Press Conference (Jim Knowles)

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Episode Transcript

(00:00):
Sprint. Yeah, every situation likethat gives somebody an opportunity. We were
our depth was really down at safetythis spring. So because you had Leithan,
you had Jahad, you had Malikand then Lorenzo, so it opened
up opportunities. And Bonsu is aguy who really got a lot of reps

(00:26):
and you saw him improve. Andthen McLean, I think is a is
a great plus. I mean,he is a guy that has football intelligence.
He's picked it up. You know, he's kind of love of those
incoming freshmen who still should be inhigh school. He's a guy I think
you're going to point to and youcan see right now he's going to be

(00:48):
a player over to the right.Austin Ward the podcast, A healthy Mitchell
Melton. How does he fit infor your defense? What does he bring
to it? Yeah, he's youknow, Mitch is that combiny you know
in in our four down. Youknow, he's a guy that can do
a lot of things, drop foldin there and make plays. You see

(01:11):
some of that all the time.Really athletic, you know, or kind
of loaded at that end position.So he's going to play there. But
you know, like I said lastyear, we we haven't needed it,
But he's a guy you would pointto along with CJ. Hicks. You
know, for the for the longseason, people get injured, you get

(01:34):
a little light inside. It's alwayshard on the defensive tackles, but if
you're going to play with three ends, you know that Mitch is a guy
who definitely can do all that hehas that over to the left. Joey
Kaufman, Columbus Dispatch, Jim,You've talked about this before, but I
think in the pastures where you're goingup against a really talented receiver group offense,

(01:55):
to encourage your players to it's notokay if they give up to the
play and to go. And you'realmost the first half today, were you
the offense didn't get in the endzone until the late in the second half.
Just and you guys have our guysdown the secondary. Just what did
you think of that sort of trendand how it's evolved in the way you
guys almost shut them out of thefirst half. Yeah, I think it's
become, you know, an expectation. Now you know our dv's, you

(02:21):
know our bi A best in America. We led the country in pass defense,
right, I think it was ninetysix when I got here, and
it was number one last year,so they've they've taken that spirit. So
it's a competitive spirit. It's anexpectation now, it doesn't matter who we're

(02:43):
going against, it's it's they viewit as a standard. So that was
good to see in the first firsthalf. Over to the right, Spencer
Holbrook let them in a roll.Jim, We've talked about safety changing the
way that you play defense and theleo and the linebackers, but how much
does having the depth that you guyshave a defensive tackle change the way that
you can do things defensively? Yeah, I mean you're going to play to

(03:05):
your strengths, you know, andthat's that's my job is to what do
we have and what do we dobest? And when you have defensive tackles
who but I've said it before ithelped our defense so much last year.
When you have defensive tackles that actuallymake tackles, which is what we have
right now, it changes the wayyou call a game. You know,

(03:28):
it certainly helps you be in bettershape on explosive plays on the back end.
You don't have to do a wholelot to help those guys out because
they're making tackles, so you gotto go. You gotta go with that,
you know, you got to yougotta let those guys play and and
and they're good. So you can'tget too far away from the scheme of

(03:50):
having those defensive tackles make place becausethey're doing it and it works. Over
to the left, Tony Gertman BuckeyeHuddle, Jim Ryan talked about the quarterback
run being more of a thing withthe offensive here during the season. How
much of when you're facing a teamlike that, how much does that impact
your day to day throughout the weekpreparing for that. Yeah, it's a
todd you know it. I thinkit changes everything you do on defense.

(04:13):
You see it everywhere from the NFLon down. If you have a quarterback
who can make plays with his feet, your scheme better be designed that,
you know, to to take thataway and to account for it. So
it changes the way you look ateverything when you're game planning. Thank you,
Donovan. Over here to the right, Tim May the Tim May Podcast.
Yeah, Jim, you bought tobe. When I asked Ryan about

(04:36):
just for example, Calvin Simpson huntbut the corner seemed to be playing almost
with a chip on their shoulder toa certain extent, I mean Davis and
Nick Bnosen took today personally it lookedlike, you know what I mean because
some of the hype going into thegame, but what do you see from
that group in particular that who isyou going into this off seat? Yeah,
when you can when you have cornersthat you can count on. Again,

(05:00):
it's just like having defensive tackles inthe run game. When you have
corners you can count on that aregoing to compete all the time, no
matter what the situation is. Andwe've developed that again, it changes the
way you call the entire game.I mean, you you're able to leave
those guys on an island, You'reable to switch up coverages, and they

(05:21):
know what they're doing and they takegreat pride in it. So having those
guys out there in the development,it's a big deal. There really is.
And it's Hunt jumped into the pictureof the board late last year.
Lay Yeah, I mean, he'she did come in late, and you
know, he compete. He's oneof those guys that just competes every day,

(05:45):
doesn't say much, you know,he's trying to live up to the
standard or the other guys, andyou see him coming along, you know
you see him work. Hello,everybody there is Robinson University of Missouri.
I just want they missed a momto your close Gannon for this amazing opportunity.
I'm glad to be here with MarvinHarrison right next to me. So

(06:08):
peel great. I'm really excited andI'm excited for this journey. See you

(06:28):
fifteen here in town. Marvin,when did you know the Cardinals were going
to select you? Did you knowbefore they called or was there an agreement
in place before? No, Idid not know until I got the phone
call from the Arizona Cardinals. MarvinRichard Science Fox. Then, welcome to
the valley. I know kind oftweeted to you, tweeted out to you

(06:49):
once you got drafted. What wasit like to get a message from the
franchise quarterback and what kind of thoughtshave you had about teaming up with this
guy in the near future. Yes, it's been great. You always wanted
to support and love from your quarterbackand the co is a great player.
Excited to play with him, andit's gonna be my job to make his
job easier. Darius Darren Urban fromAzycardinals dot com. I know that a

(07:14):
lot of players these days aren't stickingin one school, uh for a long
time, and you did it forfive years. I mean even Marvin did
it for three. Like what whatwent behind that? And why was it
meaningful for you to stay at oneschool? Yes? At Missouri, you
know, we had some tough seasons, but we were really built with an
edge energy, details, gret in, emotional consistency, and I just found
myself just trying to grow and getbetter each year and also as a team,

(07:39):
you know, win more games eachyear. And that was my that
was my home, I was myfamily. I was blessed to you know,
get two degrees as well off thefield, and I just love Missouri
two degrees. Wow, Marvin,Bob Mcbob McMahon at Arizona Republic, congratulations,
Thank you to both of you.You're known as all business, and

(08:01):
I want to know how that's goingto serve you well in this league from
personal standpoint, your brand, everythingyou do in a daily preparation, there's
a lot that goes into being allbusiness. Tell me what that is to
you. Yeah, I mean that'sjust being a pro. It's kind and
raised and grew up to do andkeep the same mindset, same attitude that
I've had throughout my whole career.Once I get here, continue to work

(08:24):
hard, be consistent and discipline,you know, and all that I do.
So I'm looking forward to putting thework. Hey Marvin Josh Wayne ESPN.
What were the best pieces of adviceyour dad gave you about being an
NFL player? I mean, yeah, it takes a lot of work,
a lot of preparation. You know, from Monday to Saturday, it's all
work. And then Sunday should bethe easy part. I go out there

(08:46):
and have fun, ready to putthe work in. So starts with the
work first and then when Sunday comes, it is Rieka benefits. Hey Darius
Howard Ballzer from Cards Wire. Ican't help but notice that ring on your
fingers, A cotton bowl ring.Yes, it is the cotton bowler.
You showed it to Marvin very quickly. No, I I was telling Marva.

(09:09):
You know, he was glad hedidn't play. The whole week leading
up. You know, you seeOhio State. Everybody said, okay,
Marvin Harrison, and now he's ishe gonna plays? To go play?
He didn't play so you know weleft out. So Hey, Marvin Paul
KELBC Cardinals Broadcasting, do you believethat receivers have to earn the trust for
their quarterback? And if so,what does that usually require? Absolutely,

(09:33):
you got to earn the trust ofthe quarterback. And I think it starts,
you know, every day in practiceand being consistent. Really, you
can't just do it one day.Can't you do it for one week?
Has to be you know, doneover and over and over again. I
think that's how trust has earned.So no matter where you get picked,
when you're first receiver, it's roundseven, doesn't really matter, have to
go and earn trust for the quarterback, your coaches, your teammates. So

(09:54):
it all starts in practice. What'sgoing on, guys, Good to see
again, Tyler Drake, there's asport systems for Darius. What's the feeling
of just being able to represent yourschool as that first round pick and what
kind of impact can that have forthose guys following in your footsteps. Yeah,
it's awesome. I feel like I'msetting the standard going forward. But
that's the name. Was Zoo isknown as Delon Zoo, So I'm just

(10:16):
added to the family. But nowI feel like I'm setting the standard for
my younger teammates that this is attainableif you work really hard, be consistent,
and really get trust your strength coach. I feel like every program is
built out the stremp coach and thatdevelops all the habits on and off the
field. Darius zach ERSHMANEZI Cardinals dotCom Right over here, JJ mentioned that
he loves the violence that you playwith. You mentioned the different tendencies that

(10:39):
you picked up. The emotional consistencyis the great. How do you balance
that the violence with discipline on thefield. Honestly, just through preparation and
practice. I'm a big guy.I'm a big believer in inside hands,
so that's why I'm always working myhand placement and then I lift weight,
so you know that's all connected.So I'm just trying to be focused on
my technique as much as possible.Hey, Marvin over here, David Brant

(11:05):
with the Associated Press. You knowa lot of rookies come into the league
and they get a little bit ofleeway. It's like, oh, he's
young, he needs to grow andstuff like that. But obviously you're gonna
be expected to be the guy herereally quickly. How do you deal with
that pressure? How do you goabout just so much being expected of you
so quickly? I mean, yeah, I have high standards for myself,
but I'm just gonna go in thereand try to work, you know,

(11:26):
the best I can. I justwant to help the team win really,
so without a role I play,you know, come September, let me
just do my best. No dothat role. This one's for both of
you, guys. The fans wantto know who you guys are on the
inside. I don't know how muchyou're willing to reveal to us today.
A lot would be nice. Canyou tell us what you like to do

(11:48):
away from football? What pisses youoff about things? And you know what
what makes you roll. I'm prettysimple. I like, you know,
be in my apartment, watch amovie. If I go out and I
go to a restaurant, get somefood. But other than that, they
do too much. And then I'mpretty easy going, guys, so I

(12:09):
try not to nothing bother me toomuch. Yeah, I say the same
thing, A real chill guy,just really obsessed with football. But outside
of football, like I said,I got my two degrees, I got
my undergrad hospitality management and the minorand business. I got my masters and
positive culture within FLA leadership, Sojust thinking about being well rounded, and
then I do philanthropy work. Istart my own nonprofit foundation Darius Robinson Helping

(12:33):
Hands Foundation, but really just footballand then everything else. Honestly, congratulations,
guys, welcome to the Valley.I'm Robbie Baker with Fox ten.
Darius, This is for you.After the draft last night, you had
a great response about how your processand preparing for a game, just kind
of wondering where your love for kindof the grind comes from, and then

(12:54):
your love for that process comes from. I would say my junior year because
I played little league ball off andon. But I got my junior year
and I was playing high school andmy whole goal is just to earn a
scholarship. But during that process,I really fell in love with the game,
fell in love with working out relationshipswith teammates, and now it's kind
of like my advice and I can'tlet it go and just kind of finding
ways to always get better, youknow. Luke g litting here with twelve

(13:16):
Sports, Congrats to both of youwalking to the valley. This one's for
you, Marvin, I'm curious yourthoughts or what was that conversation like with
your dad after your name was calledand you were able to be drafted by
this organization, and how surreal isit for you to be following on your
own father's footsteps but in your ownway. Yeah, I mean it was
very brief. Actually just in thesecond graduations, I walk up to the

(13:37):
stage and then I had to doa bunch of interviews afterwards. So I
don't think it's hit both of usyet. I don't know what's happened.
I think, you know, oneof Michaels always make him proud, so
I hope I did that. Marvinbo Brock, pH and X Sports.
When do you anticipate catching your firstpasses from Kyler Murray? I don't know.
I don't know. I guess we'llsee and hopefully as soon as possible.

(14:01):
Darius, you mentioned philanthropy, andI know there's been it's been talked
about how you took some of then NIL money to do a get back
to school for the kids in Colombia. Where where did that belief in doing
those things come from? I say, my family, my brother and my
mom really instilled that into me andto me at a young age, just
give back your blessings to others.In my fifth year at Misazoo is the

(14:24):
best year of my life, Sowhy would I not share my blessings with
others. So that's what really motivatedme to do that. And now being
in NFL, you know, mygoals to do three events each year.
I just give back because you know, it's life outside of football and bigger
blessings out there. Marvin, youobviously played with a number of highly drafted
receivers at Ohio State. What sortof feedback have you gotten about the NFL

(14:46):
from them? And you know,by making the transition in the league itself.
Yeah, it's a long season,I think going from in a twelve
game record season you have in collegeto was it seventeen games now and you
got three preseason I think actually justthe biggest challenge on the game the same
Obviously, we're all skilled and verytalented athletes, so the mental part is
probably the biggest thing and the biggestchange from the college to pros. Marvin,

(15:09):
what's your timeline for hiring an agent? Right over here on the way
part right you haven't hired an agent. Why is that Is there a timeline
to hiring one? And are yougonna slign the NFLPA licensing agreement. I'll
continue to talking to my team.We do what's best for me. I'm
moving forward. We just take itone day at a time. I just
got drafted, so I'm trying toenjoy the moment and be happy while I

(15:30):
can at the moment. Hey,Marvin, we'll say Romaro, Arizona Republic,
Welcome. Man. Can you justkind of share a little bit about
you touched on it briefly here,but just a little bit more about growing
up with with your dad and youknow, the experiences you had in Indianapolis
and games and so on and soforth. Yeah, I mean, there's
no better role model, coach,mentor that you can have. That's someone

(15:52):
who's played the game. And thenyou know he's actually your father too,
so he means a lot to mehelping get to the point on that right
now. And just he's been verydetailed and everything I've done growing up playing
football. So so we're thankful forhim. I'm glad they can be here
with me today. Luke glinting againhere with twelve Sports is for Dariusterius m
I z z Yes, Sir MiamaMater as well. Curious what do you

(16:15):
think you learned the most from yourtime at Mazoo that has helped you be
ready for this moment. I'll saythe biggest thing is not how you start,
is how you finished. And Ifeel like me being drafted that was
the exclamation point on my career atMazoo. But now I got to start
all over again and really earned respecton my teammates and coaches and then earn
a role with and create and dothe things that make them special. Then

(16:37):
all of a sudden, I don'tthink you really know what they could do
until you put them out there ina real game where there is no black
jersey, there is no non contactjersey. But you know, a guy
like Troy, you know, whenhe could create on the run, it
was kind of like Alan Iverson withhis crossover, you know what I mean,
like when he get open, man, I mean he could he could
make things happen that nobody in thehistory of o high sled football could make

(16:59):
happen. So I uh, youknow it was it was tough again,
it was Uh that's one of thosehaunting wins. I mean that that game
probably haunts me more than Florida becauseFlorida we just got our our wheels,
we got our doors blown up.But Florida also like we weren't we weren't
really that good in O six,Like in O five we were really good,
like like that O five Ohio Stateteam if they had have played the
O six team, the five teamon a dog locked us just because our

(17:22):
defense was so much better and andand really our offense was too because we
had nick Naan Gold and Robsons,like, we had NFL dudes on our
line, uh that were much betterthan the guys that we played in in
O six. So that that Texasgame haunts me to this day because we
had the best team in the countrybeat and we let them go, Which
that sucks. Yeah. Absolutely.In another game that you're what about Penn

(17:48):
State? Did we played those?Yeah, that was the first white out,
So that spawned the white out crazeand it was it was it was
the best call of football environment ofall time. I mean it was.
It was so loud, it wasso crazy, and and honestly, you
know, I'd never been there,most of us had never been there.

(18:11):
Some of the older like like youknow, something like Rob SAMs, Nickmangle,
they've been there. But they playedand I think it was a noon
game in three, but they we'dnever experienced a white out before, so
I don't think we were ready forthe noise. And I got hurt,
which is what really sucked. Inthe second quarter, I blew my knee
out on a field goal protection andit hurt bad, and it sucked,
and I couldn't finish the game.And their their best player was their d

(18:34):
N that I blocked all day andhe was a first round pick. Tom
Behalley played for the Chiefs. Iwas pro bowler and like I played him
in OH four and I thought hewas good, but I didn't think he
was like incredible or anything like.I didn't think he was like some guy
was like, oh my god,how I'm gonna block this guy? And
when I was in there O five, like, I handled him and he
played and I played against him thewhole game because he didn't flip, like

(18:55):
they don't flip their dns. Theyplay the same guy plays against the right
tack all the whole games. SoI was handling them and and I killed
him in OH four when I wasa freshman, and I frankly wasn't even
good. And you know, sothen when I got hurt, it like
it got a little bit tougher becausewe had to put you know, we
put Rob Sims at right tackle.Rob Sims that never played right tackle his
life, and they put him outthere. And then we put Booty out

(19:17):
there at right tackle. Booty wasa true freshman, and you know,
no eighteen year old can handle thatenvironment. He actually did pretty well.
But you know, at the endof the game, you have Tom of
course sacks the quarterback and it's likemy nightmare, uh realized when the guy
that I handled the whole year likeends the game and kills Stray and trade
as a summersault and like they stillplay that clip when we play Penn State
because it was the dramatic of anending. So that sucked. So,

(19:41):
yeah, those are the two andthat was the hardest part, man is
Like by that time in the season, like the season was over basically because
we lost two. And you know, back then it was like if you're
not in the you know, thetop two, ish, you're not going
to have a shot to play forthe championship. That was pre BCS,
but it was still you know,once he gets down, get a second
loss through like six weeks, man, your season's over for you. You

(20:03):
know, in terms of winning theNatty, which was our natural that was
actually our goal. Yeah, absolutely, back then it was you know,
one loss you might still have achance, but two losses basically you're out
of it. So that had tobe tough. And then kind of getting
away from maybe some of the morenegative memories of that year. The one
game that I personally had a investedinterest in was the I believe it was

(20:29):
a Fiesta Bowl with Notre Dame.Kind of walk me through what you guys
thought when you watch them on filmand kind of your guys's mentality going into
that game. Well, I mean, we knew they were really good.
We knew that they had a lotof NFL guys that were really well coached.
People can say whatever they want aboutCharlie Weiss, but you know,
their offense was was really good.I mean, Brady was playing at a

(20:52):
very high level. Obviously, hewas a guy that probably could have left
him in a top ten pick.I don't think it's safe for his senior
year them. I think if hehad left after that third year. He
had have made more good running backDarius Walker. Their line was really good.
Ryan Harris had a bunch of NFLguys. Ryan Harris the left tackle,
good player, Samarga who ended upbeing a pitcher in the in the

(21:15):
big leagues. Uh was a forceas a wide receiver. Defensively, I
remember that Victor Or Abby AMII whoagain that was there were another team that
didn't flip. So I played againstVictor Abby Mary the entire game and he
was the best player in their entiredefense. He ended up being a second
round pick by the Eagles. Uh. They had zibbi U Thomas Abkowski who
we actually had the same agent.So we actually became pretty tight once we
got to the league. But youknow, they they had uh, they

(21:38):
had dudes. But again we wehad we had guys that could really run,
and we thought we could get aftertheir back end a little bit and
we did. Like that's why wewere thrown it up over the top to
Teddy and san Antonio and we didn'tthink they could run with us, and
they couldn't. So that was thatwas something that like our game plan was,
let's let's take him deep and Uh, we knew they were gonna blitz
it was. It's kind of funnyyou study these teams, is that what

(22:02):
are the weird things you study are? Like what could they do against you
that they maybe haven't shown on film? Given the break, given a thirty
day absence between you know, theMichigan game and then the Bull game.
So we didn't have a big tentitle game back then. So after we
beat Michigan before Thanksgiving, we didn'tplay again until January. So it's a
big thirty five day winner. Soyou could literally install an entire new defense.

(22:22):
And we thought they were going toblitz us pretty heavy, just based
on our runs and our tendencies andthe one end around the Z round,
which you know ched gin was theZ which is like your flank or your
speed receiver. We we did aself scout and we'd ran to the right
behind me like seventy five percent ofthe time that year. So we ran

(22:45):
our signature play which was like itwas called eight load, which is an
option play that Troy never pitched it. It was an option play where he'd
never pitched it, only carried it, and I guess Iowa. We scored
two touchdowns with it. We ranit a lot, but we put in
a reverse off of it. Soyou start the option action and you see
the linebackers come flying right into thehole where where we hit it, because

(23:07):
I'm sure that they went over thatwith their scout team for a long time
and uh, and they over commitbig time to where the play was going.
But then you have Ted coming backthe other way on the on the
Z round, so there was nobodythere and san Antonio, san Antonio had
the best crack block and he probablyhe had been thrown in prison if he
did that today because he'd been targetingand everything else. But san Antonio killed

(23:29):
their uh, their their their walkoutguy, their their walkout linebacker like killed
him, took him off his feetand uh and Ted was like off to
the races. So I just remember, our offensive staff did a great job
tress bulls like Jim Bowman. Thoseguys really did a good job of scheming
those guys up. And uh,you know, our defense, our defense
played well, you know, Imean they weathered the early storm because Notre
Dame went right down the field andscored to start the game, and then

(23:52):
they clamped up a little bit,and uh, but it was good.
I mean, we do it wouldbe a challenge, and those are the
fun games because they had they hadequal talent, so we were probably a
little more talented, but it wasn'tlike the normal huge gap of talent that
Ohio State football normally encounters on aSaturday. Yeah. Absolutely. That was
the one thing that I wondered,if you touch on just because watching the
game, you know, the thingthat jumped off the screen to me was

(24:14):
just how much faster you guys were, at least at receiver compared to the
defensive backs. It looked like theywere running in long grass and you guys
were on AstroTurf. Yeah, Imean, we just were lucky. We
had Ted and Santonio and Gonzo anduh you know obviously Gonzo that that that
play where he didn't catch it wasthe play of the game where Zibakhalski picked
it up and ran it back tothe house, because that was you know,

(24:36):
that was like the early the earlytimes of replay where they said that
he didn't catch it and it wasincomplete, because that was that was gonna
be a fumble for a touchdown.Yeah, And I was like sitting there,
I was like, please, God, do not whether this be in
touch because that te I think thatwould tie the game. But we were
able to get out and score andice game down. But yeah, it
was uh, you know, thoseare type those are type games. And
again that's why it's fun at highstitch play against teams that are equal talent

(25:00):
or close, because then you haveto really, you know, you gotta
really be sharp. You can't youcan't just you know, Ohio State ninety
nine percent of the time when weplay we've got better players than the other
team on the sideline, but it'snot one percent when you play Georgia or
you play a good Notre Dame team, where you got to actually, you
know, win, you have togo win the game instead of just being

(25:21):
better than they are. So itwas it was a fun night and I
didn't know that'd be my last Bowlwin, but you know, it was
really fun and it kind of Ithink it kind of set us in a
little bit of a trap where itwas like we had this this streak of
going to the Fiesta Bowl. Westayed at the Fairmont Scotts Sale Princess and
then we wore the white jerseys andwe beat you know, the Hurricanes.

(25:41):
We beat Kansas State, we beatNotre Dame. So then of course the
next year we played Florida, wegot our breaks beat off, and it's
like, but we sayed at thesame hotel and we're the same we were.
We were the one seed, andwe wore our white jerseys. Yeah,
because again, like I don't knowif it was superstition or what it
was, but it just kind ofis what it is. I mean,
it didn't matter what color jerseys werewere And I'm just being funny, but

(26:03):
it was like we like fell intothe trap of familiarity. And again I
get it because you know, ifyou wear the red jersy against Florida and
we get we lose forty one tofourteen, then people were like, why
did you wear the white jerseys?You could have did that we were undefeated.
It so this is some one ofthose like funny things that you think
about sometimes twenty years later. Yeah, for sure, that Florida game was
I was at that game. Thatwas the crowd and the electricity in the

(26:26):
stadium when Teddy took that kickoff backand then the just shock and haul when
they saw him hobbling off the fieldwas oh my god. Well, the
funny thing is that I won't talktoo much about it, but it's like
he came back in and played inthe game. Like that was funny thing.
It is like I didn't even knowhe got hurt because, like,
I mean, that first offensive playthat we had after Florida scored, he's

(26:48):
back out there and he actually rana route and we threw him the ball.
So like I it wasn't like,okay, it wasn't like his leg
was like the bone was poking outof the skinner. Yeah, Like so
I didn't know what was going on. Obviously ted was too hurt to play,
but it was I remember, likeI asked that and the thing was
like, why aren't you in?And he's like and he looked at me
and he's like, come on,man, let's go. And I'm like,

(27:12):
I'm like, I love Teddy,but I was like, why aren't
you playing? Like, I mean, we need you. You're the best.
You're You're literally the best player onour team by far. You were
the eighth overall pick or ninth pickin the draft like that. No one
else said the team was anywhere closeto the top ten in the draft.
So yeah, I mean that waslike one of those ones where you just
know that it ain't gonna be yournight when your best player gets hurt on

(27:33):
the first play. You're just likethis sometimes the football where you're just like,
God, this is gonna suck.And it was, like I tell
people, like it was like withthe forty nine ers last year, uh
in the NFC Championship, Like theylose brock Purty and then they lose their
backup quarterback and they're down to DeeboSamuel playing quarterback. Like you just said
that, Like sometimes in football,man, it just ain't your night.
And that was a night. Itwas definitely not a night. And and

(27:55):
again it's not taking anything weight fromUrban and you know Urban, and yeah,
Urban was the master of getting Iwas ready to go, and those
guys were hungry and disrespected and theyplayed that part up to the hill and
and they smashed us. And againthat's like I tell people, that's the
beauty of football is everybody who's everplayed or coach has had their brains beat
out at some point. It doesn'tmatter if Nick Saban, Dabo Sweeney,

(28:17):
Ryan Day, Like, that's that'sthe beauty of it. Bill Belichick got
you're gonna at some point it's gonnabe your turn to get smashed, and
that was our turn, and itwas. It was a humbling night,
but it was a it was aterrible night. But that's just part of
part of life, Like you don'tget to littlem All and uh, it
was. It sucked because I feltterrible for Troy because that was a game

(28:37):
that haunts his legacy because he probablyif he wins that, he's probably the
best Buckeye of all time. Butit just cut is what it is.
Yeah, definitely, I mean comingoff winning the Heisman. And I mean
it's not like Troy had a badgame that game or anything either. Well,
I mean, you know, hedidn't have a chance because we didn't.
We didn't run the ball, hedidn't have his number one receiver.
You know. Again, it's likeif you take Kelsey away from the homes

(29:02):
or when you see these quarterbacks,if their number one guy goes down,
sometimes if they're just really incredible,they can still make it work. But
a lot of times, man,it's it's tough, you know, when
you don't have your your top guy. And and again, like you know,
we we just wouldn't play well.Like I like we didn't play there
was at eddy fast, Like,I mean, are you know our offense?
We sucked that offense, but youour defense gave up forty one points

(29:23):
too. You know, we hadwe had a bunch of personal fouls.
We played dumb football. So andUrban, you know, Urban was ahead
of his time with that offense.That offense was. I was sitting there
watching that man and our guys wereout of gas. Our guys were winded,
tired, and I was watching iton the big screen, and they're
the way that they they stretched thefield horizontally in the running game. I

(29:45):
mean, our guys were basically likerunning gassers the whole game, and they
were they were exhausted. So Urbanwas ahead of his time with what he
did there. And uh, Iwas excited when he came here because I
got to learn that offense and itwas it was really cool. Yeah.
Absolutely. In another game from fromyour playing days, how about the game

(30:07):
in two thousand and six, Whatwas the build up going into that game?
I think you know it was itwas one that obviously, like when
you look at the schedules and itwas like once we got past like Penn
State, we knew that it waskind of cupcake city, and we had
a scare against Illinois, but otherwiseit was, you know, we were

(30:29):
coasting and so was Michigan. Imean, Michigan got past Notre Dame or
Penn State or somebody, and thenthey were coasting, and it was like
we saw what was coming. Afterthey smashed Notre Dame, they jumped up
with the polls pretty high, andthat, you know, that's what made
it. The magic of the onetwo games. I mean, they beat
that Notre Dame team was like apreseason number two team. I think they

(30:49):
were cause they'd played us and theyhad like twenty guys come back, so
Brady was back and all those guysand and Michigan just smashed them out at
Notre Dame and so we knew theywere gonna be good. And again they
were good at No. Five.They just you know, they had some
bad losses. They were injured,but they still had like you know,
sometimes the record doesn't reflect the talentlevel because they still had Alan Branch and

(31:15):
Lamar Woodley and Leon Hall and youknow, Mario Manningham. They had guys
that were like dudes, like realdude. Jake Long obviously first overall pick
in the draft, So you know, we knew they were going to be
good. They put it in anew running game. They ran the Denver
Broncos zone offense, and they werereally good at that, and they were
like just buzz sawing teams when I'dwatch them on film, and I think
that, you know, we knewit was gonna be a big challenge.

(31:37):
And I worried about our defense inthat game because I thought our defense was
good. I think it was great, and I was right, and we
ended up giving up like thirty ninepoints. But thank god, we scored
forty two. But that was themost points I think we'd ever give it
up to a Michigan team. Ithink, uh, but it was.
Hey, we scored three more thanthey did, and it's a team game.
But you know, I knew thattheir offense was legit because I mean,

(31:59):
you've got me in him as yournumber one guy. Mike Cartt was
a good college player, not agood NFL player. Jake long as your
left tackle, Henny who played likefifteen years in the league, was a
really good quarterback. Like, youknew it was gonna be tough, and
you knew you weren't going to shuthim out, and uh, I just
the build up was crazy. Andthen you know, Bo dies the day
before the game, which makes iteven crazier because you've got you know there,
you know, the guy that they'rethey're you know, we've got the

(32:21):
Woody Hayes Center, they've got theschen Deckler Hall. Uh So the guy
that their football building is named after, dies the day before the game or
Thursday before the game. It was. It was nuts. So yeah,
there was a lot of pressure towin. And I don't know if we
blew our stack that night and weran out of gas for Florida or we
thought we were too good or whatit was, but you know, it
was kind of like we sold outto beat Michigan and then like, you

(32:43):
know, we didn't have that sameWe didn't play anywhere near as flawless of
a game against Florida, obviously,because that Michigan team was was a team
that I think they they kind ofsuffered the same fate where they you know,
they kind of blew their energy.Uh and then they didn't do well
in the Rosewell versus sc either becauseI think we were so exhausted from that
game and they were probably defeated fromlosing that game. So I always like

(33:06):
kind of wonder about that because wejust we didn't look like the same team,
you know. And sometimes that happens. When you've got all this energy
and you expend it and then youget to win, then you know,
you really need the coaching staff andthe leaders to to beat you back down
and just submission to get ready togo for that next one, because it's
it's hard. Man, you beatMichigan in that one two game. Like,
the environment around Columbus is different people, you know, it's it's almost

(33:30):
like you gotta the what he hasthing where it's like, you know,
you know, kick the old grannyand the knee, like anyone that gives
you a compliment over the age ofeighty three, kicker, kick him in
the knee or whatever. Like,yeah, that thing where it's like if
someone compliments, you don't take it, like don't eat the cheese. Like
there's all these motivational things where it'slike when people are saying great things about
you and how great you are,don't listen to it, like, you

(33:51):
know, don't focus on you know, you gotta make it all white noise.
And I think that's something that weobviously could have been better at but
that that Michigan game will always beushal one of my favorite games, you
know. And again it's again that'sanother game that's clouded just because of how
poorly we did in the championship game. But at the time, the one
versus two game was incredible one andthat was you know, again like I

(34:12):
told it, that was like areal Michigan team. That was a good
Michigan team. That wasn't some ofthese teams that we've played recently have just
stunk up at Michigan. But thatwas like, you know, look at
the guys, Look at David Harris, played ten years for the Jets,
was a captain, and you know, like those guys went on and went
to the league and they were likelegit in the league. Yeah, and
you already touched on it a littlebit, and I don't know, I'm

(34:34):
curious your thoughts. I almost feellike when you come off a big win
like that, it's almost better togo right back and play your next game
the next week. So you're stilloff that high. But obviously with the
National Championship game, you guys hadforty days off in between. Do you
think that played a role as faras you guys maybe lost some of your

(34:54):
energy or lost some of your focusafter the Michigan game, and maybe that
was part of the reason you guysdidn't perform as well in the championship game.
Well, I think that. Youknow, obviously, now with the
current structure, with the Big TenChampionship Game, you can't really celebrate the
Michigan game anymore because you got togo play, especially now where they removed
the divisions and now it's like you'regonna have to go play Oregon. You've

(35:16):
got to go play a top fiveteam on the other side of the Big
Ten because it's literally going to bethe two top teams now. So I
mean, there could be a scenarioyou play Michigan again, so you don't
you don't get to relate celebrate becauseI mean back then, like when we
played like we were done before Thanksgiving, which is crazy. I mean,
I mean in O six, youknow we had a bye week. Uh

(35:36):
we actually I think we played twelvestraight games in O six. We didn't
we didn't even have a bye weekin O six because we played we had
a buy and then they removed thebye week for whatever reason, and we
played Bowling Green that was during whatwas supposed to be our bye week,
so we played twelve straight and wewere done super early. But I think
with the current structure, it's alldifferent because there's no real I mean,

(35:57):
obviously you're gonna celebrate beating Michigan,but you know when you got to play
Oregon the next week, like yourcelebration is gonna be you know, like
a couple hours and that's it.Because when you got to go play the
Oregon Ducks or whoever is that twoteam in the Big Ten, like you
gotta get your mind right. Youcan't be out, you know, kicking
it and having a good time andrelaxing because you're gonna be fight. You're
gonna be facing a monster. Andthat's something that's gonna be intriguing this year

(36:19):
because we don't we don't get toplay Iowa or Northwestern or Michigan State or
these like turds from the old BigTen like Western Conference that now you're gonna
go play like real teams, Sothat makes it tough. And then you
know with the playoffs, like it'sjust gonna be such a it's gonna be
such a mental and physical proposition forthese guys because they they've got to stay
even and they've got to peak atthe right time. And that's something that

(36:44):
Urban was great about, is he'dget the guys to peak at the right
time, because that's delicate because youknow, you gotta figure out how hard
do I push them? How harddo I beat him down? You know,
do we put the hammer down onhim and practice today or not?
How beat up are they? Andthat's why Bikibraadi's really good, it is
because he'd always give them good adviceon you know, the team's beach trash,

(37:04):
take it down a little bit,or hey, let's turn it up
a little bit and beat them downa little bit, because you know,
managing your roster and managing the healthof your players is gonna be so critical
when you can play seventeen games nowbecause you know, like the old days,
like when I played, it wasthirteen at most, and now you've
got to add four more games ontop of it. And you're not playing
Akron four times. You're playing likeSEC Skulls. You're playing good big ten

(37:27):
schools, and it's gonna be it'sgonna be a battle, and I mean,
I'm excited for it. I thinkit's gonna be great for college football,
but you know, managing your rosteris gonna be so critical going forward.
And that's why you know Ohio State, knock on wood, hanging on
to their depth in the transferporter rightnow is is absolutely huge. Yeah,
absolutely. I mean they're playing seventeengames. That's a full NFL season.

(37:47):
So in speaking of Michigan, Kirk, I didn't know if you've got a
chance to catch the Sharon Moore postgameinterview from the spring game, it almost
to me kind of looked like ahostage interview because he did his press conference

(38:12):
and then they interviewed him on thefield and he he looked zero energy,
didn't have hardly anything to say,Yeah, we played well, We're going
to continue to work. It wasalmost like he was deer in headlights almost.
I think he knows what's coming again. I know Michigan fans want to

(38:35):
say nothing's gonna happen, slap onthe rest or whatever, but it's just
like, what do you look athow egregious the cheating was and how much
of a luxury it is to havean electronic paperterial from a guy like Connor
Sallion's who just used his own namefor buying tickets, and I'm sure they
found you know, transactions, andI'm sure they're going through his venmo and
his bank statements and whatever like Imean, because you know, you can,

(38:58):
you know, subpoena that stuff be. It's gonna be ugly. And
again, Michigan, the Hamburger gatething just dropped like this week, and
that was from twenty twenty during COVID. So you know, these things take
time. And everybody's like they wantinstant justice and instant executions, but you
know, the NCAA has got tobe thorough and and honestly, some of

(39:20):
this information takes time to get andI think that they're going to be smashed.
And again I say it, I'vesaid it a billion times on my
show, Like every single coach leftthe Strength coach. I mean, Joe
Harbaugh pillaged the entire scham Becker Hallof every coach that he could get except
for Shraanmore, you know, andthe guys that he didn't want. So
he didn't want Mike Hart obviously becauseMike Hart's a head case. And then

(39:44):
his son Jay Harbaugh went to Seattlewith MacDonald, who was there. You
know, two years ago, butI or three years go, excuse me,
So I I think that they knowwhat's coming. I think it's gonna
be hard to recruit up there.You know. Again, they're getting kids
to commit right now, which isgreat. They've got a good defensive player
the other day, but will itstick if they get hammered, which is

(40:06):
what I'm projecting. They're gonna gethammered worse than we've seen just because of
you know again, they were cheatingUS Integrity, which is a company you
guys should google if you guys willassim to this, like US Integrity is
involved in this thing. In USIntegrity, they they're they're uh, they're
hired by every major gambling company,every major league as in like the NFL,

(40:30):
the NHL, Major League Baseball,the NBA to investigate fraudulent, fraudulent
movement in in gambling lines. Youknow again, Like we saw the NBA
player recently get get a lifetime DANbecause his friend, you know, dropped
eighty thousand dollars at a casino onyou know him like scoring under eight points

(40:50):
and under six assists and under fourrebounds, and so that was like,
yeah, yeah, people, Iguess I mean that that's like a layup
for US integrity. But they theyinvestigate all batting patterns. They have access
to all of the online transactions,and you know, their computers can pick
up when there's really suspicious activity onsome random event or random game or you

(41:12):
know, some acron versus Bowling GreenTuesday night game, all of a sudden,
it gets a million dollar wager onone side, Like that's gonna send
up a big red flag. Sothose guys are investigating Michigan. Obviously there's
rumors of potential gambling going on insideof Schann Beckler Hall, which would be
a no no. So again,it's there's a lot of layers to this,
and we have probably we've probably seentwenty percent of it compared to what

(41:36):
the investigation's gonna unveil. So I'mexcited for it. I can't wait for
it, and it's gonna be onthe best days in Buckeye scoop history when
it happens, right right, youguys were the first ones to report on
that in to keep it going,and I almost have second hand embarrassment for

(41:58):
the fan base up there and forthe Beat reporters just for the simple fact
of that they had a lot ofinformation that they sat on and and it's
wild to me that that there was. And then before pro day he came
up and we threw that night beforePro Day, and we've I mean we've

(42:20):
tayed in touch. I feel likepretty well, he's just an awesome human
and even a better teammates. IfI could ask you quickly, what did
you make of what he was ableto do after you saw him and you
played with him the year before andhe came on and did what he did
his rookie year, What did youmake of what he was able to do
in his rookie season? Man,I just to be honest with you,
it was no surprise to me oranybody in that Ohio State facility. It's

(42:45):
just we knew how to do aspecial and when he got the chance,
got over the right people and theright coaching staff. The dudes unbelievable.
Brian Bearfield. Okay, welcome toHouston, Brian Bearfield, big sarch media.
Everybody just called me Sarage, asyou could tell by the hats.

(43:05):
So, Kate, I don't wantto take you back down memory lane for
just one second. I just lookedup some of your status, so you
were in high school. You wererunning back one thousand and four into seventy
seven yards your senior year, seventeentouchdowns, linebacker, one hundred and sixty
three tackles, four intercessions. Youbroke your high school scoring record in basketball
overall athlete. Even when you gotto Ohio State, you didn't really you

(43:30):
were like a hybrid. They didn'treally know where to put you until you
ended up at tight end. SoI say all that to ask you what
the Houston Texans are getting an athletewho's willing to play anywhere and everywhere they
need them. Correct? One hundredpercent. Yeah, that's one hundred percent,
hundred pc correct, no doubt aboutit. I'll do whatever we got
to do here to win ball games. And I mean they got awesome players,

(43:52):
awesome coaching staff, so just supersuper blessed here. How much did
that? How much does that backgroundhelp you help you to get through you
know, college and now I'll getyou to where you are today? Uh?
I think every day I've been thrownin a million different directions, pool
in a million different directions, Andto be honest with you, I mean
nothing's ever gone like how it's supposedto on pin the paper in my life

(44:14):
and my coaching career, so Imean my playing career, excuse me,
And it's just, uh, Ithink I'm just I feel like I'm battle
tested and i feel like I'm readyto go. Thank you. Yeah?
Cool, Cool, You're un muteany better? Katie got me? Yeah,

(44:39):
I got you now. Cole ThompsonUSA Today Texans Wire, Congratulations are
getting drafted. I just heard youkind of mentioned a little bit about coaching.
You're talking about your coaching career,not your playing career. Do you
want to get into coaching afterwards whenyou're done playing football? No? No,
it's a lot of them going throughmy body right now. So regardless,

(45:04):
No, I'm not playing on gettingcoaching. I'm playing on just playing
as long as I can. Justa quick follow up, and you look
at a guy like Damiko Ryans,who is a former player that is very
close to the league, only hasbeen out for about seven years. What
does it mean to be playing forsomebody who's translated over to this new side
of things but also understands what aplayer goes through on the daily basis.

(45:24):
I think that makes the biggest differencein the world. And I think you
can tell by the way the playersrespect him and just how and the job
he's done in the short time he'sbeen there. I Mean, the dude's
unbelievable. He seems like an unbelievableperson. I'm just really really excited to
be able to plan er Nathan Cody. Heyk Cody Davis from Sports Illustrated.

(45:45):
You and I met at the NFLCOMBA. By the way, Yeah,
I would like to know, man, what are what type of tidy end
are 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 asked me
to do at one hundred percent,one hundred everything I got every single time,

(46:07):
and just I'm going to be theexact glue in the locker room.
I'm going to be a dude peoplecan come to when things go wrong,
and I'm so excited to help histeam anyway I can. Kim, Hey,
Kate, It's Kim Davis with ChalkTalk. Congratulations on getting drafted by
the Texans. Kind of following upon what Cody just ask you from your

(46:30):
com station with CJ. I knowhe's spoken how you have the staff but
what do you know about this justfrom what you've seen this offense? And
although you're your utility player, whatexcites you most about it other than obviously
playing with CJ. Now, Ijust think one. I think Dalton Schultz
is a great player. I've watcheda lot of his film growing up and
just even the last couple of years, study a lot of what he does,

(46:51):
especially on the Cowboys and now.Just to be able to learn from
a guy like that and take notesand tips how he handles his life and
everything, It's gonna be awesome forright now, in long term down the
road. And one quick follow up, what do you know about the city
of Houston? Have you spending timehere? No? No, I trained
in Brisco, Dallas for a littlebit for a couple of months, and

(47:13):
then that was really about it.Other than that, I've never really been
to Houston. But I mean,I'm really excited to come. All right,
Thank you the media, you too, Aaron Hey Kate. When it
comes to blocking, some tight endsembrace it, some do it because it's

(47:34):
part of the job. What's yourmentality for blocking? And I have a
follow up? Man, I loveblocking, I do. I'm gonna throw
my face in the fire chance Ican get I might always be pretty,
but I promise you're gonna get everyounce of power I got. And the
draft process as a proven guy,did you go on a lot of visits?

(47:55):
Did you work out privately? We'resomeones that you remember. And what
kind of level of activity did youhave with Texans Combine meetings, et cetera.
K Yeah, we had. Wehad a formal at the combine.
Uh And I've always, like Isaid, always talked to CJ closely.
Uh So, just having that andthen just throughout the prot we had a

(48:15):
couple of zoom calls here and there, and other than that, I mean,
I trained the oh State coach Mickand coach at the train coaches up
there with training, a group ofme, Tommy Iickenberg and Steel 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

(48:37):
visit to the Bengals. That wasit. We have time for a couple
more. Go ahead, sarge,Oh, Kate, I know that you
know we've asked you a lot ofquestions about playing with CJ. But you've
been scouted as a tight end,but could also be linked out to the
wide receiver position. Being at OhioState for as long as you were,

(48:57):
what did you pick up from alot of those great Ohio State wide receivers
they came through the time you werethere. You just watch, I mean,
you watch those guys go about howthey handle releases, how they handle
their feet atop and the routes andeverything like. I mean, for me,
I've never played it in my life, so starting you literally started from
square one, absolute square one,so learning slowly with them, and then

(49:20):
I mean when you got the chancein the summers, I mean when I
was younger, you got the chanceto go train with Garrett in the summer
and the sand and stuff like.You just try and take little bits and
pieces of what people have just applyit to your game the best you can,
because not everybody's the same, soyou just piece it together how you
feel can help you the most.Thank you. We'll close with Cole hed
I know that your background is indefense from your time at Ohio State that

(49:43):
you translated over to the offensive sideto play tight end. What kind of
advantages are Houston's offense getting with youbeing able to understand kind of coverages?
And here in the head tables obviouslyyou just heard it from mister Shaw Mantaco.
Thank you again, past and amenit's an archie girl. I mean

(50:09):
next to him our past president Tipstare to my father left. You just
heard from him a few minutes ago. Coach day Moore with the mass and
ties. Let me correct myself Statechampion head coach guys, how you should

(50:30):
be in the rest of the coachNext to the Nate is his lovely wife
Rebecca, and Nada has signed onto speak to us next year. She
is going to be one of ourspeakers. What a great story. She
works with a lot of unprivileged kidsand also as a track coach and wrote

(50:51):
a book. So we've got alot of stuff to cover with Rebecca,
so we're looking forward to that.And then obviously our speaker, mister Artiger.
I want to thank our sponsors aswe have been doing the all season
long, Liberty Ford All Care,All Cares, Prime Time Health Plan,

(51:17):
Wilkshire Golf Course, the Mary MotleyMemorial, Find the Scholarship and Doctor Peter
Ferguson Chiropractor, a couple of announcementsthe history books that we give all of
our speakers. We had a fewto lefts for the season. They were

(51:38):
ten bucks. They're going to beon sale for five dollars. Who all
supplies last, So if you wantedto pick one up, I wore you
go in the back and get oneof those. As went on, there's
only one less right here. Okay, the fight over, don't forget.
Next Monday is our golf outing atWilkshire. So if you've got a team

(52:01):
to register, please do that.See Bill Costello obviously, and also we
have I know there was individuals thatneeded to be put on a team.
So if you are looking for ateam to jump on, sea Bill and
he can get you squared away.Then following our dinner that evening right here

(52:21):
at Tozy so we'll have some greatprizes and door prizes, like I said,
and some things to give away aswell as a great meal prepared by
the staff. Prey tozis the ProFootball Hall of Fame Residency program rolls along.
I've been mentioning this every week andthis past week was Willie Road and

(52:45):
WILLI has some fun in town.I had a chance to have dinner with
Willie and but he's he loves heloves caro Ohio. And I love to
see that these Hall of famers comeback and enjoy themselves here in their second
home. So firsthand that Willie wasreally excited about it. And this week
we have Lynn Swan, so newSteeler fans keep an eye out for Vin

(53:07):
Swan calves in Boston. Talk aboutthis every week. Series is two to
one, Boston winning the last gamehere in Cleveland they played tonight, so
the Cavs can bounce back to seewhat they can do send him back to
Boston. We've got some birthdays whenit announced and a couple of these were

(53:32):
given to me as I walked intoday. Tim Richard's birthday. Also,
I know he's back in the kitchenand working his butt off. Mike Josie's
birthday today as well. And thisone is special, this one here.

(53:52):
Please join me and welcome me.Is he back here? And okay?
Club member Bill Pilotti. Bill turnsninety nine next Tuesday, and you would
know the Bill is a World WarTwo veteran and fought in the Battle of

(54:16):
the Balls. So thank you.And then finally, June eighth is the
National High School Football Hall of Famedinner or events, I guess if you

(54:37):
call it, it is June eighth, and RGI is a member of that
Hall of Fame as well. Soif you're interested and want to go to
that this year, we've got somegreat new Chinese and c RJ for more
information for tickets and things like thatabout the event. So June eighth,
we want to put on a newcalendar. So again no luncheon next week.

(55:01):
This is our final week of theluncheon, and then we will see
you at the golf outing and hereat the dinner next Monday night. Breaks
me to our speaker today, whichwe kind of changing it up a little
bit. Talked to Archie a coupleweeks ago and he said, how about
if we just sit down and chat, and I thought that was a great

(55:22):
idea. Let's talk shoot some questionsto him. We'll open it up to
the floor and do that. Butbefore we do that, I almost forgot.
We've got a drawing. I can'tbelieve you guys didn't say that I
would, but keep that in mind. Three hundred and twenty dollars that's our

(55:45):
biggest one in the year. Ozzie'sgot the money back there. We're gonna
have Archie drawing the ticket. Let'stake it. But yeah, nice fix.

(56:17):
I will put in my glasses andnever let me forget it. Nur
So, I messed up enough onesseven seven, five six four seven,
three hundred and twenty one dollars rightnow prior three hundred. I got a

(56:45):
street ye seventy five six four sevenfoundations every side. I'll get my glasses
on while I read Archie's bio becausethere's some really good stuff in here,

(57:10):
and I want to make sure Iget in correct. Then we're gonna invite
Archie over. We're gonna have aseat over here, and we're gonna talk.
This is too ironic. Born atUniversity Hospital, nearly in the shadow
of Ohio Stadium, Archie Griffin hasbeen a buck out of his whole life.

(57:30):
After serving for eleven years as Presidentand CEO of the Ohio State Alumni
Association, Archie stepped back in twentyfifteen to a consultant role as a senior
advisor in the Office of Advancement atOhio State. During his tenure leading the
Ohio State University Alumni Association, Archieled an expanded effort to embrace young alumni

(57:52):
and began initiatives focusing on career assistanceand establishing an office of volunteer relations.
Known to the world as the onlytwo time Heisman Trophy winner, Gryffin is
also one of a select group ofBuckeyes to be named a three time All
American during his playing days from nineteenseventy two to nineteen seventy five. A

(58:15):
member of the National Football Foundation inCollege Hall of Fame and current Board of
Director, Griffin is a member ofthe Rose Bowl Hall of Fame and was
named All American Century Player by theTournament of Roses Association during the centennial celebration
of the Rose Bowl back in twentyfourteen. Gryffin is one of two players

(58:37):
in NCAA history to start in fourRose Bowls. Following his story. Curer
of Ohio State, Archie graduated innineteen seventy six with a degree in industrial
relations. He was a first rounddraft choice of the Cincinnati Bengals, where
he served as co captain and playedfor seven seasons. He returned to Ohio

(58:59):
State four and rose to become associateDirector of Athletics for Sports before taking the
leadership role with the Alumni Association.Playing under the legendary coach Woody Hayes,
Archie learned a life lessons of payingforward in life, devoting accountless hours to
philanthropic causes At Ohio State, Archiecreated the Archie Griffin Scholarship Fund, which

(59:25):
benefits Ohio State's Olympic sports programs inthe central Ohio community. The Archie and
Bonela Griffin Foundation Fund helps develop sports, educational and travel programs for youth as
a aspire the next generation to dreambig. Archie has three children, Anthony,
Andre and Adam, as well asthree grandchildren. Archie and his wife

(59:51):
Bodida split their time now between Westervilleand another home in Florida. Locally,
Archie has been inducted in the OhioihySchool Athletic Association's Circle of Champions, which
recognized as former high school student athleteswho have demonstrated outstanding character and accomplishments on
and off the field. He wasinducted into the National Federation of State High

(01:00:15):
School Association of State High School Associationof Hall of Fame in nineteen ninety six.
He was also honored in many oftwenty fifteen to be the commencement speaker
during his spring graduation ceremonies at OhioState. Archie was recently selected as the
number four all time player in collegefootball history by ESPN. I want to

(01:00:37):
know who the other three are,legendary Ohio State coach. This is a
suppressive hearing, Woody Hayes, saidFantoausly of Archie Griffin. He's a better
young man than he is a footballplayer, and I've seen a lot of
freak football players. A sought afterspeaker and humanitarian, Archie serves on many

(01:01:00):
boards and foundations. He's a formerdirector of Abercrombie and Fish. Archie serves
as a director of Vancovid Insurance Company, member of the board of directors for
the Columbus Youth Foundation, and amember of the board of directors for Triple
A Club Alliance. Let's welcome twotimes Heisman Trophy winner Archie Rover. Are

(01:01:43):
you think we say this thank youso much for any christ Father and father?
Still they think, I'm sure they'rethe only ones who believe all those
nice position Well, you know what, when I got that, I looked
at it and I said you knowI wouldn't cut it down a little bit,

(01:02:05):
but I thought, now don't needto because we want to hear all
about Archie Griffin and this is agreat opportunity. And as you can see
a lot of scarletting gray out thereare a lot of banks, 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 family.

(01:02:29):
It's a storied American story really whenyou think about it. Your parents grew
up in West Virginia coal mining campsand before moving north to really offer a
better life for their kids. Youwere born in Columbus at University Hospital,
which was part of that bio.I mean you had to look down and
see that horse you out there andsay that's where I'm going to be.

(01:02:52):
Well, I wish I could havelooked out here at this time. Not
quite possible. All right. Whenyou think about your childhood and uh,
who are some of your greatest influencesand and help you stay on track?
Well, you know what, Uh, I guess I have to start at
home, Uh, with family?You know. I I was very impart

(01:03:12):
to come from a a a fairlylarge family. I've got six brothers and
one sister, and uh my parents, Uh they were in priority. I
mean, uh my mother and father. And my father was one of the
hardest work with the men than Iever knew. I mean when you think
about it, uh he worked threejobs uh to support uh our family.
And uh my mother was a ahomemaker and uh she did a wonderful job

(01:03:37):
with uh eight kids. And uhSo when you talk about people who were
in inspiration, uh, my folkswere an inspiration to me. Uh.
As we were growing up, theyten priorities for us, and the first
one was all of us, allof us to always trusted God. Uh.
Second one with all of us toget an education, college education.

(01:03:57):
And the third one was for allof us to participate in sport. And
they wanted them to trust God firstbecause I always said the gods that cold
told me life he could help youin any situation that you might find yourself
in. And I will hardly believethat. Secondly, they wanted to have
an education, college education, becausethat was something they didn't get. I
mean, they had a dream.Their dream was for all aid of their
kids to graduate from college. AndI'm very happy to say that that was

(01:04:17):
a dream come truth with them becauseall of us did you graduate from college,
and my mother and father were living. They were so very very proud
that the fact. Then their thirdpriority was for us to all participate in
athletics, and they wanted them particippaid an athletics because they felt the athletics

(01:04:38):
and kind of round the first Now, it teaches you a lot of valuable
lifelong lessons, things such as thewill to win, COVID pressure, get
along in the team situation, andall those things are very very important to
help you in life. Absolutely thatI mean that they were inspired them,
But there were others. There wereothers. I mean, I certainly think
about it. My coaches. Acoach he's in a high school current UH,

(01:05:01):
Bob Steward, who UH found lesshis soul has passed away about a
year ago, UH created as faras run. But I when I when
I really think about UH people thatmade a difference, I think about a
junior high school guidance counselor. UH. His name was Oscar Gill. He
was a guidance counselor UH for ourstudent council. UH. He was the

(01:05:23):
leader of our student council, andwhen I was in the eighth grade,
UH ninth grade, our service presidentof UH of of our student council.
And I just remember one day himsitting down with us and and and talking
with us about UH some things thathe thought would help us in our lives.
And what he talked to us aboutwas what he called the three d's,

(01:05:43):
and three d's being number one desired, number two dedication, and number
three uh determination. And I remembertelling us that if we'd apply those three
d's to anything that we wanted todo, then we could always feel good
of our subs cause if we usethose three d's, UH, in essence,
what we have done as we havegiven a total commitment, you know,
setting goals for yourself, dedication,committed yourself to a little goals,
and determination overcoming the officers to giveyou away. Those three d's have been

(01:06:10):
I would say, my secret saucefor success because I've used those three d's
and just about everything I've ever donein life. And I learned from junior
high school guidance Council by the nameof the Mistrict Hospital, you know,
So those are just something people thatimpacted me Franklin a very very possible way
as I was coming up. Well, certainly has paid off for you.

(01:06:30):
You know, after your football dayswere over and you spent nineteen years at
in the athletic department at Ohio State. At eleven out of those years as
the alumni association president. Okay,and that level was on top of that
nineteen it's right, and that thirtythirty seven, I can't evenagine, just

(01:06:51):
get away. It was thirty yearsninety grade years to nineteen in the athletic
department. Eleven more. Yeah,as as our association president. What were
some leadership lessons that you learned thathe tried to apply in the business group.
Well, when you when you thinkabout leaderships, I'll think about the
coaches or in particular, but beforeI ever do that, the Gold group

(01:07:17):
very basic. I'll try to makethings so the Gold group do unto others
as you wish they would do untoyou. To me, that was one
of the greatest things you could haveas a leader, and all that was
the meaning of the ships. Treatingpeople right. I can't think of a

(01:07:38):
leadership lesson any better than that,treating people right, being empathetic feeling what
others feel. I mean, that'sthat's a great lesson to have when you're
in a leadership grow But I thinkin coaches and some of the things that
I learned from him, UH coachA he was a great leader. I

(01:08:00):
mean, and I think he waseven a better person than he was the
coach. Yeah, you know,I just think that much of him.
But but he was a great leader. UH. He had great leadership qualities,
dedicated dedicated to the house State University, dedicated UH to the game of
college football, dedicated to the coacheswho worked for him. He had them
players who played for UH. Hewas a disciplinarian and he said the fair

(01:08:23):
reasonable rules and regulations, and hewould enforce those rules of regulation. He
was honest great leadership lesson. Can'tthink of a person more honestly what he
ate is UH and UH. Thebest thing about the best thing about is
the fact that he cared about people. That's what made him such a great

(01:08:46):
person. I know people you knowtalk about the incident that UH took him
out of the game, But Icould tell you as a guy that played
UH from coaches who UH loved Coachas that man cared about people. You
all know uh the pay forward urnUh he really set that pay forward turn

(01:09:08):
on the map. I mean hetalked to us about paying forward years and
years before the movie Paid Forward cameout or any of uh the signs that
are on the house stay and thenhe talked about paying forward. Y'all'll never
forget. He used to always onThursday nights, uh after practice. Uh

(01:09:28):
it was a light their practice,he would take us uh over the children's
hospital. Uh. He had oneof those El caminos. You remember the
El Camino uh uh kount of Itwasn't the truck, but it was uh
a car that had a paroman back. We jump in the back. He
takes us down the children's hospital toto talk with the kids uh that were
the children's hospital, cause they lovedfor the Hill State football players to come

(01:09:49):
down and and talk with He knewthat. And every Thursday he takes a
couple of us uh down uh Children'shospital to talk to though because he knew
that it uh had a positive backone of those kids until the hopital.
But he cared a great deal aboutpeople. And you when we talk about
leadership, you know, caring,be dedicating being honest and certainly treating people

(01:10:14):
right. Our characteristics that you wantin your leaders. I'm gonna take you
back to your first game and thenyou talk about perseverance and overcoming obstacles and
things like that. It didn't startoff too good for him. You wanna
share that story, Well, itdidn't start off to good. Uh.
Uh my my first year to OhioState when I when I've been recruited,

(01:10:40):
Uh about how statement though a lotof people told me, now stud go
housetaf They said, uh that Iwas too small. They said that,
uh, you know the coach agewas only recruiting me so that uh team
up north, Uh, you knowwouldn't get me. He said, you
know, you'll never played for OhioState because you know you're You're just not
big enough. Coaches and when wehad those big bats, well over two

(01:11:01):
hundred pounds. He was a fullbackorient and coach. And then I should
go to a smaller school where I'dget a chance to play well being an
athlete. You know, I II felt out knew my billion or anyone
else. I took it as achallenge, uh to go to House State.
And I remember when I reported thecamp in the summer of nineteen seventy
two. Now, some of youmight remember that nineteen seventy two was the

(01:11:23):
uh UH very first year that theyUH that they allowed freshmen to play on
marsity teams in the current areas.That was the very first year. And
you might remember that if there werethose plane crashes, certainly at Marshall and
the Wichita State had plane crashes andMarshall UH they wanted to continue their football

(01:11:45):
program, but they couldn't do itwithout freshman playing. So the NCAA they
opened up freshman being up for everybody, and so that was the very first
year that freshman were to play.Well with that big the case, my
number one goal, UH was tomake the mart team because I wanted to
prove to everybody who said that Icouldn't play at Ohio State. I wanted
to prove to him that I couldplay at a house state. I'll never

(01:12:05):
forget when I reported the camp innineteen seventy two, I was put in
the back and put it the batmanplaying on the fifth team and playing on
the fifteen, then playing on theScotts squad. And I think some of
you know what that is. That'smore or less the beach squad. I
mean, we were the guys thattook the beat and every day in practice
from the first team is our jobwas to run the opposing teams played while
the first team defense got their practiceoff the bus. You talk about discouraging,

(01:12:30):
that was really discouraging because for somestrange reason, that first team defense
seemed to know what plays we wererunning and when we were running. So
in the running back you couldn't gainany yardage at all against that first team.
Well, that year, our firstgame was a home game and it
was against the University of Iowa.And because it was a home game,
coach Hayes he allowed everybody to addressbecause he believed that if you practice for

(01:12:54):
Ohio State, then you should beidentified at the house State University of Uniform
had a home game. Really happyabout that because that would the least show
that the OS part of the team. You know, even though uh I
was UH on the fifteen at tailback, and then even though that you
know, there were three number fortyfive out on the field that day.

(01:13:16):
Well, in ninety four, UHcoach AD's nine. Before every game he
took all the varsity, all overthe varsity, which was about UH sixty
four players. He took them awayto a hotel and rig freshman of reserves
UH. We stayed in the dormitory. We met up at the varsity did
a game to stay at. Thatgame against I was started and we're being
now were pretty bad, and inthe fourth quarter, with a couple of

(01:13:36):
minutes to go in the game,Coach A decided to give a few friends
and an opportunity to play. AndI was one of those freshmen. And
now I can remember him parsing offthe bench to go into the game,
and I remember outside that I wasbecause this was my big chance and I
could get in the game, runfor a touchdown, and maybe just make
a a a big play. Hemight put me on that varsity team.
And again that was my goal.I wanted to be a part of the

(01:13:58):
varsity. I wanna show everybody whosaid I couldn't play the house that I
wanna show up and I couldn't playa house. Then well, I went
into the game, got into thehuddle, and to my surprise, the
first player that was called was aneighteen sweet Now in eighteen sweep was a
pitch out to me going around theright side. I mean great apportunity.
We broke the huddle, lines upin the eye formation, quarterbacks started calling
the signals, and as he startedcalling the signals, I got the thing.

(01:14:20):
I said, you know, I'mwondering ball on the line. It's
gonna open up the same type ofcoal for me as they've hold up for
other running backs to a round here, because all day long they hadn't make
me, being huge, though probablyrunning backs to around, so Simon was
one of them. If they dothe same thing for me for the ball
was snapped, and as soon asthe ball was snapped, I did something

(01:14:40):
that was fundamentally wrong to see whenyou're running back or a tailback that you're
gonna get a pitch out. Oneof the fundamental things that you talked from
day one, coach with what yougotta look the ball into your hand.
You gotta wash the ball come fromthe quarterback's hands into your own hands.
But when the ball was snapped,the first thing that I had was I
focused my attention when the hall whichI was gonna run through, and when

(01:15:00):
I looking towards that hole, Iwas shocked because those guys that opened up
a hole big enough you could drivea truck throw to me. The whole
was just that bingu. So insteadif you turn it back towards the quarterback
and watching the ball come into myhand, I kept my eyes on that
hole because I want to make sureit didn't go anywhere men with my eyes
on the hold of the quarterback crystalball through. The ball hit me in
the hands and I humble him.And that's just one thing you don't do

(01:15:24):
when you play with coach. Hewas a fumble. Now, as you
can imagine, I was disappointed.He took me out of a game and
I watched the rest of the game, which was not much left from the
bench, very many disappointed. I'llnever forget going home that night. My
father said something was wrong with me. He asked him about I told him,

(01:15:45):
I said, Dad, even know, I don't know that I'll get
another chance, you know, beingthe fifteenth jail back, being on the
scout squad. I I don't knowthat I'll just having to fumble. I
don't know that I'll get another chancethis year. For my father, like
he always would do, is hegave get courage and said, hey,
if they didn't think you could play, they would lie in the game and
I struck a chord with him hemight have something next. But I went

(01:16:10):
back to practice that next week.I was still on the fifth team,
still on the scouts squad, stilltaking that meeting every gave to the first
teams. Our next game was againstthe University of North Carolinas, and it
was also a home game. Andagain because it was a home game,
everybody was allowed to dress. Nowbefore the game, Coach d took the
varsity away to the hotel with hisfreshman reserves stayed in Dovatory, met up
with the varsity game in the gameof the stadium. Game against North Carolina

(01:16:33):
started first quarter. North Carolina blockedthe punt of ours and they went ahead
of US seven and other and allof a sudden midway through the first quarter,
called from the bench called Ben keptcalling grinin. I'm knowing didn't mean
me going, so they kept callinggrinin. I was the only griping on
the team at the time. SoI got up and went to run out

(01:16:55):
onto the field. And when Iwent to run out up too the field,
one of my teammates called me backbecause and all the excitement, I
had forgotten to take my helmet withus I couldn't believe the coach Hayes meant
for me to go into the gameafter I had come up the week before.
I was feeling team jailback, Iwas on the scouts squad. How
could he meant me to go intothe game. It was truly a mystery

(01:17:16):
to me. All I could tellyou is that I went into the game,
and I'll be totally honest with you, I was in a daze the
whole time. And all I knowis that my number was being called and
I was running with the ball.And I'll never forget when I left that
game after playing about two and ahalf quarters. When I left that game,
the eighty six thousand fans that wentto my house stadium, they stood

(01:17:38):
up that day, gave me astanding ovation. And they did that because
in those two and a half quarters, I had brushed two hundred and thirty
nine yards. Who at that time? How that time that was the High
State brushing record. Now, I'lljust never ever ever forget that I counted
as a barman. I really knewbecause the night before that game, when

(01:18:00):
our prayed is up to me everynight, I asked to go to the
book, give me a chance toplay in that game. And when he
give me the chance to play,help me play to the best of my
bility. He did that for me. So carried carried for I had a
lot of exciting games that I'll stay, but that that about doubt was the
most exciting. What happened to happenin my Friend of the Year, Well

(01:18:21):
it certainly fueled you, I know, because it's now been fifty years since
you won that Heisman Trophy, thefirst one. And what what do you
remember about that night at at theceremony. Well, it's different now than
it was when I was when Iwanted. I'll never get it. Uh.

(01:18:46):
They called the Athletic department on theMonday after the Monday after we played
that team up north, they calledthe Athletic department and told them that I
needed in New York. Uh.They were gonna make an announcement of uh
the Hide and Co Trophy winner.Uh. There would be two or three
others uh there, but they weregonna make the announcement who want to hide

(01:19:10):
control? So I was all exciteduh to go to New York on Tuesday.
Uh got on a plane. Uhthey had an escort. Beating me
in Columbus and and UH escort meuh to uh New York, and I
got there and I was the onlyone there. So they made the announcement

(01:19:30):
that I won to Hide and Controluh huh and uh I was excited certainly.
Uh. You know, I playedon the Great Teams at Ole House,
stating that UH team was one ofthem that nineteen seventy fourteen. Uh.
But certainly I was excited because youknow when we went a hide in
the trophy. As far as Iconcern, uh, that's a team award.
Cause you don't win that kind ofuh award, don't. You gotta

(01:19:51):
have people and help you out ofgreat him and I certainly had that during
my time at Ohio State. Well, they made they announced that the that
day and then uh the next week, my whole family got the opportunity to
come to New York and they hadthe big dinner and that was very very
special. I got really emotional becauseuh looking out to the audience and seeing

(01:20:15):
my whole family and my mother's father, my brothers and siter j I mean
everybody, and I got overtaken byemotion exams and also time for me.
But the next year they tried topull that same thing. They told me
they knew I knew the dream.So I happened to be going to Saint

(01:20:42):
Clairsville, Ohio on that Monday afterthe Michigan game in nineteen seventy five,
and so the sports information director toldme that on my way I needed to
call in to see at the DowntownAthletic Club in New York called to tell
me to come to New York.Well, on my way to Saint Clairsville,

(01:21:03):
I stopped at a filling station andgot on the payphone and all back
to the Athletic department, and Ithink it was Steve Snappleo's the assistant SID
at the time. He told methat U Downtown Athletic Club called and said,
uh, they knew that got LutherAdrio and that I had won the

(01:21:26):
Hide control. But I can't tellanybody. So I had to wait till
the next day to go to NewYork and they announced, uh, that
I had won the second Hide theTroll and I try to honor their request.
I have to take it that Idid the best. My mother,
my girlfriend, and a my teammatesfound out that night. They didn't tell

(01:21:50):
anybody. No, I don't thinkanybody didn't tell me. So, yeah,
Joe's quite different. Now you allknow that. It's a it's a
big, huge ceremony, it's aTV showing on the ESPN. It's a
it's a great time for everybody.Bring a lot of it. Former player,
former winner's back. But it wasquite a bit of different back in
the ninety four nine percent. Ibet that gas station wishes they knew that

(01:22:14):
you received the word and the gasstation that you won the Heisman trod you
mentioned. You know, it's changed, that has changed in the game of
football, has changed as far asN I L and the transfer portal and
all this stuff that's that's happening inthe last few years. Your thoughts on
that, is it good for collegefootball or what are your thoughts? Well,

(01:22:39):
it's our college sports in general.It's it's good, but very good.
That's a little bit of bad.Let's see, it's good because when
when when you you you think inI L, let's talk about in I
L you talk about an io.I mean people could see that coming.
I mean yeah, everybody could seethat come. When you start seeing billions

(01:23:01):
and billions of dollars being paid uhuh to the college coaches. You just
had knowed that uh, something's gottabe given uh to the young people uh
playing the game. So you youyou could see that company. Now it
didn't come the way that I thoughtit would come. I mean I I
I I I I I think theyhave to get some more regard toils around

(01:23:26):
in IL and how it's done.You know, I when I thought of
Nilus, I used to think ofnil as uh. You know, you
you go to college on your scholarship, Uh, you do well and maybe
uh A a car dealership might wantyou to do a merman form. You
do that commersional, you get paidfor. That was in IL the the

(01:23:49):
way uh that I saw. Orif somebody wanted you to do uh A
company wanted you to come in anddo a speaking game for them, you
do just speak and gave it.You get paid for. And to me
that's what inn I was. Well, it's gone far beyond that. And
now you know you have to dealwith uh uh in IL money Uh when

(01:24:13):
you when you recruit people you're notsupposed to with But when when when people
are being recruited, I mean Ieven hear stories that uh some people are
even asked uh ask them when tocome to universities to pay them uh a
five thousand dollars to come make visitsand to that sort. That's not how
I'm envisioned h in IL. Sothey need to get some guard grails around
it. But it's a good thing. It's a good thing that they have,

(01:24:34):
UH and I am it's a goodthing that UH players or athletes are
getting uh the opportunity uh to makeuh some money uh off of uh what
they're doing. I I I thinkthat'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 guardbrails around Iknow the NCAA just recently UH pass the

(01:24:56):
rules where the schools can get involvedand and helping kids within I l you
know, they can use their marketingpartners uh to help the kids get their
in IL. That what's your goodness. It's a good thing. But I've
always felt that the schools shouldn't beinvolved anyway, because I look at in
IL as something that if the schoolshad control of it, it would be

(01:25:17):
uh in a better situation. Youwouldn't have to deal with the agents and
all that stuff that's UH getting involvedin it. Yeah, and the transfer
portals another yeah there ye transfer mortal. I'll tell you it's uh, it's
crazy, and it it works forsome. I mean there's been some people
that's gone for that transfer portal andthey've done a great job. That's work

(01:25:38):
down and win. But what peopledon't know about are those that get stuck
in the portal. I mean Ithink I think Geene Smith was telling me
that, uh, there were onus. It was last year or the
year before, but uh, therewere like thirty five hundred people went into
the portal, a thousand didn't comeout the port So you know, hitting

(01:26:00):
works fort wads. Yeah, soyou've got to be very very careful how
you handled uh whole situations. Soyou know, it's uh it works for
something. I mean I I thinkof you know, people like Joe Brooke
who who went in and got theLSU and then hit terrific things. Uh,
people like that. Those are theones that you hear about, but

(01:26:23):
you don't hear about there are onesthat get stuck in that portal. So
uh, again, very good,there's a little bit bad and keeping with
change in college football. As aBig ten guy, you know, the
landscape with the Big Tennis change.We've got USC, Oregon, Washington,

(01:26:45):
who else? Uh you still thatyou see that all coming uh into the
Big ten? W What do youmake of that? Well? I can
see that coming too. You knowwhen you when you when you see the
the SEC and those teams, Igo home. You knew that the Big
ten we was gonna have an answerfor that, and they answered be it.

(01:27:06):
For a long time, the BigTen has been talking about being a
conference uh that goes from coast tocoast, and uh, now if you
look at it, uh, thisyear it will be a conference from coast
to coast, from the east coastto the West coast, and uh,
you know, I think it's exciting. I know what the Age is probably
rolling over in his grave knowing inuh U c l a USC are playing

(01:27:30):
in the Big Ten. Uh,but uh yeah, I think it's uh
gonna be exciting uh to watch.I can't wait to see usc U s
l As come and playing us inNovember. And that's that's that's what I'm
looking forarded to So now you knowit, it's it's gonna be in,
It's gonna be answered. But youit it's gonna end up with, in

(01:27:55):
my opinion, a couple of superconferences. Uh you know, we were
just it was eighteen eighteen. Uhso I can see the victim to add
another couple and uh certain see thesec added some more. Uh huh,
it's it's gonna happen, gonna havesuper confidence. You you mentioned Woody.
I wanna go back to uh thefirst time you met Woody Hayes. Uh

(01:28:16):
I. I've heard this from afew people that I've known over the years
that when Woody came to the housea lot of times he didn't talk football
and uh called football and all.Yeah, and and tell us about when
he came to your house. Well, first first, you know, he
moved to salesman. Oh man hehe he hain't him in the house.
And he's got the parents there.That's who he selling. You know,

(01:28:40):
you just see there they said,the parents and uh. But the thing
about about coach is that, uhhe he really did say anything about football
at all. Uh. Matter offact that there was so much that uh
I thought, well maybe he doesn'twant me to play football for me.
You know, all he talking aboutwas in education and how it was for
uh media getting good education and uhyou know, so again I I I

(01:29:05):
wasn't so sure that if you didn'twanted you to play football, uh,
but he continued to recruit me.So you know, I I chose to
go a state and I'm glad thatI did because I'll never forget it.
And the first meeting that we attended, this friendly UH, the first thing
that they told all of us isif we were in school for anything else
other than to get a good education, then the guns we'll get up and

(01:29:25):
eas the meeting, he had asam and stuff. But you always said
that an athlete without an education couldn'tbe headed for a bad situation. You
know, when you think about that, that's so very true because when you
you think about the number of athletesand play the game of football, I
mean it's it's huge. You know, over sixty thousand athletes UH played the

(01:29:46):
game uh coming out of uh uhhigh school, coming out of college.
And when you think of the numberthat UH make it in the pros,
you know, it's not any comparebecause you've got thirty two pro team,
you got seven rounds of draft.That's two hundred and twenty four people,
two hundred twenty four sixty seventy thousand. It's not very good, Olgia mean,

(01:30:10):
when the coach as always tried andmade the hospital that you had had
something else to fall back on.That fallback position that he constantly referred to,
that he drilled into Husks was thatyou had to have an education.
You had to have something you know, you got A fallback position was always
your education and you know, makinggood and that would be able to move

(01:30:30):
out for the families. I know, this is my last question for you,
and then we're gonna open it upto the floor office. All right.
I always wondered, and you know, I'm watching your career. You
know, you started off with awith a bad fumble and and things like
that, but you had such anincredible career after that, and you played
against some really good teams in theRose Bawls and and throughout the regular season.

(01:30:56):
I mean, the team up northhad some pretty good teams. They
did, and and there were someother teams Iowa back then was good,
and there were some other teams.Who was the toughest guy you ever played
against? Tughest guy ever played thekids? A lot of tough guys,
a lot of really really tough guys. You know, I I I I'll
I'll go to about a pro career. U. Uh. One of the

(01:31:19):
guys, uh that uh was reallyreally tough to hit me the hardest.
Well, the s you remember guys, remember Hollywood Henderson, Oh yeah,
yeah, had something time and hitme so hard, hollering, Man,
I'm Kenny Anderson was throwing via.I U running the past, but I
was the least man on pass playing. I was going out to side Kenny

(01:31:43):
Anderson football up in the are.It just like it seemed like it took
forever from now, and when itcame down, I thought it. Hollywood
Henderson hit me so hard. Imean, out of'em. He hitting
me into the next day. Ican't he ain't hit me so hard.
And I'll never forget that. Andthen I was reading his book and he
talked about that kid. That's howhardy. It was hard enough, but

(01:32:06):
he wanted to talk about it andthe book. He said, I hit
art Script so hard. I knockedboth timing the trophies office, and he
did. He did. He didn'tbe harder. Uh. But the other
guys, I mean, you know, I've heard you mentioned some of the
Pittsburgh Steelers and and you know inthe Pro Football Hall of Fame. A

(01:32:27):
lost Fitzburgs Steelers are in the Hallof Fame. And one of them Jack
Lambert, I mean he he,he was one of those guys, Jack
Lambert. Uh and and and notnecessarily as the hardest hitter, but he
was the surest tap. I mean, you could never get away from Jack
larn And. I'll just never forgethow how he uh used to uh wait

(01:32:54):
when when when first played a gameon offense? I'll never forget a lone
of and I affirmation looking across theline of expirits at Jack Lamber, I
just first played the game, camejust start right, Jack Lamber had his
blood all over his uniform? Wheredid that come from? Playing a game?

(01:33:16):
What did you do in the lineroom? And never play? He
had blowing all all over. He'sjust unbelievable. But he was a very
short tackler. Uh Dinna loved playingagainst uh. I I I like it
cause I actually knew a little bitabout him because he played gas played with
my brother Gerrol at Kent Stateton's Rome, so I had an opportunity to watch

(01:33:40):
him play, uh even when Iwas uh in high school. Little bit
and uh and and he always paida lot of potential intent college because he
was those same teams as one ofmy brothers. Well, I know these
folks have some questions. We're gonnaopen them to the floor before Archie has
to leave here, So go ahead, Archie, Yes, sir. Now
when you mentioned that went into theportal, do they have any sources,

(01:34:04):
Well, they can ask their teamto let them back in, or they
could, you know, try togo to another team, try to get
accepted on another team. But youknow, you go into that portal,
sometimes you can get lost in thatportal. I mean, the team that
you left don't have to take toget back. So now that's that's what

(01:34:25):
I'm saying. I mean, it'sone of those situations where you know,
you can go in that portal hopeingyou'll come out, but you might not
come out, and you hope yougot the other opportunities out there for you
to take. And most of thetime what will happen is they'll go to
uh maybe a a lesser a divisionuh of some sort. Uh. But

(01:34:45):
yeah, I mean, it's it'sit. It's not just a one way
thing. You don't go in andout of bat and get picked up by
somebody. Yes, tell's say,uh Cornelius Greed story, a Cornelia's Greene
story. Then yeah, well right, you all might remember pretty long.
Being going into my sixth year,I kind of know the lay of the

(01:35:08):
land and everything and anything that Ican do to help them become acclimated and
be a part of our team,and we try to do that. So
obviously I don't know, they don'task me, and uh, but my
job is when they get here tokind of help bring them along as much
as I can, because you know, we'll go as far as the quarterback
goes. Good to see you too, no longer here. Yeah, what

(01:35:36):
was that going in? Yeah,we were, we were training. We
trained at Bambritos together, so Igot to see him for the most part
of the off season, and firstof all, I was happy for him.
Obviously, we know that this isa business and you have to do
what's best for his career and hisfuture as well. So you know,

(01:35:58):
obviously has familiarity with Joe Brady hadone of his best seasons with them,
So you know, I think he'sgonna be a big part of their offense
and continue to grow as a receiver. You know, it's a lost for
room because he's a dynamic playmaker.He can play inside and out and just
his energy. Man, I thinkhe really became one of the favorite teammates
on the team because he kept thingslight, but he also was a really

(01:36:18):
hard worker and and made plays whenwe need him to. So on a
personal standpoint, I'm definitely gonna youknow, miss him having him in the
building. And he's kind of likethe guy you I get to talk to
and he's like my best friend.But on the other hand, I get
to see him, you know,continue to take steps in his career.
Uh, he's still very young,so he has a lot of good football
ahead of him literally with offense andhow may be different for the offense.

(01:36:48):
And yeah, yeah, we haven'thonestly even started an install yet, so
I haven't even got a lay ofthe land quite yet. I'll probably take
a look at just got our Ipass within the last few days, so
I'll try to take a sneak peekat what we have looking for. But
you know, I know with himtalking to zach Ertz, he does a
great job of trying to get hisplaymakers involved, which I think we have

(01:37:09):
a really good group of guys fromthe running backs to receivers and some solid
tight ends as well. So I'mjust looking forward to see where I fit
into that. And you know,I think with him, his biggest things
is making sure the playmakers are makingplays and trying to fit the scheme around
that, which is always good tohear, good to see too. This

(01:37:31):
is your offense, Yeah, yeah, it's definitely, you know, an
adjustment obviously when you're learning a newoffense. And it's kind of the same
mentality I take into last year,in years past, where you kind of
just want to take a day oneapproach, kind of erase what you've learned

(01:37:54):
in the past. But at theend of the day, I think,
uh, you know, schemes inthe NFL are relatively similar. Is just
the names and the formations that maybe a little different. So just getting
used to the terminology and Cliff's offenseis just going to be something that's an
adjustment for all of us. Butthe good thing about it is I got
some good time on my hands toreally put some work in studying when I

(01:38:15):
leave this place, so I couldcome in here when we have walkthroughs and
when we start to put our helmetson we can really hit the ground running.
So so far it's we haven't learnedanything yet. But my approach is
the saying, try to take goodnotes in there, ask good questions,
and then study on my own atnight. I know you like to go
to the Yeah, yeah, Ithink I got some really good work down

(01:38:43):
in Florida. Is just working onmy footwork, just being better at the
top of my routes, sharper onmy speed cuts, dig routes, out
routes, and just being cleaner withmy footwork at the top of the routes.
I think, you know, witha little bit of zone covers that
we've seen in the past with someteams kind of running more too hot show,
you're gonna get a little bit moreof catch technique where guys are kind

(01:39:03):
of sitting at the top of yourroute. So I want to be better
at being efficient to get out ofthose routes when the guy's kind of sitting
at my depth, whether it's afifteen yard comeback or a twelve yard curl
route, you know, being ableto get out efficiently so I can keep
create and keep the separation within myroute. So obviously I'm always still working

(01:39:24):
on my ball skills and making sureI'm just catching a lot of footballs in
the off season, but just reallybeing better at the top of the routes
and you know, sharper out ofmy cuts is something that I think I
can improve on. Good to seeyou too. You know, you're obviously
one of the leaders of this teamand team captain, and with so many
new faces, new players locker room, what is the challenge you're going to

(01:39:47):
have and the other leaders in thatlocker room blend everything together because there's so
many new and different personalities. Now, yeah, I think I think that's
really started with coach Quinn in theway he's really integrated every body over the
first two days. I think wehaven't even got into x's and those quite
yet. We've just really begin toknow one another. Getting out there with
Chad and the strength coaches and gettingsome good workouts in just kind of creating

(01:40:11):
a foster in an environment where everybody'sthe same and continuing to have a competitive
environment. I think that brings outthe best in one another. And obviously,
you know, you have guys likeZach Ertz who's played a lot of
football and won a championship. MarcusMariota obviously Bobby Wagner, who's a future
Hall of Famer. So you gotsome guys who have been brought in here
who know what it's supposed to looklike at this level. And for myself,

(01:40:33):
I just want to continue to addmy value and be even more vocal
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, hedidn't want to use the word. Yeah.

(01:41:00):
The changes going onchise changes, newcoaching staff, all the new players,
is there everything. Honestly, Ijust think of it as a as
a new year. Just talking toSam Cosmy, Uh, we've been here
for a few years, so it'sa lot of new faces. I think,
you know, this is probably themost I would say turnover we've had

(01:41:23):
in the last few years. Sothere's guys coming from all different areas,
walks of life, and but Ithink the one thing is the same.
They're all coming in looking for anopportunity to compete take another step in their
careers and UH prove that they're oneof the best players at the position.
And I think Coach Quinn has emphasizedthat we're gonna have the opportunity to prove
ourselves. Whether you're a ten yearvet or a second year player. You

(01:41:47):
know, this is a clean slatefor everybody. So I think it's just
about getting on the same page,enjoying coming in here and working together,
and also just pushing each other inthese workouts, and then when we start
getting on the UH really get thatcompetition going. Try to simulate as we
go along in this off season processof how the games are going to be.

(01:42:12):
Hey, how are you doing?Good to see you too, And
yeah, I think Coach Quinn hasreally assemble assembled a very unique group of
coaches. There's multiple head coaches,there's multiple quarter UH coordinators that come from

(01:42:38):
different places, and so you haveguys who have a lot of football experience,
some have played, some have coachedin big games. And then you
bring in, you know, thethe talent that we have defensively and offensively,
and I just think you can feelthe unity and the sameness in in
the message that he's trying to preachto our team, and it's we're gonna

(01:42:58):
be tough and we're going to becompetitive, but we're also going to have
fun. And he like I thinkhe said in Your Guys' Interview, he
said he likes to do, youknow, hardship with good people. So
I think that's fun. You know, a guy like me likes to put
my nose down and grind and work. So I know him and I are
going to continue to hit it off. And you know it's just my job
to help bring other guys along withme. Thank you more to your next

(01:43:28):
step as a vocal leader. Yeah, you're thinking, what does that mean
to you? I think for me, I've grown a lot in my vocal
leadership. I think I try toalways find the balance of when to say
something, when not to say something. I think I never want I've always
wanted to be a person when Isay something that means something like you don't
want to be You're giving all themotivational speeches, but you're not backing up

(01:43:51):
with your play, or you're you'retalking so much you kind of your message
is drowned out. And so it'skind of continued to find that balance of
when to say things and when tocome kind of just take a step back.
But I think I've I've gotten areally good feel of how to do
that. I think obviously with anew coaching staff, you just try to
understand what they how they want thingsdone, and you try to you know,

(01:44:12):
bring what you do well into thatand you also try to encourage the
guys who haven't taken those steps intheir career to do that as well.
So I think for me is justreally starting in my position group. I
think we have still a very younggroup, kind of inexperience for the most
part, but I think we havea lot of talent in there, and
it's just my job, in Bobby'sjob, and to continue to bring that

(01:44:35):
group up being part of this programand you know, just contribute as much
as I can. What was themajor point for you to decide as rams?
You know, I had some familiaritywith Stafford, you know, I
had him my rookie year, andyou know, I've seen the pieces to
the puzzle and you know, theability to you know, possibly make it

(01:44:56):
all the way and I definitely wantedto be a part of something like that.
Thank you got him, Jonah.Welcome to Los Angeles. I'm Jordan
with the athletic congratulations. Thank you, Jordan, and so we respect the
watch placement here on the on thedock. I'm actually a lefty though,
so I got it on the wrongone, but I'm kind of amberdex Or,

(01:45:18):
so we can forgive it. Ijust wanted to get your a little
bit deeper takeaways of what you makeof the personnel along this offensive front,
showing up Kevin Dotson on the oppositeside of you at guard and then Steve
Bobula probably moving to center. Yourimpressions of those guys. I know you

(01:45:38):
haven't you know, been down theground for that long, but just from
afar, what you make of thoseguys and Rob haydn Stein and Alerc Jackson
on the outsides. Yeah, Imean we've had some cross taped through the
season, so I was able tosee like the work that they do,
and uh, you know, that'sa powerful bunch. I came out the
same year as Dotson, so Ihad some familiarity with him through college,

(01:45:59):
and uh, you know, watchinghim, Steven Alaric and Rob, you
know, that's a that's a goodgroup kind of similar to what we have
in Detroit and you know, there'sthere's some specialness there, so I'm excited
to be a part of it.You know, Sean McVay has praised a
lot of the run game that youguys deployed, particularly kind of getting a
little bit more to the duo,the man blocking and the gap stuff,

(01:46:23):
as as a lot of teams shift. We're still on the outside stuff.
Is there when you watch that crosstape? Is there a crossover in your
mind of things that you're already comfortablewith that the Rams last year started really
installing and deploying behind some of thesenew personnel. Oh yeah, I mean
the gap scheme and the duo justin general is probably our bread and butter

(01:46:44):
and Detroit and Glad I said breadand butter over here, So you know
this is it's not going to betoo hard of a transition. And you
know things like that are right upmy alley. And then finally, you
know Matthew Stafford. I know youhad familiarity with him your rookie year,
but watching from afar what he wasable to do in LA and you know

(01:47:05):
we saw him kind of get backto help being healthy last year as someone
who is going to be protecting himhow do you describe him? How would
you describe what he's good at andwhat you needed to do to protect him.
I mean, he's in Detroit.We called him the Wizard. You
know, he can figure it allout and he can make anything happen.
And you know, I'm excited tobe able to protect him and you know,

(01:47:28):
let him make us look good andmake plays happen. Thanks John,
I congratulations, Thank you. Adam. Hey Joan, I'm Adam with Orange
Tinting Register. Congratulations, Thanks Adam, appreciate it. Yeah, I'm curious
kind of look the process looks likeyou know, you agree, it turns

(01:47:48):
about two hours into free agency.One of those two hours look like who
are you talking to? You talkto anyone at the range personally, it's
like just one of those three hourslook like Actually, me and my wife
you were just sitting at home andlike the I guess twelve o'clock hit and
we were like we thought it wasgoing to be like an media and you
know, mayhem and kind of satthere for like forty five minutes and my

(01:48:11):
agent was calling me. It waslike, what do you think of Los
Angeles? And I was like thatdoesn't sound too shabby, and we talked
about it, and you know,it sounded like the right move. Good
weather, good place to be,good winning culture, great staff, and
you know, just everything overall wasjust a pluf. So we couldn't deny
that. I know, it's kindof the nature of the business. What

(01:48:34):
is it likebo to make a decisionlike that, by such a life altering
decision like that on such short notice. Yeah, I mean it is.
It is pretty crazy, you know, just the amount of timing you have.
But you know, you kind ofhave a I don't know, I've
been on the outside looking in atthis place for a while, so I

(01:48:55):
kind of had a general idea what'sgoing on, and a lot of familiarity
within our building, like at homes. You know, he was from here,
so I kind of got a feelof the people that, you know,
they they've been around and how theyrun things. So I kind of
got a good feel about how itwould be here. Thank you, Stu.

(01:49:15):
They jonas Stu Jackson from the RimsDot comedy to eat you man,
my fellow Jackson brother. What's up? Man? Hey, what's up?
Listen That you've spent most of yourfootball career, whether it be you know
college or obviously the NFL now inthe Midwest or East Coast. So now
that you're here, what's it likejust being out here? And uh,

(01:49:38):
you know being in southern California now, I will say the weather is beautiful,
you know, it's excellent. Anddefinitely going to miss the East Coast.
You know, I've I've got alot of roots there 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
about just this offense from Afar?I know Jordan asked you about some of

(01:49:59):
the specific 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
know, I'm comfortable in whatever we'vehad. I've had eight this should be

(01:50:20):
I think nine now nine different offensivecoordinators since I started college. So I'm
comfortable in whatever. It doesn't reallymatter. But like I said, the
pieces to the puzzle were you know, incredible, whether it's the wide receivers,
the running back, the QB,the old line, the defense.
You know, it's it's a it'sa pretty good team over here. So
I'm excited to be a part ofit. Thank you so much. Appreciate

(01:50:43):
it. Gary, Hi Jonah.Gary from the Los Angeles Times the West
End Sarah, thank you, Gary. I'm curious, do we think what
was it like the part of youknow, Lions that enjoyed that verge last

(01:51:03):
season, and what, if anythingare your memories of playing against the Rams
in that wildcard game at work Field? Uh? Yeah, you know,
being a part of something, uh, you know and Detroit where for so
long that the city was dying fora winner and being able to bring it
there and and you know, changethe trajectory of everything and and bring some

(01:51:25):
light to the situation. It wasawesome and there's nothing like it. But
you know, when when you whenyou face the l A Rams, you
know they got they got a specialdefense, and you know up front they
they got the guys you know,so did not flare. Will you talk

(01:51:50):
about the differences between left and rightand just I mean, obviously it's different
size, of it. But isit schematically or is it physically anything different?
It's more mentally they any thing though, Like last side was always my
uh best side back in cars,but since I got to if, I've
always been playing right. But youknow, it's a it's a good challenge
for me and I can show peopleI can actually play right and left.

(01:52:13):
So it's a versatility then, soI'm happy about it. There. You
moved around a lot throughout your careerwhere there's Jumbo's side you'll tackle, I
guess in the sentence, and playingabout the left on the right side,
you think you kind of benefit fromfocusing a little bit more on the right
side. Uh, a little bit. But you know, there is a
new system that we have, LikeI been playing my mindset most on the
right, but also have my mind'stand left too, just in case something

(01:52:34):
does happening to like you know,I mean like Colhen or you know,
Pete, of course, but I'malways gonna be ready for the left no
matter what. How quickly have youfelt like you picked up this new system
that you're working in now you knowit's a we actually pretty up picked up
pretty well cause it's the same systemthat I'm used to back in the hot
stay cause were more like spread backat how I state, so you know

(01:52:56):
it's pretty good. Long of tho, it was like the draft cross a
small season as a lot of peopleoutside of the buildings, so you're amader,
just get the right time? Yeah, a lot of yeah, alright
now, A lot of people inthe building were like, we have the
right time. Wee get motivated aboutthat. You follow it, like have
you penn? You do it?Though I don't. I read into it
a little bit, But also thesame time, like they not here of

(01:53:16):
course, but I don't really carewhat they say. I know what I
can do, and the team knowwhat I can do, so they interested
me right now and I'm not gonnalive um right now? How hard or
how easy is that to compartmentalize thatand use that as fuel going forward rather
than the kind of merit it uh? I j I just keep the seats.
Everybody knows that one person I don'treally care for him. But also

(01:53:38):
it's all good. But it's alllove out of uh outside of this,
but you keep doing me, keepit better, keep on these nuts.
See what I can do there.You've been a outspoken about your support of
Zamir and obviously it's just his chancenow to be the dog. Wait,
what is it about him that youbought in so early? The reason why
I bought it so earliest cause usI was a house date. They always

(01:54:00):
taught us to actually help getting andever since I got here, i'm'a always
wanna both get and I gotta pickedlate, and I always wanna prove people
wrong. You know, I thinkpeople wrong all my life. I don't
wanna keep doing that. What's wrongdifferent? Which I guess more just like
we don't put it like set.You feel like a community year, a
nine day difference, nine day differencefrom my first year and my second year

(01:54:25):
to now. Like now, I'mmy guy. I know I can play.
I know I can go against themof the best, especially with Max
anybody else that we want to playthis year, and I know what I
can do. So all got todo now is that should meet my potential
and should do it and help everybodyelse out on the team as well.
You've practiced a lot against Malcolm andhe's really come into his own. What
is it about Malcolm that's helped himmake that next step? There? Man,

(01:54:46):
Malcolm, He's quiet. He doesn'treally say too much. He comes
to the work every day, dowhat he does, and he works hard.
He doesn't plait twice at anything.Yeah, he'll get mad over a
couple of rest wells. At thesame time that like he has a mentality
of at all, Like he's hedon't really care what y'all think or anybody
else thinks for real, So it'sjust like, alright, just keep going.

(01:55:08):
That's how everybody is on the teamabout tyrais too, you guys,
that the same mindset. He doeshave the same mindset up a little nervous,
but uh nah, he nah.He has definitely grown a lot from
his like first year here until now, like he has. But he's he's

(01:55:28):
growing up a lot mentally too.Until you guys are reimagining the offensive line
a little bit with you out therewest side, yeah, uh farm there
next to you on the on onout side too, and then drafting the
guys on the line here. Howexciting is that to be part of something
that's that's kind of being you know, having that trust but also being reinvented
a little bit. That's great,you know. But me and Dalan,
those like they gonna keep placing usof course, but all the same time,

(01:55:50):
we gotta keep going. You know, came to school and think about
what they did. All we gottado is staying about what what came to
do with people better in fourteenth atwelve. Sorry they don't put a lot
of no write a little bit more. How how long are you guys working
together? So we're working pretty well, you know, you say for us,
we had like a a little rookiemoment a little bit, but you

(01:56:11):
know, me and him, that'sbeen great friends. You know, I
treat like my brother and I alwayswill. You know. We talking every
day about how can we get better? Help can we help each other out
on the on the right side?So we as you made a connection.
You just played like Friday game.Do you do you think of that?
What do you about being itself?Playing like the Wednesday Christmas and all that
stuff? They got to see usthe I see us first. I really

(01:56:35):
care about that. It's time forplay. Russ knows that, Uh,
we're competing against each other every day. Him being out there for me that
you know helps me getting better.Uh, us pushing each other. So
I mean, I definitely don't havethe mindset of you know, me just
you know, sitting all year souh, you know, I'm coming in
every day giving it all I gotand you know, pushing him to be

(01:56:56):
his best, and he's you know, pushing me to be my best each
and every day. So I appreciatethat you two had a relationship before this.
Yeah, is it kind of doesthis kind of help with growing on
once you're on the same team.I mean, yeah, you know,
the first time I ever talked toRussell was when I was in college,
so you know, we've we've we'veknown each other for for a good bit
now. And the fact that Iget to you know, learn stuff from
him, you know that the thingsthat he's accomplished, you know up to

(01:57:18):
this point in his career has beengreat. So just me learning just the
little details how he's so uh meticulousin detail within every rat every individual drill.
It just kind of makes me think, like, you know, that's
what I should be doing each andevery time. So I'm I'm glad to
have him here and glad to beable to learn from him. Just how
do you look back all the timethat's up? It's really good? How

(01:57:39):
do you look back on the timeof Yeah, I mean, there's a
lot of ups and downs, butall in all, I appreciate every relationship
that I built. All my teammates, they know that, nothing but love
for the city, for the fans, and uh for my you know,
old teammates and coaches. Did youdid you feel they did everything they should
have done? As I'm not reallygonna, you know, harp on the
past. It is what it is. It's it's an in the past.

(01:58:00):
Now I'm here now. So likeI said, I'm grateful to be here
and uh, gratefully what it'll bea part of the team I need like
Jack Kevin, your trades at teno'clock blow and time like me, you
are you able to sleep that nightor you on the field? What kind
of happens after you get that?I mean yeah, uh, I mean
I've been dealing with you know,people for you know, a long time.
So at my exit meeting, youknow, we were in the same
situation last year with the having thenumber one pick, and it was just

(01:58:20):
a little bit different this year.So I mean, I'm not I'm not
naive to the fact that you know, I can read body languages and stuff
like that, so it wasn't reallyjust a shock to where it's like,
ah, I got traded, LikeI I I knew what was gonna happen
beforehand. So I'm just glad Igot you know, traded to the spot
that I wanted to be at.So is it a relief to get the
new list do? Yeah, it'shappened, I think so, I think

(01:58:42):
when you're just you know, waiting, cause I knew I was gonna get
traded, you know, at theend of the day, That's That's just
what it was. So it wasjust you know, uh, just me
waiting and you know, me youknow, trying to figure out where I'm
gonna be at and uh stuff likethat. It was definitely a relief to
you know, kind of be onthe team and uh know where I'm gonna
be at. So traded into usa really good situation because yeah, yeah,

(01:59:03):
I mean, you know, shoutout to uh uh you know pos
He he you know, who wouldcommunicate it to to him, you know,
through my agent, and you know, I told him where I wanted
to be and this was the placeI wanted to be, so you know
he uh you know, honored that, and I appreciate him for that,
and uh, glad he was uable to put me in the spot where
where I wanted to be at.What needs to go right for you to

(01:59:24):
become the guy? Now, youknow he kind of envisioned me when he
came out in the first round.You said, what needs to go right?
Yeah, I mean, I mean, I know you're gonna put the
work in, but you're in agood spot. And what are the little
things that you think it's gonna taketo get you to become the guy?
Where you all? I think me, I just gotta you know, keep
working every day, like I saidbefore, just being detailed and every drill,
not taking the day off, andI'm just good having rest here learning

(01:59:45):
from him. I was pushing eachother each and every day. So you
know, I think just controlling whatI can control every time I step on
the field, you know, justjust fall out and uh played to the
best of my abilities and you know, let let let God hider the rest.
So what can you g stand on? The team has been you are
closest to you as far as gettingused to the team, the organizations and
plays. Just work any practice,yeah, I mean, uh, it's

(02:00:06):
a new offense, so nobody reallyhas been in the offense before. But
I mean there's a lot of youngguys on the team, so I think
just that fact right there, it'seasier to communicate with people and kind of
just you know, kind of justbuilt that relationship cause you have so much
in common already. So I've alreadyuh hung out with a handful of guys
on the team, already built thoserelationships, and you know, we're just
gonna continue to grow, get closerwith each other and you know, ready

(02:00:28):
ready to uh get to playing thisseason stuff. Justin what was it about
this team, this situation that appealedto you, Uh, just the culture
I really think at Ohio State.I think there's a video that dropped with
you know, Coach T. II can just you know, feel the
energy and just you know, justthe consistency throughout the years and the culture
that Coach T has and just thestandard that you know, the Steelers have

(02:00:49):
have set, this organization has set. So I think that was the biggest
appeal for me. And you know, our defense is always you know,
gonna top tier and you can't youcan't win games without defense. So yeah,
just just the culture Coach T.And you know, of course the
team itself, so it wasn't anissue that it was a situation where they
like literally days before, had gottena guy that they said, this is

(02:01:10):
gonna be our story. Nah.I mean I wanted to come here before
Russ got here and after too,So it was it was more so the
team, not you know, notworried about who was here, none of
that sense. So first thought toPittsburg when he got here, after the
city other people. I mean,yeah, I will say this, I
think Pittsburgh has one of the orhas a lot of nice people. That's
one thing I've noticed. Like I'vetaken a few ubers to the airport and

(02:01:32):
I've had full thirty minute conversation withthe 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 knowwho I am. They're just being so
nice to me. So I thinkthat's one thing I've noticed. And then
I started going on the walks thispast offseason, so just the different views
of the city, the bridges andstuff like that. It's pretty cool.
Toy. So, you know,the offense is knew it's just day one,

(02:01:54):
But from what you've learned so far, how do you feel like Arthur
Smith's offense is going to put yourskill set. I'm the sure. I
mean, yeah, I think,uh, you know, he's he's had
experience with you know, doing theirquarterbacks, a lot of quarterbacks in the
past, Ryan Marcus h of course, Desmond and Tyler in the past past
few years. So you know,he knows how to play to his player
strengths. And you know, ofcourse he's new here too, so he's

(02:02:15):
gotta figure out, you know,what guys do, uh, what things
the best way, and you know, we're just gonna keep building and getting
better every day. But I definitelyyou know, trust him to you know,
put everybody in the right spot touh have as much do where where
he's got his two cents on it, which is, you know, always
the best two cents I've heard.But me being who I am, you
know, I'm I'm I'm gonna throwmy two cents in there, you know.

(02:02:35):
So that's just uh, it's beenawesome, man. We He's he's
a 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, now I feel more comfortable just you
know, bringing certain things that ifyou know, you never you never wanna
come off too strong. But I'ma curious guy. I got a lot
of questions. I like, Ilike football a lot. I like to
talk and talk the games. Soyou know, come to find out he's

(02:02:57):
the exact same. So we uh, you know, we get along well
and and uh we're gonna keep keepbuilding that relationship. Sometimes in this league,
playing you know, eighteen games,they tryna make it twenty. You
know, it's like it sound likea little a little fever dream to be
honest, but but uh, ifwe can find a way to k you
know, stay up right out there, keep keep airon on his feet,
you know, I'm I'm excited forthat and uh everything that comes with it.
But uh but yeah, like Isaid, man, that's it's it's

(02:03:19):
harder said than uh or harder done. And said, I guess you know,
it's one of those things. It'slike 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'renot looking, and it's just how can
we keep him healthy? Yeah?Yeah, are you when do you think
I get your receiver room now,positions you guys have made when more money,
healthy and everything like, Yeah,you know, I'm excited to see
it at at full health. Youknow, we've i haven't got to see

(02:03:42):
all the all the guys out thereat once. And and you know,
it's one of those positions where everyday is something might happen to nick up.
You know, it's just a atough position to stay out there at
all times. But I feel likewe got a great group and and the
number one thing is how can westay healthy? How can we you know,
I'll be out on the field,and I think having depth like this
and the group we have is gonnahelp us. Having guys that can do
different things, that can go catchthe ball over the middle, all types

(02:04:03):
of things that it's gonna take someof the strain off off all of us.
You know. It's it's a goodgroup. So I'm excited to,
uh, you know, get outthere. I feel like we haven't had
the whole whole thing together, butyou know, come season time, morol,
and it's gonna be exciting. Whatabout the guys in your whole number?
Yeah, yeah, like a yeah, man, he's uh. It

(02:04:24):
was a brute and then once hecatches that ball. I mean, he's
he's got great instinct of where thedefense is gonna be at, how to
make someone miss. Yeah, man, just just play here forever. You
know, talk about his plans soyou know, you transitions like one of
those fairy like but but again,either way, you know, we talked

(02:04:48):
about it. You know, that'sthat's the goes, you know. But
obviously you know he sees he's beenone of my biggest supporters. Again,
I affect everybody leads in their ownway, you know, not everybody's the
guys coming around like and that's noteverybody, right, Like I felt for

(02:05:09):
me, that's me specifically on gameday with the old line after we do
one on one like that's my Like, well, Hump did like like that's
my like big vocal time. Ifeel like I've talked to Hump about this,
you know, just recently talking abouthow what I want to do for
the room is I want to bringthat Hump energy that he brought right so

(02:05:32):
last year, of course some traitsbeen doing it for years, but the
year when I spent on him,he brought a lot of the energy and
excitement and the happiness in the room. Was just his natural energy to where
I only had to focus on me, you know, I didn't have to
make sure other other guys are youknow, feel some type of way when

(02:05:55):
they came in here because Hump broughtthat. But out of Hump's not here,
but I saw what he did forthe room. I want to be
that guy to make sure everyone's ampto go to practice, everybody's hype.
Weren't taking and field team on period. You know it's a low day or
something. You know, it's ait's a day, but like I wanna
make it feel like pre paris theTripper right now. I want to bring

(02:06:16):
that cause that's what when we homedid to each other. We will hpe
each other up, dudes like dudesabout to get walked. We're lit.
So I want to do that.I want to bring that energy. I
wanna make bring more guys, youknow, to do that. You know,
I wanted to do that from dayone, you know, I kind
of I wanted to do that fromday one, from just talking to him,

(02:06:38):
and obviously it's that time. Ispend the off season before OTA started
just being in myself, just thinkingabout what the room needs, you know,
because I know I knew a newrole as one of the layers you
know on my offense is that weneed a guy like that that's gonna make
sure the old line is picked upready to go. Every day I was

(02:07:01):
held accountable little things I happened topractice. People aren't saying anything. And
how I may lead maybe different thansomebody else may lead. You know.
I like to a practice at leastlike the legal positivity, you know what
I mean. So, but hethe energy yet went beyond just the hype
up the deal and stuff too.So that's kind of how I wanna be

(02:07:21):
s goal mine literally my whole life. I wanna be a NFL team captain,
like specifically the NFL. I wasn'ta captain of high school, wasn't
a captain of college. But Imade a joke when I was in high
school. It's like there, Ifeel like, I'm not gonna be a
captain til I get to the NFL. Yeah, but that would be awesome,

(02:07:43):
you know, but you know,if it happens, i'd be great.
But not either way. I wannaassume a role as a captain from
the perspect of the guys on theteam, visual words a me and to
get back to that world. Yeah, I mean, I can't say that.
I mean, I guess the biggestthing is that I felt like it

(02:08:03):
has felt like how it you usedto in the past. But it didn't
take just the first day OTAs.It took training left and right once the
season ended, cause I didn't knowwhat it was gonna be sure, So
it took a lot of yeah repsjust to give back to feeling like myself

(02:08:24):
for day one OTAs and then thatwhole first week, but now like today,
specifically just changing some small things withmy feet that I did say talking
about a line coach about some thingsI could do with my feet to get
to that to sell at the traditionalangle that I loved to set on.
Felt even I thought I felt,I thought I felt great already by my
okay, I felt even back upit. So I'm even more excited tomorrow.

(02:08:46):
Now I'm getting my feedback to howI liked it the right side and
on the left side, So I'mexcited to tach. I mean, obviously,
I feel like in the league,whether I left or right, are
still going against premier guys, Soobviously you have expectations for your left hand
your right tackle. But there's definitely, uh, like the the level of
energy and like the expectations definitely takeand a human start cause now Conlen the

(02:09:11):
blind side that stuff, that's thetackle roles, you know. So so
yeah, I would say in termsof communication as far as just even outside
the facility and just stuff like that, like really creating that but tackle quarterback
bond even more off the field,I think has been something that's even been
cool. I got a text oneday and it's like, hey, like

(02:09:33):
you play left and I was like, yeah, you know, yeah,
I I've been training both. I'vebeen training both. You know, I
I aksed after the season. They'relike, honestly, you know, we'll
talk to you some play in theseason. Then I just gotta text me,
like depending what happens with with thefree agency then. So I was
like, you know what, Ihad a whole season right tackle. So

(02:09:54):
if I get the word, I'mgoing I'm standing right tackle. I don't
used to do what I did before. Old on that bus, I was
like, I might as almost traineda left tackle now as if I'm gonna
be a left tackle, And I'drather do that than training on the right
time and get the call Hey you'rethe left tackle. I'm like, oh,
I didn't even switch on my feetyet, you know what I mean.
So I'm like, let me justprepare in advance. I was like,

(02:10:15):
yeah, this guy, you know, I think occasionally on third down
there would be a lot of twists. I would just know like it's I'm
automatically coming. And I think thatwas my mindset for like the first half
of the season, like I didn'thave to go into a game and with
surprise like oh my gosh, theydid that. I kind of figured like,
okay, like this is this isthe type of rush. Mean it
get like this is how this guyusually rushes. But I get the vibe

(02:10:37):
this is how the ends like therush, you know, tackles that are
you know, first year guys whogot the premiere patch on. I already
knew what it was gonna be,already knew of every stunt and honestly just
knowing that it's kind of an advantagetoo, So you're not you're not you're
not old. They brought the twiston my side. Again, it was
never an Aaron Donald like, youknow, they're coming out the mines like

(02:10:58):
three plays in a row and twominute I knew that it was the way.
You know what I mean, I'mwatching more than everybody else, and
he rarely goes out there on occasionalthird downs on the d M. He's
gonna pick me, you know whatI mean. So fact fact it's kind
of also kind of advantage in theway, but it's also exciting, like,
Okay, I'm gonna get the hardest. Look. You know, those

(02:11:22):
are real, real reps, youknow the bank. So really I'm not
really kind of process. And Iwas like, hey, when they tell
me I didn't do I guess youevery process were about how you might approach
this and and and what do youthink is meaning the key element you're getting
the most out of those because yougot two guys. This ain't my first
rodio. No. I know alot of people look at say, well,

(02:11:46):
this guy only been on the fieldfor three years westernn Tucky and Oregon.
Just because I didn't have the titleof a running back coach where I
was at the Memphis, I nevercarried myself that way. I was carried
myself as a running back coach.I approach every day that way. So
at Memphis we had Darren Henderson,Patrick Taylor, Tony Pollock, Kenny Game

(02:12:09):
well Tonyo Gibson. I've seen talentedbacks and I've seen them be able to
function with one another. So Ihear that all the time about Well,
I this ain't my first rodeo.Same thing out there at Oregon we had
Buckevery Norwich and George James. Yougo look at their numbers. They all
functioned well together. We learned howto play as one. So this ain't
my first rodeo. So and plusI know those two kids cause I recruited

(02:12:31):
them when they was in high school. So I'm up for the challenge and
the responsibility of it. Got rightbehind it. Dan Hopeleven Warriors, Carlos
Just what is your kind of coachingphilosophy? How do you get the best
out of your running backs? Iget the best out them because I love
the young man. My main focusis to change the hearts and minds of
them, and they'll play for me. I had just got through reading Coach

(02:12:52):
Trestle's Winners Manual, and it's someday that I took from that book.
You have your purpose and you haveyour goals, all right? My purpose
is to serve and pour into themen. Now, my goals as a
football coach. All of them aretake care of themselves. So that's one
of the ways. I'm just realrelationship based and I'm very detailed at this
position. I know y'all heard mesay before, and I'm gonna keep saying.

(02:13:16):
This is the worst coach position infootball. It's terrible guys hire anybody
to coach his position and recruiters.Carls Locker is not a recruiter. I'm
an elite relationship builder, but Icoached this position. I'm a ball coach,
so that's who I am. SoI'm gona pouring to these kids.
I think they kind of seeing itnow. And I jumped in day one
I'm ready to coach. And thephrase soft thatch cookies. Where did that

(02:13:37):
phrase come from? Kind of whatwas pu this world? Boy? Let
me tell you about that boy.I've been called everything but the name the
child of God by the people atthe other places I left. So that
I've been getting. Pillsbury needs togive me a deal because I've been getting
I've been getting some DM the texts, some of it, some of them
have been so funny. The saftbeat this cookie thing came from just having

(02:14:01):
a frame of mind, a mentaltoughness. It had nothing to do with
guys getting in the portal and anything. Now, most people say I'm a
saltbated cookie for leaving there, butactually I'm not because it takes great strength
to make a decision to leave aplace. No, a weak minded person
wouldn't be able to make the decisionsthat I made, So it took great
strength to do that. So I'mtelling you, if I literally in my

(02:14:24):
DMS, it's some it's some greatcomedians out here that have been sending me
like tons of cookies and out likeit's funny. Right behind him, Tony,
how have you going about the assessmentof the talent in the room over
the past week or two? Howmuch is that on field and off field?
Like, what's the process of gettingto know who you have as players?

(02:14:45):
Well? I broke down well mebeing a guy that loves the running
back positions, and I already brokethose kids down cause I recruit them out
of high school. You know,Cue is from where I'm from in Montgomery.
I was one of the first guysto offer him just watching him great
contact, balance, creative runner,great hands and trey. I recruited him

(02:15:07):
out of Virginia, exceptional short air, your bursting quickness and things that i'm'a
help him get better on. Andthen I recruited James Peoples out of t
out of San Antonio, Texas.I knew what he was gonna what he
was gonna be TC and Sam,those two kids, I'm getting to know
and I'm gonna help them improve thegame. But we got different runners in
there. I like to call myself. Uh, I'm in love with this

(02:15:30):
position. So I get to breakdown runners and help their game. So
talented, talented, room, verytalented. Uh far back uh. Jeremy
Brokingham Podcast Couch, how do youswear that I saw fast trookies are actually
the best cookies to Philip Britt mixand or those are way better than the
country chips and white things with Terman, I mean, do you do you
have to first find a balance thereor someone. Well, for me,

(02:15:54):
I'm actually not eating any cookies.Nah, I'm just saying I'm not eating
any cookies this year. I gaveit up for a fast or no sweets
for me for the whole year.That's something I gave up. So they
the term the South bast cookie termlook guys. I actually took that from
I represent the high school coaches ofMyth, Tennessee. I actually took that

(02:16:16):
from a guy named Coach Slocum.He used to always say that South bast
cookie. I actually stole that fromhim. I give him credit for it,
and I tell him all the timehe said, you I should have
branded that, cause you done tookit and ran away with it. But
that's just where that comes from.So that that I was standing. As
you get to Ohio, standing,you start to look around the country.
Every Oregon's a big place, that'sa that's a major job with How how

(02:16:39):
would you think that raring your oppositeget logo are the jas Brandon blocko?
When you get out out of livingfree and trail, how does that change
the way that you feel you're eitherreceived or or does it add a different
level to it to just feeling likeI could go anywhere and get anybody in
them. And that's the changest thingfor me. This is a great place.

(02:17:00):
Oregon was a great place too.But guess what whatever I put on,
I know what I'm going to representfor me. I N I N
I know who who put me here? Uh? I know? I represented
something higher, you know. LikeI told you, I know what my
purpose is. My purpose is toporting the people. So whatever logo I
have on, I'm still gonna bedoing the same thing. So this is

(02:17:24):
a great logo, great logo,But I wear another logo every day.
It's across I see around my neck. I know what I represent. So
that's the greatest logo I could everwear. So it don't matter what other
logo I have on. I gotthat one on. I'm going to any
house and be a recruit. Uhuh. Deep rite, camera Tique,
Robinson and the athletic pro which youyou mentioned the time at Memphis and themis

(02:17:46):
for NFL going backs you mentioned there. Who you learn from that time that
we can that you can take overto managing your growd kids. What did
I learned from them? I justbuilding a just teaching the kids. We
live in such a selfish world though, and I could tell kids all the
times it's gotta be much more tofootball. The ball gonna go flat one

(02:18:07):
day. As I always say,what being in that room there at Memphis
is it wasn't four five teaching themhow to be abbout being one. I
tell you the man all time itdoesn't cost you anything to celebrate another man's
success. So teaching them how tobe one, and then once they learned
to be one, they function andthey feed off one another. So that's
what I learned from being there inMemphis. Road bro started your career in

(02:18:33):
law enforcement, kind of influence youas a coach and kind of shape where
you are. Oh well, Ijust got through talking to somebody about that
today. When I first got inthis profession and I got my own room
in Western Tech, I was axed. No, how was I was gonna
be able to handle m my room? I said, Man, I had

(02:18:54):
a part with fifty one inmates.You talking 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 domesticno violence calls, it's simple easy.
You know people won't know what youcare. Also know you gotta have a
certain demeaning about yourself. So whenI walk into the room, it's the

(02:19:15):
reason why I go train every morning. This is when it's the same thing
when I was a police officer.You look a certain way kind of deter
people from doing certain things. Soit reason why I go train every morning,
I'm gonna look just as good asmy boys look. So U it
helped out a lot. In otherwords, uh from Earl Right Austin Word
the podcast, Carls Welcome to Columbus. What would it mean to I don't

(02:19:37):
know, revolutionize the way running backsor coach? What does that take?
I ain't know. I'm not gonnasay 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 tohead guys who say that on these jobs
to not just hire guys. Justknow all coaches on your that should be

(02:20:00):
great recruiters, not just a runningback coach. We coach a position.
We developed players as well. Ijust wanted the coaches to realize, Hey,
you know what, let me lookand be thorough about this guy that
I'm hiring for this job. Ishe teaching the position? Is he developing
the position? Because you're not gonnahire anybody just coach quarterbacks, are you.
Well, it shouldn't be like thatfor the running back position either.

(02:20:20):
And I'm only passionate about it causeI played it. I love it,
so it's the only position I wantto coach, could I coach the other
positions? Yeah? I played dBin college too, but I love the
running back position, so I justwanted to see it. Coach Well may
too, may podcasts. Yeah,a million questions. Oh that's a couple.
Number one, when you when you, when your wife? Whatever?
You got the message? Stuff?Or are we moving again? What was

(02:20:41):
What was her reaction? Nah?She she just now God that give us
gave us a new assignment. Shit, w It was never like we're moving
again. Let me tell you guyssomething I grew up. My mom was
in the military, so I livedeverywhere. I lived in Panama, all
South America. I'm used to pickingup and moving. I lived in Fort
Rodley, Kansas. Montgomery's home ifsmy second home, so I'm I'm used

(02:21:03):
to moving now. My wife itwas different for her, but she just
knew guy that gave us a newassignment. So it's time to go.
What did what did coach they tellyou when he heard you that he wants
out of you. That may bedifferent. It's not slamming somebody else,
But what did he say he wantedyou to bring to the running back room.
I think he did his research onme. He said he wanted the

(02:21:24):
guy to develop the position. That'snot taking a shot at the coach that
was here who I'm friends with.He said, they want somebody to really
get the guys going. I canonly be me, and I told him
that coach, I'm gonna be meevery day now because see my mindset,
this is when I step in thisbuilding, I got one mindset that's to

(02:21:48):
do my job so well that theliving dead or unborn can do it any
better. So when I leave it, 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 dayI step into it with a hey son,
that's my mindset. I'm gonna domy job so well that living dead
and I'm born couldn't do it anythingbetter. So that's what my mind said.
Is suppose we got time for onelast question, Bill rabinowit's Plumbus Dispatch

(02:22:11):
Carlos. First of all, isit true that nobody calls you Carlos,
never calls you Locke. That isthe truth. Yeah, I prefer to
be called Lock in particular, butI 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

(02:22:31):
on on how to handle that variable. So you just guys just trying to
do what they think is right.That's all they're really trying to do.
And I'm not saying they're right orwrong. But he was trying to do
the same, and uh, youknow, I think at the end of
the day he realized he man 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.

(02:22:54):
I've always believed in him. Webelieve in him, and he believes
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 prices Cremiah.I love, uh the way he

(02:23:16):
lives. I love the way heapproaches things. I love the way the
questions he asks. I love theway he makes mistakes and then correct mistakes.
Uh, it's very veteran. LikeI mean, there's so much Ball
he has to learn. Like heliterally does things that are good. I'm
like, do you know what thatworked? He goes coach, I have
no freaking idea, So like I'mtrying to teach him all of that why

(02:23:37):
it worked, so then you know, the consistency at which it works just
goes through the roof. And sobut I'm very you know, excited and
proud of the conversations we're currently having, and I'm exciting it for them to
keep going. By what power foryou? Working with Chi. I love
working with Chip Chip is. Ilove talking Ball, I love the viewpoints.

(02:24:01):
I love I love the veteran thathe has, you know, and
uh I love yeah, Like Ilove all of it. I think that
you know, early on the biggestimpact, you know, just you know,
feeling perspective. I think in therun game has been awesome, you

(02:24:22):
know, and then you know,off of the run game some of the
actions or or relief throws or allthat kind of stuff. I love where
it's at. I love working withthem, and I would say that I

(02:24:43):
sleep a little better all right.Uh No, it's it's really a great
combo because, like you know,we're obviously we're doing a lot as a
group. It's not just Chip andI so but you know, obviously Chip
has an image and a view onthings that I never had. So to

(02:25:03):
have that experience and to have thatviewpoint, I'm just trying to absorb as
much as i can, but thenalso highlight some things that we've really done
a good job of and make surethose you know, nothing's really changing,
We're just trying to enhance. We'renot changing, We're enhancing. So where
the things fit is perfect. Youknow, I think, uh, you
know, the rest of the dynamicsand search Chip can talk about. But

(02:25:24):
it's been it's been awesome, soI'm excited about it. We talked to
a mecca. They're just talking aboutmoving from slot to the outside. You
know how good we've been in theslot. Is that a difficult move for
you guys just coaches to know howgood a guy is in at one spot,
but know that maybe for his longterm future and the no, I

(02:25:45):
wouldn't say it's anything on his future, because he's capable of doing whatever you
want to get done. But I'dsay that it says more about the room.
I think it's it's the growth ofyou know, Brandon and the growth
grow of Bryson. That's really youknow, allowing my mind to say,
hey Mech, be prepared. You'regonna move around a lot. You're gonna
come out of that slot. You'regonna be outside. We're gonna create mismatches

(02:26:05):
out there. I mean, hisability to move around is critical. But
I would say between Mech and betweenCarnell TAS's ability to move around a lot,
it's gonna provide a lot of flexibilityfor our room. And uh and
those top you know, six sevenguys that are really doing a good job
right now. Progress look like thisspring for like a because it's find two
of those things. I'm true whenU has balanced how much the worst is

(02:26:28):
a need versus much? Yeah,heavy, heavy emphasis on what work he
needs, you know, versus anythingelse. Uh. I rely on him.
We have great dialogue back and forth. It's a two way to it's
a two way conversation and uh,frankly, there's gonna be times we're like,
hey, Mech, what do youwanna do today? You wanna go
outside? You don't go inside?And I don't care, so uh,
we're not there yet. We willbe there, but it's just more about,

(02:26:50):
you know, when the room isready to start mixing things up.
You know, I would say there'sgot I mean, I make sure I'm

(02:27:11):
bringing guys that are able to doall, but I have not asked them
to yet. So the only guysthat in our room currently I've asked to
do that has been Mecca 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 putting that on anybody elseright now, not saying they can't,
but at this point, having twoguys being able to swing, you

(02:27:31):
probably don't need much more than that. I need guys being experts at what
they're good at, so it ithelps the offense. Don't be great at
everything and be an expert at somethingand we can use that to our I
like them. Yeah, it's abunch of good dudes just just got here.
So we're gonna keep working and Ilike. I like our edge guys

(02:27:52):
that we picked up, and I'mexcited to work with them. Know much
about how against what's been kind ofearly. I think he's super skilled.
Russier well, good length, andhe's more athletic than I even realized.
And I think guys like him whenthey come to our scheme are the best

(02:28:13):
is brought out of him. SoI'm excited to see what potential he has.
He's year nine, so I feellike you as a d lineman,
you can keep improving all the waythrough ten years in this league. So
excited to see what he's got.How old did you know sores So when
he was assistant here and I hadgotten to know him a lot. Bet

(02:28:33):
of it's a relationship. Maybe rightnow, I know him pretty well.
He was always just a good dudearound the facility. He did our ball
meetings, so he's good in frontof a group. He's a good leader.
He knows the scheme really well,which is good. I was happy
to see him promoted. He calledme in the offseason. We talked.

(02:28:56):
I just congratulated him, and Ithink he's gonna bring something similar to what
we had with the Miko. It'llbe good. Do you know Brandon Stanley
well at all? I mean Iwas a Joey play for him. I
don't know too much about him.I've obviously heard from my brother, but
I don't even think I've said highyet. I haven't ran into him yet,
but I'm sure i'll get to knowhim. When you say it looks

(02:29:20):
similar to Miko the energy or system, maybe a little different energy, but
I think just knowing the system fromthe front to the back, I think
he knows how it ties in.And he's been around with some really good
coaches, so I think it'll bepretty pretty seamless, and I think we'll

(02:29:41):
be firing on all cylinders. You'rethree months removed from the super Bowl now,
so how have you? I guessdigested it, and I guess physically
everything good to go. Yeah,I feel really good. I think it's
been one of my better off seasonsof just kind of it was a long
year, so it took nice andslow to get back into it. Not

(02:30:03):
as young as I once was,so I'm taking a little, uh,
a little slower, but everything's great. I'm feeling as good as I felt.
I'm excited to actually get some practicein. Last year was kind of
tough, getting thrown in Week oneafter I walked through, so that was

(02:30:24):
another reason I'm excited to be here, is just to get practicing a little
bit in season practice is one thing, but actually being able to work your
stuff and not have a game comingup is good. With the Super Bowl
unfortunately, I know how to bounceback from tough losses, so it was
rough for a little bit, butnow it's just annoying when people bring it

(02:30:46):
up. Since the last season,we've seen a rock on TV commercials and
on the stage with Kluke Kombs I'mthrowing out the first pitch of the Giants
game. But he seems like aguy that's totally unaffected by celebrity, which
he has now. But what haveyou noticed in his leadership style and the
way he carries himself any difference atall. I think he's definitely getting a

(02:31:09):
little more vocal within the building.And uh yeah, I mean, I
don't think he's ever going to change. I don't think he's somebody that's going
to change even when he gets paidnext year. So he's he's a man
of faith and he kind of remindsme of Scotti Scheffler, but except for

(02:31:33):
just super humble and really good kid. And yeah, he's definitely famous.
I don't just from watching Armstead getreleased obviously meant so much to the defensive
line into the team. I mean, Colin John were pretty open that they

(02:31:56):
were willing to talk about trading deeboor as wound. Does that just another
what's that feel like in the lockerroom when those sort of jowls happen.
I didn't even know that happened andI wasn't here, but you're talking about
this offseason arms in alarm Er released, so that's certainly one thing. Yeah,

(02:32:20):
it's a tough business, for sure. You have to have thick skin
and I haven't gone through that,but I think you just have to understand
that it is a business and theteam's going to try and get as good
as it possibly can with or withoutyou, and you have to look out
for yourself. That's why you gothrough holdouts and do certain things that seem

(02:32:43):
selfish in the moment, but itis what it is, and when everything's
settled, we're gonna come together asa team and try and go get one.
What's the overall feeling around the groupright now? Like, how much
does it feel like the excitement ofthe ramp up to the season, even
though certainly it feels good. It'sbeen a couple of days for me,

(02:33:03):
so I like all the new guys, I'm getting to know everybody, but
I think the past is in thepast and we're ready to go. Did
you talk to Be? Can youtalk to Be at all about handling the
business part of this? He's goingthrough something similar. We chat a little
bit, but not too much aboutthe details. I just told him to
keep his head up and try andstay positive through it all. You first

(02:33:28):
impressions when you heard what your schedulewould be in that Aaron Rodgers' first up,
it'll be fun. Yeah, it'sgonna be gonna be a good one.
Excuse me kind of alluded to this. But the fact that last year
you had to have a holdout forsaid that affected you somewhat early in the
season. If you hadn't had thatexperience, would you be here right name?

(02:33:52):
I mean, was that part ofthe motivation for being here early,
just to have the opposite when lastyear. No, I don't think that's
one of the reasons. But Ijust talked to Kyle and he kind of
asked me, h, He kindof stated how he felt about why it
would be good for me to behere and asked if I agreed. And

(02:34:13):
I agree, So it's not likeI'm missing too much. I think.
I'm out here. It's a littleless workload than I'm doing back home,
so it's kind of a good activerecovery thing for me. And I'm getting
football stuff, football working specifically,so that's good. I'm not it's not

(02:34:35):
compromising my training at all, andI get to meet all the guys.
It's it's positives. Let him Ohno, he's he's there. He's got
a new regime over there. Iactually thought I was coming next week until

(02:34:56):
recently, so I was gonna haveone more week at home home, but
we're both in California. Anything youcould share about tons of reasons, reasons
that you agreed with being here.Uh, yeah, just the things I
already stated, just getting around theguys and just getting the football stuff honed

(02:35:22):
in a little bit before camp starts. You have been afraid, You've been
afraid to speak out on player safetyissues and things like that when it comes
to play service and things like that. The eighteen game schedule has been kind
of discussed again here recently. Whatwhat is your kind of take on that
possibility. I don't know how many. I mean, it's I guess it's

(02:35:48):
easy to appreciate when you kind ofsee it working and you see guys improving,
getting better. I just think thedetails are really important you can protect
and that leaving your shoes a messor your locker a mess isn't a big
deal, and what matters is playingfootball. But I think all those tiny

(02:36:09):
details and things kind of add upand leak into the important stuff like what
you're doing on the field. Soif you can have your toe behind the
line, or have your locker andorder and all these things, they kind
of stack up into performing well andand playing well when things count. So
you know, I appreciate that it'sIt also hasn't been a fight with the

(02:36:33):
guys in the locker room. Theybuy in, and you know, it's
a lot of young guys, andI think they're hungry to learn, hungry
to compete and win. You know, it's just an example, whether it's
we talked about first day, youhave your shoes, if you could,
if you could spend the time onthese small things when nobody's watching. I
think, like I was saying,it seems like it might not add up

(02:36:56):
too much, but I think inthe long term it does, and it
leaks into other things. Whether you'redoing your right assignment on the field,
being late to meetings or all thesethings. If you hold a standard and
you stay to that standard, Ithink it benefits you long term. It's
been like W. Ben Herbert,who has there been anything in his training

(02:37:20):
program or working with you that youfeel will benefit you later. Yeah,
Yeah, definitely, he's he's beengreat. He's a no nonsense kind of
guy. But he's not an oldschool in the sense that he's bringing his
way of doing things and that's theonly way to do things. He understands
that guys have been in the inthe business for a long time, Khalil

(02:37:41):
me and we have a way ofdoing things, and all he wants to
do is add to that and helpyou get better and perform the best he
can. He's he stresses it allthe time that he's a tool for us,
and you know, he's been he'sbeen great. The guys love him.
The energy brings is awesome, andI think the stuff that we're doing

(02:38:01):
in the weight room is great,a great addition to stuff that I may
may do on the side or whateverthat is. Yeah, I think we
I mean, we had a presentationtoday with all the certain measurables that are
changing, and if you guys arein the meeting, you definitely see how
beneficial he's been to the team sofar. So obviously staying healthy is is

(02:38:22):
a huge factor to anybody's success.I'd say it's plagued us a little bit
for a while. So yeah,I think he's he's definitely incredibly beneficial.
What were you fully cover I knowat the end of last season you might
have been able to play. Yeah, No, I was not ready to
go last year. No, triedpracticing, tried coming back, and uh

(02:38:48):
it was it was not good.But yeah, it was Unfortunately the year
wasn't going great and it just wasunnecessary risk for I mean, my foot
could have had some real real issuesif I came back too early. So
yeah, it's been, it's been. It's been a great off season.
My foot's feeling great, toes good, hamstring s good. I mean,

(02:39:11):
there was a list of things lastyear in my hand, so all those
things are good. Finger gout surgeryon my finger, So that's feeling good.
Yeah, it's it's nice to befeeling better going into year nine than
you have since maybe five six yearsago, which I've said, I've said
I've been feeling great last couple ofyears. I'm telling you it's a real

(02:39:33):
deal this time. But obviously anythingcan happen. But I just feel it's
fun feeling really confident in your bodyand being able to perform. So I
could just go out during practice andyou know, go balls to the wall
and do everything that I feel likeI need to to be able to prepare.
It's fun. My brother and whoeverI trained with my trainer Todd back

(02:39:56):
home, I think they'd be reallyproud of how I've been working this offseason
and it's just exciting. Pointing wasthe injuries on the Green Bay game,
You kind of yeah, it wasa bit of a build up, a
little bit of an overreaction, butyou know, it's just tough. It

(02:40:18):
comes sometimes like that, and Ijust felt felt really, uh defeated coming
back. Had a broken hand,I'm like, oh, yeah, I
get to play boom for a seriesfoot pops. Thought I'd have to get
surgery, and all these thoughts floodedthrough my head. Broke down a bit,
and yeah, it just hurts.You know, you're losing, you're

(02:40:39):
getting injured. You've felt like youprepared really well in the off season and
then the year before you had growingsurgery, so you know, a lot
of things build up. Yeah,you don't get a break if you're injured.
Everybody wants to go on. Fansare very nice, but no,
I just I'm grateful that I feelthis way. I'm still still nicey Ripe

(02:41:03):
twenty eight, so not too oldyet. But yeah, I'm just excited.
I can't remember what the original questionwas at this point, something about
my body, how close you andGift were, How frustrating was it that

(02:41:24):
you couldn't you know soon for oneof those last three games. It was
frustrating, but I mean Gift washad my back the whole way. I
think for Gift, for any butfor the whole team, just to show
what it means to me. Itwould have been important for me to be
out there, but I literally couldn't. I tried to practice, injured my

(02:41:46):
footworse the very first play I wasand in practice, So no chance that
was happening unless I wanted to throwmy next season away as well. But
no, I'm just I'm proud ofhim for what he did with the team,
how he handled it, and Ineed to call him back. Actually
sorry, I give Yeah, I'mhappy he gets to stay close by with

(02:42:09):
the with the rams and uh,just proud of all we accomplished here together
over the years and and we'll beclose for the rest of our lives.
Was the foot injury? Was thisguys foot sprang? 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

(02:42:31):
main goal, but yeah, itwas. It was tough when it comes
to the addition of but Dupree,when he felt like he's kind of brought
to the to the room and couldbring on the field. Yeah, it's
when I heard we got my brothersomething. I don't know, maybe my
brother told me. I'm like,really, we just got Bud, Like,

(02:42:52):
that's no, that's no small pickup. He's a seriously elite pass rusher.
Has had some trouble with injuries aswell, so I understand how that
is, but not only him asa player, but as a personality.
I heard Khalil just saying he's he'sa fun guy. He's a funny guy,
and to have that in the roomanother vet is always a great addition.

(02:43:15):
But I'm just excited to have himand Tuley and to be able to
rotate like that and not drop offat all when we come off the field
is huge. And now Tuly's goinginto a second year. Just what do
you what are you kind of Whatare some of the maturity maturity areas you
see from him? You know,I'm gonna say not much, and that's
a compliment because he was already maturein those areas. I mean, he's

(02:43:39):
on it everything playbook wise, alwaysdoing his job, working hard, just
refining his technique and pass rush.I mean, we don't have the pads
on right now, so the realwork will will begin, you know,
in six weeks now. So butyeah, I love Tuli. I've loved
him since the first day he's walkedinto the facility, and I know he's

(02:44:01):
just gonna continue to get better.Would you think of the addition of Joe
Old? Yeah, yeah, I'mgonna need to beat him up a little
bit in camp. So he's sohe's ready, But no, I think
anything to protect our number ten isa good, good investment. So he
seems like a real solid dude.Haven't talked to him too much, great

(02:44:24):
build, seems like he has goodhands, good feet, strong, We'll
see. We'll see in a fewweeks when I lay a helmet in his
chin how he holds up. Butit'll I'll take it easy on him.
No, Rashaun's a beast. Didyou know coach Harbond before he came here?

(02:44:45):
And if he did, just whatwere those first couple of conversations like
that? Yeah, probably have crossedpaths with him. Maybe maybe not.
Actually I think what was it hisfirst year when I was a junior,
So we kicked his ass as usualat Ohio State. No, No,
they just want a championship, soI'd say they probably have the bragging rights

(02:45:09):
right now. I'm like the guytalking about his old high school. Oh,
I remember we used to kicks.No, but no, yeah,
no, the rivalry is dead.I was just saying this morning, you
know, nine years and kind offorget about that. I'm not a great
alumni. Sorry, sorry coached,But no, it's great. That's what's

(02:45:31):
great about the NFL is you justhave guys from all backgrounds. You could
hate their guts one one year,and then you come on the same team
and your brothers and you're all workingtowards one goal together. So our first
talk together was great. I justsat down with them, went up into
his office and chopped it up aboutlife mainly and his opportunity here and how

(02:45:52):
much it means to him. Anduh, yeah, I think he's a
special guy. I think he's uh, the way conducts himself. He's an
interesting cat for sure, and I'mstill still feeling him out. But one
thing you can't denies that he lovesfootball and his main goal is to win
football games. So and that's whatwe need. When you see him working
out with you guys and and pushingslaves and doing all this stuff, just

(02:46:16):
how interesting is that to see?Yeah, I mean he was a he
was a great player himself, andI think he's always been you know,
built like that lack of a betterterm. But yeah, he's, uh,
he's part of the guys. Youknow, he's not this guy outside
looking in. He he really,I mean he voiced that to me,

(02:46:37):
is that his favorite part of allof it is being with the guys and
and the connections he makes. Soyeah, to to see a guy like
that come in and embrace it alland kind of be part of it himself
is important. Your initial impressions ofpushmin Ter in the defensive skam. Yeah,
it's funny. You go from oldgift, old gift to this little

(02:46:58):
young guy who's my age. Iwouldn't want to get thrown into a room
with me and khalil IPOs his age. But no, he's been great.
I love messing with him a littlebit. We a little sarcasm back and
forth. But no, he's great. He's uh, very talks very fast

(02:47:18):
and I don't as you know,so sometimes I got to be like,
slow down, coach, come on. But no, he's great. I'm
excited, you know, to getcloser as the years, as the year
goes on, and I think hehas he has a lot of passion for
the position and all he wants todo is learn and and help us to

(02:47:39):
improve. So I'm excited about him, And I mean I do miss Giff.
Obviously, it was a long timewith him, but I am excited
to have a new face and kindof have that challenge for me. You
worked much with with Jesse's dad,since I know he coached linebackers in Michigan.
Wait, did you about Jesse?Yes, about doing? Okay,

(02:48:03):
you asked about Jesse. Oh mygod, I was talking about freaking doing
the whole time. You guys areso confused. No, sorry, I
thought we I thought I was.I thought you mentioned coach Ronie. No,
no, coach Mentor has been greatas well. Yeah, they've both
been great. Sorry, run thatback. No, he's been good.

(02:48:24):
Uh yeah, very knowledgeable guy.Same thing. I'm excited to get to
know him more as the year goeson. Have you worked if you worked
much? Yeah, no I havenot. I don't know if I've said
one word to him, but morewords to come down the road, like

(02:48:48):
you said, you can be heresince twenty sixteen. Just what are some
of this stuff? You just rambleabout the wrong guy for fifteen minutes walking?
What? Yeah? What the hecks? Actually that's literally not this person.

(02:49:09):
Yeah, I figured out. What'ssomething that you you worked undering the
off season? Something to improve yourgame or is there something that you can
Usually my answer is pretty consistent thatI just continue to try to prepare myself
physically, whether that's my sprint worker, agility work, and my lifting,

(02:49:35):
but yeah, just to get everythingfeeling great. I had dealt with those
injuries, so I had to kindof ramp it up with my finger and
foot and all those things. Butnow I'm I'm full full speed out there,
and I'm just going to continue todo what I know will prepare me
for the season. And uh,I know I'm gonna get plenty of technique

(02:50:00):
work and position work when I'm outhere. So for now, I'm gonna
spend these five weeks really getting uhpreparing about a schematic standpoint. I don't
know the ins and outs of whatI'm gonna be doing yet, so I'll
wait and see soon. But justwhat everything going on? See how to
see the best fit Christian Chris capsHere we go. Yeah, Dria,

(02:50:24):
welcome to Seattle. Like, whatare you looking for in free agency flight?
That's a loaded question for real,for real? Uh, you know
in terms of you know, paysystem, teammates, environment, city,
all those kind of just like playinto it. Besides just uh the money
thing. I know, financials alwaysplay a big role, and I kind

(02:50:46):
of steer you into the direction youwant to go. But everything kind of
plays into it. And how muchdid you reach out to Shelby Drew knowing
some of the guys you knew theplayed here last year to get a sense
for what Seattle might offer you.I mean not much. Right now,
I'll talk to I talk to Showbya little bit about it, mainly no
one Drew just congratulate me. Bo. Did you come together pretty quickly?

(02:51:15):
I know you kind of came toyour agreement on that first Monday, and
everything with Seattle that all come togetherreally faster. Now, it was a
long day. Seattle came in almostout of nowhere. We had like a
good set of teams that we weretalking to, just trying to finalize what
was going on, what was theterm is going to be, you know,
and Seattle came in hot. Theyshowed a lot of interest, and
uh, they're kind of just motivatingme to come here more and more.

(02:51:39):
And how similar will your role be, you know in terms of playing what
you did in Denver. I don'tknow that yet. I kind of just
mentioned previously. I don't know myrole. I don't know the engine out
yet. Once we'll get NO throughthe protocols and nfl p A, we'll
we'll talk about NO, the schemesand everything. Right, Welcome. When

(02:52:00):
you were in Denver in the threefour, where did you find yourself most
comfortable? And I played a lotof different positions in Denver, I mean
earlier in my year, I playedzero, I played three two one.
I mean, I'm definitely more comfortablein a shaded position, mainly being a
three technique and five technique. That'swhy I found myself to be more comfortable
whether I'm standing up or I'm not, whether it's runner or pass. Uh,

(02:52:24):
those seem to be my best,my best, Fitch. And what
is your impression of Pete Carroll's defenseand whole environment from afar? It seems
like he holds in on defense alot. Uh. I can't really say
too much about that. Yeah,I don't. I know Pete Carroll very
little, so uh, I'm justtrying to figure out more and I'll give
you a better answer later. What'ssome reputation around the league out of the

(02:52:48):
Seahawks. Uh, you know,hard nose hard had type of team definitely
on a little more lax side asopposed to being stuck up or military style,
and which is definitely good because thenthis program is won a lot of
football games have been super successful formany years as long as I've been alive,
as long as I've been watching football, and definitely this has been a

(02:53:09):
good program and Pete Carroll has beena hell of a coach for as long
as I remember, even back inhis college days. So I'm looking forward
to experiencing that. John Boyle,Yeah, I know you said you don't
know yet. You know what yourrole is going to be, but just
what what kind of player? Youknow, for fans who haven't watched it
time of Denver, what kind ofplayer? This definitely a high motor,

(02:53:31):
definitely not a one trick pon anytype of player. I like to attack,
you know, whether it's a firstor first through fourth down, I
like to attack. I'm always tryingto apply pressure. I'm definitely just a
high mortar guy in my opinion.Brady, are there, Brady Henderson from
ESPN, Nice to meet you.Yeah, this is not a team that

(02:53:54):
really makes big splash signings in freeagency. Did you think going into it
the Seattle would be in play?Uh? No, not at all.
Uh. You just it's kind oflike being a cure at the County store.
You know, I got a wholebunch of different options coming at you,
uh hearing, a whole bunch ofdifferent crazy things, and uh,
you know, you only get tochoose one. And this is the place
that that we both chose each other. And I mean, I'm loving Seattle

(02:54:16):
so far. You know, Ilike these colors for real, for real.
What what did you got to doin Seattle or see since? Not
much? Uh, just kind ofjust drive around the city exploring, uh,
getting down to the market a littlebit. I want to get on
of the Ferris will do some morelike touristy type of things. You know,
I'm new to the city and Igot a lot to learn about the
city. All right. Yeah,there's been a lot of comparisons with you

(02:54:39):
to Michael Bennett. I was wonderingif you know Michael Bennett at all and
you think those are accurate. Uh, I know Michael Berger, then it
like nothing, I know nothing aboutit, but besides his style of play,
but I'm honored to be considered inthe same conversation as him and uh
style of play. You know,He's a Hall of Fame type of deep
linean that I've known about since Iwas a kid. I mean, last
time he played here, I wasin high school. So you know,

(02:55:00):
it's cool to it kind of camefull circle a little bit watching him on
TV and now I'm being kind ofcompared to him in the way, you
know. I mean, I'm nottouching the surface of Michael Bennett. You
know, he's a Hall of Famerand I'm not there yet, So you
know, I just got to keepdoing my due diligence to be a better
player. Can Hey Dreamont Welcome toSeattle. I know you get to play

(02:55:22):
several seasons for Vig Fangio and threefour style defense and Seattle's playing a similar
system now dating back to last yearas a defensive lineman, what do you
think is most important to be successfulin that system? Maybe fundamentals or just
playing style to be successful. Fromwhat I learned, being gap sound and

(02:55:43):
being patient has always been the biggestthing, and that's how we've been successful
when I was in Denver. Justkind of like relying on each other.
I know that sounds kind of cliche, but like there's kind of like the
the realm of being in the threefour defense. You gotta really really rely
on the guys behind you and theguys on the side of you to really
make their to do their job tomake your job easier. Bob, Yeah,

(02:56:07):
well, uh, your yourhouse Stateplayoffs said you didn't start playing football
till you were junior in high school, and you largely played basketball till then
that's what made you, I guess, decided to go go play football.
Then was that art away from basketball? No? No, no, I've
always loved football first. Uh,it was just kind of just playing it
out. You know, I lovea hoop, but you know, football
was definitely about calling. Given Iwas a two hundred and sixty five pound

(02:56:30):
power forward and I was like sixstories and change, so you know,
I kind of tool use the routethat God gave me. You know,
I'm not six eight LSA. Yeah, he ymon. We'll come to Seattle
and you can't quoted and you're lookingat a couple of aut things that you
wasn't undergo player, And can youjust talk a little bit about that that

(02:56:52):
role that was some of the usaidyou might always kind of counted out that
US came through. Can you elaboratemore than that? Just from a standpoint,
like I always get like over overshadowed, overlooked, whether it's in something,
you know what I'm saying, Like, I feel like I do a
lot more than what can be sittingby the eyes of the inexperienced, you

(02:57:13):
know, scout and I do alot of different dynamic things that help make
plays for others. You know,I'm definitely an active player. I'm always
doing something, whether in a runnerpass game, so you know, I
think that goes on oothers sometimes andI'm looking forward to putting people on notice.
Thanks Brady. What uh what doyou like to do outside of football?

(02:57:35):
Uh? Big gamer? I'm definitelyI've been getting to a lot of
chess lately, so just to expandmy brain. H I try to get
into reading, but if it's notas portulated, I'm really not interested in
reading that much, but mainly justvideo gaming and chess. And then when
we write and say your name,do you prefer your grandma? I mean

(02:57:56):
you can say, you can sayDraymond Jones. I mean, but like
just I feel like person League justcall me Joy because easy. Because people
like to f my name of alike a lot. They call me Dramonte.
I don't know why you put aDrakemonte in my name or drakemond t
whatever you want to say. Whatdo you think some of that will be
able to bring out out of yourgame as you keep trying to you know,
just being more explosive, probably moreyards for catch with the space that

(02:58:18):
he's putting us into. The moreyards, more yards have to catch,
more exposed to pick, more exposedto plays for for not just only me,
but she and ak and taste them. So I'm excited to be able
to be in the system. Iassume you think you guys can be a
lot more explosive than than you beenin the last couple of years. Oh
yeah, of course. It bringsa lot of different things, you know

(02:58:41):
what I'm saying, the playbook,but just accountability. Uh, I feel
like that's gonna lead us to asuccess. They said, the language is
a little a little shorters it.Have you found that the language that you
guys use Is it about the sameor is it really it's a long,
long place, but it's more understandingfor sure. I feel like, uh,
you could get to that more understandingplays and uh, I feel like

(02:59:03):
that's that's the difference. He wassaying the other day, just kind of
like coming into this offense, Ifeel like twenty years of breeze and just
kind of how it was just kindof built on top of each other,
on top of each other. It'slike kind of a lot to kind of
take in. Do you do youfind that they kind of turn it down
to something new starting to like zerowith everybody. It's just a little bit
easier to kind of get everybody onthe same d Yeah, I feel like
it's way easier. Like you said, it was kind of more of a

(02:59:26):
Drew Brees style, uh the lastplaybook, so uh all credit to them,
though they built that around him,around his players. But uh,
like I said, it's it's more. Uh this playbook is more uh for
uh matchups, and uh, Ifeel like it's gonna be better for us.
How do you think it's gonna reallytake advantage of the skill sets?
Uh? Just building around the strengthsthat I have. You know what I'm

(02:59:48):
saying, things that I can doand things that she can do, uh,
things that our players can do.Is kind of focus on what we
can do and building on that.Uh. I feel like it's playing to
the player strengths. So I feellike it's gonna help us A lot has
been around the way this offense willhave a lot more speed, And how
has that transition been so far?I mean, like I said, it's

(03:00:09):
building around the players strengths. Soof course we got speed uh with me
or she and ati receiver, souh, just building around that, Like
I said, playing to our strengthsand be able to capitalize off that.
Feel like it's gonna help us alot most of like the up tempo ast,
you know, getting a lot ofplays in n less time. Oh
yeah, yeah, yeah, that'sdefinitely gonna play a big difference. Like
I said, coming from the WestCoast, Uh, they bringing that stand

(03:00:31):
for an offense here. So I'mexcited to be able to be a part
of that. For you personally,what's what's the next level look like for
you? What do you where areyou trying to accomplish this year? Uh?
Just staying consistent, man, acouple of upside downs last year.
Just building off that. Uh,it's always always gonna work on the physical
part, but being able to bounceback after a bad game. The mental

(03:00:52):
mental aspect. Uh, just learningand learning that last year and be able
to build on that this year isa huge part. You know, with
Mike on it, do you takeit upon yourself to kind of be that
voice in the room or to takea step forward even further as I mean
it's not really I mean everybody kindof grown in the NFL, so it's

(03:01:13):
just on you to be able tohave that standard. Like I said,
I just try to do that,lead by example. I'm not really outspoken,
but just lead by example, workinghard, trying to dominate every rep
and hopefully they follow out to thatbet yards after the catch? Is that
you feel like that's the strength ofyours that maybe wasn't utilize. I don't

(03:01:33):
know if utilizes the right word,but you could show more. Yeah,
it's an offense that is built aroundat just catching the ball in space,
catching the ball over the middle oreven on the outside with space and separation.
I feel like it's built around havingyards after catch. So I'm definitely
proud to be in the system,like I said, and I'm excited.

(03:01:56):
But is that is that a mindsettoo? Like being good at yards after
the catch? Like? Oh yeah, I mean of course. I mean
you don't want to get tackled bythe first person. And my mindset is
trying to take every take everything tothe house, you know, every touch.
So uh, I definitely got todo that more and definitely try to
work on that in practice. Agreat dude, man, Uh, some

(03:02:18):
some that I definitely needed. Somethat he relates to me. Uh,
just from backgrounds and uh he's agreat coach, great leader, Uh,
motivational and Uh. Like I said, I'm excited to have him around and
for him to push me is everythingthat I need. So you're talking about
like mentally bouncing back, you knowfrom tough performances or whatever, Like,

(03:02:39):
did you try to find your resourcesgoing to help you figure out how to
do that? Oh? Yeah,I mean it's older guys. Uh uh
tell me that's natural. Just havebad games. But uh, just having
the standard that I have in mycareer as a head coach to have him
on my staff in a couple ofplaces, so I got a chance to
see him work firsthand. You know, I got to see him work firsthands

(03:03:00):
a player and then as a coach. So the success he had is not
is not surprising to me? Isthere for you seeing Ryan the successes had.
Yeah, I think we all dothat. I think we come from
a unique place and in a reallysmall hometown in New Hampshire where we all
take a lot of pride to wherewe're from and and when anybody's successful coming
out of there, then you kindof take a little pride that that's it's

(03:03:22):
the upbringing that we all had,you know, in the UTH sports program
that we grew up in in inevery aspect, whether it was football,
baseball, basketball, those coaches wehad an amazing impact on us and that's
why we are where we are rightnow. Ryan said, he doesn't think
of it as you working under him, that's working with him. Fact is
he's the head coach. He makesme call him sir that he just said,

(03:03:48):
can you do that? Day one? And I was like, all
right, right now? But Imean he ultimately is it is the decision
maker. You've been a head coach. How do you think that's wanting to
work? Do you think there'll beany as close as you are, any
kind of awkward moments the right term, But when he's the ultimate decider and
you are working for him, Yeah, I certainly understand my role. I'm

(03:04:11):
not Alhaic, Like I'm not I'mnot in charge here. Yeah, some
people get that reference. Other peopledon't get that reverence. But I'd certainly
understand that, and I actually kindof relish it because I really love the
scheming part. I love the individualpart. I love being in the meeting
room of the quarterbacks and trying togame plan. But everything we do here
is collaborative. You know. Theone thing that that really struck me when

(03:04:33):
I walked in this place is there'san amazing coaching staff here, you know,
And if you get a chance totalk to Larry Johnson just about football,
or Tim Walton or Jim Knowles orBrian Hartline or any of these 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 offense and
their defense and it's Ohio State,you know, it's it's Ohio State versus

(03:04:58):
the twelve opponents that we're gonna playduring the regular season and then beyond.
So it's it's really collaborative. Andthat's the thing I like, just in
the short time that I've been here, is how collaborative everybody's been. You
know, we're all trying to makeeach other better and we're all trying to
develop this team. Touched on thiswhen you said, you know, you
like to do what you want todo and not My sense is you,

(03:05:18):
in your perfect world, you'd liketo scribble plays on a napkin and not
deal with boosters, dot deal withall the stuff that coaches. Head coaches
have to deal with. Now,how much of a factor was that in
this decision, you can just dofootball. No, that's not it.
I mean I enjoy I mean we'vehad some amazing I've had an opportunity and
everywhere I've been to meet some amazingpeople that are associated with the program.

(03:05:39):
And there's people that from my timeat New Hampshire or my time at Oregon.
I was just with Phil Night twoweeks ago, you know, and
got an opportunity to spend some timewith him and his wife Penny, who
are dear friends of mine that thathave been great mentors to me in my
career. And there's a bunch ofpeople that and UCLA Terry Donahue, Andrea
Donna who were awesome to me.Angela Mazzoni is a great friend, Casey
Wasserman, Troy Yikman. There wasa bunch of people at UCLA that I

(03:06:01):
really enjoyed, you know, beingaround and talking with. So I think
sometimes everybody wants to make a narrativeof it's either this or that. It's
never that. It's never just allball, it's never just all recruiting,
it's never just all boosters. It'sa mixture of everything. But I think
the one thing that as this positionas a head coach kept moving on is
that if you look at a lotof them, they all become more CEOs.

(03:06:22):
You know, I can't tell youhow many coaches that have called me
since I made this decision that saidI'm two years behind you, brother,
you know that are thinking the sameexact way. And I think it's all
part of what we have to do. I think we all need to protect
this game and promote this game,and I think there are some rules that
we need to get straightened out sothat people understand what it's about, because
the game is still about the players, and I hope that never gets discounted.

(03:06:46):
You know, It's always been aboutthe players, and I think if
we can keep that at the forefrontthe people that are making decisions on this,
and I think Geene Smith is oneof the best influences in the NCAAA,
is to make sure we keep thatthe main thing. The main thing.
It needs to be the student athleteright behind him. Cleveland dot Com,
you know you're coming in at atime where you've been through some places

(03:07:07):
where the expectations are high. Iunderstand it's also coming into a juncture where
you know, the three losses toMichigan and the not making the playoff last
year, the urgency is pretty highhere. I guess, just sort of
what perspective do you have on kindof the stakes that there are for Ryan
this year and the decision that thenhe makes to bring you in to kind

(03:07:28):
of help solve that. Yeah,I think the expectations can be no higher
than they are in your own brain, you know. And I think if
you try to worry about what otherpeople are thinking in their brains, you're
going to get screwed up a littlebit. So, you know, I
talked earlier the one thing about Ryanthat I know about him and has always
been he's the ultimate competitor. Sohe's got There's nowhere that has higher expectations
of Ohio State than Ryan does,nor the rest of us that joined him

(03:07:50):
in are a part of this andthat are working with him. So you
know, I don't think. Ithink sometimes you can spend too much time
thinking about those things. You know, what you really have to do is
just as there's a big sign asyou walk into this place, it says
when the moment you know, Ithink that's a real thing that we have
to do as coaches is to makesure that our players aren't worried about what's
going on in the future, oror aren't worried about what's going on in
the past, or worry about canthey get a little bit better today,

(03:08:11):
you know, and can we makeimprovement? And I think the one thing
that I've seen here, and I'veonly been here for three weeks, but
there's a consistency to the players approachwhen they walk in this building every day,
which is it's unique. It's notlike that everywhere else. And it's
one of the things that I remarkto Mick when I you know, he
said, Hey, what do youthink? And I was like, it's
impressive. It's impressive the culture ofthe players that are in this program right
now. But I think it speaksa lot to the leadership. There's a

(03:08:33):
lot of older players on this team, and they've set the tone for the
younger players, and I think theyounger players have done a great job of
followship and getting right in line withthat. He's never handed over a play
calling to someone before. What doesit mean to you? I guess he
technically did it to Bill when hewas here for a couple weeks, But
what does that mean to you tokind of be getting that responsibility from him,
and he's calling essentially the offense thatyou gave him. I guess in

(03:08:56):
some way. Yeah, I stillthink the play calling part will be a
collaborative effort. And by that Imean that if it's a good play,
I called it, and if it'sa bad play, he called it.
Because the great part is an assistantcoach, you can just point the finger
a little bit and just say,hey, you know, I wanted to
do this, but he trumped me. So we haven't actually discussed game day
yet. You know, we'll seehow that operates. But everywhere I've been

(03:09:18):
it's been a collaborative effort. Andall of a sudden, someone that's calling
the plays isn't isn't like pulls oneout of left field that you hadn't practiced
and hadn't been part of your offenseand said, hey, let's do this.
You know, we're not running theannexation of Puerto Rico. You know,
we're not coming up with something specialyou know in the middle of the
fourth quarter that we haven't done.But I think it's the key to really

(03:09:39):
being successful on offense is is howyou game plan, how you put it
all together, and then how youpractice and train for that so that you
get a chance to execute it.Because the player's confidence comes comes from their
demonstrated ability that they've done this somany times in practice that when they get
out on the field that this islike that to them. You know,
it's not that they do it sothey do it right, it's they practice
it so much so that they can'tdo it wrong. So, you know,

(03:10:01):
I think it's that whole part ofit that is really the key to
being a really good game planning team, right, Doug Lane maithe Kings of
the North Ship. When you hadthat feeling when you were coaching in quarterbacks
during Bold Operation, did you considerat that point maybe resigning as the head
coach and thinking like this is thisis not where I am anymore. I'll

(03:10:22):
leave and then I'll look to seewhat else is out there. No,
I never thought about quitting anything.So, you know, I just is
there an opportunity that I think Ican that fit, you know, And
I think that's the you know,it's no different than when you're talking to
a recruit about them make a decisionon where they're going to go to school.
I think that where they should goto school is where the best fit
is for them. So, youknow, I just entertained some opportunities and

(03:10:45):
I always felt I felt like thiswas 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. Imean, that's how I think I think
about things. Is I can't picturethat. I know someone I was on
the Nike trip and they are like, how much longer are you going to
go? And I said I hadto go another fifteen twenty years. I
don't think about I don't think aboutretirement. I don't think about any of

(03:11:07):
those things. That's just not kindof my mindset that you know. I
love football and in the as longas I can be part of this game,
then I'll be part of this game. Just the way things worked out
with your departure from UCLA, isthere anything that you wish you had done
differently, or anything you regret,or just that the circumstances that presented themselves.
Do you think that you handled thatdeparture the best that you could have?

(03:11:28):
Yeah, I mean I got anopportunity to tell my players personally you
know, I think in this dayand age of the Internet, where they
read it somewhere else and you haveto text message them. You know,
that was always important to me thatI wanted to make sure I talk to
my players and explain the reasons ofwhat I was doing. I wasn't leaving
to take a head coaching job somewhereelse. I wasn't thinking that the grass
is greener at another university. Wasjust in my personal situation, this is

(03:11:48):
what I wanted to do. Iwanted to take an opportunity to go be
a position coach and coordinator, andthat's how it fit. You know.
What I was happy is that Ialways thought to Sean Foster, I think
the world of them, and Ithink he's a special you know. And
the fact that that they were theygave him the opportunity to take over there
was you know, it worked out. I didn't have any say in that

(03:12:09):
decision, you know, I wasgone, But I always thought that Deshaun
would be a great head coach,and I'm really proud of him and happy
that that he got the opportunity totake that job right behind him. Actually
have your reputation as innovator was partof The appeal of this is that you
get to get in the weeds alittle bit. Uh maybe not mad scientists,

(03:12:30):
maybe too too strong of a workcould you're working within the system.
But was there an appeal of Iget to get my hands dirty here again
and innovate and to get back tothat side of things. It was,
but it was really more important ofwho I get to work with, you
know. And so knowing you know, I've got I know a lot of
guys on the staff besides Ryan also, so you know, and I know

(03:12:52):
what their mindset is and what theirvalues are and how they do things,
and so I wanted to be apart of that. But but there's a
part of that. Yeah, howmuch of a teacher you get labeled in
the innovators The teachings are part ofthis. How much is of a teacher
are you? And how patient areyou? Yeah? I think we're all
teachers. I mean, education isthe transportation of knowledge, you know,

(03:13:13):
So it really doesn't matter what thecoach knows. It matters what the players
understand, you know. So youhave to be able to make sure that
while you're implementing things is what resonateswith them and how does that come back
to them. So, you know, a lot of our teaching styles that
we've learned is more the socratic methodof there's a lot of questions, you
know, and a lot of checkfor understandings, just to kind of find
out where the players are coming from, because it's what they know that that's

(03:13:35):
ultimately going to win games, notwhat we know. You know that we're
not playing the games. We're notstepping across those white lines, you know,
and your job as a coach isto create an environment where they have
an opportunity to be successful and thenget out of their way and let them
go do it. So I thinkthe teaching aspect is huge, and we
continue to research, you know,some of the latest trends in teaching to
make sure that we are transporting thatknowledge to our players. Steve Helgen twenty

(03:13:58):
four of his court. Yeah,coach, just curious, you got five
scholarship quarterbacks with differing levels of experience, age and everything else. Not to
annoyed him, but just want toask specifically about Will Howard coming in after
starting part of two years at KansasState. He just seems to promote this

(03:14:20):
idea that he's a football player,you know, above all else. Just
how impressed are you with his makeup, his experience, what he's bringing to
the table walking in here right now? Yeah, really impressed. You know
that you don't have to talk toWill for more than five minutes to kind
of know where he's coming from.He's really focused, you know, he
knows he's got a short window leftin his college career and it really wants

(03:14:43):
to capitalize on what that is.There's a maturity to Will, you know.
I really I've had experience, Myexperience in this thing since the transfer
portal opened in college football is someof the best players I've had an opportunity
to coach ard transfers. Sometimes whenyou're a true freshman and then it's five
years out, you know, it'slike, hey, I got a ton
of time, you know. Andsometimes when you're a transfer, is that
I've got nine months, you know. So there's a sense of urgency I

(03:15:07):
think when you're dealing with with transfers, and I think Will has exuded that
since he's been here. But theother thing that I just in the short
time that Will has been here ishow quickly he's fit in with the entire
team, you know, and howmuch the the rest of the players respect
him. You know, he wasuh one of the Gold Award winners for
his work in the weight room inthis offseason, so that says a lot
for him coming in here as ain a short time, being able to

(03:15:28):
to win a weight room award,you know, to start off, You
guys hope to have the number oneinternally externally at the end of spring or
I guess, just let it playout. I think it always every time
I've been involved in these, Ithink when they're organic is when it's the
best. I don't think you cananoint somebody or force the issue because the
players know, the players would understand. They see it every single day,

(03:15:52):
you know, and there's a teamchemistry part of this thing too, So
we're not going to force the issue. But I've always seen it play itself
out. So I been fortunate thatthere's always going to be some quarterback battles
that at some point in time atevery school there's a quarterback battle, you
know, and then and really yougot to let them play it out on
the field, and that's where ithas to That's that's where it has to
be decided. Just a couple Hey, welcome here. You we're excited to

(03:16:16):
have you here. I'm kind ofto talk about the innovative part. Ryan
said that that's something that he's alwaysloved but working with you and now he
wants you to bring that here andhow it would fit with Ohio State.
Do you have any idea what that'sgoing to look like yet or is just
way too early? I have noidea now. I think part of it
is is you're trying to put theplayers in position to make plays. So

(03:16:37):
a lot of that comes from gettingto understand the players and what their skill
sets are and how we feature whattheir skill sets are, you know,
and and the one thing after dayone, I can tell you that there
there's a lot of skill set outthere, you know. So that's that's
what gets you excited, you know, That's what That's what you jump out
of bed in the morning and you'reexcited to go to work because of the
talent that you get to work with. But the one thing that's the most

(03:17:00):
impressive is the work ethic that goesalong with that talent. You know,
it's not just empty talent. It'syou got some kids who want to I
mean all of them since I've beenhere, want to work so that that's
what gets you excited. But Ithink assessing what the skill set is you
know that we have available to uson the offensive side of the ball is
vitally important, and then our jobis to put those guys in positions to
make place lots of pressure. Imean, you've experienced what it's like to

(03:17:24):
coach national championship, call over teamsthis program right now and moving into a
situation where you got to win Quickennow. So does that feel like pressure
here for you or is it alittle bit of excitement or both? Well,
I've always subscribed to as pressure iswhat you feel when you don't know
what you're doing. So if youdon't want to feel pressure, then you
should know what you're doing, so, you know, I think it's it's

(03:17:45):
part of that, And I thinkpart of our job with our players in
terms of the education process is gettingthem to understand that too. Is that
you know, it's it's about yourpreparation, it's about you and your development.
It's not about that you can't begoverned by what other people say.
It's it's what my mindset and howam I intrinsically motivated? And then how
do I really compete against myself ona daily basis to get a little bit
better. You know, we gota little bit better today because we get

(03:18:07):
out on the field today. Igot a chance to do some football.
And then the challenges when we getback on the field on Thursday. Can
we be a little bit better thanwe were on Tuesday. And if we're
doing that, then we keep stackinggood days on top of good days,
and I think we'll be in goodspot and welcome, thank you. I'm
gonna ask about the pros and consof coaching from the box and coaching from
the field. It's interesting to talkto some offen, some coordinators over Tom

(03:18:28):
Herman talking about it, he sworehe wanted to coach from the box.
Saw the game so much better,sterile environment, not all the chaos on
the field. Some coaches you talkto the like, I want to be
on the field so I can lookat my guys in that in the eye.
Where are you at as a asa coordinator? Honestly, And I've
thought of this a lot. Ithought of it a lot during COVID because
we had the empty stands, youknow, so I had thought about just

(03:18:48):
walking up into the stands for alittle bit 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 gamebetter from the field. So if there
was any way we could get azip wire where you could do both,
you know, coach called from thereand then zipped out 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

(03:19:09):
in their eye and kind of seewhere they are with it. And part
of it is the feel part ofit. I remember when I coached Ryan
once. We were playing Yukon andhe got hit hard going out of bounds
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,

(03:19:31):
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 bound.So it's that fine line that I don't
have an answer, you know.I think I think it's feel on the
ground and it's see from up above. 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 best forthe team is what we're gonna do.

(03:19:52):
So your team's at the organ wereobviously ever playing with this pass pace and
run much of play it for aminute and yep, maybe not act by
a fast, pretty fast what rouledo you see tempo and having an offense
and in the state, yeah,in college football and has maybe changed.

(03:20:13):
I think the game is always evolving, you know. I think when I
left in two thousand and twelve togo to the National Football League, Oregon
was the only team that was playingreally really fast and had shiny helmets.
And when I came back in twentyseventeen, everybody had shiny helmets and everybody
was playing fast. So I thinkthe game is always going to go up
and down, and there's going tobe different cycles that it goes through.

(03:20:35):
I think tempo is part of anoffense, but I don't think it's an
offense in itself. I think it'smore of like if you go to dinner,
it's a side order. You know, it's not the main course,
but it's it's always good to haveit. So I think there's times when
you'll use it, but you're you'renot going to use it extensively the entire
game, just like you're not goingto throw the ball every single snap in
the game. You're not going torun the ball every single snap in the
game. You know, there's there'snot a game of absolutes anymore. I

(03:20:58):
think the ability to be diverse andhave it as a tool in your two
box, so to speak, uhis really how we would look at using
it. Here are now more familiarwith it then, I think. So,
you know, I think when youfirst started going Temple, there were
people in the NCAA they want tooutlaw they want to make an NCAA role
that yeah, you couldn't do it, you know, and I'll I'll give

(03:21:18):
coach Shaping credit. I mean,I think obviously Nick was the first one
to do it. He wanted itoutlawed, and then all of a sudden
he adapted it and said, allright, we like this, you know,
so we'll keep it in. Butit's I think people have it doesn't
matter what you do. There's there'scycles to this game, and then once
people catch on to that cycle,then it moves. You know, it's
no different than for three defenses andthree four defenses. You know what is

(03:21:39):
the rage when the when the Giantswon the Super Bowl, they were there
were three four defense and everybody,everybody says we have to do that.
What people didn't understand is they hadCarl Banks and Lawrence Taylor. It didn't
matter what defense they were running.I know, Gym's back there and Jim
played against the you know it wasthey could have been a four down defense
and those guys would have been greatplayers. But it's not the scheme.
I think the coaches that do itthe best way is they insert their players

(03:22:03):
and put them in the best positionto make plays. And now now will
Temple be part of it, It'llbe part of it, but it's certainly
not going to be the main course. Sorry, last question, Oh,
thank you very much, Jerry uhRenumber one. There was the great moment
there when y'all were warming up,when you were you were talking with Tim
Walton and Caleb Downs comes up andconversing and as you're in this kind of

(03:22:24):
a two part question, but numberone, what was just your take on
the talent you saw on that fieldtoday on both sides of the ball.
Where where would you rank it?Yeah, I'll rank it. I'll be
very transparent. As I was tellingTim and Caleb what a great offensive player
I thought Caleb would be, couldbe and should be. But I'm not

(03:22:46):
the head coach, so I alwaysturned stretch as a as an offensive coordinator,
I'm always looking at the defensive playerslike I could use him. Oh
what could I do if I hadhim? Life? If you do it
right away, so you know,being accountable, you know, doing the
extra stuff away from the f uhthe facility. That stuff matters at the
end of the day, cause allthe expectations and all that pressure, that

(03:23:07):
really doesn't matter if you do thosethings, you know. So what are
your expectations for a year two inthis offense? I'll just keep going.
You know, the name of thegame is just execution. You know.
The times where we executed at ahigh level, the times we won those
games. You know, So that'sjust the goal is just to execute and
to be able to be on thesame page Bill chemistry right now. So

(03:23:30):
you know, when the t whenthe ball rolls, you know, very
very r ready to fly around ata high level. So I mean that's
the goal and that's that's you know, there's goals on top of that,
but that's the that's the foundation rightnow. Okay, it's foundation work.
So did you see ja? Iknow that I know that it's still pretty
early. But how has it beenso far getting to work with Diggs and
how is he fitting in? Sofar? He's been fitting in great.

(03:23:50):
You know, he's coming in withhis head down mentality, just working.
You know, he's helped me outa lot. Just you know, he
come comes from a from a aa good system over there where when he
was with the Bills, and theydid a lot of things with him and
really just offense and tell me howlike Josh played and things like that,
things that you know we do differentthan We've had this plenty of conversation,

(03:24:13):
you know, So he been he'scome in and and been a leader,
which which I'm proud of him for. And you know it just really's has
been unselfish and uh, I wantedto see other guys eat and that was
his main things like he wanted tobe around other dogs. And you know,
he he he stepped into that rolewhere there's a dog everywhere. Every
he looks right, he looks left, there's gonna be a dog. So
and he wanted that and that's whatyou know. We we break to the

(03:24:35):
table and he's been nothing but justamazing so far. And I n I'm
very excited to work with him asa teammate, as a big what's he
like to have your friend Tank backwith you? Guys? What was it
like to go from the camon ofemotions from hearing about it to now when
it's over and your back out there. He'll have plenty And it's amazing.
You know, it's s it's justa testament to him and you know,

(03:24:58):
one of the guy we save.And then too, just the work that
he's put in. You know,he's been uh you know, he came
back before it was even schedule.He can get cleared and then on top
of that, you know, justcoming back after that freak accident. And
you know, I think that weserve a guy that's merciful and that's that's
purposeful and he knows that and hestepped into and me and him, we

(03:25:20):
have those conversations about our faith andthen cause like this football stuff it seems
like it's everything, but it's not. You know, we're we're people,
and we we go through a lotoff the field people don't know. And
you know, as his brother,I have to be there for him,
like just like he's there for mewhen I go through what I go through.
So I mean, I'm just proudof him, man, Like the
word proud is even probably enough tolike state the the feelings that I have

(03:25:43):
for that guy. Man, he'smy one of my best friends that I've
you know, gotten a known overthe years in this in this world of
football and past that man, Ifeel like I'm going to since I've been
three years old, you know,I think for like our connections kind of
like we grew up together, andyou know, I just got a lot
of love for that guy. Youknow, I'm very excited for him.
He's been snapping that practice and doingreally well and you know, to knock

(03:26:05):
off the rust that quick shows howmuch work he's been in. How much
more comfortable are you walking up toots this year to be to the last
year. Things kind of a littlebit slower, just the biggest difference to
you. Yeah, it's night andday. Man. It's really like I
feel like I'm running the show andI've got a lot more uh responsibilities from
Slow and from de Beaca and fromdry Bill and really our whole office of

(03:26:26):
staff. And you know, I'mthe captain of the ship and I got
to run it the right way.And I feel like I've you know,
stepped into that role just you know, and not not only hold outs accountable,
but also you know, hold myselfaccountable to those moments, like I
don't let anything slide, uh causethat's that'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

(03:26:52):
NFL open, knowing my food workbetter. There's really every little thing I've
taken a step and then on theother side of the ball, you know,
just everything slowed down. See coverageDemiico does a good job of blitching
me in, you know, workingon their different coverages or different looks to
start too high, go to oneand go back to two motion like as
man go to cover too Like allthat stuff to keep me true and honest.

(03:27:13):
And you know, I think I'vetried to do my best with my
off season study to you know,be better, and I feel like I've
done that and had a good otaso far. So got to finish with
that mini camp, but it's beendefinitely a big transition of there's more comfortability
from last year this year. College, you you always had like a really
talented receiver room, and then lastyear you have the talented receiver a room.

(03:27:33):
So you've had the experience of havingto feed a lot of guys obviously
had in digs, even Joe Mixingcoming out of the backfield. How much
would that experience from those you know, college and last year help you with
being able to make sure that everybody'sbeing fed the way they are. So
if you can, you have thebest possible offer if you guys like get
more. Yeah, I mean Idon't think nothing changes. You know.
It's like, uh, I tellI tell guys, cause I get that

(03:27:56):
question a lot from I got peoplewas just walking around just anywhere, astra
game whatever, and I was like, man, it's football. You know
you're open, you get the ball, so uh and my thing is you
gotta pick your poison playing us likewho are you gonna double? Who you
gonna cater to? Who? Likeyou got five dogs? Who are who
are able to get the get theball in each give and play? You

(03:28:16):
know, So I think it's fine. I know Slow has done a great
job of being more creative and youknow, has put different personnel packages out
there, guys in different positions thatgoing from inside and outside, you know.
And you know, I'm I'm veryexcited to work with with coach Low
again. He's done amazing so far. You know, Ota is and will
continue to do such. But yeah, man, I think that past experience

(03:28:39):
of playing with Marv Jackx, Garrett, Chris Jamo, America, Julian like
those type of guys, and they'lltell you too, like you know,
they'll probably have said it before,but they'll tell you like they made need
better and I made them better.You know, That's my job is to
make everybody around me better. SoI'm excited. Man has been healthy competition.

(03:29:03):
Like I know, Garrett, I'veseen his interview the day he was
talking about Ohio. See how likethe receivers, like if gear made a
play, Chris is like, nah, watch this like it's the same thing
here, which is you know,really cool to watch. And you know,
as the quarterbacks meet, Davis incase and Tim were the same way
too. So healthy competition is thebest way to grow and get better.
And I think that that's what it'sabout. You see how excited Diggs gets

(03:29:26):
for Tank when he makes it play, and Match gets for excited for when
Nico makes a play, and Tankgets excited when Rob makes a play.
You know. So it's amazing.And you know we got Noah coming back
to which is gonna be amazing,And I'm excited. Got been there and
a ton of guys. There's aton of talent, Steed showing up.
Really, everybody's really been doing Jay, Wayne, Johnny you know so and
man it's been fun see j HNick who that done got you some some

(03:29:50):
makesure talent on the office side ofthe ball. Well what do you think
about the dishes that he made onthe defensive side of the ball. Yeah,
man, it's been great. It'sbeen good on good like Demigna talks
about iron Shop, behye, youknow, it's been a lot of smack
talk, a lot of just uh, just good competition, you know.
And then it starts with me andhis ease, you know, him being
the leader of defense. I'm theleader at offense. And you know,
playing him last year. Man,he always showed up on tape when I

(03:30:13):
watched the Titans last year. Soit's cool to like see like the stuff
he thinks. We you can seehim at my locker, me at his
or us before practice after practice talkingabout plays and you know, so,
I mean it starts with us,and then when you add Daniell, somebody
who's a very who plays really hard, who's gonna help will you know?
Them two dogs? He got Timin the in the middle with Autrey and

(03:30:37):
and Sosa and just a ton ofguys, man, you know, in
the back end, got young guysshowing up. Kaitlyn's doing really well in
the back end along with Petrie andJimmy, along with Kamari. Kamar is
showing up. Stein is playing wellas y'all seen. Uh So, man,
it's just been dogs on dogs,you know, like and that's that's
that's that's the best teams I've everbeen. Has been the closest teams personally,

(03:31:01):
but also the most competitive team.So it's been dope. He's see
that he broke out last year andNco broke out last year and he go
go getst the contract exception, he'shere too twenty twenty seven. What does
that do for you? Just knowingthat you haven't familiar target to work with
for the next few years. Youknow, it's just something I I'm first
of all, I'm just proud ofthat guy. Uh my brother Nico.

(03:31:22):
He's shown up and shown out,you know, when you know and his
number is called, he always makesto play and you know, he's just
a special He's a generation talent man. He's he's like alright, age is
Andre Johnson in my opinion of justhow fast he is, how he gets
in and out of his brace,his releases, how strong he is.
And I think last year was justa uh a preview to what it's took

(03:31:45):
come for him. And the onething I'm proud of him for is just
the work has never stopped. He'sconstantly here working on his body, constanting
here working on his hands, hishis mobility in the weight room, you
know. So for me mean justhaving a 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 I'll have it again and

(03:32:05):
it's gonna be fine. Man.And Nico he's gonna he's he loves to
see everybody else eat too, Soman, his his love for his brothers
hasn't change. And you know,it's it's a it's a special feeling to
see somebody who deserves to get paidand you know, get what they the
d dad what they deserve. Andyou know, I'm just really proud of
him. What does it mean foryou to have another opportunity to work for

(03:32:26):
Barbisola and Angelie Johnson? I don'tknow if you remember that was a moment
going into the playoffs last season.Where do you live even know if either
one of those guys would here?Shit? Yeah, I mean for both
of them to come back was veryspecial. I think we both we all
have a better feel of how towork with one another. And you know,
the talent I am on the fieldand the play caller that uh Bobby

(03:32:46):
is and then the the comment Coachdroved is you know we all work together
and that and you know, slowas I'm in his office almost every morning
just going over stuff and watch thefilm with him, going over things that
we need to go to get betterat and he always has his phrases,
you know, working for the endat mind, and you know he holds
me accountable when you know it couldbe easier just to like let me slide

(03:33:09):
cause you know, I'm I'm outthere still making plays, but he's like,
nah, you need to be betterhere, here and there, and
you know, I that's just uhshows what type of a leader he is.
And you know, it's a honorto be able to work with him
again. And same for me,like to him like, hey, flow,
I'm not really feeling this play orI wanna add this player to try
to see if we can get betterhere in this inn in this practice where

(03:33:33):
you know, I think we canbe really good at this type of player.
And he's very very accepting when itcomes to that. So it's been
cool to work with both of them. And I'm very excited to get another
year on our belt. What wasit like right here? What was it
like? Uh, teacher football internationallyand the the r the reception that you
got from the people there, itwas it was amazing. You know.

(03:33:54):
Uh, first of all, shoutout to Beijing, Shanghai and Tokyo,
you know for accepting me. ToMicah with open arms and just the hospitality
and the uh just the culture man, there is just amazing. They want
to learn about football, you know, and it's it was cool just to
see like them already have like thefoundation of it, but wanted to grow

(03:34:15):
from there. And you know,I think football is a family sport and
like those people are our family now. And you know, the Olympics come
into where it's gonna be international withflag football, I think it's super dope.
And to be able to get youknow, to be able to put
our feet into those those uh doorsalready, you know, it's kind of
cool, you know. So Imean, I'm very grateful with my team

(03:34:39):
with uh uh Bernie and David forsetting that up and even like the guys
out there who who gave us topnotch hospitality. It w It was just
amazing, man, the whole experience. So you know, just my first
time really out the country and justbeing able to like go to the Great
Wall, China and all that stuffand still do what I love to do.
You know, working out with myit was cool and uh he has

(03:35:01):
a lot of crazy takes, butyou know, I I got left for
that guy. But it was funman John and Jonathan Dad. What's uh,
what's it like? I mean,Kate's stover down here with you,
and what's your relationship been like withhim? Uh? Yeah, Kay's my
brother, man. You know,I've been through taking thing with him,
and he's somebody who I I oftenlook at as like like our moms are

(03:35:26):
like the same, or our familiesare super close. In college, I
think he's like my blood brothers wholike somewhere for a count of line.
I don't know how it works,but I just he's always like there for
me. He's always you know,I don't know, man, Kate is
just like that guy. He's abrother that you just you know, letting

(03:35:46):
him know I'm available for him.You know. I think it can be
something as little as just the stepson field goal blot or a field goal
protection. And I've been doing itfor thirteen years. Uh it's still crazy.
I'm still doing it, but uh, you know, Uh, those
are the ty type of things I'mjust giving guidance to. And then you
know, off the field, it'syou know, what to expect around the

(03:36:07):
city, where should you be,where you should be, how you can
help yourself, you know, thelittle things day. What are you looking
forward to your contract? You know, I'm looking to be here, you
know, I uh the value iswhat we decide. But you know,

(03:36:28):
I think for me, I II wanna be you know, valued at
my position. You know, II understand I came up a rough season,
but I don't think it's a stepdown of where I can play.
You know, I think when I'mat the top of my game, I'm
still you know, top five playerat my position. And you know I
played a run in the past andI bring leadership and you know that's not

(03:36:52):
anything I discover. Can you doyou plan to be here for mini camp
or in the start of training camp? Yeah? How difficult has it been
the last two weeks to not beinghere? I mean you said in your
blod cast the first time you nevernot been at Yeah, it w it
was difficult, But like you know, the thing I got very frustrated with
was just when people questioned my communicationwith the team. You know, I

(03:37:13):
uh was communicating with guys left andright, and you know, front office,
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

(03:37:35):
can't to them, and I don'twant that to ever be question. And
Theaya said that it felt like sometimesyou were holed up somewhere watching film.
You text your l say hey,you missed this, or you wanna be
that. Well, like the firstday, he was batting all up Russ's
passes, so I had to lethim know, you know, I,
uh, you gotta take advantage ofthat. You gotta make sure guys are
you know, uh know that youyou still care and you you still wanna

(03:37:56):
be a part of this. Uh, you know, just watching practice,
there's a couple of little things we'redoing different, whether I'm communicating with Dunbar
or other people you know, sobe yeah, so you're bit. You're
also talking with him and you yougive him pointers during the off season,
just constant communication. How do yousee him grow as a person, you

(03:38:16):
know, as far as how he'sapproaching things, how he's getting ready for
this season from his rookie ar Uh. You know, I think the thing
with Keanu is he's more comfortable,you know. You know it's not his
first time around the track. Youknow, it's actually like he can you
know, uh, catch his feetunder him. You know, I always
think when you're in your rookie season, you're going from bowl game. I

(03:38:37):
don't even know Wisconsin playing a bowlgame. Sorry Wisconsin, I don't even
know. But you know, personally, I just think when you go from
bowl game to training for the combineto you know, rookie Minniicamp to OTA's
the you know mini camp, Imean the training camp the regular season,
you really don't get a time toreally catch yourself. You know, he

(03:38:58):
understands the playbook. Now he canbe more vocal, you know. And
I think when my absence, theother guys absence, you know, you
need guys like that to step upand be ready for those opportunities. You
had. The same you had duringthe season was more thorough. What was
just tightened down everything, you knowon my left side because I was overcompensating

(03:39:18):
a little bit, but you knowit was there wasn't anything that lingers.
You know, I'll say this,A growing is not like an a cl
It's not like anything's ever gonna geaffected again. And you know, you
know, I'm feeling good, ableto do everything squat and heavy with power
and speed, so you know,it feels good to get after Again,

(03:39:41):
what do you think of what theteam was able to accomplish your soft season
in terms to bring guys like Russianand things. You know, I think
they're all good acquisitions. But youknow, you never want to be known
as a paper champion, so can'twin the off season. I think the
work gets done out here on thefield, gets done in the classroom.
Wow, it gets done training,uh, you know, and then you

(03:40:03):
see where you're at in training campand then you build on that. You
know, I think we got theright guys in the building. It's just
about uh, putting a complete teamon the field. Cam how pinpri coll
is it to separate the business partof the game in the actual football player?
Uh? You know, y youalways wanna you you always have to
treat it like a business, uh, because you know one day it's gonna

(03:40:26):
end. Uh and that's been job. Uh. It's not like in college
where you know you got four yearsguaranteed. I don't know, well now
you you don't know whether an iland know it's crap, but the transfer
portal portal. But you know youhave to I still have love for this
game, and I still work mytail off and I still put everything into

(03:40:48):
it, and that's not gonna change. But you have to know, uh
what you bring to the team andand what your what your value is.
Kay, you how did it feelto be out there with your teammates today?
Emotionally great? You know, wegot a new uh, we got
a new training staff and still learningthe the warm up a little different.
Uh, but uh, you knowI loved it. Uh, you know,

(03:41:09):
just getting after it, learning newguys, Uh, going through the
same drills I've been doing by myself. Uh. I actually like having more
people around, cause like kind ofgo stir crazy, cra crazy. When
it's just you and another guy,You're like, damn, I gotta go
back up for another rep already.And so you know, it's nice to

(03:41:30):
be up here and get a chanceto, you know, be with my
guys, can confident and be ableto get done with your emotions. Oh,
I'm gonna I'll try to remain prettyneutral, cause you know, I
don't wanna be too either way.All I know is I wanna be here.

(03:41:50):
But we'll see what happens. Causemy last year here, I I
I I've had a great career here, but uh, I'll look forward to
play next year. Can you gosec? You said it this time was
on the left side. It wasthe first time around on the right side,
right side during the season, leftside, and that was just tightening
down my corner. My corma sawit wasn't the same as my ad doctor.

(03:42:13):
You know, you can ask doctorBradley, uh, doctor doctor Zuckerbron
who uh did the surgery as well. You know, I if anything's gonna
help me and it'll make me alot stronger for hearing up. Can you
said you were training with another guy? Who have you have kind of been
Tyson? Oh? Uh, I'vebeen training with him for the last eight
years. We've always trained together.We got a trainer up north, uh

(03:42:37):
shadowt Cole Haley. He's my guy, traded trained trained, Uh Heath Miller,
Brett Keesel. The multitude of guysthat I all respect and we've just
been getting after. Can the veryfew guys historically thirty five the paid big
contractor do you think that's spelled againstyou? I think there's not a lot

(03:42:58):
of history behind it, but youknow, for me, I I look
at as I'm not looking to belike anybody else. You know, my
game is different from everybody else inthis league. You know, I like
to think, you know, Ican play the run in the past,
and then that's where I'm different.You know. I remember last year Mike
t just brought to my attention.You know, the thing that's really cool

(03:43:18):
is you watch power lesters, andyou know, my game's built on powering
technique, and those guys go intotheir forties and so you know, that's
what kind of research I'm doing behindthe scenes. But you know, I
I we'll see what happens. Theit's there's not a lot of history.
But I'm here to make history andI'm here to you know, win another

(03:43:41):
Super Bowl year and you know,have a great season. Do you have
a set goal over yourself on howmany years you wanna play in the NFL?
Or do you just take things yearby the year? You know it?
It was it was tough answering thatquestion right after the season. I
will say this, guys, II can't keep answering that question right after
the season. That is not fairto the season, that's not fair to
my family. Uh, you know, but in my mind, I got

(03:44:05):
three years and I wanna maximize'em. I wanna play at a high level
and I wanna go deep in theplayoffs, and you know, we got
a good team and I'm gonna domy part to be ready for all those
situations here. If you plan onRACA, see when you reports with trove
or is your possibility that you mightpull in and enforces I I have not

(03:44:26):
even thought that far. I've takena day by day. Uh you know.
Uh uh. I told my agentand we talked about it, and
we we were cool coming out here. You know, I'll be here for
many you know, and then I'llbe there for training parent you know,
I don't know what the work entails, but right when we get there,
we'll we'll cross that bridge. Whyis it or remain a stealer for those

(03:44:48):
three years? You know, therewas a conversation between me Omar and Mike
t and there's certa guys are onehelmet guys, you know, and I
want to be one of those onehelmet guys. And you know, there's
a there's a hunger and desire thatI was doing a little bit of carrying

(03:45:09):
the ball I was behind Xavier Johnson, so learning from him and guys like
that, it makes me more comfortable. But I could. I feel like
I could do anything on the fieldnow. I'll do anything to play so
fast as to do with meat,throwing the ball, running the ball,
catching the ball, blocking, AnythingI'll do is get on the field,
believe with that. Coach specifically talkedabout how comped you are. Where do
you think that drive from? Itjust comes from where I'm from, South

(03:45:31):
Florida. I feel like everybody downthere, we compete to the max.
There's no other place that competes likeSouth Florida. There's dogs all around the
South Florida. So, I mean, it's just ever since I was seven
years old when I started playing,It's just it was instilled in me to
just compete and be that dog.Speaking of South Florida once, I mean,

(03:45:52):
I played with Jeremiah when I wasten and eleven, and then we
played against each other a couple yearsof heighth cool. So I've seen him.
The growth he's made over these yearsis insane. The way his body
has changed is crazy. And nowseeing out here today is just like everything
come full circle. You know.He he's what. He was the best
player in the country last year andfor him, for me seeing him grow

(03:46:16):
up and things like that, it'sbeen really good freshman such a stack room.
Even Marvin Harrison Junior didn't play muchas a true fresh but seems like
he might be the exception to therule. I feel like Jeremiah's 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,

(03:46:37):
I feel like he has to playsome way. He has to he
has to play. He was justbetter than the team Jeremiah sophomore and now
this year they're gonna get the bestreceiver receiving room in the country. You

(03:47:07):
know, we've been helding that narrativefor so long now, but we're gonna
continue to do that. I mean, we have conversations who like as us
three because we're we all play forthe same team. As you said,
we just want to be the bestand we know when it's our time to
come, we're gonna do We're gonnado that and definitely get a national championship.
How special is that for you thatyou guys get It's very special because

(03:47:31):
you would have never known in OTseven when we were there, all on
the same field together on the sameteam. Who never thought we would have
been at the Ohio State University,all playing on the same field at the
same time. So it's definitely speciallythem's the dream come true. Hows your
body changed in this offseason? Idefinitely think my body has changed a lot,

(03:47:52):
and it's changed the ways of likemy body. Papper sentances went down
a lot, and I just feellike I overall feel there when I like
do long runs and stuff like that. So I have a good, really
good stamina right now, So Ijust hope to keep that up. Would
you be guys winded this year asyou were after a fifty seven year touchdown
in your first catchy winded? Yeah, yeah, yeah. I feel like

(03:48:16):
it was just adrenaline rushing. Ifeel like I was as more so a
celebration, was more tired than therun. Actually everybody jumping on me and
stuff like that. But it wasdefinitely a cool expair experience. Just talk
about South Florida. Is there alittle Southwora? Is there outside? It
feels like there's a little bit ofSouth Florida. Maybe there's nobody from there,

(03:48:39):
like they're a good trackdroppers. Yeah, what do you guys? Do
you see that in the corner right? I feel like if there were anybody
to be from South Florida in acorner them, it'll be I just be
Davidson, Nigos and guard and lookingover to the my counterparty guard. It's
a great things. What's what aboutCarson's skills might just allow him to move
and shift over one's pop was lastyear? Why did you best? Right?

(03:49:01):
He's athletic, He's able to runthe ball you ethen as well,
which is off the point your favoritething and working in the space that's uh,
it's a huge uh thing to haveand uh he's just trying to come
up into the red guard spot.Now. It's how many kind of the
other guys, like I said,verifying for it, but uh, you's
dot. He did a good jobtoday. Let's see what we can do
until summer and get into the fallcamp. After Sam scuored his touchdown,

(03:49:22):
coach locked and was talking to himand any kind of made his way over
toward you grabbed the shoulder kind oflike what was going on there? Oh
yeah, yeah, I mean obviouslyUh, a young guy scores a touchdown.
The shoe he kind of blocks outof anything. So I'm trying to
coach a lock is calling his name, trying to get his attention back.
He gets some coaching. Uh itwas it was nothing too crazy to coach
locks. It now we handle ontothe rep around here, and so just
to make sure you know, uh, obviously it's a great thing. Right

(03:49:43):
now I'm scoring a touchdown. It'sa great thing. Everybody shown to see
him score. But you have sometime to see some coaching. A lot
of quarterbacks running the ball up today, you may to that part of the
game. I mean, I Ithink that just makes a offense even more
pouncing that you that's played a lefton the levens of the time of eleven.
So it's just another guy to accountfor it, the guy you have
to uh move outside of the boxor revery. That leaves the rest of

(03:50:03):
the defense open for more options thanthe offensive. So it's a it's an
awesome thing. You know, personally, I on the slide, but but
uh, it's it's still cool tosee how difficult did that make it last
year? When you hear the lastcouple of years, when you really haven't
had that. What does the runningfor you've ad? You do runner a
quarterback one? It's none. Itwasn't difficult. It's just a new style
of opens. You know. CoachKelly comes in with uh his philosophy and

(03:50:26):
what he wants the cues to doand the cube of action doing on the
spring. So we're just gonna keepbuilding off that. Obviously you did a
couple of good things today some uhsome good runs by all the cues,
but just uh, building off ofit and see what I think you're better
done. I think you open todayin a tea formations and creative like that.
What's it like working with Chip Kelly? And how is that helping the
offensive line? He's creativity you know, Uh, it's it's it's really fun

(03:50:48):
going through walk through. Obviously Ionly get the run to play the inside
outside sound. But you know whenwe go back from film like well we
were in the tea for measure,but it's, uh, everything's a lot,
everything's a lot more line. Allthe guys are buying it, and
all the guys are more funny souCoach kind of brings us on his own
juice to what we have. Whatyou're going on and just uh, every

(03:51:09):
day, every guy, everyone improvesoff bally. Do you feel that improvement
up front for you guys in theoffensive line? You feel like that's helping
you guys right now? For sure? Yeah? I mean, uh,
is we have a lot more experiencein your line, A lot more guys
have a year or two under thebelt. What did your impression of him?
What does he do well that you'relike, Okay, yeah, this
is this is the brogny he closesyou board those hard. Yeah, you

(03:51:30):
committed right after the visit. Imean when you came down here, was
there a thought process that you couldcommit. Did you come down with an
open mind or did it kind ofhave a feeling that this was gonna be
the weekend, the end the mat. I came down with a open mine.
I didn't know about the open madereal now and then I got here.
I felt the family adae here players. And what was that moment like
for you? Talking with coaches tellingme we're player and telling your family just

(03:51:52):
well, what was that like foryou? But it was great? Uh,
I have my mom, my dad, all my mothers in the room
area contact. What was there reaction? Well, everybody already know except from
native So what was coach last yearwhen you think of like just to comment
or the yeah, just an OhioState back you know, whether it's physicality,

(03:52:15):
like what what are the first thingsthat come to mind when you think
of you don't hi share anymore?Speed of power? Yes on and tell
you got it? Yeah? Thereis that something that I mean you feel
like you have to you know,working or is that something that you're like,
Yeah, that's the kind of backI am. I'm just gonna be
next to mine that all hys.I think that's the top back I am.
But you go out group, Yeah, well what are kind of a
few of those things that you're like, yeah, I need to work on
like go over the course of thenext few months. Just everything. Make

(03:52:39):
sure I keep all the details billsecurity. What a coach I tell you
that you like? So that's yourgame? Is it art? The tackles
you speed? Or what is helike? Right? He said you like
morows off the backfield and man heliked that. I'm what's kind of your
main I mean obviously as an instate kid committed to this class, what's
your pitch now to other recruits?This is why you should join Ohio States

(03:53:01):
twenty train. It's a real family. I'm experience. Yea, everybody getting
them on, everybody tucked into,everybody joins other. What'd you say once
you get an kills bring it toyou? Well, I've always looked up
to Bill Jack and watching this film. Do you uh that's funny? Do

(03:53:24):
you think that your boy style themrahas for this perspective and just the way
that he really is? Yeah?I think that what you want to grow
into. Yeah, I think Ican. I think to speed that pr
Yeah. I think who are themain guys that you're you're talking to right
now to join the store? I'mreally talking to everybody, uh, the

(03:53:46):
listening room and that all the committsand any guys that you want to join
the class, anybody at the topof your listeners not I'm sorry if you've
already got asked this, but comingout here as a as a recruit,
as a commitments here? What whatdid you want to show today? What
did you want to get out ofthis experience? Wasn't nothing to show,
nothing to prove. I just wantedto this work here with love. How

(03:54:07):
did you feel like that went?Obviously he's still relatively new here, but
he seems to bring up a littlebit of a different energy than than some
of these camps in the past.I feel like it went good. Do
you sense that energy? I meanwhen you're out with him, it's I
feel intense everything. He's different thanother guys though, right, I mean
kind of How would you explain hiscoaching than some of the other running back
coach you may have worked with inthe path, It's just intense, tense,

(03:54:28):
like go go go. Did didyou talk to coach talk on when
you even had organ? I did? Okay? So when when didn't he
didn't work in getting Mortimer thik Ruffordaround, like after the season, like
not too far after year? Okay? Is that I mean? Is it
was? He kind of the sameguy that he is now, so just
just in a new uniform. Basicyea. Then you guys obviously added Isaiah

(03:54:54):
to the class, and there's nosecret they would like to add another one.
What are your thoughts on being ina class with three different running like
that? I have no problem beingthe class through from things. What do
you like about Isaiah? I don'tknow, you don't know, you've never
met him, but you don't justdamn it on the first when you committed.
Who were some of the guys thatwe should have to were familiar in

(03:55:15):
particular about after they come up,I'm not really a couple of linebackers.
Take me ONSU. You just enjoyway coming back here, just get into
I enjoy every time. You know, that's just been great. Christ do

(03:55:41):
you think WoT your life changing towatch out before you were in the last
joy and just decided to wouk,I'm committing and now you're po star,
number one player US. It's actuallyreally big. I ever say, it's
just even getting the offer from heremy life that's just ye Sky appreciate.

(03:56:07):
I mean, obviously you got acouple here before you get there and hearious
about how you pick so higher andstate how you it's a pretty you started
to get a day. But Imean in terms of the guys, don't
you want to join? How youYou're you're not missing not much test starting
to hamper, get your not sun, get your pimps shirt. It's a

(03:56:31):
shot a great right season because workwhen you want out of a quarterback in
your class, like a white,you're missing at a specifically like yeah,
this is what I want out oftesting quarterback Conchs just cards great. What's

(03:57:03):
your uh? Rochester by Hard Worker? Thank you brothers music, don't you
very thank you very much again?Thank you once again your music. We're

(03:57:30):
talking about uh Kelly about that?You don't you like im? It's the
first time I met him, youknow, we just find it. Yeah,
what do you think you can bring? You know, like a lots

(03:57:50):
to say for you against it's beenlike for you in California being out of
fun to day. This is alittle lonestly like helping a different being in
a state recruit here when you werejust Yeah, it's definitely different. So

(03:58:13):
it's flying here a new generation ofrecruits where I don't think anybody outside looking
at the movie the questions the strengthof your commitment, like you're locked into
the last date. You send itover and over, but you're making visits
around the country. You've seen otherschools. It's it's almost a totally different
mindset. How do you approach theseother visits and how do you communicate with

(03:58:37):
Ohio State about them? And what'sbeen the message communicate State. I just
know that you know, I'm alwayslocked in, you know, I'm just
still on the joint process just beingyou know, this is only happen once
on you know the Savings enjoy theother schools outs out of the life.

(03:58:58):
Yes, and you really try toget you the flip that's so high to
stay you know where I would be? So what is if it's made you
wanna take post to this? Whatwh chase house? The rehab process going
so far, it's going great man, it's taking them one day at a
time. At what stage are you? I know Day said they wanted to
see you, probably in training campand we would know a little bit more.

(03:59:18):
I guess after next week when yousee the doctor for what what stage
are you? Yeah, I'm backup training doing everything lifting crazy, So
yea I'm back in that stage.Do you have a time cable? Like
what would you be ready for trainingcamp? Or uh? Like what is
your expectation? Uh? Right now? Just take me one day at a
time, standing in my playbook,so my numbers called'em ready? And
how important for you hasn't been toI guess stay around the team while you're

(03:59:39):
in this process? Uh? Greatman? Uh, you know, definitely
getting in touch with the guys,you know, knowing a lot of s
lot of the guys already a lotof the old State boys here, so
it's been great. Are you encouragedby how you feel so far after the
procedure? Do you? Oh,yeah, what your expectations were? What
from what people told you? Howwould how would it goes? Oh yeah,
no, I F I feel fine. Shit, I just ran ten

(04:00:01):
fifties. Shoot, I'm I'm gettingback in shape. Shoot, getting in
the weight room, about to getstrong again. So yeah, I'm I'm,
I'm, i'm'a be ready. Whatpotential do you see with this defensive
line? Yeah? I mean no, you definitely stacked. I see a
lot of great things. Uh,you know, we worked together, Yeah,

(04:00:22):
I think Scott's limit. Some conversationshave you had with some of the
veterans like Cam many other people onthe G 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 prettysnap breeze things like that. Cha.
I think making said, you knowyou dove into the deep end of the

(04:00:45):
cool h. How I guess Mmuch important for you to be disinvested with
his team in and how much areyou enjoying that investment? Yeah, no,
that's real cool, but I uhI love it here. Uh only
thing I had to get used tois that heat, but uh it's it's
real cool. Great teammates, mand everybody welcome you with open arf.
So it was a great experience.Chase hot Get you answered, sorry,

(04:01:07):
is uh training camp day one?Is that a realistic expectation? I'm just
focusing on today? Are you runningit? Yup? Marshan is into the
oh house they got just having himback in the building, just talking about
what's happening. Oh yeah, uhyeah, b uh big bro. You
know it's uh, definitely excited toplay with'em. We always chatted obviously

(04:01:30):
on different teams, but I'm definitelyexcited to to play with'em. That's
you know, that's gotta be bigfor me. Was that one of the
guys making the decision that you youkind of talked to about what this locker
room is? Like? Yeah,Marshawan, uh Tyrane, But yeah,
I mean it was we got alot of great guys. Misdee. You

(04:01:50):
look at that, you know onpaper, you know, I feel like
definitely one of the most talented defensesin the league for sure. Huh uh.
Now it's all about just putting ittogether and you know, coming together
as a team. The research onthat one hundred years ago, you know,
folks had the idea of building astadium over sixty thousand people, and

(04:02:13):
that's because of what Chick Harley wasdoing. And you know, they had
a wooden bleachers over here and allthese people started coming in and the idea
of bringing in a stadium that ofover sixty thousand people at the time was
like, this is crazy. Whatis college football turning into? And they
instead of going to the state orgoing to the school the community, they
went to the community to raise themoney they raised over at the time over
a million dollars. Well night,Fast forward one hundred years and the conversation

(04:02:35):
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
much different, it's just in adifferent time, in a different you know,

(04:02:56):
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 ofthe revenue sharing to try to institutionalize some
of it, which would be bigfor US real bills. Yeah, every
years question, it seems like thisyear's team has fewer questions off the line

(04:03:22):
as specifically, if you look aheadto rely more than a month, what
are the real questions that you havein your mind about position? I would
say on offense, you know,we've got to square away the quarterback as
you know, I feel like,you know, the offensive line on the

(04:03:45):
right side, we got to solidifythat. I feel like we got to
build, you know, enough depthat receiver that we feel like we can
put in five or six in thegame and feel good about it. On
defense, I think we're still lookingto fit figure out, you know,
who are going to be the guysinside, you know, the the third,
the fourth, the fifth, defensiveinterier, a linement that we're going

(04:04:07):
to put in the game. Andthen same thing just just I would say
depth, a little bit of safety, just to kind of see who those
next guys are they're going to stepup and so we know it's going to
be a long year. We're goingto need everybody, and and so in
a lot of those areas it's depthspecial teams wise. You know, punter
is going to be you know thatthat is significant. You know, we

(04:04:28):
just brought in Nick and you know, so there'll be a battle there.
So I'd say those are probably theareas we're focused on the most. Ryan
just to fall from the offensive line, there was I think a school apology
you guys might look for a transferin that post spring window. Did you
guys do that? Did you guysnot find the guy or were you just

(04:04:48):
confident the guys you have, Justlike you know in January, if if
if we're going to bring somebody inis to fill a hole, We're not
just going to bring somebody in tobring somebody in, Like at all positions,
we'll always look to see what's outthere. We did evaluate some of
the guys that were out there,and you know, you know, we
felt like coming out of it aswe evaluated it, you know, there

(04:05:09):
was a couple of guys that youknow, we checked on, but but
ultimately, like based on where wewere and some of the young guys that
are coming up. You know,we felt like we saw some progress in
the offensive line in the spring,so you know, it wasn't there wasn't
as many folks in the portal,you know, in after the spring.
So we looked at it, weidentified it, We did our due diligence,

(04:05:30):
but you know we're gonna go through. We have now second round.
Bill landis right, You're it wasinteresting that you have two of maybe the
top five ers of guys in sportand then a bunch of guys who haven't
plenty uh maybe similar that I don'twin question, but did you consider trying
to add there? Understanding that probablythe difficult sell. We have such talent,

(04:05:50):
how the Prince somebody have these experiences? Like what were those conversations like
and how did you sett al onbeing comfortable with you know, Trey and
well, like you said, youknow, I think we're we will get
some experience there with those two guys. And then you know, we felt
like coming out of the spring thatJames and Sam both did a nice job
and you know, we're gonna haveto play them and they're gonna have to

(04:06:11):
you know, take on a littlebit of that. You know, we
have you know, started having conversationwith 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

(04:06:33):
at that position. But you know, I think, you know, we
feel like, you know, ifyou have you know, four strong running
backs going into it, then youknow that's gonna be that's gonna be enough
to carry the season. I dothink that the quarterbacks will run the ball
more this season, so that shouldtake some carries away from them. But
to your point, you know,James and Sam are gonna have to step

(04:06:54):
up to the guys that we cancount on. Save that for another day,
Yeah, just fall up on it. Is he capable of stepping in
and being running back? Obviously?Yeah? A lot. We'll see,
We'll see. We talked about inthe recruiting process, you know, the

(04:07:15):
first time around and more specifically thesecond time around, and so he's you
know, he's been around a littlebit just to get a feel for it.
We did very little in the spring. We did I think we pitched
them an option or something like thatin the spring just to kind of get
them going. But yeah, we'llsee. We'll see where that goes.
We don't have a specific plan rightnow, but we do want to introduce
him to that just the same thinglike Lorenzo Styles has played your year,

(04:07:39):
We did that Notre Dame. Youknow, he's out there a little bit,
just kind of learning. It's healthy. You know, you're seeing it
from the other side of the ball. This time of the year. You
can get away with that a littlebit, a little bit in the preseason.
Where it goes, we'll see,but you just never know. And
we're trying to put some contingency plansin place because it could be a long
season. Yeah, this is myforty first year cover of House Day.
I don't remember ever expectations like thisin the summer. Some of them were

(04:08:01):
almost as big. Do you sensethat too, And what is that pressure
like as you're working through a summer? Yeah, and people have asked me
that I go back to the expectationsevery year are the same. I mean,
it's just the truth. When openingpress conference and said you got to
beat the team up north, andwhen every game after that, that's just
the expectations, and when you comeup short, you know you've got to
figure out a way to get thosethings fixed. I think we have done

(04:08:22):
that. But the expectations are thesame every year. Pressure is the same
every year. I just like thepressure when you've got a really good team
behind you. So that's what we'vegot right now. And you know,
we know it's going to be along season. We know we're working towards.
But I will say this about thisteam, Well, we've been talented.
That's there's been times in the pastwe've been talented. I don't know

(04:08:43):
since I've been here. If we'vebeen this talented and this experience together with
guys that have played a lot offootball, fourth and fifth year guys,
and that doesn't matter, we'll gostep. Maybe maybe this is his talk
because it's summertime now, just haveconversations. Maybe we're making a big out
of nothing, long term situation.But we've seen it around college football in

(04:09:05):
league guys playing both sides of theball. I'm doing it quite well right
Travis Huner is doing it in Colorado, and Caleb Dallas has been apartment turns,
so we see what he could dowith the ball. But there's also
the stamina aspect of that just gettingtoo a sixteen game season. So I'm
not saying it's any forty snaps orsomething like that, But what about his
athleticism, what he brings to thetable, and let you know that if
you wanted to explore it a realgame, he could last and still be

(04:09:28):
an effective seety Yeah. Yeah,we'd have to see all that. He
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,
we all 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 gonna look anddoo where it goes, I don't I
don't really know right now, butI know that he has the capability to

(04:09:50):
do it. He has the athleticismand do it, and you know,
we'll kind of see where it goes, see see how he does, and
you know, maybe hand the ballto a little bit of the preseason,
because again, it's going to bea long season. We have to make
sure we have continuency plans in place, but I know it's something that he
enjoys having the ball in his hand. So even during their first time around
the recruiting process, we even't talkedabout him coming in as a as an

(04:10:11):
offensive player. Ultimately, we thinka ceiling is highest on defense. But
you know, but I also agree. I think that having you know,
guys going to other side of theball and just see it, listen to
the meetings is really healthy for theirdevelopment. So we're going to do that
regardless. Your defensive recruiting right nowis maybe further long, and it's been

(04:10:33):
in the years past, and Ithink we passed nufmous questions about it in
the past, But is this aproduct of seeing it over the last couple
of years and now it's not justtelling you guys, hey, this what
might look like this, they're seeingit in real time. Yeah, you
know, we talked about it whenJim first came in, and I think
Tim walls an unbelievable job as wellin the back end, and you know,
Matt stepped right in and James andLarry. I think they're all doing

(04:10:54):
a great job. But like yousaid, you know, it's one thing
to talk about it. That's theory. Testimony is just look at this is
this is what we're doing. Andthen I think you're seeing a lot of
guys just excited about playing in thisdefense and they see the capabilities and the
flexibility too. You know, rightnow 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

(04:11:18):
of depth 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 some
of the recruits that we're looking atwho brings some versatility, pass rusher,
you know, we have that jackposition and those type of things. So,
uh, that's exciting as well.And I think you're seeing a lot
of the recruits, you know,really get fired up when they get here.
People. Yeah, coach, firstyears, your identity was was very

(04:11:43):
very from anal standpoint and air andout type team. Look at the key
best talent and the playmakers you havethere. Has your identity change? I
guess what do you think the identityis of this point point four? Well,
we'll see as we go but youknow, we know what we need
to do to play in the biggames. That's never changed. And we
have to be able to stop therun, run the football, take care
of the ball, and there'll beopportunities to throw the ball that'll happen,

(04:12:07):
but you know we're gonna have to, you know, do those things to
win close games and play situational football. But I think, you know,
you won't really get a feel forwhat the identity of the team is until
we get into probably the beginning ofOctober, you know, and I think
we all have ideas of what itcould go. But you know now that
we're playing in a playoff format,just like a lot of those NFL teams

(04:12:28):
sometimes, you know, they don'treally quite understand their identity until they get
about halfway through the season. Idon't think it'll take that long. But
you know, we're able to playsome games and kind of work through some
things. And I don't think ourdefense is going to change a bunch in
terms of what we did last year. I mean, it's a lot of
the same guys back could look alittle different on offense. Time for two
more go to Doug Limris. Okay, right, you lose an important pretty

(04:12:52):
staff or to promotion at Michigan justoff season. How do you react to
something like that, is something thatsomeone like that would take information that was
learned here that could help the machineor burnough high stages. Yeah, all

(04:13:13):
good questions, and you know,I just I want to talk about the
guys that are here, you know, the staff members that are here,
the coaches that are here, theplayers that are here, the ones that
are Buckeyes Joe Jujit. With thescheduling change that was announced yesterday, did
they come together? Didn't have anythingto do with the expanded the playoff?

(04:13:33):
May we think beginning of the seasona little different? Yeah, you know,
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 got inhere a little bit late. How do

(04:13:56):
you feel about your linebackers? Codyseems like you always ease that's res like
he's lucking as a starterj When doyou see his role being Sonny? When
you see his role being gay andall this guy? Yeah, good versatility.
All those guys are vel Reese,Like you said, CJ, Gabe,
Sonny, Cody. You know I'mmissing a couple, I'm sure,

(04:14:16):
but like that was that the rvel? Yeah, I mean these guys
are really versatile guys. You cansee the length on them, and you
know they do a good job interms of like fitting the runs they could.
They have enough length, you know, to covering zone. But the
lo also blitz and that's something thatwe wanted to really work on this offseason,
is getting better at blitzing, youknow, and hopefully we can even

(04:14:39):
take the name have we got Jeremiaj J Smith, j J. How'd
you feel out that to day teamcame out don't three and all cool play?
When you come to these kind oftournaments, what kind of techniques do
you like to work on? Seethey got you're going deep right sort stuff
and crossing routes? What do youwork on when you're at a tournament,
Like really just getting back in thegood because you're already tuck doing you meat,

(04:15:03):
so really just working on my releases. Uh, that's when your game.
My friends, I've been I've beena chuck. So just bring getting
back into now. We know youpulled the trigger on the High State.
Obviously you're gonna take visits kind ofmake sure you're you're perfect on your decision.
What was it about Ohio State andBrian Hartline and Ryan David? It
made you feel comfortable to make early? Really they set me my first visit,

(04:15:24):
but I think the first one youcan't get you up. They offered
me off. So after you feltlike my first, my system, my
prison, you know, really,just what's up? What's up? What's
what they saw? Was? Reallythey they need? They gave me?
Uh really just the kid that I'mgonna talk part. I wasn't talk artist,

(04:15:48):
guys, I'm trying to help books. Now, I know you got
something your SFE family up there.You got Brandon n s, you got
card I'll take what does it meanto potentially be able to wake up with
them and they are and be ableto kind of run back what you guys
have done in South Florida Express inColumbus Ohio. It'd be great Ohio State
take over, It'd be grateful,great, the first round. Yeah,

(04:16:12):
you're a super humble kid. I'vebeen really impressed by you today. Is
there anything that you want Ohio Statefans to know about you? You know
again, I know you're just yourall work, all work on work.
But what are they getting when theyget a JJ Smith to come to Ohio
saying kids coming jobs take worst?Does just come in too much? Job?

(04:16:40):
That's perfect? Man? Well,God bless you. I appreciate you,
my man. Awesome watching today,Thank you so much. This is
JJ Smith. And then later tonightI'll probably come back and watch the film
again. But at the end ofthe day, it's just trying to be
around football, be around the facility. How much of your film watching It's
like Solo Endefforce you buy yourself watchhow much people We've had more safeties come

(04:17:02):
in throughout the spring, more guystry to learn the system and learn the
game. But I mean, atthe end of the day, you gotta
do what you gotta do to putyourself in a best position to win.
So myself, I'll watch film athome too by myself. But when I'm
here there's always other players around methat are trying to or to get better,
just like I am. Are youonly watching your watch? No,

(04:17:22):
I watched the NFL teams. Watchgood NFL safeties that are playing right now,
Javon Holland, pntswine Winfield go ayslike that that can that I can
emulate and try to see how theyplay. And then also just watching other
players here, other players that dothings well here, just learning from them,
trying to see how they play thegame, trying to get better.
What are some of the big differencesthat you've seen so far between what you

(04:17:45):
went through at Alabama and so faryou've gone through a fear A lot of
it's the same. A little differenceis in the defense and how they operate
and how they see things. Butat the end of the day, football's
football, defensive defense. So everybodygotta get to the ball and make the
type of what do you think fullof us? Oh? I love the
city. I love uh High Street. I love being in the city.

(04:18:08):
I love going to the restaurants here. The food's great here. So I
ain't got no complace for me?Are you tryna fay me? Cause it's
like you got the campus all ofa sudder, then you also a fixed
city. It's it's different than Alabama, cause Alabama was a college town and
Tessalosa is not as big of acity. Here, there's a lot of
people to see, a lot ofdifferent businesses that you can be a part

(04:18:29):
of. So just trying to learnthe city and learn what everybody has to
offer here. He'll be probably noticedthat when Ki parka media's decision to go
back to Alabama and then that startsto full level of speculation and stuff.
Are you were you taking back bythat? Did you feel like you needed
to make a decoration off of that? Uh? I mean at the end
of the day, No, Ididn't feel like I needed to say anything,

(04:18:51):
cause at the end of the day, I was still here a practice.
I was still here with my teammates. So I mean, I feel
like my actions speak for themselves.I'm I mean, I don't I don't
need to say anything about that.Cayden. I talked to him when he
did it, and I congratulated himon his decision. I mean, that's
why he feels his best. That'swhen he feels his best, and I
support him. But I'm here.You guys as to have or in this

(04:19:11):
new generation of you have that sortof freedom, you have that sort of
control over your career. You're ina way that other people didn't it.
It's something that you you have tokind of take with a certain seriousness that
you're making that right decision at alltimes. I think ev I mean it,
in life, you have to makedecisions based off of what you feels
best for yourself. So that wasa big decision for him, And if
he feels that's what's best for himself, then I support it. But at

(04:19:33):
the end of the day, forcollege suble athletes, I think that's the
best thing because the coaches have thesame right to do what they do.
Coach can come here for a monthand leave, and I mean then he's
just leaving the player at high anddraw. So I mean, if they're
gonna have the ability to do it, why would the players not have some
type of say in their in theirlife. Ter you you make the impact

(04:19:55):
opposite last year's in freshman, whatdo you think you could do an assault
with when you're under your belt?Yeah, I think I can grow and
what I did well last year andincrease on the qualities that I wasn't not
as a leite at during during theseason. So just being better in coverage,

(04:20:15):
being better in the post, beingbetter in my tackling, being a
better communicator with my teammates. Allthat I think I can offer to the
team. And but at the endof the day, it's gotta be a
team collective to go do what wewanna do. What do you come in?
This outsea is a lovely defense.What do you what do you think
of being a big part of me? Was the elite last year and it
should be better this year. Yeah, they were a very elite defense last

(04:20:38):
year. And watching all the filmfrom last year and the whole season,
they played a great season. Theyplayed a lot of good defense. Excuse
me, which your question just theidea of being hard. I'm a big
part. I love an elaitue defense. Uh. I mean I can only
do my part. I can onlydo my one to eleventh and do my
job every play. I can't.I can't try to do more than that,
and every other player it just hasto do their job and we'll do

(04:21:00):
what we need to do. Okaytbe talking about your film watching habits.
Is that the same in high school? And what did that look like for
you on a regular high school Myhigh school coach is one of my favorite
people in the world, uh,Freeman Davis. Me and him watch film
together a lot, but that wasmore so just myself watching film and trying
to grow. So I would sayI had a lot of the same habits

(04:21:22):
and has trusted over to college.But a lot of that was me and
my high school coach, story ofthe game together and another movie. You
around everywhere here, but you know, it seems like you're at that free
safety spot as opposed to the strongsafety spot. You played it all damn
though, just what said transition?Like? Do you feel that? Does
that even matter in this kind ofdefense? I th I mean it's the

(04:21:42):
same spot really to the it's thesafety to the field safety playing in the
most space. That's what I'm usedto. But at the end of the
day, I feel like I couldplay to the boundary. I can play
the Don Money position, I canplay Nickel. So I mean, at
the end of the day, yougotta make plays wherever you're at Calen.
What have you been? What haveyour thoughts about on? Jeremiah Snoot a

(04:22:03):
very elite athlete, very instinctual player, has a great ball skills. Should
uh should have a big impact thisyear. Anybody you mean your parents,
what you've seen? Oh, nah, Ja Jess's own self. Jesus,
he's on it's his own man.Uh. Who else who's caught your eye?

(04:22:23):
At your receiver group? Okay?LEVI uh is elite in your opinion?
Uh? I watch a Mecca bookaa lot, H and CO.
When I was in high school,ye watching the games and then last year
watching some of his film. He'sbeen an elite receiver then and he's a
league receiver now. And carl Otehas had a great spring as well.

(04:22:44):
Yeah, and uh you you personally? Uh? After the uh student appreciation
Day on Saturday, you were mobbedabout as much as anybody. What is
what? How have you felt thereceipt meaning of autograph seekers at Saturday?
You know? Uh? How haveyou felt the reception here? Uh?
For you over the last several months, but especially like the Saturday, I
think it's been very welcoming. Iappreciate everybody, and like I appreciate when

(04:23:07):
I go to class, seeing peoplethat know me and just being able to
meet them, being able to saythat I'm glad to be here, being
able to stay glad to be here, to everybody that came up to me,
yeah, so I'm just I'm veryappreciative of it. Do you feel
their expectations for you? You knowwhat I mean that? Uh? I
mean people mad. So it's aversatility thing. So I'm happy about it.
There, you moved around a lotthroughout your career that there's Jumbo's side

(04:23:30):
you'll tackle, I guess in thesense and clean book and left on the
right side. Do you think youkind of benefit from focusing a little bit
more on the right center? Yuah, a little bit. But you know,
there is a new system that wehave, like I have been found
my mindset most on the right,but also have my mind's on the left
too, just in case something doeshappening to like you know what I mean,
like Coten or you know Pete ofcourse. But I'm always gonna be

(04:23:52):
ready for life no matter what.How quickly have you felt like you picked
up this new system that you're workingin there? You oh, it's a
actually pretty up picked up pretty wellbecause it's the same system that I'm used
to back in the hot see causewe're more like spread at how I say.
So, you know, it's prettygood. One of those like the
draft process off season, as alot of people outside of the buildings.

(04:24:12):
You're page, just get the righttack. A lot of yeah, yeah,
alright now, A lot of peoplein the building were like, we
have a right time. A lotof people do get motivated by that.
You followed it like if you pendentto do it, though, and I
don't. I read into it alittle bit. But also the same time,
like they not here of course,but I don't really care what they
say. I know what I cando, and the team know I what

(04:24:32):
I can do. So they trustedme right now and I'm not gonna let
them right down. How hard orhow easy is that to compartmentalize that and
use that as fuels going forward ratherthan the kind of barrity it uh,
I j I just keep the seats. Everybody knows that one person I don't
really care for him. And alsothat's all been through but it's all love.
I love uh outside of this,But you keep doing me, keep

(04:24:55):
it better, keep on these mats. See what I can do there.
You've been a I'll spoken about yoursupporter of Zamir and obviously it's just his
chance now to be the dog.Wait, what is it about him that
you bought in so early? Thereason why I bought it so early cause
us I was at a house theythey always taught us, actually I go
get it, and that since Igot here, i'm'a always wanna go get

(04:25:15):
it and I got picked late.And I always wanna prove people wrong.
You know, I think prove peoplewrong all my life. I don't wanna
keep doing that. That's do whichI guess more just like I'll put aything
like the set. You feel likea community this year. Nine day difference
nine day difference from my first year, in my second year to now,

(04:25:36):
like now, my guy, Iknow I can play. I know I
can go against one of the best, especially nights, anybody else that we
want to play this year, andI know what I can do. So
all got to do now is aSHU meet my potential and should do it
and help everybody else out the teamas well. You've practiced a lot against
Malcolm and he's really come into hisown. What is it about Malcolm that's
helped him make that next step there? Yeah, Malcolm, he's quiet,

(04:26:00):
he doesn't really say too much.He comes to the work every day,
do what he does, and heworks hard. He doesn't look twice at
anything. Yeah, he'll get madover a cop reps boss. At the
same time, they're like, hehas a mentality of adult like he's he
don't really care what y'all think oranybody else thinks for real. So it's
just like, alright, let's keepgoing. That's how everybody is on the
team. How about tyrais too,You got that same mindset. He does

(04:26:22):
have the same mindset. A littlenervous, but uh nah, he nah.
He has definitely grown up a lotfrom his like first year ear to
now like he has, but he'she's growing up a lot mentally too.
Until you guys are reimagining the offensiveline a little bit with you out there

(04:26:42):
right side, yuh uh, farmthere next to you on the on on
that side too, and then draftingthe guys on the line. He know,
how exciting is that to be partof something that's that's kind of being
you know, having that trust butalso being reinvented a little bit. That's
cra you know, but me anddoing those like they gonna keep place and
others of course, But all thesame time, we gotta keep going,

(04:27:03):
you know, the game swear andthink about what they did. All we
gotta do is staying about what whatcame to do with getting better in forty
time as well. Sorry, theydon't put a lot of enough outside the
right a little bit more. Howhow long are you guys working? Tything
that I'm one hundred percent now Andit was like a walk in the park.
It's like a sprained ankle. Youknow. It was very easy,
you know, because I had theknee. The knee was pretty hard,

(04:27:26):
you know, and the Achilles wasI would say it's easy, you know,
just because that's just my mentality,and it was. It was pretty
easy to be. But you know, I've had these injuries and it's been
storm like the past two years,you know, having have like good,
great games, the next thing,you know, hurt and then you know,
so got got the injury prone outthere, you know. But I

(04:27:51):
think the storm is over it,you know, you know, and I
think I'm I'm gonna gonna take offnow, you know, and there will
be no setbacks and the prone thingwill be gone out of the window again.
Yep, aw say it's gonna beback. I am. I am
excited. You know. He doesa lot of great things and he's a

(04:28:12):
great person, and we have agreat relationship. It's gonna be it's gonna
be a fun year. We're gonnahave a lot of fun. We're gonna
do a lot of great things.So I can't wait, chick here waiting.
The interest you've had is that justbad luck? Is every Is there
anything you've been attribute to behind justmisfortunately? Yeah, it's just unfortunate,
you know. But God has aplan always, you know, I don't

(04:28:37):
know what the plan exactly is,you know, I don't know, but
whatever plan it is, it's forme to be here. You know.
I had a great rookie year.Uh I didn't. I didn't really have
the volume as other people my rookieyear, but I still had a great
rookie year. Six yards of carry, you know, things like that.
I think it was like nine touchdownsten including the playoffs. And so there's

(04:29:02):
always been like, all right,guy, let me show my talent shine
a little bit. Like even whenI had the knee. So I had
the knee right, A lot ofpeople don't know, like I didn't get
hurt again. Whenever I got youknow, got cleaned up. So I
went down in twenty one, right, had the injury, the knee injury
and then came back later the nextyear and I and I played the first

(04:29:22):
few games and it just feel therewas a lot of scars issue in there.
So I did get it cleaned up. I didn't get hurt again.
I could have played the whole year, but I got it cleaned up so
I can feel like me. Andso after I got that cleaned up,
the first two games back from theinjury, I had over one hundred and
twenty yards rushing right and then wenton had great, great ending of the

(04:29:42):
year, you know, one hundredtotal yards in the playoff game we lost,
which I hate the most. Stays, don't marry me. I don't
want to win. But then comeback the next year hurt again like torn
achilles. So two really unfortunate injuries. But that's just God's plan, you
know. And I think that thestorm is now over, you know.
And I do think that I'll beable to shine my light to the whole

(04:30:04):
world. Are you concerned that youhave that label you can't stay and see?
I could care less because I do. I do. I know this
out there because as as it shouldbe, it should be. I got
hurt two major injuries back or notback to back, years. But you
know, so I haven't been onthe field as much as I should.
That's true, that is true.But it's not like I'm having these little

(04:30:30):
little dinky injuries and sitting out.It's something I can't control literally, So
that's why I'm not bothered by it. Like, yeah, I am injury
polling, you could say that,you know, but I do think that
the Chargers are getting a guy that'sgonna be healthy from now on. You
know, God will it, andit's gonna be great. And I do
think that it's gonna be It's gonnabe a great. However, many years

(04:30:52):
here, when you've been out field, you've been highly adopted, five years
for very average for your career,Like no knowing that when you're out there
or you're very adopted, how muchconfidence does that give you? That really
all you needs is not what youneed 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 mywork ethic, you know, and

(04:31:15):
my relationship with Jesus is like Ihave the most confidence when I step out
there because I do know, likeif he grants me the health, it's
over with. Is. I don'tthink I would be. You know,
I think it will be a greatyear or whatever, a couple of years.
However, many years he grants megreat health, you know, and
I think just the work ethic,my prayer and all that stuff, that's

(04:31:40):
what helped me have that confidence withthe numbers will be there and they might
be higher after this year, youknow what I'm saying. And it's crazy
to think about because I had sixsix yards per carry, you know,
so we'll see you're looking forward torunning behind this line put together? Oh
yeah, yeah, yeah. Iplayed with Brandley, I played with him,
you know, I know the Slater, I know all the I know

(04:32:02):
all the guys, you know,and I'm I'm excited. I think it's
like I said earlier, it's atalented group. You know, we just
got to put together win some games. Cause that's what I came here for.
That's it all a part of orI wouldn't I wouldn't say part of
the recruitming. But like whenever Idecided I was gonna sign, it was
great to have him in the room. What's your relationship, Yeah, we're

(04:32:22):
great, We're we have a greatrelationship. That's He's like my brother.
So I think a company ch complimenteach other very well. You know,
he can do a lot of stufftoo. You know, we got a
lot of people think he's just powerpower power, but I think he has
some other parts of his game twowhich it it'll be great cause I feel
like I could do everything and whenone get tired, we can roll it

(04:32:45):
in. We keep rolling win somegames. So when you the two of
you get going, well, howdo you think that's gonna look for?
What would like? What will bethat partnership kind of back there? I
know that's a hard question. Howdo I think I think it'll look beautiful.
You know a lot of people callthis a passing league, but I

(04:33:06):
think you got to 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, it'll look great, beautiful. How would you describe the Gregor running
offense? I would I would describeit as, you know, a great
offense. I think he gives aquarter He's going to give the quarterback a

(04:33:29):
lot of options. He's going togive the 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'sgonna be great. His offense is going
to be amazing. When we talkedto him, and you know, I
was like, why have you been? Will build something good rushing offenses throughout
your career? Every way you've beenand you said that one part of it
is just you got a call place, You got a call run place as

(04:33:52):
a running back. You know,how much confidence, how much second does
it give you when you know youhave to play caller that's going to stick
with it and allow you. Andthe offense gives me a lot of excitement.
You know, it's gonna be.Like I said, it's fun to
play in his offense, you know. And I think he does have some
good things in the past game too, But like you said, he sticks
with the run, and that's that'sthe identity. You You want an offense

(04:34:15):
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, You'll be full go
for training him. Look, Iain't gonna answer any of the four.

(04:34:38):
If it's up to me. Yes, Look, because I had this problem
like three two years three years ago, I'm thinking I'm full go. I
think I'm ready to go, andthe next thing, you know, I'm
on pup like hey, look somestory above my prey pay grade. So
but I don't know. Hopefully Ican start. I think I'm ready to

(04:34:59):
start, you know, at thebeginning of training camp. But that's not
up to me. As I've learned, I'll tell you, I wouldn't say
that. I think I've been I'vebeen in some great organizations, and I
think this this organization is a greatorganization, and the training staff is great,
and so they just want what's bestfor me, you know, and

(04:35:22):
they're they're taking care of me,which that's what you want in an organization.
And so that's where that comes from. Which I appreciate it, Like
I really appreciate that, you know, because I'm the type of guy,
like I work really hard, somaybe sometime I'm blind to you know,
the danger of something, you know, So I appreciate it. But like
I said, if it's up tome. Yeah, I'm out there,

(04:35:42):
but never know what any frustration foryou during the heading into free agency,
you know, dealing with with rehaband not you know, having won a
full season 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. Yeah,nah, I like it. I like,

(04:36:03):
how would I say this? Ilike it the hard way, but
not, you know, I likeit the hard way. I like it.
I like trial and tribulations. SoI mean the dice that I was
giving the role was I was comingoff of Achilles, and that was that

(04:36:29):
was the lowest plan. So itwas beauty in that, like I was
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

(04:36:49):
the Chargers, is going to getthe best me, you know, And
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 race of lowrace, because you it's a business,
right, So I got her lastyear, so not as much money that
he's to be throwing there. ButI think everyone around the league knows that

(04:37:11):
whenever I am on the field,the numbers don't lie, and so they
know that, and a lot ofteams were like, all right, here,
you can will give you this,but we want you to be healthy.
So when I'm healthy, it's gonnabe great. This is the chance
that I've been giving here. I'mso grateful and I know that's gonna be.
They won't be they won't regret it. Are you the type of person

(04:37:33):
that likes to throw people wrong?Like you've grown a couple of things,
like the high risk reward injury thatit's two cents I've heard, But me
being who I am, you knowI'm gonna throw my two cents in there,
you know. So that's just aIt's been awesome, man. He's
you know, a resource for me, just a person that I can always
bounce my thoughts off of. Andnow, you know, just a year

(04:37:53):
you said, thirteen months, nowI feel more comfortable just you know,
bringing certain things up you know,you never you never want to come off
too strong. But I'm a curiousguy. I got a lot of questions.
I like, I like football alot. I like to talk talk
the games. So you know,come to find out he's the exact same.
So we uh, you know,we get along well, and you
know we're gonna keep keep building thatrelationship. Sometimes in this league, playing

(04:38:15):
you know, eighteen games, theytryna make it twenty. You know,
it's like it sound like a littlea little fever dream to be honest,
but but uh, if we canfind a way to k you know,
stay up right out there, keepkeep airon on his feet. You know,
I'm I'm excited for that and uheverything that comes with it. But
uh but yeah, like I said, man, that's it's it's harder said
than uh or harder done. Andsaid, I guess you know, it's
one of those things. It's likethat's a lot of games, you know,

(04:38:36):
all of a sudden, take alot of hits. They take a
lot of hits where they're not looking, and it's just how can we keep
him healthy? Yeah? Yeah,are you when do you think I do?
You have a receiver room now positionsand you guys have made one on
money, healthy and get everything.Like, yeah, you know, I'm
excited to see it at at fullhealth. You know, we've I haven't
got to see all the all theguys out there at once, and and
you know, it's one of thosepositions where every day is something might happen

(04:38:56):
to nick up. You know,it's just a a tough position to stay
out there at all times. ButI feel like we got a great group
and the number one thing is howcan we stay healthy? How can we
you know, I'll be out onthe field, and I think having depth
like this and the group we haveis gonna help us. Having guys that
can do different things, that cango catch ball over the middle, all
types of things that it's gonna takesome of the strain off off all of

(04:39:18):
us. You know. It's it'sa good group. So I'm excited to,
uh, you know, get outthere. I feel like we haven't
had the whole whole thing together,but you know, come season time,
morole and it's gonna be exciting.What about the guys in your old number,
Yeah, yeah, like a yeah, man, a lot. He
helped me a lot. Even feellike the first day just trying to help
me get used to to write tackle. He got on my feet, used

(04:39:41):
to write tackle. Like my firstday of practice, I'm like, dude,
I still feel you feel a littleoff. I don't feels balanced to
my stands. And he showed methe small technique to do with my feet,
which I still do even even Ileft tackle, just because it's part
of my routine. That was partof my process getting in my stands.
So stuff like that that he taughtme from day one, and obviously in

(04:40:03):
practice was fun. Just compete withhim, you know, it's just to
meet at the back of the pocketand to dap each other back. Whatever
you read like that was competing,you know what I mean. So that's
my guy. As much as youlove him on your the west side,
how bittersweet is it in a certainmatters because it would happen to him.
Yeah, that's the thing. That'snot how It was definitely not how I

(04:40:25):
and and that's how I thought aboutthe transition will go. You know,
I thought it would be you know, homesoone timing a cardinal his whole career.
You know, you know you wantto play here forever, you know
what I mean? When I wastalking about his plans, so you know,
you win, you wish transitions likeone of those fairy tale like to

(04:40:47):
your time. But but again eitherway, you know, we talked about
it. You know, that's that'sthe how it goes, you know.
But obviously you know he sees he'she's been one of my biggest supporters.
Again, if fect everybody leads intheir own way, you know, not

(04:41:07):
everybody's the guys coming around like andthat's not everybody, right Like I felt
for me, that's me specifically ongame day with the O line and after
we do one on one like that'smy like, well Hump did like that's
my like big vocal time. Ifeel like I've talked to Hump about this,
you know, just recently talking abouthow what I want to do for

(04:41:30):
the room is I want to bringthat Hump energy that he brought right So
last year, of course, sometraits were doing for years, but the
year I spent with him, hebrought a lot of the energy and excitement
and the happiness in the room wasjust his natural energy to where I only
had to focus on me, youknow, I didn't have to make sure

(04:41:55):
other other guys are you know,feel some type of way when they came
in here because Hump brought that.But out of Hump's not here, but
I saw what he did for theroom. I want to be that guy
to make sure everyone's amp to goto practice, everybody's hype. Weren't taking
and field team one period. Youknow it's a low day or something.
You know, it's a it's aday. But like I want to make

(04:42:15):
you feel like like your parents isa tripper right now. I want to
bring that cause that's what we andHumped with each other. We will hype
each other up dudes like dudes aboutto get walked through. We're lit.
So I want to do that.I want to bring that energy. I
want to make bring more guys,you know, to do that. You
know, I wanted to do thatfrom day one, you know, I
kind of I wanted to do thatfrom day one from just talking to him,

(04:42:41):
and obviously it's that time. Ispend the off season before OTA started,
just being in myself, just thinkingabout what the room needs, you
know, because I know I knewa new role as one of the leaders
you know on my offense, isthat we need a guy like that is
gonna make sure the old line ispicked up ready to go. Every day

(04:43:03):
of those held accountable. Little thingsaren't happened to practice. People aren't saying
anything. And how I may leadmaybe different than somebody else may lead.
You know. I like to apractice at least like to leave with positivity,
you know what I mean. So, but he the energy I went
beyond just the hype up the daleand stuff too. So that's kind of
how I wanna be s goal mineliterally my whole life. I wanna be

(04:43:29):
a NFL team captain, like specificallythe NFL. I wasn't a captain of
high school. I wasn't a captainof college. But I made a joke
when I was in high school.I was like, there, I feel
like I'm not gonna be a captaintil like gids of the NFL. Yeah,
but that would be awesome, youknow, but you know, if
it happens, i'd be great.But if not, either way, I

(04:43:51):
wanna assume a role as a captainfrom the respect of the guys on the
team, vigual award to me andback in that way. Yeah, I
mean, I can't say that.I mean, I guess the biggest thing
is that I felt like it hasfelt like how you used to in the
past. But it didn't take justthe first day ota as. It took

(04:44:15):
training left and right once the seasonended, because I didn't know what it
was gonna be true, So ittook a lot of yeah reps just to
get back to feeling like myself forday one OTAs and then that whole first
week. But now like today,specifically just changing some small things with my
feet. I did day talking abouta line coach about some things I can

(04:44:37):
do with my feed to get tothat, like to sell it that traditional
angle that I love to set on. Felt even I thought I felt,
I thought I felt great already bymokay, I felt even back up.
So I'm even more excited tomorrow.Now I'm getting my feedback than how I
liked it the right side and onthe left side, so I'm excited to
teach. I mean, obviously,I feel like in the league, whether

(04:44:57):
I left or right or still goingagainst premier guys, So obviously you have
high expectations for your left hand andright tackle, but there's definitely uh like
the the level of energy and likethe expectations, definitely taking the human spec
cause now connected the blindside that stuff. That's the tackle role, you know.

(04:45:18):
So so yeah, I would sayin terms of communication as far as
just even outside the facility and juststuff like that, like really creating that
the tackle quarterback bond even more offthe field, I think has been something
that's even been cool. I gota text one day it's like, hey,
like you play left, and Iwas like, yeah, you know,

(04:45:41):
yeah, I've been training both.I've been training both, you know.
I I asks after the season,They're like, honestly, you know,
we'll talk to you still play inthe season. And I just got
a text and like, depending onwhat happens with with the free agency then,
So I was like, you knowwhat, I had a whole season
right tackle. So if I getthe word, I'm going I'm standing right
tackle. I don't used to dowhat I did before. I'm built on

(04:46:03):
that bus. I was like,I might as alost trained the left tackle
now as if I'm gonna be aleft tackle, And I'd rather do that
than training on the right time andget the call hey you're the left tackle.
I'm like, oh, I didn'teven switch on my feet yet,
you know what I mean. SoI'm like, let me just prepare in
the advance, I was like,yeah, let's guy. You know,
I think occasionally I'm third down,there would be a lot of twists.
I would just know like it's automaticallycoming. And I think that was my

(04:46:26):
mindset for like the first half ofthe season. But like I didn't have
to go into a game and withsurprise like oh my gosh, they did
that. I kind of figured like, okay, like this is this is
the type of rushman again, likethis is how this guy usually rushes.
But I get the vibe this ishow the ends like the rush you know,
tackles that are you know, firstyear guys who got the premier patch

(04:46:48):
on. I already knew what itwas gonna be, already knew over every
stunt and honestly just knowing that it'skind of an advantage too. So you're
not you're not you're not old.They brought the twist of my side again.
It was never an Aaron donaldick,you know, to come out of
minds like three plays in a rowand two minutes. I knew that it
was when you know what I mean, I'm watching more on everybody else and
he rarely Eveland goes out there onoccasional third downs on the d end.

(04:47:11):
I was like, you know whatit's gonna be. He's gonna pick me,
you know what I mean. Soin fact fact, it's kind of
it's also kind of an advantage ina way, but it's also exciting,
like, Okay, I'm gonna getthe hardest look. You know, those
are real, real reps, youknow the bank. So really, I
don't know. I really didn't kindof process that. I was like,

(04:47:33):
hey, when they tell me tolet me know, but I'm just gonna
train it. I was training allleft to Ta's. I guess if I
didn't hear anything about TAS, Iwould have came in like so, you
know what I mean, because justlike I'm cool training both continue, I
would have been cool training both continually. But I feel like anybody, any
position will be like, okay,like you want to as soon as possible,

(04:47:57):
get your feet kind of settled inyour hips, settled in your hands,
so then sudden kind of what itwould have been harder to annual