Ravens TE Charlie Kolar joins team insiders Ryan Mink and Garrett Downing to talk about his hot streak, how he evolved as a player to fit the Ravens' needs, how the tight ends handle all being in contract years, the Ravens' two-game winning streak and more.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:04):
Welcome into Lounge presented by DraftKings. I'm Ryan Ink here
with Garrett Downing and we are thrilled to sit down
with tight end Charlie Kohler and Charlie. I love watching
you play, man because it honestly is very evident how
much fun you have playing the game, and especially when
you score touchdowns. The celebrations they just they don't see planned.
They're just like spur of the.
Speaker 2 (00:24):
Moment, you know.
Speaker 1 (00:25):
The toss, the football toss it almost had a little
lebron feel to it.
Speaker 2 (00:30):
It wasn't intended. I just kind of threw the See
this is what I'm saying.
Speaker 1 (00:33):
The high step, you know, like if I was a
guy who was scoring a touchdown in the league, like
I would probably high step if anybody was around me.
I would I do that in backyard football against my kids.
So tell me take me behind the touchdowns celebrations for.
Speaker 2 (00:47):
You, not much buying the curtains, not a lot of
cognitive function going on. Gotch get really excited and my
body just starts kind of moving and then look at
it on tape kind of a little bit. But uh,
it's fun. I just like celebrate with my guys, you know,
they're lying ll tide of hands, running backs, receivers. You know,
it's fun to celebrate with the offense. It's a good group.
Speaker 1 (01:09):
Well why do you grimmus? Do you feel like the
high step you wanted? Like a higher high step?
Speaker 2 (01:12):
What was it? I always like in my mind picture
myself looking like more athletic than the tape looks like
the high step, Like I thought I was a really
high step, and they look on there I got like
a hamstring injury.
Speaker 3 (01:23):
But I'll be honest, the if I were going to
rank the players who I thought were most likely to
high step into the end zone, yeah, you wouldn't be
high on the lie.
Speaker 2 (01:33):
But you did it. I don't know anybody else has
done it this year. I like plan on it. I
was just like juiced because like like the everyone runs out,
you know y League play you sell the run block
and then leak and we've run it before and as
long as like the you know, they drop it sucks
can zone because the ends drop and you kind of
cover it. But when they do play man like at
times the guy guarding you is the safety and so
(01:54):
like they're caught up in the mush. And so I
was so hoping. I was like, actually, because like it's
kind of like a breath of relief too, because we
were really struggling in the red zone that game. I
think we got two or three in the red zone. Yeah,
and you know, so like it was like I was prettjuiced.
Speaker 3 (02:09):
So but now your touchdown that you had this game
against the Dolphins. I asked you about this after the
game because so just to run through it, the play
happens and you kind of stumble a little bit coming
off the line, and I actually after the game whether
that was intentional and you you joked that it was
just a wead athleticism.
Speaker 2 (02:28):
Stop saying super stuff. My face has been on social
media too much. I opened with mads this weekend and
like opens up my faces there. It's just too much. Man,
I got shut up.
Speaker 3 (02:41):
So I'm still not convinced it was that was not
Was there any level of intentionality with that stumble because
it looked like it could have been.
Speaker 2 (02:47):
No, I tripped on the four tech. I was like,
I was slamming the tackle and then I just like
tripped trying to release. It looks like gap schemes, so
like you know, that's like kind of there's a lot
of mush in there. But know I didn't mean to
like I've seen like I remember last year. I remember
I forgot what Timo was m I've been the Lions.
I think a fake bumble or something like, Yeah, kind
of cool. But I was not trying to. I wish
(03:10):
I was.
Speaker 3 (03:11):
I think I kind of sold it though, to be honest.
Speaker 2 (03:13):
I might have. I gotta put it in.
Speaker 1 (03:15):
Yeah, So the tight Ends really came alive down there
in Miami. I mean, Mark with two touchdowns yourself, Isaiah
caught a bunch of balls. Just what was it like
in the tight Ends room when you're watching that film, It's.
Speaker 2 (03:28):
I mean, it's a lot more fun to watch the
games when you win. That's too hard to figure out.
Speaker 1 (03:32):
Uh.
Speaker 2 (03:33):
I think it's good, you know. I think it's like
a testaments like the work we've put in as a room,
Like I think we have a very talented room, but
also like a good group of guys who like are
happy for one another. And it's been great to have
bat back and then seeing you know, all three of
us get a little involved in the offense was fun.
And backing back out there. Uh, you know, it's a
it's a fun room to come to work with. It's
(03:55):
just like I can't say enough good thing. It's a
good room. George is a great coach.
Speaker 1 (03:58):
It's what makes it a good room, what makes what
makes it special. Uh.
Speaker 2 (04:03):
I think I think you got some guys who could
play football, like in different ways. Obviously, like you have
some much different like play styles and body types between
the four of us, and then obviously Luke and now
Scotti being there is great. I thought z played well
at the end of the year. I'm happy he got
picked up by UH New Orleans. Was super happy for him.
He's a good dude, good player. I hope it's always
like you know, when you have to got cut, like
(04:24):
it's a friend, Like you know you wanted to be
around because you're a fan, but like I wanted to
have a good career. Like it's what's cool to see
them get signed to an active roster. But no, I
mean you got different group of personalities, quite a different
group of personalities. And then you just like have a
guy a bunch of guys that are kind of unselfish
(04:44):
and wanting to help the team, but also like excited
to like celebrate the room and the team, and like
I said, George was a great job in there, and
it's it's a fun group to work with.
Speaker 3 (04:54):
You mentioned the different personalities. Marc is someone who stands
out to me just he's so focused and so serious
about everything that he does. Yeah, and he's the veteran
of the group. He's obviously got all. He's put up
some big numbers over the course of his career. How
does he kind of set the tone for that group?
And I don't know, is he just the serious one
in the room with with you and Isaiah who take
take on a little bit, it seems more of a
(05:15):
joking personality.
Speaker 2 (05:18):
Yeah, I mean Mark Shelly more serious Like Mark still
like you're still a good guy like you in the
rooms and stuff you laugh of a good time, but
obviously Marks a little more serious. I think like that
there's like a level of respect in the room, like
that understanding of like how much we all care about
our job. Like I think, you know, like for myself personally,
like I've I've said it before, like I take like
(05:38):
things I don't like think that are serious, like I
take them like jokingly, Like I don't take like interviews
very seriously. I we appreciate it or like a celebration.
But like the things in my life that I care about,
I'm passionate about, like you know, my faith, Mad's my family.
Like football, Like I'm incredibly you know, detail oriented and
like try to play as hard as I possibly can.
I think that the room like as a whole, like
does a good job of like we all have our
(06:00):
different personalities, but like there's a level of mutual like
understanding and respect of how serious we all take this
and how much we care. Like with that that losing streak,
like that sucked. That was miserable, Like it's coming, Like
you know, we believe we like we think we're a
good team, like and I don't think that ever went away.
So like when you keep losing those games, you got
(06:21):
to like really look at yourself in the mirror and like,
you know, what are we doing that is not up
to standard? And I think as a room, like we've
tooken a lot on ourselves, like continue to be like
valuable on the run in the past game. And I
think that's the thing that like all of us do,
and I think all of us you know, play with
that effort in that passion. Yeah, No, it's a really
(06:41):
good room. Nothing but good things to say.
Speaker 3 (06:43):
When you mentioned that that losing streak and the team
struggling early on, how do you keep from when the
team is struggling, it's easy to say like are we good?
Like is this thing going to turn around? Like were
we wrong?
Speaker 2 (06:55):
Like it's easy to have those thoughts.
Speaker 3 (06:57):
How do you prevent those from getting into the locker
room and then wharping the vision that you have for
this team?
Speaker 2 (07:03):
Well, I mean it's like a the fact of the
matter is like you are what your record says you are,
and like you are what you put on tape. And
at that point, we were not a good team, Like
we just weren't. Like it's not that we can't be
a good team, but like the record says that we
are not playing well right now, and that's the truth.
So we had to look ourselves in like, but the
thing is, that's the exact same way when you flip
it around. A team who's ten and zero can go
(07:24):
lose to zero to ten team and that day they're
not a good team. Like it's all about like what
you is week to week. So I think that's like
we've had some success here, especially you know, we've gone
on runs we've won a quite a few games in
a row, and like that does it Just because you
were a good team last week doesn't mean you are
a good team this week. Obviously, past the past is
the greatest predictor of future success and future failure, but
(07:46):
like it still doesn't mean it's gonna happen. And like,
I think that's what's like so crazy. Like I was
watching football on Sunday, like I never get to do
really and it was like weird, Like you watch the
games and like teams just don't look the same from
week to week, and like that's just like you have
to realize there's two sides of that coin, when you're
winning and when you're losing. And I think that's like
shows the maturity of the team. Like obviously, you know,
we got a big win last week versus Bears without Lamar,
(08:06):
and then we get Lamar back, and like you can,
I mean, we're not naive. Everyone sees the what Lamar is,
Like you feel that, like everyone feels that different, like
if having your MVP back. So I think it's good,
but like the same thing is like just because we
were a good team last week, as me, and we're
gonna be a good team this week, Like it's still
you have to go out there and play. And that's
the thing about the NFL's everyone's really good, Like everyone's
(08:27):
really good. Teams that don't win a game all year
are still really good, yeah, if they still have, you know,
tons of good players. So I think that's a part
of it. Is just like being real, like it's a
week to week league. Take it week by week.
Speaker 1 (08:36):
I'm just curious, why do you think that is that
one week a team will look really good, in the
next week they look like a completely different team.
Speaker 2 (08:43):
I mean, there's just so many variables in football, Like
first of all, it's such a possession driven game where
turnovers are so big, like turnovers and basketball, like it sucks,
but like you get the ball thirty seconds later and
I love basketball. I'm just saying, like turnovers are obviously
the number one predictor of success, like and then there's
so many other thing is like there's does this team
matchup poorly with you? Does this team matchup well with you?
(09:04):
Did you have a good week of practice? Is this
guy sick? Is this guy having an issue at home? Life?
Like is the coach you know he's sick? All week,
and like there's so many like variables that go into
it's like a crazy game. Like you could play the
same team sixteen times in a row. It's sixteen vastly
different games, right, just because like one quality of talent
is so high where if someone does play poorly, like
(09:25):
they are exposed, you know, at every position, and then
if you play well, you can expose others because you're
that good. And then also like there's just what they're
fifty three guys, so, forty eight guys active forty nine,
Like that's a lot of people who got to like
work together in either it a good way in a
bad way. It's like you have forty eight different variables
on both sides, like it's it's a scientist night man.
(09:46):
There's no control variable, so like it's just like a
bunch of random And that's why, like I think it's
league is so crazy because like obviously sometimes like games
go right as you expect them, and like everyone plays
well and the better team wins. Then sometimes it's like
that's crazy, like they let me score again, like tay
to play. It's like just like football is crazy, and
(10:07):
that's why I think it's so enjoyable for fans to watch,
just like that true level of like no one knows
what's gonna happen.
Speaker 1 (10:13):
Right, winning back to back games for this team, how
much momentum does that build or is there still this
mentality of like yeah, okay, we feel good.
Speaker 2 (10:22):
Yeah one too straight.
Speaker 1 (10:23):
But like, hey, that doesn't mean that we're gonna necessarily
play really great in Minnesota, you.
Speaker 2 (10:28):
Know what I mean? Yeah, obviously, like human nature, you
can't help. But like the confidence bills when you get
on a winning streak, and that's big time and that's
where we try to ride. But like the saying like
the film, like about film, like films never as bassy
things as you think, Like it's really true, like after
a good game, you feel like you play a perfect
game and you go on there and you got killed
a whole place. And then after a bad game you
think it was the worst game ever you We'll fix
(10:49):
these players and move on. I think like this is
a good team. Like also you have the added variable
of like more variables. You're on the road. It's super
loud there. I've never played there, but super loud. They
got the horn blowing apparently every third down. It's it's rowdy,
so like that's another thing that we have to handle
on offense, like gotta be a fishing and out of
the huddle, it gotta be go with their communication, snap count, cadence,
(11:11):
motions like alignment. Everything has to be another level of
excellence in preparation because the fact there's so a little
less room for error. Can't yell at each other, you can't, hey,
this is what we're doing. Like it's gotta be non variable,
it's gotta be stuff. So that's the thing everyone faces
in away games, but especially when you give a crowd
like this and it's really loud, I.
Speaker 1 (11:27):
Almost feel like we play better in those situations. Like
I feel like the offense has oftentimes risen up on
the road when it is even tougher, like because of
I don't know if it's because of that attention to
you know why why do you think that is?
Speaker 2 (11:43):
Yeah, I mean it's certainly like it's like the I
don't know what effect and psychologistever. But like when like
you're like truly like isolated as a group, like you
have to like come together and like when you're there's
just you and the team there, like everyone else's turning
against you, gotta make got your family there, So you
gotta be that obviously, you know, like you can't help
like know, like all right, the margin fair is smaller,
(12:04):
Like we can't have miscommunication because we can't fix it's
too loud, we can't hear it, yep, and so like
you have to be better with you know, huddle, pre snap,
playing throughout the week. How are we going to identify
this look this under versus overfront and different stuff. And
obviously they're still difficult even to play better. Like everyone knows,
like if you're on tilent cadence, it's an advantage of
defense because we can't hear the cadence, So like you
got to find ways to like mitigate that and like
(12:26):
you know your timing with the center and everything and
like find ways to mix it up. But yeah, certainly
a great opportunity and a great challenge and excited.
Speaker 3 (12:34):
Oh, I want to go back to the room that
the tight end room that you talked about. In the
connection that you guys have. It's unique in a couple
of different ways, but one that also stands out is
the fact that all of you guys in there are
in contract years. Like everybody in that room is in
a contract year. And the future is uncertain, and I
think for some groups that could have like a negative
effect where guys are either they're competing for the ball
(12:54):
and they have everybody wants their touches and all that stuff.
But I think that the connection and the respect that
exists in your room is is tangible and it seems
like you like you don't have guys that are out
to get each other, and so can you talk about
how just the fact that that's looming, but it's also
not negatively affecting anything.
Speaker 2 (13:15):
Yeah, I mean, it just takes like a certain level
of maturity and respect like among the room, like like
we like I don't believe in line to ourselves with
each other. Like we all want the ball. Everyone offense
wants the ball. Everyone wants to be in the game
if ite wants to block everone wants to gore touchdowns.
Like that's what it is like. But like you have
to deal with the reality situation, which is like we
have a good room, Like no one's gonna play ninety
nine percent of snaps and so like you have to
(13:36):
make it like there's just like you know, it's like
like there's just like choices you make in your life.
Like you choose, like what attitude you're gonna bring, like
what kind of teammate. Those are choices, Like you choose
how hard you're gonna play. You can't choose if you're
gonna win or not. You hope you can't, But like
you can choose to be a good teammate and like
choose to be happy for each other. And that's just
like I think that's like a sign of maturity with
the room and the coaches in there, is like, hey,
like obviously we all want the ball, we all want
(13:57):
to play a hundred percent of snaps, but like we
respect each other, we all work hard. There's a lot
of talent in that room, and like we're just gonna
go out there and play as hard as we can
and be happy if it ever get some touches the snaps.
Speaker 1 (14:07):
This off season, there was buzz out there about Mark
and the possibility that he could be traded and all that.
I mean, it came up after he scored two touchdowns
in the trade deadline. People are like, is there a
possibility right? Which seems crazy. It just seems crazy for
all that guy's done. When you saw that stuff, If
you saw that stuff, what was your reaction knowing Mark
the way you do.
Speaker 2 (14:27):
I mean, I try to like stay off social media,
like I was, I get on, like I'm a human.
I get on sometimes, but like I try to stay off,
especially during the season, Like I'll delete it for weeks
at a time if I need to. I don't. I mean,
people are entitled of their own opinion, like they pay
money to watch us play. But like Mark's a great player.
It's a great teammate and my good friends, Like I
got so much respect and like I care about that guy.
(14:49):
Like it's hard to see that stuff because how much
he's done to help the team over the years. And
also like I unselfish she is, you know, like guy's
playing ninety plus plus snaps for a lot of time
and now he's not. That's just like doesn't change the
way it comes to work, doesn't change how good teammate
he is and the effort and passion he brings to
the game. I got nothing but good things to say
about Mark. You know, one day, I assume one of us.
(15:11):
One day, I mean, eventually, throughout the career, you're not
going to have the same teammates, and like can all
miss these teammates, Like I hope it's a long ways
down the road, but like, eventually life happens. So we're
re tired, were playing whole career, like eventually not gonna
have these teammates and I'm going to miss like gods
like Markins.
Speaker 3 (15:25):
Yeah, it's been fun to see your career and watch
it over the course of your time here, uh, both
on the field and off the field, and you've developed
into a really your your role has grown and you've
seems like really kind of owned what your role is
and it's changed.
Speaker 1 (15:40):
And you know, she came in as a receiving tight
end out of college and now you're primarily in large
right now, your touchdown machine. Yeah, I see it exactly,
but like you're you're blocking a lot, you know.
Speaker 3 (15:52):
Yeah, So it's like it's been cool to see that
aspect as well as the leadership I've seen you just
take on. It seems like, I mean, sometimes you do
it from a joking standpoint, but also like you bring
levity to situations but also to you to the point
that you talked about earlier, like there's a seriousness and
a focus that you have as well, and I've seen
you own both of those things. So can you talk
about the evolution that you've seen in your career, both
(16:14):
on the field and from a leadership standpoint.
Speaker 2 (16:16):
Yeah, Like I have a really good support group in
my life, like Maddie, my fiance, like love my life,
Like she's my person, Like my family and my parents,
my siblings, my coat friends, my coaches. I had like
a moment in like my second year off season where
like I was just like just playing bad. Like I
(16:37):
just was like OTAs whatever, Like I was miserable. I
wasn't playing well. I was like stressing too much. And
I think I said this before. I've tied end coach
and I'm really close with and called Mouser he is
my guy, and like I was talking to him and
I was like just like kind of complaining. They kind
of like just like surprised. You just kind of ripped me.
Like He's like, I do, like shut up, like stop
complaining so much, like like you're being a woos. I
(16:58):
can't forget. I can't curse. But somebody said but he
said there more elaborate. He's like, dude, just go out there,
play as hard as you can, have as much fun
as you can. If you get fired, you get fired.
If you play a million plays, you play a million plays,
like just let it but let it buff out and
let it go and the kind of like re like
like like rewired, like back to how I've played like
(17:19):
most of my life. It's just like go out there
and like half like it's hard like to come in
the NFL. Like you guys aren't getting cut in college.
I guess they are now, But when I was in college,
like guys aren't getting cut, like you know, like there's
not like you walk in and your lockermate's gone the
next day like in that similar stuff. Like it just
took me some time to like just like dude, just
go play and like let a buff out and let
it be as it is. And I think that allowed
me to like have fun at the same time, like
(17:42):
play as hard as I can, Like I just don't
think like you can be serious all the time and
like really play your best football. Like they talk about
like sports like college just talk about like the like
the elite level of focus or like those sprinters, like
the elite level of sprinters aren't actually running as fasts
they can, like they're they're not feeling like that they do.
I forgebout the number is they run like ninety percent
or whatever. I feel like like football is I kind
of like that obviously there sometimes you got to stray
(18:03):
into the max, but like even like you got to
be like have some some measure of levity and like
fun in your sport to play your best football. And
then I think like the evolution of the role thing
is like I just like I be like I try
to be honest with myself, like an objective, like I
my parents are still that end to me, Like just
like I apologize on my mom used to always get
on me, like cause just like wrong, Like I don't
(18:25):
have to apologize, like and that's what I gotta do,
and like it kind of comes as honestly by myself.
And like when I looked at the team, it's just
like it was pretty obvious, like all right, where do
I fall in this room? In this offense? Like what
am I? Like the eighth option receiving like that guy
ink and a guy gett Canna play. And I was like, Okay,
how do I get in the field. It's like, well,
we just traded. We just Josh just left in free
agency in twenty two or twenty three. You know, Pat's
(18:48):
really good blocker, but he's a full he's a full
back tight end, Like he's a different body style than myself. Like,
how can I like provide value as like my career
in this team. And it's just like be a good
why like be a good blocker or be able to
block in line so you can now stretch with play
action and stuff and just like embracing that, like you know, hey,
what can I do?
Speaker 1 (19:07):
All right?
Speaker 2 (19:07):
I get to slide every day, I can get stronger,
I can lift more, and just like trying to be
what I can for this team. And then also I
love special teams great too.
Speaker 1 (19:15):
Yeah you know what it actually does remind me a
little bit of Josh Oliver, who you just mentioned, who
was a receiving tight end who then became a really
good blocker for us and then got a lucrative contract.
Speaker 2 (19:26):
To go to see out to Minnesota. Yeah exactly, it's
my guy. I'm excited to see him. Yeah.
Speaker 1 (19:30):
Yeah, it's it's pretty cool. And and I mean, do
you how do you look at yourself now and your game,
Like do you embrace the blocker aspect of it first
and foremost? Or how do you look at yourself now?
Speaker 2 (19:42):
I mean so much but still is like, well, as
I'm like I've gotten a few targets, like make a
play on the ball, you got some block more, block more,
it's wide zone, gap scheme whatever, Like it's the football
is the most coach controlled sport there is. Obviously, they
call the players, they call the coverages, they call the fronts.
So like our job is to like take that and
like do your best with it, and so like I
really just try to be as like valuable as I
can and just like provide a value whatever I'm in
(20:03):
And like that's also like why I value like special teams,
because like it's just a chance to make an impact
on the game and do what I'm as to how much.
Speaker 3 (20:09):
Have you put on a lot of weights since you
came into the league as a rookie.
Speaker 2 (20:13):
Not like a ton of weight, but I've certainly got
less fat.
Speaker 1 (20:20):
I mean I want the opposite plan.
Speaker 3 (20:23):
I thought you maybe just just bulked up.
Speaker 2 (20:24):
And got heavy right now, I'm like two seventy to
sixty five.
Speaker 3 (20:27):
Yeah, because I'm excarce if you changed your if you
had to change your diet, like if you had to
change your the way that you train in order to
take on that blocking role.
Speaker 2 (20:34):
A lot of it's just like common sense, like yeah,
don't be out at Patti's till two am. And it's
like stop going to bug night. That little hurt, that'll
help a little bit with recovery and lifting. And then
also like it is your job, Like you're not going
to class, like you have the off season, Like you
can't take time to lift and get better in the
off season, Like you don't care about your career, so
(20:55):
like it's not that hard to like just spend a
little more time in the weight room and stuff.
Speaker 1 (20:59):
Do you think that someday way down the road, when
you're playing career is done, that you'll go into coaching.
I can see that for you.
Speaker 2 (21:06):
Maybe it's certainly a different time requirement. And I think that,
like I think it also like the level would it
would better? Like I think I would struggle sometimes to
coach at lower levels because like the quality of football
is like I've now played in the league for a
few years, Like, but I don't know, like I love football,
Like obviously coaching is different. I'd like to use my
(21:30):
degree at some point. I did work hard for it.
Apparents probably disappointed if I didn't.
Speaker 1 (21:33):
What's the degree again remind listeners.
Speaker 2 (21:35):
I got a cap from engineering and then the master's
of finance. I'd like to do something. I like to
do something to help the world besides just block the
seacap it and I love it and I love it,
like I absolutely love it. But like eventually, like I like,
I feel like I like work so hard at that
aspect of my life and like I would like to
(21:55):
use at some point. But I can certainly see myself
getting into coaching. And like I think football, like your
ability to have impact on my young men's life and
lead them through like challenging and formative years is like
I'm joking about like not having any impact on the world.
Like football has tons of impact. Like it's beautiful, Like
you see the impact in the community, see like the
life of the city and the fans, Like there's so
many good things about football. They bringing people together and
(22:16):
then coaching, you know, like being impact on young players.
And now like it's weird, like I'm a veteran now,
I don't feel like a veteran, Like I'm only twenty six,
Like I don't feel old, but like I'm three or
four years older than the rookies. Now it's like they're
asking me questions. I'm like, dude, like I don't, I don't.
I don't know anything about life. I'm just trying to
figure this out. I still text my dad when there's
a car issue, like I don't know anything.
Speaker 3 (22:37):
Hey, the check in is like, how do I do?
Speaker 2 (22:39):
It's a disaster.
Speaker 1 (22:40):
Well, well, someday maybe if you wanted to acting, I
feel like could also the Severance So you for for
listeners out there and viewers go back and watch the
schedule release video and Charlie had a starring role in
our Severance schedule releases, and you nailed that.
Speaker 2 (22:56):
I usual, it was not like preface that I was
the main talker, Like, I was not told that. We
didn't want to put so much pressure on you. I
just didn't want to hear my voice that much. I
was like, just move, where's the next guy talking?
Speaker 1 (23:10):
Is it the role?
Speaker 2 (23:11):
So else? Cassie lied to me. Man, you nailed it.
You did a good job well, Charlie. Thank you so much.
Speaker 1 (23:19):
Man, it's fun watching you play. And best of luck
Sunday in Minnesota.
Speaker 3 (23:23):
Thanks guys, you're listening to the Lounge podcast. We were
coming to you from the Sea Geek Studio we want
to mention our partners at Draft King Sportsbook. They are
an official sports betting partner of the Baltimore Ravens Draftking Sportsbook.
The Crown is Yours. Really enjoyed the conversation with Charlie.
He's one of my favorite guys on the team. I
think that a lot of times you can get kind
of lost in like the humor. Yeah, but he's got
(23:46):
a great insight and I think that I hope that
listeners took that away from the conversation with him.
Speaker 1 (23:52):
Yeah, Charlie, he's a good player who's really grown and
super smart guy. I mean, academic Heisman coming out of
Iowa State College, and you certainly see that come through.
And I just he loves football, and so it's fun
to talk football with somebody that loves it and eats
and breathes and sleeps it like Charlie does, but also
has the sense of humor to kind of poke fun
(24:14):
at it sometimes, you know. And so you know, Charlie's
a guy that could be here for a very long time.
You talked about all these tight ends are in contract years,
and it wouldn't surprise me at all if the Ravens
strike a deal with him after the season is over. Yeah,
and I hope so. But I also know that other
guys like Josh Oliver, who the Ravens will see in
(24:36):
Minnesota on Sunday, have also gone elsewhere and had good
careers too, So you know, we'll see what happens. I'm
hopeful that Charlie is here for a long time.
Speaker 2 (24:45):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (24:45):
The tight end situation is hard to handicap in terms,
it really is, because it's like you could talk yourself
into keeping multiple you could go multiple different directions when
you look at this group knowing they're all free agents
and they're all good play. That's the thing, Like, I
don't think you look at that group and you there's
a weak link. Everyone does something differently, and I think
(25:06):
that a guy like a guy like Charlie, as you
mentioned it in the in the interview, he was a
receiving tight end coming out of college. He's just really
blocking was not his forte at all. But he's remade
himself into that role because of the opportunity that existed.
But he still has that ability to go up and
get the ball and catch it in traffic and probably
better hands than a lot of people realize, Like and
(25:27):
That's one of the things I really like about him
is that, like he has the ability to make some huge,
tough catches and so like he can be out there
and the defense can think, Okay, this is a running play,
and he's a perfect fit for like a play action
play where you need six yards, like he has made
for that type of play and of the goal line.
Like that's part of the reason I think he's been
able to get so open and these goal line plays
(25:48):
is because the defense will sell out to stop the
running game of Derrick Henry when here's Charlie Collar getting
wide open on a play that they just kind of
forget about him. He jokes about it, but that happens.
Speaker 1 (25:57):
It's kind of the perfect secret weapon. Yeah, you know,
he is this guy who blocks ninety five percent of
the time, but man, when you throw it to him,
he makes the most of his opportunities. Yeah, it makes
those plays. So it's really cool. I will say, you know,
the Ravens did bring in in his college roommate, which
we forgot to ask him about this, Jake Humble with
Those two are really good pals going back to Iowa State.
Speaker 2 (26:18):
So I didn't even realize there were roommates.
Speaker 1 (26:21):
Yeah, incentivize them to hang around. So it's pretty cool
having both of those guys here.
Speaker 2 (26:26):
Yeah, absolutely so.
Speaker 3 (26:27):
As always, you can email us at the lounge at
Ravens dot NFL dot net. Of course, the game coming
up on Sunday against the Minnesota Vikings, we are going
to do more of a deeper discussion on that game
coming up later this week and do a full preview
on what the Ravens need to do to get a win,
get their third straight win, and continue moving the season
in the right direction. Thank you so much for watching
and listening, and we'll be back with you again later
(26:49):
this week.
Welcome into Lounge presented by DraftKings. I'm Ryan Ink here
with Garrett Downing and we are thrilled to sit down
with tight end Charlie Kohler and Charlie. I love watching
you play, man because it honestly is very evident how
much fun you have playing the game, and especially when
you score touchdowns. The celebrations they just they don't see planned.
They're just like spur of the.
Speaker 2 (00:24):
Moment, you know.
Speaker 1 (00:25):
The toss, the football toss it almost had a little
lebron feel to it.
Speaker 2 (00:30):
It wasn't intended. I just kind of threw the See
this is what I'm saying.
Speaker 1 (00:33):
The high step, you know, like if I was a
guy who was scoring a touchdown in the league, like
I would probably high step if anybody was around me.
I would I do that in backyard football against my kids.
So tell me take me behind the touchdowns celebrations for.
Speaker 2 (00:47):
You, not much buying the curtains, not a lot of
cognitive function going on. Gotch get really excited and my
body just starts kind of moving and then look at
it on tape kind of a little bit. But uh,
it's fun. I just like celebrate with my guys, you know,
they're lying ll tide of hands, running backs, receivers. You know,
it's fun to celebrate with the offense. It's a good group.
Speaker 1 (01:09):
Well why do you grimmus? Do you feel like the
high step you wanted? Like a higher high step?
Speaker 2 (01:12):
What was it? I always like in my mind picture
myself looking like more athletic than the tape looks like
the high step, Like I thought I was a really
high step, and they look on there I got like
a hamstring injury.
Speaker 3 (01:23):
But I'll be honest, the if I were going to
rank the players who I thought were most likely to
high step into the end zone, yeah, you wouldn't be
high on the lie.
Speaker 2 (01:33):
But you did it. I don't know anybody else has
done it this year. I like plan on it. I
was just like juiced because like like the everyone runs out,
you know y League play you sell the run block
and then leak and we've run it before and as
long as like the you know, they drop it sucks
can zone because the ends drop and you kind of
cover it. But when they do play man like at
times the guy guarding you is the safety and so
(01:54):
like they're caught up in the mush. And so I
was so hoping. I was like, actually, because like it's
kind of like a breath of relief too, because we
were really struggling in the red zone that game. I
think we got two or three in the red zone. Yeah,
and you know, so like it was like I was prettjuiced.
Speaker 3 (02:09):
So but now your touchdown that you had this game
against the Dolphins. I asked you about this after the
game because so just to run through it, the play
happens and you kind of stumble a little bit coming
off the line, and I actually after the game whether
that was intentional and you you joked that it was
just a wead athleticism.
Speaker 2 (02:28):
Stop saying super stuff. My face has been on social
media too much. I opened with mads this weekend and
like opens up my faces there. It's just too much. Man,
I got shut up.
Speaker 3 (02:41):
So I'm still not convinced it was that was not
Was there any level of intentionality with that stumble because
it looked like it could have been.
Speaker 2 (02:47):
No, I tripped on the four tech. I was like,
I was slamming the tackle and then I just like
tripped trying to release. It looks like gap schemes, so
like you know, that's like kind of there's a lot
of mush in there. But know I didn't mean to
like I've seen like I remember last year. I remember
I forgot what Timo was m I've been the Lions.
I think a fake bumble or something like, Yeah, kind
of cool. But I was not trying to. I wish
(03:10):
I was.
Speaker 3 (03:11):
I think I kind of sold it though, to be honest.
Speaker 2 (03:13):
I might have. I gotta put it in.
Speaker 1 (03:15):
Yeah, So the tight Ends really came alive down there
in Miami. I mean, Mark with two touchdowns yourself, Isaiah
caught a bunch of balls. Just what was it like
in the tight Ends room when you're watching that film, It's.
Speaker 2 (03:28):
I mean, it's a lot more fun to watch the
games when you win. That's too hard to figure out.
Speaker 1 (03:32):
Uh.
Speaker 2 (03:33):
I think it's good, you know. I think it's like
a testaments like the work we've put in as a room,
Like I think we have a very talented room, but
also like a good group of guys who like are
happy for one another. And it's been great to have
bat back and then seeing you know, all three of
us get a little involved in the offense was fun.
And backing back out there. Uh, you know, it's a
it's a fun room to come to work with. It's
(03:55):
just like I can't say enough good thing. It's a
good room. George is a great coach.
Speaker 1 (03:58):
It's what makes it a good room, what makes what
makes it special. Uh.
Speaker 2 (04:03):
I think I think you got some guys who could
play football, like in different ways. Obviously, like you have
some much different like play styles and body types between
the four of us, and then obviously Luke and now
Scotti being there is great. I thought z played well
at the end of the year. I'm happy he got
picked up by UH New Orleans. Was super happy for him.
He's a good dude, good player. I hope it's always
like you know, when you have to got cut, like
(04:24):
it's a friend, Like you know you wanted to be
around because you're a fan, but like I wanted to
have a good career. Like it's what's cool to see
them get signed to an active roster. But no, I
mean you got different group of personalities, quite a different
group of personalities. And then you just like have a
guy a bunch of guys that are kind of unselfish
(04:44):
and wanting to help the team, but also like excited
to like celebrate the room and the team, and like
I said, George was a great job in there, and
it's it's a fun group to work with.
Speaker 3 (04:54):
You mentioned the different personalities. Marc is someone who stands
out to me just he's so focused and so serious
about everything that he does. Yeah, and he's the veteran
of the group. He's obviously got all. He's put up
some big numbers over the course of his career. How
does he kind of set the tone for that group?
And I don't know, is he just the serious one
in the room with with you and Isaiah who take
take on a little bit, it seems more of a
(05:15):
joking personality.
Speaker 2 (05:18):
Yeah, I mean Mark Shelly more serious Like Mark still
like you're still a good guy like you in the
rooms and stuff you laugh of a good time, but
obviously Marks a little more serious. I think like that
there's like a level of respect in the room, like
that understanding of like how much we all care about
our job. Like I think, you know, like for myself personally,
like I've I've said it before, like I take like
(05:38):
things I don't like think that are serious, like I
take them like jokingly, Like I don't take like interviews
very seriously. I we appreciate it or like a celebration.
But like the things in my life that I care about,
I'm passionate about, like you know, my faith, Mad's my family.
Like football, Like I'm incredibly you know, detail oriented and
like try to play as hard as I possibly can.
I think that the room like as a whole, like
does a good job of like we all have our
(06:00):
different personalities, but like there's a level of mutual like
understanding and respect of how serious we all take this
and how much we care. Like with that that losing streak,
like that sucked. That was miserable, Like it's coming, Like
you know, we believe we like we think we're a
good team, like and I don't think that ever went away.
So like when you keep losing those games, you got
(06:21):
to like really look at yourself in the mirror and like,
you know, what are we doing that is not up
to standard? And I think as a room, like we've
tooken a lot on ourselves, like continue to be like
valuable on the run in the past game. And I
think that's the thing that like all of us do,
and I think all of us you know, play with
that effort in that passion. Yeah, No, it's a really
(06:41):
good room. Nothing but good things to say.
Speaker 3 (06:43):
When you mentioned that that losing streak and the team
struggling early on, how do you keep from when the
team is struggling, it's easy to say like are we good?
Like is this thing going to turn around? Like were
we wrong?
Speaker 2 (06:55):
Like it's easy to have those thoughts.
Speaker 3 (06:57):
How do you prevent those from getting into the locker
room and then wharping the vision that you have for
this team?
Speaker 2 (07:03):
Well, I mean it's like a the fact of the
matter is like you are what your record says you are,
and like you are what you put on tape. And
at that point, we were not a good team, Like
we just weren't. Like it's not that we can't be
a good team, but like the record says that we
are not playing well right now, and that's the truth.
So we had to look ourselves in like, but the
thing is, that's the exact same way when you flip
it around. A team who's ten and zero can go
(07:24):
lose to zero to ten team and that day they're
not a good team. Like it's all about like what
you is week to week. So I think that's like
we've had some success here, especially you know, we've gone
on runs we've won a quite a few games in
a row, and like that does it Just because you
were a good team last week doesn't mean you are
a good team this week. Obviously, past the past is
the greatest predictor of future success and future failure, but
(07:46):
like it still doesn't mean it's gonna happen. And like,
I think that's what's like so crazy. Like I was
watching football on Sunday, like I never get to do
really and it was like weird, Like you watch the
games and like teams just don't look the same from
week to week, and like that's just like you have
to realize there's two sides of that coin, when you're
winning and when you're losing. And I think that's like
shows the maturity of the team. Like obviously, you know,
we got a big win last week versus Bears without Lamar,
(08:06):
and then we get Lamar back, and like you can,
I mean, we're not naive. Everyone sees the what Lamar is,
Like you feel that, like everyone feels that different, like
if having your MVP back. So I think it's good,
but like the same thing is like just because we
were a good team last week, as me, and we're
gonna be a good team this week, Like it's still
you have to go out there and play. And that's
the thing about the NFL's everyone's really good, Like everyone's
(08:27):
really good. Teams that don't win a game all year
are still really good, yeah, if they still have, you know,
tons of good players. So I think that's a part
of it. Is just like being real, like it's a
week to week league. Take it week by week.
Speaker 1 (08:36):
I'm just curious, why do you think that is that
one week a team will look really good, in the
next week they look like a completely different team.
Speaker 2 (08:43):
I mean, there's just so many variables in football, Like
first of all, it's such a possession driven game where
turnovers are so big, like turnovers and basketball, like it sucks,
but like you get the ball thirty seconds later and
I love basketball. I'm just saying, like turnovers are obviously
the number one predictor of success, like and then there's
so many other thing is like there's does this team
matchup poorly with you? Does this team matchup well with you?
(09:04):
Did you have a good week of practice? Is this
guy sick? Is this guy having an issue at home? Life?
Like is the coach you know he's sick? All week,
and like there's so many like variables that go into
it's like a crazy game. Like you could play the
same team sixteen times in a row. It's sixteen vastly
different games, right, just because like one quality of talent
is so high where if someone does play poorly, like
(09:25):
they are exposed, you know, at every position, and then
if you play well, you can expose others because you're
that good. And then also like there's just what they're
fifty three guys, so, forty eight guys active forty nine,
Like that's a lot of people who got to like
work together in either it a good way in a
bad way. It's like you have forty eight different variables
on both sides, like it's it's a scientist night man.
(09:46):
There's no control variable, so like it's just like a
bunch of random And that's why, like I think it's
league is so crazy because like obviously sometimes like games
go right as you expect them, and like everyone plays
well and the better team wins. Then sometimes it's like
that's crazy, like they let me score again, like tay
to play. It's like just like football is crazy, and
(10:07):
that's why I think it's so enjoyable for fans to watch,
just like that true level of like no one knows
what's gonna happen.
Speaker 1 (10:13):
Right, winning back to back games for this team, how
much momentum does that build or is there still this
mentality of like yeah, okay, we feel good.
Speaker 2 (10:22):
Yeah one too straight.
Speaker 1 (10:23):
But like, hey, that doesn't mean that we're gonna necessarily
play really great in Minnesota, you.
Speaker 2 (10:28):
Know what I mean? Yeah, obviously, like human nature, you
can't help. But like the confidence bills when you get
on a winning streak, and that's big time and that's
where we try to ride. But like the saying like
the film, like about film, like films never as bassy
things as you think, Like it's really true, like after
a good game, you feel like you play a perfect
game and you go on there and you got killed
a whole place. And then after a bad game you
think it was the worst game ever you We'll fix
(10:49):
these players and move on. I think like this is
a good team. Like also you have the added variable
of like more variables. You're on the road. It's super
loud there. I've never played there, but super loud. They
got the horn blowing apparently every third down. It's it's rowdy,
so like that's another thing that we have to handle
on offense, like gotta be a fishing and out of
the huddle, it gotta be go with their communication, snap count, cadence,
(11:11):
motions like alignment. Everything has to be another level of
excellence in preparation because the fact there's so a little
less room for error. Can't yell at each other, you can't, hey,
this is what we're doing. Like it's gotta be non variable,
it's gotta be stuff. So that's the thing everyone faces
in away games, but especially when you give a crowd
like this and it's really loud, I.
Speaker 1 (11:27):
Almost feel like we play better in those situations. Like
I feel like the offense has oftentimes risen up on
the road when it is even tougher, like because of
I don't know if it's because of that attention to
you know why why do you think that is?
Speaker 2 (11:43):
Yeah, I mean it's certainly like it's like the I
don't know what effect and psychologistever. But like when like
you're like truly like isolated as a group, like you
have to like come together and like when you're there's
just you and the team there, like everyone else's turning
against you, gotta make got your family there, So you
gotta be that obviously, you know, like you can't help
like know, like all right, the margin fair is smaller,
(12:04):
Like we can't have miscommunication because we can't fix it's
too loud, we can't hear it, yep, and so like
you have to be better with you know, huddle, pre snap,
playing throughout the week. How are we going to identify
this look this under versus overfront and different stuff. And
obviously they're still difficult even to play better. Like everyone knows,
like if you're on tilent cadence, it's an advantage of
defense because we can't hear the cadence, So like you
got to find ways to like mitigate that and like
(12:26):
you know your timing with the center and everything and
like find ways to mix it up. But yeah, certainly
a great opportunity and a great challenge and excited.
Speaker 3 (12:34):
Oh, I want to go back to the room that
the tight end room that you talked about. In the
connection that you guys have. It's unique in a couple
of different ways, but one that also stands out is
the fact that all of you guys in there are
in contract years. Like everybody in that room is in
a contract year. And the future is uncertain, and I
think for some groups that could have like a negative
effect where guys are either they're competing for the ball
(12:54):
and they have everybody wants their touches and all that stuff.
But I think that the connection and the respect that
exists in your room is is tangible and it seems
like you like you don't have guys that are out
to get each other, and so can you talk about
how just the fact that that's looming, but it's also
not negatively affecting anything.
Speaker 2 (13:15):
Yeah, I mean, it just takes like a certain level
of maturity and respect like among the room, like like
we like I don't believe in line to ourselves with
each other. Like we all want the ball. Everyone offense
wants the ball. Everyone wants to be in the game
if ite wants to block everone wants to gore touchdowns.
Like that's what it is like. But like you have
to deal with the reality situation, which is like we
have a good room, Like no one's gonna play ninety
nine percent of snaps and so like you have to
(13:36):
make it like there's just like you know, it's like
like there's just like choices you make in your life.
Like you choose, like what attitude you're gonna bring, like
what kind of teammate. Those are choices, Like you choose
how hard you're gonna play. You can't choose if you're
gonna win or not. You hope you can't, But like
you can choose to be a good teammate and like
choose to be happy for each other. And that's just
like I think that's like a sign of maturity with
the room and the coaches in there, is like, hey,
like obviously we all want the ball, we all want
(13:57):
to play a hundred percent of snaps, but like we
respect each other, we all work hard. There's a lot
of talent in that room, and like we're just gonna
go out there and play as hard as we can
and be happy if it ever get some touches the snaps.
Speaker 1 (14:07):
This off season, there was buzz out there about Mark
and the possibility that he could be traded and all that.
I mean, it came up after he scored two touchdowns
in the trade deadline. People are like, is there a
possibility right? Which seems crazy. It just seems crazy for
all that guy's done. When you saw that stuff, If
you saw that stuff, what was your reaction knowing Mark
the way you do.
Speaker 2 (14:27):
I mean, I try to like stay off social media,
like I was, I get on, like I'm a human.
I get on sometimes, but like I try to stay off,
especially during the season, Like I'll delete it for weeks
at a time if I need to. I don't. I mean,
people are entitled of their own opinion, like they pay
money to watch us play. But like Mark's a great player.
It's a great teammate and my good friends, Like I
got so much respect and like I care about that guy.
(14:49):
Like it's hard to see that stuff because how much
he's done to help the team over the years. And
also like I unselfish she is, you know, like guy's
playing ninety plus plus snaps for a lot of time
and now he's not. That's just like doesn't change the
way it comes to work, doesn't change how good teammate
he is and the effort and passion he brings to
the game. I got nothing but good things to say
about Mark. You know, one day, I assume one of us.
(15:11):
One day, I mean, eventually, throughout the career, you're not
going to have the same teammates, and like can all
miss these teammates, Like I hope it's a long ways
down the road, but like, eventually life happens. So we're
re tired, were playing whole career, like eventually not gonna
have these teammates and I'm going to miss like gods
like Markins.
Speaker 3 (15:25):
Yeah, it's been fun to see your career and watch
it over the course of your time here, uh, both
on the field and off the field, and you've developed
into a really your your role has grown and you've
seems like really kind of owned what your role is
and it's changed.
Speaker 1 (15:40):
And you know, she came in as a receiving tight
end out of college and now you're primarily in large
right now, your touchdown machine. Yeah, I see it exactly,
but like you're you're blocking a lot, you know.
Speaker 3 (15:52):
Yeah, So it's like it's been cool to see that
aspect as well as the leadership I've seen you just
take on. It seems like, I mean, sometimes you do
it from a joking standpoint, but also like you bring
levity to situations but also to you to the point
that you talked about earlier, like there's a seriousness and
a focus that you have as well, and I've seen
you own both of those things. So can you talk
about the evolution that you've seen in your career, both
(16:14):
on the field and from a leadership standpoint.
Speaker 2 (16:16):
Yeah, Like I have a really good support group in
my life, like Maddie, my fiance, like love my life,
Like she's my person, Like my family and my parents,
my siblings, my coat friends, my coaches. I had like
a moment in like my second year off season where
like I was just like just playing bad. Like I
(16:37):
just was like OTAs whatever, Like I was miserable. I
wasn't playing well. I was like stressing too much. And
I think I said this before. I've tied end coach
and I'm really close with and called Mouser he is
my guy, and like I was talking to him and
I was like just like kind of complaining. They kind
of like just like surprised. You just kind of ripped me.
Like He's like, I do, like shut up, like stop
complaining so much, like like you're being a woos. I
(16:58):
can't forget. I can't curse. But somebody said but he
said there more elaborate. He's like, dude, just go out there,
play as hard as you can, have as much fun
as you can. If you get fired, you get fired.
If you play a million plays, you play a million plays,
like just let it but let it buff out and
let it go and the kind of like re like
like like rewired, like back to how I've played like
(17:19):
most of my life. It's just like go out there
and like half like it's hard like to come in
the NFL. Like you guys aren't getting cut in college.
I guess they are now, But when I was in college,
like guys aren't getting cut, like you know, like there's
not like you walk in and your lockermate's gone the
next day like in that similar stuff. Like it just
took me some time to like just like dude, just
go play and like let a buff out and let
it be as it is. And I think that allowed
me to like have fun at the same time, like
(17:42):
play as hard as I can, Like I just don't
think like you can be serious all the time and
like really play your best football. Like they talk about
like sports like college just talk about like the like
the elite level of focus or like those sprinters, like
the elite level of sprinters aren't actually running as fasts
they can, like they're they're not feeling like that they do.
I forgebout the number is they run like ninety percent
or whatever. I feel like like football is I kind
of like that obviously there sometimes you got to stray
(18:03):
into the max, but like even like you got to
be like have some some measure of levity and like
fun in your sport to play your best football. And
then I think like the evolution of the role thing
is like I just like I be like I try
to be honest with myself, like an objective, like I
my parents are still that end to me, Like just
like I apologize on my mom used to always get
on me, like cause just like wrong, Like I don't
(18:25):
have to apologize, like and that's what I gotta do,
and like it kind of comes as honestly by myself.
And like when I looked at the team, it's just
like it was pretty obvious, like all right, where do
I fall in this room? In this offense? Like what
am I? Like the eighth option receiving like that guy
ink and a guy gett Canna play. And I was like, Okay,
how do I get in the field. It's like, well,
we just traded. We just Josh just left in free
agency in twenty two or twenty three. You know, Pat's
(18:48):
really good blocker, but he's a full he's a full
back tight end, Like he's a different body style than myself. Like,
how can I like provide value as like my career
in this team. And it's just like be a good
why like be a good blocker or be able to
block in line so you can now stretch with play
action and stuff and just like embracing that, like you know, hey,
what can I do?
Speaker 1 (19:07):
All right?
Speaker 2 (19:07):
I get to slide every day, I can get stronger,
I can lift more, and just like trying to be
what I can for this team. And then also I
love special teams great too.
Speaker 1 (19:15):
Yeah you know what it actually does remind me a
little bit of Josh Oliver, who you just mentioned, who
was a receiving tight end who then became a really
good blocker for us and then got a lucrative contract.
Speaker 2 (19:26):
To go to see out to Minnesota. Yeah exactly, it's
my guy. I'm excited to see him. Yeah.
Speaker 1 (19:30):
Yeah, it's it's pretty cool. And and I mean, do
you how do you look at yourself now and your game,
Like do you embrace the blocker aspect of it first
and foremost? Or how do you look at yourself now?
Speaker 2 (19:42):
I mean so much but still is like, well, as
I'm like I've gotten a few targets, like make a
play on the ball, you got some block more, block more,
it's wide zone, gap scheme whatever, Like it's the football
is the most coach controlled sport there is. Obviously, they
call the players, they call the coverages, they call the fronts.
So like our job is to like take that and
like do your best with it, and so like I
really just try to be as like valuable as I
can and just like provide a value whatever I'm in
(20:03):
And like that's also like why I value like special teams,
because like it's just a chance to make an impact
on the game and do what I'm as to how much.
Speaker 3 (20:09):
Have you put on a lot of weights since you
came into the league as a rookie.
Speaker 2 (20:13):
Not like a ton of weight, but I've certainly got
less fat.
Speaker 1 (20:20):
I mean I want the opposite plan.
Speaker 3 (20:23):
I thought you maybe just just bulked up.
Speaker 2 (20:24):
And got heavy right now, I'm like two seventy to
sixty five.
Speaker 3 (20:27):
Yeah, because I'm excarce if you changed your if you
had to change your diet, like if you had to
change your the way that you train in order to
take on that blocking role.
Speaker 2 (20:34):
A lot of it's just like common sense, like yeah,
don't be out at Patti's till two am. And it's
like stop going to bug night. That little hurt, that'll
help a little bit with recovery and lifting. And then
also like it is your job, Like you're not going
to class, like you have the off season, Like you
can't take time to lift and get better in the
off season, Like you don't care about your career, so
(20:55):
like it's not that hard to like just spend a
little more time in the weight room and stuff.
Speaker 1 (20:59):
Do you think that someday way down the road, when
you're playing career is done, that you'll go into coaching.
I can see that for you.
Speaker 2 (21:06):
Maybe it's certainly a different time requirement. And I think that,
like I think it also like the level would it
would better? Like I think I would struggle sometimes to
coach at lower levels because like the quality of football
is like I've now played in the league for a
few years, Like, but I don't know, like I love football,
Like obviously coaching is different. I'd like to use my
(21:30):
degree at some point. I did work hard for it.
Apparents probably disappointed if I didn't.
Speaker 1 (21:33):
What's the degree again remind listeners.
Speaker 2 (21:35):
I got a cap from engineering and then the master's
of finance. I'd like to do something. I like to
do something to help the world besides just block the
seacap it and I love it and I love it,
like I absolutely love it. But like eventually, like I like,
I feel like I like work so hard at that
aspect of my life and like I would like to
(21:55):
use at some point. But I can certainly see myself
getting into coaching. And like I think football, like your
ability to have impact on my young men's life and
lead them through like challenging and formative years is like
I'm joking about like not having any impact on the world.
Like football has tons of impact. Like it's beautiful, Like
you see the impact in the community, see like the
life of the city and the fans, Like there's so
many good things about football. They bringing people together and
(22:16):
then coaching, you know, like being impact on young players.
And now like it's weird, like I'm a veteran now,
I don't feel like a veteran, Like I'm only twenty six,
Like I don't feel old, but like I'm three or
four years older than the rookies. Now it's like they're
asking me questions. I'm like, dude, like I don't, I don't.
I don't know anything about life. I'm just trying to
figure this out. I still text my dad when there's
a car issue, like I don't know anything.
Speaker 3 (22:37):
Hey, the check in is like, how do I do?
Speaker 2 (22:39):
It's a disaster.
Speaker 1 (22:40):
Well, well, someday maybe if you wanted to acting, I
feel like could also the Severance So you for for
listeners out there and viewers go back and watch the
schedule release video and Charlie had a starring role in
our Severance schedule releases, and you nailed that.
Speaker 2 (22:56):
I usual, it was not like preface that I was
the main talker, Like, I was not told that. We
didn't want to put so much pressure on you. I
just didn't want to hear my voice that much. I
was like, just move, where's the next guy talking?
Speaker 1 (23:10):
Is it the role?
Speaker 2 (23:11):
So else? Cassie lied to me. Man, you nailed it.
You did a good job well, Charlie. Thank you so much.
Speaker 1 (23:19):
Man, it's fun watching you play. And best of luck
Sunday in Minnesota.
Speaker 3 (23:23):
Thanks guys, you're listening to the Lounge podcast. We were
coming to you from the Sea Geek Studio we want
to mention our partners at Draft King Sportsbook. They are
an official sports betting partner of the Baltimore Ravens Draftking Sportsbook.
The Crown is Yours. Really enjoyed the conversation with Charlie.
He's one of my favorite guys on the team. I
think that a lot of times you can get kind
of lost in like the humor. Yeah, but he's got
(23:46):
a great insight and I think that I hope that
listeners took that away from the conversation with him.
Speaker 1 (23:52):
Yeah, Charlie, he's a good player who's really grown and
super smart guy. I mean, academic Heisman coming out of
Iowa State College, and you certainly see that come through.
And I just he loves football, and so it's fun
to talk football with somebody that loves it and eats
and breathes and sleeps it like Charlie does, but also
has the sense of humor to kind of poke fun
(24:14):
at it sometimes, you know. And so you know, Charlie's
a guy that could be here for a very long time.
You talked about all these tight ends are in contract years,
and it wouldn't surprise me at all if the Ravens
strike a deal with him after the season is over. Yeah,
and I hope so. But I also know that other
guys like Josh Oliver, who the Ravens will see in
(24:36):
Minnesota on Sunday, have also gone elsewhere and had good
careers too, So you know, we'll see what happens. I'm
hopeful that Charlie is here for a long time.
Speaker 2 (24:45):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (24:45):
The tight end situation is hard to handicap in terms,
it really is, because it's like you could talk yourself
into keeping multiple you could go multiple different directions when
you look at this group knowing they're all free agents
and they're all good play. That's the thing, Like, I
don't think you look at that group and you there's
a weak link. Everyone does something differently, and I think
(25:06):
that a guy like a guy like Charlie, as you
mentioned it in the in the interview, he was a
receiving tight end coming out of college. He's just really
blocking was not his forte at all. But he's remade
himself into that role because of the opportunity that existed.
But he still has that ability to go up and
get the ball and catch it in traffic and probably
better hands than a lot of people realize, Like and
(25:27):
That's one of the things I really like about him
is that, like he has the ability to make some huge,
tough catches and so like he can be out there
and the defense can think, Okay, this is a running play,
and he's a perfect fit for like a play action
play where you need six yards, like he has made
for that type of play and of the goal line.
Like that's part of the reason I think he's been
able to get so open and these goal line plays
(25:48):
is because the defense will sell out to stop the
running game of Derrick Henry when here's Charlie Collar getting
wide open on a play that they just kind of
forget about him. He jokes about it, but that happens.
Speaker 1 (25:57):
It's kind of the perfect secret weapon. Yeah, you know,
he is this guy who blocks ninety five percent of
the time, but man, when you throw it to him,
he makes the most of his opportunities. Yeah, it makes
those plays. So it's really cool. I will say, you know,
the Ravens did bring in in his college roommate, which
we forgot to ask him about this, Jake Humble with
Those two are really good pals going back to Iowa State.
Speaker 2 (26:18):
So I didn't even realize there were roommates.
Speaker 1 (26:21):
Yeah, incentivize them to hang around. So it's pretty cool
having both of those guys here.
Speaker 2 (26:26):
Yeah, absolutely so.
Speaker 3 (26:27):
As always, you can email us at the lounge at
Ravens dot NFL dot net. Of course, the game coming
up on Sunday against the Minnesota Vikings, we are going
to do more of a deeper discussion on that game
coming up later this week and do a full preview
on what the Ravens need to do to get a win,
get their third straight win, and continue moving the season
in the right direction. Thank you so much for watching
and listening, and we'll be back with you again later
(26:49):
this week.
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