we didn't have three or four that we felt comfortable
putting in a game. And I've always felt that if
you have a fresh back in the game, he presented
a little bit more stress on the defense. So that's
kind of how I think we're gonna operate, and we're
gonna try to use them all in the best of
their ability, put them in situations where they can have success,
and you don't know who's gonna be hot that day.

(57:22):
But to get back to your answer about Bucky, I mean, Bucky.

Speaker 10 (57:25):
Was a unique guy.

Speaker 21 (57:26):
I mean, he was in a similar situation at the
University of Oregon where he started the season with playing
I think four or five other guys with him. Then
it eventually became three as the season went along, and
it kind of just ran with those three, but it
still was three backs that were playing. And at the beginning,
you know, I mean, he wasn't really in enough shape
to play an entire game or even three quarters of

(57:48):
a game, so he had to kind of monitor how
many snaps he took. But as the season went along,
I think he got in a little bit better shape.

Speaker 4 (57:55):
See that before the Skeptic Bucky did an energy completion
and it was proposed to him that you could have
two thousands of scrimma yards and he emphasized that he
doesn't care about yards, he doesn't care about touches. He said,
everybody's going to get everybody in the room's gonna get
their opportunity. I think he is to make the most
of your opportunity. Is he really that unselfish?

Speaker 10 (58:17):
Yes? Is he? Yes?

Speaker 21 (58:19):
He played at the University of Oregon. They had five backs,
they were all good. So I mean I've always felt
I mean, even most places I've been. I've only been
two places where I didn't utilize three or four backs,
and I was in Chicago with Matt Forte, and that
was with the Los Angeles Rams with Todd Gurley. Other
than that, all my years in Oakland I used three

(58:41):
or four backs. All my years in Dallas, I used
three or four backs, and then when I got here
using three or four backs. You know, my first year
here we didn't have three or four We only had
a thing two. So and we try to utilize those
guys to the best of their ability. I mean, the
most important thing is we want to try to put
these guys in position to have success and what they're

(59:01):
extremely well at doing, we want to try to put
them in those situations where they can have the success.
You know, Now, some games a certain guy gets hot,
now you might lean a little bit more on them,
but it's not because we don't like the other guy.
It's just that that particular game, he's hot, so we're
gonna let him roll a little bit. You know, you
don't know who that's gonna be. It could be one
of the three. But I mean, getting back to Bucky

(59:24):
being an unelf selfish player, he is truly like that
probably the other guy that I coached Eel was.

Speaker 10 (59:30):
The same way, was Marion Barber.

Speaker 21 (59:32):
I mean, young man, that everyone gets stuck on being
the starter, but the starter truly only means you take
the first play of the game, you know, not the
snap counts.

Speaker 10 (59:46):
You gotta look at the snap counts. Yeah, you started.

Speaker 21 (59:51):
Because you took the first play, But the other guy
played seventy percent of the game.

Speaker 10 (59:57):
Do you understand what I'm saying.

Speaker 2 (01:00:00):
Josh Williams here Grace about dresser rookie is Yes, the
first time you have a player whose father also played
for you.

Speaker 21 (01:00:06):
Yes, that means I've been doing this way too long. No,
But I mean it was interesting because his dad was
kind of in the same boat that he is. You know,
he was a free agent guy, came in I think
he originally started here in Tampa and then we signed him.
But he was a little bit different body type. He's
a little bit taller, and he had about two hundred

(01:00:27):
and thirty pounds and ran about a four to four.
So I mean he was kind of a combo guy
for us where you know, you know, obviously Josh's gonna
be strictly just a running back, and we don't really
have a true fullback in the backfield at per se
we utilize the tight end. So I mean, no, I
haven't haven't been fortunate enough to do that.

Speaker 2 (01:00:47):
Understanding how you're going to need all the running backs.
How important has Rashot White been on third down pass
blocking in other situations that's been needed.

Speaker 17 (01:00:57):
Do you see him in that role again this upcoming season?

Speaker 2 (01:01:00):
No?

Speaker 10 (01:01:00):
I do.

Speaker 21 (01:01:01):
I mean, I think he does an unbelievable job as
a pass protector when he's under control and you know,
plays with a little bit more patience. But I mean
he's a very very capable and good pass protector and
obviously he's very talented when he gets in space with
the ball now, I think he's a very good and
disciplined or outrunner and those are areas that I think
he really really excels at NOA. I mean, he's a

(01:01:21):
good solid runner as well. But I mean, I think
we have a guy that's a little bit electric that
carries the ball now. But I think they both blend
together very well. And I mean I haven't even touched
on Sean. I mean he's probably the guy that you
would say got the short end of the stick, But
I think we all we need him as well. I

(01:01:42):
mean there's been games where we've put him in, and
I mean everybody has to have an opportunity to play.
Sometimes your play counts higher than others. But I think
if you look at it and take advantage of your opportunities,
I think it all kind of works out.

Speaker 2 (01:01:54):
The road game against New Orleans is probably an example
of riding the hot hand with Sean Tucker.

Speaker 17 (01:01:59):
I know there's no running back out, but that was
like his true moment.

Speaker 21 (01:02:02):
Yeah, that was the biggest opportunity he's had, and I
think he did a great job of taking advantage of
the situation and showcase what he's capable of doing.

Speaker 11 (01:02:10):
From your perspective, what's the dynamic like between Bucky and
Rashat and that running back room.

Speaker 10 (01:02:15):
I think everybody's a little bit different.

Speaker 21 (01:02:16):
I think all the personalities that every one of those
guys are drastically different. But I think they all respect
one another. They all understand that there's a bond that
they have to have in order for us to have
success as the team. You know, I mean the most
important thing is you got to push aside egos. I mean,
guys are going to have you know, stronger traits at

(01:02:37):
certain things than each other.

Speaker 10 (01:02:38):
So it is what it is. But just excel on
what you do.

Speaker 21 (01:02:42):
I think we can just stay relaxed, stay good as
a group, and when you get the opportunity to get
in a game, do what you're supposed to do, and
I think we'll have a good season to have fun.

Speaker 7 (01:02:53):
Is it difficult if you're a shot white in your
contract year and you've been RB one to see that
the young guy coming here and acceler what he has,
but maybe push you to a different role?

Speaker 9 (01:03:05):
Do you have to?

Speaker 7 (01:03:05):
It's it difficult to accept that this might be a
little bit different role than what you're used to.

Speaker 6 (01:03:09):
In the first snap of the first.

Speaker 21 (01:03:11):
Game, well, I mean probably, I would say, but it's
not the first game because it happened at the end
of last season. So but I mean it was a
very similar situation with Julius Jones and Marion Barber, you know.
I mean, Julius had started for three years, Maren came
in and eventually became the starter.

Speaker 10 (01:03:29):
But you still have to play.

Speaker 21 (01:03:32):
I mean, when we put you in the game, you
still have to play and operate and do the things
you're capable of doing.

Speaker 10 (01:03:36):
And at the end of the day.

Speaker 21 (01:03:37):
If you showcase what you're capable of doing, you know,
you either get paid here, you get paid somewhere else.

Speaker 5 (01:03:43):
You know.

Speaker 21 (01:03:43):
So it's all about what you do in the game,
you know, not about how many total touches, how many,
it's what you do, you know. I've always said that,
but the back said everyone forgets. It's about a production
based business of what you do when you have opportunities.
So take advantage of the opportunity you have and have

(01:04:03):
you know, have fun while you're doing it, because it's
good to cheer on your buddy. And when you have
competition in a room, I think that's the thing that
pushes everybody.

Speaker 10 (01:04:12):
So when one guy is having an exciting drive and
then I say.

Speaker 21 (01:04:15):
All right, you're up, it's your turn to have the
exciting drive, you know, and we cheer for each other.

Speaker 10 (01:04:20):
And that's what this team is all about.

Speaker 21 (01:04:22):
So we if we have that kind of blend in
our room, which I think we do, you know, I
think we'll have a lot of fun and enjoy cheering
each other on.

Speaker 2 (01:04:31):
There could be news today on the NFL allowing players
to play flag football in the Olympics in twenty eight
and you've seen more flag football than most with your
daughter playing, I just want to ask you what you
thought about that, and how well do you think NFL
players could handle flag football?

Speaker 10 (01:04:46):
That is a question. I mean, that's interesting. I don't know.

Speaker 21 (01:04:48):
I mean, that's that's a good question, you know. I mean,
I'm pretty sure they would be capable of doing it,
because I mean, growing up as young players in high school,
you play flag, I mean not flag, but you play
seven on seven and that's really what flag football is.
So I mean it probably wouldn't be a problem for him,
But I mean, what is the possibility of if someone
gets nicked and then what is the circumstances of you know,

(01:05:13):
So I mean that's a lot of stuff that's got
to be talked about, But I don't see them being
able to not play.

Speaker 17 (01:05:20):
What's the next step for Bucky heading into year two?

Speaker 21 (01:05:23):
I think the most important things you got to improve
on everything that you did the year before. I mean,
I mean, you guys saw all the electrifying plays and
things like that. But there's a lot of things that
he needs to improve on, and he knows that and
understands that, and I think he's been in the process
of doing that. And I mean, really, I think every

(01:05:43):
one of them. I mean, they grow each year. And
even though you have a good season the previous season,
you know you've got to continue to work on the
things that are things that kind of held you back
the previous year in order to have a little bit
more success the previous year. Because I mean I've always
pre just and I said, you never ever stayed the
same go you either get better or you get worse.

Speaker 10 (01:06:05):
Now you got to work to get better.

Speaker 21 (01:06:07):
I mean the things that you feel you need to
work on, which you're gonna be told to you at
the end of the season. Hey, these are things I
think you need to improve on.

Speaker 10 (01:06:13):
Whether it's pass protection, whether.

Speaker 21 (01:06:14):
It's running routes, whether it's the run game, and your
footwork and your course, all those things are gonna help
you become a more solid and disciplined player and have
more success. So I think every one of them understands
what they need to do.

Speaker 11 (01:06:29):
You mentioned in your previous coaching stops, such as like
with Julius Jones and Marion Barber, that you had like
three or four running.

Speaker 6 (01:06:36):
Backs in the mix.

Speaker 11 (01:06:37):
With that, how do you see Sean Tucker maybe being
that third guy and factoring in more.

Speaker 21 (01:06:42):
I mean, you know he will you know, he will
be obviously, like I said, we need them all. So
I mean there's been certain games and times where people
will play a little bit more nate than they would
in another game. You know, I think the situation in
the game kind of dictates that. And I mean, obviously
right now, I mean Buckett as a starter, so I
mean we're gonna lean on him. Shod's been doing a

(01:07:03):
good job. I mean, he's played well and has the
capability of.

Speaker 10 (01:07:06):
Being the start.

Speaker 21 (01:07:06):
I really think all of them really has the ability
to be a starter if the situations were different, you know,
right now, the way it's lined up, you know, I mean,
I think we have three pretty good runners, you know.
And I think the two young young guys we have
and DJ Williams and Josh Williams are both young talent
in the backs, you know, and it makes a lot
of fun to watch guys perform and push each other

(01:07:28):
because I mean, what do you do when you have
competition or pick up basketball? You're playing pick up basketball
in somebody and someone scores on you, what You're gonna
try to score on them. It's a natural reaction so
I think these guys all, you know, possess that within them,
so it kind of pushes each other to be the
best that they can be at all times, because you
don't want to be showed up by the other guy,

(01:07:48):
you know, even in practice. So I mean, I think
that's the kind of work ethic we have, and I
think it's been fun to watch.

Speaker 8 (01:07:58):
Here.

Speaker 9 (01:07:58):
You welcome