April 18, 2025 • 22 mins
On this edition of The O-Zone Podcast, Senior Writer John Oehser sits down with new Jaguars Quarterbacks Coach Spencer Whipple for the first time. Spencer details his history with Liam Coen, first impressions of Trevor Lawrence and how the group is moving along in the early days of the offseason program.
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Speaker 1 (00:05):
Soon. Welcome to the Ozone Podcast with Jaguars senior writer
John Osher.
Speaker 2 (00:15):
All Right, welcome into this week's Ozone podcast, and I'm
joined today by Jaguars quarterbacks coach Spencer Whipple.
Speaker 3 (00:22):
How does that sound? Sounds great? I mean, it sounds
like a.
Speaker 1 (00:26):
Great opportunity, and you know, to do it with in
this organization, and then with people around me that I'm
you know, I know, and then meeting some of the
new people on staff, the players, just the building. Everything's
been great, just the transition in itself, and just just
very fortunate for this opportunity to be here.
Speaker 2 (00:44):
Now. We we talked a little bit before we started this.
It's a little tricky for me to get the entire
Whipple Cohen timeline, but take me through it if you will.
I know, your father, Mark Whipple, who is a test
Well coach for a long time, recruited Liam at U
(01:04):
Mass and that was where you guys first sort of
joined to know each other.
Speaker 3 (01:09):
Correct.
Speaker 1 (01:10):
Yeah, So that was two thousand and three, was my
father's last season at U Mass and he was recruiting
him for that four season.
Speaker 3 (01:19):
I believed to come in and I kind of.
Speaker 1 (01:21):
Remember, I don't even know if Liam remembers this, but
being in a height in one of the gymnasiums on campus,
and they were holding a high school camp and Liam
was a very you know, sought out to recruit there
in the Northeast, coming out of a Rhode.
Speaker 3 (01:34):
Island and I was still in high school at the time.
Speaker 1 (01:36):
And they kind of did the camp and then afterwards
they did like a throwing session, and really what it
was was an evaluation of Liam for that program. But
I also kind of jumped in and mixed in because
I was just there and my dad was there, so
I was getting some throws, but I didn't stack up
to what he put on display that day, because I
don't know if your members up.
Speaker 3 (01:56):
But it was a good time.
Speaker 2 (01:57):
Yeah, And I think obviously when you cover people and
when fans get to know coaches who come through, they
know them in that moment. But he was a big
time player. Oh yeah, and in that area the country
is a is a big deal, right, Yes, yeah, he was.
Speaker 1 (02:16):
I know, he's got all the records there a U
mass in terms of passing.
Speaker 3 (02:19):
He played early on in his career.
Speaker 1 (02:22):
I don't know what game it was, but he was
you know, he played for not played a lot of
football at UMass and they you know, each year they
played one or two you know, one a at the time,
which was called FBS teams, and they always held their
own And he had a very very successful career and
you know, like I said, broke a lot of records
Northeast U Mass whatever it may have been, and played
(02:44):
a lot of football and had a huge impact. And
really going back there when we all went back to
coach together, you could kind of see, you know, the
some of the legs he left. And then I ended
up going my second year at college, I transferred there
to U Mass. I ended up playing with Liam for
a season two and so I kind of saw it firsthand.
Speaker 2 (03:02):
So played with him for a season and then coached
with him at UMass. I guess the question would be,
what is it about his approach about being in his
system and working for him that excites you? Why?
Speaker 3 (03:17):
You know, it's good to be friends with the guy,
But you.
Speaker 2 (03:20):
Wouldn't change careers and change paths if you didn't believe
in him. What do you believe about what's going on here?
Speaker 1 (03:28):
I just think he you know, and he touched on
this as well, just his time that he's obviously we
all get exposed to a number of different people approaches
those things.
Speaker 3 (03:37):
He was had the opportunity to go in.
Speaker 1 (03:39):
LA with Sean and you know, learn all, you know,
that whole system, the way things are taught, the culture,
the offensive philosophy and those things. And I kind of
kept up with Liam, you know, as you know, we
played in the same division. I was with Arizona, he
was with LA, So i'd see him twice a year
and followed him when he went to Kentucky and kind
(03:59):
of would I would turn on his games there during
the season, after the season.
Speaker 3 (04:04):
And just try to stay up with him.
Speaker 1 (04:06):
And I just I just always thought he's always had
a you know, he's creative and he has a system
that we use, but he's also not afraid to go
outside the box, be creative and be explosive, always hunting
for those big plays, getting playmakers involved. So a lot
of the same things we had talked about when we
worked at UMass. And then he goes off and gets
a chance to go with the Rams and takes all
(04:26):
this knowledge and applies it and keeps growing. So he's
been exposed to a number of different people, but he's
always had a a football mind, you know, talking about
his days when he grew up and kind of sharing
that similarity with our fathers, and so we'd always we
always just enjoy talking football quarterback play, you know, at
(04:47):
any point, whether we're working together or not. It was
just always, you know, great things that we text called Hey,
what were you doing here on this play?
Speaker 3 (04:54):
When you call this? What was your thought?
Speaker 1 (04:55):
Did you think you were get to get this? And
so I've learned a ton from over the years, and
excit learn more.
Speaker 2 (05:00):
What is it about growing up around a coach, especially
if you clearly it seems like you knew early on
you loved it. Why does it seem like your knowledge
maybe at a younger age, is advanced if you've been
around the coach when you were growing up, it's sort
(05:23):
of self explanatory. But do you feel like that's the
case just being around the game when you're a kid.
Speaker 1 (05:28):
Yeah, I think it's natural that you probably probably spend
a little more time around the game.
Speaker 3 (05:34):
I mean, I remember growing up and I just.
Speaker 1 (05:36):
Kind of I just thought it was just kind of
the way of life, you know, that was just you
kind of go to the game and I get to
take my ball and run around on the field and
be around the team in the locker room and the
meeting rooms and.
Speaker 3 (05:48):
Watch a bunch of football. But you know, it comes with.
Speaker 1 (05:52):
Sinks in and sinks in, and then you go to
high school and go through grade school and you just
want to It's something that's been a part of it
for so long long that you you kind of just
you love, you get curious. You know, I enjoy watching film,
I enjoy watching games. I love what I do each day,
you know, in terms of coming in and seeing all
the new things that are happening around the league, being
(06:13):
able to implement things, how to help players, how to
help players grow and reach their potential. And so I've
been really fortunate to be around of great coaches, but
also coaches that are willing and able to share their
knowledge and you know, have a passion for helping other coaches. So,
you know, just a ton of names I've been involved around,
(06:34):
and I've gotten to know the great friends and close
friends and mentors that have taught me so much, and
so just their willingness to be open and share and
collaborative as we worked, you know, is really the why
I'm fortunate to to you know, keep growing every day
because of those.
Speaker 2 (06:50):
People tell me about the quarterback coach's role. It's easy
to see it in the media again and say, okay, it's.
Speaker 3 (06:55):
The quarterbacks coach.
Speaker 2 (06:57):
What do you feel like your responsibilities are on a
daily basis?
Speaker 3 (07:01):
And I say.
Speaker 2 (07:02):
Responsibilities top priorities. Uh, how do you help that player?
What's the key to it?
Speaker 3 (07:10):
Yeah?
Speaker 1 (07:10):
I think you know, with our setup and we have
guys who have been around a number of great quarterbacks
that have played really well in this league in terms
of Liam and Grant, and so you know, my job
is just to carry out the message from Grant, from Liam,
you know how we're going to install and you know,
carry that through with a quarterback room and implement and
you know, try to find ways and see how we
(07:32):
can you know, maybe improve and help and deliver that message.
And you know, we really have just scratched the surface
obviously from just starting this offseason program. But you know,
me and myself, those guys have come from a similar system,
Grant being in Minnesota and and Liam from LA and
you know, I've been a derivative of that.
Speaker 3 (07:52):
West Coast system.
Speaker 1 (07:53):
But for myself too, just finding time for myself to
learn a little bit more and and and then be
able to take that knowledge and and also carry out
out that message for the group and for all the
guys in the room and on offense a.
Speaker 2 (08:06):
Ton of similarities with the cardinals for six years before this.
Offenses tend to sort of change and evolve and come
back to each other over time, if you will, similarities
between what you guys were doing in Arizona and what
you're seeing here.
Speaker 1 (08:22):
Yeah, there was in terms of terminology and some of
the things I've been used to and I've really been
around somewhat of the same system for quite a long
time in terms of where I was in college and
then had different exposures some other systems in Arizona which
were great just to see new things. And at the
(08:43):
end of the day, words will change, systems will change.
The neat thing about it is to be able to
compare and say, hey, I have the exact same concept
in this case, but you know, I've heard here's here's
a maybe a better way to teach it, or here's
a better way that the players can grasp it, or
you know, this is maybe just a slight adjustment to
(09:04):
a certain route or a certain thing that you know,
Another team may do or coaches that I've gotten to
know here in the last couple of months may do,
and you kind of note those things and you kind
of carry it with you. So always open, always, you know,
wanting to learn more and try to provide the best
stuff for the players, the best information, the best way
that they can learn it and they can comprehend and
(09:25):
turn execute on the field. And I think that's what
I'm constantly searching for.
Speaker 2 (09:29):
We're a few minutes in and I know everybody's sitting
your wive and she ass the quarterbacks coach about the
quarterback yet, So tell me about him. A first impression
to Trevor Lawrence and what the beginning steps of working
with him have been.
Speaker 1 (09:42):
Like, Yeah, he's just been unbelievable. I mean he's been
you know, just a great, great person at heart. He's
super hard working, diligent, takes care of himself, he's eager
to learn, he wants to improve, you know, just in
the small time samples as we have here, but you
can just tell the guy he cares about it, you know,
(10:04):
the team and improvement and all the things that it
comes with playing the quarterback position, which which can be
a lot and He's just been great to work with,
these these you know this time we've been together. His
eagerness to find out more about this system. Hey, when
can I When can I learn a little bit more
or dig in? And so that's just that's when it
comes with being a you know, a high level.
Speaker 3 (10:25):
Quarterback in this league.
Speaker 1 (10:27):
And he's just as far as in terms of a
person and preparation just been unbelievable and just nothing but
you know, great things to say.
Speaker 3 (10:35):
So far as we've been working with him. We can't
wait to keep keep going.
Speaker 2 (10:39):
Got you the storyline so far? In last couple of weeks,
both of them have talked about it, Liam and Trever
how footwork and when we say foot with the quarterback,
it tends to get misunderstood a little bit. I think
he's working on footwork, But tell me why footwork is
so important.
Speaker 3 (10:57):
In this system.
Speaker 2 (10:58):
He touched on it publicly a couple of weeks ago
about how the timing of that really helps with reads.
Speaker 3 (11:05):
You know more about it than I do. So why
is it so important in this system?
Speaker 1 (11:10):
Yeah, it's it's built around you know, the system goes
back number, you know, number of years, and you know
a lot of the original things were from Walsh and
talked about, you know, the West Coast passing and obviously
it's grown since since then in a lot of different
avenues in different ways. But really what you try to
do in the quarterback position and in terms of tying
(11:33):
it together with the offensive installation and the pass game
itself and even the run game in most cases, is
just to have a foundation, a set list of footwork
that you can adhere to. And I think what that
does for a quarterback and really at any position of
you know, this is what you know we're kind of
expecting or asking you to do on.
Speaker 3 (11:54):
Every given play.
Speaker 1 (11:55):
If you can get yourself as close to you know
what we're looking for in terms of a perspective, we
know the result is going to get us what we
want in terms of execution.
Speaker 2 (12:05):
So, as Williams said, takes a little bit of thought
out of the I thought, but it playing with a
clear mind is what he likes to.
Speaker 1 (12:12):
It gives you a blueprint for you do it a
number of times over and over, and I know exactly
when I'm gonna throw this past concept. I'm going to
take this footwork and rhythm and that's going to time
up to get me back and is it always cut
and dry and clean like we're playing on a board. No,
it's not. This is the super competitive league. Things change,
there's so many variables. But to be able to fall
(12:32):
back on that foundation that you have and can get
you in the right place.
Speaker 3 (12:37):
Your feet are.
Speaker 1 (12:38):
Speaking to you constantly and tell you where and how
to go with the football. I think it's just comforting
for a quarterback, you know, just to operate in a
system like that where I know I can fall back
to this blueprint and you know, in most cases if
I'm close to it, good things should happen.
Speaker 2 (12:55):
And fairly common for a quarterback who hasn't been in
this system to have to adjust to that little bit
right because you haven't done it before.
Speaker 1 (13:02):
Yeah, I think you know, Trevor's the guy who's played
a lot of football through his career, so you know,
his exposure is you know, he's got a lot of
exposure to footwork, to playing quarterback, to those things you
know that it's talked about, so you know, just the
installation piece that we've had the talking through him, he's
he's he's super dialed when it comes to footwork and
(13:23):
understanding and seeing the vision. Okay, Yeah, here's what Here's
what I see you're saying here, and I can see
exactly how this goes in.
Speaker 3 (13:30):
And then the other piece of that is to that
point of him playing.
Speaker 1 (13:34):
So much football, you know you kind of listen to
him sometimes, Hey, what do you think on this? Do
you feel comfortable on this this given concept? You know,
maybe maybe taking this footwork and.
Speaker 3 (13:46):
Feeling this out.
Speaker 1 (13:47):
So he's been you know in terms of that, he's
got a great mindset, he's got a great approach and
you know, willing and eager to improvement.
Speaker 2 (13:54):
What has been back to Liam a little bit, what's
been your biggest impression so far working with him as
a head coach in terms of that that adjustment being
in front of the room, being guiding the team. It
seems like it's a thing that he was, I want
to say, born to do, but very comfortable in that room.
Speaker 1 (14:15):
Yes, he's got great command, he's great with the players,
he's demanding, he knows how to hold accountability.
Speaker 3 (14:24):
You know, just the message he's delivered over the course.
Speaker 1 (14:26):
The less you know, since we've been together with the team,
I think has been has been great and it's been
clear cut, concise. You know players are you know, able
to hear that.
Speaker 3 (14:36):
And take that message and go with it.
Speaker 1 (14:37):
And then you know, he just has an infectious personality
getting around, you know, talking to the guys and and
then you know, just like we all are, he loves ball.
Speaker 3 (14:46):
You know, he loves to do football.
Speaker 1 (14:48):
So on top of all doing you know, having the
command and having the influence in terms of culture and team.
You know, he's he's a football guy at heart, So
just being able to you know, for him to have
a conversation in a hallway or meeting, hey, here's here's
what I see on this, here's how you know I
could see it adjusted, or here's how I can help you.
And at the end of the day, that's what you know, coaches,
you know, we're here to do is serve the players
(15:08):
and help them grow and and he's just it's been
fun to watch him, you know, from knowing him so
long and watch him in this role and you know,
just just see him, you know, do so well, you know.
Speaker 3 (15:20):
Is there stuff do you see?
Speaker 2 (15:23):
And if the answers no, it's fine. Do you see
ever any of your dad's.
Speaker 3 (15:28):
Influence in him?
Speaker 2 (15:30):
Anything that you know because he he coached under him,
for a little while.
Speaker 3 (15:34):
Yeah, I think it was his first a sort of
big times job. Do you see any of that in him? Ever,
I can't say.
Speaker 1 (15:43):
I can't say for certain if if he, if he does,
I think i'd probably I'd probably know it because.
Speaker 3 (15:48):
I've heard of my whole life.
Speaker 1 (15:50):
So but yeah, if he, if he will see how
when the bullets start flying, or you know, if he
you know, lose his cool or you know there's something
then or you know, if there's certain things he may say.
But now, I haven't seen anything just yet. You know,
Liam has been around a ton of different people, and
sure at the end of the day, he's kind of
you know, he's himself first and then has those influences.
Speaker 3 (16:12):
So I can't point to anything just yet.
Speaker 2 (16:14):
What a final thing and then we'll move on to
what we call the ozone five. Why ready now? I
mean meaning as a quarterbacks coach, where are you better
than you would have been five years ago for this job?
Speaker 3 (16:30):
It's a great question.
Speaker 1 (16:32):
And I thought of this through my career because I
played quarterback growing up, and when I got into coaching,
the first room I got in and my first year
was the quarterback room, and I didn't get in back
into that room until one year in twenty eighteen. Until now,
I've spent some time in and out in Arizona, but
around it, the bulk of it had been, you know,
(16:56):
in different position rooms, you know, whether it be tight end, receiver,
you know, even stopping in the offensive line room, running back,
having coach in the running.
Speaker 3 (17:04):
Back room for a year.
Speaker 1 (17:07):
So those things have kind of to to grow up
through my life and always being on quarterback and not
really you know, knowing what's going on, but not knowing
the interest keys intricacies of other positions and having that
ability to get in that room and and.
Speaker 3 (17:20):
See different things.
Speaker 1 (17:21):
I think that I was super fortunate to be able
to take a lot of those things and now kind of,
you know, have that different perspective for the quarterback room.
And while that whole time was going on in different positions,
that at heart, my my my favorite position is that
is the quarterbacks being in that quarterback room, and That's
what I've grown up doing. So but just to have
(17:43):
an opportunity to take those things working on defense and
take those things back with me into the quarterback room
and to be able to talk the language with them,
I'm just super grateful for it because I think that
you know, that's helped me a bunch.
Speaker 2 (17:56):
That sounds like a like an OC and head coaches
as I eventually.
Speaker 1 (18:02):
Just I'm just happy right now that I have this
role and and learning and helping and like I said,
I just I love coming to work each day.
Speaker 3 (18:13):
I really do.
Speaker 1 (18:13):
It's just something I It's not work for me, it's
a passion and I'm you know, super passionate and fired.
Speaker 3 (18:19):
Up to be here.
Speaker 2 (18:20):
Got you the final thing we do, we call it
the ozone five. It's five quick fun questions. Uh, Spencer Whipple,
what was your last binge watch?
Speaker 3 (18:28):
Binge watch?
Speaker 1 (18:30):
I might have to get my wife to tell me
what we watched, but she's she's more up on the shows.
Speaker 3 (18:35):
But I, uh man, if.
Speaker 1 (18:37):
There's a good show out, we try to watch it
and sit down sometimes that we don't. I know, there's
big ones. I always see him talked about throughout the country.
My favorite show of all time was The Office, and.
Speaker 3 (18:48):
So that was my watching The Office right now.
Speaker 1 (18:50):
Yeah, that was something that I had watched in high
school even or growing up, and uh now it's now
I walk into and it's always on the TV. It's
it's taken off some of the so so I'll sit
down and you know, I don't necessarily binge watch it anymore,
but I'll watch it.
Speaker 3 (19:04):
If it's on.
Speaker 1 (19:05):
And but in terms of any new shows, I can't
quite put my fingers any new ones.
Speaker 2 (19:10):
The last song you heard on the way in this morning, man,
I think I was.
Speaker 3 (19:15):
I might have been just kind of riding in. I
can't remember what song.
Speaker 1 (19:18):
I know I got to work out this morning and
and Coach Giano had some some classic rock on which I.
Speaker 3 (19:25):
Enjoy so they so we had a little I know,
there was a CDC. He was rolling Stones.
Speaker 1 (19:30):
There was a little grunge music in there, nineties alternatives,
so that was the he had it kind of rocking
in there, so it was it was good. That was
probably the last thing I listened to. I'm pretty diverse
and it comes to music. There's not much that I
don't care to listen.
Speaker 3 (19:43):
For good deal. Uh your best football memory, Wow, this
is tough one.
Speaker 1 (19:49):
There's just so many moments that can come to me
and I think, uh, just learning experiences through this whole
time growing up playing from I think it always comes
back to the people that you're around and those relationships
that you built, because ultimately that's what that's what it's about.
And when you're in the moment, it's the work, the work,
the work. And as you look back and reflect on
(20:11):
those times where you've you've grown and people have helped
you and you know, reached out and and and we're
willing and able to you know, coach you up and
give you knowledge, those are the things that carry with
me and think about because at the end of the day,
it's a it's a relationship, it's a.
Speaker 3 (20:25):
People's business, it's a people's.
Speaker 1 (20:26):
Game, and so those are the moments, those those people
that I've come in contact with and doing so now
that that always going to stand out for me.
Speaker 2 (20:34):
Got you, Uh, sport other than football that you were
good at?
Speaker 3 (20:39):
Oh Man?
Speaker 1 (20:41):
I played baseball and basketball a little bit growing up,
and golf quite a bit growing up. But I just
every all my I felt like I poured all my love,
my heart, my soul into into football. So there wasn't
one sport other than football that I that I could
say I was actually really a good player.
Speaker 3 (20:58):
At the UH.
Speaker 2 (21:00):
I'm assuming this is pretty obvious in your case. The
person most responsible before you be in here.
Speaker 3 (21:07):
I'd say my father, you know, my dad, and he.
Speaker 2 (21:10):
Can come up what he meant. I mean, I know,
it's so much because the career, you know.
Speaker 1 (21:14):
And that's and that's part of also my family, my
mom and my brother and just by the whole family experience.
But to the lessons that he's he's taught, man, continue
to teach me just growing up and especially not just football,
but in life and and the things you take with you,
but but certainly the game itself. And I was just
(21:36):
fortunate to have him as a resource, you know, him
going through the coaching and you know, maybe took him
quite a.
Speaker 3 (21:43):
While to get where he's he was.
Speaker 1 (21:45):
At and and work his way up, but he would
always give me little tidbits and lessons and things that
I could take with me.
Speaker 3 (21:51):
Sure, and the perspective profession.
Speaker 1 (21:54):
Used today in terms of you know, how things operate,
how things are going, and the things that you can
do that I can do personally to help myself to
continue to grow.
Speaker 3 (22:04):
And he was just big on that.
Speaker 1 (22:06):
And so yeah, I would say him for sure, and
my family just all the support they've always given me.
And then like I mentioned, all those people that I've
come in contact with whether it be coaches, players, they
all kind of shape you who you are as a coach.
So I'm just I'm super fortunate to, you know, be
around all those people.
Speaker 3 (22:23):
I got you, Spencer Whipple.
Speaker 2 (22:25):
I know this is a busy time a year when
a group is trying to transition and get going, so
I appreciate you joining the Other Zone podcasts and look
forward to working with you down the road.
Speaker 3 (22:34):
That's great. Thank you, John, I appreciate it. Thanks for
having me
Soon. Welcome to the Ozone Podcast with Jaguars senior writer
John Osher.
Speaker 2 (00:15):
All Right, welcome into this week's Ozone podcast, and I'm
joined today by Jaguars quarterbacks coach Spencer Whipple.
Speaker 3 (00:22):
How does that sound? Sounds great? I mean, it sounds
like a.
Speaker 1 (00:26):
Great opportunity, and you know, to do it with in
this organization, and then with people around me that I'm
you know, I know, and then meeting some of the
new people on staff, the players, just the building. Everything's
been great, just the transition in itself, and just just
very fortunate for this opportunity to be here.
Speaker 2 (00:44):
Now. We we talked a little bit before we started this.
It's a little tricky for me to get the entire
Whipple Cohen timeline, but take me through it if you will.
I know, your father, Mark Whipple, who is a test
Well coach for a long time, recruited Liam at U
(01:04):
Mass and that was where you guys first sort of
joined to know each other.
Speaker 3 (01:09):
Correct.
Speaker 1 (01:10):
Yeah, So that was two thousand and three, was my
father's last season at U Mass and he was recruiting
him for that four season.
Speaker 3 (01:19):
I believed to come in and I kind of.
Speaker 1 (01:21):
Remember, I don't even know if Liam remembers this, but
being in a height in one of the gymnasiums on campus,
and they were holding a high school camp and Liam
was a very you know, sought out to recruit there
in the Northeast, coming out of a Rhode.
Speaker 3 (01:34):
Island and I was still in high school at the time.
Speaker 1 (01:36):
And they kind of did the camp and then afterwards
they did like a throwing session, and really what it
was was an evaluation of Liam for that program. But
I also kind of jumped in and mixed in because
I was just there and my dad was there, so
I was getting some throws, but I didn't stack up
to what he put on display that day, because I
don't know if your members up.
Speaker 3 (01:56):
But it was a good time.
Speaker 2 (01:57):
Yeah, And I think obviously when you cover people and
when fans get to know coaches who come through, they
know them in that moment. But he was a big
time player. Oh yeah, and in that area the country
is a is a big deal, right, Yes, yeah, he was.
Speaker 1 (02:16):
I know, he's got all the records there a U
mass in terms of passing.
Speaker 3 (02:19):
He played early on in his career.
Speaker 1 (02:22):
I don't know what game it was, but he was
you know, he played for not played a lot of
football at UMass and they you know, each year they
played one or two you know, one a at the time,
which was called FBS teams, and they always held their
own And he had a very very successful career and
you know, like I said, broke a lot of records
Northeast U Mass whatever it may have been, and played
(02:44):
a lot of football and had a huge impact. And
really going back there when we all went back to
coach together, you could kind of see, you know, the
some of the legs he left. And then I ended
up going my second year at college, I transferred there
to U Mass. I ended up playing with Liam for
a season two and so I kind of saw it firsthand.
Speaker 2 (03:02):
So played with him for a season and then coached
with him at UMass. I guess the question would be,
what is it about his approach about being in his
system and working for him that excites you? Why?
Speaker 3 (03:17):
You know, it's good to be friends with the guy,
But you.
Speaker 2 (03:20):
Wouldn't change careers and change paths if you didn't believe
in him. What do you believe about what's going on here?
Speaker 1 (03:28):
I just think he you know, and he touched on
this as well, just his time that he's obviously we
all get exposed to a number of different people approaches
those things.
Speaker 3 (03:37):
He was had the opportunity to go in.
Speaker 1 (03:39):
LA with Sean and you know, learn all, you know,
that whole system, the way things are taught, the culture,
the offensive philosophy and those things. And I kind of
kept up with Liam, you know, as you know, we
played in the same division. I was with Arizona, he
was with LA, So i'd see him twice a year
and followed him when he went to Kentucky and kind
(03:59):
of would I would turn on his games there during
the season, after the season.
Speaker 3 (04:04):
And just try to stay up with him.
Speaker 1 (04:06):
And I just I just always thought he's always had
a you know, he's creative and he has a system
that we use, but he's also not afraid to go
outside the box, be creative and be explosive, always hunting
for those big plays, getting playmakers involved. So a lot
of the same things we had talked about when we
worked at UMass. And then he goes off and gets
a chance to go with the Rams and takes all
(04:26):
this knowledge and applies it and keeps growing. So he's
been exposed to a number of different people, but he's
always had a a football mind, you know, talking about
his days when he grew up and kind of sharing
that similarity with our fathers, and so we'd always we
always just enjoy talking football quarterback play, you know, at
(04:47):
any point, whether we're working together or not. It was
just always, you know, great things that we text called Hey,
what were you doing here on this play?
Speaker 3 (04:54):
When you call this? What was your thought?
Speaker 1 (04:55):
Did you think you were get to get this? And
so I've learned a ton from over the years, and
excit learn more.
Speaker 2 (05:00):
What is it about growing up around a coach, especially
if you clearly it seems like you knew early on
you loved it. Why does it seem like your knowledge
maybe at a younger age, is advanced if you've been
around the coach when you were growing up, it's sort
(05:23):
of self explanatory. But do you feel like that's the
case just being around the game when you're a kid.
Speaker 1 (05:28):
Yeah, I think it's natural that you probably probably spend
a little more time around the game.
Speaker 3 (05:34):
I mean, I remember growing up and I just.
Speaker 1 (05:36):
Kind of I just thought it was just kind of
the way of life, you know, that was just you
kind of go to the game and I get to
take my ball and run around on the field and
be around the team in the locker room and the
meeting rooms and.
Speaker 3 (05:48):
Watch a bunch of football. But you know, it comes with.
Speaker 1 (05:52):
Sinks in and sinks in, and then you go to
high school and go through grade school and you just
want to It's something that's been a part of it
for so long long that you you kind of just
you love, you get curious. You know, I enjoy watching film,
I enjoy watching games. I love what I do each day,
you know, in terms of coming in and seeing all
the new things that are happening around the league, being
(06:13):
able to implement things, how to help players, how to
help players grow and reach their potential. And so I've
been really fortunate to be around of great coaches, but
also coaches that are willing and able to share their
knowledge and you know, have a passion for helping other coaches. So,
you know, just a ton of names I've been involved around,
(06:34):
and I've gotten to know the great friends and close
friends and mentors that have taught me so much, and
so just their willingness to be open and share and
collaborative as we worked, you know, is really the why
I'm fortunate to to you know, keep growing every day
because of those.
Speaker 2 (06:50):
People tell me about the quarterback coach's role. It's easy
to see it in the media again and say, okay, it's.
Speaker 3 (06:55):
The quarterbacks coach.
Speaker 2 (06:57):
What do you feel like your responsibilities are on a
daily basis?
Speaker 3 (07:01):
And I say.
Speaker 2 (07:02):
Responsibilities top priorities. Uh, how do you help that player?
What's the key to it?
Speaker 3 (07:10):
Yeah?
Speaker 1 (07:10):
I think you know, with our setup and we have
guys who have been around a number of great quarterbacks
that have played really well in this league in terms
of Liam and Grant, and so you know, my job
is just to carry out the message from Grant, from Liam,
you know how we're going to install and you know,
carry that through with a quarterback room and implement and
you know, try to find ways and see how we
(07:32):
can you know, maybe improve and help and deliver that message.
And you know, we really have just scratched the surface
obviously from just starting this offseason program. But you know,
me and myself, those guys have come from a similar system,
Grant being in Minnesota and and Liam from LA and
you know, I've been a derivative of that.
Speaker 3 (07:52):
West Coast system.
Speaker 1 (07:53):
But for myself too, just finding time for myself to
learn a little bit more and and and then be
able to take that knowledge and and also carry out
out that message for the group and for all the
guys in the room and on offense a.
Speaker 2 (08:06):
Ton of similarities with the cardinals for six years before this.
Offenses tend to sort of change and evolve and come
back to each other over time, if you will, similarities
between what you guys were doing in Arizona and what
you're seeing here.
Speaker 1 (08:22):
Yeah, there was in terms of terminology and some of
the things I've been used to and I've really been
around somewhat of the same system for quite a long
time in terms of where I was in college and
then had different exposures some other systems in Arizona which
were great just to see new things. And at the
(08:43):
end of the day, words will change, systems will change.
The neat thing about it is to be able to
compare and say, hey, I have the exact same concept
in this case, but you know, I've heard here's here's
a maybe a better way to teach it, or here's
a better way that the players can grasp it, or
you know, this is maybe just a slight adjustment to
(09:04):
a certain route or a certain thing that you know,
Another team may do or coaches that I've gotten to
know here in the last couple of months may do,
and you kind of note those things and you kind
of carry it with you. So always open, always, you know,
wanting to learn more and try to provide the best
stuff for the players, the best information, the best way
that they can learn it and they can comprehend and
(09:25):
turn execute on the field. And I think that's what
I'm constantly searching for.
Speaker 2 (09:29):
We're a few minutes in and I know everybody's sitting
your wive and she ass the quarterbacks coach about the
quarterback yet, So tell me about him. A first impression
to Trevor Lawrence and what the beginning steps of working
with him have been.
Speaker 1 (09:42):
Like, Yeah, he's just been unbelievable. I mean he's been
you know, just a great, great person at heart. He's
super hard working, diligent, takes care of himself, he's eager
to learn, he wants to improve, you know, just in
the small time samples as we have here, but you
can just tell the guy he cares about it, you know,
(10:04):
the team and improvement and all the things that it
comes with playing the quarterback position, which which can be
a lot and He's just been great to work with,
these these you know this time we've been together. His
eagerness to find out more about this system. Hey, when
can I When can I learn a little bit more
or dig in? And so that's just that's when it
comes with being a you know, a high level.
Speaker 3 (10:25):
Quarterback in this league.
Speaker 1 (10:27):
And he's just as far as in terms of a
person and preparation just been unbelievable and just nothing but
you know, great things to say.
Speaker 3 (10:35):
So far as we've been working with him. We can't
wait to keep keep going.
Speaker 2 (10:39):
Got you the storyline so far? In last couple of weeks,
both of them have talked about it, Liam and Trever
how footwork and when we say foot with the quarterback,
it tends to get misunderstood a little bit. I think
he's working on footwork, But tell me why footwork is
so important.
Speaker 3 (10:57):
In this system.
Speaker 2 (10:58):
He touched on it publicly a couple of weeks ago
about how the timing of that really helps with reads.
Speaker 3 (11:05):
You know more about it than I do. So why
is it so important in this system?
Speaker 1 (11:10):
Yeah, it's it's built around you know, the system goes
back number, you know, number of years, and you know
a lot of the original things were from Walsh and
talked about, you know, the West Coast passing and obviously
it's grown since since then in a lot of different
avenues in different ways. But really what you try to
do in the quarterback position and in terms of tying
(11:33):
it together with the offensive installation and the pass game
itself and even the run game in most cases, is
just to have a foundation, a set list of footwork
that you can adhere to. And I think what that
does for a quarterback and really at any position of
you know, this is what you know we're kind of
expecting or asking you to do on.
Speaker 3 (11:54):
Every given play.
Speaker 1 (11:55):
If you can get yourself as close to you know
what we're looking for in terms of a perspective, we
know the result is going to get us what we
want in terms of execution.
Speaker 2 (12:05):
So, as Williams said, takes a little bit of thought
out of the I thought, but it playing with a
clear mind is what he likes to.
Speaker 1 (12:12):
It gives you a blueprint for you do it a
number of times over and over, and I know exactly
when I'm gonna throw this past concept. I'm going to
take this footwork and rhythm and that's going to time
up to get me back and is it always cut
and dry and clean like we're playing on a board. No,
it's not. This is the super competitive league. Things change,
there's so many variables. But to be able to fall
(12:32):
back on that foundation that you have and can get
you in the right place.
Speaker 3 (12:37):
Your feet are.
Speaker 1 (12:38):
Speaking to you constantly and tell you where and how
to go with the football. I think it's just comforting
for a quarterback, you know, just to operate in a
system like that where I know I can fall back
to this blueprint and you know, in most cases if
I'm close to it, good things should happen.
Speaker 2 (12:55):
And fairly common for a quarterback who hasn't been in
this system to have to adjust to that little bit
right because you haven't done it before.
Speaker 1 (13:02):
Yeah, I think you know, Trevor's the guy who's played
a lot of football through his career, so you know,
his exposure is you know, he's got a lot of
exposure to footwork, to playing quarterback, to those things you
know that it's talked about, so you know, just the
installation piece that we've had the talking through him, he's
he's he's super dialed when it comes to footwork and
(13:23):
understanding and seeing the vision. Okay, Yeah, here's what Here's
what I see you're saying here, and I can see
exactly how this goes in.
Speaker 3 (13:30):
And then the other piece of that is to that
point of him playing.
Speaker 1 (13:34):
So much football, you know you kind of listen to
him sometimes, Hey, what do you think on this? Do
you feel comfortable on this this given concept? You know,
maybe maybe taking this footwork and.
Speaker 3 (13:46):
Feeling this out.
Speaker 1 (13:47):
So he's been you know in terms of that, he's
got a great mindset, he's got a great approach and
you know, willing and eager to improvement.
Speaker 2 (13:54):
What has been back to Liam a little bit, what's
been your biggest impression so far working with him as
a head coach in terms of that that adjustment being
in front of the room, being guiding the team. It
seems like it's a thing that he was, I want
to say, born to do, but very comfortable in that room.
Speaker 1 (14:15):
Yes, he's got great command, he's great with the players,
he's demanding, he knows how to hold accountability.
Speaker 3 (14:24):
You know, just the message he's delivered over the course.
Speaker 1 (14:26):
The less you know, since we've been together with the team,
I think has been has been great and it's been
clear cut, concise. You know players are you know, able
to hear that.
Speaker 3 (14:36):
And take that message and go with it.
Speaker 1 (14:37):
And then you know, he just has an infectious personality
getting around, you know, talking to the guys and and
then you know, just like we all are, he loves ball.
Speaker 3 (14:46):
You know, he loves to do football.
Speaker 1 (14:48):
So on top of all doing you know, having the
command and having the influence in terms of culture and team.
You know, he's he's a football guy at heart, So
just being able to you know, for him to have
a conversation in a hallway or meeting, hey, here's here's
what I see on this, here's how you know I
could see it adjusted, or here's how I can help you.
And at the end of the day, that's what you know, coaches,
you know, we're here to do is serve the players
(15:08):
and help them grow and and he's just it's been
fun to watch him, you know, from knowing him so
long and watch him in this role and you know,
just just see him, you know, do so well, you know.
Speaker 3 (15:20):
Is there stuff do you see?
Speaker 2 (15:23):
And if the answers no, it's fine. Do you see
ever any of your dad's.
Speaker 3 (15:28):
Influence in him?
Speaker 2 (15:30):
Anything that you know because he he coached under him,
for a little while.
Speaker 3 (15:34):
Yeah, I think it was his first a sort of
big times job. Do you see any of that in him? Ever,
I can't say.
Speaker 1 (15:43):
I can't say for certain if if he, if he does,
I think i'd probably I'd probably know it because.
Speaker 3 (15:48):
I've heard of my whole life.
Speaker 1 (15:50):
So but yeah, if he, if he will see how
when the bullets start flying, or you know, if he
you know, lose his cool or you know there's something
then or you know, if there's certain things he may say.
But now, I haven't seen anything just yet. You know,
Liam has been around a ton of different people, and
sure at the end of the day, he's kind of
you know, he's himself first and then has those influences.
Speaker 3 (16:12):
So I can't point to anything just yet.
Speaker 2 (16:14):
What a final thing and then we'll move on to
what we call the ozone five. Why ready now? I
mean meaning as a quarterbacks coach, where are you better
than you would have been five years ago for this job?
Speaker 3 (16:30):
It's a great question.
Speaker 1 (16:32):
And I thought of this through my career because I
played quarterback growing up, and when I got into coaching,
the first room I got in and my first year
was the quarterback room, and I didn't get in back
into that room until one year in twenty eighteen. Until now,
I've spent some time in and out in Arizona, but
around it, the bulk of it had been, you know,
(16:56):
in different position rooms, you know, whether it be tight end, receiver,
you know, even stopping in the offensive line room, running back,
having coach in the running.
Speaker 3 (17:04):
Back room for a year.
Speaker 1 (17:07):
So those things have kind of to to grow up
through my life and always being on quarterback and not
really you know, knowing what's going on, but not knowing
the interest keys intricacies of other positions and having that
ability to get in that room and and.
Speaker 3 (17:20):
See different things.
Speaker 1 (17:21):
I think that I was super fortunate to be able
to take a lot of those things and now kind of,
you know, have that different perspective for the quarterback room.
And while that whole time was going on in different positions,
that at heart, my my my favorite position is that
is the quarterbacks being in that quarterback room, and That's
what I've grown up doing. So but just to have
(17:43):
an opportunity to take those things working on defense and
take those things back with me into the quarterback room
and to be able to talk the language with them,
I'm just super grateful for it because I think that
you know, that's helped me a bunch.
Speaker 2 (17:56):
That sounds like a like an OC and head coaches
as I eventually.
Speaker 1 (18:02):
Just I'm just happy right now that I have this
role and and learning and helping and like I said,
I just I love coming to work each day.
Speaker 3 (18:13):
I really do.
Speaker 1 (18:13):
It's just something I It's not work for me, it's
a passion and I'm you know, super passionate and fired.
Speaker 3 (18:19):
Up to be here.
Speaker 2 (18:20):
Got you the final thing we do, we call it
the ozone five. It's five quick fun questions. Uh, Spencer Whipple,
what was your last binge watch?
Speaker 3 (18:28):
Binge watch?
Speaker 1 (18:30):
I might have to get my wife to tell me
what we watched, but she's she's more up on the shows.
Speaker 3 (18:35):
But I, uh man, if.
Speaker 1 (18:37):
There's a good show out, we try to watch it
and sit down sometimes that we don't. I know, there's
big ones. I always see him talked about throughout the country.
My favorite show of all time was The Office, and.
Speaker 3 (18:48):
So that was my watching The Office right now.
Speaker 1 (18:50):
Yeah, that was something that I had watched in high
school even or growing up, and uh now it's now
I walk into and it's always on the TV. It's
it's taken off some of the so so I'll sit
down and you know, I don't necessarily binge watch it anymore,
but I'll watch it.
Speaker 3 (19:04):
If it's on.
Speaker 1 (19:05):
And but in terms of any new shows, I can't
quite put my fingers any new ones.
Speaker 2 (19:10):
The last song you heard on the way in this morning, man,
I think I was.
Speaker 3 (19:15):
I might have been just kind of riding in. I
can't remember what song.
Speaker 1 (19:18):
I know I got to work out this morning and
and Coach Giano had some some classic rock on which I.
Speaker 3 (19:25):
Enjoy so they so we had a little I know,
there was a CDC. He was rolling Stones.
Speaker 1 (19:30):
There was a little grunge music in there, nineties alternatives,
so that was the he had it kind of rocking
in there, so it was it was good. That was
probably the last thing I listened to. I'm pretty diverse
and it comes to music. There's not much that I
don't care to listen.
Speaker 3 (19:43):
For good deal. Uh your best football memory, Wow, this
is tough one.
Speaker 1 (19:49):
There's just so many moments that can come to me
and I think, uh, just learning experiences through this whole
time growing up playing from I think it always comes
back to the people that you're around and those relationships
that you built, because ultimately that's what that's what it's about.
And when you're in the moment, it's the work, the work,
the work. And as you look back and reflect on
(20:11):
those times where you've you've grown and people have helped
you and you know, reached out and and and we're
willing and able to you know, coach you up and
give you knowledge, those are the things that carry with
me and think about because at the end of the day,
it's a it's a relationship, it's a.
Speaker 3 (20:25):
People's business, it's a people's.
Speaker 1 (20:26):
Game, and so those are the moments, those those people
that I've come in contact with and doing so now
that that always going to stand out for me.
Speaker 2 (20:34):
Got you, Uh, sport other than football that you were
good at?
Speaker 3 (20:39):
Oh Man?
Speaker 1 (20:41):
I played baseball and basketball a little bit growing up,
and golf quite a bit growing up. But I just
every all my I felt like I poured all my love,
my heart, my soul into into football. So there wasn't
one sport other than football that I that I could
say I was actually really a good player.
Speaker 3 (20:58):
At the UH.
Speaker 2 (21:00):
I'm assuming this is pretty obvious in your case. The
person most responsible before you be in here.
Speaker 3 (21:07):
I'd say my father, you know, my dad, and he.
Speaker 2 (21:10):
Can come up what he meant. I mean, I know,
it's so much because the career, you know.
Speaker 1 (21:14):
And that's and that's part of also my family, my
mom and my brother and just by the whole family experience.
But to the lessons that he's he's taught, man, continue
to teach me just growing up and especially not just football,
but in life and and the things you take with you,
but but certainly the game itself. And I was just
(21:36):
fortunate to have him as a resource, you know, him
going through the coaching and you know, maybe took him
quite a.
Speaker 3 (21:43):
While to get where he's he was.
Speaker 1 (21:45):
At and and work his way up, but he would
always give me little tidbits and lessons and things that
I could take with me.
Speaker 3 (21:51):
Sure, and the perspective profession.
Speaker 1 (21:54):
Used today in terms of you know, how things operate,
how things are going, and the things that you can
do that I can do personally to help myself to
continue to grow.
Speaker 3 (22:04):
And he was just big on that.
Speaker 1 (22:06):
And so yeah, I would say him for sure, and
my family just all the support they've always given me.
And then like I mentioned, all those people that I've
come in contact with whether it be coaches, players, they
all kind of shape you who you are as a coach.
So I'm just I'm super fortunate to, you know, be
around all those people.
Speaker 3 (22:23):
I got you, Spencer Whipple.
Speaker 2 (22:25):
I know this is a busy time a year when
a group is trying to transition and get going, so
I appreciate you joining the Other Zone podcasts and look
forward to working with you down the road.
Speaker 3 (22:34):
That's great. Thank you, John, I appreciate it. Thanks for
having me
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