Press Conference (Cade Stover)

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Episode Transcript

(00:00):
And then before Pro day he cameup and we threw that night before Pro
Day, and we've I mean,we've stayed in touch. I feel like
pretty well, he's just some awesomehuman and even a better teammates. If
I could ask you quickly, whatdid you make of what he was able
to do after you saw him andyou played with him the year before and
he came on and did what hedid his rookie year? What did you

(00:20):
make of what he was able todo in his rookie season? Man,
I just to be honest with you, it was no surprise to me or
anybody in that Ohio State facility.Just we knew how to do a special
and when he got the chance,got over with the right people and the
right coaching staff. The dudes unbelievable. Brian Bearfield, Hey, Kay,

(00:44):
welcome to Houston. Brian Bearfield,Big Sarch Media for everybody just called me
storage, as you could tell bythe hats. So kay, I don't
want to take you back down memorylane for just one second. I just
looked up some of the stats.So you were in high school, you
were running back one thousand and fourand he said seven yards your senior year
seventeen touchdowns, linebacker, one hundredand sixty three tackles, four intersessions.

(01:06):
You broke your high school scoring recordin basketball overall athlete. Even when you
got to Ohio State, you didn'treally you were like a hybrid. They
didn't really know where to put youuntil you ended up at tight end.
So I say all that to askyou what the Houston Texans are getting an
athlete who's willing to play anywhere andeverywhere they need them. Correct, one

(01:29):
hundred percent. Yeah, that's onehundred percent, one hundred percent correct,
no doubt about it. I'll dowhatever we got to do here to win
ball games. And I mean theygot awesome players, awesome coaching staff,
so just super super blessed here.How much did that how much does that
background help you or help you toget through you know, college and now
get you to where you are today? Uh? I think every day I've
been thrown in a million different directions, pooling in a million different directions.

(01:53):
And to be honest with you,I mean nothing's ever gone like how it's
supposed to on pin the paper inmy life and my coaching career, so
I mean my playing career, excuseme, and it's just I think I'm
just I feel like I'm battle testedand i feel like I'm ready to go.
Thank you. Yeah cool, cool, You're unmute any better? Katie

(02:23):
got me? Yeah, I gotyou now. Cole Thompson USA Today Texans
Wire, Congratulations are getting drafted.I just heard you kind of mentioned a
little bit about coaching. You're talkingabout your coaching career, not your playing
career. Do you want to getinto coaching afterwards when you're done playing football?
No, no, no, Igot It's a lot of emotions going

(02:45):
through my body right now. Soregardless, No, I'm not playing on
getting coaching. I'm playing on justplaying as long as I can. Just
a quick follow up, and youlook at a guy like Tamiko Ryans,
who is a former player that isvery close to the league, only has
been out for seven years. Whatdoes it mean to be playing for somebody
who's translated over to this new sideof things but also understands what a player

(03:07):
goes through on the daily basis.I think that makes the biggest difference in
the world. And I think youcan tell by the way the players respect
him and just how and the jobhe's done in the short time he's been
there. I mean, the dude'sunbelievable. He seems like an unbelievable person.
I'm just really really excited to beable to plan n Nathan cod You.

(03:27):
Heyk Cody Davis from Sports Illustrated.You and I met at the NFL
COMBA. By the way, Yeah, I would like to know, man,
what are what type of tid endare the Houston Texans getting. Man,
I'll tell you what they're getting.Just a complete utility player. Basically,
I'm gonna do whatever you ask meto do at one hundred percent,

(03:50):
one hundred everything I got every singletime, and just I'm going to be
the exact glove in the locker room. I'm going to be a dude people
can come to when things go wrong. And I'm so excited to help his
team anyway I can. Kim,Hey, Kate, it's Kim Davis for
Chalk Talk. Congratulations on getting draftedby the Texans. Kind of following up

(04:11):
on what Cody just ask you fromyour conversation with c J. I know
he's spoken how you have the staff, but what do you know about this
just from what you've seen this offense? And although you're utility player. What
excites you most about it other thanobvigely playing with CJ. Man, I
just think one. I think DaltonSchultz is a great player. I've watched
a lot of his film growing up, and just even the last couple of

(04:34):
years study a lot of what hedoes, especially was on the Cowboys and
now just to be able to learnfrom a guy like that and take notes
and tips how he handles his lifeand everything, it's gonna be awesome for
right now, in long term downthe road. And one quick follow up,
what do you know about the cityof Houston. Have you spend an
time here? No? No,I trained in Brisco, Dallas for a

(04:56):
little bit for a couple of months, and then that was really about it.
Other than that, I've never reallybeen to Houston, but I mean,
I'm really excited to come. Allright, thank you the recording media,
you too, Aaron, Hey,Kate. When it comes to blocking,
some tight ends embrace it, somedo it because it's part of the

(05:18):
job. What's your mentality toward blocking? And I have a follow up,
Man, I love blocking, hI do. I'm gonna throw my face
in the fire chance I can get. I might always be pretty, but
I promise you're gonna get every ounceof power I got. And the draft
process as a proven guy, didyou go on a lot of visits?

(05:40):
Did you work out privately? Weare someones that you remember, And what
kind of level of activity did youhave with Texan's Combine meetings, et cetera.
Yeah, thank you, Yeah,we had. We had a formal
at the Combine and I've always,like I said, always talked to CJ
closely, So just having that andthen just throughout the prox we had a
couple of zoom calls here and there, and other than that, I mean,

(06:03):
I trained a state coach, Mickand coach at the trained coaches up
there with train a group of me, Tommy Iickenberg, and still Chambers,
my roommates that we lived with inthe afternoon, and that was really about
it. We just trained and playball at that point and the other teams.
Did you go on trips and thingslike that? We took one local
visit to the Bengals. That wasit. We have time for a couple

(06:26):
more. Go ahead, sarge,Oh, Kate, I know that you
know we asked you a lot ofquestions about playing with CJ. But You've
been scouted as a tight end,but can also be linked out to the
wide receiver position. Being at OhioState for as long as you were,
what did you pick up from alot of those great Ohio State wide receivers
they came through the time you werethere. You just watched. I mean,

(06:49):
you watch those guys go about howthey handle releases, how they handled
their feet atop in their routes andeverything like. I mean, for me,
I've never played it in my life, so starting you literally started from
the square one, absolute square one, so learning slowly with them, and
then I mean when you got thechance in the summers, I mean when
I was young, you got thechance to go train with Garrett in the

(07:09):
summer and the sand and stuff like. You just try and take little bits
and pieces of what people have justapply it to your game the best you
can, because not everybody's the same, so you just piece it together how
you feel can help you the most. Thank you. We'll close with Cole
Ad. I know that your backgroundis in defense from your time at Ohio
State that you translated over to theoffensive side to play tight end. What

(07:30):
kind of advantages are Houston's offense gettingwith you being able to understand kind of
coverages. And here's some folks.You're at the head tables. Obviously you
just heard it from Pastor Sarmoneo.Thank you guys, as an Archie heard,

(07:51):
I mean next to him are aspresident there to my far left.
You just heard from him a fewminutes ago. Coach Dave Moore from the
Mass and Tizer let me correct myself, state champion head coach that guys,

(08:13):
how you should be in the restednext to the Nate is his lovely wife
Rebecca and Lena has signed on tospeak to us next year. She is
going to be one of our speakers. What a great story. She works
with a lot of privileged kids andalso as a track coach and wrote a

(08:35):
book. So we've got a lotof stuff to cover with Rebecca, so
we're looking forward to that. Andthen obviously our speaker, mister Archie German.
I want to thank our sponsors aswe have been doing a Hall of
Season long Liberty Ford All Care promAll Cares, Prime Time Help Plan,

(09:01):
Wilkshire Golf Course, the Mary MotleyMemorial Fund, the Scholarship and doctor Peter
Ferguson Kyro Proctor a couple of announcementsthe history books that we give all of
our speakers. We had a fewlefts for the season. They were ten

(09:22):
bucks. They're going to be onsale for five dollars of all supplies last.
So if you wanted to pick oneup until you go in the back
and get one of those as well. The areloaded one kay got to fight
over. Don't forget. Next Mondayis our golf outing at Wilkshire, So

(09:43):
if you've got a team to register, please do that. See Bill Costello
obviously, and also we have Iknow there was individuals that needed to be
put on a team. So ifyou are looking for a team to jump
on, c Bill and he canget you squared away. Then following our
dinner that evening right here at Tozy, so we'll have some grave prizes and

(10:09):
door prizes, like I said,and some things to give away as well
as a grave meal prepared by thestaff here at Tozy. The Pro Football
Hall of Fame Residency program rolls along. I've been mentioning this every week,
and this past week was Willie Roadand Willie has some fun in town.

(10:31):
I had a chance to have dinnerwith Willie, but he's he loves,
he loves Caron, Ohio, andI love to see that these Hall of
famers come back and enjoy themselves herein their second home. So I can
tell you firsthand that Willy was reallyexcited about it. And this week we
have Lynn Swan, so you Steelerfans keep an eye out for Lyn Swan.

(10:58):
Caps and Boston talk about this everyweek. Series is two to one,
Boston winning the last game here inCleveland they played tonight, so the
cast can bounce back and see whatthey can do. Send them back to
Boston. We've got some birthdays whenit announced and a couple of these were
given them as I walked in today. Tim Richard birthday also, I know

(11:26):
he's back in the kitchen and workinghis butt off. Mike Josie's birthday today
as well. And this one isspecial, this one here. Please join
me and welcome me. Is heback here? Okay? Club member Bill
Pilotti. Bill turns ninety nine nextTuesday. You know, Will is a

(11:58):
World War Two veteran and fought inthe Battle of the Ballge So thank you.
And then finally, June eighth isthe National High School Football Hall of
Fame dinner or events, I guessyou call it. It is June eighth,

(12:24):
and Rgie is a member of thatHall of Fame as well. So
if you're interested and want to goto that this year, we've got some
great new Chinese and CRJ for moreinformation for tickets and things like that about
the event. So June eighth wewant to put on your calendar. So

(12:45):
again, no luncheon next week.This is our final week of the luncheon,
and then we will see you atthe golf outing and here at the
dinner next Monday night. Brings meto our speaker today, which we kind
of changing it up a little bit. Talked to Archie a couple weeks ago
and he said, how about ifwe just sit down and chat, And
I thought that was a great idea. Let's talk, shoot some questions to

(13:09):
him. We'll open it up tothe floor and do that. But before
we do that, I almost forgot. We've got a drawing. I can't
believe you guys didn't say it.I would keep that in mind. Three
and twenty dollars. That's our biggestone in the year. Ozzie's got the

(13:31):
money back there. We're to haveArchie drawing the ticket's next, I will

(14:03):
put in my glasses and never letme forget it. Nurt, I messed
up the mumpty ones seven seven fivesix four seven, three hundred and twenty
one dollars right now, right here, three hundred street seven five six four

(14:43):
seven. Decide, I'll eat myglasses on while I read Archie's bio,
because there's some really good stuff inhere, and I want to make sure
I get him bracky. Then we'regonna invite Archie over. We're gonna have
a seat, Aaron, and we'rein saw State. This is too ironic.

(15:05):
Born at University Hospital nearly in theshadow of Ohio Stadium, Archie Griffin
has been a Buckeye his whole life. After serving for eleven years as President
and CEO of the Ohio State AlumniAssociation, Archie stepped back in twenty fifteen
to a consultant role as a senioradvisor in the Office of Advancement at Ohio

(15:28):
State. During his tenure leading theOhio State University Alumni Association, Archie later
an expanded effort to embrace young alumniand began initiatives focusing on career assistance and
establishing an office of volunteer relations.Known to the world as the only two
time Heisman Trophy winner, Griffin isalso one of a select group of Buckeyes

(15:52):
to be named a three time AllAmerican during his playing days from nineteen seventy
two to nineteen seventy five. Iremember the National Football Foundation in College Hall
of Fame and current Board of Director. Griffin is a member of the Rose
Bowl Hall of Fame and was namedthe All American Century Player by the Tournament

(16:12):
of Roses Association during the centennial celebrationof the Rose Bowl back in twenty fourteen.
Griffin is one of two players inNCAA history to start in four Rose
Bowls. Following his story curer OhioState, Archie graduated in nineteen seventy six
with a degree in industrial relations.He was the first round draft choice of

(16:37):
the Cincinnati Bengals, where he servedas co captain and played for seven seasons.
He returned to Ohio State in nineteeneighty four and rose to become Associate
director of Athletics for sports before takingthe leadership role with the Alumni Association.
Playing under the legendary coach Woody Hayes, Archie learned a life lesson to playing

(16:59):
of paying forward in life, devotingaccountless hours to philanthropic causes. At Ohio
State, Archie created the Archie GriffinScholarship Fund, which benefits Ohio State's Olympic
sports programs in the central Ohio community. The Archie and Bonita Griffin Foundation Fund
helps develop sports, educational and travelprograms for youth as they aspire the next

(17:25):
generation to dream big. Archie hasthree children, Anthony, Andre and Adam,
as well as three grandchildren. Archieand his wife, Bonita split their
time now between Westerville and another homein Florida. Locally, Archie has been
inducted in the Ohio High School AthleticAssociation's Circle of Champions, which recognizes former

(17:49):
high school student athletes who have demonstratedoutstanding character and accomplishments on and off the
field. He was inducted into theNational Federation of State High School Association of
State High School Association of Hall ofFame in nineteen ninety six. He was
also honored in May of twenty fifteento be the commencement speaker during his spring

(18:11):
graduation ceremonies at Ohio State. Archiewas recently selected as the number four all
time player in college football history byESPN. I want to know who the
other three of legendary Ohio State coach. This is what's impressive here, Woody
Hayes said facously of Archie Griffin.He's a better young man than he is

(18:37):
a football player, and I've seena lot of great football players. A
sought after speaker and humanitarian, Archieserves on many boards and foundations. He's
a former director of Abercomery and Fish. Archie serves as a director of Vancovia
Insurance Company, member of the Boardof Directors for the Columbus Youth Foundation,

(18:57):
and a member of the board thedirectors for Triple A Club Alliance. That's
welcome two times I'sman Trophy winner,Archie River. Are you on? You're

(19:29):
over there? I think I'm on. Let me say this right, Thank
you so much. Unoly Christ Mymother and father were still living. I'm
sure they're the only ones who believeall those nice because well, you know
what, when when I got that, I looked at it and I said,
you know, I'm going to cutit down a little bit. But

(19:49):
I thought, now I don't needto, because we want to hear all
about Archie Griffin and uh, thisis a great opportunity. And as you
can see a lot of Scarlett Grayout there are a lot of and I
thought this would be great. Iknow you mentioned why don't we just sit
there and chat. I've got somequestions that I want to ask you and
let you elaborate on as well.So the first question is your your family.

(20:14):
It's a storied American story really whenyou think about it. Your parents
grew up in West Virginia coal miningcamps and before moving north to really offer
a better life for their kids.You were born in Columbus at University Hospital,
which was part of that biole.I mean you had to look out
and see that horse you out thereand say that's where I'm going to be.

(20:36):
Well, wish I could have lookedout there at this time. Quite
possible. Right When you think aboutyour childhood, who are some of your
greatest influences and help you stay ontrack? Well, you know what,
I guess I have to start athome with the family. You know,
I was very important to come froma fairly bard family. I've got six

(20:59):
brothers and one sister, and uh, my parents, Uh, they were
int priority. I mean Uh mymother and father. My father was one
of the hardest work with the menthat I everde I mean when you think
about it, uh he worked threejobs uh to support uh our families.
And uh my mother was ah ahomemaker and uh she did a wonderful job

(21:22):
with uh eight kids. And uhSo when you talk about people who were
in inspiration, uh, my folkswere in inspiration to me. Uh as
we were growing up. They theyhad priorities for us, and the first
one was for all of us,all of us to always trusted God.
Uh. Second one of all ofus to get an education, college education.
And the third one was for allof us to participate in sports.

(21:44):
And they wanted us to trust Godfirst because I always said to God as
they could told me like he couldhelp me in any situation that you might
find yourself in, and I willhardly believe that. And secondly, they
want us to have an education,college education, because there was something they
didn't get. I mean, theyhad a dream. Their dream was for
all peop their kids to graduate fromcollege. And I'm very hap to say
that that was a dream come truthwith them because all they didn't graduate from

(22:06):
college. And my mother and fatherwere living. They were so very very
proud that fact. Then the thirdpriority was for us to all participate in
athletics. And they want of Christifaiding athletics because they felt the athletics and
kind of rounds the person out.It teaches you a lot of valuable lifelong

(22:26):
lessons, things such as cause,will to win, copord pressure, get
along in the team situation, andall those things are very very important to
help you in life. Absolutely thatthat I mean that they were inspires man.
But there were others. There wereothers. I mean I how I
certainly think of my coaches, uhA coach has and my high school coach,
uh Bob Stewards, who uh Godlessons sold just passed away about a

(22:49):
year ago. Uh crede inspires man. But I when I when I really
think about people that made a difference, I think about a junior high school
guidance counselor. His name was OscarGiel. He was a guidance counselor for
our student council. He was theleader of our student counsel and when I
was in the eighth grade, ninthgrade, our service president of our student

(23:14):
council. And I just remember oneday him sitting down with us and talking
with us about some things that hethought would help us in our lives.
And what he talked to us aboutwas what he called the three d's,
and three d's being number one desired, number two dedication, and number three
determination. And I remember telling usthat if we'd apply those three d's to

(23:34):
anything that we wanted to do,then we could always feel good of our
subs because if we use those threed's, in essence, what we have
done is we have given a totalcommitment, desired, you know, setting
goals for yourself, dedication, committingyourself to a little goals, and determination.
Overcoming the officers and giving away Thosethree d's have been I would say,

(23:55):
my secret sauce for success because I'veused those three d's and just about
everything I've ever done in life.And I learned him from junior high school
guidance council by the name of theDistrict Hospital. Yeah, so those are
just some of the people that impassedme Franklin in a very very possible way
as I was coming up. Well, certainly has paid off for you,
you know, after your football dayswere over and you spent nineteen years in

(24:19):
the athletic department in Ohio State ateleven of those years as the alumni association
president. That let up was ontop of that nineteen it's right, and
that thirty thirty. I can't evenjust get away with thirty years nineteen grade

(24:41):
years to nineteen in the athletic department. Eleven more. Yeah, as as
our association president. What were someleadership lessons that he learned that he tried
to apply in the business group.Well, when you when you think about
leaderships, I'll think about the coachesin particular, But before you ever knew
that, the Golden group very basic. I try to make things simple.

(25:04):
The Golden group do unto others asyou wish they would to do unto you.
To me, that was one ofthe greatest things you can have as
a leader, and all that inthe meetings that you was treating people right.
That's right, I said. Ican't think of a leadership lesson any
better uh than that, treating peopleright, being empathetic, feeling what others

(25:30):
feel. I mean, that's that'sa a a great lesson, uh to
have when you're in a leadership grow. But I think the coach ads and
some of the things that I Ilearned from him. UH, coach Ad
was a great leader. I mean, and I think he was even a
better person than he was a coach. Yeah, I mean, I just
think that much of him. Buthe was a great leader. Uh.

(25:52):
He had great leadership qualities, dedicateddedicated to the house State University, dedicated
uh to the game of college,but well dedicated to the coaches who worked
for him. We had the playerswho played for UH. He was a
disciplinarian and he said, UH,fair, reasonable, ruth regulations and he
would enforce those rules of regulations.He was honest, reagularship less. He

(26:18):
can't think of the person more honestand what he hates UH and UH the
best thing about the best thing aboutis the fact that he cared about people.
That's what it made him such agreat person. I know people you
know talk about the incident that UHtook him out of the game, But
I could tell you as a guythat played UH for coaches who UH loved

(26:41):
coaches, that man cared about people. You all know. UH the pay
forward tern Uh, he really setthat pay forward term on the map.
I mean, he talked to usabout paying forward years and years before the
movie Ford came out or any ofuh signs that are on the House State

(27:03):
and then he talked about paying fory'all. I'll never forget that. He
used to always on Thursday nights,uh after practice. Uh it was a
life there practice, he would takeus uh over the children's hospital. Uh.
He had one of those El caminos. You guys remember the El Camino.
Uh it kind of t It wasn'ta truck, but it was uh
a car that had uh a openback. We jump in the back.

(27:26):
He takes us down the children's hospitalto to talk with the kids uh that
were the children's hospital, cause theyloved for the House State football players come
down and and talk with He knewthat. And every Thursday he takes a
couple of us uh down uh thechildren's hospital and talking on because he knew
that it uh had a positive impacton those kids Children's hospital. But he

(27:47):
cared a great deal uh about people. And when we talk about leadership,
you know, caring be dedicating,being honest, and certainly treating people right,
a characteristic that you want in yourleaders I'm gonna take you back to
your first game and then you talkabout perseverance and overcoming obstacles and things like

(28:11):
that. It didn't start off toogood for him. You wanna share that
story. Uh, well, itdidn't start off too good. Uh uh
my my first year Ohio State whenI when I been to recruited, uh
about Hog State. Though a lotof people told me I should go to
my house Steak. They said,uh that I was too small. They
said that, uh, you know, coach Age was only recruiting me so

(28:33):
that uh uh team up North,Uh, you know wouldn't get me.
He said, you know, you'llnever played for Ohio State because you know
you you're You're just not big enough. Coaches and when we had those big
bats, well over two hundred pounds, he was a fullback for he had
to coach. And then I shouldgo to a smaller school where I'd get
a chance to play well being anathlete. You know, I I I

(28:55):
felt I knew my billion Beard oranyone else. I took it as a
challenge, uh to go to HouseSteak. And I remember when I reported
to camp in the summer of nineteenseventy two. Now, some of you
might remember that nineteen seventy two wasthe uh uh very first year that they
UH that they allowed freshmen to playon marsity teams in the current areas.
That was the very first year.And you might remember that, UH if

(29:18):
there were those plane crashes, certainlyat Marshall and the Wichita State had playing
crashes and and Marshall, UH theywanted to continue UH their football program,
but they couldn't do it without freshmanplaying. So the NCAA, UH they
opened up freshman being help for everybody. And so that was the very first

(29:38):
year that freshman were I played wellwith that three the case. My number
one goal, UH was to makethe varsity team because I wanted to prove
to everybody who said, UH thatI couldn't play at a house state.
I wanted to prove to him thatI could play at a house state.
And I'll never forget when I reportedthe camp and in nineteen seventy two,
I was put in the back andput it to back. Been playing on
the fiftheen and playing on the fifteenben, playing on the s out squad.

(30:00):
I think some of you know whatthat is. That's more or less
the beach squad. I mean,we were the guys that took the beat
every day in practice from the firstteam is our job was to run the
opposing teams played while the first teamdefense got their practice off of bus.
You talk about discouraging, that wasreally discouraging. You know. For some
strange reason, that first team defenseseemed to know whether places we were running
and when we were running, soas a running back you couldn't gain any

(30:22):
yardage and all against that first team. Well, that year, our first
game was a home game and itwas against the University of Iowa. Because
it was a home game, CoachHayes he allowed everybody to address because he
believed that if you practice for OhioState that you should be identified at the
hid State University of uniform at ahome game. I was really happy about

(30:45):
that because that would the least showedthe DST part of the team, you
know, even though how it wason the fifteen at tailback, and then
even though that you know there werethree number forty five out on the field
that day was a ninety four UHcoach age nine. Before every game he
took all the varsity, all overthe varsity, which was about sixty four

(31:08):
players, he took them away toa hotel and big freshman of reserves uh.
We stayed in the dormitory. Wemet up at the varsity. The
end of the game, the statedthat game against I was started and we're
beating now were pretty bad and inthe fourth quarter it was a couple of
minutes to go to the game.Coach A decided to give a few freshmen
an opportunity to be played, andI was one of those freshmen. And
now I can remember him calling offthe bench to go into the game,

(31:30):
and I remember outcited. I wasbecause this was my big chance. If
I could get in the game,run for a touchdown and maybe he just
make a big play, he mightput me on that varsity team. And
again that was my goal. Iwanted to be a part of varsity.
I want to show everybody who saidthat I couldn't play at the house that
I wanted to show me I couldn'tplay a house team. Well, I
went into the game, got intothe huddle, and to my surprise,

(31:51):
the first player that was called wasan eighteen sweet Now in eighteen sweep was
a pitcher out to me going aroundthe right side. I mean, great
opportunity. We broke the all linedup in the eye information quarterbacks started to
call the signals, and as hestarted calling the signals, I got the
thing. I said, you know, I'm wondering ball with the line,
It's gonna open up the same packeof hole for me as they've opened up

(32:12):
for other running backs to around here. Because all day long they had to
make me big, huge probably runningback to around. So Sion was wondering
if they to do the same thingfor me. For the ball was snapping,
And as soon as the ball wassnapped, I did something that was
fundamentally wrong to see when you're runningback or a tailback and you're gonna get
a pitch out. One of thetunnament the things that you talk from day
one coach with butter Right, yougotta look the ball into your handle.

(32:35):
You gotta wash the ball come fromthe quarterback's hands into your own hands.
But when the ball was snapped,the first thing is I was I focused
my attention when the hole which Iwas gonna run through, And when I
looked towards that hole, I wasshocked because those guys that opened up a
hole big enough you could drive atruck throw of me a hole with just
that big So instead you turn itback towards the quarterback and watching the ball
come in my hand. I keptmy eyes on that hole because I wanna

(32:58):
make sure it didn't go anywhere.Men with my eyes gonna hold a quarterback
crystal ball throw. The ball hitme in the hands and I hung him.
And that's just one thing you don'tdo when you play for coach hause
me not from me now, asyou can imagine, I was disappointed.
He took me out of the gameand I watched the rest of the game,
which was not much left from thebench, very very disappointed. I'll

(33:23):
never forget going home that night.My father said something was wrong with me.
He asked me about I told him. I said, Daddy, know,
I don't know that I'll get anotherchance, you know, being the
fifty team tail back, being onthe scout squad, I don't know that
I'll just have him fumble. Idon't know that I'll get another chance this
year. But my father, likedhe always would do, is he gave

(33:44):
me a courage and he said heif they didn't think you could play,
they wouldn't put you in the game. And I struck a quarter with him.
He might have something there. ButI went back to practice that next
week. I was still on thefifth team, still on the scout squad,
still taking that meeting every day thefirst teamers. Our next game was
against the University of North Carolina,and it was also a home game.

(34:06):
And again because it was a homegame, everybody was allowed to dress now.
Before the game, coach took thevarsity away to the hotel with Scrashman
reserves stayed a good story, metup with the varsity gay the game of
the stadium game against North Carolina startedfirst quarter. North Carolina block the pun
of arms and they went ahead ofUS seven and up, and all of
a sudden midway through the first quarter, to call from the bench called Ben

(34:30):
Kevin calling Grimm. I knowing thatmet me going to so then Kevin carling
Griffin. I'm the only gripping onthe team at the time. So I
got up and went to run outonto the field. And when I went
to run out onto the field,one of my teammates called me back.
Because of all the excitement, Ihad forgotten to take my helmet with us.
To believe the coach Hayes meant forme to go into the game.

(34:52):
After I had pulled up the weekbefore, I would feel the team and
tailback. I was on the scoutssquad happily and ment me to go into
the game. It was truly amystery to me. All I could tell
you is if I went into thegame, and I'll be totally honest with
you, I was in a dazethe whole time. And all I know
is that my number was being calledand I was running with the ball.

(35:13):
And I'll never forget when I leftthat game after playing about two and a
half quarters. When I left thatgame, the eighty six thousand fans that
were in Ohouse Stadium and they stoodup that they gave me a standing ovation.
And they did that because those twoand a half quarters I brushed two
hundred and thirty nine yards. Butat that time, that time, that

(35:36):
was in Ohio state brushing record.Now, I'll just never ever ever forget
that I counted as a very Ireally knew it because the night before that
game, when I prayed it's upevery night, I asked to load up
the buck, give me a chanceto play in that game. And when
they give me the chance to play, help me play to the best of
my building. He did that forme and I'm so carried, very thankful

(35:57):
for that. I had a lotof exciting games in out, but that
that about doubt, was the mostexciting happened happened in my Fredman year.
Well it certainly fueled you, Iknow, because it's now been fifty years
since you won that Heisman Trophy,the first one. Yeah, and uh,
what what do you remember about thatnight at the ceremony. Well,

(36:22):
it's different now than it was whenI was when I wanted I'll never get
Uh. They called the Athletic departmenton a Monday after the Monday after we
played that team of Loydy, theycalled the Athletic department and told them that

(36:43):
I needed to be in New York. They were going to make an announcement
of the hide the Trophy winner.Uh. There will been two or three
others there, but they were goingto make the announcement who want to hide
control? So I was all excitedto go to New York on Tuesday.
Uh got on the plane. Uhthey had an escort beating in Columbus and

(37:04):
and UH escort me uh to uhNew York. And I got there and
I was the only one there.So they made the announcement that I wanted
to hide in the trump uh huh, and uh I was excited certainly.
Uh. You know I played onthe Great Teams at ohiose stating that UH
team was one of'em that nineteenseventy fourteen. Uh. But certainly I

(37:27):
was excited because you know when wewent a hide in the coach, as
far as I was servant, UH, that's a team award, because you
don't win that kind of uh awardyou don't got a ha people helping you
how to great him. And Icertainly had that during my time at a
house statement. Well, they madeit announcement that that day and then uh
the next week, Uh, mywhole family got the opportunity to come to

(37:51):
New York and they had the biguh dinner and that was very very special.
I got really emotional because uh lookingout to the audience, seeing my
whole family, my mother's father,my brothers, and my sister, I
mean everybody, H and J.I got over taken my emotion because that
was an also time for me.But the next year they tried to pull

(38:15):
that same thing right. They toldme they knew I knew the dream.
So I happened to be uh goingto Saint Clairsville, Ohio on that that
Monday after the Michigan game in nineteenseventy five, and so the sports information
director told me that h on myway, I needed to call in to

(38:40):
see if the Downtown Athletic Club inNew York called to tell me to come
uh to New York. Well,on my way to Saint Clairsville, I
I I stopped ut a filling stationand got on a pay phone and all
back to the Athletic department and uh, I think it was Steve Snaffles,
the assistant SID at the time.He told me that Downtown Athletic Club called

(39:06):
and said, uh that they knewthat I knew the drill and that I
hadn't won the highest control. ButI can't tell anybody, So I had
to wait till the next day togo to New York and they announced,
uh that I had won the secondhigh the troll, and I tried to
honor their request. How to tellyou? I did the best, told

(39:29):
my mother, my girlfriend and acouple of my teammates found out that night.
They didn't tell anybody. No,I don't think anybody tell me.
But yeah, Junie's quite different nowyou all know that it's a it's a
big, huge ceremony, it's aTV show on the ESPN, it's a
it's a great time for Everybody'd beena lot of it formber player, former

(39:50):
Winner's back. But it was quitea bit different back then. The nineteen
seventy four, nineteen I met thatgas station wishes. They knew that you
received the word and you won thehigh control you mentioned. You know,
it's changed. That has changed inthe game of football has changed as far
as N I L and the transferredportal and all this stuff that's that's happening

(40:15):
in the last few years. Yourthoughts on that, is it good for
college football or what are your thoughts? Well, it's a college sports in
general. It's it's it's good,but very good, it's a little bit
of bad. Let's say it's goodbecause when when when you you you think

(40:36):
in I L, let's talk aboutin I L you talk about an io.
I mean people could see that coming. I mean yeah, everybody could
see that coming. When you startseeing me and medon the dollars being paid,
uh to the college coaches, youjust had to know that something's got
to be given to the young people. Playing gaming. So you you you

(41:00):
could see that company. Now itdidn't come the way that I thought it
would come. I mean, II I I I I I think they
have to get some more regarded railsaround in IL and how it's done.
You know, I when I thoughtof nil us, I used to think
of nil as uh. You know, you you go to college on your

(41:21):
scholarship, Uh, you do welland maybe uh uh a car vidership might
want you to do a rehersional form. You do that comhersonal you get paid
for that was in IL the theway uh that I saw. Or if
somebody wanted you to do uh acompany wanted you to come in and do
a speaking and game for them,You do that speaking and gaming. You

(41:43):
get paid for it. And tome, that's what an Il was.
Well it's gone far beyond that now. You know you have to deal with
uh uh nil money uh when youwhen you recruit people you're not supposed to
be. But when when when peopleare being recruited, I mean, and
I even hear stories that uh somepeople are even asked uh ask'em when

(42:07):
to come to universities to pay themuh, like five thousand dollars to come
make business and think of that sort. That's not how I'm a visioned in
IL. So they need to getsome guard girls around it. But it's
a good thing. It's a goodthing that they have uh in im.
It's a good thing that uh playersor athletes are getting uh the opportunity uh
to make uh some money uh offof uh what they're doing. I I

(42:30):
I think that's a good thing.I've always been a proponent uh for that.
Uh. But at the same time, they've got to get some guard
girls around. I know the NCAAjust recently UH pass some rules where the
schools can get involved and in helpingkids with in IL. You know,
if they can use their marketing partnersuh to help kids get the thing in
IL just what's a goodness. It'sa good thing. But I've always felt

(42:52):
that the schools shouldn't be involved anyway, because I look at in IL as
something that if the schools had controlof it would be uh in a better
situation. You wouldn't have to dealwith the agents and all that stuff that's
uh getting involved in. Yeah,and when transfer portals or nothing, Yeah
there transfer moortal. I'll tell youit's uh it's crazy and it it works

(43:16):
for something. I mean there's beensome people that's gone through that transfer portal
and they've done a great job,that's worked out and win. But what
people don't know about are those thatget stuck in the portal. I mean
I think I think Jeanie Smith wastelling me that, uh, there were
up it was last year or ayear before, but you know, there
were like thirty five hundred people wentinto the portal. A thousand of them

(43:40):
didn't come out of the port Soyou know, it works for ways.
Yeah, so you've got to bevery very character how you handled uh whole
situations. So you know, it'suh, it works for something. I
mean I I think of you know, people like Joe Burke who who went
in and got the ls you andand it terrific things. Uh, people

(44:05):
like that. Those are the onesthat you hear about, but you don't
hear about the ones that get stuckin that portal. So, uh,
again, very good, there's alittle bit bad and keeping with change in
college football as a big ten guy, you know the landscape with a big
tennis change, We've got USC,Oregon, Washington, who else, Uh

(44:30):
you sail that you all coming uhinto the Big Ten. What what do
you make of that? Well?I can see that coming too, you
know when you when you when yousee uh the SEC and those teams,
I go on long like that.You knew that the Big Ten we was
gonna have an answer for that,and they answered be For a long time,

(44:52):
the Big Ten had been talking aboutbeing a conference uh that goes from
coast to coast and uh, nowI don't know if you can look at
him, uh, this year itwill be a conference from coast to coast,
from the east coast to the westcoast, and uh, you know,
I think it's exciting. I knowwhat he ages is probably rolling over
in his grave and know in uhU c L a USC are playing in

(45:15):
the Big Ten. Uh, Butuh you know I I I think it's
uh gonna be exciting uh to watch. I can't wait to see USC uc
L Egs come and playing us inNovember. And that's that's that's what I'm
reporting to. You know, itit it it's it's gonna be an It's

(45:36):
gonna be a shot, but youit it's gonna end up with, in
my opinion, a couple of superconferences. Uh. You know we we
just get to eighteen eighteen. Uh, so I can see the big ten
adding another couple and super see thesec adding some more. Uh, it's
it's gonna have you gonna have superconferences. You mentioned why I wanna go

(45:58):
back to uh the first time youmet what he hayes I. I've heard
just from a few people that haveknown over the years that when Wood he
came to the house a lot oftimes, he didn't talk football and football
all. Yeah, and tell usabout when he came to your house.
Well, first, first, youknow, he was a salesman. Oh
man, he he cat him inthe house, and he's got the parents

(46:22):
there. That's who he selling.You know, you just said it.
They sell the parents and uh.But the thing about about the coach is
that he he really didn't say anythingabout football at all. A matter of
fact, there was so much thatI thought, well, maybe he doesn't
want me to play football for me, you know, all he talking about

(46:43):
was an education and how much itwas for uh me to get into the
education. And uh, you know, so again, I I wasn't so
short that if you didn't wanted toplay football, But he continued to recruit
me so you know, I Ichold to go at the state and I'm
glad that I did because I'm neverforget it. And the first meeting that
we attended as freshman, UH,the first thing that they told all of

(47:05):
us was that if we were inschool for anything else other than to get
a good education, then we mightas well get up as either the meeting,
you had the same and stuff.But you always said that an athlete
without an education couldn't be headed fora bad situation. You know, when
you think about that, that's sovery true because when you you think about
the number of athletes that played thegame in football, I mean it's it's

(47:27):
huge. You know, over sixtythousand athletes UH played the game uh coming
out of uh uh high school,coming out of college. And when you
think of the number that made itin the pros, you know, it's
not any comparison because you've got thirtytwo pro teams, you got seven round
the draft. That's two hundred andtwenty four people, two hundred twenty four

(47:51):
hundred and sixty seventy thousand. It'snot very good out of you will make
a pointy coach as always tried tomake the hospital and that you had to
have something else to that fallback positionthat he constantly referred to that he drilled
in the huss was that you hadto have an education, You had to
have some have fallback position was alwaysyour education. But you know, making

(48:14):
good the be able to move outfor the campus. I know this is
my last question for you, andthen we're gonna open it up with a
couple of offers. Alright, Ialways wondered, and you know, I'm
watching your career. You know,you started off with a with a bad
fumble and and things like that,but you had such an incredible career after

(48:35):
that, and you played against somereally good teams, uh in the Rose
Bowls and and throughout the the regularseason. I mean the team up north
had some pretty good teams, sothey did, and and there were some
other teams IOWA back then was good, and there were some other teams.
Who was the toughest guy you everplayed against? Toughest guy playing kids?
A lot of tough guys, Alot of really really tough guys, you

(49:00):
know, I I I I'll I'llgo to about a pro career. Uh.
Uh one of the guys uh thatuh was really really tough to hit
me. The hardest was you rememberguys, remember Hollywood Henderson, Oh yeah,
yeah, I had something and hittingme so hard, hollering. Man.
I believe Kenny Anderson was throwing viarunning the past, but I was

(49:22):
the least man on pass playing.I was going out to side Kenny Anderson's
football up in the are. Itjust selet seemed like it took forever from
now, and when it came down, I thought it. Hollywood Henderson hit
me so hard. I mean,I of he hit me until the next
day. I he he need toget me so hard, and I'll never

(49:45):
forget that. And then I wasreading his book and he talked about that
kid. Yeah, that's how Ialready hit It was hard enough, but
he wanted to talk about it inhis book. He said I hit art
drifted so hard. I knocked boththe times and told me office guy.
I mean, and he did,he did. He did be hard.

(50:05):
Uh. But the other guys,I mean, you know, I've heard
you mentioned some of the Pittsburgh Steelers, and you know the Pro Football Hall
of Fame, A lot of FitzburghSteelers are in the Hall of Fame,
and one of'em, Jack Lamber. I mean he he he was one
of those guys Jack Lambert uh andand and not necessarily as the hardest hitter,

(50:27):
but he was the surest tip.I mean, you could never get
awaited for Jack Larville and I Ijust never forget how how he's uh used
to Uh wait when when when firstplayed a game on offense? I'll never
forget. Line up in the affirmationlooking across the line of spirits at Jack
Lamber. Now this is first playedthe game, can't just start right?

(50:52):
Jack Lambert had the blood all overhis uniform? Where did that come from?
Playing? Again? What did youdo in the locker room? And
never play? He had blowing allall over again. I mean, he's
just unbelievable. But he was agreat shut tackler. UH gonna loved playing

(51:13):
against uh. I I I likeit cause I actually knew a little bit
about him because he played its.Played with my brother Darrel at ken Staton's,
so I had an opportunity to watchhim play, uh even when I
was in high school. Was littleand uh and and he always be a
lot of petition while they went tocollege because he was those same teams as

(51:34):
one of my brothers. Well,I know these folks have some questions.
We're gonna open'em to the floorbefore Archie has to leave here, So
go ahead, Archie. Yes,sir A thousand, you mentioned that went
into the portal. Do they haveany choices? Well, they could ask
their team to let him back in, or they could, you know,
try to go to another team,try to get accepted on another team.

(51:58):
But you know, you go intothat portal, sometimes you can get lost
in that portal. I mean,the team that you left don't have to
take to get back. So that'sthat's what I'm saying. I mean,
it's one of those situations where youknow, you can go into that portal,
hopefully you'll come out, but youmight not come out, and you
hope you got other opportunities out therefor you to take. And most of

(52:22):
the time what will happen is they'llgo to maybe a lesser division of some
sort. But yeah, I mean, it's it's not just one way thing.
You don't go in and out ofmat get picked up by somebody.
Yes, let's say Cornelius Green story. Cornelia's Green story. Yeah, well

(52:44):
you all might remember Cornela's Green waspretty flaun being going into my six year.
I kind of know the layer ofthe land and everything and anything that
I can do to help them becomeacclimated and be a part of our team,
and we try to do that.So obviously I don't know, they
don't ask me, and uh,but my job is when they get here
to kind of help bring him alongas much as I can, because you

(53:07):
know, we'll go as far asthe quarterback goes. Good to see you
too, no longer here. Yeah, what was that that was going in?
Yeah, we were we were training. We trained at Bambritos together,

(53:30):
so I got to see him forthe most part of the off season,
and first of all, I washappy for him. Obviously, we know
that this is a business and youhave to do what's best for his career
and his future as well. Soyou know, obviously has familiarity with Joe
Brady. He had one of hisbest seasons with them, so you know,
I think he's gonna be a bigpart of their offense and continue to

(53:50):
grow as a receiver. You know, it's a lost for our room because
he's a dynamic playmaker. He canplay inside and out and just his energy.
Man, I think he really becameone of the favorite teammates on the
team because he kept things light.But he also was a really hard worker
and and uh made plays when weneed him to. So on a personal
standpoint, I'm definitely gonna you know, miss him having him in the building,
and he's kind of like the guyyou I get to talk to and

(54:14):
he's like my best friend. Buton the other hand, I get to
see him, you know, continuetake steps in his career. Uh,
he's still very young, so hehas a lot of good football ahead of
him. Literally king offense and howbe different the offense. Yeah, yeah,

(54:35):
we haven't honestly even started install yet, so I haven't even got a
lay of the land quite yet.I'll probably take a look at just got
our I pass within the last fewdays, so I'll try to take a
sneak peek at what we have lookingfor. But you know, I know
with him talking to zach Ertz,he does a great job of trying to
get his playmakers involved, which Ithink we have a really good group of
guys from the running backs, thereceivers, and some solid tight ends as

(54:58):
well. So I'm just looking forwardto see where I fit into that.
And you know, I think withhim, his biggest things is making sure
the playmakers are making plays and tryingto fit the scheme around that, which
is always good to hear, goodto see. Two, this is what
your offense? Yeah, yeah,it's definitely, you know, an adjustment

(55:27):
obviously when you're learning a new offense. And it's kind of the same mentality
I take into last year in yearspast, where you kind of just want
to take a day one approach,kind of erase what you've learned in the
past. But at the end ofthe day, I think, uh,
you know, schemes in the NFLare relatively similar. Is just the names
and the formations that may be alittle different. So just getting used to

(55:49):
the terminology and Cliff's offense is justgoing to be something that's adjustment for all
of us. But the good thingabout it is I got some good time
on my hands to really put somework in studying when I leave this place,
so I could come in here whenwe have walkthroughs and when we start
to put our helmets on, wecan really hit the ground running. So
so far it's we haven't learned anythingyet. But my approach is the saying,

(56:10):
try to take good notes in there, ask good questions and then study
on my own at night. Iknow you like to go to the Yeah,
yeah, I think I got somereally good work down in Florida.
Is just working on my footwork,just being better at the top of my

(56:31):
routes, sharper on my speed cuts, dig routes, out routes, and
just being cleaner with my footwork atthe top of the routes. I think,
you know, with a little bitof zone covers that we've seen in
the past with some teams kind ofrunning more too hot show, you're gonna
get a little bit more of catchtechnique where guys are kind of sitting at
the top of your route. SoI want to be better at being efficient

(56:52):
to gett out of those routes whenthe guy's kind of sitting at my depth,
whether it's a fifteen yard comeback ora twelve yard crowl out, you
know, being able to get outefficiently so I can keep create and keep
the separation within my route. Soobviously, I'm always still working on my
ball skills and making sure I'm justcatching a lot of footballs in the off

(57:12):
season, but just really being betterat the top of the routes, and
you know, sharper out of mycuts is something that I think I can
improve on. Good to see youtoo. You know, you're obviously one
of the leaders of this team andteam captain, and with so many new
faces, new players, locker room, what is the challenge you're going to
have and the other leaders in thatlocker room blend everything together because there's so

(57:37):
many new and different personalities. Now, yeah, I think I think that's
really started with coach Quinn in theway he's really integrated everybody over the first
two days. I think we haven'teven got into x's and oo's quite yet.
We've just really beginning to know oneanother, getting out there with Chad
and the strength coaches and getting somegood workouts in just kind of creating a
foster in an environment where everybody's thesame and continuing to have a competitive environment.

(58:02):
I think that brings out the bestin one another. And obviously,
you know, you have guys likeZach Ertz who's played a lot of football
and won a championship, Marcus Mariotaobviously, Bobby Wagner who's a future Hall
of Famer. So you got someguys who have been brought in here who
know what it's supposed to look likeat this level, And for myself,
I just want to continue to adduh my value and be even more vocal

(58:22):
this year than I have in thepast, especially with possibly a new quarterback
coming in. I think that canreally help our offense. Have you know,
some more unity with the guys whoknow what it looks like, helping
bringing those guys, the younger guysalong. I don't know, if you
had a chance to watch conference,he didn't want to use the word rebuild.

(58:43):
Yeah, changes going on franchise,all the new changes, new coaching
staff, all the new players.Is there a certain word use everything?
Honestly, I just think of itas a as a new year. Just
to talking to Sam Cosmy, we'vebeen here for a few years, so
it's a lot of new faces.I think, you know, this is

(59:05):
probably the most I would say turnoverwe've had in the last few years.
So there's guys coming from all differentareas, walks of life, and but
I think the one thing is thesame. They're all coming in looking for
an opportunity to compete, take anotherstep in their careers and prove that they're
one of the best players at theposition. And I think Coach Quinn has
emphasized that we're gonna have the opportunityto prove ourselves. Whether you're a ten

(59:30):
year vet or a second year player, you know, this is a clean
slate for everybody. So I thinkit's just about getting on the same page,
enjoying coming in here and working together, and also just pushing each other
in these workouts, and then whenwe start getting on the field, really
get that competition going, try tosimulate as we go along in this off
season process of how the games aregoing to be. Hey, how are

(59:58):
you doing? Good to see too? Yeah, I think Coach Quinn has
really assemble assembled a very unique groupof coaches. There's multiple head coaches,

(01:00:19):
there's multiple quarter uh coordinators have comefrom different places, and so you have
guys who have a lot of footballexperience, some have played, some have
coached in big games, and thenyou bring in, you know, the
the talent that we have defensively andoffensively, and I just think you can
feel the unity and the sameness inin the message that he's trying to preach

(01:00:40):
to our team, and it's we'regonna be tough and we're going to be
competitive, but we're also going tohave fun and he like I think he
said in your Guys interview, hesaid he likes to do you know,
hardship with good people. So Ithink that's fun. You know, a
guy like me likes to put mynose down and grind and work. So
I know him and I are goingto continue to hit it off. And

(01:01:01):
you know it's just my job tohelp bring other guys along with me.
Thank you more. What does itlook like to take your next step as
a vocal leader? Yeah? Whatdoes that mean to you? I think
for me, I've grown a lotin my vocal leadership. I think I

(01:01:22):
try to always find the balance ofwhen to say something, when not to
say something. I think I neverwant I've always wanted to be a person
when I say something that means somethinglike you don't want to be You're giving
all the motivational speeches, but you'renot backing up with your play, or
you're you're talking so much you're kindof your message get drowned out. And
so it's kind of continue to findthat balance of when to say things and

(01:01:44):
when to kind of just take astep back. But I think I've I've
gotten a really good feel of howto do that. I think obviously with
a new coaching staff, you justtry to understand what they how they want
things done, and you try toyou know, bring what you do well
into that and you also try toencour as the guys who haven't taken those
steps in their career to do thatas well. So I think for me

(01:02:05):
is just really starting in my position. Group. I think we have still
a very young group, kind ofinexperience for the most part, but I
think we have a lot of talentin there, and it's just my job,
in Bobby's job, and to conteeto bring that group of being part
of this program and you know,just contribute as much as I can.
What was the major point for youto decide as a RAMS? You know,

(01:02:30):
I had some familiarity with Stafford,you know, I had him my
rookie year, and you know,I've seen the pieces to the puzzle and
you know, the ability to youknow, possibly make it all the way
and I definitely wanted to be apart of something like that. Thank you,
Jorton, Hi Jana, welcome toLos Angeles and Jordan with the athletic

(01:02:52):
congratulations. Thank you Jordan, andso we respect the watch placement here on
the on thet I'm actually at Igot it on the wrong one, but
I'm kind of ambidexter, so wecan forgive it. I just wanted to
get your a little bit deeper takeawaysof what you make of the personnel along

(01:03:13):
this offensive front, showing up KevinDotson on the opposite side of you at
guard and then Steve bobbyla probably movingto center. Your impressions of those guys.
I know you haven't you know,been down on the ground for that
long, but just from afar,what you make of those guys and Rob
Hanstein and Alerc Jackson on the outsides. Yeah, I mean we've had some
cross tape through the season, soI was able to see like the work

(01:03:36):
that they do, and uh,you know, that's a powerful bunch.
I came out the same year asDotson, so I had some familiarity with
him through college, and uh,you know, watching him, Steven Alaric
and Rob, you know that's athat's a good group, kind of similar
to what we have in Detroit,and you know there's there's some specialness there.
So I'm excited to be a partof it, you know. Sean

(01:03:58):
McVay has praised, uh, alot of the run game that you guys
deployed, particularly kind of getting alittle bit more to the duo, the
man blocking and the gap stuff,as as a lot of the teams shift
we're still on the outside stuff.Is there when you watch that cross tape?
Is there a crossover in your mindof things that you're already comfortable with
that the Rams last year started reallyinstalling and deploying behind some of these new

(01:04:23):
personnel. Oh yeah, I meanthe gap scheme and the duo just in
general is probably are bread and butterand Detroit and Glad I said bread and
butter over here, So you knowthis is that's not going to be too
hard of a transition. And youknow things like that are right up my
alley. And then finally, youknow Matthew Stafford. I know you had

(01:04:44):
familiar with him your rookie year,but watching from afar what he was able
to do in LA and you knowwe saw him kind of get back to
help being healthy last year. Assomeone who is going to be protecting him,
how do you describe him? Howwould you describe what what he's good
at and what you need to doto protect him. I mean he's in
Detroit. We called him the Wizard. You know, he can figure it

(01:05:05):
all out and he can make anythinghappen. And you know, I'm excited
to be able to protect him andyou know, let him make us look
good and make plays happen. ThanksJohn, Congratulations, Thank you. Adam.
Hey Jo, I'm Adam with theOrange County Register. Congratulations, Thanks

(01:05:26):
Adam, appreciate it. Yeah,I'm curious kind of what the process looks
like. You know, you athree year turns about two hours into free
agency. What do those two hourslook like? Who are you talking to?
You talk to anyone with the rangepersonally, It's like, just what
do those two hours look like foryou? Actually, me and my wife
you were just sitting at home andlike the I guess twelve o'clock hit and

(01:05:48):
we were like, we thought itwas going to be like an idiot and
you know, mayhem and kind ofsat there for like forty five minutes,
and my agent was calling me.He was like, what do you think
of Los Angeles? And I waslike, doesn't sound too shabby. And
we talked about it, and youknow, it sounded like the right move,
good weather, good place to begood, winning culture, great staff,

(01:06:10):
and you know, just everything overallwas just a plus. So we
couldn't deny that. I know,it's kind of the nature of the business.
What is it like or to makea decision like that, by such
a light altering decision like that onsuch short notice. Yeah, I mean
it is. It is pretty crazy, you know, just the the amount

(01:06:31):
of timing you have. But youknow, you kind of have a I
don't know, I've been on theoutside looking in at this place for a
while, so I kind of hada general idea what's going on, and
a lot of familiarity within our building. Like Brad Holmes, you know,
he was from here, so Ikind of got a feel of the people
that, you know, they they'vebeen around and how they run things.
So I kind of got a goodfeel about how it would be here.

(01:06:55):
Thank you. Study Jonas Tou Jacksonfrom the Rams Dot comedy Beneath You man,
my fellow Jackson brother, what's up? Man? Hey, what's up?
Listen that you spent most of yourfootball career, whether it be you
know, college or obviously the NFLnow in the Midwest or East coast,

(01:07:16):
so now that you're here, what'sit like just being out here and you
know, being in southern California now, I will say the weather is beautiful,
you know, it's excellent and definitelygoing to miss the East Coach.
You know, I've I've got alot of roots there at the Midwest,
you know, I've started a lotthere, but nothing like new beginnings and
no better place to be in here. And I guess what did you notice

(01:07:40):
about just this offense from Afar?I know Jordan asked you about some of
the specifics with schematic carryover, butyou know, beyond that, beyond Matthew
Stafford, what it would appeal toyou about being a part of this offense
and being a part of this team, beyond those things. Yeah, just
I mean a lot of similarities onwhat we do, you know, the
gap scheme, play action and youknow, having to drop back. You

(01:08:00):
know, I'm comfortable in whatever we'vehad. I've had eight this should be
I think nine now nine different offensivecoordinators since I started college. So I'm
comfortable on whatever. It doesn't reallymatter. But like I said, the
pieces to the puzzle were, youknow, incredible, whether it's the wide
receivers, the running back, theQB, the old line, the defense.
You know, it's it's a it'sa pretty good team over here,

(01:08:24):
so I'm excited to be a partof it. Thanks you so much.
Appreciate it, Geary, Hi Jonah, Gary Client from the Los Angeles Times,
welcome the lost sir. Thank youGary. I'm curious think what was
it like to be part of youknow, Alliances, an organization that enjoyed

(01:08:46):
that verge last season, And what, if anything are your memories of playing
against the Rams in that wild ourgame at work Field. Yeah, you
know, being a part of something, you know, and Detroit where for
so long that the city was dyingfor a winner and being able to bring
it there and and you know,change the trajectory of everything and and bring

(01:09:09):
some light to the situation. Itwas awesome and there's nothing like it.
But you know, when when youwhen you face the l A. Rams,
you know they got they got aspecial defense, and you know up
front they they got the guys.You know, so that's a good sir.
I don't mess with not fair.Will you talk about the differences between

(01:09:36):
left and right and just I mean, obviously it's different size of it,
but is it schematically or is itphysically anything different. It's more mentally anything
though, like less, I wasalways my best side back in college,
but it's since I got to alwaysbeen playing right. But you know,
it's a it's a good challenge forme and I can show people I can
as you play right and left,so it's a versatility then, so I'm

(01:09:59):
back we bound there. You movedaround a lot throughout your career where there's
jumbo side you'll tackle I guess inthe sentence and playing a book and left
on the right side. Do youthink you kind of benefit from focusing a
little bit more on the right center, Uh, a little bit, But
you know, there is a newsystem that we have, like il playing
my mindset most in the right,but also have my mind set of love
too, just in case something that'shappening to like you know what I mean,

(01:10:20):
like Coughtland or you know Pete ofcourse, but I'm always gonna be
ready for the left no matter what. How quickly have you felt like you
picked up this new system that you'reworking in now? Oh, it's a
we actually picked up picked up prettywell cause it's the same system that I'm
used to back in the hof.See, cause we're more like spread back
at how I say, so youknow it's pretty good f one of like

(01:10:43):
the draft process off season, asa lot of people outside the building,
chair readers getting right tack, Yeah, a lot of yeah, alright now,
A lot of people in the buildingwere like we have the right time.
A lot of people get motivated bythat. You followed it like if
you had nature doing it, thoughI don't I read into it a little
bit. But also the same time, like they not here of course,
but I don't really care what theysay. I know what I can do,

(01:11:04):
and the team know I what Ican do, so they trusting me
right now, and I'm not gonnalive in lay down. How hard or
how easy is that to compartmentalize thatand use that as fuel going forward rather
than the kind of maritated it,uh, I j I just keep the
seats. Everybody knows that one personI don't really care for him at Allso
that's all go. But it's alllove. I love uh outside of this,

(01:11:27):
but keep it on me, keepit better, keep on these nights,
doe what I can do there.You've been a outspoken about your supporter
of Zamir, and obviously it's justa chance now to beat the doctor.
Wait, what is it about himthat you bought in so early? The
reason why I bought some earliest causeus I was at a house they they
always taught us actually act so giving, And ever since I got here,

(01:11:48):
i'm'a always wanna go get and Igotta picked late, and I always wanna
prove people wrong. You know,I think prove people be wrong all my
life. I don't wanna keep doingthat. What's gong doing? Which I
guess more just like all predicting,like the set, you feel like a
community. This year you have nineeight difference nine they difference from my first

(01:12:08):
year, in my second year tonow like now, I'm my alright,
I know I can play. Iknow I can go ahead and to one
of the best special Atlans, anybodyelse that we want to play this year,
and I know why I can doso. All gotta do now is
as you meet my potential and shoulddo it and help everybody else out on
the team as well. You've practiceda lot against Malcolm and he's really come
into his own. What is itabout Malcolm that's helped him make that next

(01:12:30):
step? There? Man, Malcolm, he's quiet, he doesn't really say
too much. He comes in thework every day, do what he does,
and he works hard. He doesn'tplait twice at anything. Yeah,
he'll get mad over a co restwells. At the same time that like
he has a mentality of adult likehe's he don't really care what y'all ain't
or anybody else, thanks for real. So it's just like, alright,

(01:12:50):
just keep going. That's how everybodyis on the team about ty raising too.
Yet that same mindset he does havethe same mindset who who do little
nervous but uh nah, he nah. He has definitely grown up a lot
from this like first year here tonow, like he has name, but

(01:13:12):
he's keeps growing up a lot mentallytoo. I'll tell you, guys are
reimagining the offensive line a little bitwith you out there right side, uh
uh farm there next to you onthe on on west side too, and
then drafting the guys on the linehere. How long exciting is that to
be part of something that's that's kindof being you know, having that trust
but also being reinvented a little bit. That's great, you know, But
me and doing those like they gonnakeep replacing us, of course, But

(01:13:33):
all the same time. We gottakeep going, you know, became just
really think about what they did.All we gotta do is think about what
what came to do with you?Better in fourteen theme as well. Sorry
they don't put a lot on numberoutside a little bit more and how how
well are you guys working everything together? The working pretty well? You know
you say for the rest we hadlike a a little rooky moment a little

(01:13:53):
bit, but you know, meand him, that's been great friends.
You know, I try like mybrother and I always will. You know,
we talking every day about how canwe get better? Help can we
help each other out on the onthe right side. So we think you
made a connection. You just playedlike Friday gain do you think of that?
What do you at the end itself? Playing like the Wednesday Christmas and

(01:14:15):
all that stuff. They gotta seeus then you gotta see us first.
I really care about that. It'skind of a play. Russe knows that,
Uh, we're competing against each otherevery day. Him being out there
for me that you know, helpsme getting better, Uh, us pushing
each other. So I mean,I definitely don't have the mindset of you
know me just you know, sittingall year. So you know, I'm

(01:14:38):
coming in every day giving it allI got and you know, pushing him
to be his best, and he's, you know, pushing me to be
my best each and every day.So I appreciate that you two had a
relationship before this. Yeah, isit kind of does this kind of helping
growing on as you're on the sameteam. Uh, I mean, yeah,
you know, the first time Iever talked to Russell was when I
was in college, So you know, we've we've we've known each other,
uh for for a good bit now. And Uh, the fact that I

(01:14:59):
get to you know, learned stufffrom him. You know that the things
that he's accomplished, you know,up to this point in his career has
been great. So just me learningjust a little details, how he's so
meticulous in detail within every rep,every individual drill just kind of makes me
think, like, you know,that's what I should be doing each and
every time. So I'm I'm gladto have him here and glad to you
know, be able to learn fromhim. Just how do you look back

(01:15:19):
over the time that's up? It'sjust really good? You said, how
do you look back on the timein Chicago? Yeah, I mean there's
a lot of ups and downs,but all in all, I appreciate every
relationship that I built. All myteammates, they know that, nothing but
love for the city, for thefans, and uh from my you know,
old teammates and coaches, did youfeel they did everything they should have

(01:15:40):
done to associate. I'm not reallygonna, you know, harp on the
past. It is what it is. It's it's in the past. Now
I'm here now. So like Isaid, I'm grateful to be here and
grateful what it'll be a part ofthe team. Why do you like,
Jack Haven that you're treated at teno'clock the time you know you a sleep
that night or are you on thefield? What kind of happens after you
get that here? I mean,yeah, I mean I've been dealing with
you know, people for you know, a long time. So my exit

(01:16:00):
meeting, you know, we werein the same situation last year with the
having the number one pick, andit was just a little bit different this
year. So I mean, I'mnot I'm not naive to the fact that
you know, I can read bodylanguages and stuff like that, so it
wasn't really just a shock to whereit's like ah, I got traded.
Like I I I knew what wasgonna happen beforehand. So I'm just glad
I got, you know, tradedto the spot that I wanted to be
at. So yeah, I thinkso I think when you're just you know,

(01:16:27):
waiting, cause I knew I wasgonna get traded, you know,
at the end of the day,that's That's just what it was. So
it was just you know, uh, just me waiting and you know,
me you know, trying to figureout where I'm gonna be at and uh
stuff like that. It was definitelya relief to you know, kind of
be on the team and uh knowwhere I'm gonna be at a really good
situation because yeah, yeah, Imean, you know, shout out to

(01:16:49):
uh uh you know Posy, Hey, you know who would communicate it to
to him, you know, throughmy agent, and you know, I
told him where I wanted to beand this was a place I wanted to
be. So you know he's uh, you know honored that, and I
appreciate him for that, and uhglad he was uh able to put me
in the spot where where I wantedto be at. What needs to go
right for you to become the guynow. You know you kind of envisioned

(01:17:10):
when you came out in the firstround, but you said, what needs
to go right? Yeah, Imean, I mean, I know you're
gonna put the work in, butyou're gonna get spot And what are the
little things that you think it's gonnatake to get you to become the guy
that we all? I think,me, I just gotta, you know,
keep working every day, like Isaid before, just being detailed and
every drill, not taking the dayoff. And I'm just good having rest
here learning from him. I waspushing each other each and every day.

(01:17:31):
So you know, I think justcontrolling what I can control every time I
step on the field, you know, just just fall out and uh,
played to the best of my abilitiesand you know, let let let God
handle the rest. So what kindthat has been on the team has been
helpful to you or closest to youas far as getting used to the team,
the organization, the plays, justworking in practice. Yeah, I
mean, uh, it's a newoffense, so nobody really has been in

(01:17:53):
the offense before. But I meanthere's a lot of young guys on the
team, so I think just thatfact right there, it's easier to communicate
with people and kind of just youknow, kind of just built that relationship
cause you have so much in commonalready. So I've already uh hung out
with a handful of guys on theteam. I already built those relationships,
and you know, we're just gonnacontinue to grow get closer with each other
and you know, ready ready touh get to playing this season. Soff

(01:18:15):
justin what was it about this teamthis situation that appealed to you? Uh,
just the culture I really think atOhio State. I think there was
a video that dropped with you know, Coach T. I I can just
you know, feel the energy andjust you know, just the consistency throughout
the years and the culture that CoachT has and just the standard that you
know, the Steelers have have set, this organization has set. So I

(01:18:35):
think that was the biggest a pealfor me. And you know, our
defense is always you know, gonnatop tier and you can't you can't win
games without defense. So yeah,just just the culture Coach T and you
know, of course the the teamitself. So it wasn't an issue that
it was a situation where they hadlike literally days before had gotten a guy
that they said this is gonna beour start. Nah. I mean I

(01:18:57):
wanted to come here before Russ gothere and after too, So it was
it was more so the team,not you know, not worried about who
was here, none of that sense. So yeah, first thought to Pittsburgh
when he got here. That FUcity. The people. I mean,
yeah, I will say this,I think Pittsburgh has one of the or
has a lot of nice people.That's one thing I've noticed. Like I've
taken a few ubers to the airportand I've had full thirty minute conversations with

(01:19:19):
uber uber driver. So yeah,just just people, uh you know,
their generosity, they're their niceness.I'm going out and people don't even know
who I am. They're just beingso nice to me. So I think
that's one thing I've noticed. Andthen I started going on the walks this
past offseason, so just the differentviews of the city, the bridges and
stuff like that. It's is prettycool to me. So, but do
you know, the offense is new, it's just day one, But from

(01:19:39):
what you've learned so far, howdo you feel like Arthur Smith's offense is
going to put your skill sets onthe future. I mean, yeah,
I think, uh, you know, he's he's had experience with you know,
doing third quarterbacks a lot of quarterbacksin the past, Ryan Marcus of
course, Desmond and Tyler in thepast past few years. So you know,
he knows how to play to hisplayers strengths. And you know,
of course he's new here too,so he's gotta figure out, you know,

(01:20:00):
what guys do, uh, whatthings the best way, and you
know, we're just gonna keep buildagain, getting better every day. But
I definitely you know, trust himto you know, put everybody in the
right spot to uh have as muchdo where where he's got his two cents
on it, which is, youknow, always the best two cents I've
heard. But me being who Iam, you know, I'm I'm I'm
gonna throw my two cents in there, you know. So that's just uh,

(01:20:20):
it's been awesome, man. WeHe's he's a you know, a
resource for me, just a personthat I can always bounce my thoughts off
of. And now, you know, just a year you said, thirteen
months, now I feel more comfortablejust you know, bringing certain things up.
You know, you never you neverwanna come off too strong. But
I'm a curious guy. I gota lot of questions. I like,
I like football a lot. Ilike to talk talk the games. So

(01:20:41):
you know, come to find outhe's the exact same. So we uh,
you know, we get along welland and uh, we're gonna keep
keep building that relationship. Sometimes inthis league playing you know, eighteen games,
they trying to make a twenty.You know, that's like it sound
like a little a little fever dreamto be honest, but but uh,
if we can find a way tok you know, stay up right out
there, keep keep airing on hisfeet. You know, I'm excited for
that and uh, everything that comeswith it. But uh but yeah,

(01:21:02):
like I said, man, that'sit's it's harder said than uh or harder
done. And said, I guessyou know, it's one of those things.
It's like that's a lot of games, you know, all of a
sudden, take a lot of hits. They take a lot of hits where
they're not looking, and it's justhow can we keep him healthy? Yeah?
Yeah, are you when do youthink? I do you ever see
the room now? Positions you guyshave mean when you want healthy and everything
like that, you know, I'mexcited to see it at at full health.

(01:21:25):
You know, we've i haven't gotto see all the all the guys
out there at once. And andyou know, it's one of those positions
where every day is something might happento Nick up. You know, it's
just a a tough position to stayout there at all times. But I
feel like we got a great groupand and the number one thing is how
can we stay healthy? How canwe you know, I'll be out on
the field, and I think havingdepth like this and the group you have

(01:21:45):
is gonna help us. Having guysthat can do different things, that can
go catch ball over the middle,all types of things that it's gonna take
some of the strain off off allof us. You know. It's it's
a good group. So I'm excitedto, uh, you know, get
out there. I feel like wehaven't had the whole whole thing together.
But you know, come season time, Maroland, it's gonna be exciting.
What about God is in your wholenumber? Yeah? Yeah, Like yeah,

(01:22:06):
man, he's uh, it wasa brute and then once he catches
the ball, I mean he's he'sgot great instincts of where the defense is
gonna be at how to make someonemiss Yeah, man, just just player
forever, you know what I mean. When I was talking about his plans,
so you know, you you wishtransitions like one of those fair intel

(01:22:27):
like you. But but again eitherway, you know, we talked about
it. You know, that's that'sthe how goes, you know. But
obviously you know he's he's he's beenone of my bigges supporters. Again,
I affect everybody leads in their ownway, you know, not everybody's the

(01:22:50):
guys coming around like and that's noteverybody, right Like I think for me,
that's me specifically on game day withthe old line after we do like
that's my like, well Hump didlike that's my like big vocal time.
I feel like I've talked to Humpabout this, you know, just recently

(01:23:11):
talking about how what I want todo for the room is I want to
bring that Hump energy that he broughtright so last year, of course some
traits were doing it for years,but the year I spent with him,
he brought a lot of the energyand excitement and the happiness in the room
was just his natural energy to whereI only had to focus on me.

(01:23:33):
You know I didn't have to makesure other other guys are you know,
feel some type of way when theycame in here because Hump brought that.
But out of Hump's not here,but I saw what he did for the
room. I want to be thatguy to make sure everyone's amp to go
to practice, everybody's hype. Weren'ttaking the field team on period, you

(01:23:54):
know it's a low day or something. You know, it's a it's a
but like I want to make itfeel like a tripper right now. I
wanna bring that cause that's what weand Home did with each other. We
will hp each other up. Dudes, like dudes were about to be walked
through. We're lit. So Iwanna do that. I wanna bring that
energy. I wanna make bring moreguys you know, to do that.
You know, yeah, I wantedto do that from day one, you

(01:24:15):
know, I kind of I wantedto do that from day one, from
just talking to him, and obviouslyit's that time. I spend the off
season before OTA started just being inmyself, just thinking about what the room
needs, you know, because Iknow I knew a new role as one
of the leaders, you know onmy offense is that we need a guy

(01:24:41):
like that that's gonna make sure theold line is picked up ready to go
every day and it was held accountable. Little things aren't happened to practice,
people aren't saying anything. And howI may lead maybe different than somebody else
may lead. You know, Ilike to a practice at least like the
legal positivity, you know what Imean. So, but he the energy
had went beyond just the hyped upthe dale and stuff too. So that's

(01:25:04):
kind of how I wanna be sgoal mine literally my whole life. I
wanna be a NFL team captain,like specifically the NFL. I wasn't a
captain of high school, wasn't acaptain of college. But I made a
joke when I was in high school. It's like, did I feel like
I'm not gonna be a captain tilI get to the NFL. Yeah,

(01:25:26):
but that would be awesome, youknow, but you know, if it
happens, I'd be great. Butnot either way, I wanna assume a
role as a captain from the respectof the guys on the team they did
do award to and to get backto that world. Yeah, I mean
I can't say that. I meanI guess the biggest thing is that I

(01:25:46):
felt like it has felt like howit you used to in the past.
But it didn't take just the firstday OTAs. It took training left and
right once the season ended, causeI didn't know what what it was gonna
be sure, so it took alot of yeah reps just to get back
to feeling like myself for day oneOTAs and then that whole first week.

(01:26:12):
But now like today, specifically justchanging some small things with my feet.
I good today talking about a linecoach about some things I can do with
my feet to get to the liketo sell at the traditional angle that I
love to set on. Felt evenI thought I felt, I thought I
felt great already by my kat Ifelt even better. So I'm even more
excited tomorrow. And now I'm gettingmy feedback and how I liked it the

(01:26:32):
right side and on the left side, So I'm excited. I mean,
obviously, I feel like in theleague, whether I left or right,
you're still going against premier guys,so obviously you have high expectations for your
left hand or right tackle. Butthere's definitely uh like the the level of
energy and like the expectations definitely takingthe human spect cause now connected the black

(01:26:56):
side, that's the that's the tackleroll, you know. So so yeah,
I would say in terms of communicationas far as just even outside the
facility and just stuff like that,like really creating that the tackle quarterback bond
even more off the field, Ithink has been something that's even been cool.
I got a text one day,I's like, hey, like you

(01:27:18):
play left and I was like,yeah, you know, yeah, I've
been training both. I've been trainingboth, you know. I I asked
after the season. They're like,honestly, you know, we'll talk to
you. So play in the season. And I just got a text me
like depending on what happens with withthe free agency then. So I was
like, you know what, Ihad a whole season right tackle, So

(01:27:40):
if I get the word, I'mgoing I'm standing right tackle. I don't
just do what I did before.I'm built on that bus. I was
like, I might as wells trainthe left tackle now as if I'm gonna
be left tackle, and I'd ratherdo that than training on right tackle with
the KO. Hey you're left tackle. I'm like, oh, I didn't
even switch my feet yet, youknow what I mean. So I'm like,
let me just prepare them, andso I said, yeah, it

(01:28:00):
was God. You know, Ithink occasionally on third down there would be
a lot of twists. I wouldjust know like it's automatically coming. And
I fact, that was my mindsetfor like the first half of a season,
like I didn't have to go intoa game and with surprise like oh
my gosh, they did that.I kind of figured like, okay,
like this is this is the typeof rush mint again, this is how
this guy usually rushes. But Iget the vibe, this is how the

(01:28:23):
ends like the rush you know,tackles that are you know, first year
guys who got the premiere patch on. I already knew what it was gonna
be, already knew of every stuntand honestly just knowing that it's kind of
an advantage too. So you're notyou're not you're not old. They brought
the twist on my side of game. It was never an Aaron Donald like
you know they're coming out the mindeslike three plays in a row in two

(01:28:44):
minutes. I knew that it wasgonna win. It happen, so like
you know what I mean, I'mwatching more than everybody else and he rarely
England goes out there on occasional thirddowns on the d N. I was
like, al, you know it'sgonna be He's gonna pick me, you
know what I mean, so factfact it's kind of it's also kind of
advantage in the way, but that'salso excited, like, Okay, I'm
gonna get the hardest look. Youknow those are real, real reps,

(01:29:08):
you know what. The thing soreally kind of process. I was like,
hey, when they tell me Ididn't do that, I guess the
interview process were about how you mightapproach this and and what do you think
is meaning the key element? You'regetting the most out of those because you
got two guys. This ain't myfirst rodeo, no. I know a

(01:29:29):
lot of people look at say,well, this guy only been on the
field for three years Westernton, Tuckyand Oregon. Just because I didn't have
the title of a running back coachwhere I was at the Memphis, I
never carried myself that way. Iwas carried myself as a running back coach.
I approach every day that way.So at Memphis we had Darren Henderson,

(01:29:50):
Patrick Taylor, Tony Poler, Kennygangwell Tonyo Gibson. I've seen talented
backs and I've seen them be ableto function with one another. So I
hear that all the time about well, this ain't my first rodeo. Same
thing out there in Oregon. WeBuckerevin Norwich, and George James. You
go look at their numbers. Theyall functioned well together. We learned how

(01:30:11):
to play as one. So thisain't my first rodeo. So and plus
I know those two kids because Irecruited them when they was in high school.
So I'm up for the challenge andthe responsibility of it. Got right
behind the damn hope eleven Carlos,Just what is your kind of coaching philosophy?
How do you get the best outof your running backs? I get
the best outum, because I lovethe young men. My main focus is

(01:30:31):
to change the hearts and minds ofthem, and they'll play for me.
I had just got through reading CoachTrestle's Winners Manual, and it's somethingay that
I took from that book. Youhave your purpose and you have your goals,
all right, My purpose is toserve and pour into the young men.
Now, my goals as a footballcoach. All of them are take
care of themselves. So that's oneof the ways. I'm just real relationship

(01:30:55):
based in a very detailed at thisposition. I know y'all heard me say
before, keep saying this is theworst coach position in football. It's terrible.
Guys hire anybody to coaches, positioningrecruiters. CARLS Locker is not a
recruiter. I'm an elite relationship builder. But I coached this position. I'm
a ball coach, so that's whoI am. So I'm gonna pouring to
these kids. I think they kindof seeing it now and I jumped in

(01:31:17):
day one. I'm ready to coach. You know, soft batch cookies.
Where did that phrase come from?Kind of what was playing this boy?
Let me tell you about that boy. I've been called everything but the name
the child of God by the peopleat the other places I left. So
that I been getting. Pillsbury needsto give me a deal because I've been
getting I've been getting some DM texts, some of it. Some of them

(01:31:41):
have been so funny. The saftbeats cookiet thing came from just having a
frame of mind, a mental toughness. It had nothing to do with guys
getting in the portal and anything.Now, most people say I'm a saltbatched
cookie for leaving there, but actuality, I'm not because it takes great strength
to make decision to leave a place. No, a weak minded person wouldn't

(01:32:03):
be able to make the decisions Imake, So it took great strength to
do that. So I'm telling you, if I literally in my DMS,
it's some it's some great comedians outhere that have been sending me like tons
of cookies and out like it's funny. Right behind him, Tony, how
have you going about the assessment ofthe talent in the room? Uh?
And over the past week or two? How much is that unfield off field?

(01:32:26):
Like, what's the process of gettingto know who you have as players?
Well? I broke down well mebeing a guy that loves the running
back position, and I already brokethose kids down cause I recruit him out
of high school. You know,c is from where I'm from, in
Montgomery. I was one of thefirst guys to offer him just watching him
great contact, balance, creative runner, great hands and trey. I recruited

(01:32:50):
him out of Virginia exceptional short ofyour bursting quickness and things that I'm gonna
help him get better on and thenI recruited James Peeples out of t I
San Antonio, Texas. I knewwhat he was gonna what he was gonna
be TC and Sam. Those twokids I'm getting to know and I'm gonna
help them improve the game. Butwe got different runners in there. I

(01:33:12):
like to call myself, I'm inlove with this position. So I get
to break down runners and help theirgame. So talented, talented room,
very talented. Uh far back uh. Jeremy Birmingham Podcast Couch, how do
you swear that that the soft pasttrookies are actually the best cookies? To
Philip Briton Nix and going, thoseare way better than the crunchy chips and
white things with Terman, I mean, do you go to the first find

(01:33:35):
a balance there or someone? Well, for me, I'm actually not eating
any cookies. Nah, I'm justsaying I'm not eating any cookies this year.
I gave it up for a fastor no sweets for me for the
whole year. That's something I gaveup. So they the term the softhbast
cookie term. Look, guys,I actually took that from I represent the

(01:33:58):
high school Coaches of mess Tennessee.I actually took that form a guid named
coach Slocum. He's always say thatsoft best cooker. I actually stole that
from him. I give him creditfor it, and I tell him all
the time he said you I shouldhave branded that, cause you done took
it and ran away with it.But that's just where that comes from.
So that that now standing as youget to Ohio stand and you start to
look around the country, A mean, Oregon's a big place, that's a

(01:34:20):
that's a major job with How howdo you think that where you have to
play a logo under Jack ran blockowhen you get out out of the living
prey and trail, how does thatchange the way that you feel you're either
received or or does it add adifferent level to to just feeling like I
could go anywhere and get anybody inthe country. And that's the changest thing

(01:34:43):
for me. This is a greatplace. Oregon is a great place too.
But guess what w whatever I puton, I know what I'm going
to represent for me. I nI N I know who who put me
here? Uh? I know Irepresented something higher? You know, Like
I told you, I know whatMy purpose is My purpose is to poorting
the people. So whatever logo Ihave on, I'm still gonna be doing

(01:35:05):
the same thing. So this isa great logo, great logo, but
I wear another logo every day.It's across I see around my neck.
I know what I represent. Sothat's the greatest logo I could ever wear.
So it doesn't matter what other logoI have on. I got that
one on. I'm going to anyhouse and be a recruit. Uh uh
deep right, camera, Tick Robinson. The athletic from which you mentioned the

(01:35:29):
time of Memphis and themis four NFLWhere backs you mentioned there? Who you
learned from that time that you thatyou can take over to manage you to
grow up and kid? What didI learned from them? Just building up?
Just teaching the kids. We livein such a selfish world now,
and I can tell kids all thetimes it's gotta be much more the football.
The ball gonna go flat one day. As I always say, what

(01:35:54):
being in that room there at Memphisis, it wasn't four five teaching them
how to being about being one?I tell you them in all time,
it doesn't cost you anything to celebrateanother man's success. So teaching them how
to be one, and then oncethey learned to be one, they function
and they feed off one another.So that's what I learned from being there
at Memphis and from them in Road. Carol. Start of your career in

(01:36:16):
law enforcement kind of influence you asa coach and kind of shape where you
are. Oh well, I justgot through talking to somebody about that today.
When I first got in this professionand I got my own room in
Western Tech, I was asked,No, how was I was gonna be
able to handle my room? Isaid, Man, I had a part

(01:36:40):
with fifty one inmates. You talkingabout me having got six or seven guys?
Are you kidding me? I'm talkingabout me having to do traffic stops
or going on domestic you know,vience calls. It's simple easy. You
know people don't know what you care. Also know, you gotta have a
certain demeaning about yourself. So whenI walk into a room, it's reason
why I go train every morning.This is when it's the same thing when

(01:37:02):
I was a police officer. Youlook a certain way kind of deter people
from doing certain things. So thereason why I go train every morning,
I'm gonna look just as good asmy boys look, so U it helped
out a lot. In other words, uh from Arrol right Austin Ward the
podcast Carls Welcome to Columbus. Whatwould it mean to I don't know,

(01:37:23):
revolutionize the way running backs are coach? What does that take? I ain't
even I'm not gonna say revolutionized.Just some good. It's some good running
back coaches out here. Everybody's different. It's some great coaches out here.
I just want the head guys whosay that on these jobs to not just
hire guys. Just know, allcoaches on your staffs should be great recruiters,

(01:37:45):
not just a running back coach.We coach a position. We developed
players as well. I just wantthe coaches to realize, Hey, you
know what, let me look andbe thorough about this guy that I'm hiring
for this job. Is he teachingthe position? Is he development the position?
Because you're not gonna hire anybody justcoach quarterbacks, are you. Well,
it shouldn't be like that for therunning back position either. And I'm
only passionate about it cause I playedit. I love it, so it's

(01:38:08):
the only position I want to coach, cause I coach the other positions.
Yeah, I played dB in collegetoo, but I loved the running back
position, so and I just wantedto see it. Coach well ten May
podcasts. Yeah, a million questions. All that's a couple number one.
When you when you, when yourwife whatever? You got the message stuff,
are we moving again? What wasWhat was her reaction? Nah?

(01:38:29):
She she just knew guy had giveus, gave us a new assignment.
She w it was never like we'removing again. Let me tell you,
guys something I grew up. Mymom was in the military, so I
lived everywhere. I lived in Panamaof South America. I'm used to picking
up and moving. I lived inFort Rodley, Kansas, Montgomery's home if
it was my second home. SoI'm I'm used to moving now. My
wife it was different for her,but she just knew guy that gave us

(01:38:51):
a new assignment. So it's timeto go. What did uh? What
did coach they tell you when youheard you that he wants out of you.
That may be different French. It'snot slaming somebody else. But what
did he say he wanted you tobring to the running back room. I
think he did his research on me. He said he wanted the guy to
to develop the position. That's nottaking a shot at the coach that was

(01:39:14):
here who I'm friends with, andhe said, they want somebody to really
get the guys going. Uh,I can only be me, And I
told him that cause i'm'a be meevery day now, cause see my mindset,
this is when I step in thisbuilding, I got one mindset that's
to do my job so well thatthe living dead or unborn can do it

(01:39:34):
any better. So when I leaveit, that's what my mindset is.
Hopefully I'm here for a long time, but only God knows that. So
but that's my mindset every day thatstep into the wizard Hate So that's my
mindset. I'm'a do my job sowell that living dead or umborn couldn't do
it any better. So that's whatmy mindset is. That's the coach.
We got time for one last question. Bill Ribindo has the Clumbus Dispatch.

(01:39:56):
Carlos. First of all, it'sit true that nobody calls you Carlos.
Never it calls you Lock. That'sthe truth. Yeah, I prefer to
be called a lock in particular,but I wouldn't say everyone doesn't really know
how to handle it properly you seeit currently. I mean, it's just
it's a variable that's new and howto handle it. There's not a transcript
on on how to handle that variable. So you just guys just trying to

(01:40:20):
do what they think is right.That's all they're really trying to do.
And I'm not saying there right orwrong, but he was trying to do
the same. And uh, youknow, I think at the end of
the day he realized he mad madethe wrong decision and we connected on it.
We talked about it, and youknow, it was a great opportunity
to to write or wrong. Anduh, obviously we're very glad he's here.
I've always believed in him. Webelieve in him, and he believes

(01:40:43):
in himself and that's part of thejust trying to understand what's my path,
right. So uh but yeah,it's been great steps have been made.
He's growing, but he's nowhere nearwhere he knows he's capable of being.
He's just probably a priceless ceremiah.I love, uh the way he lives.
I love the way he approaches things. I love the way the questions

(01:41:05):
he asks. I love the wayhe makes mistakes. And then correct mistakes.
It's very veteran, Like, Imean, there's so much Ball he
has to learn. Like he literallydoes things that are good. I'm like,
do you know what that worked?He goes coach, I have no
freaking idea, So like I'm tryingto teach him all of that why it
worked, so then you know theconsistency at which it works just goes to

(01:41:26):
the roof. And so but I'mvery you know, excited and proud of
the conversations we're currently having, andI'm excited it for them to keep going
by what powerful you work and whatyou tell him. I love working with
Chip Chip Is. I love talkingBall, I love the viewpoints. I
love I love the veteran that hehas, you know, and I love

(01:41:56):
now like, I love all ofit. I think that you know,
the biggest impact, you know,just you know, feeling perspective. I
think in the run game has beenawesome, you know, and then you
know, off of the run game, some of the actions or or relief
throws or all that kind of stuff. I love where it's at. I
love working with them, and Iwould say that I sleep a little better

(01:42:30):
all right. Uh No, It'sit's really a great combo because like you
know, we're obviously we're doing alot as a group. It's not just
Chip and I so but you know, obviously Chip has an image and a
view on things that I never had. So to have that experience and to
have that viewpoint, I'm just tryingto absorb as much as i can,

(01:42:51):
but then also highlight some things thatwe've really done a good job of and
make sure those you know, nothing'sreally changing, We're just trying to enhance.
We're not changing, we're enhancing.So where the things fit is perfect.
You know, I think, uh, you know, the rest of
the dynamics and search Chip can talkabout. But it's been it's been awesome,
so I'm excited about it. Wetalked to a Mechah just talking about

(01:43:15):
moving from slot to the outside.You know how good he's been in the
slot. Is that a difficult movefor you guys just coaches to know how
good a guy is on one spot, but know that maybe for his long
term future and the no, Iwouldn't say it's anything on his future,
because he's capable of doing whatever youwant to get done. But I'd say
that it says more about the roomI think it's it's the growth of you

(01:43:39):
know, Brandon and the growth growof Bryson. That's really you know,
allowing my mind to say, heyMech, be prepared. You're gonna move
around a lot. You're gonna comeout of that slot. You're gonna be
outside. We're gonna create mismatches outthere. I mean, his ability to
move around is critical. But Iwould say between Mech and between Carnell Tast's
ability to move around a lot,it's gonna provide a lot of flexibility for

(01:44:00):
our room and uh and those topyou know, six seven guys that are
really doing a good job right nowprogress this spring Formica because there's it's one
of those things, I'm true whereyou has balanced how much work does a
need versus Yeah, heavy heavy emphasison what work he needs, you know,
versus anything else. Uh. Irely on him. We have great

(01:44:21):
dialogue back and forth. It's atwo way to it's a two way conversation
and h frankly, there's gonna betimes we're like, hey, Mac,
what do you wanna do today?You wanna go outside and you go inside
and I don't care. So,uh, we're not there yet. We
will be there, but it's justmore about, you know, when the
room is ready to start mixing thingsup, I would say, there's God.

(01:44:54):
I mean, I make sure Ibring in guys that are able to
do all, but I have notasked them to yet. So the only
guys that in our room currently I'veasked to do that has been Mecca and
Carnell, and those are probably thetwo guys that would, you know,
think heavily on doing moving around alot. I'm not putting that on anybody
else right now, not saying theycan't, but at this point, having

(01:45:15):
two guys be able to swing,you probably don't need much more than that.
I need guys being experts at whatthey're good at, so it it
helps the offense still be great ateverything and be an expert at something,
and we can use that to ourlot of them. I like him.
Yeah, it's a bunch of gooddudes just just got here. So we're
gonna keep working and I like Ilike our edge guys that we picked up,

(01:45:38):
and I'm excited to work with them. Know much about how we play
against. I think he's super skilled. Russier a little good length, and
he's more athletic than I even realized, and I think guys like him,
when they come to our scheme arethe best is brought out of them.

(01:45:58):
So I'm excited to see what potentialhe has. He's year nine, so
I feel like you as a dlineman, you can keep improving all the
way through ten years in this league. So I'm excited to see what he's
got. How old did you knowsores and when he was assistant here,
And I've gotten to know him alot by it's a relationship. Maybe right
now, I know him pretty well. He was always just a good dude

(01:46:24):
around the facility. He did ourball meetings, so he's good in front
of a group. He's a goodleader. He knows the scheme really well,
which is good. I was happyto see him promoted. He called
me in the offseason. We talked. I just congratulated him, and I
think he's gonna bring something similar towhat we had with the Miko. It

(01:46:48):
would be good. Do you knowBrandon Stanley well at all? I mean,
obviously Joey playing for him, Idon't know too much about him.
I've obviously heard from my brother,but I don't even think i've a high
yet. I haven't ran into himyet, but I'm sure i'll get to
know him. When you say itlooks similar to Miko of the energy or
the system, maybe a little differentenergy, but I think just knowing the

(01:47:12):
system from the front to the back, I think he knows how it ties
in, and he's been around withsome really good coaches, so I think
it'll be pretty pretty seamless, andI think we'll be firing on all cylinders.
You're three months removed from the superBowl now, so how have you?
I guess digested it, and Iguess physically everything good to go.

(01:47:38):
Yeah, I feel really good.I think it's been one of my better
off seasons of just kind of itwas a long year, so I took
it nice and slow to get backinto it. Not as young as I
once was, so I'm taking alittle a little slower, but everything's great.
I'm feeling as good as i've felt. I'm excited to actually get some

(01:48:00):
practice in. Last year was kindof tough, getting thrown in week one
after I walked through, so thatwas another reason I'm excited to be here,
is just to get practicing a littlebit in season. Practice is one
thing, but actually being able towork your stuff and not have a game
coming up is good with the SuperBowl. Unfortunately, I know how to

(01:48:25):
bounce back from tough losses, soit was rough for a little bit,
but not just annoying when people bringit up. Since the last season,
we've seen a Rock on TV commercialsand on the stage with Kluke Coombs and
throwing out the first pitch of theGiants game. But he seems like a
guy that's totally unaffected by celebrity,which he has now. But what have

(01:48:46):
you noticed in his leadership style andthe way he carries himself any difference at
all. I think he's definitely gettinga little more vocal within the building.
And uh yeah, I mean Idon't think he's ever gonna change. I
don't think he's somebody that's gonna changeeven when he gets paid next year.
So he's he's a man of faithand he kind of reminds me of Scotti

(01:49:11):
Scheffler, but except for just superhumble and really good kid. And yeah,
he's definitely famous famous sfer. Idon't just from watching Armstead get released

(01:49:34):
obviously meant so much to the defensiveline into the team. I mean,
Colin John were pretty open that theywere willing to talk about trading Deebo or
are you as does that just anotherwhat's that feel like in the locker room
when those sort of joels happened.I didn't even know that happened and I

(01:49:55):
wasn't here, But you're talking aboutthis offseason armsta alarmed Eric the least,
So that's certainly one thing. Yeah, it's a tough business, for sure.
You have to have thick skin andI haven't gone through that, but
I think you just have to understandthat it is a business and the team's

(01:50:18):
going to try and get as goodas it possibly can with or without you,
and you have to look out foryourself. That's why you go through
holdouts and do certain things that seemselfish in the moment, but it is
what it is, and when everything'ssettled, we're gonna come together as a
team and try and go get oneK. What's the overall feeling around the

(01:50:40):
group right now, Like, howmuch does it feel like the excitement of
the ramp up to the season,Even though it's early, it feels good.
It's been a couple of days forme, so I like all the
new guys. I'm getting to knoweverybody but I think the past is in
the past and we're ready to go. Do you talk to me? You
talk to be all about handling,since part of this he's going through something

(01:51:00):
similar. We chat a little bit, but not too much about the details.
I just told him to keep hishead up and try and stay positive
through it all. First impressions whenyou heard what your schedule would be in
that Aaron Rodgers' first up, it'llbe fun. Yeah, it's gonna be
gonna be a good one. Excuseme kind of alluded to this. But

(01:51:26):
the fact that last year you hadto have that hold out saved that affected
you somewhat early in the season.If you hadn't had that experience, would
you be here right now? Imean, was that part of the motivation
for being here early, just tohave the opposite when last year might be
No, I don't think that's oneof the reasons. But I just talked

(01:51:48):
to Kyle and he kind of askedme. He kind of stated how he
felt about why it would be goodfor me to be here and asked if
I agreed, and one hundred perto degree. So it's not like I'm
missing too much. I think I'mout here it's a little less workload than

(01:52:09):
I'm doing back home, so it'skind of a good active recovery thing for
me. And I'm getting football stuff, football working specifically, so that's good.
I'm not it's not compromising my trainingat all. And I get to
meet all the guys. It's it'spositive news. Your brother. You have

(01:52:30):
to let him down. Oh no, he's he's there. He's got a
new regime over there. First,I actually thought I was coming next week
until recently, so I was gonnahave one more week at home, but
we're both in California. Anything youcould like share about tons reasons, reasons

(01:52:51):
that you agreed with for being here. Yeah, just the things I already
stated, just getting around the guysand just getting the football stuff honed in
a little bit before camp starts.You've been afraid, You've been afraid to

(01:53:12):
speak out on player safety issues andthings like that when it comes to play
service and things like that. Theeighteen game schedule has been kind of discussed
again here recently. What is yourkind of take on that possibility. I
mean, it's I guess it's easyto appreciate when you kind of see it

(01:53:35):
working and you see guys improving,getting better. I just think the details
are really important. You can pretendthat leaving your shoes a mess or your
locker mess isn't a big deal,and what matters is is playing football.
But I think all those tiny detailsand things kind of add up and and

(01:53:56):
leak into the important stuff, likewhat you're doing on the field. So
if you can have your toe behindthe line, or have your locker and
order and all these things, theykind of stack up into performing well and
and playing well when things count.So you know, I appreciate that it's
It also hasn't been a fight withthe guys in the locker room. They

(01:54:18):
buy in, and you know,it's a lot of young guys, and
I think they're hungry to learn,hungry to compete and win. You know,
it's just an example, whether it'swe talked about first day you have
your shoot, if you could,if you could spend the time on these
small things when nobody's watching. Ithink, like I was saying, it

(01:54:39):
seems like it might not add uptoo much, but I think in the
long term it does, and itleaks into other things, whether you're doing
your right assignment on the field,being late to meetings or all these things.
If you hold a standard and youstay to that standard, I think
it benefits you long term. Beenlike working with Ben Herbert, Has there

(01:55:01):
been anything in his training program we'reworking with you that you feel will benefit
you later. Yeah, Yeah,definitely. He's he's been great. He's
a no nonsense kind of guy.But he's not an old school in the
sense that he's bringing his way ofdoing things and that's the only way to
do things. He understands that guyshave been in the in the business for

(01:55:24):
a long time, Khalil me andwe have a way of doing things,
and all he wants to do isadd to that and help you get better
and perform the best you can.He's he stresses it all the time that
he's a tool for us, andyou know, he's been he's been great.
The guys love him. The energybrings is awesome, and I think

(01:55:44):
the stuff that we're doing in theweight room is great, a great addition
to stuff that I may may doon the side or whatever that is.
Yeah, I think we I mean, we had a presentation today with all
the certain measurables that are changing,and if you guys were in the meeting.
You definitely see how beneficial he's beento the team so far. So

(01:56:04):
obviously staying healthy is is a hugefactor to anybody's success. I'd say it's
plagued us a little bit for awhile. So yeah, I think he's
he's definitely incredibly beneficial. When wereyou fully red, I know at the
end of last season you might havebeen able to play. Yeah, No,

(01:56:25):
I was not ready to go lastyear. No, tried practicing,
tried coming back, and uh itwas it was not good. But yeah,
it was Unfortunately, the year wasn'tgoing great and it just was unnecessary
risk for I mean, my footcould have had some real real issues if
I came back too early. Soyeah, it's been. It's been.

(01:56:50):
It's been a great off season.My foot's feeling great, toes, good,
hamstring, skod I mean, therewas a list of things last year,
my hand, so all those thingsare good. Finger gout surgery on
my finger, So that's feeling good. Yeah, it's it's nice to be
feeling better going into your nine thanyou have since maybe five six years ago,

(01:57:11):
which I've said, I've said I'vebeen feeling great last couple of years.
I'm telling you it's a real dealthis time, but obviously anything can
happen. But I just feel it'sfun feeling really confident in your body and
being able to perform. So Icould just go out during practice and you
know, go balls to the walland do everything that I feel like I

(01:57:33):
need to to be able to prepare. It's fun. My brother and whoever
I trained with my trainer Todd backhome, I think they'd be really proud
of how I've been working this offseason, and it's just exciting. The pointing
was the injuries on the Great BigGame. You kind of I'm yeah,

(01:57:58):
it was a bit of a buildup, a little bit of an overreaction,
but you know, it's just tough. It comes sometimes like that,
and I just felt felt really defeatedcoming back. Had a broken hand,
I'm like, oh, yeah,I get to play boom for a serious
foot pops. Thought I'd have toget surgery, and all these thoughts flooded
through my head. Broke down abit, and yeah, it just hurts.

(01:58:21):
You know, you're losing, you'regetting injured. You've felt like you
prepared really well in the offseason,and then the year before you had growing
surgery, so you know a lotof things build up. Yeah, you
don't get a break if you're injured. Everybody wants to go on. Fans
are very nice. But no,I just I'm grateful that I feel this

(01:58:45):
way. I'm still still nice.Ripe twenty eight, so not too old
yet. But yeah, I'm justexcited. I can't remember what the original
question was at this point, right, you get something about my body?
How close you and Gift were,How how frustrating was it that he couldn't

(01:59:11):
you know for one of those lastthree games. It was frustrating, But
I mean Gif was had my backthe whole way, I think for Gift,
for any but for for the wholeteam, just to show what it
means to me. It would havebeen important for me to be out there,
but I literally couldn't. I triedto practice, injured my footworse the
very first play I was and inpractice, So no chance that was happening

(01:59:36):
unless I wanted to throw my nextseason away as well. But no,
I'm just I'm proud of him forwhat he did with the team, how
he handled it, and I needto call him back. Actually sorry,
Gif, Yeah, I'm happy hegets to stay close by with the with
the Rams and I'm just proud ofall we accomplished here together over the years

(02:00:00):
and and we'll be close for therest of our lives. It was the
foot injury. Was this guy doesa foot sprain? Yeah, I sprained
one area of my foot. Thenwhen I tried to return and I sprained
another area. Was able to avoidgetting surgery, which is kind of the
main goal, but yeah, itwas. It was tough when it comes

(02:00:21):
to the addition of but Dupree whenhe felt like he's kind of brought to
the to the room and could bringon the heel. Yeah, it's when
I heard we got my brother someI don't know, maybe my brother told
me. I'm like, really,we just got Bud Like, that's no,
that's no small pickup. He's aseriously elite pass rusher has had some

(02:00:44):
trouble with injuries as well, soI understand how that is, but not
only him as a player, butas a personality. I heard Khalil just
saying he's he's a fun guy.He's a funny guy, and and to
have that in the room another vetis always a great addition. But I'm
just excited to have him and Tuleyand to be able to rotate like that
and not drop off at all whenwe come off the field is huge.

(02:01:06):
And now Tuly's going into a secondyear. Just what do you what are
you kind of What are some ofthe maturity maturity areas you've said from him?
You know, I'm gonna say notmuch, and that's a compliment because
he was already mature in those areas. I mean, he's on it everything
playbook wise, always doing his job, working hard, just refining his technique

(02:01:30):
and pass rush. I mean,we don't have the pads on right now,
so the real work will will begin, you know, in six weeks
now. So, but yeah,I love Tully. I've loved him since
the first day. He's he's balkedinto the facility and I know he's just
gonna continue to get better. Youthink of the addition of Joe Old.
Yeah, yeah, I'm gonna needto beat him up a little bit in

(02:01:54):
camp. So he's so he's ready. But no, I think anything to
protect our number ten is a good, good investment. So he seems like
a real solid dude. Haven't talkedto him too much, great build,
seems like he has good hands,good feet, strong, We'll see.
We'll see in a few weeks whenI lay a helmet in his chin how

(02:02:17):
he holds up. But it'll I'lltake it easy on him. No,
Rashaun's beast. Did you know coachHarbond before he came here? And if
you did, just what were thosefirst couple of conversations like that? Yeah,
probably have cross paths with him.Maybe maybe not. Actually I think

(02:02:40):
what was it his first year whenI was a junior, So he kicked
his ass as usual? Mitt Ohigh State. No, No, they
just want a championship, so I'dsay they probably have the bragging rights right
now. I'm like the guy talkingabout his old high school. Oh I
remember we used kickers? No,but no, yeah, no, the

(02:03:03):
rivalry is dead. I was justsaying this morning, you know, nine
years in kind of forget about that. I'm not a great alumni. Sorry,
sorry, coach, But no,it's great. That's what's great about
the NFLS. You just have guysfrom all backgrounds. You could hate their
guts one one year, and thenyou come on the same team and your

(02:03:24):
brothers and you're all working towards onegoal together. So our first talk together
was great. I just sat downwith him, went up into his office
and chopped it up about life mainlyand his opportunity here and how much it
means to him. And Yeah,I think he's a special guy. I
think he's the way he conducts himself. He's an interesting cat for sure,

(02:03:46):
and I'm still still feeling them out. But one thing you can't denies that
he loves football and his main goalis to win football games. So and
that's what we need. When yousee him working out with you guys and
pushing slaves and do it all stuff, Just how interesting is that? See?
Yeah, I mean he was ahe was a great player himself,
and I think he's always been,you know, built like that lack of

(02:04:12):
a better term. But yeah,he's, uh, he's part of the
guys. You know, he's notthis guy outside looking in. He he
really, I mean he voiced thatto me, is that his favorite part
of all of it is being withthe guys and and the connections he makes.
So Yeah, to to see aguy like that come in and embrace
it all and kind of be partof it himself is important. Your initial

(02:04:35):
impressions of Coachman during the defensive game, Yeah, it's funny to go from
old gift, old gift to thislittle young guy who's my age. I
wouldn't want to get thrown into aroom with me and Khalils his age.
But no, he's been great.I love messing with him a little bit.

(02:04:56):
We little sarcasm back and forth.But no, he's great. Right,
He's uh, very talks very fast, and I don't as you know,
so sometimes I gotta be like,slow down, coach, come on.
But no, he's great. I'mexcited, you know, to get
closer as the years, as theyear goes on, and I think he

(02:05:18):
has he has a lot of passionfor the position and all he wants to
do is learn and and help usto improve. So I'm excited about him
and me and I do miss Giff. Obviously, it was a long time
with him, but I am excitedto have a new face and kind of
have that challenge for me. Workedmuch with with Jesse's dad, since I

(02:05:41):
know he coached linebackers in Michigan.Did you ask about Jesse? Did you
ask about doing? Okay, youasked about Jesse. Oh my god,
I was talking about freaking doing thewhole time. You guys are so confused.
No, sorry, I thought wereI thought I was. I thought
you mentioned coach RONI no, No, coach Mentor has been great as well.

(02:06:03):
Yeah, they've both been great.Sorry, run that back. No,
he's been good. Uh yeah,very knowledgeable guy, same thing.
I'm excited to get to know himmore as the year goes on. Have
you worked if you worked much jesYeah, no I have not. I

(02:06:25):
don't know if I've said one wordto him, but more words to come
down the road. Like you said, you've been in years since twenty sixteen.
Just where are some of this stuff? You just one ramble about the
wrong guy for fifteen minutes walking whatYeah? What the hecks? Actually that's

(02:06:51):
literally not the person. Yeah,yeah, I figure to quick something that
you you worked undering the off season, something to improve your game or is
there something that you can Usually myanswer is pretty consistent that I just continue
to try to prepare myself physically,whether that's my sprint work or agility work

(02:07:18):
and my lifting, but yeah,just to get everything feeling great. I
dealt with those injuries, so Ihad to kind of ramp it up with
my finger and foot and all thosethings. But now I'm full full speed
out there and I'm just going tocontinue to do what I know will prepare

(02:07:38):
me for the season. And Iknow I'm gonna get plenty of technique work
and position work when I'm out here. So for now, I'm going to
spend these five weeks really getting preparinga bout schematic standpoint. I don't know
the ins and outs of what I'mgonna be doing yet, so I'll wait
and see soon. But just whateverything going on? See how the seems

(02:08:00):
the best fit? Christy again,Chris caps here we go. Yeah,
Dria, welcome to Seattle. Whatare you looking for in free agency?
I feel like that's a loaded questionfor real, for real, Uh,
you know, in terms of nopay system, teammates, environment, city,

(02:08:22):
all those kind of just like playinto it. Besides just uh the
money thing. I know, financialsalways play a big role, and I
kind of steer you into the directionyou want to go. But everything kind
of plays into it. And howmuch did you reach out to Shelby Drew
knowing some of the guys you knewthe play here last year to get a
sense for what what Seattle might offeryou. I mean, not much.

(02:08:43):
Right now. I'll talk to I'lltalk to Shelby a little bit about it.
Mainly no one drew. Uh,just congratulate me, Bob. Did
you come together pretty quickly? Iknow you kind of came your agreement on
that first Monday, and everything withSeattle that come together really faster. Now,

(02:09:05):
it was a long day. Seattlecame in almost out of nowhere.
We had like a good set ofteams that we're talking to, just trying
to like finalize what was going on, what was it the term is going
to be, you know, andSeattle came in hot. They showed a
lot of interest and uh, theykind of motivating me to come here more
and more. And how similar willyour role be, you know in terms

(02:09:26):
of playing what you did in Denver. I don't know that yet. I
kind of just mentioned previously. Idon't know my role. I don't know
the ins and out yet. Oncewe'll get NO through the protocols and nfl
PA, we'll we'll talk about NO, the schemes and everything. Right,
So welcome. When you were inDenver in the three four, where did

(02:09:46):
you find yourself most comfortable and mosteffective? And I played a lot of
different positions in Denver, I meanearlier in my year I played zero,
I played three two one. Imean I definitely more comfortable a shaded position,
mainly being a three technique and fivetechnique. That's why I find myself
to be more comfortable whether I'm standingup or I'm not, whether it's runner

(02:10:07):
or pass. Uh, they'll seemto be my best my best fits.
And what is your impression of PeteCarroll's defense and whole environment? Uh?
From afar, it seems like heholds in on defense a lot. Uh.
I can't really say too much aboutthat. Yeah, I don't.
I know Pete Carroll very little.So Uh, I'm just trying to figure
out more and I'll give you abetter answer later. What's the reputation around

(02:10:31):
the league out of the Seahawks.Uh, you know Hard nos Hard had
type of team definitely on a littlemore lack side as opposed to being stuck
up or military style, and whichis definitely good because then they this program
is one of a lot of footballgames have been super successful for many years,
as long as I've been alive andas long as I've been watching football,

(02:10:52):
and definitely this has been a goodprogram. And Pete Carroll has been
a hell of a coach for aslong as I remember, even back in
his college days. So I'm lookingfor worth to experiencing that. John Boyle,
Yeah, I know you said youdon't know yet. You know what
your role is going to be,which is what what kind of player you
fans who haven't watched it time todenver what kind of player getting? Definitely

(02:11:13):
a high motor, definitely not aone trip pon any type of player.
I like to attack, you know, whether it's a first or first through
fourth down, I like to attack. I'm always trying to apply pressure.
I'm definitely just a high mortar guyin my opinion. Brady either Brady Henderson

(02:11:33):
for ESPN, Nice to meet you. Yeah, this is not a team
that really makes big splash signings infree agency. Did you think going into
it that Seattle would be in play? Uh? No, not at all.
You just it's kind of like beinga cure at the County store.
You know, I've got a wholebunch of different options coming at you,
hearing a whole bunch of different crazythings, and uh, you know,
you only get to choose one.And this is the place that that we

(02:11:56):
both chose each other. And Imean, I'm up and Seattle so far.
You know, I like these colorsfor real. What what did you
gut to do with Seattle or seesince you've been here? Not much?
Uh, just kind of just drivearound the city, exploring, getting down
to the market a little bit.I want to get on the Ferris will
do some more like touristy type ofthings. You know, I'm new to

(02:12:16):
the city and I got a lotto learn about the city. All right.
Yeah, there's been a lot ofcomparisons with you to Michael Bennett.
I was wondering if you know MichaelBennett at all and you think are accurate.
I know Michael berger Ben it likenothing. I know nothing about it,
but besides his style of play.But I'm honored to be considered in
the same conversation as him and uhstyle of play. You know, He's

(02:12:37):
a Hall of Fame type of deeplineman that I've known about since I was
a kid. I mean, lasttime he played here, I was in
high school. So you know,it's cool to it kind of came full
circle a little bit watching him onTV and now I'm being kind of compared
to him in a way, youknow. I mean, I'm not touching
the surface of Michael Bennett. Youknow, he's a Hall of Famer and
I'm not there yet, so youknow, I just got to keep doing

(02:12:58):
my due diligence to be a bitplayer. Carvin, Hey, Dreamont,
welcome to Seattle. I know youget to play several seasons for Vic Fangio
and three four style defense and Seattle'splaying a similar system now dating back to
last year as a defensive lineman,what do you think is most important to
be successful in that system? Maybefundamentals or just playing style to be successful.

(02:13:24):
From what I learned, being gapsound and being patient has always been
the biggest thing, and that's howwe've been successful when I was in Denver,
just kind of like relying on eachother. I know that sounds kind
of cliche, but like there's kindof like the the realm of being in
the three four defense. You gotto really really rely on the guys behind
you and the guys on the sideof you to really make their to do
their job to make your job easier. Bob Yeah, Dream Well, uh,

(02:13:52):
you your house state bioffs that youdidn't start playing football till you were
junior in high school and largely playedbasketball till then that's vide I guess decided
to go play football then away frombasketball. No, no, no,
I've always loved football first. Uh, it was just kind of just playing
it out. You know, Ilove a hoop, but you know,
football was definitely about calling. GivenI was a two hundred and sixty five

(02:14:13):
pound power forward and I was likesix strees changed, so you know,
I kind of told use the routethat God gave me. You know,
I'm not six eight. Yeah,very well comes to Seattle and you've been
quoted looking at a couple of artthings that you d player, And can

(02:14:33):
you just talk a little bit aboutthat definite role that just sent the US
and always kind of counted out butUS came through. Can you elaborate more
than that just from a standpoint,like I always get like over overshadowed,
overlooked, whether it's uh in something, you know what I'm saying, Like,
I feel like I do a lotmore than what can be seen by

(02:14:54):
the the eyes of the inexperienced.You know, Scout and I do a
lot of just different dynamic things thathelp make plays for others. You know,
I'm definitely an active player. I'malways doing something whether in the running
pass game. So you know,I think that goes on another sometimes and
I'm looking forward to putting people onnotice. Thanks Brady. What what do

(02:15:16):
you like to do outside of football? Uh? Big gamer? I'm definitely
I've been getting to a lot ofchess lately, so just to expand my
brain. Uh. I try toget into reading, but if it's not
sports plated, I'm really not interestedin reading that much, but mainly just
video gaming and chess. And thenwhen we write and say your name,

(02:15:37):
do you prefer? I mean,you can say, you can say Draymond
Jones and mean, but like justI feel like personally, just call me
Dre because easy, because people liketo f my name up a lot,
like a lot they call me DRAYMONDE. I don't know why you put a
Draymonte in my name or Draymond Twhatever you want to say. What do
you think some of that I'll beable to bring out out of your games?
You keep trying to, you know, just being more explosive, Probably

(02:16:01):
more yards for catch with the spacethat he's putting us into, the more
yard, more yards have to catch, more exposed to pick, more exposed
to plays for for not just onlyme, but she and Ak and taste
them. So I'm excited to beable to be in the system. I
assume you think you guys can bea lot more explosive than you in the
last couple of years. Oh yeah, of course. It brings a lot

(02:16:24):
of different things, you know whatI'm saying, the playbook, but just
accountability. I feel like that's gonnalead us to success. They said the
language is a little a little shorter. Have you found that the language that
you guys use. Is it aboutthe same or is it It's kind of
really it's a long, long place, but it's more understanding for sure.
I feel like you can get tothat more understanding plays and I feel like

(02:16:48):
that's that's the difference. Peter wassaying the other day, just kind of
like coming into this offense after liketwenty years of Breeze and just kind of
how it was just kind of builton top of each other and on top
of each other. It's like kindof a lot to kind of take in.
You do you find that they kindof turn it down to something new
starting at like zero with everybody.It's just a little bit easier to kind
of get everybody on the stand.Yeah, I feel like it's way easier.

(02:17:09):
Like you said, it was kindof more of a Drew Brees style
uh the last playbook, so uhall credit to them though they built that
around him, around his players.But uh, like I said, it's
is more. Uh this playbook ismore uh for uh matchups, and uh,
I feel like it's gonna be betterfor us. How do you think
it's gonna really take advantage of yourskill sets? Uh? Just building around

(02:17:31):
the strengths that I have. Youknow what I'm saying, things that I
can do and things that she cando, uh, things that our players
can do. Is kind of focuson what we can do and and building
on that. Uh. I feellike it's playing to the player strengths.
So I feel like it's gonna helpus A lot has been around the way
this offense will have a lot morespeed. And how's that transition event so
far? I mean, like Isaid, it's building around the player strengths.

(02:17:54):
So of course we got speed uhwith me or uh she and ati
receiver, So uh, just buildingaround that, Like I said, playing
to our strengths and be able tocapitalize off that. Feel like it's gonna
help us a lot most of likethe up tempo asterisk and you know,
getting a lot of plays in unlesstime. Oh yeah, yeah, yeah,
that's definitely gonna play a big difference. Like I said, coming from
the West Coast, Uh, theybringing that stand for an offense here.

(02:18:16):
So I'm excited to be able tobe a part of that. For you
personally, what's what's the next levellook like for you? What do you
what are you trying to accomplish thisyear? Just staying consistent, man,
a couple of ups and downs lastyear, just building off that. Uh,
it's always always gonna work on thephysical part, but being able to
bounce back after a bad game.The mental mental aspect, Uh, just

(02:18:39):
learning learning that last year and beable to build on that this year is
a huge part. You know withMike Gon, do you take it upon
yourself to kind of be that voicein the room or to take a step
forward even further as Uh, Imean it's not really. I mean everybody
kind of grown in the NFL,so it's just on you to be able

(02:19:00):
to have that standard. Like Isaid, I just try to do that.
Lead by example. I'm not reallyoutspoken, but just lead by example,
working hard, trying to dominate everyrep and hopefully they follow after that
yards after the touch? Is thatyou feel like that's the strength of yours
that maybe wasn't utilize. I don'tknow if utilizes the right word, but
you could show more. Yeah,it's an offense that is built around that,

(02:19:26):
uh, just catching the ball inspace, catching the ball over the
middle or even on the outside,uh with with space and separation. Feel
like it's built around having yards aftercatch. So I'm definitely proud to be
in the system, like I said, and I'm excited. But is that
is that a mindset too? Likebeing good at guards after the catch?
Like? Oh yeah, I meanof course. I mean you don't want
to get tackled by the first person. And my mindset is trying to take

(02:19:50):
every take everything to the house,you know, every touch. So I
definitely got to do that more anddefinitely try to work on that and practice.
A great dude man, Uh somesome that I definitely needed. Some
that he relates to me, uhjust from backgrounds and uh he's a great

(02:20:11):
coach, great leader, Uh,motivational and uh. Like I said,
I'm excited to have him around andfor him to push me is everything that
I need. So you're talking aboutlike mentally bouncing back, you know from
tough performances or whatever, Like,did you try to fund your resources going
to help you figure out how todo that? Oh? Yeah, I
mean it's older guys. Uh uhtell me that's natural. Just have bad

(02:20:33):
games. But uh, just havinga standard that I have in my career
as a head coach to have himon my staff in a couple of places,
so I got a chance to seehim work firsthand. You know,
I got to see him work firsthandas a player and then as a coach.
So the success he had is notis not surprising to me? Is
there for you? Seeing? Right? The success? Yeah? I think

(02:20:54):
we all do that. I thinkwe come from a unique place and in
a really small hometown in New Hampshirewhere we all take a lot of pride
to where we're from and and whenanybody's successful coming out of there, then
you kind of take a little pridethat that's it's the upbringing that we all
had, you know, in theUTH sports program that we grew up in
in in every aspect, whether itwas football, baseball, basketball, those
coaches we had an amazing impact onus. And that's why we are where

(02:21:16):
we are right now. Ryan said, he doesn't think of it as you
working under him, that's working withhim. Fact is he is the head
coach. He makes me call himsir though he just said can you do
that? Day one? And Iwas like, all right, right now.

(02:21:37):
But I mean he ultimately is thedecision maker. You've been a head
coach. How do you think that'sgoing to work. Do you think there'll
be any as close as you are, any kind of awkward moments the right
term, But when he's the ultimatedecider and you are working for him,
Yeah, I certainly understand my role. I'm not Alhaic, like I'm not.

(02:21:58):
I'm not in charge here. Yeah, some people get that reference.
Other people don't get that reference.But I'd certainly understand that, and I
actually kind of relish it because Ireally love the scheming part. I love
the individual part. I love beingin the meeting room of the quarterbacks and
trying to game plan. But everythingwe do here is collaborative. You know.
The one thing that really struck mewhen I walked in this place is

(02:22:20):
there's an amazing coaching staff here.You know, and if you get a
chance to talk to Larry Johnson justabout football, or Tim Walton or Jim
Knowles or Brian Hartline or any ofthese guys that are on the staff here.
It's it's a very collaborative effort.I think everybody's on the same page.
You know, it's not our offenseand their defense and it's Ohio State.
You know, it's it's Ohio Stateversus the twelve opponents that we're going

(02:22:43):
to play during the regular season andthen beyond. So it's it's really collaborative.
And that's the thing I like,just in the short time that I've
been here, is how collaborative everybody'sbeen. You know, we're all trying
to make each other better and we'reall trying to develop this team. Touched
on this when you said, youknow, you like to do what you
want to do and not My senseis you, in your perfect world,
you'd like to scribble plays on anat can and not deal with boosters,

(02:23:07):
do deal with all the stuff thatcoaches, head coaches have to deal with.
Now, how much of a factorwas that in this decision? You
can just do football? Now thatthat's not it? I mean, I
enjoy I mean, we've had someamazing. I've had an opportunity and everywhere
I've been to meet some amazing peoplethat are associated with the program. And
there's people that from my time atNew Hampshire or my time at Oregon.

(02:23:28):
I was just with Phil Night twoweeks ago, you know, I've got
an opportunity to spend some time withhim and his wife, Penny, who
are dear friends of mine that havebeen great mentors to me in my career.
And there's a bunch of people thatat UCLA, Terry donnahe Andrea Donna
who were awesome to me. AngelaMazzoni is a great friend, Casey Wasserman,
Troy Aikman. There was a bunchof people at UCLA that I really
enjoyed, you know, being aroundand talking with. So I think sometimes

(02:23:50):
everybody wants to make a narrative ofit's either this or that. It's it's
it's never that. It's never justall ball, it's never just all recruiting,
it's never just all boosters. It'sit's a mixture of everything. But
I think the one thing that asthis position as a head coach kept moving
on is that if you look ata lot of them, they all become
more CEOs. You know, Ican't tell you how many coaches that have
called me since I made this decisionthat said I'm two years behind you,

(02:24:13):
brother, you know that are thinkingthe same exact way. And I think
it's all part of what we haveto do. I think we all need
to protect this game and promote thisgame, and I think there are some
rules that we need to get straightenedout so that people understand where what it's
about, because the game is stillabout the players, and I hope that
never gets discounted. You know,it's it's always been about the players,
and I think if we can keepthat at the forefront the people that are

(02:24:35):
making decisions on this, and Ithink Jean Smith is one of the best
influences in in the NCAAA, isto make sure we keep that the main
thing. The main thing needs tobe the student athletes. You know,
you're coming in at a time whereyou've been through some places where the expectations
are high. I understand, whichalso coming into the juncture where you know,

(02:24:58):
the three losses to Michigan, thenot making the playoff last year,
the urgency is pretty high here.I guess just sort of what perspective do
you have on kind of the stakesthat there are for Ryan this year and
the decision that then he makes tobring you in to kind of help solve
that. Yeah, I think theexpectations can be no higher than they are
in your own brain, you know. And I think if you try to

(02:25:18):
worry about what other people are thinkingin their brains, you're going to get
screwed up a little bit. So, you know, I talked earlier the
one thing about Ryan that I knowabout him and has always been he's the
ultimate competitor. So he's got There'snowhere that has higher expectations of Ohio State
than Ryan does, nor the restof us that joined him in our part
of this and that are working withhim. So you know, I don't
think. I think sometimes you canspend too much time thinking about those things.

(02:25:41):
You know, what you really haveto do is just as there's a
big sign as you walk into thisplace, it says when the moment you
know, I think that's a realthing that we have to do as coaches,
is to make sure that our playersaren't worried about what's going on in
the future, or or aren't worriedabout what's going on in the past or
worry about can they get a littlebit better today, you know, and
can we make improvement? And Ithink the one thing that I've seen here,
and I've only been there for threeweeks, but there's a consistency to
the players approach when they walk inthis building every day, which is it's

(02:26:05):
unique. It's not like that everywhereelse. And it's one of the things
that I remarked to Mick when Iyou know, he said, Hey,
what do you think? And Iwas like, it's impressive. It's impressive
the culture of the players that arein this program right now. But I
think it speaks a lot to theleadership. There's there's a lot of older
players on this team, and they'veset the tone for the younger players,
and I think the younger players havedone a great job of followship and getting
right in line with that. It'snever hit it over a play calling to

(02:26:26):
someone before. What does it meanto you? I guess he technically did
it to Bill when he was herefor a couple of weeks, but what
does that mean to you to kindof be getting that responsibility from him and
he's calling essentially the offense that yougave it. I guess itself. Yeah,
I still think the play calling partwill be a collaborative effort. And
by that I mean that if it'sa good play, I called it,
and if it's a bad play,he called it. Because the great part

(02:26:50):
is an assistant coach, you needjust hen point the finger a little bit
and just say, hey, youknow, I wanted to do this,
but he trumped me. So wehaven't actually discussed game day yet. You
know, we'll see how that operates. But everywhere I've been it's been a
collaborative effort. And all of asudden, someone that's calling the plays isn't
isn't like pulls one out of leftfield that you hadn't practiced and hadn't been

(02:27:11):
part of your offense and said,hey, let's do this. You know,
we're not running the annexation of PuertoRico. You know, we're not
coming up with something special, youknow in the middle of the fourth quarter
that we haven't done. But Ithink it's the key to really being successful
on offense is is how you gameplan, how you put it all together,
and then how you practice and trainfor that so that you get a
chance to execute it. Because theplayer's confidences comes from their demonstrated ability that

(02:27:35):
they've done this so many times inpractice that when they get out on the
field that this is like that tothem, you know. And it's not
that they do it so they doit right, it's they practice it so
much so that they can't do itwrong. So, you know, I
think it's that whole part of itthat is really the key to being a
really good game planning team. Secondright, Doug Lane reethe King North Chip.
When you had that feeling when youwere coaching the quarterbacks during Bowlder,

(02:28:00):
did you consider at that point mayberesigning as the head coach and thinking like
this is this is not where Iam anymore. I'll leave and then I'll
look to see what else is outthere. No, I never thought about
quitting anything. So, you know, I just is there an opportunity that
I think I can that fit,you know, And I think that's the
you know, it's no different thanwhen you're talking to a recruit about them

(02:28:22):
make a decision on where they're gonnago to school. I think that where
they should go to school is wherethe best fit is for them. So,
you know, I just entertained someopportunities, and I always felt I
felt like this was the best fit. But I never thought about quitting or
not coaching. I'm gonna coach.I'm gonna coach, and then I'm gonna
die. But I mean, that'show I think I think about things.
Is I can't picture that I knowsomeone I was on the Nike trip and

(02:28:43):
they are like, how much longerare you gonna go? When I said
I to go another fifteen twenty years. I don't think about I don't think
about retirement. I don't think aboutany of those things. That's just not
kind of my mindset that you know. I love football and in the as
long as I can be part ofthis game, then I'll be part of
this game. And you have justthe way things worked out with your departure

(02:29:03):
from UCLA. Is there anything thatyou wish you had done differently, or
anything you regret, or just thatthe circumstances that presented themselves. Do you
think that you handled that departure thebest that you could have? Yeah,
I mean I got an opportunity totell my players personally. You know,
I think in this day and ageof the Internet, where they read it
somewhere else and you have to textmessage him. You know, that was
always important to me that I wantedto make sure I talked to my players

(02:29:24):
and explain the reasons of what Iwas doing. I wasn't leaving to take
a head coaching job somewhere else.I wasn't thinking that the grass is greener
at another university. Was just inmy personal situation, this is what I
wanted to do. I wanted totake an opportunity to go be a position
coach and coordinator, and that's howit fit. You know. What I
was happy is that I always thoughtto Sean Foster, I think the world
of them, and I think he'sa special you know. And the fact

(02:29:46):
that that they were they gave himthe opportunity to take over there was you
know, it worked out. Ididn't have any say in that decision.
You know, I was gone,But I always thought that de Shaun would
be a great head coach, andI'm really proud of them and happy that
that he got the opportunity to takethat job. Right behind him, you
have, your reputation is innovator.Was part of the appeal of this is

(02:30:09):
that you get to get in theweeds a little bit. Uh, maybe
not mad scientists. Maybe too toostrong of a work because you're working within
the system. But was there anappeal of I get to get my hands
dirty here again and innovate and getback to that side of things. It
was, but it was really moreimportant of who I get to work with,
you know, and so knowing youknow, I've got I know a

(02:30:33):
lot of guys on the staff besidesRyan also, so you know, when
I know what their mindset is andwhat their values are and how they do
things, and so I wanted tobe a part of that. But there's
a part of that. Yeah,how much of a teacher you get labeled
in the innovator. The teachings arepart of this. How much it is
of a teacher are you? Andhow patient are you? Yeah? I

(02:30:54):
think we're all teachers. I mean, education is the transportation of knowledge,
you know. So it really doesn'tmatter what the coach knows. It matters
what the players understand, you know. So you have to be able to
make sure that while you're implementing thingsis what resonates with them and how does
that come back to them? So, you know, a lot of our
teaching styles that we've learned is moreof the Socratic method of there's a lot
of questions, you know, anda lot of check for understandings, just

(02:31:16):
to kind of find out where theplayers are coming from, because it's what
they know that that's ultimately gonna wingames, not what we know. You
know that we're not playing the games. We're not stepping across those white lines,
you know. And your job asa coach is to create an environment
where they have an opportunity to besuccessful and then get out of their way
and let them go do it.So I think the teaching aspect is huge,
and we continue to research, youknow, some of the latest trends

(02:31:37):
in teaching to make sure that weare transporting that knowledge to our players.
The second ROLLD left Steve Hellwagen twentyfour to seven Sports. Yeah, coach,
just curious you got five scholarship quarterbackswith differing levels of experience, age
and everything else. Not to annoyhim, but just want to ask specifically
about Will Howard coming in after startingpart of two years. He is a

(02:32:00):
stage. He just seems to promotethis idea that he's a football player,
you know above all else. Justhow impressed are you with his makeup,
his experience, what he's bringing tothe table walking in here right now.
Yeah, really impressed. You know, you don't have to talk to Will
for more than five minutes to kindof know where he's coming from. He's

(02:32:22):
really focused, you know, heknows he's got a short window left in
his college career and it really wantsto capitalize on what that is. There's
a maturity to Will, you know. I really I've had experience, My
experience in this thing since the transferportal opened in college football is some of
the best players I've had an opportunityto coach ward transfers. Sometimes when you're

(02:32:43):
a true freshman and it's five yearsout, you know, it's like,
hey, I got a ton oftime, you know. And sometimes when
you're a transfer, is that I'vegot nine months, you know. So
there's a sense of urgency I thinkwhen you're dealing with with transfers, and
I think Will has exuded that sincehe's been here. But the other thing
that I just in the short timethat Will's been here is how quick he's
fit in with the entire team,you know, and how much the the
rest of the players respect him.You know. He was uh one of

(02:33:05):
the Gold Award winners for his workin the weight room in this offseason,
So that says a lot for himcoming in here as a in a short
time being able to to win aweight room award, you know, to
start off, you guys, hopeto have the number one internally externally at
the end of spring or I guessjust let do I think it always every
time I've been involved in these,I think when they're organic is when it's

(02:33:28):
the best that. I don't thinkyou can anoint somebody or force the issue
because the players know, the playerswould understand. They see it every single
day, you know, and there'sa team chemistry part of this thing too,
So we're not gonna force the issue. A but I've always seen it
play itself out. So I've beenfortunate that there's always gonna be some quarterback
battles at at some point in time. At every school there's a quarterback battle,

(02:33:50):
you know, and then and reallyyou gotta let him play it out
on the field, and that's whereit has to that that's where it has
to be decided. Just a coupleA coach can welcome than we We're excited
to have you here. Thank you. I'm kind of to talk about the
innovative part. Ryan said that that'ssomething that he's always loved butout working with
you, and now he wants youto bring that here and how it would

(02:34:11):
fit with Ohio State. Do youhave any idea what that's going to look
like yet or is just way tooearly? I have no idea, you
know. I think part of itis is you're trying to put the players
in position to make plays. Soa lot of that comes from getting to
understand the players and what their skillsets are and how we feature what their
skill sets are, you know,and and the one thing after day one,
I can tell you that there's alot of skill set out there,

(02:34:33):
you know. So that's that's whatgets you excited. You know, That's
that's what you jump out of bedin the morning and you're excited to go
to work because of the talent thatyou get to work with. But the
one thing that's the most impressive isthe work ethic that goes along with that
talent. You know, it's notjust empty talent. It's you got some
kids who want to I mean allof them since I've been here, want
to work, So that that's whatgets you excited. But I think assessing

(02:34:54):
what the skill set is you knowthat we have available to us on the
offensive side of the ball is vitallyimportant, and then our job is to
put those guys in positions to makeplaces of pressure. I mean, you've
experienced what it's like to coach nationalchampionship, how other teams this program right
now and moving into a situation whereyou got to win quick and now,

(02:35:16):
So does that feel like pressure herefor you or is it a little bit
of excitement or both? Well,I've always subscribed to as pressure is what
you feel when you don't know whatyou're doing. So if you don't want
to feel pressure, and then youshould know what you're doing, So,
you know, I think it's it'spart of that, and I think part
of our job with our players interms of the education process is getting them
to understand that too. Is thatyou know, it's it's about your preparation,

(02:35:37):
It's about you and your development.It's not about that you can't be
governed by what other people say.It's it's what's my mindset and how am
I intrinsically motivated? And then howdo I really compete against myself on a
daily basis to get a little bitbetter. You know, we got a
little bit better today because we getout on the field today and got a
chance to do some football. Andthen the challenge is when we get back
on the field on Thursday, canwe be a little bit better than we

(02:35:58):
were on Tuesday. If we're doingthat, then we keep stacking good days
on top of good days, andI think we'll be in good spot.
Welcome, Thank you. I'm gonnaask about the pros and cons of coaching
from the box and coaching from thefield. It's interesting talk to some offen
some coordinators. Tom Herman talked abouthe swore he wanted to coach from the
box. Saw the game so muchbetter, sterile environment, not all the
chaos on the field. Some coachesyou talk to the like, I want

(02:36:20):
to be on the field so Ican look at my guys in the eye.
Where are you as a as acoordinator? Honestly, And I've thought
of this a lot. I thoughtof it a lot during COVID because we
had the empty stands, you know, so I had thought about just walking
up into the stands for a littlebit because I had a better advantage.
I've always believed you can see thegame better from up above, but I
believe you can feel the game betterfrom the field. So if there was

(02:36:41):
any way we could get a zipwire where you could do both, you
know, coach calling from there,then zip down of the field, get
a chance to talk to him,because it's a different deal when you're talking
to the quarterbacks on a phone,you know, than being able to look
in their eye and kind of seewhere they are with it, And part
of it is the field part ofit. I remember when I coach Ryan
once we were playing in Yukon andhe got hit hard going out of bounce

(02:37:03):
and he just walked by me,and I was a play caller, and
he was like, run the nextplay, and I just kind of looked
at him. I saw the lookin his eyes because I don't think he
could have thrown it, you know, he was still trying to get his
win back. But you wouldn't knowthat if you're up in the booth,
you know, and you call apass play from up in the booth and
you're like, how come we can'tcomplete that? Well, he just took
a shot going out of bounds.So it's that fine line that I don't
have an answer, you know,I think. I think it's feel on

(02:37:26):
the ground and it's see from upabove. Maybe in this day a technology,
they'll figure it out. But we'llsee how that that that operates,
and whatever Ryan feels is the bestfor the team is what we're gonna do.
So your teams at the organ wereobviously Now we're playing at this pass
pace and running a bunch of playsper minute and yep, maybe not pretty

(02:37:50):
fast. What rule do you seetempo and having an offense and in the
station in college football and has maybechanged? I think the game is always
evolving, you know, I think. And I left in two thousand and
twelve to go to the National FootballLeague, Oregon was the only team that
was playing really really fast and hadshiny helmets. And when I came back
in twenty seventeen, everybody had shinyhelmets and everybody was playing fast. So

(02:38:13):
I think the game is always goingto go up and down, and there's
going to be different cycles that itgoes through. I think tempo is part
of an offense, but I don'tthink it's an offense in itself. I
think it's more of like if yougo to dinner, it's a side order,
you know, it's not the maincourse, but it's it's always good
to have it. So I thinkthere's times when you'll use it, but
you're you're not going to use itextensively the entire game. Just like you're

(02:38:35):
not going to throw the ball everysingle snap in the game. You're not
going to run the ball every singlesnap in the game. You know,
there's not a game of absolutes anymore. I think the ability to be diverse
and have it as a tool inyour two box, so to speak,
is really how we would look atusing it. Here are now more familiar
with it than I think. So, you know, I think when you

(02:38:56):
first started going Temple, there werepeople in the NCAA. They want to
outlaw it. They want to makean NCAA role that you couldn't do it,
you know, And I'll I'll givecoach Shaping credit. I mean,
I think obviously Nick was the firstone to do it. He wanted it
out loud, and then all ofa sudden he adapted it and said,
all right, we like this,you know, so we'll keep it in.
But it's I think people have itdoesn't matter what you do. There's

(02:39:16):
there's cycles to this game. Andthen Once people catch on to that cycle,
then it moves. You know,it's no different than for three defenses
and three four defenses. You knowwhat is the rage when the when the
Giants won the Super Bowl, theywere there were three four defense and everybody,
everybody says, we have to dothat. What people didn't understand is
they had Carl Banks and Lawrence Taylor. It didn't matter what defense they were
running. I know, Gym's backthere and Jim played against the you know

(02:39:39):
it was they could have been afour down defense and those guys would have
been great players. But it's notthe scheme. I think that the coaches
that do it the best way isthey insert their players and put them in
the best position to make plays.And now now will Temple be part of
it. It'll be part of it, but it's certainly not going to be
the main course. Last question,Oh, thank you very much, Jerry.

(02:40:00):
Number one, there was a greatmoment there when y'all were warming up,
when you were you were talking withTim Walton and Caleb Downs comes up
and conversing and as you're in thiskind of a two part question, but
number one, what was just yourtake on the talent you saw on that
field today on both sides of theball. Where where would you rank it?
Yeah, I'll rank it. I'llbe very transparent. As I was

(02:40:20):
telling Tim and Caleb what a greatoffensive player I thought Caleb would be,
could be and should be. ButI'm at the head coach, so I
always turned stretch as a as anoffensive coordinator, I'm always looking at the
defensive players like I could use him. Oh what could I do if I
had him? Life? If youdo it right away, so you know,

(02:40:43):
being accountable, you know, doingthe extra stuff away from the uh,
the facility. That stuff matters atthe end of the day because all
the expectations and all that pressure,that really doesn't matter if you do those
things. You know, So whatare you expectations for a year two in
this offense? I'll just keep on. You know. The name of the
game is his execution. You know, the times where we executed at a

(02:41:05):
high level, the times we wonthose games. You know. So that's
just the goal is just to executeand to be able to be on the
same page Bill chemistry right now,so you know when the t when the
ball rolls, you know, veryvery r ready to fly around at a
high level. So I mean that'sthe goal and that's that's you know,
there's goals on top of that,but that's the that's the foundation right now
with T's foundation work. So CEJI know that, I know that it's

(02:41:28):
still pretty early. But how hasit been so far getting to work with
Diggs and how is he fitting in? So far? He's been fitting in
great. You know, he's comingin with uh his head down mentality,
just working. You know, he'shelped me out a lot, just you
know, he come comes from afrom a a a good system over there
where when he was with the Billsand they did a lot of things with
him and really just offense and tellme how like Josh played and things like

(02:41:50):
that, things that you know wedo different that We've had this a plenty
of conversation, you know, sohe been he's come in and been a
leader, which which I'm proud ofhim for. And you know it just
really's has been unselfish and uh,I wanted to see other guys eat and
that was his main things, Likehe wanted to be around other dogs and
you know, he he he steppedinto that role where there's a dog everywhere.

(02:42:13):
Every he looks right, he looksleft. There's gonna be a dog.
So and he wanted that and that'swhat you know. We we break
to the table and he's been nothingbut just amazing so far. And I
n I'm very excited to work withhim a friend, as a teammate,
as a being. What's like tohave your friend Tank back with you?
Guys? What was it like togo from the cameraon of emotions from hearing

(02:42:33):
about it to now when it's overin your backyard there he'll unpluny and it's
amazing. You know, it's ssjust a testament to him and you know,
one of the god we serve.And then two, uh, just
the work that he's put in.You know, he's been uh you know,
he came back before it was evenschedule. He can get cleared.
And then on top of that,you know, just coming back after that

(02:42:54):
freak accident. And you know,I think that we serve a god that's
merciful and that's that's purposeful and heknows that. And he stepped into and
me and him we have those conversationsabout our faith and then cause like this
football stuff, it seems like it'severything, but it's not. You know,
we're we're people, and we wego through a lot off the field
people don't know. And you know, as his brother, I have to

(02:43:16):
be there for him, like justlike he's there for me when I go
through what I go through. SoI mean, I'm just proud of him,
man, Like the word proud iseven probably enough to like state the
the feelings that I have for thatguy. Man, he's my one of
my best friends that I've n youknow, gotten a known over the years
in this in this world of footballand past that Man, i feel like

(02:43:37):
I'm known since I've been three yearsold. You know, I think for
like our connections kind of like wegrew up together. And you know,
I just got a lot of lovefor that guy, and you know,
I'm very excited for him. He'sbeen snapping that practice and doing really well
and you know, to knock offthe rust that quick show us how much
work he's been in. How muchmore comfortable are you walking up to ats
this year to the last year.Things kind of a little bit slower,
just the biggest difference to you,Yeah, night and day. Man,

(02:44:00):
It's really like I feel like I'mrunning the show and I've got a lot
more responsibilities from Slow and from Demacaand from dry Bill and really our whole
office of staff. And you know, I'm the captain of the ship and
I gotta run it the right way. And I feel like I've you know,
stepped into that role just you know, and not only holding outs accountable,
but also you know, hold myselfaccountable to those moments, like I

(02:44:22):
don't let anything slide, because that'sthat's the point of winning and losing.
So I think from last year tothis year, like I've gotten a lot
better with like controlling my emotions,controlling my ball placement, knowing what's NFL
open, knowing my food work better. There's really every little thing I've taken
a step, and then on theother side of the ball, you know,

(02:44:43):
just everything slowed down. Seeing coverage. Demico does a good job of
blitching me and you know, workingon their different coverages and different looks and
start too high, go to oneand go back to to motion like as
man, go to cover too,like all that stuff to keep me true
and honest. And you know,I think I've tried to do my best
my off season study to you know, be better, and I feel like

(02:45:03):
I've done that and had a goodota so far. So got to finish
with that mini camp. But it'sbeen definitely a big transition of just more
comfortability from last year this year.College, you you always had like a
really talented receiver room, and thenlast year you had a talented receiver room.
So you've had the experience of havingto feed a lot of guys.
Obviously you had in digs, evenJoe Mixing coming out of the backfield.

(02:45:24):
How much would that experience from thoseyou know, college and last year help
you with being able to make surethat everybody's being fed the way they are.
So if you get you don't havethe best possible offer. If you
guys get bore. Yeah, Imean I don't think nothing changes, you
know. It's like, uh,I tell, I tell guys, cause
I get that question a lot fromI got people was just walking around.
It's anywhere, I ask your gamewhatever, and I was like, man,

(02:45:46):
it's football. You know you're open, you get the ball, so
uh and my things, you gottapick your poison playing us, like who
you gonna double, who you gonnacater to? Who you like? You
got five dogs who are who wereable to get the get the ball and
you give and play, you know, so I think it's fine. I
know Slow has done a great jobof being more creative and you know,
has put different personnel packages out there, guys in different positions that going from

(02:46:11):
inside and outside, you know,And you know, I'm I'm very excited
to work with with coach Low again. He's done amazing so far. You
know, Ota is and will continueto do such. But yeah, man,
I think that past experience of playingwith Marv Jax, Garrett, Chris
Jamo, America Julian like those typeof guys, they'll tell you too,

(02:46:35):
Like I know they'll probably have saidit before, but they'll tell you like
they made me better and I madethem better. You know, that's my
job is to make everybody around mebetter. So I'm excited. Has been
healthy competition, Like I know,Garrett, I've seen his interview the day
he was talking about Ohio. Seehow like the receivers like if Gear made
a play, Chris is like,nah, watch this like it's the same

(02:46:56):
thing here, which is you know, really cool to watch. And you
know, as the quarterbacks meet,Davis in Case and Tim were the same
way too. So healthy competition isthe best way to grow and get better.
And I think that that's what it'sabout. You see how excited Diggs
gets for Tank when he makes itplay, and Mechi gets for excited for
when Nico makes a play, andTank gets excited when Rob makes a play.

(02:47:16):
You know. So it's amazing,and you know we got Noah coming
back to which is gonna be amazing. And I'm excited. Uh been there
and a ton of guys there's aton of talent steeds showing up. Really,
everybody's really been doing Jay, Wayne, Johnny you know so and man
it's been funj Uh, Nico donegot you some some maketure talent on the
office side of the ball. Wellwhat do you think about their dishes that

(02:47:37):
he made on the defensive side ofthe ball. Yeah, man, it's
been great. It's been good ongood like Demigolas talks about Irons tromping iron
you know, it's been a lotof smack talk, a lot of just
uh, just good competition, youknow. And then it starts with me
and his ease, you know,him being the leader of defense. I'm
a leader at offense. And youknow, playing him last year, I
man, he always showed up ontape when I watched the Titans last year.

(02:47:58):
So it's cool to like see likethe stuff he thinks. We you
can see him at my locker,me at his or us before practice after
practice talking about plays and you know, so, I mean it starts with
us, and then when you addDaniell, somebody who's a vet who plays
really hard, who's gonna help willyou know? And them two dogs.
You got team in the in themiddle, uh with Autry and and Sosa

(02:48:22):
and ya, just a ton ofguys man, you know, in the
back end, got young guys pshowing up. Kaitlin's doing really well in
the back end along with Petrie anduh, Jimmy along with Kamarai Kamara is
shown up. Stein's playing well asy'all seen. Uh. So man,
it's just been dogs on dogs,you know, like and that's that's that's

(02:48:43):
that's the best teams I've ever beenon. Has been the closest teams personally,
but also the most competitive team.So it's been dope larger. See
that you broke out last year andNico broke out last year and you go
against the contract excentri He's here totwenty twenty seven. What does that do
for you? Just knowing that youhave a familiar target to work with the
next few years. You know,it's just something I'm first of all,
I'm just proud of that guy.U. My brother Nico. He's showing

(02:49:07):
up and shown out, you know, when you know and his number is
called, he always makes to playand you know, he's just a special
He's a generation talent man. He'she's like al Age is Andre Johnson in
my opinion of just how fast heis, how he gets in and out
of his brace, his releases,how strong he is. And I think
last year was just a u apreview to what it's took come for him.

(02:49:30):
And the one thing I'm proud ofhim for is just the work has
never stopped. He's constantly here workingon his body, constantly here working on
his hands. Is his mobility inthe weighting room, you know. So
for me, I mean just havinga a true uh. I think we
have like five number ones, youknow, So that's kind of cool to
have. And I've had that beforein college and now I'll have it again.
And He's gonna be fine man.And Nico, he's gonna he's he

(02:49:54):
loves to see everybody else heat too. So man, his his love for
his brothers hasn't change. And youknow, it's it's a it's a s
special feeling. And see somebody whodeserves to get paid and you know,
get what they the d d waitthe what they deserve, and you know,
I'm just really proud of him.What does it mean for you to
have another opportunity to work with BobbysolaAndelrone Johnson. I don't know if you
remember that was a moment going intothe playoffs last season where you really even

(02:50:16):
know if either one of those guyswould be or pretty shit. Yeah,
I mean for both of them tocome back was very special. I think
we both we all have a betterfeel of how to work with one another.
And you know, the talent Iam on the field, and the
play caller that uh Bobby is andthen the the common coach Drought is.
You know, we all work togetherand that and you know, slow as

(02:50:37):
I'm in his office almost every morningjust going over stuff and watch the film
with him, going over things thatwe need to go to get better at.
And he always has his phrases,you know, working for the end
at mind, and you know heholds me accountable when you know it could
be easier just to like let meslide, cause you know, I'm I'm
out there still making plays. Buthe's like, nah, you need to

(02:50:58):
be better here, here and there, And you know that that's just uh
shows what type of a leader heis. And you know, it's a
honor to be able to work withhim again. And same for me,
like to him like, hey,flow, I'm not really feeling this play,
or I wanna add this player totry to see if we can get
better here in this inn in thispractice where you know, I think we

(02:51:18):
can be really good at this typeof player. And he's very, very
accepting when it comes to that.So it's been cool to work with both
of them, and I'm very excitedto get another year on our belt.
What was right? What was itlike? Uh, teacher football? Uh?
Internationally and the ther the reception thatyou got from the people there,
it was it was amazing. Youknow. UH. First of all,

(02:51:39):
shout out to Beijing, Shanghai andTokyo, you know for accepting Meta Mica
uh with open arms and just thehospitality and the uh, just the culture
man there is just amazing. Theywanna learn about football, you know,
and it's it was cool just tosee like them already have like the foundation
of it, but wanted to growfrom there. And you know, I

(02:52:01):
think football is a family sport andlike those people are our family now.
And you know, the Olympics comeinto where it's gonna be international with flag
football, I think it's super dope. And to be able to get you
know, to be able to putour feet into those those uh doors already,
you know, it's kind of cool, you know. So I mean,
I'm very grateful with my team withuh uh Bernie and David for setting

(02:52:26):
that up and even like the guysout there who who gave us top notch
hospitality it w It was just amazingman, the whole experience. So,
you know, just my first timereally out the country and just being able
to like go to the Great WallChina and all that stuff and still do
what I love to do, youknow, working out when Micah it was
cool and uh he has a lotof crazy takes, but you know,

(02:52:48):
I got love for that guy,but it was fun. Man. And
Jonathan, Dad, what's uh,what's it like you kids suver down here
with you and what's your relationship beenlike with him. Uh yeah, uh,
Kay's my brother. Man. Youknow, I've been through taking thing
with him, and he's somebody whoI I often look at as like like

(02:53:09):
our moms are like the same,or our families are super close. In
his college, I think he's likemy blood brothers who like somewhere for wuck
count of line. I don't knowhow it works, but I just he's
always like there for me. He'salways you know, I don't know,
man, Kate is just like thatguy. He's a brother that you just
you know, letting him know I'mavailable for him. You know, I

(02:53:33):
think it can be something as littleas just the steps on field goal blot
or field goal protection. You know, I've been doing it for thirteen years.
Uh it's still crazy. I'm stilldoing it, but uh you know,
Uh, those are the ty typeof things I'm just giving guidance to.
And then you know, off thefield, it's you know what to
expect around the city, Where shouldyou be, where you should be,

(02:53:54):
how you can help yourself? Youknow, the little things. Are you
looking forward to your contract? Youknow, I'm looking to be here.
You know, Uh, the valueis what we decide. But you know,
I think for me, I II wanted to be you know,

(02:54:15):
valued about my position. You know, I I understand I came up a
rough season, but I don't thinkit's a step down of where I can
play. You know, I thinkwhen I was at the top of my
game, I'm still you know,top five player in my position. And
you know I played a run inthe past and I bring leadership and you
know that's not anything I discover.Can you you plan to be here for

(02:54:39):
mini camp? Ram started for inthe camp? Yeah? How difficult has
it been the last two weeks tonot be here? I mean you said
in your podcasts the first time you'venever not been a Yeah, it w
it was difficult. But like youknow, the thing I got very frustrated
with was just and people questioned mycommunication with the team. You know,
I uh was communicating with guys leftand right and you know, front office,

(02:55:03):
coaches, teammates, And all Icare about is how I am with
my teammates. I don't want themto ever think I don't care about them
or how I'm not in it.And you know, you can say whatever
you want about me. But besidesthat, but I always dedicate anything I
can to them, and I don'twant that to every question. Isaiah said

(02:55:24):
that it felt like sometimes you werehold up somewhere watching film. You text
her and say, hey, youmissed this or you want well, like
the first day, he was battingall up Russ's passes, so I had
to let him know. You know, I, uh, you gotta take
advantage of that. You gotta makesure guys are you know, uh know
that you you still care and youstill wanna be a part of this.
Uh, you know, just watchingpractice, there's a couple of little things

(02:55:46):
we're doing different, whether I'm communicatingwith Gunbar or other people, you know,
to be y so you're that you'realso talking with him and you you've
giving him pointers during the off season, just constant communication. How have you
seen him grow as a person,you know, as far as how he's
approaching things and how he's getting readyfor this season from his rookie Uh.
You know, I think the thingwith Keanu is he's more comfortable. You

(02:56:09):
know. You know it's not hisfirst time around the track. You know,
it's actually like he can you know, uh catch his feet under him.
You know. I always think whenyou're in your rookie season, you're
going from bowl game. I don'teven know Wisconsin played in a bowl game.
Sorry, Wisconsin, I don't evenknow. But you know, personally,
I just think when you go frombowl game to training for the combine

(02:56:31):
to you know, rookie minicamp toOTA's the you know mini camp, I
mean the training camp the regular season, you really don't get a time to
really catch yourself. You know,he understands the playbook now, he can
be more vocal, you know.And I think when my absence, the
other guy's absence, you know,you need guys like that to step up
and be ready for those opportunities youhad during the season. Was a more

(02:56:56):
thorough What was just tightening down everything, you know on my left side cause
I was over compensating a little bit, but you know it was there wasn't
anything that lingers, you know.I I'll say this, uh A growing
is not like an ACL It's notlike anything's that we're gonna get afected again.
And you know, you know,I'm feeling good, able to do

(02:57:18):
everything squat and heavy with power andspeed, so you know it it feels
good to get after again. Whatdo you think of what the team was
able to accomplish your so offseason returnsof bringing guys like Russian and things,
you know. I I think they'reall good acquisitions, but you know,
you never want to be known asa paper champion and so can't win the
off season. I think the workgets done out here on the field,

(02:57:41):
gets done in the classroom, Itgets done training, uh, you know,
and then you see where you're atin training camp and then get built
on that. You know. Ithink we got the right guys in the
building. It's just about uh,putting a complete team on the field.
Cam how temper companies to separate themis part of the game in the actual

(02:58:01):
football player. Uh. You know, y you always wanna you you always
have to treat it like a business, uh, because you know one day
it's gonna end. Uh. Andthat's any job. Uh. It's not
like in college where you know yougot four years guaranteed. You know,
well, now you you don't evenknow where then I am at all.

(02:58:22):
It's crap but the transfer portal portal. But you know, you have to
I still have love for this game, and I still work my tail off,
and I still put everything into it. And that's not gonna change,
but you have to know, uhwhat you bring to the team and what
your what your value is. Okay, I mean wanted to feel to be

(02:58:43):
out there with your teammates today emotionallygreat. You know, we got a
new uh, we got a newtraining staff and still learning the the warm
up a little different. Uh,but uh, you know I loved it.
Uh, you know, just gettingafter it, learning new guys.
Uh, going through the same drillsI've been doing by myself. Uh.
I actually like having more people around, cause like kind of go stir crazy,

(02:59:05):
cra crazy. When it's just youand another guy, You're like,
damn, I gotta go back upfor another rep already. And so you
know, it's nice to be uphere and get a chance to you know,
be with my guys. Cam.Were you confident? And we'll get
done with your emotion Oh I'm gonnaI'm we'll try to remain pretty neutral,
cause you know, I don't wannabe too either way. All I know

(02:59:33):
is I wanna be here, butwe'll see what happens. Is my last
year here, I I I I'vehad a great career here, but uh,
we'll look forward to play next year. Can you what that second surgery
you said it just determines on theleft side. Was the first time around
on the right side, right sideduring the season, left side, and
that was just tightening down my corner. My corma saw. It wasn't the

(02:59:56):
same as my ad doctor. Youknow, you can ask doctor uh doc
doctor Zuckerbron who uh did the surgeryas well. You know, I if
anything's gonna help me and you know, make me a lot stronger from hearing
up. Did you say you weretraining with another guy? Who have you
kind of been? Tyson? Oh? Uh, I've been training with him
for the last eight years. We'vealways trained together. We got a trainer

(03:00:20):
up north, uh Shadow Cole Haley, who's my guy, traded trained trained
uh Heath Miller, Brett Keesel.The multitude of guys that I all respect
and we've just been getting after it. Cam. He's very few guys historically
thirty five that you paid big contractoryou think that's held against you. I

(03:00:41):
think there's not a lot of historybehind it. But you know, for
me, I I look at asI'm not looking to be like anybody else.
You know, my game is differentfrom everybody else in this league.
You know, I like to think, you know, I can play the
run in the past, and thenthat's where I'm different. You know,
I remember last year, Mike tjust brought to my attention. You know,

(03:01:03):
the thing that's really cool is youwatch power lefters, and you know,
my game's built on power and technique, and those guys go into their
forties and so you know, that'swhat kind of research I'm doing behind the
scenes. But you know, II we'll see what happens. The it's
there's not a lot of history.But I'm here to make history and I'm

(03:01:24):
here to you know, win anotherSuper Bowl year and you know, have
a great season. Do you havea set goal for yourself or how many
years you wanna play in the NFL? Or do you just take things year
by year? You know it?It was it was tough answering that question
right after the season. I willsay this, guys, I I can't
keep answering that question right after theseason. That is not fair to the

(03:01:45):
season, that's not fair to myfamily. Uh you know, but in
my mind, I got three yearsand I wanna maximize'em. I wanna
play at a high level and Iwanna go deep in the playoffs, and
you know, we got a goodteam and I'm gonna do my part to
be ready for all those situations here. If you plan on practic soon when
you report to Latrobe, or isyour possibility that you might pull in and

(03:02:07):
enforce issuations? I I have noteven thought that far. I've taken the
day by day. Uh you knowuh uh. I told my agent and
we talked about it and me wewere cool coming out here. You know,
I'll be here for many you know, and then I'll be there for
training Pam. You know, Idon't know what the work entails, but

(03:02:28):
right when we get there, we'llwe'll cross that bache. Why is it
a jot for or remain a stealerfor those three years? You know,
there was a conversation between me Omarand Mike t And there's certain guys that
are one helmet guys, you know, and I wanna be one of those

(03:02:48):
one helmet guys. And you know, there's a there's a hunger and desire
that I I was doing a littlebit of carrying the ball. I was
behind Xavier Johnson. So learning fromhim and guys like that, it's it.
It makes me more comfortable. ButI could. I feel like I
could do anything on the field,and I'll do anything to play so fast
and do with me throwing the ball, run the ball, catching the ball,
blocking, anything I'll do is gonnafield with that. Talked about how

(03:03:11):
competitive you are, where do youthink that drive comes from? This comes
from where I'm from, South Florida. I feel like everybody down there,
we compete to the max. There'sno other place that competes like South Florida.
There's dogs all around the South Florida. So, I mean, it's
just ever since I was seven yearsold when I started playing, It's just
it was instilled in me to justcompete and be that dog. Speaking of
South Florida, I mean I playedwith Jeremiah when I was ten and eleven

(03:03:41):
and that we played against each othera couple of years of high school.
So I've seen him. The growthhe's made over these years is insane.
The way his body has changed iscrazy. And now seeing out here today,
it's just like everything comes full circle. You know. He he's what,
he was the best player in thecountry last year. And for him,
for me seeing him grow up andthings like that, it's been really

(03:04:01):
good to see truth fresh guys,it's such a stack room. Even Marvin
Harrison Junior didn't play much as atrue fresh, but it seems like he
might be the exception to the rule. I feel like Jeremiah is just I
mean, he's definitely he's a differentcaliber and when when you when you watch
him and how smooth he is andthe physical abilities he brings to the game,
I feel like he has to playsome way. He has to.

(03:04:24):
He has to play because he wasthe better the team. Jeremiah the sophomore
and now you guys next years,they're gonna get the best receiver receiving room

(03:04:52):
in the country. You know,we've been holding that narrative for so long
now, but we're gonna continue todo that. I mean, we have
conversations with like as us because werewe all play for the same team.
As you said, we just wantto be the best and we know when
it's our time to come, we'regoing to do We're gonna do that and
definitely get a national championship. Howspecial is that for you? For that

(03:05:13):
you guys get it's very special becauseyou would have never known in OT seven
when we were there all on thesame field together on the same team who
never thought we would have been atthe Ohio State University, all playing on
the same field at the same time. So it's definitely special in them to
dream come true. How's your bodychanged in this offseason. I definitely think

(03:05:35):
my body has changed a lot,and it's changed the ways of like my
body. Fappers, sentences went downa lot, and I just feel like
I overall feel better when I likedo long runs and stuff like that.
So I have a good, reallygood stamina right now, so I just
hope to keep that up. Ifyou guys winded this year as you were
after a fifty seven years touchdown inyour first catch, yeah, uh,

(03:06:00):
I feel like it was just aadrenaline rushing. I feel like I was
just more so a celebration, wasmore tired than the run. Actually everybody
jumping on me and stuff like that. But it was definitely a cool experience
experience. Just talk to South Florida. Is there a little Southemia? Is
there outside? It feels like there'sa little bit of South Florida maybe from

(03:06:22):
there, Like they're a good trackproper. Yeah, Like you guys,
do you see that in the corner? I feel like if if there were
anybody to be from South Florida andthe cornerm it would be h ig Be
Davidson Niggings guard and looking over tothe counterparty guard. It's great things.
What what about Carsons skills might justallow him to shift over one's pops he

(03:06:43):
was last year? Why could hebe successful? Right, he's athletic,
he's able to run the ball.He's as world, which is af your
favorite thing and working in the spacethat's uh, it's a huge thing to
have. And uh he's just tryingto come out into the black guard spot.
Now. It's how kind of allyou guys, I gotta said,
are expiring for it? But uh, he's knowing you did a good job
today. Let's see what we cando intil the summer and get into the

(03:07:03):
fall camp. After Sam scored histouchdown, which lock And was talking to
him, and then he kind ofmade his way over to you grabbed a
sugar pad, like what was goingon there? Oh yeah, yeah,
I mean obviously, Uh, youngguy scores a touchdown the shoe he kind
of blocks out of everything cause I'mtrying to coach locks on his name,
trying to get his attention back.He gets some coaching. Uh it was
it was nothing too crazy. Couchlike said, now we handle all to

(03:07:24):
the ref around here, and sojust to make sure you know, uh,
obviously it's a great thing. RightI'm scoring a touchdown, it's great
thing. Everybody showing you've seen himscore. But you see turn see some
coaches a lot of quarterbacks running theball up today. You think of that
part of the game. I meanI I think that just makes uh the
offense even more bounced. You know, Chiefs that's played left on the eleven,
set ten on the eleven. Soit's just another guest to account for
another guy you have to uh moveoutside the box or another day after by

(03:07:48):
a pendent roles. The rest ofthe defense open for more uh options than
you know, pens of them.So it's a it's an awesome thing.
You know, personally I want toslide, but but uh it's it's still
cool. See how difficult did thatmake it last year? When your last
couple of years where you really everhad that? What does the running for
you able to do? Runner forquarterback games? None, It wasn't difficult.
It's just a new style of offense, you know. Coach Kelly comes

(03:08:09):
in with his philosophy and what hewants the cues to do, and the
cues are actually went on the spring, So I'm just gonna keep building off
that. Obviously he's a couple ofgood things today, some uh some good
runs by all the cues, butjust uh building off of it and see
what we can do better done.I think you open today in the tea
formations and creative like that. What'sit like working with Chip Kelly and how
is that helping the offensive line's creativity? Uh, it's it's it's really fun,

(03:08:33):
uh going through walkers. Obviously Ionly get the the run to play
the inside outside zone. But youknow when we go back from filmer like,
well we were in the tea formeasure, but it's, uh,
everything's a lot everything's a lot morefun. All the guys are buying in,
all the guys are coming a lotmore fun. So, uh,
coach kind of brings us on hisown juice to what we have, what
you're going on, and just uh, every day, every guy, everyone

(03:08:54):
improves off of it. So I'mreally cool. Do you feel that improvement
up front for you guys in theoffensive line, you feel like that's helping
you guys right now? Yeah,I mean, uh all, we have
a lot more experience in your line, A lot more guys have a year
or two under the belt. Whatdid your impression of him? What does
he do well that you're like,okay, yeah, this is this is
the brother I want to pack.He closes you bore you beat photonic.
Yeah, you'll be committed right afterthe visit. I mean when you came

(03:09:16):
down here, was there a thoughtprocess that you could commit. Did you
come down with an open mind ordid you kind of have a feeling that
this was gonna be the week Ieat? I came down with open mine.
I didn't know if I'm the momatingaround that, and then I got
here, I felt the family acareer player. What was that moment like
for you talking to the coaches,telling me there, telling your family?

(03:09:37):
Just what was that like for you? But it was great? Uh I
have my mom, my dad,all my brothers in the room ear the
other What was that reaction? Well, my everybody already know except present present
with So what was coach last night? Who was talking? When you think
of like just to comment or yeah, just to ohio straight back? You

(03:09:58):
know, whether it's physicality. Like, what are the first things that come
to mind when you think of Theydon't high state running back, speed of
powers on and tiny battle? Yeah? Is that something that I mean you
feel like you have to you knowwe're going to Is that something that you're
like, Yeah, that's the kindof back I am. I'm just gonna
be next to mine there ahish,I think that's the top back I am.
But you get it. Well,what are kind of a few of
those things that you're like, yeah, I need to work on, like

(03:10:20):
go over the course of the nextfew months or just everything. Make sure
I keep all the details, willSuperio? What a coach I tell you
that he likes about your game?Is it right between the tackles, your
speed or what is he like?He said, he like marrow fuck the
backfield man, and then he likedthat I'm not going to between talking Well,
what's kind of your main I meanobviously as an in state kid committed

(03:10:41):
to this class, what's your pitchnow to other recruits and being like this
is why you should join Ohio Statetwenty twenty last, it's a real family.
I'mosper Yeah, everybody getting along,everybody talking to everybody doing each other.
What'd you say once you get anynext training back or who affects bringing

(03:11:01):
to it? Well, I've alwayslook up to Jack watching this film,
you that's funny. Do you thinkthat your boy style kamers for christ perspect
isn't just the way that he reallyclosed a little bit off that thing that
you want to grow into. Yeah, I think I can. I think
the speed the part. Yeah,I think I know. Who are the

(03:11:24):
main guys that you're you're talking toright now to join us? I'm really
talking to everybody, uh the listingroom him in that auto commits, any
guys that you want to join theclass? Anybody at the top of your
list. Not I'm sorry if you'vealready asked this, but coming up here
as a as a recruit, asa commitment sre what what did you want

(03:11:45):
to show today? What did youwant to get out of this experience?
It wasn't nothing to show nothing.I just wanted to this one work here
with those love How did you feellike that went? Obviously he's still relatively
new here, but he seems tobring up a little bit of a different
energy than than some of these campsin the past. I feel like a
really good year. Do you sensethat energy? I mean when you're out
with him, it's I feel thisintense interview. He's different than other guys

(03:12:07):
though, right, I mean kindof how you would you explain his coaching
than some of the other running backcoach you may have worked with in the
past. It's just intense. Ittense like go go and go year?
Did you talk to coach? Talkon when you organ I hear, okay,
so when when didn't he didn't workin getting market nor like ruffle around
like half of the season, likenot too far at this? Okay,

(03:12:28):
So I mean is it was?He kind of the same guy that he
is now, so just just ina new uniform basically. Yeah. Then
you guys obviously added Isaiah to theclass, and there's no secret they would
like to add another one. Whatare your thoughts on being in a class
with three different running acts like that, I have no problem being in the
past and another what do you likeabout Isaiah? I don't know, you

(03:12:52):
never met him, but just damnon the person when you committed. There
were some of the guys that youshould have to ward from any but in
particularly not after they know that I'mnot really a couple of linebackers. Take
me Aubrey's thoughts joining you just enjoyedcoming back. You're just getting in down.

(03:13:18):
I enjoy it every time. Gamesbeen great, that's been good.
Christ you what your life to changeas you walked out before if you were
the last joy and just decided towork out committing and now you're five star
in the one player play crazy.Uh it's actually really pretty though. I
steel like you know, ever sincejust even getting the offer from here on

(03:13:41):
my life, that's just ye,sky rest great. I just really appreciate
this. I mean, obviously timewe had a couple year before you did.
Hear it. I'm curious about howyou put so higher straight? Like,
how do you do? It's apretty you started to get higher pretty
good. But I mean in termsof the guys, don't you want to

(03:14:01):
join? You'resting card using box lunchtest card and JAMR hamper its hunch your
team shirt something great? A greatright because look what do you want me
out of a quarterback? Like awhite you're missing at Yeah, this is

(03:14:24):
one we wanted. Your cards greatRochester, thank you girls as any coats

(03:15:01):
the very very much kind of verytalking person. Thank you once again you're
talking as uh tell you about whatyou don't like that art? Girls,

(03:15:22):
it's the first time I met him. You know, we just finding little
road. Yeah, what do youthink we where you get to talk?
You know talking? Ye? Solike the loss over them against what's been
like for you California being out ofthe conternet. This a little honestly like

(03:15:48):
help you. Yeahs like different beingand what sty from here when you were
difficult? Yeah, it's definitely different. So it's why here you're a new
generation of recruits where I don't thinkanybody outside looking at the old the question
is the strength of your commitment.Like you're locked into the high of State

(03:16:11):
and you send it over and over, but you're making visits around the country.
You've seen other schools. It's it'salmost a totally different mindset. How
do you approach these other visits andhow do you communicate with Ohio State about
them? But what's been the messagecommunicate State? I just let it know
that I'm always locked in. Youknow, I'm just still unjoying the process.

(03:16:33):
Recruit. You know, it's what'son the civilis enjoy the other schools
outside of life. Yeah, it'sgonna be really hard trying to get to
the flips. That's it's Ohio State'sprobably be So what is it that's made
you wanna take those with us?What what it takes? How's the rehab
process going so far? It's goinggreat. Mind, it's just taking them

(03:16:56):
one day at a time. Atwhat stage are you? I know the
A said they wanted to feel youprobably in training camp or we would know
a little bit more. I guessafter next week when you see a doctor
for what what stage are you?Yeah? I'm back up training doing everything
lifting great, soy I'm back inthat stage. Do you have a time
cable? Like what would you beready for training camp? Or? Uh?
Like what is your expectation? Uh? Right now? Just take me
one day at a time, standingin my playbook, So my numbers called

(03:17:20):
them ready? And how important foryou hasn't been to I guess stay around
the team while you're in this process? Uh? Great man? Nuh you
know, definitely getting in touch withthe guys, you know, knowing a
lot of s lot of the guysalready a lot of the old State boys
here. So it's been great.Are you encouraged by how you feel so
far after the procedure, do youOh yeah, what do your expectations work?

(03:17:41):
What from what people told you?How would how would you goose?
Oh yeah, noah, I FI feel fine. Shit, I just
ran ten fifties. Shoot, I'mI'm getting back in shape. Shoot,
getting in the weight room, aboutto get strong again. So yeah,
I'm i'm, I'm i'm'a be ready. What potential do you see with this
defensive line? Yeah? I meannow you definitely stacked. I see a

(03:18:03):
lot of great things. Uh,you know we work together, Yeah,
I think sky's limit. What conversationshave you had with some of the veterans
like Cam or any other people onthe T line? Yeah? Just uh
going to Cam just aks'e aboutcertain things in terms of how he sees
offenses just whole time he's been inthe league, in terms of formations and
how he picks up on little preacI b reads things like that. Chase,

(03:18:26):
I think making said, you knowyou dove into the deep end of
the pool. H How I guessM much important for you to be disinvested
with his team at and how muchare you enjoying that investment? Yeah?
Nah, that's real cool, butI uh, I love it here.
Only thing I had to get usedto is that heat. H But uh
it's it's real cool, great teammatesand everybody welcome me with open off.

(03:18:48):
So it's a great experience. Chase, I gotta get work, he answered
the Sorry is uh training camp dayone? Is that a realistic expectations?
I'm just focusing on today? Areyou running it? Yup? Marshawan is
another old house they got just havinghim back in the building, just talked
about with that. Oh yeah,uh yeah, b uh big bro.

(03:19:09):
You know it's uh, definitely excitedto play with him. We always chatted
obviously on different teams, but I'mdefinitely excited to to play with'em.
That's you know, that's that'd bebig for me. Was that one of
the guys from making the decision thatyou you kind of talked to about what
this locker room is like? Yeah, Marshaan uh tyrne, But yeah,

(03:19:31):
I mean it was we got alot of great guys in this de You
look at that, you know onpaper, you know, I feel like
definitely one of the most talented defensesin the league for sure. Uh uh.
Now it's all about just putting ittogether and you know, coming together
as a team. We're researching thata hundred years ago, you know,

(03:19:52):
folks had the idea of building astadium over sixty thousand people, and that's
because of what Chick Carley was doing. And you know, they had a
wooden bleachers over here and all thesepeople started coming in and the idea of
bringing in a stadium that of wheresixty thousand people at the time was like,
this is crazy. What is collegefootball turning into? And they instead
of going to the state or goingto the school the community, they went

(03:20:13):
to the community to raise the moneythey raised over at the time over a
million dollars. Well, I'd fastforward one hundred years and the conversation still
might be like, what is collegefootball doing right? And in this situation
then il we had to turn tothe community for help, and Bucky Nation
showed up again in a big way. So although the landscape is changing,
I don't know if you know,one hundred years later, if it's that

(03:20:35):
much different. It's just in adifferent time, in a different you know,
set of issues that we're working through. But I think it's exciting.
I think there's a lot of positivesto it. I do. I think
that we're taking the next step withthe revenue sharing to try to institutionalize some
of it, which would be bigfor us minutes. Yeah, every year's

(03:21:00):
questions, it seems like this year'steam has fewer questions of the specifically,
if you look ahead to in amonth, what are the real questions that
you have in your mind about positionbattles? And I would say on offense,

(03:21:22):
you know, we got to squareaway the quarterback as you know,
I feel like, you know,the offensive line on the right side,
we got to solidify that. Ifeel like we got to build, you
know, enough depth at receiver thatwe feel like we can put in five
or six in the game and feelgood about it. On defense, I

(03:21:43):
think we're still looking to figure out, you know, who are going to
be the guys inside, you know, the third, the fourth, the
fifth, defensive interier alignment that we'regoing to put in the game. And
then same thing, just just Iwould say depth, a little bit of
safety, just to kind of seewho those next guys are are going to
step up. And so we knowit's going to be a long year.
We're gonna need everybody and and soin a lot of those areas stepth special

(03:22:09):
teams wise. You know, punteris going to be you know that that
is significant. You know, wejust brought in Nick and you know,
so there'll be a battle there.So I'd say those are probably the areas
we're focused on the most Ryan justto fall on the offensive line, there
was I think a school of clog. You guys might look for a transfer
in that post spring window. Didyou guys do that? Did you guys

(03:22:31):
not find the guy or were youjust confident the guys you have, Just
like you know in January, ifif if we're going to bring somebody in,
it is to fill a hole.We're not just going to bring somebody
in to bring somebody in. Likein all positions, we'll always look to
see what's out there. We didevaluate some of the guys that were out
there, and you know, youknow, we felt like coming out of

(03:22:52):
it as we evaluated it, youknow, there was a couple of guys
that you know, we checked on, but but ultimately, like based on
where we were and some of theyoung guys that are coming up, you
know, we felt like we sawsome progress in the offensive line in the
spring, So you know, itwasn't There wasn't as many folks in the
portal, you know, in afterthe spring, So we looked at it,

(03:23:13):
we identified it, We did ourdue diligence, but you know,
we're gonna go through what we havenow second round bills, right, you're
bet. It was interesting that youhave two of maybe the top five ors
of guys in sport and then abunch of guys who haven't plenty uh maybe
someone that I know my question,but did you consider trying to add there
understanding that probably the difficult to sell. We can have such talent to bring

(03:23:37):
somebody of these experiences, like whatwere those conversations like, and how did
you settle on being comfortable with youknow, Trey and and these Well,
like you said, you know,I think we're we would get some experience
there with those two guys. Andthen you know, we felt like coming
out of the spring that James andSam both did a nice job and you
know, we're gonna have to playthem and they're gonna have to you know,
take on a little bit of that. You know, we we have

(03:24:00):
of you know, started having conversationswith Caleb Downs. I was part of
the recruiting process of possibly you know, doing a little bit of running back
as well. It's something that hewanted to do. So we've been having
him in some of the meetings andsome of the individual drills as a possibility
there if you know, needed sodown the road, to continue to build
depth at that position. But youknow, I think, you know,

(03:24:20):
we feel like, you know,if you have you know, four strong
running backs going into it, thenyou know that's gonna be that's gonna be
enough to carry the season. Ido think that the quarterbacks will run the
ball more this season, so thatshould take some carries away from them.
But to your point, you know, James and Sam are gonna have to
step up to the guys that wecan count on. Save that for another

(03:24:46):
day. Yeah, just fall upon it. Is he capable of stepping
in and being running back? Obviously, we'll see, we'll see. We
talked about in the recruiting process,you the first time around and more specifically
in the second time around, andso he's you know, he's been around
a little bit just to get afeel for it. We did very little

(03:25:07):
in the spring. We did Ithink we pitched them an option or something
like that in the spring, justto kind of get them going. But
we'll see. We'll see where thatgoes. We don't have a specific plan
right now, but we do wantto introduce him to that just the same
thing like Lorenzo Styles has played receiver. He did that, notre dame.
You know, he's out there alittle bit, just kind of learning.
It's healthy. You know, you'reseeing it from the other side of the

(03:25:28):
ball. This time of the year, you can get away with that a
little bit, a little bit inthe preseason. Where it goes, we'll
see, but you just never know. And we're trying to put some contigency
plans in place because it could bea long season. Yeah, this is
my forty first year covering of Hotto Day. I don't remember ever expectations
like this in the summer. Therewere some of them were almost as big.
Sure do you send that too?And what is that pressure like as

(03:25:50):
you're working through a summer. Yeah, people have asked me that I go
back to the expectations every year arethe same. I mean, it's just
the truth. When open press conferenceand said you got to beat the team
up north and win every game afterthat, that's just the expectations. And
when you come up short. Youknow, you got to figure out a
way to get those things fixed.I think we have done that. But
the expectations are the same every year. Pressure is the same every year.

(03:26:13):
I just like the pressure when you'vegot a really good team behind you.
So that's what we got right now. And you know, we know it's
going to be a long season.We know what we're working towards. But
I will say this about this team, Well, we've been talented. That's
there's been times in the past we'vebeen talented. I don't know since I've
been here, if we've been thistalented and this experience together with guys that
have played a lot of football,fourth and fifth year guys, and that

(03:26:35):
doesn't matter. We'll go thank Xdoor Stephen, since you up. Maybe
maybe this is just talk because it'ssummer conviously, you can just have a
conversations. Maybe we're making a bignothing long term situations. But we've seen
it around college football in the league, guys playing both sides of the ball
and doing it quite well. RightTravis sunder is doing in Colorado and Kayla

(03:26:56):
Jass departments, So we see whathe could do with the ball. But
there's also the stat aspect of thatgetting to a sixteen game season. So
I'm not saying it's any forty snapsor something like that, But what about
his athleticism, what he brings tothe table, and let you know that
if you wanted to explore it areal game, he could last and still
be an effective seety Yeah. Yeah, we'd have to see all that he

(03:27:16):
did it in high school. Butwe got some really good running backs in
a room. So it's not somethingthat we're planning on doing, but uh,
well, we are gonna, youknow, work on a little bit
Caleb. Caleb enjoys that part ofit. We did agree that that was
something that we were going to lookinto. Where it goes, I don't
I don't really know right now,but I know that he has the capability
to do it. He has theathleticism and do it, and you know,

(03:27:37):
we'll kind of see where it goes, see see how he does,
and you know, maybe hand theball toim a little bit in the preseason,
because again, it's going to bea long season. We have to
make sure we have continuency plans inplace. But I know it's something that
he enjoys having the ball in hishand. So even during their first time
around the recruiting process, we eventalked about him coming in as a as
an offensive player. Ultimately we thinkhis ceiling is highest on defense. But

(03:28:03):
you know, but I also agree. I think that having you know,
guys go on the other side ofthe ball and just see it, listen
to meetings is really healthy for theirdevelopment. So we're gonna do that regardless.
Your defensive recruiting right now is maybefurther along, and it's been in
the years past, and I thinkwe ass numrous questions about it in the
past. But is this a productof seeing it over the last couple of

(03:28:24):
years and now it's not just tellingguys, hey, this what might look
like this, they're seeing it inreal time. Yeah, you know,
we talked about it when Jim firstcame in, and I think Tim Walls
is an unbelievable job as well inthe back end, and you know,
Matt stepped right in and James andLarry. I think they're all doing a
great job. But like you said, you know, it's one thing to
talk about it. That's theory testimonyis just look at this, is this

(03:28:46):
is what we're doing. And thenI think you're seeing a lot of guys
just excited about playing in this defenseand they see the capabilities and the flexibility
too. You know, right now, the way we play, excuse me,
the way we play right now isbased on you know, we have
four really talented defensive linemen that arereally good, and we got a lot
of debt to those positions. Butthere's also flexibility with some of the things
Gym's done in the past that youknow, we're definitely looking at, and

(03:29:09):
some of the recruits that we're lookingat who brings some versatility, pass rusher,
you know, we have that jackposition and those type of things.
So, uh, that's exciting aswell. And I think you're seeing a
lot of the recruits, you know, really get fired up when they get
here. People. Yeah, coach, your first years, your identity was
was very far from an optical standpointand air and out type team. Look

(03:29:31):
at the keep best talent and theplaymakers you have there. Has your identity
changed? I guess what do youthink the identity is of this point point
four? Well, we'll see aswe go, but you know, we
know what we need to do toplay in the big games. That's never
changed, and we have to beable to stop the run, run the
football, take care of the ball, and there'll be opportunities to throw the
ball that'll that'll happen. But youknow we're gonna have to, you know,

(03:29:54):
do those things to win close gamesand play situational football. But I
think, you know, you won'treally get a feel for what the identity
of the team is until we getinto probably the beginning of October, you
know, and I think we allhave ideas of what it could go.
But you know, now that we'replaying in a playoff format, just like
a lot of those NFL teams sometimes, you know, they don't really quite

(03:30:15):
understand their identity until they get abouthalfway through the season. I don't think
I'll take that long. But youknow, we're able to play some games
and kind of work through some things. And I don't think our defense is
going to change a bunch in termsof what we did last year. I
mean, it's a lot of thesame guys back could look a little different
on offense. Have we got timefor two more? Go to Doug Limras.
Okay, right, you lose animportant recruiting staffer to promotion at Michigan

(03:30:41):
just so much Michigan this offseason.How do you react to something like that,
is something that someone like that takeinformation that that could help the Michigan
or high stages. Yeah, allgood questions, and you know, I
just I want to talk about theguys that are here, you know,

(03:31:01):
the staff members that are here,the coaches that are here, the players
that are here, the ones thatare Buckeyes. Joe jug with the scheduling
change that was announced yesterday, cometogether, didn't have anything to do with
the expanded the playoffs may be seasona little different. Yeah, you know,

(03:31:22):
I don't know all that came incame with it. I know it
got presented to me a while back, and you know I was on board
with it. So yeah, Imean I think, you know, we
do have to look a little bitdifferent at our scheduling as we move forward,
based on the way the format isat the end of the season.
That's quickly. About the linebackers,I got in here a little bit late.
How do you feel about your linebackers? Cody seems like he always hes

(03:31:43):
the Betans is like he's looking asa starter. CJ. When do you
see his role being Sonny? Whenyou see his role being Gabe and all
this guys. Yeah, good versatility. All those guys arevel Reese, like
you said, CJ, Gabe,Sonny, Cody. Uh, you know
I'm missing a couple, I'm sure, but like that's that yeah our bell.

(03:32:05):
Yeah, I mean these guys arereally versatile guys. You can see
the length on them, and youknow, they do a good job in
terms of like fitting the runs theycould they have enough length, you know,
the covering zone. But they'll alsoblitz and that's something that we wanted
to really work on this offseason,is getting better at blitzing, you know,
and hopefully we can even take thename have we got Jeremiah j J?

(03:32:26):
Smith? J J. How'd youfeel out that today you got a
team team came on double three andold pool play. When you come to
these kind of tournaments, what kindof techniques do you like to work on
us? Do you think that you'regoing teep some short stuff and crossing routes?
What do you work on when you'reat a tournament like this? Really
just getting back in the goole doingthe beat. So really just working on

(03:32:48):
my releases. Uh, that's myfriends, I've been I'm gonna chut so
just get back. Now we knowyou pulled the trigger on High State.
Obviously you gotta take this this kindof make sure that you're you're perfect on
your decision. What was it aboutOhio State and Brian Hartline and Ryan Dad?
It made you feel comfortable to conmake early? Really they sent me

(03:33:09):
my first visit, but I first, you can't. They offered me some
time. You feel like system Christmas? You know, just what's up?
What's up? What's what they sawwas? But they they they gave me,
uh really just a kid that I'mgonna talk hart I wasn't talk artists.

(03:33:33):
I'm trying to size now. Iknow you got something your s f
A family up there. You gotBrandon n s, you got Carnal take
What does it mean to potentially beable to wake up with them in a
year and be able to kind ofrun back what you guys have done in
South Florida Express in Columbus Ohio.It'd be great we go there UNTI Ohio
State take over. It would begrateful, a great you can have more

(03:33:56):
first routs. Yeah, you're asuper humble kid. I've been really impress
Say today, is there anything thatyou want Ohio State fans to know about
you. You know again, Iknow you're just your all work, all
work on work, But what arethey getting when they get a JJ Smith
to come to Ohire say, they'lljust come that's perfect man, Well God

(03:34:24):
bless you. I appreciate you,my man. Also watch you today,
thank you so much and JJ SmithAnd then later tonight I'll probably come back
and watch the film again. Butat the end of the day, it's
just trying to be around football,be around the facility. How much of
your film watching is like a soloendeaver shot by yourself watching? How much
do you be for We've had moresafeties come in throughout the spring, more

(03:34:48):
guys try to learn the system andlearn the game. But I mean,
at the end of the day,you gotta do what you gotta do to
put yourself in a best position towin. So myself, I'll watch film
at home too by myself. Butwhen I'm here there's always other players around
them that are trying or to getbetter, just like I am. Are
you only watching your so you watch? No? I watched the NFL teams,

(03:35:09):
watch good NFL saties that are playingright now. Javon Holland Hantswine Windfield
go ays like that that can thatI can emulate and try to see how
they play. And then also justwatching other players here, other players that
do things well here, just learningfrom them, trying to see how they
play the game, trying to getbetter. Cab, what are some of
the big differences that you've seen sofar between what you went through at Alabama

(03:35:31):
and so far you've gone through uphere. A lot of it's the same
little differences in the defense of howthey operate and how they see things.
But at the end of the day, football's football defensive defense, so everybody
gotta get to the ball and makethe type of were there, colbos Oh,
I love the city. I loveuh High Street. I love being

(03:35:52):
in the city. I love goingto the restaurants here. The food's great
here. So uh I ain't gotno good place for me because it's like
you got the campus all of asudden, and then you also a big
city. It's it's different than Alabama, cause Alabama was a college town and
Tessalusa was not as big of acity. Here, there's a lot of
people to see, a lot ofdifferent businesses that you can be a part

(03:36:13):
of. So just trying to learnthe city and learn what everybody has to
offer here to kill. You probablynoticed that when kidd and proctly made his
decision to go back to Alabama,then that starts a full level of speculation
as to are you were you takingback by that. Did you feel like
you needed to make a declaration offof that? Uh? I mean at
the end of the day, No, I didn't feel like I needed to

(03:36:35):
say anything, cause at the endof the day, I was still here
a practice. I was still herewith my teammates. So I mean,
I feel like my actions speak forthemselves. I'm I mean, I don't
I don't need to say anything aboutthat. Cayden and I talked to him
when he did it, and Icongratulated him on his decision. I mean,
that's when he feels his best aswhen he feels his best, and
I support him. But I'm here. You guys have are in this new

(03:36:56):
generation of you have that sort offreedom, You have that sort of control
over your career in a way thatother people didn't. Is it's something that
you you have to kind of takewith the certain seriousness that you're making that
right decision at all times. Ithink ev I mean it, in life,
you have to make decisions based offof what you feels best for yourself.
So that was a big decision forhim. And if he feels that

(03:37:16):
was best for himself, then Isupport it. But at the end of
the day, for college suble athletes, I think that's the best thing because
the coaches have the same right todo what they do. Coach can come
here for a month and leave,and I mean then he's just leaving the
player a high and draw. SoI mean, if they're gonna have the
ability to do it, why wouldthe players not have some type of say
in their in their life. Kerol, you you made the impact opposite last

(03:37:39):
year as a crush mum. Whatdo you think you could do an assault
when you're under your belt? Yeah, I think I can grow and what
I did well last year and increaseon the qualities that I was not as
a lead at during during the season. So just being better in coverage,

(03:38:01):
being better than the post, beingbetter in my tackling, being a better
communicator with my teammates, all thatI think I can offer to the team.
And but at the end of theday, it's gotta be a team
collective to go do what we wannado. But what do you come in?
This odysse is a lovely gift bass, what do what do you think?
Those being a big part of PSwas with elite last year and it
should be doing better this year.Yeah, they were a very elite defense

(03:38:22):
last year, and watching all thefilm from last year and the whole season,
they played a great season. Theyplayed a lot of good defense.
Excuse me, whichup question? Justdo the idea of being hard. I'm
a big part about an elite defense. Uh. I mean I can only
do my part. I can onlydo my one eleventh and do my job.
Every player I can't. I can'ttry to do more than that,

(03:38:43):
and every other player just has todo their job and we'll do what we
need to do. Okay, we'llbe talking about your field clutching habits.
Was that the same in high school? And what did that look like for
you on a regular high school good? My high school coach was one of
my favorite people in the world.Uh, Freeman Davis. Me and him
watch film together a lot. Butthat was more so just myself watching film
and trying to grow. So Iwould say I had a lot of the

(03:39:05):
same habits and has trusted over tocollege. But a lot of that was
me and my high school coach startedthe game together. Another movie. You
around everywhere here, But you know, it seems like you're a that free
safety spot as opposed to the strongsafety spot you played at Alabama. Just
what said transition? Like? Doyou feel that does that even matter in
this kind of defense? ID?I mean, it's the same spot really

(03:39:28):
to the it's the safety to thefield safety playing in the most space.
That's what I'm used to. Butat the end of the day, I
I feel like I can play tothe boundary. I can play the Don
Money position, I can play Nickel. So I mean, at the end
of the day, you gotta makeplays wherever you're at. Think Calen,
what have you been? What haveyour thoughts about on now? Jeremiah Spot
a very elite athlete, very instinctualplayer, has a great ball skills.

(03:39:54):
Should uh should have a big impactthis year. Anybody you can compare hims
what you've seen? Who Nah,Jay Jess's on, so Jesus he's on
it's his own man? Uh?Who else? Who's caught your eye in
that gr receiver group? Kayle thatUh is elite in your opinion? Uh,
I watch a Mecca Boka, alot o H and Co. When

(03:40:18):
I was in high school. Yeah, watching the games and then last year
watching some of his film. He'sbeen an a leade receiver then and he's
a leade receiver now. And Carlotehas had a great spring as well.
Yeah. And uh you you personally? Uh after the uh student appreciation Dale
on Saturday, you were mobbed aboutas much as anybody. What is what?
How have you felt the receipt meaningof autograph seekers at Saday? Now?

(03:40:41):
Uh? How have you felt thereception here? Uh? For you
over the last several months, butespecially like Saturday, I think it's been
very welcoming. I appreciate everybody andlike I appreciate when I go to class
seeing people that know me and justbeing able to meet them, being able
to say that I'm glad to behere, being able to say I'm glad
to be here to everybody that cameup to me. Yeah. So I'm
just I'm very appreciative of it.Do you feel their expectations for you?

(03:41:05):
You know what I mean that?Uh? I mean people may so it's
a versatility then, so I'm happyabout it. There. You moved around
a lot throughout your career where there'sjumbo side you'll tackle I guess in the
sentence and playing book and left onthe right side. Do you think you
kind of benefit from focusing a littlebit more on the right center? Yuah,
a little bit. But you know, there's a new system that we
have, like I like find mymindset most on the right, but also

(03:41:28):
have my mind set and left too, just in case something does happening to
like you know what I mean,like coughten or you know, Pete,
of course, but I'm always gonnabe ready for the love no matter what.
How quickly have you felt like youpicked up this new system that you're
working in now? Oh it's awe actually pretty up picked up pretty well
cause it's the same system that I'mused to back in the off sete cause
we was more like spread than athow I say, So, you know,

(03:41:50):
it's pretty good. One of thelike the draft process off seasons a
lot of people outside the buildings andmaybe just get the right tackle. Yeah
yeah, really all right now,a lot of people in the building were
like, we have the right time, get in get motivated by that.
You follow it like you to doit, though I don't. I read
into it a little bit, butalso the same time like they not here

(03:42:11):
of course, but I don't reallycare what they say. I know what
I can do, and the teamknow what I can do, so they
trusting me right now and I'm notgonna live him right down? How hard
or how easy is that to compartmentalizethat and use that as fuel going forward
rather than the kind of merit Ij I just keep receipts. Everybody knows
that one person. I don't reallycare for him at Also, it's all

(03:42:33):
good, but it's all love.I love uh outside of this, but
you keep doing me, keep itbetter, keep on these nights, doe
what I can do there. You'vebeen a outspoken about your supporter of Zamir,
and obviously it's just his chance nowto beat the dog. Wait,
what is it about him that youbought in so early? The reason why
I bought it so earliest cause usI was at a house state. They

(03:42:56):
always taught us actually to getting andextince I got here, I'm always wanna
go get and I gotta picked late, and I always wanna prove people wrong,
you know. I think people arewrong all my life. I don't
want to keep doing that. What'sall different, which I guess more just
like we all put it like theset, you feel like a community year

(03:43:16):
nine day difference, nine day differencefrom my first year, in my second
year to now, Like now,my guy, I know I can play.
I know I can go against oneof the best, specially Max,
anybody else. I'll be going toplay this year and I know what I
can do. So all gotta donow is that SHU meet my potential and
should do it and help everybody elseout on the team as well. You've
practiced a lot against Malcolm and he'sreally come into his own. What is

(03:43:39):
it about Malcolm that's helped him makethat next step? There? Man,
Malcolm, he's quiet, he doesn'treally say too much. He comes to
the work every day, do whathe does, and he works hard.
It doesn't plait twice at anything.Yeah, he'll get mad over a couple
rest wells. At the same timethat like he has a mentality of adult,
Like he's he don't really care whaty'all think or anybody else saying it's

(03:44:00):
real. So it's just like alright, just keep going that's how everybody is
on the team about ty raising too. You guys that the same mindset.
He does have the same mindset.Put up little a little nervous, but
uh nah, he nah. Hehas definitely grow up a lot from this
like first year here until now,like TODs tags lead, but he's he's

(03:44:22):
growing up a lot mentally too.I'll tell you, guys are reimagining the
offensive line a little bit with youout there right side. Uh uh farm
there next to you on the onthe west side too, and they drafting
the guys on a little line.Yeah. How long exciting is that to
be part of something that's that's kindof being you know, having that trust
but also being reinvented a little bit. That's great, you know, But
me and doing those like they gonnakeep a placing us, of course.

(03:44:45):
But all the same time, wegotta keep going, you know, we
can't stil and think about what theydid. All we gotta do is staying
about what what came to do withthe better in fourteenth a twelve. Sorry,
they don't put a lot on thewest side right a little bit more.
How how long are you guys working? I'm higher percent now and it
was like a walk in the park. It's like a sprained ankle. You

(03:45:05):
know. It was very easy,you know, because I had the knee.
The knee was pretty hard, youknow, and the achilles was I
would say it's easy, you know, just because that's just my mentality,
and it was. It was prettyeasy to be. But you know,
I've had these injuries and it's beenstorm like the past two years, you
know, having haveing like good,great games. The next thing you heard

(03:45:30):
and then you know, so gotgot the injury prone out there, you
know. But I think the stormis over with, you know, you
know, and I think I'm gonnagonna take off now, you know,
and there will be no setbacks andthe injury prone thing will be gone out
of the window again. That's kid. Yep, I'm sorry, I am.

(03:45:52):
I am excited. You know.He does a lot of great things,
and he's a great person and wehave a great relationship. It's gonna
be it's gonna be a fun year. We're gonna have a lot of fun.
We're gonna do a lot of greatthings. So I can't wait to
hear waitings the interest you've had isthat just bad luck? And is that
any is there anything that you've beenattribute to beyond just misfortunately. Yeah,

(03:46:15):
it's just unfortunate, you know,but God has a plan always, you
know. I don't know what theplan exactly is, you know, I
don't know, but whatever plan itis, it it's for me to be
here. You know. I hada great rookie year. Uh, I
didn't. I didn't really have thevolume as other people with my rookie year,
but I still had a great rookieyear. Six yards of carry,

(03:46:39):
you know, things like that.I think it was like nine touchdowns ten
including the playoffs. And so there'salways been like, alright, God,
lets me show my talent shine alittle bit. Like even when I had
the knee. So I had theknee, right, A lot of people
don't know, like I didn't gethurt again. Whenever I got you know,
got cleaned up. So I Iwent down in twenty one, right,
I had the injury, the kneeinjury, and then came back later

(03:47:03):
the next year and and I playedthe first few games, and it just
feel there was a lot of scarsissue in there. So I did get
it cleaned up. I didn't gethurt again. I could have played the
whole year, but I got itcleaned up so I can feel like me.
And so after I got that cleanedup, the first two games back
from the injury, I had overone hundred and twenty yards rushing right,

(03:47:24):
and then went on had great,great ending of the year, you know,
one hundred total yards in the playoffgame we lost, which I hate
the most. Stays, don't marryme. I don't want to win.
But then come back the next yearhurt again like torn achilles. So two
really unfortunate injuries. But that's justGod's plan, you know. And I
think that the storm is now over, you know, And I do think

(03:47:46):
that I'll be able to shine mylight to the whole world. Are you
concerned that you have that label ofyou getta? I could care less because
I do. I know this outthere because as it should be, it
should be. I got hurt twomajor injuries back or not back to back
years. But you know, soI haven't been on the field as much

(03:48:07):
as I should. That's true,that is true. But it's not like
I'm having these little little dinky injuriesand sitting out. It's something I can't
control, literally, So that's whyI'm not bothered by it, Like,
yeah, I am injury poem.You could say that, you know,
but I do think that the Chargersare getting a guy that's gonna be healthy

(03:48:28):
from now on. You know,God will it, and it's gonna be
great. And I do think thatit's gonna be It's gonna be a great
However, many years here, whenyou've been on the field, you've been
highly adopted. Yeah, five pointyears for very average for your career.
Like, knowing that when you're outthere you're very adopted, how much confidence
does that give you? That reallyall you need is is not what you

(03:48:50):
need all the confidence in the world, you know. The way I work,
I wouldn't say just from the numbers, but just the way I work,
my work ethic, you know,and I'm my relationship with Jesus is
like I have the most confidence whenI step out there because I do know,
like if He grants me the healthit's over with. I don't think

(03:49:11):
I would be you know, Ithink it will be a great year or
whatever, a couple of years.However, many years he grants me great
health, you know. And Ithink just the work ethic, my prayer
and all that stuff that's what helpedme have that confidence with the numbers will
be there and they might be higherafter this year, you know what I'm
saying. And it's crazy to thinkabout because I had six or six yards

(03:49:33):
per carry, you know, sowe'll see you're looking forward to running behind
this line put together? Oh yeah, yeah, yeah. I played with
brand Lee, I played with him. You know, I know the Slater,
I know all the I know allthe guys you know, and I'm
excited. I think it's like Isaid earlier, it's a talented group.
You know, we just got toput it together win some games, because
that's what I came here for ayear, or I wouldn't I wouldn't say

(03:50:00):
part of the recruiting, but likewhenever I decided I was gonna sign,
it was great to have him inthe room. What's yeah, We're great.
We're we have a great relationship.That's he's like my brother. So
I think a company compliment each othervery well. You know, he can
do a lot of stuff too.You know, we got like a lot
of people think he's just power,power, power, but I think he

(03:50:20):
has some other parts of his gametwo which it'll be great because I feel
like I could do everything, andwhen one get tired, we can roll
it in. We keep rolling winsome games. So when you the two
of you get going, well,how do you think that's gonna look for?
What would like? What will bethat partnership that back there. I

(03:50:41):
know that's a hard question. Howdo I think? I think it'll look
beautiful. You know a lot ofpeople call this a passing league, but
I think you gotta run the ballto win the super Bowl. You know,
if you look at the team towin the Super Bowl, they can
run the ball, they can controlthe clock. And so if we're both
good, look great, beautiful.How would you describe the Gregor running offense?

(03:51:05):
I would I would describe it as, you know, a great offense.
I think he gives a quarter He'sgoing to give the quarterback a lot
of options. He's going to givethe running back a lot of options.
He's gonna give the receiver a lotof options, you know, and I
think it'll be I think it's gonnabe great. His offense is going to
be amazing. When we talked tohim, you know, I was like,
why you when you will build somethinggood rushing offenses throughout your career?

(03:51:30):
Everywhere you've been and you said thatone part of it is just you got
a call place, You got acall a run of place as a running
back. You know, how muchconfidence, how much second does it give
you when you know you haven't playcaller that's going to stick with it and
allow you and the offensive line toget a resident. Gives me a lot
of excitement. You know, it'sgonna be Like I said, it's fun
to play at his offense, youknow. And I think he does have

(03:51:52):
some good things in the past gametoo, But like you said, he
sticks with the run, and that'sthat's the identity you You want an offense
that has an identity, right,You won't be looking everywhere else to find
your your identity. You want tohave it. And so I think his
offense has that and the guys hebuilds and puts in there, it complements
that identity. So I think it'sgonna be great. Full go for training

(03:52:20):
him. Look, I ain't gonnaanswer any of the four if it's up
to me. Yes, Look,because I had this problem like three two
years three years ago, I'm thinkingI'm full go. I think I'm ready
to go. And the next thing, you know, I'm on pup,
like, hey, look some storyabove my prey pay grade. So but
I don't know. Hopefully I canstart. I think I'm ready to start,

(03:52:43):
you know, at the beginning trainingcamp, but that's not up to
me. As I've learned, Itell you, I wouldn't say that.
I think I've been I've been insome great organizations, and I think this
this organization is a great organization,and the training staff is great, and
so they just want what's best forme, you know, and they're they're

(03:53:07):
taking care of me, which that'swhat you want in an organization, and
so that's where that comes from,which I appreciate it. Like I really
appreciate that, you know, becauseI'm the type of guy, like I
work really hard, so maybe sometimei'm blind to you know, the danger
of something, you know, SoI appreciate it. But like I said,
if it's up to me, yeah, I'm out there. But you

(03:53:28):
never know what any frustration for youduring the heading into free agency, you
know, dealing with with rehab andnot you know, having won a full
season of tape or adoption to goout there, is there any part of
that where you're like, gosh,you know, have hit the open market
with a different situation. You know. Nah, I like it. I
like, how would I say this? I like it the hard way,

(03:53:56):
but not, you know, Ilike it the hard way. I like
I like trial and true relations.So I mean the dice that I was
giving the role was I was comingoff of Achilles, and that was that
was the lowest plan. So itwas beauty in that, like I was

(03:54:18):
comfortable. I was caught like therewas multiple teams, you know, I
wasn't. It wasn't like I didn'thave any other team. But I was
comfortable and sitting back and just enjoyingthe process, letting myself get fully healed.
So whenever that team, whoever Iwould sign with, who now is
the Chargers, is going to getthe best me, you know. And

(03:54:39):
I think people all around the leagueknow that, like, Okay, this
guy, Okay, it's a highrisk, high reward type thing, right,
not even a high risk hilarious becauseyou it's a business, right,
So I got hurt last year,so not as much money needs to be
throwing there. But I think everyonearound the league knows that whenever I am
on the field, the numbers don'twhy, and so they know that,

(03:55:00):
and a lot of teams were like, all right, here you can will
you give you this, but wewant you to be healthy. So when
I'm healthy, it's gonna be great. This is the chance that I've been
giving here. I'm so grateful andI know that's gonna be. They won't
be. They won't regret it.You are you the type of person that
likes to throw people wrong, likea couple of things like the high risk,

(03:55:22):
high reward injury. That's two centsI've heard. But me being who
I am, you know, I'mI'm gonna throw my two cents in there,
you know. So that's just uh, it's been awesome, man.
He's you know, a resource forme, just a person that I can
always bounce my thoughts off of.And now, you know, just a
year you said, thirteen months nowI feel more comfortable just you know,
bringing certain things that you know,you never you never wanna come off too,

(03:55:45):
Sean. But I'm a curious guy. I got a lot of questions.
I like, I like football atI like to talk and talk the
games. So you know, cometo find out, he's the exact same.
So we uh, you know,we get along well and and we're
gonna keep keep building that relationship.Sometimes in this league playing you know,
eighteen games, they trying to makeit twenty. You know, it's like
it sound like a little a littlefever dream to be honest, but but
uh, if we can find away to k you know, stay up

(03:56:07):
right out there, keep keep airingon his feet. You know, I'm
I'm excited for that and uh everythingthat comes with it. But uh but
yeah, like I said, man, that's it's it's harder said than uh
or harder done, and said,I guess you know, it's one of
those things. It's like that's alot of games, you know, all
of a sudden, take a lotof hits. They take a lot of
hits where they're not looking, andit's just how can we keep him healthy?
Yeah? Yeah, are you whendo you think? I do you
ever received the room now positions youguys have made when Monty healthy and everything

(03:56:31):
like, yeah, no, I'mexcited to see it at at full health.
You know, you've I haven't gotto see all the all the guys
out there at once. And andyou know it's one of those positions where
every day is something might happen toNick up. You know, it's just
a a tough position to stay outthere at all times. But I feel
like we got a great group andand the number one thing is how can
we stay healthy? How can weyou know, I'll be out on the

(03:56:52):
field, and I think having depthlike this and the group we have is
gonna help us. Having guys thatcan do different things, that can go
catch ball over the middle, alltypes of things that it's gonna take some
of the strain off off all ofus. You know, It's it's a
good group. So I'm excited to, uh, you know, get out
there. I feel like we haven'thad the whole whole thing together, but
you know, come season time,moroll and it's gonna be exciting. What

(03:57:13):
about the guys in your whole number? Uh yeah, yeah, like a
yeah, man, oh a lot. He helped me a lot, even
feel like the first day, justtrying to help me get used to to
write tackle. He got my feetused to write tackle. Like my first
day practice, I'm like, dude, I still feel you feel a little
off. I don't feels balanced tomy stands. And he showed me the

(03:57:33):
small technique and to do with myfeet, which I still do you even
even though I left tackle just causeit's part of my routine. That was
part of my process of getting inmy stands. So just stuff like that
that he taught me from day one, and I've seen practice was fun.
Just compete with him, you know, it's just to meet at the back
of the pocket and to dap eachother back to every rep like that was

(03:57:56):
competing, you know what I mean. So I my guy, as much
as you love him, the westside, how bittersweet? Is it a
certain matters because it would happened tohim. Yeah, that's the thing.
That's not how. It's definitely howI and and that's how I thought about
a transition will go. You know, I thought it would be you know,
homesome timing a cardinal his whole career. You know, you know,

(03:58:20):
you want to play here forever,you know what I mean. We always
talking about his plans, so youknow, you win, you wish transitions
like one of those fairy tale likeit's your time. But but again,
either way, you know, wetalked about it. You know, that's
that's the how it goes, youknow. But obviously you know he sees

(03:58:43):
he's he's been one of my biggestsupporters. Again, I felt everybody leads
in their own way, you know, not everybody's the guys coming around like
that's not everybody, right, LikeI think for me, that's me specifically
on game day with the old lineand after we do one on one like

(03:59:03):
that's my Like, well Hump didlike like that's my like big vocal time.
But I feel like I I've talkedto Hump about this, you know,
just recently talking about how what Iwanna do for the room was I
wanna bring that Hump energy that hebrought right so last year. Of course
some traits been doing it for years, but the year while I spent on

(03:59:24):
him, he brought a lot ofthe energy and excitement and the happiness in
the room was just his natural energyto where I only had to focus on
me, you know, I didn'thave to make sure other other guys are
you know, feel some type ofway when it came in here because Hump
brought that. But out of Hump'snot here. But I saw what he

(03:59:48):
did for the room. I wantto be that guy to make sure everyone's
amp to go to practice, everybody'shype weren't taking the field team on period
you know it's a low day orsomething. You know, it's a it's
a but like I wanna make youfeel like like your pre par's a trip
right now. I wanna bring thatcause that's what me and Home did to
each other. We will hepe eachother other dudes like dudes were about to
get walked through. We're lit.So I wanna do that. I wanna

(04:00:11):
bring that energy. I wanna makebring more guys, you know, to
do that. You know, yeah, I wanted to do that from day
one, you know, I kindof I wanted to do that from day
one, from just talking to him, and obviously it's that time. I
spend the off season before OTA startedjust being in myself, just thinking about

(04:00:31):
what the room needs, you know, because I know I knew a new
role as one of the leaders,you know on my offense is that we
need a guy like that that's gonnamake sure the O line is picked up,
ready to go every day and itwas held accountable. Little things I'm
happening to practice. People aren't sayinganything, and how I may lead maybe

(04:00:54):
different than somebody else may lead.You know, I like to a practice
at least like the leave positivity youknow what I mean. So, but
he the energy had went beyond justthe hype up, the deal on and
stuff too. So that's kind ofhow I wanna be s goal mine literally
my whole life. I want tobe a NFL team captain, like specifically

(04:01:16):
the NFL. I wasn't a captainof high school. I wasn't a captain
of college. But I made ajoke when I was in high school.
It's like, did I feel likeI'm not gonna be a captain til I
get to the NFL. Yeah,but that would be awesome, you know,
but you know, if it happens, i'd be great. But not
either way. I wanna assume arole as a captain from the respect of

(04:01:41):
the guys on the team visual aword to me, and to get back
to that world. Yeah, Imean, I can't say that. I
mean, I guess the biggest thingis that I felt like it has felt
like how it you used to inthe past. But it didn't take just
the first to oltas it took trainingleft and right once the season ended,
because I didn't know what it wasgonna be sure, So it took a

(04:02:03):
lot of yeah reps just to getback to feeling like myself for Day one
OTAs and then that whole first week, but now like today specifically just changing
some small things with my feet thatI did day talking about a line coach
about some things I can do withmy feet to get to that to sell
at the traditional angle that I loveto set on. Felt even I thought

(04:02:28):
I felt, I thought I feltgreat already by my okay, I felt
even back. Okay, So I'meven more excited tomorrow. Now I'm getting
my feedback to how I liked itthe right side and I'm on the left
side, So I'm excited teaching.I mean, obviously, I feel like
in the league, whether I leftor right, are still going against premier
guys. So obviously you have highexpectations for your left hand and right tackle.

(04:02:50):
But there's definitely, uh, likethe the level of energy and like
the expectations definitely taking the human startcause now conne to the Blacks, that's
the that's the tackle role, youknow. So so yeah, I would
say in terms of communication as faras just even outside of facility and just
stuff like that, like really creatingthat tackle quarterback bond even more off the

(04:03:15):
field, I think has been somethingthat's even been cool. I got a
text one day, I said,Hey, like you play left and I
was like, yeah, you know, yeah, I've been training both.
I've been training both. You know. I I aksed after the season.
They're like, honestly, you know, we'll talk to you. So play
in the season and I just gottatext me, like depending what happens with

(04:03:35):
with the free agency then. SoI was like, you know what,
I had a whole season right tackle, So if I get the word,
I'm going I'm standing right tackle.I don't just do what I did before.
I'm built on that bus. Iwas like, I might as almost
trained the left tackle now as ifI'm gonna be a left tackle, and
I'd rather do that than training onright tackle. Get the ko Hey you're

(04:03:56):
the left tackle. I'm like,oh, I didn't. I didn't even
switch my feetyet, you know whatI mean. So I'm like, let
me just prepare in advance. Iwas like, yeah, it was guy.
You know, I think occasionally onthird down there would be a lot
of twists. I would just knowlike it's automatically coming. And I think
that was my mindset for like thefirst half of the season, Like I
didn't have to go into a gameand with surprise like oh my gosh,

(04:04:18):
they did that, I kind offigured like, okay, like this is
this is the type of rush wantagain, like this is how this guy
usually rushes. But I get thevibe, this is how the ends like
the rush, you know, tacklesthat are you know, first year guys
who got the premiere patch on.I already knew what it was gonna be,
already knew of every stunt and honestlyjust knowing that it's kind of an
advantage too, so you're not you'renot you're not old. They brought the

(04:04:41):
twist on my side. Again,it was never an Aaron Donald like,
you know, they're coming up withminds like three plays in a row,
and in two minutes, I knewthat that was the way to happen.
Se out you know what I mean. I'm watching more than everybody else and
he rarely even goes out there onoccasional third downs on the d N.
I was like, already know it'sgonna be He's gonna pick me, you
know what I mean. So infact fact, it's kind of it's also

(04:05:01):
kind of advantage in the way,but it's also exciting, like Okay,
I'm gonna get the hardest look.You know those are real, real reps,
you know the bank. So really, I I really didn' kind of
process that. I was like,hey, when they tell me to let
me know if I'm just gonna trainit. I was training all left to

(04:05:24):
ta's. I guess if I didn'thear anything about t's, I would have
came in like so you know whatI mean, because just like I'm cool
training both continue, I would havebeen cool training both continually. But I
feel like anybody, any position willbe like okay, like you wanna as
soon as possible, get your feetkind of settled in your hip, settled

(04:05:45):
in your hands, settled in acertain kind of what well look at say,
well, this guy only been onthe field for three years Western Tucky
and Oregon. Just because I didn'thave the title of a running back coach
where I was at the Memphis,I never carried myself that way. I
was carrying myself as a running backcoach. I approached every day that way.

(04:06:07):
So at Memphis we had Darren Henderson, Patrick Taylor, Tony Poller,
Kenny game Weell, Tonyo Gibson.I've seen talented backs, and I've seen
them be able to function with oneanother. So I hear that all the
time about Well, hi, Ithis ain't my first rodeo. Same thing
out there at Oregon we had BucketrivernNorwich and George James. You go look

(04:06:28):
at they numbers. They all functionedwell together. We learned how to p
play as one. So this ain'tmy first rodeo. So and plus I
know those two kids cause I recruitedthem when they was in high school.
So, uh, I'm up forthe challenge and the responsibility of it.
Got right behind it. Dan Hopeeleven Warriors. Carlo's just what is your
kind of coaching philosophy? How doyou get the best out of your running
backs? I get the best out'em cause I love the young men.

(04:06:52):
My main focus is to change theuh, the hearts and minds of'em,
and they'll play for me. Ihad just got through we reading Coach
Trestle's ar Winners Manual, and it'ssomething that I took from that book.
You have your purpose and you haveyour goals, all right. My purpose
is to serve and pour into theyoung man. Now, my goals is
a football coach. All of themare take care of themselves. So that's

(04:07:13):
one of the ways. I'm justreal relationship base and I'm very detailed at
this position. I know y'all heardme say before, and I'm gonna keep
saying. This is the worst coachposition in football. It's terrible. Guys
hire anybody to coaches position and recruiters. CARLS Locker is not a recruiter.
I'm an elite relationship builder, butI coach this position. I'm a ball
coach, so that's who I am. So I'm pouringt to these kids.

(04:07:35):
I think they kind of seeing itnow and I jumped in day one.
I'm ready to coach. I'm gonnause the phrase, you know soft thatched
cookies. Where did that phrase comefrom? Kind of always but this boy,
let me tell you about that boy. I've been called everything but the
name the child of God by thepeople at the other places I left,
so that I been getting pills Hey, Pillsbury needs to give me a deal

(04:07:56):
because I've been getting I been gettingsome DN the Texas. I'm talking it.
Some of them have been so funny. The Sawbat's cookie thing came from
just having a frame of mind,a mental toughness. It had nothing to
do with guys getting in the portaland anything. Now, most people say
I'm a salt beat's cookie for leavingthere, but actually I'm not because it

(04:08:18):
takes great strength to make a decisionto leave a place. No, a
weak minded person wouldn't be able tomake the decision that I made, So
it took great strength to do that. So I'm telling you by literally in
my DMS, it's some it's somegreat comedians out here that have been sending
me like tons of cookies and outlike it's funny. Right behind him,
Tony, how have you gone aboutthe assessment of the talent in the room

(04:08:43):
over the past week or two?How much is that unfield off field?
Like, what's the process of gettingto know who you have as players?
Well? I broke down well mebeing a guy that loves the running back
positions, and I already broke thosekids down because I recruit them out of
high school. You know, hewas from where I'm from, in Montgomery.
I was one of the first guysto offer him just watching him great

(04:09:05):
contact, balance, creative runner,great hands and trey. I recruited him
out of Virginia, exceptional short air, your bursts and quickness and things that
I'm gonna help him get better on. And then I recruited James Peoples out
of t out of San Antonio,Texas. I knew what he was gonna
what he was gonna be TC andSam. Those two kids, I'm getting

(04:09:26):
to know and I'm gonna help themimprove that game. But we got different
runners in there. I like tocall myself, I'm in love with this
position, so I get to breakdown runners and help the game. So
talented, talented room, very talented. Uh far back uh. Jeremy Birmingham
Podcast Couch, how do you swearthat that saw beast cookies are actually the

(04:09:48):
best cookies? To Philip Britt bigsand those are way better than the country
chips are way things with terrify.I mean, do you do You have
to first find a balance there orsomewhere. Well, for me, I'm
actually not eating any cookies now,I'm just saying I'm not eating any cookies
this year. I gave it upfor a fast or no sweets for me
for the whole year. That's somethingI gave up. So that the term

(04:10:13):
the South Bast cookie term look,guys, I actually took that from I
represent the high school coaches of Myth, Tennessee. I actually took that from
a guy named Coach Slocum. Heused to always say that South bast Cookie
actually stole that from him. Igive him credit for it, and I
tell him all the time he said, you I should have branded that,
cause you done took it and ranaway with it. But that's just where
that comes from. That that Iwas standing as you get to Ohio stated

(04:10:37):
and you start to look around thecountry, any Oregon's a big place,
that's a that's a major job.How do you think that where your opposite
logo under jas Brandon blocko when youget out out of the Free and Trail,
how does that change the way thatyou feel you're either received or or
does it add a different level toto just feeling like I can go anywhere

(04:11:01):
and get anybody in the company.And that's the sangest thing for me.
This is a great place. Oregonis a great place too. But guess
what whatever I put on, Iknow what I'm going to represent for me.
I n I N I know whowho put me here? Uh?
I know I represented something higher,you know, Like I told you,
I know what my purpose is.My purpose is to poorting the people.

(04:11:24):
So whatever logo I have on,I'm still gonna be doing the same thing.
So this is a great logo,great logo, but I wear another
logo every day. It's across Isee around my neck. I know what
I represent. So that's the greatestlogo I could ever wear. So it
doesn't matter what other logo I haveon. I got that one on.
I'm been going to any house andbe a recruit. Uh uh deep right

(04:11:46):
to camera, Tick Robinson the athleticfrom which you you mentioned the time if
Memphis and them it's for NFL orthe action you mentioned there? Who you
learned from that time? That Imean an you take over to manage you
your group? What did I learnfrom them? Just building up? Just
teaching the kids. We live insuch a selfish world though, And I

(04:12:07):
could tell the kids all the timesit's gotta be much more to football.
The ball gonna go flat one day. As I always say, what being
in that room there at Memphis isit wasn't four five teaching them how to
be abbout being one? I tellyou them in all time, it doesn't
cost you anything to celebrate another man'ssuccess, So teaching them how to be
one, and then once they learnedto be one, they function in they

(04:12:31):
feed off one another. So that'swhat I learned from being there at Memphis
and Bachman let him in the road. Cross heard of your career in law
enforcement kind of influence you as acoach and kind of shape where you are.
Uh well, I just got throughtalking to somebody about that today.
When I first got in this professionand I got my own room in Western
Tech, I was aksed. No, how was I was gonna be able

(04:12:56):
to handle'em? M my room?I said, Man, I had a
part with fifty one inmates. Youtalking about me having got six or seven
guys? Are you kidding me?I'm talking about me having to do traffic
stops. So going on domestic novirus calls, it's simple easy. You
know, people won't know what youcare. Also know, you gotta have
a certain demeaning about yourself. Sowhen I walk into a room, it's

(04:13:20):
the reason why I go train everymorning. This is when it's same thing
when I was a police officer.You look a certain way kind of deter
people from doing certain things. Soreason why I go train every morning.
I'm gonna look just as good asmy boys look, so U it helped
out a lot. In other words, Uh from Arl Right Austin Ward the
podcast Carls Welcome to Columbus. Whatwould it mean to I don't know,

(04:13:43):
revolutionize the way running backs or coach? What does that take? I ain't
even I'm not gonna say revolutionized,just some good. It's some good running
back coaches out here. Everybody's different. It's some great coaches out here.
I just want the head guys whosit that on these jobs to not just
hire guys. Just know, allcoaches on your staff should be great recruiters,

(04:14:05):
not just a running back coach.We coach a position. We developed
players as well. I just wantthe coaches to realize, Hey, you
know what, let me look andbe thorough about this guy that I'm hiring
for this job. Is he teachingthe position? Is he developing the position?
Because you're not gonna hire anybody justcoach quarterbacks, are you. Well,
it shouldn't be like that for therunning back position either. And I'm

(04:14:26):
only passionate about it cause I playedit. I love it, so it's
the only position I want to coach. Could I coach the other positions?
Yeah? I played dB in collegetoo, but I love the running back
position, so and I just wantedto see it coach well May podcasts.
Yeah, a million questions. Allthat's a couple. Number one. When
you when you when your wife whatever? You got the message? Stuff?

(04:14:46):
Or are we moving again? Whatwas what was her reaction? Nah?
She she just now guy that giveus gave us a new assignment. Shit,
it was never like we're moving again. Let me tell you, guys
something I grew up. My momwas in the military, so I lived
every well, living in Panama ofSouth America. I'm used to picking up
and moving. I lived in FortRodley, Kansas, Montgomery's home if it
was my second home. So I'mI'm used to moving now. My wife

(04:15:09):
it was different for her, butshe just knew guy that gave us a
new assignment. So it's time togo. What did what did coach?
They tell you when he heard youthat he wants out of you. That
may be different. It's not slammingsomebody else, But what did he say
he wanted you to bring to therunning back room. I think he did
his research on me. He said, he wanted the guy to develop the

(04:15:31):
position. That's not taking a shotat the coach that was here who I'm
friends with. He said, theywant somebody to really get the guys going.
I can only be me, AndI told him that coause I'm gonna
be me every day now because See, my mindset is when I step in
this building, I got one mindsetthat's to do my job so well that

(04:15:54):
the living dead or unborn can doit any better. So when I leave
it, that's what my mindset is. Hopefully I'm here for own time well
on the God knows that. So, but that's my mindset every day step
into the wiz Hayes, So that'smy mindset. I'm gonna do my job
so well and living dead and I'mborn couldn't do it any better. So
that's what my mindset is. Supposewe got time for one last question,

(04:16:15):
Bill Rabinowitz Clumbus Dispatch Carlos. Firstof all, is it true that nobody
calls you Carlos, never calls youLocke. That's the truth. Yeah,
I prefer to be called lock Hurableand I would say that not him in
particular, but I wouldn't say everyonedoesn't really know how to handle it properly.
You see it currently. I mean, it's just it's a variable that's

(04:16:37):
new and how to handle it.There's not a transcript on on how to
handle that variable. So you justguys just trying to do what they think
is right. That's all they're reallytrying to do. And I'm not saying
that right or wrong. But hewas trying to do the same, and
uh, you know, I thinkat the end of the day he realized
man made the wrong decision and weconnected on it. We talked about it,
and uh, you know, itwas a great opportunity to to right

(04:17:00):
or wrong. And uh, obviouslywe're very glad he's here. I've always
believed in him. We believe inhim, and he believes in himself and
that's part of the just trying tounderstand what's my path, right. So
uh but yeah, it's been great. Steps have been made. He's growing,
but he's nowhere near where he knowshe's capable of being. He's just
probably oppress care. I love,uh, the way he lives. I

(04:17:25):
love the way he approaches things.I love the way the questions he asks.
I love the way he makes mistakesand then correct mistakes. Uh it's
very veteran, Like I mean,there's so much ball he has to learn,
Like he literally does things that aregood. I'm like, do you
know what that worked? He goescoach, I have no freaking idea,
So like I'm trying to teach himall of that why it worked, so

(04:17:47):
then you know, the consistency atwhich it works just goes through the roof.
And so but I'm very you know, excited and proud of the conversations
we're currently having, and I'm excitingit for them to keep going, like
play powerful you, working with you. I love working with Chip Chip Is.
I love the talking ball, Ilove the viewpoints. I love I

(04:18:15):
love the veteran that he has,you know, and uh I love yeah,
Like I love all of it.I think that you know, early
on the biggest impact, you know, just you know, feeling perspective.
I think in the run game hasbeen awesome, you know, and then
you know, off of the rungame some of the actions or or relief

(04:18:36):
throws or all that kind of stuff. I love where it's at. I
love working with them, and Iwould say that I sleep a little better,
all right. Uh No, it'sit's really a great combo because,

(04:18:57):
like you know, we're obviously we'redoing a lot as a group. It's
not just Chip and I so butyou know, obviously Chip has an image
and a view on things that Inever had. So to have that experience
and to have that viewpoint, I'mjust trying to absorb as much as i
can, but then also highlight somethings that we've really done a good job

(04:19:18):
of and make sure those you know, nothing's really changing, We're just trying
to enhance. We're not changing,We're enhancing. So where the things fit
is perfect. You know, Ithink you know the rest of the dynamics
and search Chip can talk about.But it's been it's been awesome, so
I'm excited about it. We talkedto a mecha and just talking about moving
from slot to the house side.You know how good we've been in the

(04:19:41):
slot. Is that a difficult movefor you guys just coaches to know how
good a guy is in one spot, but know that maybe for his long
term future and the no, Iwouldn't say it's anything on his future,
because he's capable of doing whatever youwant to get done. But I'd say
that it says more about the room. I think it's it's the growth of

(04:20:03):
you know, Brandon and the growthgrow of Bryson. That's really, you
know, allowing my mind to say, hey, Mech, be prepared.
You're gonna move around a lot.You're gonna come out of that slot,
You're gonna be outside. We're gonnacreate mismatches out there. I mean,
his ability to move around is critical. But I would say between Mech and
between Carnell TAS's ability to move arounda lot, it's gonna provide a lot
of flexibility for our room. Anduh and those top you know, six

(04:20:26):
seven guys that are really doing agood job right now. Progress look like
this spring for like a because there'sno cons's one of those things I'm true
when us balanced. How much workdoes a need versus much? Yeah,
heavy, heavy emphasis on what workhe needs, you know, versus anything
else. Uh. I rely onhim. We have great dialogue back and
forth. It's a two way toit's a two way conversation. And frankly,

(04:20:49):
there's gonna be times where like,hey, Mech, what do you
wanna do today? You wanna gooutside? You gon go inside? And
I don't care so uh, we'renot there yet. We will be there,
but it's just more about, youknow, when the room is ready
to start mixing things up. Iwould say there's got I mean, I

(04:21:18):
make sure I'm bringing guys that areable to do all, but I have
not asked them to yet. Sothe only guys that in our room currently
I've asked to do that has beenMecca and Carnell, and those are probably
the two guys that I would,you know, think heavily on doing moving
around a lot. I'm not puttingthat on anybody else right now, not
saying they can't, but at thispoint, having two guys been able to

(04:21:38):
swing, you probably don't need muchmore than that. I need guys being
experts at what they're good at,so it it helps the offense. Don't
be great at everything and be anexpert at something and we can use that
to our to our advantage. Thisdifferent like maybe guys who are more situational.
The room's always different, frankly,I mean from twenty eighteen and then

(04:22:02):
nineteen and through COVID and and thoseguys, and and then the depth of
those guys and then where Mec andMarvin and those guys were as freshmen compared
to you know, it's just it'salways different, and uh, I expect
this one to be different again,I'm not sure at what level yet.
Last question, right, your relationshipbetween the TV rooms when your last especially

(04:22:22):
you know the back of the foards. I'm curious. Yeah, Dba as
a leader just like you, youknow, played at Ohio, has an
intel experience here. I'm curious abouthow you've seen him kind of build a
different matter backsro and especially on therecurree t abab amount of successful guys and
maybe kind of the effective your recruithow how that's kind of enhanced. Yeah,
he would probably know more for thatquestion than I would, but I
would say that, Yeah, weobviously feed off each other, right,

(04:22:47):
I mean, there really is ateam sport, and we can't do it
without them, and they can't doit without us, and we can't do
it without the quarterback and we can'tdo without the old line. So all
the way through ten years in thisleague, so I'm excited to see what
he's got. How long did youknow Sores and when he was assistant here
and have you gotten to know hima lot by it's a relationship made you

(04:23:07):
right now I know him pretty well. He was always just a good dude
around the facility. He did ourball meetings, so he's good in front
of a group. He's a goodleader. He knows the scheme really well,
which is good. I was happyto see him promoted. He called
me in the off season, wetalked. I just congratulated him, and

(04:23:30):
I think he's gonna bring something similarto what we had with the Miko would
be good. Do you know BrandonStanley well at all? I mean I
was in Joey play for him.Don't know too much about him. I've
obviously heard from my brother, butI don't even think i've said high yet.
I haven't ran into him yet,but I'm sure i'll get to know

(04:23:51):
him. When you say it lookssimilar to the Miko of the energy or
the system, maybe a little differentenergy, but I think just knowing the
system from the front to the back, I think he knows how it ties
in. And he's been around withsome really good coaches, so I think
it'll be pretty pretty seamless, andI think we'll be firing on all cylinders.

(04:24:17):
You're three months removed from the superBowl now, so how have you
I guess digested it, and Iguess physically everything good to go. Yeah,
I feel really good. I thinkit's been one of my better off
seasons of just kind of It wasa long year, so I took it
nice and slow to get back intoit. Not as young as I once
was, so I'm taking a littlea little slower. But everything's great.

(04:24:44):
I'm feeling as good as I felt. I'm excited to actually get some practice
in. Last year was kind oftough, getting thrown in Week one after
I walked through, so that wasanother reason I'm excited to be here is
just to get practicing a little bitin season. Practice is one thing,
but actually being able to work yourstuff and not have a game coming up

(04:25:06):
is good. With the Super Bowlunfortunately, I know how to bounce back
from tough losses, so it wasrough for a little bit, but no,
just annoying when people bring it up. Since the last season, we've
seen a Rock on TV commercials andon the stage with Kluke Coombs and throwing

(04:25:29):
out the first pitch in the Giantsgame. But he seems like a guy
that's totally unaffected by celebrity, whichhe has now. But what have you
noticed in his leadership style and theway he carries himself any difference at all.
I think he's definitely getting a littlemore vocal within the building. And
uh yeah, I mean I don'tthink he's ever gonna change. I don't

(04:25:49):
think he's somebody that's gonna change evenwhen he gets paid next year. So's
he's a man of faith and hekind of reminds me of Scotti Scheffler,
but except for just super humble andreally good kid. And yeah, he's

(04:26:11):
definitely famous shuffler. I don't justfrom watching you, Armstead get released obviously
meant so much to the defensive lineinto the team. I mean, Colin
John were pretty open that they werewilling to talk about trading Deebo or are

(04:26:32):
you at you? Does that justanother what's that feel like in the locker
room when those sort of jewels happened. I didn't even know that happened and
I wasn't here, but you're talkingabout this Armstead in alarm Eric released,
So that's certainly one thing. Yeah, it's a tough business, for sure.

(04:26:55):
You have to have thick skin andI haven't gone through that, but
I think you just have to understandthat it is a business, and the
team's going to try and get asgood as it possibly can with or without
you, and you have to lookout for yourself. That's why you go
through holdouts and do certain things thatseem selfish in the moment, but it

(04:27:19):
is what it is, and wheneverything's settled, we're gonna come together as
a team and try and go getone Nick, what's the overall feeling around
the group right now? Like,how much does it feel like the excitement
of the ramp up to the season, even though it's early, it feels
good. It's been a couple ofdays for me, so I like all
the new guys. I'm getting toknow everybody, but I think the past

(04:27:42):
is in the past and we're readyto go. Do you talk to You
talked to Beat all about handling thebusiness part of this. He's going through
something similar. We chat a littlebit, but not too much about the
details. I just told him tokeep his head up and try and stay
positive through all first impressions. Whenyou heard what your schedule would be in

(04:28:03):
that Aaron Rodgers' first time, it'llbe fun. Yeah, it's gonna be
gonna be a good one. Excuseme, kind of alluded to this for
the fact that last year you hadto have that holdout. You said that
affected you somewhat early in the season. If you hadn't had that experience,
would you be here right now?I mean, was that part of the

(04:28:26):
motivation for being here early, justto have the opposite when last year might
be No, I don't think that'sone of the reasons. But I just
talked to Kyle and he kind ofasked me. He kind of stated how
he felt about why it would begood for me to be here and asked
if I agreed, And I onehundred agree. So it's not like I'm

(04:28:51):
missing too much. I think I'mout here. It's a little less workload
than I'm doing back home, soit's kind of a good active recovery thing
for me. And I'm getting footballstuff, football working specifically, so that's
good. I'm not it's not compromisingmy training at all, and I get
to meet all the guys. It'sit's positive. How did Joey kick the

(04:29:14):
news your brother? Did you haveto like let him down and say,
oh, no, he's he's there, he's got a new regime over there.
Did you first? I actually thoughtI was coming next week. Until
recently so, I was gonna haveone more week at home, but we're
both in California. Everything you couldlike share about tons reasons, reasons that

(04:29:41):
you agreed with O be here,