Larry Foote, Charlie Strong & More on Defensive Outlook | Press Conference | Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ Defensive Coaches George Edwards, Larry Foote, Nick Rapone, Kevin Ross, Mike Caldwell, Charlie Strong and Thomas McGaughey spoke to the media during 2025 Offseason Assistant Coach Availability. They discussed the preparation going into the 2025 NFL season and players of interest.

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Coordinator, talk about your responsibilities and what your goal is
to help the communications.

Speaker 2 (00:07):
Yeah, I think the biggest thing is just trying to
help help guys, help different position groups, being able to
move around and being able to help communicate with the
players make sure the understanding is good. But our coaches
have done a great job so far. It's all season
of keeping guys together, hearing the same communication, everybody on
the same page. So that's the big thing that we're

(00:27):
trying to get accomplished.

Speaker 1 (00:30):
Coach Bowles has talked about you playing a central role
as he during practice will maybe spend more time on
the offensive side helping Josh Gizzard.

Speaker 3 (00:38):
Can you speak to your level experience and how you
and Coach Foot.

Speaker 1 (00:41):
And the others can kind of hold down the fort
on the defensive side while that happens.

Speaker 2 (00:46):
Well, I think like anything else, it requires everybody, you know,
being on the same page. Everybody communicate with one another,
and the biggest thing is we're all here to make
sure our players are on the same page to go succeed.
And I think Coach Bowles has, you know, the ability
to move around and do the things that he needs
to do because he wears a lot of different hats,
that's for sure, But anything we can do to help

(01:08):
him make that easier in that transition, and you know,
being able to stay on top of everything. So we
just try to make sure communication wise, we're on the
same page and saying the same language and being able
to handle those situations as they come up.

Speaker 4 (01:21):
What are your thoughts on some of the players in
the secondary they got drafted with Benjamin Morrison and Jacob Parrish.

Speaker 5 (01:26):
Yeah, we're excited about him.

Speaker 2 (01:28):
I mean, our scouting department did a great job identifying
the traits and the type of people that we're looking
for to join our culture, and we're just in the
process of implementing those things now.

Speaker 6 (01:39):
I mean they all have come in.

Speaker 2 (01:41):
They're good workers, they're paying attention to details, they're doing
a good job of communication. But we still got a
long way to go and a lot of things With
Rire it's head with the more experiences that they get
as long as they're here.

Speaker 7 (01:52):
The new structure kind of with the coaching Steff on
defense and having an extra voyage. Does that you need
that helps more during the week in prepper to help
more on Sundays.

Speaker 2 (02:01):
I think it kind of helps all the way in
both situations. I think during the week there's a lot
of things that go to when you start talking about
situational football and then just trying to you know, what
times allotted to what and being able to trust one
another to make sure that we get all those things
covered with our players. And again, it's gonna come down
to the communication, everybody being on the same page and

(02:21):
execute what we need to get executed.

Speaker 4 (02:25):
Is it, you know, the corners and safeties meeting together,
what's kind of more of the communication aspect.

Speaker 5 (02:31):
I think that's a part of it.

Speaker 2 (02:33):
I mean, like I said, that's a big part of it,
of us coming together and being on the same page
and communicating at practice. We really think, you know, so
far we've had good communication with things we're trying to
get accomplished. But as you know, as we get to
the OTA part of it and they're able to go
out and perform, I think it'll be you know, a
lot more visible of where we're at. And you know,

(02:54):
you go from OTA's then you got a month off,
then you go to training camp. So this is a
loan process you know, over the and we're just trying
to take advantage of each and every day right now,
and the guys have been locked in and doing a
good job of focusing and in the moment of what's
going on today.

Speaker 5 (03:10):
So that's what we're pleased about.

Speaker 2 (03:11):
And we're like I said, right now, we're working on
you know, calls, communications, alignments, assignments, you know what's going
to happen here, Understanding the situations that we're putting you
in certain calls and those kinds of things. So hopefully
they'll react faster when we get to those situations and
continue to improve.

Speaker 1 (03:28):
One of things that are coach Bulls and probably everybody
on the staff is only seven interceptions on the defense
six from this secondary last year.

Speaker 3 (03:36):
What can be done aside from getting more ball hawks.

Speaker 1 (03:39):
As a coach, Bulls talking about what can be done
to improve that number and get that takeaway number total.

Speaker 2 (03:45):
I think the big thing, and I think that's a
big focus for us is emphasized and I think everybody
understands those were the numbers from last year. Now what
are we going to do to improve? So the concentration
and focus. I mean, we probably had about eight that
we had a chance. I mean they were in our
hands and didn't make it. And that's what it boils
down to, honestly, you got to make the interceptions and
the turnovers when they come to you got to force

(04:06):
the ball out of the out of the offensi's hands.
You got to, you know, take the ball away. That's
the number one emphasis. So for us, it boils down
to being in those situations. And then you know, from
a coaching aspect of it, all you can do is
put them in those situations and then make sure the
fundamental and the technique of catching the ball, looking it
through all of those things. Because we've had opportunities, we

(04:28):
just didn't get them done. And it boils down to
in that moment, you've got to get them done.

Speaker 7 (04:33):
If seven is the number you don't want, is there
a regional number for how many picks you'd like this
defense to have in a season? Is it fifteen, is
it twenty?

Speaker 6 (04:39):
Is it more?

Speaker 2 (04:40):
I'd like to get about fifteen or twenty a game.
But you know, it's just a matter of when you're
in that position to be able to make what We've
got to get that mate, you know what I'm saying.
At the end of the day, I mean, you're not
gonna have too many options. But when we get the opportunity.
We've got to get that meeting.

Speaker 7 (04:55):
You have kind of the freedom now where you're not
heathered to a specific position. Do you know, is there
a real you're more likely to spend time in right now?

Speaker 2 (05:01):
Well, right now, I just kind of move between a
couple of different rooms. And right now we're in evaluation process,
especially with the young guys that just joined and making
sure that they're all on the same page. But my
job is to do whatever Coach Bulls needs me to do,
whatever is going to you know, help him in this
situation to make it easier for him at the end
of the day.

Speaker 6 (05:19):
That's all of trying to accomplish at the end of
the day.

Speaker 8 (05:21):
What is that for you?

Speaker 9 (05:22):
Because you have such a vast experience like overseeing it all,
and then you know in this system for acuency at
the stefense, you know you were more positioned specific and
now you're able to take a few steps back and
you're able to focus in on kind of a whole
operation or even like you said, kind of duck your
head into specific groups.

Speaker 5 (05:41):
For you, it's been great.

Speaker 2 (05:42):
I mean, like I said, the culture here between Jason
and his staff and Coach Bowls that's been in place
for a while is outstanding. So it's a lot of
fun moving in and out between the players and being
able to talk between them and just like again, making
sure communication wise, we're all on the same page and
trying to get you know, executed what we're off because

(06:02):
it's just like anything else, good pass defense is going
to require good pass rush.

Speaker 5 (06:06):
Good pass rush is gonna.

Speaker 6 (06:08):
Be good coverage at the end of the day.

Speaker 2 (06:10):
So it all is encompassing, and that's the fun bart
about it is just being able to move around and
talk to different guys about certain things we're trying to
get accomplished, and making sure we're all on the same page.

Speaker 9 (06:20):
The ability to provide input with coach Boles, how receptive
he is to win. You know, I know that he
was talking with I was there specifically, but at owner's
meetings about.

Speaker 10 (06:29):
Just some of the things that you know, I guess
he had like a breakthrough moment, you.

Speaker 9 (06:32):
Know, while he was watching tape and things like that,
just trying to come up with new ideas and stuff.

Speaker 8 (06:36):
How receptive is.

Speaker 2 (06:37):
To outside ideas, very very I mean, from week to
week he does a great job of all right, looking
at the skill set of our players, all right, what
is the best package for us to be in?

Speaker 11 (06:49):
All right?

Speaker 2 (06:49):
What are we asking them to do? To take away
with the offense has done. He's always done an outstanding
job of that. And conceptionally we've done a lot of
similar concepts. I mean, we've worked together in the past
a couple of different places, so the familiarity makes it
a little bit easier, you know.

Speaker 5 (07:04):
What I mean.

Speaker 2 (07:04):
But from that aspect of it, whatever he needs me
to do to help out, you know, as we're trying
to look at the skill set of our players and
put them in the best position because inevitably, as you
go through the course of the season, there's gonna be injuries,
there's guys that are gonna miss games. So we're trying
to get the best eleven guys out there in certain
situations to handle not only the situation, but.

Speaker 6 (07:26):
The matchup that the offense gives us from week to week.

Speaker 2 (07:28):
So that's where us being on the same page and
familiarity with you know a lot of different concepts and
just experiences has I think will help out.

Speaker 3 (07:38):
You talked about the pass rush.

Speaker 1 (07:39):
Can you speak about specifically the two new pass rushers
you've required you just saw David Walker over the weekend,
right and then as.

Speaker 3 (07:45):
Son Reddick, what he can bring to the table from veterans.

Speaker 2 (07:47):
Perspective, right, Well, Hassan has a lot of experience in
this league, has had you know, very successful rushing the passer.

Speaker 5 (07:55):
So we're you know, excited about what he's bringing to
the table.

Speaker 2 (07:59):
And and you know, like I said with the draft pick,
he's in the process of learning the system and you know,
but he had a tremendus They did a great job
of you know, looking at his skill set and seeing
his skill set and how it could be implemented for
what we're trying to do defensively.

Speaker 5 (08:12):
So we're excited about the opportunity.

Speaker 2 (08:14):
Again, it's just a matter of time and you know,
everybody getting on the same page and I'm getting in
here and working and it'll bowl down to what we
get executed out on game day.

Speaker 11 (08:23):
You watched the.

Speaker 5 (08:24):
Tame poverisher last year, right now.

Speaker 12 (08:26):
I know he sat out when the Jets didn't want
to play, But on the field, what did you notice
that maybe he wasn't doing in the past.

Speaker 2 (08:35):
I think because he m I can't speak for him,
but I would say because he missed so much time.

Speaker 5 (08:41):
Now all of a sudden you're coming.

Speaker 2 (08:42):
It's one thing to be training like we're doing right
now and training in a weight room and all those things.
It's another thing to going out there and playing football
every day. So I think it takes some time, you know,
to to all of a sudden, all right, I've missed
all of his time, and to come in in the
middle of a season and now all of a sudden,
you're just playing football. The timing of games, the timings
of getting off the ball, just all the different things

(09:04):
that go into the preparation of getting ready for a
football game on Sunday. So, like I said, I can't
speak for him, but I know those things are also
factors when you're going into a situation like he was in.
But you know, Larry Foot had him when they were
in Arizona, so his familiarity with him, I'm sure was
a big part of the process understanding, you know, where

(09:24):
he was and those kind of things. I've known him
as a player just from Afar, from coaching against him
and just seeing him from year to year when we
cross over and scout certain teams, that kind of thing.
But at the end of the day, I know He's
a very fast, athletic outside linebacker that has a tremendous
skill set to do a lot of different jobs. And
we're excited to have him here and look forward to moving.

Speaker 7 (09:45):
Forward in the evaluation process.

Speaker 5 (09:49):
Right now.

Speaker 7 (09:49):
I know it's just a rookie mini camp the first.

Speaker 5 (09:51):
Look, But who impressed you?

Speaker 7 (09:53):
Who popped out to you for mini camp this weekend?

Speaker 2 (09:55):
Well, really, you know, out of the mini camp, I
had to have to say, you know, excited about really
all those guys, I mean, looking at their skill sets.
You know, we didn't put in as much, you know,
in a rookie mini camp, but now that they're intermingled
with the vets and it's a lot slower paced right now.
So right now they're still in that learning, they're in
that cognitive states the first time they've heard a lot

(10:17):
of different things. I mean, you come to this league,
first thing, you realize the field has changed, alright, the
matchups have changed. Every quarterback can throw the ball in
every window out there. So right now the transition period
of that right there, they're kind of going through. But
we're excited with the skill set. I think our scouting
staff did a great job of identifying the skill sets
that we look for and to implement at different positions.

Speaker 6 (10:39):
And uh, we're excited about all these guys as they
come in.

Speaker 11 (10:44):
Good.

Speaker 5 (10:44):
Thank good, all right, thanks appreciate it.

Speaker 13 (10:47):
Yeah, during the draft, you had a pretty interesting reaction
when Walker and Trafting jumping.

Speaker 14 (10:56):
Up in Bear Huven life.

Speaker 15 (10:57):
What do you see in Walker that sparks such a
reaction from him, like you're going to Super Bowl?

Speaker 12 (11:03):
Well, I'm a little bias as far as uh, back
in my day was the second day. But I'm a
little biased cause uh I was a fourth round pick
and I remember my first Super Bowl in Pittsburgh. We
were full of guys that was late round picks, fourth round,
fifth round, sixth round, even.

Speaker 5 (11:19):
Some free agents.

Speaker 12 (11:20):
So I just believe, you know, uh, you do a
good job those rounds, you gonna set yourself up to
win the Super Bowl.

Speaker 11 (11:28):
And I was.

Speaker 5 (11:28):
Excited when we got that caliber player at that pick.

Speaker 7 (11:31):
Would you like about him?

Speaker 9 (11:33):
Uh?

Speaker 12 (11:33):
Just a dog, he's uh, he can rush the passer,
he's tough, Uh loves football.

Speaker 5 (11:38):
And uh, you know, I know his height thing. I
think that's the reason.

Speaker 12 (11:41):
Why he slid, And Uh, I was glad that we
was able to get him and tell, oh, yeah, he's
a uh quiet guy good Uh uh a little more
mature for his age. Uh country boy. You know I'm
getting him going a little bit.

Speaker 3 (11:57):
Y y when you you talk about his size. Shack
Bear was a guy six.

Speaker 1 (12:00):
Two fifty three or so that that similar size to
you know, to David Walker.

Speaker 3 (12:05):
Do you see any similarities you coached?

Speaker 12 (12:07):
Well, they walking more about like five nine five ten.
You guys might give him six foot but I don't.
But uh no similar Uh know how to rush the passer. Uh,
he's a natural raddit. He's strong. He loves the game.
You didn't really know how quick he was until you
know Rookie Minichamp.

Speaker 5 (12:24):
You can you can see it. And uh he loves ball.

Speaker 12 (12:28):
You tell he's serious, just asking the right questions, Uh,
studying and did a good job getting When do.

Speaker 7 (12:36):
You see somebody that's only played at a at a
lower level of college football obviously dominated there. What are
the things that you see that translate most directly.

Speaker 6 (12:45):
To the NFL.

Speaker 12 (12:45):
Well, A good thing about him. He was invited to
the Senior Bowl, so you got to see him match
up against h top competition and he did a good job.

Speaker 11 (12:54):
He did.

Speaker 12 (12:54):
He looked like he belonged. Uh, he's still a rookie.
He still got to grow and learn. Uh. Tristan Worth's
wasn't out there this past weekend, so uh, but uh, you.

Speaker 5 (13:05):
Just love ball and you know, chasing them guys.

Speaker 12 (13:08):
They do a great job him and his staff making
sure we bring the right guys in here, who loves
the ball, who's committed, and you know, makes my job easy.

Speaker 1 (13:16):
Tristan Worf's an all pro that your guys go against
every day in practice. And Luke Gettiki probably a Pro
Bowl caliber right tackle. How much of that iron Sharping's
iron just helps your room get better throughout training camp,
war up against some of the NFL's best.

Speaker 12 (13:32):
For the most first part, I gotta you know, play doctor,
you know, pick them guys up and just tell them
it's gonna be okay. Make sure them guys keep their confidence.
And uh it's like golf, you know, every now and
then you gonna hit one far and straight and just
you know, hold on to it. And uh hopefully that
comes more than the other way. But uh, it's gonna
be a great challenge, especially those two book nd tackles. Uh,

(13:55):
iron sharpings iron and if you can start having success
with them.

Speaker 5 (13:58):
Guys, it's gonna be easy on Sunday for you.

Speaker 4 (14:01):
Yes, Russia also added Hassan Reddick. Your thoughts on getting
to work with him again. And you know what he
brings to this team.

Speaker 11 (14:08):
Uh?

Speaker 12 (14:08):
Speed, Uh it brings I think brought eighty sacks under
his belt.

Speaker 11 (14:13):
Uh.

Speaker 5 (14:14):
He knows how to rush the passer.

Speaker 12 (14:16):
Uh, he's been a natural even you know, I make
fun of himse I told him when I was recruiting
him in Temple, tell his league you want to play Russia,
and uh, you know, I was fortunate I got to
coach him off the ball, but finally he found his
way home.

Speaker 16 (14:32):
Uh.

Speaker 12 (14:33):
He's a natural pass rusher, another short guy, but he
has speed that you can't coach. And Uh, he just improved.
He watched him through the years. I've always following him.
His game is just getting better.

Speaker 8 (14:44):
A player like.

Speaker 10 (14:45):
That has a down year and obviously, you know a
lot of that has to do with with him not
being there and getting out there so late. When you
kind of have that inside track as a coach of
knowing him as a human being and what buttons you
can can't push and whether it needs to be coached
hard or whether he needs to be helped up. How
much does that help you in being able to, you know,

(15:08):
help him get back to that point with.

Speaker 12 (15:10):
This situation, he's coming in with a big chip on
his shoulder. He's upset, and we like it.

Speaker 5 (15:15):
You know, he's pissed off.

Speaker 12 (15:18):
He wanted to show this league that he's one of
the premier pastor pass rushers in this league. And we
got a spot for him. And he's motivated. He's a
guy who loves training, loves working out, but he got
something to prove and we're here to help him.

Speaker 10 (15:36):
Past familiarity, though I can imagine that probably makes it
a lot easier to have those really open and honest conversations,
you know.

Speaker 12 (15:43):
With oh, we got a type relationship a guy seen
that earlier, bradswell in them. You know, they're getting used
to me and they just seeing how I was really
getting at him, and we have that relationship. We stayed
in touch even when I left Arizona and I just
look at him, you know, his family basically, uh had
been on my house several times out in Arizona, and

(16:04):
my wife and kids know them, so uh, I get
to really coach him.

Speaker 1 (16:08):
Old school is that your first rodeo at outside linebackers coach.

Speaker 3 (16:11):
You you did that for your first couple of years
here in Tampa.

Speaker 1 (16:14):
What does it like to get back to that position
coaching pass rush again? And and uh and just with
the grip you had you mentioned braswell, Dyabi Ramiers.

Speaker 12 (16:22):
All those guys, I gotta get in shaped, you know,
I gotta s simulate those tackles.

Speaker 2 (16:26):
Uh.

Speaker 5 (16:26):
I forgot just kicking and holding.

Speaker 12 (16:28):
Bags and the big crans and uh simulating you know,
Tristan Worths and those tackles.

Speaker 5 (16:35):
So I the other day I.

Speaker 12 (16:36):
Came home and said, man, I gotta pick up my running,
you know, just uh working out with those guys. But
it's good. Those guys are passionate. They're young too, so
it's it's fresh, you know, with Yaya and brass.

Speaker 11 (16:48):
Uh.

Speaker 12 (16:49):
Nellie knows what they expect from me. And we just
got David Walker Jose in there. So uh it's fresh.

Speaker 5 (16:55):
Uh and I'm excited to be back there.

Speaker 11 (17:00):
Uh.

Speaker 3 (17:00):
The NFL.

Speaker 7 (17:00):
There's news that came out today that the NFL's pausing
it to accelerator program for inspiring head coaches and gms.
And just ask you, uh, if you're surprised by that.

Speaker 6 (17:09):
What if any reaction you have.

Speaker 5 (17:10):
I haven't heard that.

Speaker 12 (17:11):
I don't know why they will uh they will stop it. No,
maybe budget cuts, you know everything's going up. But no,
I I don't pay no attention to that.

Speaker 15 (17:21):
So w what were your thoughts when you found out
the Bucks were drafting U wide receiver in the first round.

Speaker 3 (17:26):
I am sure there's a lot of effs signed.

Speaker 6 (17:29):
The defense we drafting.

Speaker 5 (17:30):
Well, I'll give you a little.

Speaker 12 (17:31):
Insight, probably pretty much the same throughout the league during
that time. It's the offensive coaches and it's the defensive coaches.

Speaker 5 (17:40):
So, uh, you know we're we're split down the middle.

Speaker 12 (17:43):
And every chance you get to see Jason on one
of his staff in the coffee room, you just you know,
big up your guy and uh, if you got a
B plus player.

Speaker 5 (17:51):
He might be a A minus.

Speaker 12 (17:53):
But uh, that's basically how it goes, you know it.
W coaches do not get it twisted. Coaches, we are
most selfish people in in this league. But uh, you know,
it's a fun time. You always hoping you get one
of your guys, uh that you you know, been watching
tape with and uh know they can help your side
of the ball. But Jason them do a great job.

(18:15):
You know, I've been following the guy, I mean not
following him. But you know big ten, you know that
that that Ohio school.

Speaker 5 (18:21):
So uh, I knew he was a good player.

Speaker 15 (18:24):
How much did you hum him, like like weekly every
other day?

Speaker 5 (18:27):
And how much did you badger hi?

Speaker 6 (18:29):
Uh who?

Speaker 11 (18:30):
Jason? Yeah? Uh?

Speaker 5 (18:31):
Every every time I say him?

Speaker 12 (18:32):
Ay you s you check out such and such, and
every coach on the staff do it. Every coach on
the staff do it. And when you go in there
and read guys who you really like, you gotta really
stand up for him.

Speaker 5 (18:42):
And uh see what happens?

Speaker 15 (18:44):
What was one of your excitement?

Speaker 6 (18:45):
But that did him because you had him ranked a
little bit higher.

Speaker 12 (18:48):
But yeah, I knew he was a good player. I
I didn't know he was gonna make it to the
fourth round. And you know, I I believe that if
you get good players in those rounds, you know you
gonna put yourself in a good situation when the Super Bowl.

Speaker 5 (19:00):
I'm a little bias come fourth rown guy to.

Speaker 7 (19:03):
Get to get for whatt a five for the first
five picks on defenses that will win If you want.

Speaker 5 (19:07):
'em all, I want 'em all. I want 'em all,
just like the offensive guys they want 'em all. But no,
it was good. I think we uh got some good players.

Speaker 10 (19:15):
Did Jason just have to tell you after night one,
like just be patient, man, Like day two, I got you,
I got you. I mean, address the defensive backfield on day.

Speaker 12 (19:22):
Two and then you normally stay away from coaches. He
knows during that time we gonna be trying to get
in his head, so he normally stay away from us.
But uh, they do a great job. The whole building
is uh excited, and you know, Jason won the best
in the league.

Speaker 5 (19:35):
Everybody knows that.

Speaker 12 (19:36):
And uh you know he h he's hanging banners every
year up there in the stadium, so we trust.

Speaker 6 (19:43):
I'm sorry what he tell us about Chris braswell, I
know he was a rookie even so even for rookie standards,
and there was a whole lot of production there at.

Speaker 2 (19:52):
Least not st statistically.

Speaker 5 (19:54):
So what do you do you use for him this year? Well,
he's talented.

Speaker 12 (19:57):
You know, year one, a year two, you gonna see
a lot of gr You guys know that he got
to keep his confidence. I thought he did some good things. Uh,
but he just got to adapt to the speed.

Speaker 11 (20:07):
Of the game.

Speaker 12 (20:08):
And uh, every now and then you get these freaks
that come in as a rookie and they just tear
the league up. That's not the norm. You know, I
didn't explain that to him. He's passionate, he loves ball,
and uh, if he keeps going, working hard, and he's
gonna be productive.

Speaker 1 (20:24):
You spent the first couple of years coaching servasi A
Dennis A lots expected of him this year coming out
that shoulder surgery.

Speaker 3 (20:29):
Hopefully that injuries behind him.

Speaker 1 (20:32):
What can we all expect from servasi A Dennis the
player when he gets out there next to Levante.

Speaker 5 (20:37):
Hopefully he mimics Levante.

Speaker 12 (20:39):
And when I say that, he's capable, far from an
instinctive standpoint making plays, lining guys up and being in
the right spot.

Speaker 5 (20:48):
He's another guy who loves football, loves being around the guy.

Speaker 12 (20:52):
When you think about Savasse, you know he's instinctive and
you need that at that position.

Speaker 8 (20:58):
What was Jones able to bring to you late in
the season. Obviously we saw him. He had a very
impactful wildcard game leadership.

Speaker 5 (21:05):
Uh, he knows how to drop, he understand underneath coverage.
We can't teach the speed.

Speaker 11 (21:10):
That he has.

Speaker 12 (21:11):
But uh, he did well for that room and he's
a guy that can play well in space.

Speaker 7 (21:17):
Do you feel like he is better off then it
was a year ago.

Speaker 5 (21:21):
As yet to be seen. We don't know yet.

Speaker 12 (21:23):
Uh with Savasier, if he can stay healthy, I would
definitely say yes.

Speaker 10 (21:29):
With yah, Yah, he improved in every statistical category.

Speaker 8 (21:34):
He was way up there in the league.

Speaker 10 (21:35):
When it you know, came to pass wash, pass rush,
win ray and things like that. But just the sac
numbers still aren't quite there yet. What's gonna be key
for him to be getting those takedowns?

Speaker 12 (21:45):
Uh, just add a little more, like specifically, like use
your hands a little more.

Speaker 5 (21:50):
Uh, don't get frustrated.

Speaker 12 (21:52):
It can be years like that, just trying to improve
his past rush study some of the greats in the league.

Speaker 5 (21:58):
Uh, there's times he was winning but the ball was thrown.

Speaker 12 (22:00):
You can't That can't frustrate you, and you just gotta
find a way to impact the game and help us win.
But he can't look at always, can't always look at
sack numbers really focused that are you winning?

Speaker 5 (22:14):
Are you winning? Are you beating a guy in front
of you?

Speaker 3 (22:16):
Coach Bowls.

Speaker 4 (22:18):
Spoke previously about finding ballhawks for this team, and at
outside linebacker. That's not just getting to the quarterback, that's
knocking the ball out too. So how much of that
is an emphasis this offseason and going into this year?

Speaker 5 (22:30):
Gotta get the ball?

Speaker 12 (22:31):
I always joke with them, guys, you get a sack,
the coach hugs you, you get a sack for as
funble he hugs.

Speaker 5 (22:36):
And kisses you. So gotta get the ball.

Speaker 12 (22:40):
And I really teach those guys that'll eliminate you trying
to hit the quarterback hard.

Speaker 5 (22:45):
You know what I'm saying.

Speaker 12 (22:46):
One you don't get a penalty and get fined, or
you might miss him. So when you've bend that corner,
you gotta be thinking about that ball.

Speaker 10 (22:53):
You wanted to go the wild card game against the Commanders.
As a coach and a competitor, how much does that
one eat it you not being able to get off
the field and in that particular game and and having
it be such a a possession type game where you
know they control.

Speaker 8 (23:08):
The clock for so long.

Speaker 12 (23:10):
Uh, going into the off season, you know, those players
gotta know I'm probably winning for like at least five
times on fourth down. So we gotta get off the
field defense. We should have closed that game out.

Speaker 9 (23:21):
Uh.

Speaker 12 (23:21):
We had opportunities. We just came up short. We didn't
make the plays. But you know it each had everybody,
especially on that side of the ball.

Speaker 5 (23:28):
You gotta figure out a way to win the game.

Speaker 15 (23:30):
Do you have any schedule hopes that hurtsmorrow?

Speaker 5 (23:33):
Schedule? Oh?

Speaker 11 (23:37):
Oh who we play?

Speaker 5 (23:38):
Uh we're not. Uh, I don't think we're going outside
the country.

Speaker 11 (23:42):
Uh.

Speaker 12 (23:43):
You know, as a coach with the more one o'clock games,
is the best home one o'clock games.

Speaker 5 (23:48):
Nothing better.

Speaker 1 (23:49):
But are you talking about the probably strong the new
addition on the coaching staff in terms of d line
and and with your impressions of him are so far.

Speaker 12 (23:57):
Oh, old school cat Charlie knows everybody, been around ball.

Speaker 5 (24:02):
He's a great addition to the staff far as just.

Speaker 12 (24:05):
Teaching uh that cool calm uh demeanor that he has
and uh, it's been pleasant to be around so far.

Speaker 8 (24:13):
He was coach Bowls called him Uncle Renas. It's also
said he seems to just kind of know everybody.

Speaker 12 (24:18):
Oh No, he's definitely the mayor. He's definitely the mayor.
And he has a boat. He has a boat.

Speaker 5 (24:23):
He has a boat. Oh it's an inside joke, but
he has a boat.

Speaker 10 (24:27):
So like when that coach, I know that it's been
a little bit since he was in college, but the
fact that he he does have such a long, you know,
career as a college coach and it wasn't that long
ago that he was doing that. Just how helpful can
it be when you have guys transitioning from the college game,
when you have someone that does have their hand on
the pulse of the college came somewhat recently, uh, and
helping guys.

Speaker 12 (24:47):
Make that transition, Well, he definitely d uh helped us
far as when we was doing the draft process because
he knew everybody.

Speaker 5 (24:55):
These kids go to every school.

Speaker 12 (24:56):
Every kid been at five schools, so he pretty much
knew every kid.

Speaker 5 (25:00):
You know, he's in Alabama. Oh, he gave us a
lot of insight.

Speaker 12 (25:04):
But you know, the young guys, he he knows how
to talk to the young guys. They already gravitating to him.
And uh that's good because you want to earn the
trust of these players and uh so we can get.

Speaker 10 (25:14):
To him athletes too, Like you talk to him differently.
I mean every generation kind of has their you know,
their tendencies.

Speaker 5 (25:22):
And right he's helping them. I mean the young guys
love charge yep, love him.

Speaker 13 (25:27):
Alright, see you guys, good morning. Okay, we ready go ahead.

Speaker 11 (25:42):
Jr.

Speaker 1 (25:42):
Didn't have the season he and everybody expected. Injuries played
a big part in that. How much of a rebound
season can we expect from Antoine Winfield Jr?

Speaker 13 (25:51):
Oh, I think you said everything in your in your question.
I think if he's not injured, you see Antoine Winfield,
look at his body of work. I think you'll see
his body of work, that's all.

Speaker 10 (26:02):
How much was it impacting him throughout the season, because
it wasn't just one injury.

Speaker 13 (26:08):
Oh, it impacted him a lot, impacted him a lot.
He only played eight games. So if he's healthy, then
I think you see the body of work you used
to seeing.

Speaker 7 (26:20):
We saw a lot of Tyke Smith last year as
a rookie, but a lot of Nickel. How well did
what he do? How well did his play at nickel?
How well would that translate to being an every down safety.

Speaker 13 (26:32):
I don't really know until we see him as an
every down safety because it really is a different position.

Speaker 11 (26:38):
The safety position.

Speaker 13 (26:39):
You have to start to communicate more and talk to
other people more so we'll see how it goes through
phase two Ohta's Mini camp and then really in the fall.

Speaker 1 (26:53):
What was your impression of Tyke as a Nickel last year?
Coming in as a rookie and playing so well.

Speaker 13 (26:57):
Although I did well as a rookie, quite a learning curve.
You're going against slots that are pretty good. I thought
for just coming in he did quite well, and then
what happened is he ended up getting injured, and when
you're injured, it's tough to perform at the same level.

Speaker 10 (27:16):
What were your.

Speaker 8 (27:16):
Impressions of Shiloh Sanders from rookie camp?

Speaker 13 (27:20):
Him and JJ the same thing. They came in. They're eager,
they're learning. Hopefully we're imparting information that will help them.

Speaker 11 (27:30):
It's a lot of change, and.

Speaker 15 (27:32):
The nickel position almost feels like every year the last
handful of years, is there sort of searching for something
that I haven't found yet or what's going on.

Speaker 13 (27:41):
I don't coach that position. That's that's Coach Bulls and Rashad.
So Coach Bulls just imparts his information and if it
happened to be a safety involved at Nickel, then Rashad's
gonna coach it, But when he's in my room, I
have to double coach it because you know, one thing
Todd loves to do and I think you saw why

(28:02):
is he wants everybody cross trained because you never know
how season is going to evolve with injuries. I mean,
is he played all four positions so right now is
he's at free safety and nickel, Ty keys at strong
safety and nickel. So Todd loves to cross key so

(28:23):
that when we do have somebody out, they at least
have the knowledge to play that position, the.

Speaker 7 (28:30):
Safety position as a whole. You guys didn't sign anyone
in free agency, you didn't draft anyone. Do you feel
good given that you dealt with some injuries last year?
Do you feel good about your depth there moving forward?

Speaker 13 (28:41):
I would say yes, if everybody stays healthy. The dilemma
we had last year every single safety was injured and
then we had to bring Ryan back, and we had
to bring Mike back. But is he got injured, Win
got injured, Whitehead got injured, Merriweather, every single safety. So yes,

(29:04):
if they can stay healthy and a couple kids play
how we think they're gonna play.

Speaker 11 (29:10):
Yes.

Speaker 8 (29:11):
What were your thoughts on how Kevon Merriweather played this
past year.

Speaker 13 (29:14):
I thought he came in and did a nice job.
Very solid job, I have to say that. Very solid
by Kavon.

Speaker 10 (29:21):
Coach Bulls was really complimentary of the way he came back.
He said maybe he got humbled a little bit, you know,
when he left the team, and then when he returned.

Speaker 8 (29:28):
He said he saw a change in him. I don't
know if you noticed that as well.

Speaker 13 (29:32):
I didn't notice that. To me, he was always a
good fundamental player.

Speaker 5 (29:39):
There he else.

Speaker 15 (29:40):
Coach, coach, what do you like about What do you
like about this team in general? The makeup of the
team and the last season and where it is as
a potential contender.

Speaker 13 (29:52):
I think the makeup of the team is the way
it's been for five years.

Speaker 11 (29:56):
It has a nice culture to it.

Speaker 13 (29:59):
When the kids can in here, they want to win
and they do what is needed to win.

Speaker 11 (30:05):
I think.

Speaker 13 (30:05):
And there's you know, they're not greedy people. They play
team football. And the other thing is they keep playing
no matter what, and we always for some reason get
a law in the season and then we play through it.

Speaker 11 (30:23):
So I like the culture of the team.

Speaker 13 (30:26):
Nobody points fingers and they just keep playing football.

Speaker 8 (30:30):
You mentioned the law in the season.

Speaker 10 (30:31):
That's been kind of something the last two years, and
I mean different reasons for that. I know last year
the injury bug hit you hard. What's what's key to
not maybe having that law to or where you're having
to fight your way to the.

Speaker 13 (30:42):
Finish at the end scoring one more point than they do.
That's that's it. Remember the Super Bowl season fickled. If
you can figure it out, please tell me. But as
pretending to the question is, you know, we just keep
playing football. And I think really like b ain't ever panicked,

(31:03):
and Todd doesn't panic. Todd just keeps coaching, keeps a
steady hand, and you know it's worked out for us
the last five years.

Speaker 10 (31:14):
How does the emphasis on character, on football character doesn't
mean you have to be choeer guys, but just football
character help you when you're trying to climb out of
those adverse situations.

Speaker 13 (31:24):
Well, if you come in each day and it's football talk, okay,
it's coach talk, but we say respect the process, meaning
you know, at the end of the day, Antoine Winfield
can't be any other safety but Antoine Winfield. So I'll
say to him, are you the best version of Antoine

(31:47):
Winfield today.

Speaker 11 (31:49):
And if you can go out.

Speaker 13 (31:50):
Wednesday and be the best version of yourself and then
when you finally get to Sunday, then you play football.

Speaker 11 (31:58):
So we try not.

Speaker 13 (31:59):
To say on Wednesday day, okay, we're here in a
Sunday mode.

Speaker 11 (32:03):
We're not.

Speaker 13 (32:04):
We want the best safeties to play on Wednesday. Just
be as good as you can be. Can't be any
better than that. I mean John Wooden, that was his
philosophy for life. Be the best player you can be.
I'm not really interested about the opponent because I don't
control the opponent. So that's what respect the process means.

(32:25):
You come in Wednesday. What does Wednesday mean?

Speaker 14 (32:28):
You learn?

Speaker 13 (32:29):
You look what Coach Bulls is inserting. You go out there,
you practice it.

Speaker 1 (32:35):
That's all some interceptions as a whole and six from
the secondary. It is kind of unacceptable. What has to
happen for you guys to take the ball away? More
on defense?

Speaker 5 (32:45):
Next year?

Speaker 13 (32:46):
I would say they'd have to catch the ball. As
simple as it sounds. I don't want to give up.
But if you look at Winfield, he had three pass breakups,
all three balls were in his hands, he makes the catch,
he has three interceptions.

Speaker 11 (33:00):
So if you just catch what you're supposed to do.
We would have had more interceptions.

Speaker 13 (33:05):
But there's no doubt seven seven interceptions does not help
your football team get off the field.

Speaker 11 (33:11):
So we have to get more. Each year.

Speaker 13 (33:13):
You look back at what your strengths and weaknesses were,
and you attempt to get better at it.

Speaker 10 (33:19):
I believe the quarterbacks and the safeties are all now,
like all the differenceive backs are meeting like as a
whole now.

Speaker 11 (33:25):
I don't know.

Speaker 8 (33:26):
How do you see that positively impacting this team?

Speaker 13 (33:29):
They're able to talk a little more to each other
across the owl. You know, it's like Congress, you know,
the Democrats and Republicans don't talk across the owl.

Speaker 11 (33:37):
They used to and things used to be better.

Speaker 13 (33:40):
So Todd brought them in and now we're able to Okay,
how do you see this play?

Speaker 11 (33:45):
How do you see that play? Yeah, excuse me, it's
more bipartisan. Yes.

Speaker 10 (33:53):
So do you feel like in the past years that
there wasn't enough communication, whether it was like in preparation.

Speaker 11 (34:00):
I don't. I don't.

Speaker 13 (34:02):
We won a Super Bowl with the exact same They
were in the back and we were in front. We
won a super Bowl. We've won conference championships. But as
the head coach, he steps back, he evaluates, and he
makes his decisions in the off season, and we follow
his instructions. Okay, you, thank you.

Speaker 11 (34:27):
How's everybody good? Good?

Speaker 10 (34:33):
Having some fun with some new guys in your room.
I mean you had that whole whole day too there
for you in the draft.

Speaker 11 (34:39):
I am having fun. I might not look like it,
but I am having fun.

Speaker 8 (34:45):
Jacob Parish and what he showed.

Speaker 11 (34:46):
During rookie camp, uh, great demeanor, great composure. Uh made
a few plays, had the only actually had the only
interceptions during that camp. Uh, he did well.

Speaker 7 (35:02):
And Benjamin Morris, what do you like about him?

Speaker 11 (35:05):
He's got a great uh demeanor for the position. I
think he uh has all the skills that we we
uh we want in the corner.

Speaker 13 (35:14):
Uh.

Speaker 11 (35:14):
You just gotta get healthy right now. Once he gets
healthy and starts competing, and I think our uh our
back field to be upgraded a little bit encouraging.

Speaker 8 (35:23):
You notice him doing some of the positional work.

Speaker 11 (35:25):
No question about that, A question about that, or he'll
be ready during the season. He'll be ready. So it
it would be a lot of uh competition out there
for the positions.

Speaker 10 (35:34):
Running as well, up up and down the sidelines while
you guys were in the indoor, you know.

Speaker 8 (35:37):
Trying to get himself back into shape. That that'll seem
to be encouraging.

Speaker 11 (35:40):
Or he's got to get in shape back out here
in this ha heat out here. Yes, he's got to
get in shaved. Yes, coach, When you.

Speaker 15 (35:46):
Draft a couple of cornerbacks that high.

Speaker 11 (35:48):
Do you you expect 'em to play? You expect 'em
to contribute.

Speaker 15 (35:53):
Uh, Jammel Dean that that night or the next morning.

Speaker 11 (35:55):
Or or no, Jamal Dean is he's he's he's gonna
be okay. I would in that situation. In Kansas City,
we drafted the first round corner Dale Carter. We brung
in James Hasty from the Jets. That's the nature of
this business. You know, you're trying to upgrade, You're trying
to keep your team up ready for the you know,
for the season and everything. So he'll be ready, everybody'll
be ready. It's it's good for the backfield for Jamel Is.

Speaker 4 (36:19):
It just kind of a matter of staying healthy and
on the field.

Speaker 11 (36:22):
That's the biggest That's the number one thing. Availability is
the number one thing. He's gotta you know, not on wood.
I hope he's you know healthy the whole year, but uh,
unfortunately he hasn't been. We haven't played with the same secondary.
Uh god knows what in't here. So it's good to
have these other guys come in and uh, you know contribute.

Speaker 3 (36:42):
Maybe playing his best football.

Speaker 1 (36:44):
When Sean Murphy, Bunting and he were competing for that
starting job.

Speaker 11 (36:48):
He if Jamal Dean has had if he catches the
balls that he dropped, we wouldn't even be talking about this.
He he's gotta catch the ball, he's gotta stay healthy
and he'll be fine.

Speaker 7 (37:04):
It seems like injuries were such a big part of
the secondary year ago, both the corner and in safety.
How what kind of things can you do to make
them healthier to avoid the injuries that have limited that.

Speaker 11 (37:14):
I got nothing to do with that. I mean, that's
God and his their training and you know, preparation for
this for the spot. It's violent sport. We play that
said sport, the duh. Unfortunately, the rules changing and not
being able to hit, I think that has a lot
to do with it. I think that they're not in
hit and shape in the first four weeks. Then they
get in shape and then the things start happening. So

(37:35):
I think a lot contributes to why they get injured.

Speaker 1 (37:38):
You certainly an old school football player legislated in this league.
I I do you miss the the more physical training camps.
Do you feel that's been a detriment to Oh?

Speaker 11 (37:49):
No, I don't miss it at all. I I'm I'm
uh I feel good itself the game itself, Yeah, I do.
I think I think people like to see people get
hit it. I think Americans are trained for you know,
that kind of activity. What about for the players themselves
that you talked about For the players, it's better, it's safer. Uh,

(38:12):
I agree what the league is doing. Uh so yeah,
I I I would I would go like a like
they're doing right now.

Speaker 10 (38:20):
Uh.

Speaker 11 (38:20):
We had it where you could have three of days
if you wanted to. Okay, we had it where you
wouldn't hit no time limits. They could start practice over
if they wanted to. Now they have a time limit
of being on practice. Now they have, uh a time
that you can be in equipment and things like that.
So it's I think it's better for the player, Safer
for the player, uh, more longevity for the players. So yeah,

(38:41):
I agree with that.

Speaker 7 (38:44):
Role that he's in. How can that help the communication
for the entire defensive staff?

Speaker 11 (38:49):
George Edwards Yes, Uh so he gets he gets a
chance to walk around and see how everybody operates. Uh,
he can uh say hey, if you you know y,
I think you ought to you know, do some more
of this or do less of that or whatever. So
he used to walk around coach now so it's good
for him, good for us.

Speaker 10 (39:08):
Thoughts on the entire defensive backs as a whole meeting
together this year, I understand that's a.

Speaker 8 (39:13):
Change that you guys meet.

Speaker 11 (39:14):
Well, the last time we did this, we went to
the super Bowl, So I'm happy about it. You know,
the last time we did it when Shawn Murphy burning
and Dean got drafted in the second or third round.
And you know, hopefully it happens again for us again
this year.

Speaker 8 (39:26):
Any cold you do the reason you guys got away
from that, then no.

Speaker 11 (39:30):
I don't. I I just coach, I don't draft, I
don't do none of that.

Speaker 10 (39:33):
So oh to be meeting like the the meetings as
a whole, like what you guys got away from having
the the DUH defensive backs meeting together.

Speaker 3 (39:40):
Speaking three corner.

Speaker 11 (39:42):
Oh again, that's above my place scale. I don't you know.
We do we do what we're asking to do.

Speaker 4 (39:49):
What do you expect from Zion mcclum this season, going
into his fourth year, was able to start every game.

Speaker 11 (39:55):
I expect him to have a real, real solid year.
He's uh, he's he's on track to have a good year.
I think. I I'm proud of what he's doing and
what he stands for.

Speaker 15 (40:05):
What are the biggest challenges for rookie cornerbacks in tomes.

Speaker 11 (40:09):
And game speed and game speed? Uh, and we do
so much and at the corner spot. This this this
team does so much with the corner spot. And they
got a lot of learning to do. It's gonna take
a lot of reps. That's why it's very important these
guys get healthy. Uh. It's one thing to you know,
do it on you know, on the field walkthroughs and
get the paper and all that stuff. But it's another

(40:30):
thing to go in that stadium and start moving the tools.

Speaker 8 (40:34):
Was like really quick to r correct me on Parish.

Speaker 10 (40:37):
When I had just suggested that his height, you know,
he would more so make him an inside guy. He said, No,
I see him as an outside guy first, and obviously
he does have some some high limitations there.

Speaker 8 (40:46):
But but what do you see in him as far.

Speaker 11 (40:48):
As a football player. I'm not putting no limitation on
none of none of those guys. I see. We have versatility.
That's the one thing we got. We Perish won't be
the only guy that has played nickel. I is he
has played nickel. Uh Ty Keys played nickel. Winfield's played nickel.
So the more versatile those guys are, the more they
have to offer for us, the better off we are.

Speaker 1 (41:06):
There's Benjamin Morrison gonna be cross training between nickel and
outsider mostly just outside.

Speaker 11 (41:11):
I think missed the outside right now. Okay, I wanted
to ask you.

Speaker 1 (41:17):
You last year you were talking about having the guys
catch fifty balls really increased the interception totals. That that
didn't materialize last year. Uh W, what can be done?
I know Coach Bulls at the NFL annual Meeting talked
about having more competitive practices. Does that mean more good
on good? Does that mean more just contending for for
passes in the air and practice?

Speaker 11 (41:37):
We just have to finish with the ball in our hands.
We've been in We put ourselves in position to Uh,
catch the ball and things like that. We just have
to you know, gain pressure and practice pressure is two
different things. They just have to take what they do
in practice over to the field and we'll be fine.
They they they've had plenty opportunity to touch balls. Thank you,

(41:57):
thank you, thank you much.

Speaker 5 (42:00):
Every doing.

Speaker 6 (42:02):
Thank you glad to be back.

Speaker 5 (42:06):
What has changed when you come back here?

Speaker 7 (42:07):
Is everything the same like it never left?

Speaker 6 (42:09):
Or what's changed?

Speaker 16 (42:11):
Uh?

Speaker 5 (42:11):
Familiar faces?

Speaker 16 (42:14):
Just like riding a bike, once you done it for
a while, you get back the see the scheme is
very similar. UH, terminology is still what it used to be,
So it's easy adjustment for me.

Speaker 1 (42:25):
Do you have a familiar face on Levonte David? You
decided to come back for another year?

Speaker 6 (42:28):
What is what is that like?

Speaker 1 (42:30):
And how much uh did your return factor into that decision?
I heard there was that was a very positive development
for Levanda.

Speaker 16 (42:37):
I think he might have been the second person that
uh I talked to after I made the decision to
come back. But you know, just having an opportunity to
coach him and what he's meant to this team and
this organization and just UH have a guy that's able
to play at such a high level still in the room,
a veteran guy, So it makes my job easier because Uh,

(42:58):
I can lean on him a lot I did before,
and he's still playing at such a high level, which
just makes common sense just to let him keep going.

Speaker 8 (43:07):
God Poles said that I was kind of selling point
for the Bucks to get the Vandi back. You ever
coming back?

Speaker 5 (43:13):
What does that mean to you? When you're Levandi has
that kind of trust you.

Speaker 16 (43:16):
Well, we know each other real well, have a great relationship,
and we've had success. You know, UH don't want to
do all in the past, but we've won a bunch
of games and we've got win a bunch more. So
it's always good to have people you're comfortable with and
you know, I expect a lot out of him and
he expects a lot out of me.

Speaker 5 (43:34):
So we push each other and it'll work well.

Speaker 11 (43:37):
When you watch the film of.

Speaker 5 (43:38):
UH your position group last year, what did you see.

Speaker 6 (43:41):
What stood out.

Speaker 5 (43:43):
Really from the guys that are back?

Speaker 16 (43:48):
I got a Levante and Voss uh last year just
I just looked at a team that with the playoff
team had the guys out there making plays, find around
like a Tampa Bay defense has always been.

Speaker 6 (44:02):
And you know, just continue to try to do that.

Speaker 7 (44:06):
If Monte is a constant at one insight backer spot,
what do you see as the key to getting more consistent,
improved played from that second linebacker spot.

Speaker 16 (44:14):
Competition, that's the main thing. We brought in a few
players buying him for that position, and you know, competition
bring the best out of us. So we'll line them up,
let them go out there and they'll compete. They're already
doing it, and whoever wins the job, the other guys
will be ready to have their role and you know,
be ready to fill.

Speaker 5 (44:33):
In when needed.

Speaker 7 (44:34):
What is Anthony Walker brink toever.

Speaker 5 (44:38):
Veteran leadership.

Speaker 16 (44:39):
He's a guy that's played in this league awhile, he
understands it, understands how to play, and he's picking up
the system and he's a very heavy player. You go
out there, you explain something to him one time, he
gets it. Then he's able to make the adjustments and
you know, handle the coaching aspect of it.

Speaker 1 (45:00):
So Dennis was off to hot start until that shoulder
injury flared up. What did you see on tape from
him specifically? It's really kind of like his first dedicated
time on the field outside of a game or two
as a rookie.

Speaker 5 (45:14):
Yeah, you see the talent. You see him making plays
out there. Uh, you know, small.

Speaker 6 (45:19):
Sample size, But at the same time, he has the
ability to.

Speaker 5 (45:22):
Play in his sleep.

Speaker 16 (45:22):
He just now needs to understand get my body healthy,
stay healthy, and go out there and make plays.

Speaker 10 (45:29):
What you just have you seen from the way Todd
Bowles was calling things when you were here working together
before and since.

Speaker 16 (45:34):
You returned, not a lot of change. It's just Todd's
gonna be an aggressive guy. And that's what the defense
is built around, being aggressive, and he puts his players
in position to make good plays, and he's gonna continue
to do that.

Speaker 8 (45:53):
What about the way you know.

Speaker 10 (45:55):
So many more teams now are going forward on fourth down,
just a much higher rate in there converting.

Speaker 8 (46:00):
And just how does that kind of I.

Speaker 10 (46:02):
Guess force you as a coach to I guess adapt
what you're doing out there defensively?

Speaker 16 (46:07):
Well, it's a defensive coach. You always want to be
strong on first and second down, and then third down.
If it's third and short, you know, have to be
strong there, and you really want to stay out of
those fourth and one situations, so you don't give a
team an opportunity. So if we're strong on first and
second down and really strong on third down, that'll help

(46:27):
us out to that point.

Speaker 10 (46:29):
You know, there's been times where this team has been
for a strong one first and second town, but then
on third and longs.

Speaker 8 (46:35):
It's given up some of those plays. Just what do
you think is key to kind of stopping that?

Speaker 16 (46:39):
I think just understanding situational football, and we talk to
you guys about it all the time, and we'll continue
to do that. And you know, offenses they're built to,
you know, take advantage of certain defenses and we're trying
to attack them and make them uncomfortable. So back and
forth game and we'll continue to make our plays and

(47:00):
hopefully we'll cut down on some of the plays they're
making in the middle of.

Speaker 3 (47:03):
The field in pass covers.

Speaker 1 (47:05):
Last year, whether it was the linebacker or the safeties,
really got picked on quite a bit when you watched
the film from last year. What was some of the
reasoning behind that and what can be done to correct that?
So that's not such a liability for you guys in
pass coverage.

Speaker 16 (47:19):
We'll just go back to fundamentals, go back to teaching
different coverages, understanding your leverage, understanding, vision on the quarterback,
being able to.

Speaker 5 (47:28):
Break on the ball.

Speaker 16 (47:29):
So those are things that been consistent around here and
we're gonna continue to harp on those.

Speaker 6 (47:35):
It's just the fundamentals.

Speaker 16 (47:36):
Get back and get set, break on the quarterback, pressure
to the quarterback with the front four or maybe five,
maybe six, maybe seven, and just be able to go
about it that way.

Speaker 7 (47:47):
The offense here is on four coordinators in four years.
You had a chance as an opponent to see them
in twenty three and twenty four. What do you think
are the constants of this Bucks offense that transcend who
the coordinator is.

Speaker 16 (48:00):
Believe that the talent on the offense is such that
they're gonna have a chance. And the new coordinator, no, uh,
Grid is gonna do a great job. He has a weapons,
he understands this game is about not about coaches, about players,
and you put your players in positions to make plays,

(48:21):
and here we have guys that can do that and
you're gonna be successful.

Speaker 10 (48:26):
He may not get talked about the way he deserves to,
but Levonte David and he also doesn't get the Pro Bowl. No,
it's either, but just can you just speak to the
career that he's had. I mean you look at some
of the numbers. I mean they're up there with the
all time greats.

Speaker 5 (48:40):
You said it, and I believe it.

Speaker 16 (48:42):
You said it all time great h He's a guy
that has played it for a long time at a
high level, and it's crazy he's still at a high level.
Before I was coming, I was watching I think it
was a playoff game, the last playoff game, and he
made a play that there's only gonna be a few
guys in the league period they can make that play.
So look forward to being able to coach him again

(49:04):
and see him go out there and make those big
plays for us.

Speaker 8 (49:06):
Why do you think it is that he doesn't get
talked about as much?

Speaker 10 (49:09):
Is it because his personality is more of doesn't you know,
have a lot to say, But he has a lot
to do.

Speaker 16 (49:15):
When you're with him, and you know what he the
value the leadership, what he brings to the defense, a
total defense. You recognize it, and you wanna acknowledge that.
When you're away from it, you just don't see the
how much he means to the defense.

Speaker 5 (49:36):
He's uh. He the person that.

Speaker 16 (49:39):
Any guy on the defense can go to, Coaches can
talk to he can get their message to the other players.
And he's a guy that's been through the ups and
down to this organization and he's come out on top end.
He'll continue to do that.

Speaker 11 (49:54):
Okay, thank you, Hey, thank you.

Speaker 5 (50:05):
I'm really excited about being here.

Speaker 14 (50:07):
Just coming here, working for this organization has really given
me a new look on everything that I ever wanted
to do in coaching, you know, just working for this
great organization, working for and now sending a head coach
like Coach Bowles, and just you know, when I think
about just the whole organization, I had a chance cause

(50:31):
the number of years that I've coached here in this
state and being at University of Florida and then being
at the head coach at US South and then working
as an assistant coach at the University of Miami. You know,
I saw this team when John McKay was the head coach,
and you talk about Freddie Solomon who was a wide receiver,
and then on defense you had Leroy Salmon, he had

(50:52):
Robert Woods, Doug Williams, he had some really outstanding UH players,
and then you look at when coach down she came
in and took over. How this team really changed, how
the whole organization changed, and just the whole mindset. And
then coach Grooden comes in and he wins the Super Bowl,
and then we had a lull there and then coach
Aaron's come in and win a Super Bowl. Now Coach

(51:14):
Bowls is in charge, and who's a great relationship driven coach,
master communicator. You know, knows how knows now when you're
dealing with the players, how he understand the players, and
it's all about you know, he'll ask a question and
he's willing to listen.

Speaker 8 (51:32):
Coach Foot called me.

Speaker 6 (51:33):
The mayor knows you. How nicely did he go?

Speaker 7 (51:36):
When you go to a place you've never worked before.

Speaker 5 (51:38):
You have so many people that you know, well, you
look at it.

Speaker 14 (51:42):
I think just because of the number of years that
I coached at University of Florida, and this is a
Gator town too, so it's it's I say, a lot
of gators there. So I built relationships uh here in
this city. And and now that I've lived here and
was the head coach in South Florida, now I've made
my home here. I think that's why a lot of

(52:02):
guys think them the mayor knows, I know a lot
of people because you.

Speaker 8 (52:06):
Coached college so fairly recently.

Speaker 10 (52:10):
You know, obviously with every generation there's there's kind of
different coaching styles, different relationship building styles they take to
How does that kind of give you an advantage of
the fact that you know, you kind of know these
guys a little bit better than maybe you know some
of the folks around here would initially, Well.

Speaker 5 (52:26):
It's you had.

Speaker 14 (52:28):
I guess being in college, I was able to recruit
a lot of these players to set at home, like
I when it came in a South Baker, so when
I was at Texas, Baker was a quarterback at Oklahoma,
Mike Evans was a wide receiver at Texas A and M.
And so when I see some of these players on
a team, some of them reminded me of themselves. Hey, coach,

(52:49):
you recruited me. You don't remember going to my high school.
And even Calaja told me, he's like, well, I was
just too short to play for you at that I said,
you weren't too short, you know, I was just looking
for a little bigger guy, just not knowing you were
going to turn out and be the player that you are.
But just the relationship that I was able to build

(53:09):
over those years being in college and now stepping into
the NFL.

Speaker 3 (53:14):
Speak Elijah and Vidave.

Speaker 1 (53:16):
You're walking into a room with with one of the
best defensive tackle tandems in the league, and you just
speak to that part of it and what those guys
you know, can do for this this defense going forward.

Speaker 14 (53:28):
Well, when you have good players, it's all about their
work ethic and and those guys are pros and and
the way they go about their work. You know, with
Vita having the success that he's had so far, it's
just because of the work that he had put in.
And he's a young man that uh is willing to
work and then he want to make his teammates better.
And then you take a guy like Elijah will beat

(53:49):
us here. He comes in and now he teaches him
how to work, and Elijah watches him. So that's why
he's able to have success that he's had some for
And even with Logan, you know, Logan Uh he has
a chance to really Uh develop in the player that
we all want him to develop into, and it's just
how he goes about his work. But it's just been

(54:11):
fun because I'm in a room with a lot of
older guys and so it's my adjustment and they have
helped me make the adjustment because of the work that
they put in.

Speaker 11 (54:20):
You talk about.

Speaker 1 (54:20):
Adjustment, it's been a minute since you've actually coached the
defensive line position, right, Kevin Carter is one of your
guys in Florida.

Speaker 3 (54:27):
What's it like to you know, you've got coordinator, you've coached.
What's it like to go back to defensive line and
and take on this challenge again?

Speaker 14 (54:36):
Well, it really is not that hard because when you
have good players, that makes your job much easier. And
so that's what I have as good players. But it
hasn't the adjustment hasn't been that tough for me because
you know, being a defensive coordinator if you've coached all
positions anyway, so now to step back into it and
coach it again, it's it's been good for me an

(54:57):
because now I have to, you know, go back and say, oh, okay,
this is the way I used to do it.

Speaker 5 (55:02):
I probably can't do it like that anymore.

Speaker 14 (55:04):
So now it's about asking the players, Like when you
get to these guys, it's more of you having the communication.

Speaker 5 (55:10):
Now you know, what is your best move? What now,
how do we make that move better? What do you
like doing?

Speaker 14 (55:16):
So it's it's more about you teaching them a skill,
but also you're asking them what is your skill set?
And how do you how are you gonna how do
we work together to make it better?

Speaker 7 (55:26):
Are sacks important to you?

Speaker 14 (55:28):
Sacks is very important to me and uh but and
that's important to the players. And I told them it said,
if you look in this league, the guys who get
paid have the what sacks?

Speaker 5 (55:40):
So and that's and that's and that's what's key.

Speaker 14 (55:43):
And that's where you win because you want sacks, because
you get you get get to the quarterback, you're harassed
the quarterback, you get negative artists plays, and you get
to put the office behind the behind the chains. But
we were working on to get sacks, and we we
you know, this whole campus. It's something that coaches wanted
to stress. And that's what's been stressed.

Speaker 5 (56:04):
Really, can you.

Speaker 11 (56:05):
Talk a little bit about how you got the job.

Speaker 6 (56:06):
Did you reach out to coach and you obviously hadn't
had much.

Speaker 11 (56:10):
Time in gefl No.

Speaker 14 (56:11):
I I lived here in Tampa, and so you know,
I would come out and watch practices and then when
the position came available, I called coach and told him
I was really interested in it, and we sat down
and went through an interview process and and you know,
ended up getting the job. But it is also that,
you know, I wanted the job because I wanted to

(56:33):
work for this organization because I, like I said, I
sat and watched how it has grown over the years
and and the success that it has had.

Speaker 6 (56:41):
How often did you come out to practice?

Speaker 11 (56:43):
Was it multiple years?

Speaker 14 (56:44):
And yeah, it was multiple years because I've lived here
ever since I left. When I came here and I
was head Coaches South Florida, I stayed here, so I
didn't never move away.

Speaker 5 (56:55):
So I was right here. Close of your relationship with
coach Boles, Well, I you.

Speaker 14 (57:01):
Know, I just we weren't didn't have a close relationship.
We knew we were on a professional level. So I said,
there was a relationship we had, just on a professional level.

Speaker 8 (57:11):
When did that start?

Speaker 14 (57:12):
Oh, and it was started a number of years, you know,
when coach when he was an assistant, and he's been
around and and and that's the thing. This is such
a small fraternity that when you meet someone, you just
never know. I always just to tell guys, be careful
what you say about someone. Because you may end up
working with that person, so be very careful about it.

(57:33):
And so we developed that relationship over the years and
then we whenever we saw one another, you know, we
were able to sit down and talk. And plus just
this whole solid defense. He is a very aggressive uh,
very aggressive on defense. Love the blooz, which is my forte.
I love to put pression on people and love the bloods.

Speaker 7 (57:56):
Surely in your room, you've got the top four back
from last year in THEA can't see at the hall
and the games. Who beyond those board, who's shown you
something already in the depth beyond that?

Speaker 5 (58:05):
Well at uh C. J.

Speaker 14 (58:07):
Brewer has done a a really good job of working.
And then we were able to get uh Banks back.
But uh uh you have guys that uh are older.
I have an older room, so you know, so it's
been with Green. Even with Green, you know he's an
older player. It played some last year, so all those
you know, when you look at the players in our room,

(58:28):
some of them had a chance to play last season
early cause we had injuries early.

Speaker 5 (58:32):
So now they were able to get those reps in
g uh Elijah Roberts, you had him for a year
at the dun of Miami.

Speaker 8 (58:39):
Did any jump out to you about.

Speaker 14 (58:41):
Him when you were done there, Well, I d always
felt like that he was a guy that loved to
rush the passer, you know, and you you had to
like teach him, hey, this is what we're gonna do
with the run side of it. But you know, he
was a guy that could get to the quarterback and
and could put pressure on the quarterback.

Speaker 5 (58:56):
And even at uh SMU, I think he ended up
with nine or two.

Speaker 14 (59:00):
I don't know exactly the number of sacks that he had,
but he had a lot of sacks, a lot of UH.
I think he may have led the country pressures. But
he was a guy that has that ability where he
can rush and get to the quarterback.

Speaker 6 (59:14):
How valuable is.

Speaker 4 (59:15):
That versatility where he can line up in a couple
of different.

Speaker 9 (59:17):
Spots on his defense.

Speaker 14 (59:18):
Well, it's great for us because you have a player
that is very versatile where you can move him inside,
you can move him outside, let him get pressure. But
it's it's more of where we just knowing where he's
gonna fit in our scheme and what we need.

Speaker 11 (59:32):
To do with him.

Speaker 14 (59:34):
Once in so far, Oh big does see it does
because I would go up to Gainesville some days and
watch him practice. So I had a chance to me
does so when when he came here to our workout
day and and he saw me, he's like, yeah, coach,
I heard you were here. I'm glad you're here. But
not knowing that we would end up signing him and

(59:54):
bringing him in. But he you know, he works and
he don't mind working.

Speaker 11 (59:59):
I know what his size.

Speaker 14 (01:00:00):
Everybody wanna make a big deal about it, but you
know in our players, even the guys around him right now,
the guys in our room, they just look at it.

Speaker 5 (01:00:07):
Hey, j he's just like us and he's gonna go
about his work.

Speaker 11 (01:00:10):
And do his job.

Speaker 8 (01:00:11):
Would be key for him at being able to to
make it to this next level.

Speaker 14 (01:00:15):
Well it it's it's just more about uh y, we
just haven't seen someone that size. So now that's the factor.
Plus plus him knowing what he has to go do
and and doing it every day. He's gotta be a
consistent approach about everything he does. Where he's gotta be
with consistency.

Speaker 10 (01:00:30):
You a diet, discipline, things like that or Yeah.

Speaker 14 (01:00:34):
I I think that's where we have a nutritions here
and I think he that's working through uh, the nutritionists
and and we're coaching everyone.

Speaker 15 (01:00:41):
Do you have any stand out memories and Chris Braswell
and Alama.

Speaker 14 (01:00:45):
Oh yeah, cause I work with Chris and we we
were at Bama together and so uh, Chris was the
as linebacker and we ended up losing the m Michigan
in that game. And then it's when he end up
Butter just when he's out. He wanted to come out
and got drafted here and I told him when he
came here. He came out of the house to see him,

(01:01:05):
and I kind of showed him a little, you know,
around town.

Speaker 5 (01:01:09):
But he works hard and he puts into work.

Speaker 14 (01:01:11):
And that's why he was able because when we first
got him at Bama, we had Anderson, so Will was
right there.

Speaker 5 (01:01:19):
So he was behind Will. And then he was able
to work and and.

Speaker 14 (01:01:22):
And become built his own name and build everything about him.
But he works hard and is uh it's gonna be
a really good football player.

Speaker 8 (01:01:31):
A cheatah package that you guys had within the family, right.

Speaker 5 (01:01:35):
Yes, he was actually a guy. So we had him
on one side, we had Will.

Speaker 14 (01:01:40):
We we were able to mix it in a lot
and he was one of those rushers that could rush
off the edge and get to the quarterback earlier.

Speaker 1 (01:01:49):
He's in a contract year this year, but had five
and a half sacks, a little ever breakthrough seasons and
pass rusher probably finished with maybe his best game in
the playoffs seven tackles against the Une. What do you
use see from from Logan Hall that that you like
on tape? And how where is his ceiling at.

Speaker 3 (01:02:04):
As a professional?

Speaker 14 (01:02:05):
I think Logan has a ceiling that is is he
can go as high as he want to go. And
and I just base that on his work ethic and
how he's so willing to learn, always want hey coach,
you know he he will do something and come to
you and ask what could I have done better? And
what do you think about that? And that's what I said.

(01:02:26):
And I'm gonna say, Logan, you know, like your best
move is a swim move. Let's crap that move and
let's you know it don't always open up the show.
Let's work on that move. But he is, uh, you know,
I think he's could be a very special player. All right,
all right, thank you.

Speaker 7 (01:02:47):
I think we talked to you since I got him
just what he brings and how I know you've worked
with him before, you.

Speaker 6 (01:02:53):
Know, just a steady presence to the position. You know,
you know, double digit your experience. You know, we would
together for four years in New York, had some of
his best years there in New York, and he just
brings that that veteran leadership and a presence and a
you know, just a calming, you know, experience in the room.

(01:03:14):
So it's it's I look forward to it. He's a
hell of a pointer.

Speaker 1 (01:03:18):
How frustrated was that to kind of go through three
different punters last year and it's like a little bit
of a carousel there for you.

Speaker 6 (01:03:25):
Yeah, I mean it's, uh, it was rough. You know,
it's like any other position. Anytime you gotta go through
three different players at any position, it's it's tough. You know.
The year before when I was in New York, went
through four or five different kickers. So it's whenever you
get on that kicker and punter train, you just never
know where it gets off. You know, it's destination unknown.
So it it sucks going through it, but you know,

(01:03:48):
you just keep going and keep working at it and
see what happens.

Speaker 1 (01:03:51):
So on the flips out of that though, You've got
one heck of a consistent kicker. How much of that
is is a blessing to have a guy that is
money just abot every time he goes out there.

Speaker 6 (01:04:02):
Yeah, it's I I couldn't tell you how big of
a presence that is and how great it is to
have a guy like like Chase. I mean, he's just
he's a constant pro. He does little things the right way.
He's super consistent on and off the field, and uh,
that's what makes him great. I'm sure you're just getting
it known.

Speaker 7 (01:04:20):
But uh, of the rookies that have come in now, Uh,
both the draft picks and the undrafted guys, who are
the guys that can help you on teams and most.

Speaker 6 (01:04:26):
Well, they're all gonna have to do it at some point.

Speaker 9 (01:04:28):
Uh.

Speaker 6 (01:04:29):
You know that's you know, part of being a young
player in this league. You gotta earn the right to
to play at the highest level. So, uh, they're all
gonna contribute somehow, some way. They're all working hard and
they're just trying to figure it out. They're all drinking
through a fire hose right now. So we're just trying
to see what they can do best, uh, and then
try and put him in a place where they can

(01:04:50):
make plays. How do you expected kick off to affect? Uh,
it'll it'll be a lot more returns. You know, the
difference between percent wise between the ball being at the
thirty and the being at the thirty five is huge.
Like that's a big, big difference. And uh, I can
promise you head coaches are not gonna want that ball,

(01:05:12):
you know, defensive head coaches are not gonna want that ball.
At the thirty five, you get a you know, you
get a first down here in field goal range. And
uh so it's it's it's gonna change the game a lot.
It'll it'll change how things are, how rosters are gonna
be built, It's gonna change how the game will be played,
you know. So it'll be interesting to see what what happens.

Speaker 11 (01:05:33):
How do you feel Sean Tucker did in that moment?
How do you feel Sean Tucker did in that mole.

Speaker 6 (01:05:38):
Last and what role kick off?

Speaker 5 (01:05:41):
I think he did?

Speaker 6 (01:05:41):
I think he did a heck of a job. Uh
you know, I I think you know, we were really
really good when Bucky was back there next to him,
and uh but you know it's you know how that
is is he graduated? So but no, he did, he
did he did a really good job. He did a
really good job. We could have don it, We could
have done a better job of blocking. Uh, but Tuck

(01:06:05):
Tuck did a good job for us.

Speaker 7 (01:06:07):
When you look by roster construction and the new kick
up recurring, is that more speed on the field, is
that more dbs or.

Speaker 6 (01:06:11):
Having well, it's just gonna be just guys that can
cover kicks, cause they're gonna be instead of having you know,
six or seven touchbacks or five touch backs a game,
it's gonna be five more returns, you know, or four
more returns or six more returns, you know. So it's
gonna be a real play as opposed to being a
ceremonial play and ball just being kicked out of the
back of the end zone.

Speaker 1 (01:06:34):
Wa when it comes to uh, kick return duties, has
Sean Donna for he's lockdown one of those spots heading
into training camp, but you're looking for another.

Speaker 6 (01:06:42):
One or or well, we're always looking to get better,
you know, and whoever shows up and whoever earns that
spot's gonna earn it. And uh, you know, it's we're
always trying to find a way to get better in
our room.

Speaker 11 (01:06:54):
You know.

Speaker 6 (01:06:54):
That's it's the mantra of our room kais in the
act of continuous improvement, So we're always trying to find
a way to get better in the upgrade. So, uh,
those guys will compete. And definitely Sean is that enough
to where he can come back and say it's mine,
But he's gonna have to earn it just like everybody else.

Speaker 1 (01:07:12):
Coach Bowles was saying last year he feels running backs
make the best kick returners because it's more like an
offensive play where you have to do that. Is that
that's something you share as well, that running backs might
have the edge over a wide receiver.

Speaker 6 (01:07:25):
With this particular play. Absolutely, because it's a run play.
It's what it is. I mean, it's like that, it's
it's it is an inside outside zone play and that's
exactly what it is. And that's why we have two
running backs backs back there for the most part last
year because it's they're more they're the most comfortable with
making that play because that's what they see all the time.

Speaker 1 (01:07:46):
Who are some of your your top special teams tacklers,
who are some of the aces you could count on
to make that tackle on punt and on kickoff return
last year?

Speaker 6 (01:07:55):
Last year JJ Russell was our was our number one tackler. Uh,
and then Tavares Thomas was our number one, was our
s our second leading tackler. But we had a bunch
of young guys that are you know that we're gonna
have to lean on and uh, guys that are kind
of growing up through the system. And we'll see what happens.

(01:08:17):
You know, we'll see what happens. It's a it's gonna
be a lot of competition. You know, guys are gonna
be fighting to get jerseys. So you know, what they
do on the punt team and the cool four cores
is gonna be crucial.

Speaker 1 (01:08:28):
There's two guys you mentioned aren't on the roster later,
So are there any younger up and coming guys that
you're excited to see step into those shoes?

Speaker 6 (01:08:36):
You know, Josh Hayes has done a great job for
us while I while he's been here.

Speaker 8 (01:08:41):
Uh.

Speaker 6 (01:08:41):
And then we have some veteran guys in Kole Keeth
and Nelly and and Tuck and all those guys that
have been around Meriwether.

Speaker 8 (01:08:49):
Uh.

Speaker 6 (01:08:50):
You know, ty Keys made some plays for us. So
just a bunch of you know, just a kind of
a hodgepodge of guys and just tryna build a core
and see what some of these young guys will do,
and and see, you know, they get in where they
fit in. And got some free agent guys that are
coming in here, so we'll see what happens.