June 10, 2025 • 21 mins
On this episode of the Giants Huddle podcast, John Schmeelk chats with Head Coach of the Toledo Rockets, Jason Candle, about the play of Darius Alexander and how he could help the Giants defensive line.
:00 - Darius Alexander’s development at Toledo
4:40 - Darius’ personality
6:30 - Learning a system
10:42 - Handling double teams
15:05 - Leadership traits
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
It's time to get inside the Giants. Hulet's go, Let's go,
Let's go, Giants do.
Speaker 2 (00:05):
Get out on the Giants moubuling, give me some job,
part of the Giants podcast Network.
Speaker 1 (00:09):
Let's roll.
Speaker 3 (00:10):
Welcome to another edition of the Giants Little Podcast, brought
to you by Citizens, the official bank of the New
York Football Giants.
Speaker 1 (00:15):
I am John Schmelch today's guest.
Speaker 3 (00:17):
We're going to be joined by Jason Kandle, the head
coach of the Toledo Rockets, who coached Darius Alexander, the
Giants third round pick a pick number sixty five, throughout
his career in college.
Speaker 1 (00:26):
Thank you for being with us today.
Speaker 3 (00:27):
From the Hackensack and Many Health podcast studio, Keep getting better.
Without further ado, let's welcome on our guest. We bring
in Jason Kandle, head coach of the Toledo Rockets, and
without further ado, let's welcome in our guests. He is
the head coach of the Toledo Rockets. He's been their
head coach in twenty sixteen. Jason Kandle, coach, Thanks for
being with us today.
Speaker 2 (00:44):
How are you good morning? Doing great? Thanks for having me.
Speaker 3 (00:47):
On, No, thanks for being with us I'm very excited
to have Darius up here.
Speaker 1 (00:51):
Loved him as a prospect coming out.
Speaker 3 (00:53):
Now, you've been with the program since two thousand and nine,
if I'm not mistaken, correct as an.
Speaker 1 (00:56):
Assistant too, that's correct, all right.
Speaker 3 (00:58):
And Darius has been there, was there from twenty nineteen
to twenty twenty four.
Speaker 1 (01:02):
You had him for six years. What was it like
coaching for that six year span.
Speaker 2 (01:06):
Well, I think anytime a young player comes into your program,
you're looking for incremental growth in his process as a
human being first and foremost, and then you know, a
really strong commitment to what the academic part of it
can look like, and then obviously what we're all here
for to try to make young men become the best
football player they possibly can be. So his process was progressive.
(01:27):
What we got as a freshman is certainly not what
the New York Giants have received here in the last
couple of weekends. But I think his approach is really authentic.
His process was really really good and at times faster
than others. But you know, I think, like I said,
I think the best word I could use is authentic
and has put him in a really good place right now.
Speaker 1 (01:46):
All right, So let's touch on that.
Speaker 3 (01:48):
Where do you think he made the biggest stride since
he got into your program to what he got here?
Speaker 2 (01:53):
Well, I mean I think that an eighteen year old person,
we all live that, right, we're all very influential age,
we're very we're trying to figure that out. You know,
there's external variables that may take us down a path
that or could give you the temptation to take you
down a path that you know isn't isn't where you
want to go. And every young person in the world
goes through that. So being a Division on college football player,
(02:14):
there's more of those than maybe the average college student
you know has available to them. So, you know him,
just like every person that goes to play college football,
you got to figure out what it is and where
you want to go. And I thought from the day
he arrived on campus he always had a pretty doubt
in approach of what it should look like and where
it was going to be, you know, and he just
played his best football in his last year. It's like,
(02:35):
like I said, it progressively got better from an authentic approach.
Speaker 3 (02:38):
It talk about a guy being authentic and being given
the opportunity to take different paths. You know, every year
in the draft you find more and more kids. They've
been to two schools, they've been to three schools, they've
been to four schools. It's not often that, especially in
a conference like the MAC, you can keep a player
of that caliber for so many years. So why were
you able to hold on to him and why did
he stick with you for that long?
Speaker 2 (02:59):
Well, I mean I think that you know, we had
a very clear picture a year before of what it
could look like, you know, if a guy stayed true
to what it is. I mean, you know, obviously Giants
fans don't want to hear about me talking about the Eagles,
but Quinnon Mitchell, you know, being able to do the
same thing and go through that process and become a
first round pick, you know, I think gave him a
clear picture rate in his face, of what this is
(03:20):
and what it could be if he could just continue
to progress and credit to his loyalty to his teammates
first and foremost, and then you know, this coaching staff
and into this institution for what he wanted to become.
And I you know, young people, all the time you
talk about temptation, Mile may like it's it's all over
the place, and there's not only in temptation, there's inducement.
There's you know, there's tampering, there's prying, there's trying to
(03:41):
get you to go make a move, there's trying to
get you to go, you know, take a path that
maybe isn't is true to what you said you were
going to be when you were first arrived. So I
got this guy a lot of credit for sticking to
what he said he was going to do and be
the best version of himself, and him and his family
have benefited tremendously from that decision.
Speaker 3 (03:58):
Yeah, yeah, yeah, absolutely. You mentioned the Eagles, all I'll
make giant fans anger. I'll mention the Cowboys. Savannah ravel
is someone they drafted, another guy that if he didn't
get hurt this year, he could have been a first
round pick.
Speaker 1 (04:08):
And he stuck it out too. So you're right.
Speaker 3 (04:10):
If you stick it out and you play well, people
gonna find your coach. Like you don't have to be
on TV every Saturday. If you could play these scouts,
we'll find you well.
Speaker 2 (04:17):
I think you know. I came from Division three Mount Union,
where we had cecil swords drafted in the fourth round.
Pierre Garson drafted in the sixth round, So you know,
as a young assistant coach, I mean, right right there
in your face. Man, oh man, if you're good enough,
you know they're gonna find you, you know. And I
don't think that's I think that's true all across the board.
I mean, I do this for a living, and sometimes
there's people getting drafted from schools that I mean, I
(04:38):
got to pick up my phone and google where that is.
You know. So this is a very extensive process where
a lot of decisions are made to represent you know,
multimillion dollar organizations, and you know, more times than not
they get it right.
Speaker 3 (04:51):
Yeah, And I think making a decision like he did
to stay, I think is the sign that he's a
pretty mature young man. When he was up here to
visit shortly after the draft, he brought a son up
here with him who he's raising, and you know, just
seeing him interact with him and seeing him around, my
understanding is that his son was no stranger to your
facility as well.
Speaker 1 (05:08):
When he was at Toledo.
Speaker 3 (05:11):
Just talk about his growth as a man, trying to
raise his sun and just kind of the maturity has
come into the league when he's going to turn twenty
five this summer.
Speaker 2 (05:17):
Yeah, that little guy's got more free muscle milks than
anybody in the in the history of football. But but
but and the welcome a welcomed addition to our summer
workouts last year. So uh, you know, I think that,
you know, I think the job of college football coaches
is to make sure that we can help paint a
path for what success looks like for young people. And
(05:37):
you know, we're all a lot of us, myself included
our young fathers too, you know, and my old mind
to watch this guy go through this process and really
be involved there and having him around all summer last year,
it's not disruptive to what the work that this young
man put in on a football field, and and certainly
we didn't want to be, you know, disruptive to what
the main thing is here and is for him to
(05:58):
be a really good dad. So I know that's something
that's very important to him. I know this is something
that'll be very important to him through his journey as
a pro player here. And really proud of him for
stepping up to the plate, you know, on the things
that really really.
Speaker 3 (06:09):
Matter, like that the Johnsontle podcast is brought to you
by Citizens, the Official Bank of the Giants. Whether it's
game day celebrations or your everyday financial needs, Big Blue
fans can get the most out of every moment with Citizens.
To learn more, a go to Citizens bank dot com
slash Giants.
Speaker 1 (06:24):
Huddle up, get in here. If you're lined up here,
you gotta go over the middle with it. The score great?
Speaker 3 (06:29):
How do we make that happen?
Speaker 2 (06:31):
I don't know, Bud Citizen does it makes sense of
your money with Citizens Official Bank of Eli Manning?
Speaker 1 (06:39):
All right, let's focus on him as a football player.
Speaker 3 (06:41):
Coach, you talking about kind of how he steadily improved
of the course of his time there. Well, I know
you weren't in the meetings with him necessarily on the
defensive side of the ball, But what kind of learner
was he? Some guys learn better on the board, some
guys learn better when they get out on the field.
Some guys need to take a lot of notes. How
did he learn and kind of absorb everything you guys
are trying to teach about your defensive about the way
you want to play.
Speaker 2 (07:02):
Well, he listens, you know, and a lot of guys say, yes, sir,
is a mask to, you know, hoping you don't ask
him another question, you know, and then this guy, this
guy says, yes, sir, he's he's down in the ears
ears what you're saying to him, and he's ready to
go apply you know what what he's learned. You know,
I think that I played him at offensive tackle, and
(07:24):
he was a true freshman, you know, kind of hey, look, man,
like you figure this out, you'll be a first round
pick at left tackle, you know. And there were some
times there where you know, he came in a little
heavy as a freshman, and you know, you want to
play defensive line, you got to get your weight under control,
and you got to get a you know, a training program.
And this is not anything that you know, paints the
picture of a lazy person, because this is far from it.
(07:46):
Just not from a great, you know, ready to ready made,
you know player coming out of high school, like some
guys are, so a maturation process there where he had
to learn a lot of things, you know what I mean,
just how to take care of himself, how to eat right,
how to do the correct things away from the football field,
to continue to be the best player he could possibly
be on the football field. But mate, man, get him
in between those those lines and then on all of
(08:08):
the night grass. I mean, what a what a talent,
and certainly, like I said, a guy that can really
take the meeting room and apply it to the football field.
Speaker 1 (08:15):
Now you mentioned you played him in a little offensive
tackle early in his career. I didn't know that.
Speaker 3 (08:19):
When we see him, at least when I watched him
on tape, I kind of just see, all right, classic
three hundred five pound long, classic NFL three technique.
Speaker 1 (08:27):
But I know sometimes the coaches that have.
Speaker 3 (08:29):
Him in college think, all right, maybe not quite that,
or do you think that is exactly what he is?
Speaker 2 (08:35):
I think that's exactly what he is. And I think
that you know, obviously the Giants drafted him for a
schematic fit, you know what I mean. We're a little
bit different here. You know, we don't get to go
We're not at a place where we get to go
just pick our players, and you know, we don't get
the pick of the litter of the six five three,
three hundred and twelve pounds three techniques. But you know,
I think he's got great position flexibility, you know what
(08:56):
I mean. He could play in the face of the
tight end and big people personnel. I mean, you know,
I think some some teams recruited him or scouted him
as potentially you know, a zero knows in their scheme.
He's just a big, massive guy that Ben's really really
well and I still think his best football is just
he's just scratching the surface on what he can be.
So I think it's gonna be fun to watch how
(09:16):
they use him and fun to watch how they integrate
him into the scheme. And you know, it sounds like
there's a really strong culture in that defensive front in
that meeting room, and I think, and this is an
environment that's been created this guy. This guy's gonna thrive
and have a great year.
Speaker 1 (09:27):
You know.
Speaker 3 (09:27):
It's funny I mentioned he's an older prospect, right he
was with you for a long time at Toledo. But
I think to your point, Coach, there does still seem
to be a lot of room to grow here to
kind of turn those physical tools and translate them into
being a better football player. So what's the next step
for him in your opinion, the things that he needs
to hone in on, focus on, really get the details
locked in to take that next step.
Speaker 1 (09:48):
As he now plays in the NFL.
Speaker 2 (09:51):
Well, I mean, I think sometimes change can be intimidating, right,
you know what I mean, This is the next thing.
You know, I'm a high school senior. I'm going to college.
It's not like going to the thirteenth grade. This is
not like your sixth year, seventh year in college football.
You know what I mean? This is this has change,
but it's inevitable, and how you react and how you
adapt to that is ultimately going to define what your
success is. And you know, this guy's you know, we've
(10:13):
we've had a lot of he's had a lot of
adversities through his career here at Toledo, you know, you know,
we've had really good defensive fronts and really good defensive linemen.
You know, the guy that played ahead of him was
drafted also, So I think that he's been in a
room where there are really talented players, and I think
that he's had to be the best version of himself
to continue to compete. And I think that's what's going
(10:33):
to be required for him, just like all the other
rookies in in this entire in your entire league. But
I'm very confident that this guy's gonna he's gonna mesh
fit in well and really take great coaching and really
take the culture of that of that locker room and
specifically that defensive line room, and apply it to to
allow him to go out and be as competitive as
he possibly can.
Speaker 3 (10:53):
I'm sure every time you played somebody the last couple
of years, he was the guy they circled in a
red sharpie marker right before the game.
Speaker 1 (10:59):
Is that we saw that down?
Speaker 3 (11:00):
How did he handle seeing all that extra attention to
double team Some guys can get frustrated, right, they never
get those one on one opportunities. How did he handle
being really the focus of the offensive game plans in
terms of trying to slow down your pass rush.
Speaker 2 (11:12):
Well, I think there's the key key thing there, you
know what I mean. As a young defensive player, you know, man,
I'm going to have fifteen sacks this year. I'm going
to lead the conference in sacks. I'm going to lead
the country in sacks, and you know, him just really understanding,
you know, as a young player, and really I thought
this showed up a lot on videotape this year, just
earning the right to rush the quarterback and really becoming
a really dominant run defender because his ability to play
(11:34):
low and play through double teams and to you know,
really be disruptive on every single football play rather than
just third and long. I think that put him in
position to be, you know, a New York Giant.
Speaker 3 (11:46):
What do you think is go to trade as coach?
Is it his length? Is it his ability to get
up field? Is his power? If you were to circle
one thing that's kind of the basis that everything that
he works, his counters off of that that is his
best trait that really makes him who he is.
Speaker 1 (12:00):
What would it be?
Speaker 2 (12:00):
It was very fluid and very athletic. And the guys
that are usually like that they don't they don't have
the body that he has, and they don't pack the
pumps that he has as well. So I think there's
a there's a unique characteristic that way. And like I said,
just you know, really looking forward to seeing him integrate
himself in the culture of that team and watching you know,
those coaches tap into him and getting the most out
(12:21):
of him. And I think, and I think we're all
going to be what do you think what we think
he can be when once that happens.
Speaker 1 (12:27):
Did you have any doubt? And the Giants would talk
about how important.
Speaker 3 (12:29):
This was for their evaluation that when he shut up
in Mobile for the Senior Bowl, that he would do
as well as he did against all those power five
offensive linemen.
Speaker 2 (12:38):
Well, I went to practice because I figured it was
going to be quite a show.
Speaker 1 (12:42):
And it was. Coach I was there too, I was
right there on the field. It was awesome.
Speaker 2 (12:45):
Then it was, you know, and I think that you know,
our guys welcome that challenge. You know, we've and we've
had you know, we've had credit Jim Naggy and his staff.
I mean, my gosh, Like we've had a lot of
guys go go to that game and play really, really well.
And two years ago we mentioned Mitchell, that guy moved
up the draft boards really fast. You know. Obviously the
Senior Bowl helps with that process. It's part of it.
(13:06):
And Darius was was no different, you know, this year.
And I think that you know, so many there's a long,
extensive process in this scouting as you know, and you
want to touch every point and you want to do
everything every point to the best of your ability. And
you know, the guys that do that, they're picked in
the top seventy picks of the draft. And the guys
that don't. They're probably not. So you know, credit to
both of those kids for doing that and to you know,
(13:29):
putting their ability their abilities on display and on the
biggest stage.
Speaker 3 (13:33):
Yeah, coach j I'll be honest with you, I don't
know how he got the sixty five. I thought he
was a shoe in top fifty player this year. Well
when you saw him kind of, you know, get through
that second round, were you just on pins and needles?
Speaker 1 (13:43):
Like, what are teams waiting for here? This guy needs
to come off the board.
Speaker 2 (13:46):
Well, I mean I think we've been through here with
guys in the past. I mean, you know, green Hunt
was a third round pick out of here and led
the NFL and rushing as a rookie. So you know,
I think that it's beauties in the eye of the beholder, right,
you know what I mean, There's not any different than
college recruiting. I'm going through the same thing each and
every day with conversations with staff members, and you know,
it's a I think sometimes people get very confused in
(14:09):
the draft on what it really is. I mean, it's
really what teams need. It's not really what they think
who's good and who's not. It's what their needs are
and how they can they can articulate and match and
and and create a create a fit for what the
needs are. And there's multiple ways of doing that, and
there's multiple ways of doing that in college football now.
So I mean, yeah, I think that he said maybe
(14:31):
a little bit farther than maybe what I would have
thought of after watching the Senior Bowl and in that
process and what he did at the combine. But you know,
like I said, beauty's in the ivy beh Holder, he
ends up in a really, really good place. I think
it's a really good fit where he's at, and really
in a couple in a month or so, once you know,
they get to OTAs and out on that football field,
and you're a pro football player, you still got to
(14:52):
go make the team anyway, so no one really gives
a damn where you were drafted. So I think he'll
do a good job of putting the past in the
past and really focus on producing in the present.
Speaker 1 (15:00):
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of crunch time football, I'm your man. But if you're
wondering about a long term financial plan, you should talk
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could help make sense of your money with citizens. Yeah,
the Giants are excited to have him.
Speaker 3 (15:17):
Just a couple more coach real quick, you mentioned you
think he has a three technique future in the NFL.
But in your scheme you moved them around a lot.
Where did you use him primarily? Where do you think
he was most effective in your scheme?
Speaker 2 (15:28):
Well, I mean, you know, any any good coordinator is
going to try to put your best player on the
other team's worst player. So you know, for us, that's
that was always the challenge, you know, in passing situations,
and college football's a little bit different because there's so
much tempo and so much pace and you can't just
be a specialized guy that stands over there on the
sideline because good offensive coordinators will find a way to
(15:48):
keep you on the sideline by playing fast. So him
being able to be a three down player for us
and be able to have some position flexibility and move
him around a little bit I thought was huge, But
you hit it. I mean, he's a he's a true
three technique where he can you know, get on the
edge of a guard in passing situations, and he's big
enough and strong enough and athletic enough to fight and
(16:08):
hold the point there and the double teams in the
run game. So yeah, like I said, it just he's
scratching the surface, I think, and it's going to be
I think it's gonna be a really good thing for
him and for the Giants.
Speaker 3 (16:19):
All Right, tell me about him as a guy, Like,
how did he lead as one of the veterans on
your team last year? I'm sure you know he was
a guy that took a big leadership mantle on his shoulders.
What was his leadership style? Is he a ro RA
guy's a lead by example guy? How did he help
lead your team?
Speaker 2 (16:32):
I don't. I think leadership has defined you know, you
ask one hundred coaches, they're going to find it a
hundred different ways. But I think for me it's like,
or do you have the ability to lead yourself in
a positive manner each and every day? And if you're
a really good player like he is, and you can
do that correctly, your spirit of influence is going to
be felt and your impact is going to be felt
through that entire locker room each and every time you
put your cleats on and you go out on the field.
(16:54):
So I think, first of all, he's got a great personality.
I think, second of all, he's very personable with his teammates.
I think third he works really hard. And he's talented.
So you know, I get it. Everybody in the NFL
is talented. I'm pretty sure the Giants are not asking
him to come in as a as a rookie and
be a team captain here.
Speaker 3 (17:10):
Uh.
Speaker 2 (17:11):
They probably want him to come in and be the
best version of him each and every day so he can,
you know, make an impact and his presence can be
felt on the practice field and hopefully, you know, on
game day as well. And I don't think that's any
different than what we asked him to do here at Toledo,
and I don't or any of other our are other
really good players. So sometimes there's a there's the butterflies
in your stomach as a young player, as a freshman
(17:32):
or a man or man, I see something that's wrong
and I don't feel like I've done enough to say anything.
You know, as a senior, those butterflies turn into man,
that pressure is I should say something because I've been
there and I've done that, and you saw some moments
out of him, you know, when he was here that way,
But I think the most consistent thing was just who
he was each and every day. All right.
Speaker 3 (17:48):
Then final question, coach, any anecdote stories, things that you
had a personal experience with him, just to kind of
explain the Giant fans what they're getting in Darius as
a guy, as a dude, that that is going to
represent your ground well and represent the Giants.
Speaker 2 (18:01):
Well, yeah, I mean, I think that family is really
important to him, and I think he feels a tremendous
amount of responsibility to represent his family in a first
class manner. And you know, once once the guy's grasped
that and you know, representing Toledo or representing the New
York Giants, I think that becomes an easy thing because
guys really own their they own their behaviors, and he
does that. So I think that you know, for me,
(18:22):
the conversations were always real, they were always authentic. You know,
he's a guy that will tell you what's on his mind,
he'll ask the right questions, He'll he'll learn, and he'll
be respectful of a great learning process if there is
a great teaching process, And it seems to me like
there is a great teaching process in place for him,
and as I mentioned before, I think it's gonna be
a great fit and this guy's gonna gonna make out
(18:42):
all of us problem folks.
Speaker 3 (18:44):
Anything you want to tell the folks about your program, coach,
about you, anything you have going on right now that
you want them to know about the floor is yours.
Speaker 2 (18:51):
No, We're just happy the New York Giants got a rocket,
you know, another one. You know, we got Deontay Johnson
the linebacker up there as well. And Tay was a
great representation of us, and you know, first class kid
and was I thought was really coming on in the
preseason last year ntil he had his injury. So I'm
looking for big things out of both of these young men.
And you know, obviously, and we've got a lot of
we put a lot of guys out, you know, in
the NFL since since our staff has been here. You know,
(19:14):
Darius was a draft picked number eleven, since our staff
got here, when we when I became the head coach here.
And uh, we've got some more coming next year. So
keep an eye on the rockets. And I think some
big things on the horizon here for us. I'm very
proud of our graduates and proud of what our program
has done and where we think it's gonna go.
Speaker 3 (19:28):
Coach, You're right, Deontay was he was he was gonna,
you know, really push the playing time last offseason since
I have you just tell the Giant fans what they
could have in Deontay Johnson now that he's healthy. And
by the way, that guy's built like a tank of
people watch him walking around.
Speaker 1 (19:39):
That guy is just solid as a rock.
Speaker 3 (19:41):
What Giant fans might have with him if he manages
to fight his way onto the field for some more
defensive ends special team snaps.
Speaker 2 (19:47):
Well, I mean, he's not going to screw it up.
I mean that guy's got a you know, mechanical engineering
degree from here and you know, very smart, very cerebral person,
humble worker, you know. And I think that's one thing
that I think, you know, we pride ourselves on here
is you know, we don't care where we were drafted
or you know, if we were drafted. We just want
the opportunity. We want to have the opportunity to stick.
(20:09):
And I think you probably see that, you know, being
very close to the program there, you see that from
Tay and see you know how he goes about himself
and carries himself each and every day, and another guy
that wants to represent his family in a first class manner,
and Toledo has benefited gratefully from that. So really excited
for him, Really excited for what I think it can be,
because you know, once that guy continues to learn what
to do and how to do it, he's just going
(20:31):
to get better and better and better and very very
accountable and reliable person and players. So Giants fan should
be excited about him and what the future looks like.
Speaker 3 (20:39):
Hey coach of the Toledo Rockets, he is, Hey coach
Jason kandall coach, thanks so much of the time, best
of the book on recruiting, get back on that trail,
and good luck in twenty twenty five.
Speaker 2 (20:47):
Thanks so much, Go Rockets.
Speaker 3 (20:49):
That's Toledo head coach Jason kandall. Awesome stuff. We really
thank him for joining us. Really good stuff on Darius Alexander,
well again, really excited. I think the Giants got to
steal with sixty five. Very excited to see him on
the field with the Giants this year. I think he
can do a lot at six' five with those long
arms and. ATHLETICISM i think he's had a bright future
ahead of him and it's great to learn a little
bit more about him from someone that spent six years
(21:11):
with him At. Toledo thanks for being with us here
from The Hackensack Marine Hills Podcast. Studio keep getting. Better
I'm John. Schmilk stay tuned To The Giants Little, podcast
brought to you By Citizens Official bank of The, giants
for continuing coverage of The giants rookie, class OTA's mini
camp off. Season all that as we gear have been
get ready for The giants twenty twenty five season For Jason.
(21:31):
Kendell I'm John. Schmunk thanks so much for being with
us today On The Giants Little. Podcast we'll see you next.
Speaker 1 (21:36):
Time, everybody
It's time to get inside the Giants. Hulet's go, Let's go,
Let's go, Giants do.
Speaker 2 (00:05):
Get out on the Giants moubuling, give me some job,
part of the Giants podcast Network.
Speaker 1 (00:09):
Let's roll.
Speaker 3 (00:10):
Welcome to another edition of the Giants Little Podcast, brought
to you by Citizens, the official bank of the New
York Football Giants.
Speaker 1 (00:15):
I am John Schmelch today's guest.
Speaker 3 (00:17):
We're going to be joined by Jason Kandle, the head
coach of the Toledo Rockets, who coached Darius Alexander, the
Giants third round pick a pick number sixty five, throughout
his career in college.
Speaker 1 (00:26):
Thank you for being with us today.
Speaker 3 (00:27):
From the Hackensack and Many Health podcast studio, Keep getting better.
Without further ado, let's welcome on our guest. We bring
in Jason Kandle, head coach of the Toledo Rockets, and
without further ado, let's welcome in our guests. He is
the head coach of the Toledo Rockets. He's been their
head coach in twenty sixteen. Jason Kandle, coach, Thanks for
being with us today.
Speaker 2 (00:44):
How are you good morning? Doing great? Thanks for having me.
Speaker 3 (00:47):
On, No, thanks for being with us I'm very excited
to have Darius up here.
Speaker 1 (00:51):
Loved him as a prospect coming out.
Speaker 3 (00:53):
Now, you've been with the program since two thousand and nine,
if I'm not mistaken, correct as an.
Speaker 1 (00:56):
Assistant too, that's correct, all right.
Speaker 3 (00:58):
And Darius has been there, was there from twenty nineteen
to twenty twenty four.
Speaker 1 (01:02):
You had him for six years. What was it like
coaching for that six year span.
Speaker 2 (01:06):
Well, I think anytime a young player comes into your program,
you're looking for incremental growth in his process as a
human being first and foremost, and then you know, a
really strong commitment to what the academic part of it
can look like, and then obviously what we're all here
for to try to make young men become the best
football player they possibly can be. So his process was progressive.
(01:27):
What we got as a freshman is certainly not what
the New York Giants have received here in the last
couple of weekends. But I think his approach is really authentic.
His process was really really good and at times faster
than others. But you know, I think, like I said,
I think the best word I could use is authentic
and has put him in a really good place right now.
Speaker 1 (01:46):
All right, So let's touch on that.
Speaker 3 (01:48):
Where do you think he made the biggest stride since
he got into your program to what he got here?
Speaker 2 (01:53):
Well, I mean I think that an eighteen year old person,
we all live that, right, we're all very influential age,
we're very we're trying to figure that out. You know,
there's external variables that may take us down a path
that or could give you the temptation to take you
down a path that you know isn't isn't where you
want to go. And every young person in the world
goes through that. So being a Division on college football player,
(02:14):
there's more of those than maybe the average college student
you know has available to them. So, you know him,
just like every person that goes to play college football,
you got to figure out what it is and where
you want to go. And I thought from the day
he arrived on campus he always had a pretty doubt
in approach of what it should look like and where
it was going to be, you know, and he just
played his best football in his last year. It's like,
(02:35):
like I said, it progressively got better from an authentic approach.
Speaker 3 (02:38):
It talk about a guy being authentic and being given
the opportunity to take different paths. You know, every year
in the draft you find more and more kids. They've
been to two schools, they've been to three schools, they've
been to four schools. It's not often that, especially in
a conference like the MAC, you can keep a player
of that caliber for so many years. So why were
you able to hold on to him and why did
he stick with you for that long?
Speaker 2 (02:59):
Well, I mean I think that you know, we had
a very clear picture a year before of what it
could look like, you know, if a guy stayed true
to what it is. I mean, you know, obviously Giants
fans don't want to hear about me talking about the Eagles,
but Quinnon Mitchell, you know, being able to do the
same thing and go through that process and become a
first round pick, you know, I think gave him a
clear picture rate in his face, of what this is
(03:20):
and what it could be if he could just continue
to progress and credit to his loyalty to his teammates
first and foremost, and then you know, this coaching staff
and into this institution for what he wanted to become.
And I you know, young people, all the time you
talk about temptation, Mile may like it's it's all over
the place, and there's not only in temptation, there's inducement.
There's you know, there's tampering, there's prying, there's trying to
(03:41):
get you to go make a move, there's trying to
get you to go, you know, take a path that
maybe isn't is true to what you said you were
going to be when you were first arrived. So I
got this guy a lot of credit for sticking to
what he said he was going to do and be
the best version of himself, and him and his family
have benefited tremendously from that decision.
Speaker 3 (03:58):
Yeah, yeah, yeah, absolutely. You mentioned the Eagles, all I'll
make giant fans anger. I'll mention the Cowboys. Savannah ravel
is someone they drafted, another guy that if he didn't
get hurt this year, he could have been a first
round pick.
Speaker 1 (04:08):
And he stuck it out too. So you're right.
Speaker 3 (04:10):
If you stick it out and you play well, people
gonna find your coach. Like you don't have to be
on TV every Saturday. If you could play these scouts,
we'll find you well.
Speaker 2 (04:17):
I think you know. I came from Division three Mount Union,
where we had cecil swords drafted in the fourth round.
Pierre Garson drafted in the sixth round, So you know,
as a young assistant coach, I mean, right right there
in your face. Man, oh man, if you're good enough,
you know they're gonna find you, you know. And I
don't think that's I think that's true all across the board.
I mean, I do this for a living, and sometimes
there's people getting drafted from schools that I mean, I
(04:38):
got to pick up my phone and google where that is.
You know. So this is a very extensive process where
a lot of decisions are made to represent you know,
multimillion dollar organizations, and you know, more times than not
they get it right.
Speaker 3 (04:51):
Yeah, And I think making a decision like he did
to stay, I think is the sign that he's a
pretty mature young man. When he was up here to
visit shortly after the draft, he brought a son up
here with him who he's raising, and you know, just
seeing him interact with him and seeing him around, my
understanding is that his son was no stranger to your
facility as well.
Speaker 1 (05:08):
When he was at Toledo.
Speaker 3 (05:11):
Just talk about his growth as a man, trying to
raise his sun and just kind of the maturity has
come into the league when he's going to turn twenty
five this summer.
Speaker 2 (05:17):
Yeah, that little guy's got more free muscle milks than
anybody in the in the history of football. But but
but and the welcome a welcomed addition to our summer
workouts last year. So uh, you know, I think that,
you know, I think the job of college football coaches
is to make sure that we can help paint a
path for what success looks like for young people. And
(05:37):
you know, we're all a lot of us, myself included
our young fathers too, you know, and my old mind
to watch this guy go through this process and really
be involved there and having him around all summer last year,
it's not disruptive to what the work that this young
man put in on a football field, and and certainly
we didn't want to be, you know, disruptive to what
the main thing is here and is for him to
(05:58):
be a really good dad. So I know that's something
that's very important to him. I know this is something
that'll be very important to him through his journey as
a pro player here. And really proud of him for
stepping up to the plate, you know, on the things
that really really.
Speaker 3 (06:09):
Matter, like that the Johnsontle podcast is brought to you
by Citizens, the Official Bank of the Giants. Whether it's
game day celebrations or your everyday financial needs, Big Blue
fans can get the most out of every moment with Citizens.
To learn more, a go to Citizens bank dot com
slash Giants.
Speaker 1 (06:24):
Huddle up, get in here. If you're lined up here,
you gotta go over the middle with it. The score great?
Speaker 3 (06:29):
How do we make that happen?
Speaker 2 (06:31):
I don't know, Bud Citizen does it makes sense of
your money with Citizens Official Bank of Eli Manning?
Speaker 1 (06:39):
All right, let's focus on him as a football player.
Speaker 3 (06:41):
Coach, you talking about kind of how he steadily improved
of the course of his time there. Well, I know
you weren't in the meetings with him necessarily on the
defensive side of the ball, But what kind of learner
was he? Some guys learn better on the board, some
guys learn better when they get out on the field.
Some guys need to take a lot of notes. How
did he learn and kind of absorb everything you guys
are trying to teach about your defensive about the way
you want to play.
Speaker 2 (07:02):
Well, he listens, you know, and a lot of guys say, yes, sir,
is a mask to, you know, hoping you don't ask
him another question, you know, and then this guy, this
guy says, yes, sir, he's he's down in the ears
ears what you're saying to him, and he's ready to
go apply you know what what he's learned. You know,
I think that I played him at offensive tackle, and
(07:24):
he was a true freshman, you know, kind of hey, look, man,
like you figure this out, you'll be a first round
pick at left tackle, you know. And there were some
times there where you know, he came in a little
heavy as a freshman, and you know, you want to
play defensive line, you got to get your weight under control,
and you got to get a you know, a training program.
And this is not anything that you know, paints the
picture of a lazy person, because this is far from it.
(07:46):
Just not from a great, you know, ready to ready made,
you know player coming out of high school, like some
guys are, so a maturation process there where he had
to learn a lot of things, you know what I mean,
just how to take care of himself, how to eat right,
how to do the correct things away from the football field,
to continue to be the best player he could possibly
be on the football field. But mate, man, get him
in between those those lines and then on all of
(08:08):
the night grass. I mean, what a what a talent,
and certainly, like I said, a guy that can really
take the meeting room and apply it to the football field.
Speaker 1 (08:15):
Now you mentioned you played him in a little offensive
tackle early in his career. I didn't know that.
Speaker 3 (08:19):
When we see him, at least when I watched him
on tape, I kind of just see, all right, classic
three hundred five pound long, classic NFL three technique.
Speaker 1 (08:27):
But I know sometimes the coaches that have.
Speaker 3 (08:29):
Him in college think, all right, maybe not quite that,
or do you think that is exactly what he is?
Speaker 2 (08:35):
I think that's exactly what he is. And I think
that you know, obviously the Giants drafted him for a
schematic fit, you know what I mean. We're a little
bit different here. You know, we don't get to go
We're not at a place where we get to go
just pick our players, and you know, we don't get
the pick of the litter of the six five three,
three hundred and twelve pounds three techniques. But you know,
I think he's got great position flexibility, you know what
(08:56):
I mean. He could play in the face of the
tight end and big people personnel. I mean, you know,
I think some some teams recruited him or scouted him
as potentially you know, a zero knows in their scheme.
He's just a big, massive guy that Ben's really really
well and I still think his best football is just
he's just scratching the surface on what he can be.
So I think it's gonna be fun to watch how
(09:16):
they use him and fun to watch how they integrate
him into the scheme. And you know, it sounds like
there's a really strong culture in that defensive front in
that meeting room, and I think, and this is an
environment that's been created this guy. This guy's gonna thrive
and have a great year.
Speaker 1 (09:27):
You know.
Speaker 3 (09:27):
It's funny I mentioned he's an older prospect, right he
was with you for a long time at Toledo. But
I think to your point, Coach, there does still seem
to be a lot of room to grow here to
kind of turn those physical tools and translate them into
being a better football player. So what's the next step
for him in your opinion, the things that he needs
to hone in on, focus on, really get the details
locked in to take that next step.
Speaker 1 (09:48):
As he now plays in the NFL.
Speaker 2 (09:51):
Well, I mean, I think sometimes change can be intimidating, right,
you know what I mean, This is the next thing.
You know, I'm a high school senior. I'm going to college.
It's not like going to the thirteenth grade. This is
not like your sixth year, seventh year in college football.
You know what I mean? This is this has change,
but it's inevitable, and how you react and how you
adapt to that is ultimately going to define what your
success is. And you know, this guy's you know, we've
(10:13):
we've had a lot of he's had a lot of
adversities through his career here at Toledo, you know, you know,
we've had really good defensive fronts and really good defensive linemen.
You know, the guy that played ahead of him was
drafted also, So I think that he's been in a
room where there are really talented players, and I think
that he's had to be the best version of himself
to continue to compete. And I think that's what's going
(10:33):
to be required for him, just like all the other
rookies in in this entire in your entire league. But
I'm very confident that this guy's gonna he's gonna mesh
fit in well and really take great coaching and really
take the culture of that of that locker room and
specifically that defensive line room, and apply it to to
allow him to go out and be as competitive as
he possibly can.
Speaker 3 (10:53):
I'm sure every time you played somebody the last couple
of years, he was the guy they circled in a
red sharpie marker right before the game.
Speaker 1 (10:59):
Is that we saw that down?
Speaker 3 (11:00):
How did he handle seeing all that extra attention to
double team Some guys can get frustrated, right, they never
get those one on one opportunities. How did he handle
being really the focus of the offensive game plans in
terms of trying to slow down your pass rush.
Speaker 2 (11:12):
Well, I think there's the key key thing there, you
know what I mean. As a young defensive player, you know, man,
I'm going to have fifteen sacks this year. I'm going
to lead the conference in sacks. I'm going to lead
the country in sacks, and you know, him just really understanding,
you know, as a young player, and really I thought
this showed up a lot on videotape this year, just
earning the right to rush the quarterback and really becoming
a really dominant run defender because his ability to play
(11:34):
low and play through double teams and to you know,
really be disruptive on every single football play rather than
just third and long. I think that put him in
position to be, you know, a New York Giant.
Speaker 3 (11:46):
What do you think is go to trade as coach?
Is it his length? Is it his ability to get
up field? Is his power? If you were to circle
one thing that's kind of the basis that everything that
he works, his counters off of that that is his
best trait that really makes him who he is.
Speaker 1 (12:00):
What would it be?
Speaker 2 (12:00):
It was very fluid and very athletic. And the guys
that are usually like that they don't they don't have
the body that he has, and they don't pack the
pumps that he has as well. So I think there's
a there's a unique characteristic that way. And like I said,
just you know, really looking forward to seeing him integrate
himself in the culture of that team and watching you know,
those coaches tap into him and getting the most out
(12:21):
of him. And I think, and I think we're all
going to be what do you think what we think
he can be when once that happens.
Speaker 1 (12:27):
Did you have any doubt? And the Giants would talk
about how important.
Speaker 3 (12:29):
This was for their evaluation that when he shut up
in Mobile for the Senior Bowl, that he would do
as well as he did against all those power five
offensive linemen.
Speaker 2 (12:38):
Well, I went to practice because I figured it was
going to be quite a show.
Speaker 1 (12:42):
And it was. Coach I was there too, I was
right there on the field. It was awesome.
Speaker 2 (12:45):
Then it was, you know, and I think that you know,
our guys welcome that challenge. You know, we've and we've
had you know, we've had credit Jim Naggy and his staff.
I mean, my gosh, Like we've had a lot of
guys go go to that game and play really, really well.
And two years ago we mentioned Mitchell, that guy moved
up the draft boards really fast. You know. Obviously the
Senior Bowl helps with that process. It's part of it.
(13:06):
And Darius was was no different, you know, this year.
And I think that you know, so many there's a long,
extensive process in this scouting as you know, and you
want to touch every point and you want to do
everything every point to the best of your ability. And
you know, the guys that do that, they're picked in
the top seventy picks of the draft. And the guys
that don't. They're probably not. So you know, credit to
both of those kids for doing that and to you know,
(13:29):
putting their ability their abilities on display and on the
biggest stage.
Speaker 3 (13:33):
Yeah, coach j I'll be honest with you, I don't
know how he got the sixty five. I thought he
was a shoe in top fifty player this year. Well
when you saw him kind of, you know, get through
that second round, were you just on pins and needles?
Speaker 1 (13:43):
Like, what are teams waiting for here? This guy needs
to come off the board.
Speaker 2 (13:46):
Well, I mean I think we've been through here with
guys in the past. I mean, you know, green Hunt
was a third round pick out of here and led
the NFL and rushing as a rookie. So you know,
I think that it's beauties in the eye of the beholder, right,
you know what I mean, There's not any different than
college recruiting. I'm going through the same thing each and
every day with conversations with staff members, and you know,
it's a I think sometimes people get very confused in
(14:09):
the draft on what it really is. I mean, it's
really what teams need. It's not really what they think
who's good and who's not. It's what their needs are
and how they can they can articulate and match and
and and create a create a fit for what the
needs are. And there's multiple ways of doing that, and
there's multiple ways of doing that in college football now.
So I mean, yeah, I think that he said maybe
(14:31):
a little bit farther than maybe what I would have
thought of after watching the Senior Bowl and in that
process and what he did at the combine. But you know,
like I said, beauty's in the ivy beh Holder, he
ends up in a really, really good place. I think
it's a really good fit where he's at, and really
in a couple in a month or so, once you know,
they get to OTAs and out on that football field,
and you're a pro football player, you still got to
(14:52):
go make the team anyway, so no one really gives
a damn where you were drafted. So I think he'll
do a good job of putting the past in the
past and really focus on producing in the present.
Speaker 1 (15:00):
If you want to know how to manage two minutes
of crunch time football, I'm your man. But if you're
wondering about a long term financial plan, you should talk
to citizens. Hey, I can also talk long care. I'd
like to learn about Amolli routine. Yes, I knew I
could help make sense of your money with citizens. Yeah,
the Giants are excited to have him.
Speaker 3 (15:17):
Just a couple more coach real quick, you mentioned you
think he has a three technique future in the NFL.
But in your scheme you moved them around a lot.
Where did you use him primarily? Where do you think
he was most effective in your scheme?
Speaker 2 (15:28):
Well, I mean, you know, any any good coordinator is
going to try to put your best player on the
other team's worst player. So you know, for us, that's
that was always the challenge, you know, in passing situations,
and college football's a little bit different because there's so
much tempo and so much pace and you can't just
be a specialized guy that stands over there on the
sideline because good offensive coordinators will find a way to
(15:48):
keep you on the sideline by playing fast. So him
being able to be a three down player for us
and be able to have some position flexibility and move
him around a little bit I thought was huge, But
you hit it. I mean, he's a he's a true
three technique where he can you know, get on the
edge of a guard in passing situations, and he's big
enough and strong enough and athletic enough to fight and
(16:08):
hold the point there and the double teams in the
run game. So yeah, like I said, it just he's
scratching the surface, I think, and it's going to be
I think it's gonna be a really good thing for
him and for the Giants.
Speaker 3 (16:19):
All Right, tell me about him as a guy, Like,
how did he lead as one of the veterans on
your team last year? I'm sure you know he was
a guy that took a big leadership mantle on his shoulders.
What was his leadership style? Is he a ro RA
guy's a lead by example guy? How did he help
lead your team?
Speaker 2 (16:32):
I don't. I think leadership has defined you know, you
ask one hundred coaches, they're going to find it a
hundred different ways. But I think for me it's like,
or do you have the ability to lead yourself in
a positive manner each and every day? And if you're
a really good player like he is, and you can
do that correctly, your spirit of influence is going to
be felt and your impact is going to be felt
through that entire locker room each and every time you
put your cleats on and you go out on the field.
(16:54):
So I think, first of all, he's got a great personality.
I think, second of all, he's very personable with his teammates.
I think third he works really hard. And he's talented.
So you know, I get it. Everybody in the NFL
is talented. I'm pretty sure the Giants are not asking
him to come in as a as a rookie and
be a team captain here.
Speaker 3 (17:10):
Uh.
Speaker 2 (17:11):
They probably want him to come in and be the
best version of him each and every day so he can,
you know, make an impact and his presence can be
felt on the practice field and hopefully, you know, on
game day as well. And I don't think that's any
different than what we asked him to do here at Toledo,
and I don't or any of other our are other
really good players. So sometimes there's a there's the butterflies
in your stomach as a young player, as a freshman
(17:32):
or a man or man, I see something that's wrong
and I don't feel like I've done enough to say anything.
You know, as a senior, those butterflies turn into man,
that pressure is I should say something because I've been
there and I've done that, and you saw some moments
out of him, you know, when he was here that way,
But I think the most consistent thing was just who
he was each and every day. All right.
Speaker 3 (17:48):
Then final question, coach, any anecdote stories, things that you
had a personal experience with him, just to kind of
explain the Giant fans what they're getting in Darius as
a guy, as a dude, that that is going to
represent your ground well and represent the Giants.
Speaker 2 (18:01):
Well, yeah, I mean, I think that family is really
important to him, and I think he feels a tremendous
amount of responsibility to represent his family in a first
class manner. And you know, once once the guy's grasped
that and you know, representing Toledo or representing the New
York Giants, I think that becomes an easy thing because
guys really own their they own their behaviors, and he
does that. So I think that you know, for me,
(18:22):
the conversations were always real, they were always authentic. You know,
he's a guy that will tell you what's on his mind,
he'll ask the right questions, He'll he'll learn, and he'll
be respectful of a great learning process if there is
a great teaching process, And it seems to me like
there is a great teaching process in place for him,
and as I mentioned before, I think it's gonna be
a great fit and this guy's gonna gonna make out
(18:42):
all of us problem folks.
Speaker 3 (18:44):
Anything you want to tell the folks about your program, coach,
about you, anything you have going on right now that
you want them to know about the floor is yours.
Speaker 2 (18:51):
No, We're just happy the New York Giants got a rocket,
you know, another one. You know, we got Deontay Johnson
the linebacker up there as well. And Tay was a
great representation of us, and you know, first class kid
and was I thought was really coming on in the
preseason last year ntil he had his injury. So I'm
looking for big things out of both of these young men.
And you know, obviously, and we've got a lot of
we put a lot of guys out, you know, in
the NFL since since our staff has been here. You know,
(19:14):
Darius was a draft picked number eleven, since our staff
got here, when we when I became the head coach here.
And uh, we've got some more coming next year. So
keep an eye on the rockets. And I think some
big things on the horizon here for us. I'm very
proud of our graduates and proud of what our program
has done and where we think it's gonna go.
Speaker 3 (19:28):
Coach, You're right, Deontay was he was he was gonna,
you know, really push the playing time last offseason since
I have you just tell the Giant fans what they
could have in Deontay Johnson now that he's healthy. And
by the way, that guy's built like a tank of
people watch him walking around.
Speaker 1 (19:39):
That guy is just solid as a rock.
Speaker 3 (19:41):
What Giant fans might have with him if he manages
to fight his way onto the field for some more
defensive ends special team snaps.
Speaker 2 (19:47):
Well, I mean, he's not going to screw it up.
I mean that guy's got a you know, mechanical engineering
degree from here and you know, very smart, very cerebral person,
humble worker, you know. And I think that's one thing
that I think, you know, we pride ourselves on here
is you know, we don't care where we were drafted
or you know, if we were drafted. We just want
the opportunity. We want to have the opportunity to stick.
(20:09):
And I think you probably see that, you know, being
very close to the program there, you see that from
Tay and see you know how he goes about himself
and carries himself each and every day, and another guy
that wants to represent his family in a first class manner,
and Toledo has benefited gratefully from that. So really excited
for him, Really excited for what I think it can be,
because you know, once that guy continues to learn what
to do and how to do it, he's just going
(20:31):
to get better and better and better and very very
accountable and reliable person and players. So Giants fan should
be excited about him and what the future looks like.
Speaker 3 (20:39):
Hey coach of the Toledo Rockets, he is, Hey coach
Jason kandall coach, thanks so much of the time, best
of the book on recruiting, get back on that trail,
and good luck in twenty twenty five.
Speaker 2 (20:47):
Thanks so much, Go Rockets.
Speaker 3 (20:49):
That's Toledo head coach Jason kandall. Awesome stuff. We really
thank him for joining us. Really good stuff on Darius Alexander,
well again, really excited. I think the Giants got to
steal with sixty five. Very excited to see him on
the field with the Giants this year. I think he
can do a lot at six' five with those long
arms and. ATHLETICISM i think he's had a bright future
ahead of him and it's great to learn a little
bit more about him from someone that spent six years
(21:11):
with him At. Toledo thanks for being with us here
from The Hackensack Marine Hills Podcast. Studio keep getting. Better
I'm John. Schmilk stay tuned To The Giants Little, podcast
brought to you By Citizens Official bank of The, giants
for continuing coverage of The giants rookie, class OTA's mini
camp off. Season all that as we gear have been
get ready for The giants twenty twenty five season For Jason.
(21:31):
Kendell I'm John. Schmunk thanks so much for being with
us today On The Giants Little. Podcast we'll see you next.
Speaker 1 (21:36):
Time, everybody
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