Press Conference (Jonsh Jackson)

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Episode Transcript

(00:00):
Be a part of this program andyou know, just contribute as much as
I can. What was the majorpoint for you to decide as the 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

(00:20):
all the way, and I definitelywanted to be a part of something like
that. Thank you, Jorton,Hi Jena, Welcome to Los Angeles.
I'm Jordan with the Athletic congratulations.Thank you Jordan, and so we respect
the watch placement here on the onthe deck. I'm actually a lefty though,
so I got it on the wrongone, but I'm kind of amberdex

(00:42):
Or, so we can forgive it. I just wanted to get your a
little bit deeper takeaways of what youmake of the personnel along this offensive front,
showing up Kevin Dotson on the oppositeside of you at guard and then
Steve bobbyla probably moving to center.Your impressions of those guys. I know
you haven't you know, been downon the ground for that long, but

(01:03):
just from afar, what you makeof those guys and Rob hadn Sein and
Alerc Jackson on the outsides. Yeah. I mean we've had some cross tape
through the season, so I wasable to see like the work that they
do, and uh, you know, that's a powerful bunch. I came
out the same year as Dotson,so I had some familiarity with him through
college, and uh, you know, watching him, Steven, Alaric and

(01:26):
Rob, you know, that's athat's a good group, kind of similar
to what we have in Detroit,and you know, there's there's some specialness
there. So I'm excited to bea part of it. You know.
Sean McVay has praised a lot ofthe run game that you guys deployed,
and particularly kind of getting a littlebit more to the duo, the man
blocking and the gap stuff, asas a lot of teams shift. We're

(01:48):
still on the outside stuff. Isthere when you watch that cross tape?
Is there a crossover in your mindof things that you're already comfortable with that
the Rams last year started really installingand deploying behind some of these new personnel.
Oh yeah, I mean the gapscheme and the duo just in general
is probably our bread and butter andDetroit and glad I said, bread and

(02:08):
butter over here, So you knowthis is this is not going to be
too hard of a transition. Andyou know things like that are right up
my alley. And then finally,you know Matthew Stafford. I know you
had familiarity with him your rookie year, but watching from afar what he was
able to do in LA and youknow, we saw him kind of get

(02:30):
back to help being healthy last year. As someone who is going to be
protecting him, how do you describehim? How would you describe what he's
good at and what you needed todo to protect him. I mean,
he's in Detroit. We called himthe Wizard. You know, he can
figure it all out and he canmake anything happen. And you know,
I'm excited to be able to protecthim and you know, let him make

(02:52):
us look good and make plays happen. Thanks John, I, congratulations,
Thank you. Adam. Hey Joe, I'm Adam like the Orange County Register.
Congratulations, Thanks, I appreciate it. Yeah, I'm curious kind of
what the process looks like. Youknow, you agree it turns about two

(03:13):
hours into free agency. What dothose two hours look like? Who are
you talking to? You? Talkto anyone with the range personally, it's
like, just what do those twohours look like for you? Actually,
me and my wife were just sittingat home and like the I guess twelve
o'clock hit and we were like,we thought it was going to be like
an idiot and you know, mayhemand kind of sat there for like forty
five minutes and my agent was callingme. It was like, what do

(03:36):
you think of Los Angeles? AndI was like, that doesn'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 was just a plus.
So we couldn't deny that. Iknow, it's kind of the nature

(03:57):
of the business. What is itlike voting make a decision like that,
such a light altering decision like thatin such short notice. Yeah, I
mean it is. It is prettycrazy, you know, just the the
amount of timing you have. Butyou know, you kind of have a
I don't know, I've been onthe outside looking in at this place for
a while, so I kind ofhad a general idea what's going on,

(04:19):
and a lot of familiarity within ourbuilding. Like brat Holmes, you know,
he was from here, so Ikind of got a feel of the
people that you know, they they'vebeen around and how they run things.
So I kind of got a goodfeel about how it would be here.
Thank you, Stu they Jonas StuJackson from the Rings dot commy beneath you

(04:42):
name my fellow Jackson brother. What'sup? Man? Hey? What's up?
Listen? That you've spent most ofyour football career, whether it be
you know, college or obviously theNFL now in the Midwest or East Coast,
So now that you're here, what'sit like just being out here?
And you know, being in southernCalifornia now, I will say the weather

(05:03):
is beautiful. You know, it'sexcellent and definitely going to miss the East
coach. You know, I've gota lot of roots there in the Midwest.
You know, I've started a lotthere, but nothing like new beginnings
and no better place to be inhere. And I guess what did you
notice about just this offense from Afar? I know Jordan asked you about some
of the specifics with schematic carryover,but you know, beyond that, beyond

(05:27):
Matthew Stafford, what appeal to youabout being a part of this offense and
being a part of this team beyondthose things. Yeah, just I mean
a lot of similarities on what wedo, you know, the gap scheme,
play action and you know, havingto drop back. You know,
I'm comfortable in whatever we've had.I've had eight this should be i think
nine now nine different offensive coordinators sinceI started college. So I'm comfortable in

(05:48):
whatever. It doesn't really matter.But like I said, the pieces to
the puzzle were you know, incredible, whether it's the wide receivers, the
running back, the QB, theold line, the defense. You know,
it's a it's a it's a prettygood team over here. So I'm
excited to be a part of it. Thank you so much. Appreciate it.

(06:08):
Gary, Hi Jonah Gary from theLos Angeles Times, welcome the Sarah.
Thank you. Gary. I'm curious, think what was it like the
part of uh, you know,alliance an organizations that enjoyed that verge last
season, And what, if anything, are your memories of playing against the

(06:31):
Rams in that wild card game atwork Field? Uh? Yeah, you
know, being a part of something, uh you know, and Detroit where
for so long that the city wasdying for a winner and being able to
bring it there and and you know, change the trajectory of everything and and
bring some light to the situation.It was awesome and there's nothing like it.
But you know, when when youwhen you face the l A.

(06:54):
Rams, you know they got theygot a special defense and you know up
front they they got the guys.You know, soy Ben A. Watson,
I said, all y'all definitely goodsir. Yeah, see, I
don't I don't mess with that thoughI worked for you, No you did
not. I don't like that.Fair. Will you talk about the differences

(07:15):
between left and right and just Imean, obviously it's different types of it,
but is it schematically or is itphysically anything different? Uh, it's
more mentally than anything. Though,Like least side was always my uh best
side back in cars, but sinceI got to IF, I've always been
playing right. But you know,it's a it's a good challenge for me
and I can show people I canactually play right hand left, So it's

(07:36):
a versatility thing. So I'm happyabout it. There. You moved around
a lot of throughout your career thatthere's jumbo side you'll tackle. I guess
and the Sensen playing both the lefton the right side. Do you think
you kind of benefit from focusing alittle bit more on the right side,
Yeah, a little bit. Butyou know, there is a new system
that we have, like I beenfound my mindset most on the right,
but also have my minds and lefttoo, just in case something that's happening

(07:59):
too, like you know what Imean, like Coatlan or you know Pete,
of course, but I'm always gonnabe ready for life no matter what.
How quickly have you felt like youpicked up this new system that you're
working in now? Oh, it'sa we actually pay up picked up pretty
well cause it's the same system thatI'm used to back in the hot Stacke
cause we're more like spread back inthe hot state. So you know,
it's pretty good. It's one ofthose like the draft process off seasons.

(08:24):
A lot of people outside the buildingsand mamaders get the right time, okay,
a lot of yeah, yeah,alright, now, a lot of
people in the building, right,we have the right time. All the
people do get motivated about that.You follow it like if you had that,
you do it. Though I don'tI read into it a little bit,
but also the same time, likethey not here of course, but
I don't really care what they say. I know what I can do,
and the team know I what Ican do. So they trusted me right

(08:46):
now and I'm not gonna live themright now. How hard or how easy
is that to compartmentalize that and usethat as fuels going forward rather than the
kind of marinating it. Uh,I j I just keep the seats and
everybody knows that one person I don'treally care for him at Also, that's
all good, but it's all love. I love uh outside of this.
But you keep doing me, keepit better, keep on these nights,

(09:09):
do what I can do there.You've been a outspoken about your supporter ZUMR,
and obviously it's just his chance downto be the dog. Wait,
what is it about him that youbought in so early? The reason why
I bought so earliest cause us Iwas at a house state. They always
taught us, actually I can goget it, and ex since I got
here, i'm'a always wanna go getand I got picked late. And I

(09:31):
always wanna prove people wrong. Youknow, I've been proved people wrong all
my life. I don't wanna keepdoing that. That's all I do do.
What's I guess poor just like wedon't put it like the set and
you feel like the community this yearyou have ninety eight difference nine they difference
from my first year and my secondyear to now. Like now, my
guy, I know I can play. I know I can go again into

(09:52):
one of the best special mats anybodyelse that we gonna play this year,
and I know what I can do. So all I do now is actually
meet my potential and should do itand help everybody else out the team as
well. You've practiced a lot againstMalcolm and he's really come into his own.
What is it about Malcolm that's helpedhim make that next step? There?
Man, Malcolm, he's quiet,he doesn't really say too much.

(10:13):
He comes to the work every day, do what he does, and he
works hard. He doesn't blit twiceat anything. Yeah, he'll get mad
over a co respos At the sametime that like he has a mentality of
adult, Like he's he don't reallycare what y'all think or anybody else thinks
for real, So it's just likealright, just keep going. That's how
everybody is on the team about tyraigythat same mindset. He does have the

(10:35):
same mindset. A little nervous,but uh nah, he nah. He
has definitely grow up a lot fromhis like first year here too now like
he has, but he's he's growingup a lot mentally too. Until you
guys are reimagining the offensive line alittle bit with you out there right side,

(10:56):
yeah, uh far m there nextto you on the on the on
that side too, been drafting theguys a little line. Yeah. How
long exciting is that to be partof something that's that's kind of being you
know, having that trust but alsobeing reinvented a little bit. That's great,
you know. But me and dealingthose like they gonna keep a place
in us, of course. Butall the same time, we gotta keep
going, you know. We can'tscally and think about what they did.

(11:18):
All we gotta do is think aboutwhat what can we do to be better
in fourteen as well? Sorry,don't put a lot on them both side
and the right a little bit more. How how long were you guys working
together? So we're working pretty well? You know, yes, said for
us, we had like a alittle rookie moment a little bit, but
you know, me and him,that's been great friends. You know,
actually like my brother and I alwayswill. You know, we talked every

(11:41):
day about how can we get better? Help can we help each other out
on the on the right side sowe can actually make up connection. You
guys played like Friday, Gan,Do you do you think of that?
What do you about the NFL playinglike a Wednesday Christmas and all that stuff?
They gotta see us think I seeus first. I don't really care
about the Russe knows that, Uh, we're competing against each other every day.

(12:05):
Him being out there for me thatyou know, helps me getting better,
Uh, us pushing each other.So I mean I definitely don't have
the mindset of you know, mejust you know, sitting all year.
So you know, I'm coming inevery day giving it all I got and
you know, pushing him to behis best, and he's you know,
pushing me to be my best eachand every day. So I appreciate that
you two had a relationship before this. Yeah, is it kind of Does

(12:26):
this kind of help with growing onas you're on the same team. I
mean, yeah, you know,the first time I ever talked to Russell
was when I was in college.So you know, we've we've we've known
each other uh for for a goodbit now and the fact that I get
to you know, learn stuff fromhim. You know that the things that
he's accomplished, you know, upto this point in his career has been
great. So just me learning justa little details how he's so uh meticulous

(12:48):
in detail within every rat every individualdrill. It just kind of makes me
think, like, you know,that's what I should be doing each and
every time. So I'm I'm gladto have him here and glad to you
know, be able to learn fromhim. Just how do you look back over
the time as up just really goodSai? How do you look back on
the time in Chicago? Yeah,I mean there was a lot of ups
and downs, but all in all, I appreciate every relationship that I built,

(13:09):
all my teammates, they know that, nothing but love for the city,
for the fans, and uh formy you know, old teammates and
coaches. Did you feel they dideverything they should have done? I'm not
really gonna, you know, harpon the past. It is what it
is. It's it's in the past. Now I'm here now. So like
I said, I'm grateful to behere and gratefully what it'll be a party
team. I means like Jack,having you're traded at ten o'clock the time

(13:30):
of you, are you able tosleep that night or you on the phone?
What kind of happened after you getthat? I mean, yeah,
I mean I've been dealing with youknow, people for you know, a
long time. So at my exitmeeting, you know, we were in
the same situation last year with thehaving the number one pick, and it
was just a little bit different thisyear. 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, soit wasn't really just a shock to where

(13:52):
it's like, ah, I gottraded, Like I knew what was gonna
happen beforehand. So I'm just gladI got, you know, traded to
the spot that I wanted to beat. So the newest yeah, I
think. So, I think whenyou're just you know, waiting, cause
I knew I was gonna get traded, you know, at the end of
the day, That's that's just whatit was. So it was just you
know, uh, just me waitingand you know me, you know,

(14:15):
trying to figure out where I'm gonnabe at and uh stuff like that.
It was definitely a relief to youknow, kind of be on a team
and uh know where I'm gonna beat. So that's another thing to a
really good situation because yeah, yeah, I mean, you know, shout
out to uh uh you know posehe he you know who would communicate it
to to him, you know,through my agent, and you know I

(14:35):
told him where I wanted to beand this was the place I wanted to
be, so you know, heuh you know honored that and I appreciate
him for that, and uh gladhe was uh able to put me to
the spot where where I wanted tobe at. What needs to go right
for you to become the guy?You know he kind of envisioned me when
you came out in the first round, But you said, what needs to
go right? Yeah, I mean, I mean, I know you're gonna
put the work in, but you'rein a good spot, and what are

(14:56):
the little things that you think it'sgonna take to get you out to come
the guy that I think me.I just gotta you know, keep working
every day, like I said before, just being detailed and every drill,
not taking a day off, andI'm just good having rest here, learning
from him, us pushing each othereach and every day. So you know,
I think just controlling what I cancontrol every time I step on the
field, you know, just justfall out and uh played to the best

(15:18):
of my abilities and you know,let let let God handle the rest.
So what kind of has been onthe team has been helpful to you or
closest to you as far as gettingused to the team, the organizations and
plays, just working in practice.Yeah, I mean, uh, it's
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

(15:39):
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
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 was a video that dropped

(16:03):
with you know, Coach T.I can just you know feel the energy
and just you know, just theconsistency throughout the years and the culture that
Coach T has and just the standardthat you know, the Steelers have have
set, this organization has set.So I think that was the biggest of
pill 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,

(16:25):
just just the culture coach T andyou know, of course the team
itself. So it wasn't an issuethat it was a situation where they like
literally days before, had gotten aguy that they said, this is going
to be our start. 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 sought to Pittsburgh when hegot here. After the city. The

(16:47):
people, I mean, yeah,I will say this, I think Pittsburgh
has one of the or has alot of nice people. That's one thing
I've noticed, like I've taken afew ubers at the airport and I've had
full thirty minute conversations with er Uberdrivers. So yeah, just just people,
uh you know, their generosity,they're their niceness. I'm going out
and people don't even know who Iam. They're just being so nice to
me. So I think that's onething I've noticed. And then I started

(17:08):
going on the walks this past offseason, so just the different views of the
city, the bridges and stuff likethat. It's is is pretty cool to
me, don't you know. Theoffense is new, it's just day one,
but from what you've learned so far, how do you feel like Arthur
Smith's my offense is gonna put yourskill sets on the users? I mean
yeah, I think, uh,you know, he's he's had experience with
you know, doing their quarterbacks alot of quarterbacks in the past, Ryan

(17:30):
Marcus, of course, Desmond andTyler in the past past few years,
so you know, he knows howto play to his player strengths. And
you know, of course he's newhere too, so he's got to figure
out, you know, what guysdo, uh, what things the best
way? And you know, we'rejust gonna keep building and getting better every
day. But I definitely, youknow, trust him to you know,
put everybody in the right spot tohave as much where he's got his two

(17:52):
cents on it, which is,you know, always the best two cents
I've heard. But me being whoI am, you know, I'm I'm
I'm gonna throw my two cents inthere, you know. So that's it's
uh, it's been awesome, man. We he's he's you know, a
resource for me, just a personthat I can always bounce my thoughts off
of. And now, you know, just a year you said, thirteen
months, now I feel more comfortablejust you know, bringing certain things up.
You know, you never you neverwanna come off too strong. But

(18:14):
I'm a curious guy. I gota lot of questions. I like,
I like football a lot. Ilike to talk and talk to games.
So you know, come to findout, he's the exact same. So
we, uh, you know,we get along well, and and uh
we're gonna keep keep building that relationship. Sometimes in this league, playing you
know, eighteen games, they trynamake a twenty. You know, that's
like it sound like a little alittle fever dream to be honest, but
but uh, if we can finda way to k you know, stay

(18:36):
up right out there, keep keepAaron on his feet. You know,
I'm I'm excited for that and uh, everything 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,
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 you think I do?
You're a receiver room now? Positionsdo you guys have made when Montay healthy?

(19:00):
Yeah, you know, I'm excitedto see it at at full health.
You know, we've i haven't gotto see all the all the guys
out there at once. And andyou know, it's one of those positions
where every day is something might happento Nick up. You know, it's
just a a tough position to stayout there at all times. But I
feel like we got a great groupand and the number one thing is how
can we stay healthy? How canwe you know, I'll be out on

(19:21):
the field, and I think havingdepth like this and the group we have
is gonna help us. Having guysthat can do different things, that can
go catch ball over the middle,all types of things that it's gonna take
some of the strain off off allof us. You know, it's it's
a good group. So I'm excitedto, uh, you know, get
out there. I feel like wehaven't had the whole whole thing together,
but you know, come season time, morol, and it's gonna be exciting.

(19:41):
What about the guy is a yourwhole number? Yeah? Yeah,
ma, Like yeah, man,he's uh, it was a brute and
once he catches that ball, Imean he's he's got great uh instinct of
where the defense is gonna be at, how to make someone miss. Yeah,
man, just just forever about hisplans. So you know, you

(20:03):
us transitions like one of those fairytalelike to your time. But but again,
either way, you know, wetalked about it. You know,
that's that's the how it goes,you know. But obviously you know he
sees he's he's been one of mybiggest supporters. Again, I affect everybody

(20:25):
leads in their own way, youknow, not everybody's the guys coming around
like that's not everybody right Like Ifelt for me, that's me specifically on
game day with the O line afterwe do one on one like that's my
Like, well Hump did, likethat's my like big vocal time. I
feel like I've talked to Hump aboutthis, you know, just recently talking

(20:49):
about how what I want to dofor the room is I want to bring
that Hump energy that he brought.Right So last year, of course something
tras been doing it for a year, but the year when I spent with
him, he brought a lot ofthe energy and excitement and the happiness in
the room was just his natural energyto where I only had to focus on

(21:12):
me, you know, I didn'thave to make sure other other guys are
you know, feel some type ofway when they came in here because Hump
brought that. But out of Hump'snot here, but I saw what he
did for the room. I wantto be that guy to make sure everyone's
amp to go to practice, everybody'shype. Weren't taking the field team one
period. You know it's a lowday or something. You know, it's

(21:34):
a it's a thing, but likeI want to make you feel like parents
a trip right now, I wantto bring that because that's what we hump
did with each other. We willhpe each other up. Dudes like dudes
were about to be walked through.We're lit. So I want to do
that. I want to bring thatenergy. I want to make bring more
guys, you know, to dothat. You know, I wanted to
do that from day one, youknow, I kind of I wanted to

(21:56):
do that from day one, fromjust talking to him, and obviously it's
that time. I spend the offseason before OTA started just being in myself,
just thinking about what the room needs, you know, because I know
I knew a new role as oneof the leaders, you know, on
the offense, is that we needa guy like that that's gonna make sure

(22:21):
the old line is picked up readyto go every day and it was held
accountable. Little things are 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 to leave with positivity, you know
what I mean. So, buthe the energy yet went beyond just the
hype up the deal line and startedtoo. So that's kind of how I

(22:45):
wanna be. Some goal of mineliterally my whole life. I want to
be a NFL team captain, likespecifically the NFL. I wasn't a captain
of high school. I wasn't acaptain of college. But I made a
joke when I was in high school, so that I feel like I'm not
gonna be a captain til I getto the NFL. Yeah, but that
would be awesome, you know,but you know, if it happens,

(23:07):
i'd be great, But not eitherway, I wanna assume a role as
a captain from the respect of theguys on the team, individual words to
me and to get back to thatword, yeah, I mean, I
can't say that. I mean,I guess the biggest thing is that I
felt like it has felt like howit you used to in the past.

(23:30):
But it didn't take just the firstday OTAs. It took training left and
right once the season ended, causeI didn't know what it was gonna be
sure, So it took a lotof yeah reps just to get back to
feeling like myself for day one OTAsand then that whole first week. But

(23:51):
now like today, specifically just changingsome small things with my feet. I
did say talking about Oline coach aboutsome things I can do with my fee
to get to that, but tosell it the traditional angle that I love
to set on felt even I thoughtI felt, I thought I felt great
already by moat, I felt evenback up it. So I'm even more
excited tomorrow. Now I'm getting myfeedback to how I liked it the right

(24:11):
side and on the left side,So I'm excited. I mean, obviously,
I feel like in the league,whether I left or right, you're
still going against premier guys. Soobviously you have high expectations for your left
and or right tackle. But there'sdefinitely uh like the the level of energy
and like the expectations definitely taking thehuman stack cause now connected the black side

(24:34):
that stuff that's de tackle role,you know. So so yeah, I
would say in terms of communication asfar as just even outside of facilities and
stuff like that, like really creatingthat the tackle quarterback bond even more off
the field, I think has beensomething that's even been cool. I got

(24:55):
a text one day as I hadlike you play left, and I was
like, you know, yeah,I've been training both. I've been training
both, you know, I askedafter the season, They're like, honestly
you know, we'll talk to youstill play in the season and then I
just gotta text me, like dependingon what happens with with the free agency
then. So I was like,you know what, I had a whole
season right tackle, So if Iget the word, I'm going I'm standing

(25:19):
right tackle. I don't used todo what I did before. I'm built
on that bus. I was like, I might as alost trained the left
tackle now as if I'm going tobe a left tackle, and I'd rather
do that than training on the righttime and get the ko Hey you're the
left tackle. I'm like, oh, I don't even I didn't even switch
on my feet yet, you knowwhat I mean. So I'm like,
let me just prepare in advance.I was like, yeah, let's god.
You know, I think occasionally onthird down there would be a lot

(25:44):
of twists. I would just knowlike it's I'm gontamatically coming. And I
think that was my mindset for likethe first half of the season, like
I didn't have to go into agame and with surprise like oh my gosh,
they did that. I kind offigured like, okay, like this
is this is the type of rushmanagain, this is how this got usually
Russias, but I get the vibe. This is how the ends, like
the rush, you know, tacklesthat are you know, first year guys

(26:07):
who got the premiere patch on.I already knew what it was gonna be,
already knew of every stunt and honestlyjust knowing that it's kind of an
advantage too. So you're not you'renot, you're not. Oh, they
brought the twisted my side again,So it was never an Aaron donal you
know, they're coming out of minds, like three plays in a row and
two minutes. I knew that itwas the way to happen. So you
know what I mean, I'm watchingmore than everybody else, and he rarely

(26:29):
England goes out there on occasional thirddowns on the d N. I was
already know it's gonna be He's gonnapick me, you know what I mean,
So fact fact, it's kind ofa it's also kind of an advantage
in a way, but it's alsoexciting, like, Okay, I'm gonna
get the hardest look. You know, those are real, real reps,
you know the thing? So really, I don't know, I really didn't

(26:51):
kind of process that I was like, hey, when they tell me,
I feel like I see if yourprocess, we're about how you might approach
this, and then what do youthink it's me with the key elements.
You're getting the most out of thosebecause you got two guys. This ain't
my first rodeo, No. Iknow a lot of people look at say,
well, this guy only been onthe field for three years westernn Tucky

(27:15):
and Oregon. Just because I didn'thave the title of a running back coach
where I was at the Memphis Inever carried 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 Poller, Kenny
game Well, Tonyo Gibson. I'veseen talented backs and I've seen them be

(27:37):
able to function with one another.So I hear that all the time about
well, this ain't my first rodeo. Same thing out there at Oregon we
Buck Grivey Norwich and George James.You go look at their numbers. They
all functioned well together. We learnedhow to play as one. So this
ain't my first rodeo. So andplus I know those two kids cause I
recruited them when they was in highschool. So I'm up for the challenge

(27:57):
and the responsibility of it. Uhright behind the damn Hope Leven Warrior,
Carlos, Just what is your kindof coaching philosophy? How do you get
the best out of your running backs? I get the best out'em cause I
love the young man. My mainfocus is to change the h the hearts
and minds of'em, and they'llplay for me. I had just got
through we reading Coach Trestle's Winners Manual, and it's something that I took from

(28:19):
that book. You have your purposeand you have your goals, alright.
My purpose is to serve and pourinto the young men. Now my goals
is a football coach. All ofthem are take care of themselves. So
m That's one of the ways.I'm just real relationship based and I'm very
detailed at this position. I Iknow y'all heard me say it before,
and i'm'a keep saying this is theworst coach position in football. It's terrible

(28:42):
guys hire anybody to coach his positionand recruiters. Carlos Locker is not a
recruiter. I'm an elite relationship builder. But I coached this position. I'm
a ball coach, so that's whoI am. So allm'a pouring to these
kids. I think they kind ofseeing it now and I I jumped in
day one. I'm ready to coachand soft thatched cookies. Where did that

(29:02):
phrase come from? Kind of whatwas this boy? Let me tell you
about that boy. I've been calledeverything but the name the child of God
by the people at the other placesI left, so that I've been getting.
Pillsbury needs to give me a dealbecause I've been getting I've been getting
some DM and textas some of it. Some of them have been so funny.

(29:22):
The saftbat's cookie thing came from justhaving a frame of mind, a
mental toughness. It had nothing todo with guys getting in the portal and
anything. Now, most people sayI'm a saltbat's cookie for leaving there,
but actually I'm not, because ittakes great strength to make a decision to
leave a place. No, aweak minded person wouldn't be able to make
the decision I made, So ittook great strength to do that. So

(29:45):
I'm telling you, if I literallyin my DMS, it's some it's some
great comedians out here that have beensending me like tons of cookies, and
I'm like, it's funny right behindhim. How did you go about being
assessment the talent in the room overthe past week or two? How much
is that on field off field?Like, what's the process of getting to

(30:06):
know who you have as players?Well, I broke down well me being
a guy that loves the running backposition, and I already broke those kids
down because I recruited them out ofhigh school. You know, c is
from where I'm from, and Montgomery, I was one of the first guys
to offer him just watching him greatcontact balance, creative runner, great hands

(30:29):
and Trey. I recruited him outof Virginia exceptional short air of your bursting
quickness and things that I'm gonna helphim get better on. And then I
recruited James Peeples out of out ofSan Antonio, Texas. I knew what
he was gonna what he was gonnabe TC and Sam. Those two kids
I'm getting to know and I'm gonnahelp them improve that game. But we
got different runners in there. Ilike to call myself, I'm in love

(30:52):
with this position, so I getto break down runners and help the game.
So talented, talented room, verytalented. Uh far back uh,
Jeremy Birmingham podcast Couch. How doyou swear that that the South Past cookies
are actually the best cookies the Philoburtinmakes and goe those are way better than
the County chips and white things ofTerman. I mean, do you do

(31:14):
you have to first find a balancethere or somewhere. Well, for me,
I'm actually not eating any cookies.Uh nah, I'm just saying I'm
not eating any cookies this year.I gave it up for a fast or
no sweets for me for the wholeyear. That something I gave up.
So they the term the south bastcookie term. Look, guys, I
actually took that from I represent thehigh school coaches of Myths, Tennessee.

(31:37):
I actually took that from a guynamed coach Slocum. He used to always
say that South Bast cookie. Iactually stole that from him. I give
him credit for it, and Itell him all the time he said,
you I should have branded that,cause you done took it and ran away
with it. But that's just wherethat comes from. So that that now
was standing as you get to OhioStadium and start to look around the country.
I mean, Oregan's a big place. That's a that's a major job.

(32:00):
Really, how how do you thinkthat very your opposite of logo und
run the block o? When youget out out of the the pre and
trail, How does that change theway that you feel you're either received or
or does it add a different leveltoo to just feeling like I could go
anywhere and get anybody in the country. And that's the sagest thing for me.

(32:22):
This is a great place. Oregonis a great place too. But
guess what, whatever I put on, I know what I'm going to represent
for me, I n I NI know who who put me here.
I know I represented something higher,you know, Like I told you,
I know what my purpose is.My purpose is to poorting to people.

(32:43):
So whatever logo I have on,I'm still gonna be doing the same thing.
So this is a great logo.Great logo by well, another logo
every day it's across I see aroundmy neck. I know what I represent.
So that's the greatest logo I couldever wear. So it don't matter
what other logo I have on.I got that one on. I'm going
to any house NBA recruit. Uhuh deep right camera tiqu Robinson, the

(33:06):
athletic so which you you mentioned thetime at Memphis and themis four NFL running
backs you mentioned there? Who youlearned from that time that you a you
take over to managing your growl andkid? What did I learned from them?
I just building a just teaching thekids. We live in such a
selfish world though, and I cantell the kids all the times it's gotta

(33:27):
be much more to football. Theball gonna go flat one day. As
I always say, what being inthat room there at Memphis is, it
wasn't four five teaching them how tobe a bo by being one? I
tell you them in all time,it doesn't cost you anything to celebrate another
man's success. So teaching them howto be one. And then once they
learned to be one, they functionand they feed off one another. So

(33:50):
that's what I learned from being therein Memphis. Uh. Right in front
of Andy Bachman. Let'em inrow, Carls. He did your career
in law enforce that kind of influenceyou as a coach and kind of shitak
where you are? Oh well,I just got through talking to somebody about
that today. When I first gotin this profession and I got my own
room in Western Tech, I wasasked, No, how was I was

(34:14):
gonna be able to handle my room? I said, Man, I had
a part with fifty one inmates.You talking about me having got six or
seven guys like you kidding me?I'm talking about me having to do traffic
stop. So going on domestic novirus calls, it's simple easy. No.
People donna know what you care.Also know you gotta have a certain

(34:36):
demeaning about yourself. So when Iwalk into a room, it's the reason
why I go train every morning.This is when it's same thing when I
was a police officer. You looka certain way kind of deter people from
doing certain things. So reason whyI go train every morning. I'm gonna
look just as good as my boyslook. So U it helped out a
lot. In other words, uhfrom Earl right Austin Ward the podcast Carls,

(34:58):
Welcome to Columbus. What would itmean to I don't know, revolutionize
the way running backs are? Coach? What does that take? I ain't
even I'm not gonna say revolutionary.It's just good. It's some good running
back coaches out here. Everybody's different. It's some great coaches out here.
I just want the head guys whosay that on these jobs to not just

(35:20):
hire guys. Just know, allcoaches on your staff should be great recruiters,
not just some running back coach.We coach a position. We developed
players as well. I just wantthe coaches to realize, Hey, you
know what, let me look andbe thorough about this guy that I'm hiring
for this job. Is he teachingthe position? Is he development the position?
Because you're not gonna hire anybody justcoach quarterbacks, are you. Well,

(35:42):
it shouldn't be like that for therunning back position either. And I'm
only passionate about it because I playedit. I love it, so it's
the only position I want to coach. Could I coach other positions? Yeah?
I played dB in college too,but I love the running back position
so and I just want to seeit coach well. Too. Many podcasts,
Yeah, a million questions on acouple. Number one, when you
when you when your wife whatever?You got the message stuff? Are we

(36:05):
moving again? What was What washer reaction? Nah, she's just new
guy had give us, gave usa new assignment. It was never like
we're moving again. Let me tellyou guys something I grew up. My
mom was in the military, soI lived everywhere. I lived in Panama,
South America. I'm used to pickingup and moving. I lived in
Fort Roley, Kansas. Montgomery's home. Meph's my second home, so I'm
I'm used to moving now. Mywife it was different for her, but

(36:29):
she's just knew guy that gave usa new assignment. So it's time to
go. What did uh? Whatdid coach they tell you when he heard
you that he wants out of you. That may be different. It's not
slamming somebody else, But what didhe say he wanted you to bring to
the running back room? I thinkhe did his research on me. He
said he wanted the guy to todevelop the position. And that's not taking

(36:51):
a shot at the coach that washere who I'm friends with. He said,
they didn't want somebody to really getthe guys going. I can only
be me, and I told himthat be couse. I'm gonna be me
every day now because see my mindsetis when I step in this building,
I got one mindset that's to domy job so well that the living dead

(37:13):
or unborn can do it any better. So when I leave it, that's
what my mindset is. Hopefully I'mhere for a long time, but only
God knows that. So, butthat's my mindset every day step into the
Wizard Hate So that's my mindset.I'm gonna do my job so well that
living dead or i'mborn couldn't do itany better. So that's what my mindset
is. Coach, you got timefor one last question, Bill rabinowit's Plumbus

(37:34):
dispatch Carlos. First of all,it's the truth that nobody calls you Carlos,
never calls you Locke, That's thetruth. Yeah, I prefer to
be called Locked 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

(37:55):
on how to handle that variable.So you just guys just tried to do
what they think is right. That'sall they're really trying to do. And
I'm not saying there right or wrong, but he was trying to do the
same. And uh, you know, I think at the end of the
day he realized he made made thewrong decision and we connected on it.
We talked about it, and youknow, it was a great opportunity to
to right or wrong. And obviouslywe're very glad he's here. I've always

(38:19):
believed in him. We believe inhim, and he believes in himself.
And that's part of the just tryingto understand what's my path right. So
uh, but yeah, it's beengreat. Steps have been made. He's
growing, but he's nowhere near wherehe knows he's capable of being. He's
just probly a price Caremia. Ilove the way he lives. I love

(38:40):
the way he approaches things. Ilove the way the questions he asks.
I love the way he makes mistakesand then correct mistakes. It's very veteran,
like, I mean, there's somuch ball he has to learn.
Like he literally does things that aregood. I'm like, do you know
why that worked? He goes coach, I have no freaking idea. So
well, I'm trying to teach himall of that why it works, so

(39:01):
then you know the consistency at whichit works just goes to the roof and
so h but I'm very you know, excited and proud of the conversations we're
currently having and I'm exciting it forthem to keep going. Bryant, power
for you working with you. Ilove working with Chip Chip Is. I
love talking ball, I love theviewpoints I love I love the the veteran

(39:30):
that he has, you know,uh and uh, I love Yeah,
like I I love all of it. I think that, you know,
early on the biggest impact, youknow, just you know, feeling perspective.
I think in the run game hasbeen awesome, you know, and
then you know, off of therun game, some of the actions or

(39:51):
or relief throws or all that kindof stuff. I love where it's at.
I love working with them, andh I would say that I sleep
a little better, all right.Uh No, It's it's really a great

(40:12):
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
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.

(40:36):
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 dynamics andsearch Chip can talk about. But it's
been it's been awesome, so I'mexcited about it. We talked to a
mecha. You're just talking about movingfrom slot to the house side. You
know how good we've been in theslot. Is that a difficult move for

(40:59):
you guys? Just to know howgood a guy is on one spot,
but know that maybe for his longterm future and the no. I wouldn't
say it's anything on his future,because he's capable of doing whatever you want
to get done. But I'd saythat it says more about the room.
I think it's it's the growth ofyou know, Brandon and the growth grow

(41:21):
of Bryson. That's really you know, allowing my mind to say, hey,
Mech, be prepared. You're gonnamove around a lot. You're gonna
come out of that slot, You'regonna be outside. We're gonna create mismatches
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 lotof flexibility for our room and uh and
those top you know, six sevenguys that are really doing a good job.

(41:44):
Right now. Progress looks like thisspring for Alecca because there's no time
to think. It's one of thosethings, I'm true when you has balanced
how much the work does a needversus so much does actually? Yeah,
heavy, heavy emphasis on what workhe needs, you know, versus anything
else UH on him. We havegreat dialogue back and forth. It's a
way. It's a two way conversation. And frankly, there's gonna be times

(42:06):
where like, hey, mech whatdo you wanna do today? You wanna
go outside? You gona go inside? And I don't care. So we're
not there yet. We will bethere, but it's just more about,
you know, when the room isready to start mixing things up. I

(42:31):
would say, there's got I mean, I make sure I'm bring in guys
that are able to do all,but I have not asked them to yet.
So the only guys that in ourroom currently I've asked to do that
has been Mecca and Carnell, andthose are probably the two guys that I
would, you know, think heavilyon doing moving around a lot. I'm
not putting that on anybody else rightnow, not saying they can't, but

(42:52):
at this point, having two guysbeen able to swing, you probably don't
need much more than that. Ineed guys being experts at what they're good
at, so it helps the offense. Don't be great at everything, and
be an expert at something and wecan use that to our lot. I
like him. Yeah, it's abunch of good dudes just just out here.
So we're gonna keep working and Ilike I like our edge guys that

(43:16):
we picked up, and I'm excitedto work with them. You know much
about how we played against him,wonder Floyd and what's been kind of your
earlier him. I think he's superskilled rusher, all good length, and
he's more athletic than I even realized. And I think guys like him when
they come to our scheme are thebest is brought out of him. So

(43:37):
I'm excited to see what potential hehas. He's year nine, so I
feel like you as a d lineman, you can keep improving all the way
through ten years in this league.So I'm excited to see what he's got.
How old did you know Sores andwhen he was assistant here and had
gotten to know him a lot atwhat's the relationship? Maybe right now?

(43:59):
I know him pretty well well.He was always just a good dude around
the facility. He did our ballmeetings, so he's good in front of
a group. He's a good leader. He knows the scheme really well,
which is good. I was happyto see him promoted. He called me
in the off season. We talked. I just congratulated him, and I

(44:22):
think he's gonna bring something similar towhat we had with the Miko good.
Do you know Brandon Staley well atall? I mean, obviously Joey played
for him. I don't know toomuch about him. I've obviously heard from
my brother, but I don't eventhink i've said high yet. I haven't
ran into him yet, but I'msure i'll get to know him. When

(44:43):
you say it looks similar to Miko, the energy or system, maybe a
little different energy, but I thinkjust knowing the system from the front to
the back, I think he knowshow it ties in and he's been around
with some really good co just soI think It'll be pretty pretty seamless,

(45:05):
and I think we'll be firing onall cylinders. You're three months removed from
the Super Bowl now, so justhow have you? I guess digested it,
and I guess physically everything good togo. Yeah, I feel really
good. I think it's been oneof my better off seasons of just kind
of it was a long year,so I took it nice and slow to
get back into it. Not asyoung as I once was, so I'm

(45:29):
taking a little a little slower,but everything's great. I'm feeling as good
as I've felt. I'm excited toactually get some practice in. Last year
was kind of tough, getting thrownin Week one after I walked through,
so that was another reason I'm excitedto be here is just to get practicing

(45:50):
a little bit in season. Practiceis one thing, but actually being able
to work your stuff and not havea game coming up is good. The
super Bowl unfortunately, I know howto bounce back from tough losses, so
it was rough for a little bit, but no, just annoying when people
bring it up. Since Angel lastseason, we've seen a rock on TV

(46:16):
commercials and on the stage with KlukeCoombs and throwing out the first pitch of
the Giants game. But he seemslike a guy that's totally unaffected by celebrity,
which he has now. But whathave you noticed in his leadership style
and the way he carries himself anydifference at all. I think he's definitely
getting a little more vocal within thebuilding. And uh yeah, I mean

(46:38):
I don't think he's ever gonna change. I don't think he's somebody that's gonna
change even when he gets paid nextyear. So he's he's a man of
faith and he kind of reminds meof Scottie Scheffler, but except for just
super humble and really good kid.And yeah, he's definitely famous. I

(47:08):
don't just from watching Armstead get releasedobviously meant so much to the defensive line
into the team. I mean,Colin John were pretty open that they were
willing to talk about trading deebo orare you at youll? Does that just
another what's that feel like in thelocker room when those sort of joels happened.

(47:30):
I didn't even know that happened andI wasn't here, but you're talking
about this Oason Armstead well in alarmEr released, so that's certainly one thing.
Yeah, it's a tough business forsure. You have to have thick
skin, and I haven't gone throughthat, but I think you just have

(47:54):
to understand that it is a businessand the team's going to try and get
as good as it possible we can, with or without you, and you
have to look out for yourself.That's why you go through holdouts and do
certain things that seem selfish in themoment, but it is what it is,
and when everything's settled, we're gonnacome together as a team and try

(48:15):
and go get one Nick. What'sthe overall feeling around the group right now,
Like, how much does it feellike the excitement of the ramp up
to the season, Even though it'searly, it feels good. It's been
a couple of days for me,so I like all the new guys.
I'm getting to know everybody, butI think the passes in the past and
we're ready to go. Do youtalk to me. You talked to beat

(48:37):
all about handling the business part ofthis. He's going through something similar.
We chat a little bit, butnot too much about the details. I
just told him keep his head upand try and stay positive through it all.
Were your first impressions when you heardwhat your schedule would be in that
Aaron Rodgers' first time It'll be fun. Yeah, it's gonna be gonna be

(49:00):
a good one. Use me kindof alluded to this, But the fact
that last year you had to havethat hold out for something that affected you
somewhat early in the season. Ifyou hadn't had that experience, would you
be here right now? I mean, was that part of the motivation for
being here early just to have theopposite one last year? Might be No,

(49:23):
I don't think that's one of thereasons. But I just talked to
Kyle and he kind of asked me. He kind of stated how he felt
about why it would be good forme to be here and asked if I
agreed, And I on agree.So it's not like I'm missing too much.
I think I'm out here. It'sa little less workload than I'm doing

(49:47):
back home, so it's kind ofa good active recovery thing for me.
And I'm getting football stuff, footballworking specifically, so that's good. I'm
not it's not compromising my train atall, and I get to meet all
the guys. It's positive. Howdid Joey kick the news. I think

(50:07):
your brother. Did you have tolike let him down? And Oh no,
he's he's there. He's got anew regime over there. Did you
first? I actually thought I wascoming next week until recently, so I
was gonna have one more week athome, but we're both in California.

(50:27):
Anything you could share about Conn's reasons, reasons that you agreed with here,
Yeah, just the things I alreadystated, Just getting around the guys and
just getting the football stuff honed ina little bit before camp starts. You've

(50:49):
been afraid, We've been afraid tospeak out on player safety issues and things
like that when it comes to playingservice and things like that. The eighteen
game schedule has been kind of discussedagain here recently. What what is your
kind of take on that possibility.I mean, it's I guess it's easy

(51:10):
to appreciate when you kind of seeit working and you see guys improving,
getting better. I just think thedetails are really important. You can pretend
that leaving your shoes a mess oryour locker a mess isn't a big deal,
and what matters is playing football.But I think all those tiny details

(51:31):
and things kind of add up andleak into the important stuff like what you're
doing on the field. So ifyou can have your toe behind the line,
or have your locker and order andall these things, they kind of
stack up into performing well and playingwell when things count. So you know,
I appreciate that. It's it alsohasn't been a fight with the guys

(51:57):
in the locker room. They buyin and you know a lot of young
guys, and I think they're hungryto learn, hungry to compete and win
walkers. Please. You know,it's just an example, whether it's we
talked about first day, have youshot if you could, if you could
spend the time on these small thingswhen nobody's watching. I think, like
I was saying, it seems likeit might not add up too much,

(52:20):
but I think in the long termit does, and it leaks into other
things, whether you're doing your rightassignment on the field, being late to
meetings or all these things. Ifyou hold a standard and you stay to
that standard, I think it benefitsyou long term. It's it been like
Ben Herbert, who has there beenanything in his training program we're working with

(52:45):
you that you feel will benefit youlater. Yeah, yeah, definitely.
He's he's been great. He's ano nonsense kind of guy, but he's
not an old school in the sensethat he's bringing his way of doing things
and that's the only way to dothings. He understands that guys have been
in the in the business for along time, Khalil me and we have

(53:05):
a way of doing things, andall he wants to do is add to
that and help you get better andperform the best you can. He's he
stresses it all the time that he'sa tool for us, and you know,
he's been He's been great. Theguys love him. The energy brings
is awesome, and I think thestuff that we're doing in the weight room
is great, great addition to stuffthat I may may do on the side

(53:29):
or whatever that is. Yeah,I think we I mean, we had
a presentation today with all the certainmeasurables that are changing, and if you
guys are in the meeting, youdefinitely see how beneficial he's been to the
team so far. So obviously,staying healthy is a huge factor to anybody's
success. I'd say it's plagued usa little bit for a while. So

(53:52):
yeah, I think he's he's definitelyincredibly beneficial you. I know, at
the end of last season, youmight have been able to Yeah. No,
I was not ready to go lastyear. No, tried practicing,
tried coming back, and uh itwas it was not good, but yeah

(54:15):
it was Unfortunately the year wasn't goinggreat and it just was unnecessary risk for
I mean, my foot could havehad some real real issues if I came
back too early. So yeah,it's been, it's been. It's been
a great off season. My foot'sfeeling great, toes, good, hamstring
shod. I mean, there wasa list of things last year, my

(54:36):
hand, so all those things aregood. Thing gout surgery on my finger,
so that's feeling good. Yeah,it's it's nice to be feeling better
going into year nine than you havesince maybe five six years ago, which
I've said, I've said I've beenfeeling great last couple of years. I'm
telling you it's a real deal thistime. But obviously anything can happen.

(54:59):
But I just feel it's fun feelingreally confident in your body and being able
to perform. So I could justgo out during practice and you know,
go balls to the wall and doeverything that I feel like I need to
to be able to prepare. It'sfun. My brother and whoever I trained

(55:19):
with my trainer Todd back home.Uh, I think they'd be really proud
of how I've been working this offseasonand it's just exciting. Winning. Was
the injuries on the Green Bay game? You kind of you, Yeah,
it was a bit of a buildup, a little bit of an overreaction,
but you know, it's just tough. It comes sometimes like that,

(55:43):
and I just felt felt really uhdefeated coming back, had a broken hand,
I'm like, oh, yeah,I get to play Boom first series
foot pops. Thought I'd have toget surgery, and all these thoughts flooded
through my head. Broke down abit, and yeah, it just hurts.
You know, you're losing, You'regetting injured. You've felt like you

(56:05):
prepared really well in the off season, and then the year before you had
groin surgery, so you know,a lot of things build up. Yeah,
you don't get a break if you'reinjured. Everybody wants to go on
fans that are very nice, butno, I just I'm grateful that I
feel this way. I'm still stillnicey Ripe twenty eight, so not too

(56:30):
old yet, but yeah, I'mjust excited. I can't remember what the
original question was. At this point, you get something about my body,
how close you and Gift were,How frustrating was it that you couldn't you

(56:50):
know soon for one of those lastthree games. It was frustrating, But
I mean, Gift was had myback the whole way. I think,
forget for any but for for thewhole team, just to show what it
means to me. It would havebeen important for me to be out there,
but I literally could and I triedto practice, injured my foot worse
the very first play I was andin practice, So no chance that was

(57:15):
happening unless I wanted to throw mynext season away as well. But no,
I'm just I'm proud of him forwhat he did with the team,
how he handled it, and Ineed to call him back. Actually sorry,
give Yeah, I'm happy he getsto stay close by with the with
the Rams and uh, I'm justproud of all we accomplished here together over

(57:37):
the years, and and we'll beclose for the rest of our lives.
It was the foot injury. Wasthe guys foot sprang? Yeah, I
sprained one area of my foot.Then when I tried to return, I
sprained another area was able to avoidgetting surgery, which is kind of the
main goal. But yeah, itwas it was tough. Uh when it

(58:00):
comes to the addition of but Dupree, what you felt like he's kind of
brought to the to the room andcould bring on the field. Yeah,
it's when I heard we got mybrother. I don't know, maybe my
brother told me. I'm like,really, we just got budd Like,
that's no, that's no small pickup. He's a seriously elite pass rusher.

(58:22):
Has had some trouble with injuries aswell, so I understand how that is,
but not only him as a player, but as a personality. I
heard Khalil just saying he's he's afun guy. He's a funny guy and
and to have that in the roomanother vet is always a great addition.
But I'm just excited to have himinto Lee and to be able to rotate
like that and not drop off atall when we come off the field is

(58:45):
huge. And now too, he'sgoing into a second year. Just what
do you what do you kind ofwhat are some of the maturity maturity areas
you've seen from him? You know, I'm gonna say not much, and
that's a compliment because he was alreadymature in those areas. I mean,
he's on it everything playbook wise,always doing his job, working hard,

(59:07):
just refining his technique and pass rush. I mean, we don't have the
pads on right now, so thereal work will will begin, you know,
in six weeks now. So,but yeah, I love Tulie.
I've loved him since the first dayhe's walked into the facility, and I
know he's just gonna continue to getbetter. You think of the addition of

(59:28):
Joe Alt, Yeah, yeah,I'm gonna need to beat him up a
little bit in camp. So 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
build, seems like he has goodhands, good feet, strong, We'll

(59:52):
see. We'll see in a fewweeks when I lay a helmet in his
chin, how he holds up.But it'll I'll take it on them.
The Rashaon's a beast. Did youknow Coach Harbond before he came here,
and if he did, just whatwere those first couple of conversations like that?

(01:00:12):
Yeah, probably have crossed paths withhim. Maybe maybe not. Actually
I think what was it his firstyear when I was a junior, So
he kicked his ass as usual thatOhio State. No, No, they
just want a championships. I'd saythey probably have the bragging rights right now.

(01:00:34):
I'm like the guy talking about hisold high school. Oh I remember
we used to kicks. No butno, yeah, no, the rivalry
is dead. I was just sayingthis morning, you know, nine years
and kind of forget about that.I'm not a great alumni. Sorry,
sorry coached, But no, that'sgreat. That's what's great about the NFL

(01:00:55):
is you just have guys from allbackgrounds. You could hate their guts on
one year, and then you comeon the same team and your brothers and
you're all working towards one goal together. So our first talk together was great.
I just sat down with him,went up into his office and chopped
it up about life mainly and hisopportunity here and how much it means to

(01:01:16):
him. And uh, yeah,I think he's a special guy. I
think he's uh the way he conductshimself. He's an interesting cat for sure,
and I'm still still feeling him out. But one thing you can't denies
that he loves football and his maingoal is to win football games. So
and that's what we need. Whenyou see him working out with you guys

(01:01:37):
and pushing his sleves and doing allthis stuff, just how interesting is that
to see? Yeah, I meanhe was a he was a great player
himself, and I think he's alwaysbeen, you know, built like that
lack of a better term. Butyeah, he's uh, he's part of
the guys. You know, he'snot this guy outside looking in. He

(01:01:58):
he really, I mean he voicedthat to me, is that his favorite
part of all of it is beingwith the guys and and the connections he
makes. So yeah, to seea guy like that come in and embrace
it all and kind of be partof it himself is important. Your initial
impuestions of Quachman during the defensive gaming, Yeah, it's funny to go from

(01:02:20):
old gift, old gift to thislittle young guy who's my age. I
wouldn't want to get thrown into aroom with me and Khalil if I was
his age. But no, he'sbeen great. I love messing with him
a little bit, we little sarcasmback and forth, but no, he's
great. He's uh, very talksvery fast, and I don't as you

(01:02:44):
know, so sometimes I gotta belike, slow down, coach, come
on. But no, he's great. I'm excited, you know, to
get closer as the years, asthe year goes on, and I think
he has he has a lot ofpassion for the position, and all he
wants to do is learn and andhelp us to improve. So I'm excited

(01:03:06):
about him and I me and Ido miss Giff. Obviously, it was
a long time with him, butI am excited to have a new face
and kind of have that challenge forme. You worked much with with Jesse's
dad, since I know he coachedlinebackers in Michigan. Did you ask about
Jesse? Did you ask about doing? Okay, you asked about Jesse.

(01:03:27):
Oh my god, I was talkingabout freaking doing the whole time. You
guys are so confused. No,sorry, I thought we I thought I
was. I thought you mentioned coachRonie. No, No, coach Mentor
has been great as well. Yeah, they've both been great, So run
that back. No, he's beengood. Uh yeah, very knowledgeable guy.

(01:03:52):
Same thing. I'm excited to getto know him more as the year
goes on Have you worked? Haveyou worked much? Yeah? Uh no,
I have not. I don't knowif I've said one word to him,
but more words to come down theroad. Like you said, you

(01:04:12):
been year since twenty sixteen. Justwhat are some of this stuff? You
just someone on a ramble about thewrong guy for fifteen minutes you walk in
What Yeah, what the heck?So actually that's literally not the person.

(01:04:32):
Yeah, I figured out. What'ssomething that you you worked unduring the off
season, something to improve your gameor is there something that you can Usually
my answer is pretty consistent that Ijust continue to try to prepare myself physically,

(01:04:55):
whether that's my sprint work or agilitywork and my lifting, but yeah,
just to get everything feeling great.I dealt with those injuries, so
I had to kind of ramp itup with my finger and foot and all
those things. But now I'm I'mfull full speed out there, and I'm
just gonna continue to do what Iknow will prepare me for the season.

(01:05:17):
And uh, I know I'm gonnaget plenty of technique work and position work
when I'm out here, So fornow, I'm gonna spend these five weeks
really getting uh preparing them about aschematic standpoint. I don't know the ins
and outs of what I'm gonna bedoing yet, so I'll wait and see
soon. But just what everything goingon? See how to sound the best

(01:05:39):
fit? Chris? We go,Yeah, Drea, and welcome to Seattle.
What are you looking for in flight? Has a loaded question? For
real? For real? Uh?You know in terms of no pay system,

(01:06:00):
teammates, environment, city, allthose kind of just like play into
it. Besides just the money thing. I know, financials always play a
big role, and I kind ofsteered you into the direction you want to
go, But everything kind of playsinto it. And how much did you
reach out to Shelby Drew, knowingsome of the gains you knew that played
here last year, to get asense for what Seattle might offer you,

(01:06:21):
I mean, not much right now, I'll talk to I'll talk to Shelby
a little bit about it. Mainlyno one, Drew, just congratulate me
all. Did you come together prettyquickly? I know you kind of came
your agreement on that first Monday,and everything with Seattle that come together really

(01:06:44):
faster. Now, it was along day. Seattle came in almost out
of nowhere. We had like agood set of teams that we were talking
to, just trying to find likefinalize what was going on, what was
the term is going to be?You know, and Seattle came in hot.
They showed a lot of interest,and uh, they kind of motivating
me to come here more and more. And how similar will your role be,
you know in terms of playing whatyou did in Denver. I don't

(01:07:06):
know that yet. I kind ofjust mentioned previously. I don't know my
role. I don't know the insand out yet. Once we'll get NO
through the protocols and nfl PA,we'll we'll talk about NO, the schemes
and everything, right, so welcome. When you were in Denver in the
three four, where did you findyourself most comfortable and most effective role?

(01:07:30):
I played a lot of different positionsin Denver. I mean earlier in my
year, I played zero, Iplayed three, two, one. I
mean, I'm definitely more comfortable ina shaded position, mainly being a three
technique and five technique. That's whyI found myself to be more comfortable whether
I'm standing up or I'm not,whether it's runner or pass. Uh,
those seem to be my best mybest fits and what is your impression of

(01:07:53):
Pete Carroll's defense and whole environment inSeattle from afar, it seems like a
holds in on defense a lot.Uh. I can't really say too much
about that yet. I don't Iknow Pete Carroll very little, so uh,
I'm just trying to figure out moreand I'll give you a better answer
later. What's the reputation around theleague out of the Seahawks? Uh,
you know, hard nose, hardhad type of team, definitely on a

(01:08:15):
little more lack side as opposed tobeing stuck up or military style, and
which is definitely good because then theythis program is one A lot of football
games have been super successful for manyyears, as long as I've been alive,
as long as I've been watching football, and definitely this has been a
good program. And Pete Carroll hasbeen a hell of a coach for as
long as I remember, even backin his college days. So I'm looking

(01:08:38):
forward to experiencing that. Boyle.Yeah, I know you said you don't
know yet. You know what you'rewhich is what what kind of players who
haven't watched Denver, what kind ofplayer? Definitely a high motor, definitely
not a one trick pony type ofplayer. I like to attack, you
know, whether it's a first orfirst through fourth down, I like to

(01:09:01):
attack. I'm always trying to applypressure. I'm definitely just a high mortar
guy in my opinion. Brady arethe Brady Henderson from ESPN. Nice to
meet you. Yeah, this isnot a team that really makes big splash
signings in free agency. Did youthink going into it the Seattle would be

(01:09:23):
Uh No, not at all.Uh. You you just it's kind of
like being a cure at the countystore. You know, I've got a
whole bunch of different options coming atyou, uh hearing, a whole bunch
of different crazy things, and uh, you know, you only get to
choose one. And this is theplace that that we both chose each other.
And I mean, I'm loving Seattleso far. You know, I
like these colors for real. Real. What what did you got to do
with Seattle or see? Since notmuch? Uh just kind of just drive

(01:09:46):
around the city exploring, uh,getting down to the market a little bit.
I want to get out of theFerris will do some more like touristy
type of things. You know,I'm new to the city and I got
a lot to learn about the city. All right. Yeah, there's been
a lot of comparisons with you toMichael Bennett. I was wondering if you
know Michael Bennett at all and youthink those are accurate. I know Michael

(01:10:08):
berrt Ben like nothing. I knownothing about it but besides his style of
play. But I'm honored to beconsidered in the same conversation as him and
style of play. You know,He's a Hall of Fame type of deep
lineman that I've known about since Iwas a kid. I mean, last
time he played here, I wasin high school. So you know,
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

(01:10:30):
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. Carn Hey, Dreamont,welcome to Seattle. I know you get
to play several seasons for vic Fangioand three four style defense, and Seattle's

(01:10:50):
playing a similar system now dating backto last year as a defensive lineman.
What do you think is most importantto be successful in that system? Maybe
fundamentals were just pointing style to besuccessful. Just from what I learned,
being gap sound and being patient hasalways been the biggest thing, and that's
how we've been successful when I wasin Denver, just kind of like relying

(01:11:12):
on each other. I know thatsounds kind of cliche, but like it's
kind of like the the realm ofbeing in the three four defense. You
got to really really rely on theguys behind you and the guys on the
side of you to really make theirto do their job to make your job
easier. All yeah, Uh,yours that you didn't start playing football,

(01:11:33):
so you were junior in high schooland largely played basketball. So then that's
what made I guess decided to goplay football then away from basketball. No,
No, I've always loved football first. Uh, it was just kind
of just playing it out. Youknow, I love the hoop, but
you know, football was definitely aboutcalling. Given I was a two hundred
and sixty five pounds power forward andI was like sixty trees and change,

(01:11:56):
so you know, I kind oftool use the route that God gave me.
I'm not six eight. Yeah,verymon Well comes to Seattle and you
can quote it. And you're lookingat a couple of art things that you
player, and can you just talka little bit about that definit that I
think some of the uses you alwayskind of counted out the US came through.

(01:12:20):
Can you elaborate more than that?Just from a standpoint like I always
get like over overshadowed, overlooked,whether it's a in something, you know
what I'm saying, Like, Ifeel like I do a lot more than
what can be seen by the eyesof the inexperienced, you know, Scout
and I do a lot of differentdynamic things that help make play for others.

(01:12:41):
You know, I'm definitely an activeplayer. I'm always doing something,
whether in a runner pass game,so you know, I think that goes
on oothers sometimes and I'm looking forwardto putting people on notice. Thanks Brady.
What uh, what do you liketo do outside of football, big
gamer? I'm definitely I've been gettingto a lot of chests lately, so

(01:13:03):
just to expand my brain. Uh. I try to get into reading,
but if it's not sports related,I'm really not interested in reading that much.
But mainly just video gaming and chess. And then when we write and
say your name, do you forher your grandma? I mean you can
say, you can say Draymond Jonesto me, but like just I feel
like personally, just call me dreybecause easy, because people like to f

(01:13:26):
my name up a lot, likea lot they call me DRAYMONDE. I
don't know why you put a Draymontein my name or Draymond T whatever you
want to say. Who do youthink some of that I'll be able to
bring out out of your game asyou can keep trying to, you know,
just being more explosive, probably moreyards for catch with the space that
he's putting us into. The moreyards, more yards have to catch,
more exposed to pick, more exposedto play. So for for not just

(01:13:49):
only me, but she and Akand taste them. So I'm excited to
be able to be in the system. I assume you think you guys can
be a lot more explosive than thanyou I've been in the last couple of
years. Oh yeah, of course. It brings to a lot of different
things, you know what I'm sayingthe playbook, but just accountability, I
feel like that's gonna lead us tosuccess. They said, the language is

(01:14:11):
a little a little shorter it.Have you found that the language that you
guys use. Is it about thesame or is it it's kind of the
same. Really, it's a longlong plays, but it's more understanding for
sure. I feel like you couldget to that more understanding plays and I
feel like that's that's the difference.Hater was saying the other day, just
kind of like coming into this offense, I feel like twenty years of breeze

(01:14:32):
and just kind of how it wasjust kind of built on top of each
other, on top of each other. It's like kind of a lot to
kind of take in. Do youdo you find that they kind of turn
it down to something new, startingto like zero with everybody. It's just
a little bit easier to kind ofget everybody on the same. Yeah,
I feel like it's way easier.Like you said, it was kind of
more of a Drew Brees style thelast playbook, So all credit to them

(01:14:54):
though they built that around him,around his players. But like I said,
it's it's more this play but it'smore uh for uh matchups and uh,
I feel like it's gonna be betterfor us or do you think it's
gonna really take advantage of just givesets? Uh, just building around the
strengths that I have. You knowwhat I'm saying, things that I can

(01:15:15):
do and things that she can do, uh, things that our players can
do. Is kind of focus onwhat we can do and and building on
that. Uh. I feel likeit's playing to the player strengths. So
I feel like it's gonna help usa lot around the way this offense will
have a lot more speed. Andhow has that transition been so far?
I mean, like I said,it's building around the players strengths. So
of course we got speed uh uhwith me or uh she and ati receiver,

(01:15:38):
so uh, just building around that. Uh. Like I said,
playing to our strengths and be ableto capitalize off that. Feel like it's
gonna help us a lot. Butmost of like uh the up tempo asteract
and you know, getting a lotof plays in less time. Oh yeah,
yeah, yeah, yeah, that'sthat's definitely gonna play a big difference.
Like I said, coming from theWest Coast, Uh, they bringing
that stand for an offense here,So I'm excited to be be able to
be a part of that. Doyou personally what what's the next level look

(01:16:00):
like for you? What do youwhat are you trying to accomplish this year?
Just staying consistent, man, acouple of ups and downs last year,
just building off that. Uh,it's always you always gonna work on
the physical part, but being ableto bounce back after bag game. The
mental mental aspect. Uh, justlearning learning that last year and be able
to build on that this year isa huge part. You know with Mike

(01:16:23):
Gon, do you take it uponyourself to kind of be that voice in
the room or to take a stepforward even further as Uh? I mean
it's not really. I mean everybody'skind of grown in the NFL, so
it's just on you to be ableto have that standard. Like I said,
I just try to do that leadby example. I'm not really outspoken,

(01:16:46):
but just lead by example, workinghard, trying to dominate every rep
and hopefully they follow after that andthat yards after the catch. Is that
you feel like that's the strength ofyours that maybe wasn't utilize I don't know
if utilizes the right word, butyou could chop more. Yeah, it's
it's an offense that uh is builtaround that. Uh. Just catching the
ball in space, catching the ballover the middle or even on the outside.

(01:17:11):
Uh with with space and separation forlike, it's built around having yards
have to catch. So I'm definitelyproud to be in the system, like
I said, and I'm excited.But is that is that a mindset too?
Like being good at yards after thecatch? Like? Oh yeah,
I mean of course. I meanyou don't want to get tackled by the
first person. And my mindset istrying to take every take everything to the
house, you know, every touch. So uh, I definitely got to

(01:17:33):
do that more and definitely try andwork on that in practice. A great
dude, man, Uh some somethat I definitely needed something that he relates
to me. Uh just from backgrounds, and uh he's a great coach,
great leader, Uh, motivational anduh like I said, I'm excited to

(01:17:54):
have him around and for him topush me is everything that I need?
Sothing you're talking about, like mentallybounce them back, you know from tough
performances or whatever. Did you tryto fund your resources kin to help you
figure out how to do that?Oh yeah, I mean it's older guys,
U uh tell me that's natural.Most have bad games, but uh,
just having a standard that I havein my career as a head coach

(01:18:16):
to have him on my staff ata couple of places, so I got
a chance to see him work firsthand, you know, I got to see
him work firsthand as a player andthen as a coach. So the success
he had is not is not surprisingto me? Is there for you seeing
where the success had? Yeah,I think we all do that. I
think we come from a unique placeand in a really small hometown in New

(01:18:36):
Hampshire where we all take a lotof pride to where we're from and and
when anybody's successful coming out of there, then you kind of take a little
pride that that's it's the upbringing thatwe all had, you know, in
the UTH sports program that we grewup in in in every aspect whether it
was football, baseball, basketball,those coaches we had an amazing impact on
us and that's why we are wherewe are right now. Biatchick Ryan said,

(01:19:01):
he doesn't think of it as youworking under him, it's working with
him. The fact is he's thehead coach. He makes me call him
sir though he just said can youdo that? Day one? And I
was like, all right, right, now, But I mean he ultimately
is the decision maker. You've beena head coach. How do you think

(01:19:23):
that's going to work. Do youthink there'll be any as close as you
are, any kind of awkward momentsthe right term. But when he's the
ultimate decider and you are working forhim, Yeah, I certainly understand my
role. I'm not Alhaic like I'mnot. I'm not in charge here.
Yeah, some people get that reference. Other people don't get that reference.

(01:19:44):
But I'd certainly understand that, andand I actually kind of relish it because
I really love the scheming part.I love the individual part. I love
being in the meeting room of thequarterbacks, uh and trying to game plan.
But everything we do here is collaborative. You know. The one thing
that that really struck me when Iwalked in this place is there there's an
amazing coaching staff here, you know. And if you get a chance to
talk to Larry Johnson just about football, or Tim Walton or Jim Knowles or

(01:20:06):
Brian Hartline or any of these guysthat are on the staff here, it's
it's a very collaborative effort. Ithink everybody's on the same page, you
know, it's not our offense andtheir defense, and it's it's Ohio State.
You know, it's it's Ohio Stateversus the twelve opponents that we're going
to play during the regular season andthen beyond. So it's it's really collaborative.

(01:20:26):
And that's the thing I like,just in the short time that I've
been here, is how collaborative everybody'sbeen. You know, we're all trying
to make each other better and we'reall trying to develop this team. You've
touched on this when you said,you know, you'd like to do what
you want to do and not Mysense is you, in your perfect world,
you'd like to scribble plays on anapkin and not deal with boosters,
do deal with all the stuff thatcoaches, head coaches have to deal with.

(01:20:48):
Now, how much of a factorwas that in this decision? You
can just do football? Now thatthat's not it? I mean, I
I enjoy. I mean, We'vehad some amazing I've had an opportunity and
every where I've been to meet someamazing people that are associated with the program,
and there's people that from my timeat New Hampshire or my time at
Oregon, I was just with PhilKnight two weeks ago, you know,

(01:21:09):
and got an opportunity to spend sometime with him and his wife, Penny,
who are dear friends of mine thathave been great mentors to me in
my career. And there's a bunchof people that a Ucla, Terry Donahue
and Andrea Donna who were awesome tome. Angela Mazzoni is a great friend.
Casey Wassman, Troy Yikman. Therewas a bunch of people at UCLA
that I really enjoyed, you know, being around and talking with. So
I think sometimes everybody wants to makea narrative of it's either this or that.

(01:21:30):
It's never that. It's never justall ball, it's never just all
recruiting. It's never just all boosters. It's a mixture of everything. But
I think the one thing that asthis position as a head coach kept moving
on is that if you look ata lot of them, they all become
more CEOs. You know. Ican't tell you how many coaches that have
called me since I made this decisionthat said I'm two years behind you,

(01:21:51):
brother, you know that are thinkingthe same exact way. And I think
it's all part of what we haveto do. I think we all need
to protect this game and promote thisgame, and I think there are some
rules that we need to get straightenedout so that people understand where what it's
about, because the game is stillabout the players, and I hope that
never gets discounted. You know,it's it's always been about the players,
and I think if we can keepthat at the forefront the people that are

(01:22:14):
making decisions on this, and Ithink Jean Smith is one of the best
influences in in the NCAAA, isto make sure we keep that the main
thing. The main thing needs tobe the student athletes. You know,
you're coming in at a time whereyou've been through some places where the expectations
are high. I understand it's alsocoming into a juncture where, you know,

(01:22:35):
the three losses to Michigan, thenot making the playoff last year,
the urgency is pretty high here.I guess just sort of what the perspective
do you have on kind of thestakes that there are for Ryan this year
and the decision that then he makesto bring you in to kind of help
solve that. Yeah, I thinkthe expectations can be no harder than they

(01:22:55):
are in your own brain, youknow, And I think if you try
to worry about what other people arethinking than their brains, you're going to
get screwed up a little bit.So, you know, I talked earlier
the one thing about Ryan that Iknow about him and has always been he's
the ultimate competitor. So he's gotThere's nowhere that has higher expectations of Ohio
State than Ryan does, nor therest of us that joined him in are
part of this and that are workingwith him. So you know, I

(01:23:16):
don't think I think sometimes you canspend too much time thinking about those things.
You know. What you really haveto do is just as there's a
big sign as you walk into thisplace, it says when the moment,
you know, I think that's areal thing that we have to do as
coaches, is to make sure thatour players aren't worried about what's going on
in the future, or or aren'tworried about what's going on in the past,
or worry about can they get alittle bit better today, you know,
and can we make improvement? AndI think the one thing that I've

(01:23:38):
seen here, and I've only beenhere for three weeks, but there's a
consistency to the players approach when theywalk in this building every day, which
is it's unique. It's not likethat everywhere else. And it's one of
the things that I remark to Mickwhen I you know, he said,
Hey, what do you think,And I was like, it's impressive.
It's impressive the culture of the playersthat are in this program right now.
But I think it speaks a lotto the leadership. There's there's a lot
of older players on this team,and they've set the tone for the younger

(01:24:00):
players, and I think the youngerplayers have done a great job of followship
and getting right in line with that. He's never hit it 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 meets, But
what does that mean to you tokind of be getting that responsibility from him
and he's calling essentially the offense thatyou gave it. I guess in some
way. Yeah, I still thinkthe play calling part will be a collaborative

(01:24:23):
effort. And by that I meanthat if it's a good play, I
called it, and if it's abad play, he called it. Because
the great part is an assistant coach. You can just hen point the finger
a little bit and 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 see how thatoperates. But everywhere I've been it's
been a collaborative effort. And allof a sudden, someone that's calling the

(01:24:45):
plays isn't isn't like pulls one outof left field that you hadn't practiced and
hadn't been part of your offense andsaid, hey, let's do this.
You know, we're not running theannexation of Puerto Rico. You know,
we're not coming up with something special, you know, in the middle of
the fourth or that we haven't done. But I think it's the key to
really being successful on offense is ishow you game plan, how you put
it all together, and then howyou practice and train for that so that

(01:25:09):
you get a chance to execute it. Because the player's confidence comes become comes
from their demonstrated ability that they've donethis so many times in practice that when
they get out on the field thatthis is like that to them, you
know, And it's not that theydo it so they do it right.
It's they practice it so much sothat they can't do it wrong. So,
you know, I think it's thatwhole part of it that is really
the key to being a really goodgame planning team, right Doug Lane Mae

(01:25:32):
Chip. When you had that feelingwhen you were coaching the quarterbacks during Bowl,
did you consider at that point mayberesigning as the head coach and thinking
like this is this is not whereI am anymore. I'll leave and then
I'll look to see what else isout there. No. I never thought
about quitting anything. So, youknow, I just is there an opportunity

(01:25:53):
that I think I can that fit, you know, And I think that's
the you know, it's no differentthan you're talking to a recruit about them
make a decision on where they're goingto go to school. I think that
where they should go to school iswhere the best fit is for them.
So, you know, I justentertained some opportunities, and I always felt
I felt like this was the bestfit. But I never thought about quitting
or not coaching. I'm gonna coach. I'm gonna coach, and then I'm

(01:26:15):
gonna die. I Mean, that'show I think I think about things.
Is I can't picture that. Iknow someone I was on the Nike trip
and they like, how much longerare you gonna go? When I said,
I have to go another fifteen twentyyears. I don't think about I
don't think about retirement. I don'tthink about any of those things. That's
just not kind of my mindset thatyou know. I love football and in
the as long as I can bepart of this game, then I'll be

(01:26:38):
part of this game. Just theway things worked out with your departure from
UCLA, is there anything that youwish you had done differently, or anything
you regret, or just that thecircumstances that presented themselves. Do you think
that you handled that departure the bestthat you could have. Yeah, I
mean I got an opportunity to tellmy players personally. You know, I
think in this day and age ofthe Internet where they read it somewhere else

(01:26:58):
and you have to text message him. You know, that was always important
to me that I wanted to makesure I talked to my players and explain
the reasons of what I was doing. I wasn't leaving to take a head
coaching job somewhere else. I wasn'tthinking that the grass is Greener at another
university was just in my personal situation, this is what I wanted to do.
I wanted to take an opportunity togo be a position coach and coordinator,
and that's how it fit. Youknow. What I was happy is

(01:27:19):
that I always thought to Sean Foster, I think the world of them,
and I think he's a special youknow. And the fact that that they
were they gave him the opportunity totake over there was you know, it
worked out. I didn't have anysay in that decision, you know,
I was gone, But I alwaysthought that the Shawn would be a great
head coach, and I'm really proudof him and happy that that he got

(01:27:41):
the opportunity to take that job rightbehind him at your reputation as innovator was
part of the appeal of this isthat you get to get in the weeds
a little bit. Uh maybe notmad scientists, maybe too too strong of
a word, because you're working withinthe system. But was there an appeal
of to get my hands dirty hereagain and innovate and get back to that

(01:28:02):
side of things. It was,but it was really more important of who
I get to work with, youknow, and so knowing you know,
I've got I know a lot ofguys on the staff besides Ryan also,
so you know, when I knowwhat their mindset is and what their values
are and how they do things,and so I want to be a part
of that. But there's a partof that. Yeah, yeah, how

(01:28:23):
much of a teacher you get labeledand the innovators, the teachings are part
of this. How much is itis of a teacher? Are even?
How patient are you? Yeah?I think we're all teachers. I mean,
education is the transportation of knowledge,you know, So it really doesn't
matter what the coach knows. Itmatters what the players understand, you know.
So you have to be able tomake sure that while you're implementing things

(01:28:44):
is what resonates with them and howdoes that come back to them. So,
you know a lot of our teachingstyles that we've learned is more the
Socratic method of there's a lot ofquestions, you know, and a lot
of check for understandings, just tokind of find out where the players are
coming from, because it's what theyknow, that's all They're gonna win games,
not what we know. You knowthat we're not playing the games.
We're not stepping across those white lines, you know, and your job as

(01:29:04):
a coach is to create an environmentwhere they have an opportunity to be successful
and then get out of their wayand let them go do it. So
I think the teaching aspect is huge, and we continue to research, you
know, some of the latest trendsin teaching to make sure that we are
transporting that knowledge to our players.The second roll left, Steve Hellwaggen,
twenty four seven Sports. Yeah,coach, just curious, you've got five

(01:29:27):
scholarship quarterbacks with differing levels of experiencefrom age and everything else. Not to
annoy him, but just want toask specifically about Will Howard coming in after
starting part of two years at Kidsof State. He just seems to promote
this idea that he's a football player, you know above all else. Just

(01:29:48):
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,
you don't have to talk to Willfor 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 to capitalize on what that is. There's a maturity to Will, you

(01:30:10):
know. I really I've had experience. My experience in this thing since the
transfer portal opened in college football issome of the best players I've had an
opportunity to coach. Award transfers.Sometimes when you're a true freshman and it's
five years out, you know,it's like, hey, I got a
ton of time, you know.And sometimes when you're a transfer, is
that I've got nine months, youknow. So there's a sense of urgency
I think when you're dealing with withtransfers, and I think Will has exuded

(01:30:33):
that since he's been here. Butthe other thing that I just in the
short time that Will has been hereis how quickly he's fit in with the
entire team, you know, andhow much the rest of the players respect
him. You know. He wasone of the Gold Award winners for his
work in the weight room in thisoffseason, so that says a lot for
him coming in here as in ashort time being able to win a weight

(01:30:53):
room award, you know, tostart off, you guys hope to have
the number one internally extra at theend of spring or I guess just let
it play out, how do youI? I think it always every time
I've been involved in these, Ithink when they're organic is when it's the
best that. I don't think youcan anoint somebody or force the issue because
the players know, the players wouldunderstand. They see it every single day,

(01:31:15):
you know, And there's a teamchemistry part of this thing too,
So we're not gonna force the issue. A But I've always seen it play
itself out. So I've been fortunatethat there's always gonna be some quarterback battles
at at some point in time.At every school there's a quarterback battle,
you know, and then and reallyyou gotta 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 than we We're excited to

(01:31:40):
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'sgonna look like yet or is it just
way too early? I have noidea, you know. I I think
part of it is is you're tryingto put the players in pas to make
play. So a lot of thatcomes from getting to understand the players and

(01:32:03):
what their skill sets are and howwe feature what their skill sets are,
you know, and and the theone thing after day one, I can
tell you that there there's a lotof skill set out there, you know.
So that's that's what gets you excited, you know, That's what That's
what you jump out of bed inthe morning and you're excited to go to
work because of the talent that youget to work with. But the one
thing that's the most impressive is thework ethic that goes along with that talent.

(01:32:25):
You know, it's not just emptytalent. It's is you got some
kids who want to I mean allof them since I've been here, want
to work. So that that's whatgets you excited. But I think assessing
what the skill set is you knowthat we have available to us on the
offensive side of the ball, isvitally important. And then our job is
to put those guys in positions tomake place lots of pressure. I mean,
you've experienced what's like to coach nationalchampionship, cal over teams this program

(01:32:50):
right now and moving into a situationwhere you got to win Quicken now.
So does that feel like pressure herefor you or is it a little bit
of excitement or both? Well,I've always subscribed to his pressure is what
you feel when you don't know whatyou're doing. So if you don't want
to feel pressure, then you shouldknow what you're doing. So, you
know, I think it's it's partof that, and I think part of
our job with our players in termsof the education process is getting them to

(01:33:13):
understand that too. Is that youknow, it's it's about your preparation,
It's about you and your development.It's not about that you can't be governed
by what other people say. It'sit's what's my mindset and how am I
intrinsically motivated? And then how doI really compete against myself on a daily
basis to get a little bit better. You know, we got a little
bit better today because we get outon the field today and got a chance
to do some football. And thenthe challenges when we get back on the

(01:33:34):
field on Thursday, can we bea little bit better than we were on
Tuesday? And if we're doing that, then we keep stacking good days on
top of good days, and Ithink we'll be in good spot and welcome.
Thank you. I'm gonna ask aboutthe pros and cons of coaching from
the box and coaching from the field. It's interesting to talk to some off
some coordinators over Tom Herman talked abouthe swore he wanted to coach from the

(01:33:54):
box, saw the game so muchbetter, sterile environment, not all the
chaos on the field. Some coachesyou talk to the I want to be
on the field so I can lookat my guys in the eye. Where
are you as a as a coordinator? Honestly, And I've thought of this
a lot. I thought of ita lot during COVID because we had the
empty stands, you know, soI had thought about just walking up into
the stands for a little bit becauseI had a better advantage. I've always

(01:34:15):
believed you can see the game betterfrom up above, but I believe you
can feel the game better from thefield. So if there was any way
we could get a zip wire whereyou could do both, you know,
coach called from there and then zipdown of the field get a chance to
talk to him. Because it's adifferent deal when you're talking to the quarterbacks
on a phone, you know,than being able to look in their eye
and kind of see where they arewith it. And part of it is

(01:34:35):
the field part of it. Iremember when I coached Ryan once. We
were playing Ukon and he got hithard going out of bounce and he just
walked by me, and I wasa play caller, and he was like,
run the next play, and Ijust kind of looked at him.
I saw the look in his eyesbecause I don't think he could have thrown
it, you know, he wasstill trying to get his win back.
But you wouldn't know that if you'reup in the booth, you know,
and you call a pass play fromup in the booth and you're like,

(01:34:57):
how come we can't complete that?Well, he just took a shot went
out of bound. So it's thatfine line that I don't have an answer,
you know. I think I thinkit's feel on the ground and it's
see from up above. Maybe inthis day a technology, they'll figure it
out. But we'll see how thatthat that operates, and whatever Ryan feels
is the best for the team iswhat we're gonna do. So your your

(01:35:19):
teams at the Oregon were obviously No, we're playing at this ass pace and
running a bunch of plays for aminute, and yep, maybe not by
pass pretty fast. What role doyou see tempo and having an offense and
in the state ye in college footballand has maybe changed. I think the
game is always evolving, you know. I think when I left in two

(01:35:39):
thousand and twelve to go to theNational Football League, Oregon was the only
team that was playing really really fastand had shiny helmets. And when I
came back in twenty seventeen, everybodyhad shiny helmets and everybody was playing fast.
So I think the game is alwaysgoing to go up and down,
and there's gonna be different cycles thatit goes through. I think tempo is
part of an offense, but Idon't think it's an offense in itself.

(01:36:01):
I think it's more of like ifyou go to dinner, it's a side
order. You know, it's notthe main course, but it's it's always
good to have it. So Ithink there's times when you'll use it,
but you're you're not going to useit extensively the entire game, just like
you're not going to throw the ballevery single snap in the game. You're
not gonna run the ball every singlesnap in the game. You know.
There there's there's not a game ofabsolutes anymore. I think the ability to

(01:36:23):
be diverse and and have it asa tool in your two box, so
to speak, uh is really howwe would look at using it. Here
are now more familiar with it then, I think. So, you know,
I think when you first started goingTemple, there were people in the
NCAA they want to outlaw they wantto make an NCAA role that Yeah,
you couldn't do it, you know, and I'll I'll give coach Shaping credit.
I mean, I think obviously Nickwas the first one to do it.

(01:36:44):
He wanted it outlawed, and thenall of a sudden he adapted it
and said, all right, welike this, you know, so we'll
keep it in. But it's Ithink people have it doesn't matter what you
do. There's there's cycles to thisgame. And then once people catch on
to that cycle, then it moves. You know. It's no different than
for three defenses and three four defenses. You know what is the rage When
the when the Giants won the SuperBowl, they were there were three four

(01:37:08):
defense and everybody. Everybody says wehave to do that. What people didn't
understand is they had Carl Banks andLawrence Taylor. It didn't matter what defense
they were running. I know Gym'sback there and Jim played against the you
know it was. They could havebeen a four down defense and those guys
would have been great players. Butit's not the scheme. I think that
the coaches that do it the bestway is they insert their players and put
them in the best position to makeplays. And now now will Temple be

(01:37:30):
part of it. It'll be partof it, but it's certainly not going
to be the main course. Lastquestion, Oh, thank you very much,
Jerry. Uh. Number one,there was the great moment there when
yall were warming up, when youwere you were talking with Tim Walton and
Caleb Downs comes up and conversing andas you're in this kind of a two
part question, but number one,what was just your take on the talent

(01:37:50):
you saw on that field today onboth sides of the ball. Where where
would you rank it? Yeah,I'll rank it. I'll be very transparent.
As I was telling Tim and Calebwhat a great offensive player I thought
Caleb would be. Ye could beand should be, but I'm not the

(01:38:10):
head coach, so I always turnedstretch 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 had him? Life if you do it right away,
so you know, being accountable,you know, doing the extra stuff
away from the f uh the facility. That stuff matters at the end of
the day, cause all the expectationsand all that pressure, that really doesn't

(01:38:31):
matter if you do those things,you know, So what are your expectations
for a year two in this offense? I'll just keep going. You know.
The name of the game is hisexecution. You know the times where
we executed at a high level attimes we won those games, you know.
So that's just the goal is justto execute and to be able to
be on the same page bill chemistryright now, so you know, when

(01:38:54):
the when the ball rolls, youknow, we're very we're ready to fly
around at a high level. So, I mean that's the goal and that's
that's you know, there's goals ontop of that, but that's the that's
the foundation right now with Tay's foundationwork. So CJ, I know that
I know that it's still pretty early. But how has it been so far
getting to work with Diggs and howis he fitting in? So far?
He's been fitting in great. Youknow, he's come in with uh,

(01:39:15):
his head down mentality, just working. You know, he's helped me out
a lot, just you know,he come comes from a from a a
good system over there where when hewas with the Bills and they did a
lot of things with him and reallyjust offense and tell me how like Josh
played and things like that, thingsthat you know, we do different than
We've had this plenty of conversation,you know. So he been he's come

(01:39:36):
in and been a leader, whichwhich I'm proud of him for. And
you know it just really's has beenunselfish and uh, I wanted to see
other guys eat and that was hismain things that he wanted to be around
other dogs. And you know,he he he stepped into that role where
there's a dog everywhere. Every helooks right, he looks left, there's
gonna be a dog. So andhe wanted that and that's what you know,

(01:39:57):
we we break to the table andhe's been nothing but just a me
so far, and I I'm veryexcited to work with him as a teammate,
as a what's it like to haveyour friend Tank back with you guys?
What was it like to go fromthe cameraon of emotions, from hearing
about it to now when it's overand your back out there, you'll have
plund It's amazing. You know,it's ss just a testament to him and

(01:40:21):
you know, one of the Godwe serve. And then two, uh,
just the work that he's put in. You know, he's been uh
you know, he came back beforeit was even schedule. He can get
cleared. And then on top ofthat, you know, just coming back
after that freak accident. And youknow, I think that we serve a
God that's merciful and that's that's purposeful, and he knows that, and he

(01:40:41):
stepping into and me and him wehave those conversations about our faith and then
cause like this football stuff, itit seems like it's everything, but it's
not. You know, we're we'repeople, and we we go through a
lot off the field. People don'tknow. And you know, as his
brother, I have to be therefor him, like just like he's there
for me when I go through whatI go through. So I mean I'm
proud of him, man, Likethe word proud is even probably enough to

(01:41:02):
like state the the feelings that Ihave for that guy. Man, he's
my one of my best friends thatI've n you know, gotten a known
over the years in this in thisworld of football and past that man,
I feel like I'm known since I'vebeen three years old. You know,
I think for like our connections kindof like we grew up together. And
you know, I just got alot of love for that guy, and

(01:41:23):
you know, I'm very excited ahim. He's been snapping that practice and
doing really well and you know,to knock off the rust that quick shows
how much work he's been in.How much more comfortable are you walking up
to ots this year to read thelast year things kind of a little bit
slower? Just's the biggest difference toyou. Yeah, it's night and day.
Man. It's really like I feellike I'm running the show, and

(01:41:43):
I've got a lot more uh responsibilitiesfrom Slow and from the Beacon, from
dry Bill and really our whole officivestaff. And you know, I'm the
captain of the ship and I gottarunning the right way. And I feel
like I've you know, stepped intothat role just you know, and I
not only hold outs account of whatalso you know, hold myself accountable to
those moments, like I don't letanything slide, uh, cause that's that's

(01:42:04):
the point of winning and losing.So I think from last year to this
year, like I've gotten a lotbetter with like controlling my emotions, controlling
my ball placement, knowing what's NFLopen, knowing my food work better.
There's really every little thing I've takena step and then on the other side
of the ball, you know,just everything slowed down. Seeing coverage Demico

(01:42:25):
does a good job of blitching me, and you know, working on their
different coverages and different looks to starttoo high, go to one and go
back to to motion like as man, go to cover too like all that
stuff to keep me true and honest. And you know, I think I've
tried to do my best with myoff season study to you know, be
better, and I feel like I'vedone that and had a good ota so
far. So got to finish withthat mini camp, but it's been definitely

(01:42:46):
a big transition of just more comfortabilityfrom last year to this year's college you
you always had like a really talentedreceiver room, and then last year you
have the talent to receive the room. So you've had the experience of having
to feed a lot of guys allthis lye at and digs, even Joe
missing coming out of the backfield.How much would that experience from those you
know, college and last year helpyou with being able to make sure that

(01:43:09):
everybody's being fed the way they are. So if you can, you have
the best possible offer. If youguys like get Moore, Yeah, I
mean I don't think nothing changes,you know. It's like I tell,
I tell guys, cause I getthat question a lot from I got people
just walking around just anywhere, astragame whatever, and I'm like, man,
it's football. You know you're open, you get the ball. So

(01:43:29):
uh and my thing is, yougotta pick your poison playing us, Like
who you gonna double, who yougonna cater to? Who you like?
You got five dogs who are whoare able to get the get the ball
each give and play? You know, So I think it's fine. I
know Slow has done a great jobof being more creative, and you know,
has put different personnel packages out there, guys in different positions at going

(01:43:49):
from inside and outside, you know, and you know, I'm I'm very
excited to work with with coach Lowagain. He's done amazing so far.
You know OTAs and what team todo such. But yeah, man,
I think that past experience of playingwith Marv Jax, Garrett, Chris Jamo,

(01:44:10):
America, Julian like those type ofguys, and they'll tell you too,
Like I know they'll probably have saidit before, but they'll tell you
like they made me better and Imade them better. You know, that's
my job is to make everybody aroundme better. So I'm excited, man
has been healthy competition, Like Iknow, Garrett, I've seen his interview
day. He was talking about Ohio, see how like the receivers, like

(01:44:30):
if Gear made a play, Chrisis like, nah, watch this like
it's the same thing here, whichis, you know, really cool to
watch. And you know, asthe quarterbacks meet, Davis in Case and
Tim were the same way too,So healthy competition is the best way to
grow and get better. And Ithink that that's what it's about. You
see how excited Diggs gets for Tankwhen he makes it play, and metch
gets for excited for when Nico makesa play and Tank gets excited when Rob

(01:44:56):
makes a play, you know.So it's amazing. And you know,
we got Noah coming back to whichis gonna be amazing. And I'm excited
been there and a ton of guys. There's a ton of talent, Steed
showing up. Really, everybody's reallybeen doing Jay, Wayne, Johnny you
know so and man, it's beenfun, uh Nicko and got you some
some mixture talent on the office sideof the ball. Well what do you
think about the additions that he madeon the defensive side of the ball.

(01:45:17):
Yeah, man, it's been great. It's been good on good, like
the Migas talks about iron shopping iron. You know, it's been a lot
of smack talk, a lot ofjust uh, just good competition, you
know. And then it starts withme and disease. You know, him
being the leader of defense, I'mleader at offense, and you know,
playing him last year. I man, he always showed up on tape when
I watched the Titans last year.So it's cool to like see like the

(01:45:41):
stuff he thinks. We you cansee him at my locker, me at
his or us before practice, afterpractice talking about plays and you know,
so, I mean it starts withus, and then when you add Danielle,
somebody who's a vet who plays reallyhard, who's gonna help? Will
you know them? Two dogs?You got Kim in the in the middle
with and and Sosa and Y.Just a ton of guys, man,

(01:46:03):
you know, in the back end, got young guys showing up. Kaylin's
doing really well in the back endalong with Petrie and uh Jimmy along with
Kamari. Kamara is thrown up.Steen's playing well as y'all seen. Uh
So, man, it's just beendogs on dogs, you know, like
and that's that's that's that's the bestteams I've ever been on. Has been
the closest teams personally, but alsothe most competitive team. So it's been

(01:46:27):
dope season. See that you brokeout last year and Lego broke out last
year and he Goo gets the contract. Eccentric he's here too, twenty twenty
seven. What does that do foryou? Just knowing that you haven't familiar
target to work with for the nextfew years. You know, it's just
something that I'm first of all,I'm just proud of that guy. Uh
my brother Nico, he's showing upand thrown out you know, when you

(01:46:50):
know when his number is called,he always makes to play. And you
know, he's just a special He'sa generation talent man. He's he's like,
alright, ag is Andre Johnson inmy opinion, just how fast he
is, how he gets in andout, his brace, his releases,
how strong he is. And Ithink last year was just a uh a
preview to what it's took come forhim. And the one thing I'm proud

(01:47:10):
of him for is just the workhas never stopped. He's constantly here working
on his body, constant in hereworking on his hands. Is his mobility
in the weight room, you know. So for me, I mean just
having a a true uh. Ithink we have like five number ones,
you know. So that's kind ofcool to have. And I've had that
before in college and I'll have itagain and it's gonna be fine. Man.
And Nico he's gonna he's he lovesto see everybody else eat too,

(01:47:33):
so man, his his love forhis brothers has a change. And you
know it's it's a it's a specialfeeling to see somebody who deserves to get
paid and you know, get whatthey d d wait, they what they
deserve and you know, I'm justreally proud of him. What does it
mean for you to have another opportunityto work with Artisola and Angeloi Johnson.
I don't know if you remember,but that was a moment going into the

(01:47:54):
playoffs last season where you really knowif either one of those guys would be
here. Yeah, I mean forboth of them to come back was very
special. I think we both weall have a better feel of how to
work with one another. And youknow, the talent I am on the
field, and the play caller thatuh Bobby is, and then the the
common coach droved is you know,we all work together and that and you

(01:48:15):
know, slow as I'm in hisoffice almost every morning just going over stuff
and watch for film with him,going over things that we need to go
to get better at. And healways has his phrases, you know,
working for the end at mind,and you know he holds me accountable when
you know it could be easier justto like let me slide, cause you
know I'm out there still making plays, but he's like, nah, you
need to be better here, hereand there. And you know that's just

(01:48:40):
shows what type of leader he is. And you know it's an honor to
be able to work with him again, and same for me, like to
him like, hey, flow,I'm not really feeling his play, or
I want to add this player totry to see if we can get better
here in this in this practice,or you know, I think we can
be really good at this type ofplayer. And he's very very accepting when

(01:49:01):
it comes to that. So it'sbeen cool to work with both of them,
and I'm very excited to get anotheryear on our belt. What what
was it like, uh, teacherfootball internationally and the the r the reception
that you got from the people there, it was it was amazing, you
know. Uh, first of all, shout out to Beijing, Shanghai and
Tokyo, you know for accepting NeedaMica uh with open arms and just the

(01:49:26):
hospitality and the uh, just theculture man there is just amazing. They
wanna learn about football, you know, and it's it was cool just to
see like them already have like thefoundation of it, but wanting to grow
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.

(01:49:50):
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,I mean, I'm very grateful with my
team with uh uh Bernie and Davidfor setting that up and even like the
guys out there who who gave ustop notch hospitality it w It was just

(01:50:12):
amazing, man, the whole experience. So, you know, just my
first time really out the country andjust being able to like go to the
Great Wall China and all that stuffand still do what I love to do,
you know, working out when Micahit was cool and uh he has
a lot of crazy takes, butyou know, I I got love for
that guy, but it was fun. Man, John and Jonathan, Dad,
what's uh, what's it like havingHits over down here with you?

(01:50:34):
And what's your relationship been like withhim? Oh? Yeah, Kay's my
brother. Man. You know,I've been through taking thing with him and
he's somebody who I I often lookat as like like our moms are like
the same, or our families aresuper close. In his college, I
think he's like my blood brothers wholike somewhere from walking on the line.

(01:50:57):
I don't know how it works,but I just he's he's already like there
for me. He's always you know, I don't know, man, Kate
is just like that guy. He'sa brother that you just you know,
letting him know I'm available for him. You know, I think it can
be something as little as just thesteps on field goal block or field goal
protection. You know, I've beendoing it for thirteen years. It's still

(01:51:19):
crazy. I'm still doing it,but uh, you know, uh,
those are the type of things I'mjust giving guidance to. And then you
know, off the field, it'syou know, what to expect around the
city. Where should you be,where you should be, how you can
help yourself, you know, thelittle things. Damn, what are you
looking for in your contract? Youknow, I'm looking to be here.

(01:51:45):
You know, the value is whatwe decide. But you know, I
think for me, I want tobe you know, valued at my position.
You know, I understand I cameup a rough season, but I
don't think it's a step down ofwhere I can play. You know,
I think when I'm at the topof my game, I'm still you know,

(01:52:06):
top five player in my position andyou know, I played a run
in the past, and I bringleadership, and you know that's not anything
I discover. Can you you planto be here for Mini Camp ram,
the start off for any camp?Yeah? How difficult has it been the
last two weeks to not be here? I mean you said in your podcast
the first time you've never not beenat Yeah, it w It was difficult,

(01:52:29):
But like you know, the thingI got very frustrated with was just
when people questioned my communication with theteam. You know, I uh was
communicating with guys left and right,and you know, front office, coaches,
teammates, and all I care aboutis how I am with my teammates.
I don't want them to ever thinkI don't care about them or how

(01:52:50):
I'm not in it. And youknow, you can say whatever you want
about me. But besides that,but I always dedicate anything I can't do,
and and I don't want that toevery question. Isaiah said that it
felt like sometimes you were holding upsomewhere watching film. You text r H
say hey, you missed this,or you wanna tweak that. Well,
like the first day he was battingall up Russ's passes, so I had

(01:53:11):
to let him know you know,I, uh, you gotta take advantage
of that. You gotta make sureguys are you know, uh know that
you you still care and you stillwanna be a part of this. H
You know, just watching practice,there's a couple of little things we're doing
different, whether I'm communicating with dumbbaror other people. You know, so
be ye, so you're that you'realso talking with him and you you've given

(01:53:34):
him pointers during the off season,just constant communication. How do you see
him girl as a person, youknow, as far as how he's approaching
things, how you getting ready forthis season, promise his rookie year.
Uh, you know, I thinkthe thing with Keanu is he's more comfortable,
you know. You know, it'snot his first time around the track.
You know, it's actually like hecan you know, uh catch his

(01:53:55):
feet under him. You know.I always think when you're in your rookie
season, you're going from bowl game. I don't even know Wisconsin played in
a bowl game. Sorry Wisconsin,I don't even know. But you know,
personally, I just think when yougo from bowl game to training for
the combine to you know, rookiemining camps. OTA's the you know,

(01:54:15):
mini camp I mean the training camp, the regular season, you really don't
get a time to really catch yourself. You know, he understands the playbook.
Now you can be more vocal,you know. And I think when
my absence the other guy's absence,you know, you need guys like that
to step up and be ready forthose opportunities you had during the season.
Was a more thorough What was justtightened down everything, you know on my

(01:54:39):
left side cause I was overcompensating alittle bit, but you know it was
it wasn't anything that lingers. Youknow, I'll say this, Uh,
a growing is not like an acl It's not like anything's that we're gonna
ge affected again. And you know, you know, I'm feeling good,
able to do everything squat and heavywith power and speed, so you know,

(01:55:01):
it feels good to get after again. What do you think of what
the team was able to accomplish yourself? Season? Return to bring guys like
Russian and things, and you knowit. I think they're all good acquisitions.
But you know, you never wantto be known as a paper champion
and so can't win the off season. I think the work gets done out
here on the field, gets donein the classroom. Wow, it gets

(01:55:24):
done training, Uh, you know, and then you see where you're at
in training camp and then you buildon that. You know, I think
we got the right guys in thebuilding. It's just about putting a complete
team on the field. Can howtemper college is to separate the business part
of the game in the actual footballplayer. Uh. You know you always

(01:55:44):
wanna you always have to treat itlike a business because you know one day
it's gonna end. Uh and that'sbeen job. Uh. It's not like
in college where you know you gotfour years guaranteed. I don't know now
you you don't know what nil andknow's crap I the transfer portal portal.
But you know you have to Istill have love for this game, and

(01:56:09):
I still work my tail off andI still put everything into it and that's
not gonna change. But you haveto know, uh, what you bring
to the team and what your whatyour value is. Yay. I wanted
to feel to be out there withyour teammates today. Emotionally great. You
know, we got a new uh, we got a new training staff and
still learning the the warm up alittle different. Uh, but uh,

(01:56:31):
you know I loved it. Uh. You know, just getting after it,
learning new guys. Uh, goingthrough the same drills I've been doing
by myself. Uh. I actuallylike having more people around, cause like
kind of go stir crazy, cracrazy. 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 be up here and get

(01:56:55):
a chance to you know, bewith my guys cam where you're confident and
be able to get done with youremotion. Oh, I'm gonna I'll try
to remain pretty neutral, cause youknow, I don't wanna be too either
way. All I know is Iwanna be here, but we'll see what
happens. Is my last year here, I I I I've had a great

(01:57:18):
career here, but uh, I'lllook forward to play next year. Can
you with that second surgery? Yousaid it this time was on the left
side. It was the first timearound on the right side, right side
during the season, left side,and that was just tightening down my corner.
My corma saw. It wasn't thesame as my ad doctor. You
know, you can ask doctor Bradley, uh doct doctor Zuckerbron who uh did

(01:57:42):
the surgery as well. You know, I if anything's gonna help me and
you'll make me a lot stronger forhearing up. Can you say you were
training with another guy who you wouldcome been? Tyson? Oh, I'll
I've been training with him for thelast eight years. We've always trained together.
We got a trainer up north,uh shadowt Cole Haley. He's my
guy, traded trained, trained,uh Heath Miller, Brett Keesel, the

(01:58:08):
multitude of guys that all respect andwe've just been getting after cans. Very
few guys historically thirty five that paidbig contractors. You think that's held against
you. I think there's not alot of history behind it. But you
know, for me, I Ilook at as I'm not looking to be
like anybody else. You know,my game is different from everybody else in

(01:58:30):
this league. You know, Ilike to think, you know, I
can play the run in the past, and then that's where I'm different.
You know, I remember last yearMike t just brought to my attention.
You know the thing that's really coolis you watch powerlifters, and you know,
my game's built on powering technique,and those guys go into their forties
and so you know that's what kindof research I'm doing behind the scenes.

(01:58:54):
But you know, I I We'llsee what happens. I is, there's
not a lot of history, butI'm here to make history and I'm here
to you know, win another Superbowar year and you know, have a
great season. Do you have aset goal over yourself or how many years
you wanna play in the NFL?Or did you just take things year by
the year? You know it?It was it was tough answering that question

(01:59:16):
right after the season. I willsay this, guys, I I can't
keep answering that question right after theseason. That is not fair to the
season, That's not fair to myfamily. Uh you know, but in
my mind, I got three yearsand I wanna maximize'em. I wanna
play at a high level, andI wanna go deep into the playoffs.
And you know, we got agood team, and I'm gonna do my

(01:59:39):
part to be ready for all thosesituations here. If you plan on practicing
when you report to latrob or isyour possibility that you might pull in and
enforce suations? I I have noteven thought that far. I've taken a
day by day. Uh you know, uh uh I told my agent and
we talked about it. I mean, we were cool coming out here.
You know, I'll be here formany you know, and then I'll be

(02:00:02):
there for training pan. You know, I don't know what the work entails,
but when we get there, we'llwe'll cross that breach for those three
years. You know. There wasa conversation between me Omar and Mike t
And there's certain guys that are onehelmet guys, you know, and I

(02:00:26):
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
the ball. I was behind XavierJohnson. So learning from him and guys
like that, it's it. Itmakes me more comfortable. But I could.
I feel like I could do anythingon the field, and I'll do
anything to play so fast and dowith me throwing the ball, running the
ball, catching the ball, blockinganything I'll do on the field. With

(02:00:48):
specifically talking about how competitive you are, where do you think that driving from?
It just comes from where I'm from, South Florida. I feel like
everybody down there we compete to themax. There's no other place that could.
It's like South Florida. There's dogsall around the South Florida. So
I mean, it's just ever sinceI was seven years old when I started
playing, It's just it was instilledin me to just compete and be that

(02:01:10):
dog. Speaking of South Florida.Once we've talk about jama Jeremiah. I
mean, I played with Jeremiah whenI was ten and eleven, and then
we played against each other a coupleof years of high school, so I've
seen him. The growth he's madeover these years is insane. The way
his body has changed is crazy.And now seeing out here today is just

(02:01:30):
like everything comes full circle. Youknow, he's what he was the best
player in the country last year andfor him, for me seeing him grow
up and things like that, it'sbeen really good to see truth fresh such
a stack room. Even Marvin HarrisonJunior didn't play much as a true fresh,
but it seems like he might bethe exception to the rule. I
feel like Jeremiah is just I mean, he's definitely he's a different caliber.

(02:01:54):
When when you when you watch himand how smooth he is and the physical
abilities he brings to the game,I feel like he has to play some
way. He has to. Hehas to play because he was the better
the team. Jeremiah sophomore. Andnow you're like, you, guys,

(02:02:20):
the next two or three years,they're gonna get the best receiver receiving room
from the country. You know,we've been holding that narrative for so long
now, but we're gonna continue todo that. I mean, we have
conversations who like as us three becausewe're we all play for the same team.

(02:02:42):
As you said, we just wantto be the best and we know
when it's our time to come,we're gonna do We're gonna do that and
definitely get a national championship. Howspecial is that for you? For you
guys get to it's very special becauseyou would have never known in O T
seven when we were there, allon the same field together on the same
team. Who never thought we wouldhave been at the Ohio State University all

(02:03:04):
playing on the same field at thesame time. So it's definitely special the
dream come true. How your bodychanged in the off season. How I
definitely think my body has changed alot, and it's changed the ways of
like my body, happy sentences wentdown a lot, and I just feel
like I overall feel better when Ilike do long runs and stuff like that.

(02:03:26):
So I have a good, reallygood stamina right now, so I
just hope to keep that up.You guys winded this year as you were
after a fifty seven years touchdown andyour first catch you yeah, yeah,
yeah, I feel like it wasjust adrenaline rushing. I feel like I
was in more so a celebration,was more tired than the run. Actually,
everybody jumping on me and stuff likethat. But it was definitely a

(02:03:47):
cool experience. Experience is there outsideof it feels like there's a little bit
of South Florida and maybe there likea good track droppers. Yeah, what
do you guys? Do you seethat in the corner? I feel like

(02:04:08):
if the if there were anybody tobe from South Florida a corner, it
would be day uh ig be DavidsonIgnos guard and looking over to the my
counterpart guard. It's a great things. Say, what what about Carson's skills
might just allow him to shift overone's box he was last year? Why
could he be successful? He's athletic, He's able to run the ball,
He's eat them as well, whichis all one of your favorite bin to

(02:04:30):
work in the space. That's uh, it's a huge uh thing to have,
and uh he's just trying to comeup into the red guard spot.
You know, it's some of themcounting on you guys. Like I said,
bad and fine for it, butuh he's don't get a good job
today and say we can do intothe summer and get into the ball camp.
After Sam squared his touchdown, coachlock and was talking to him,
then he kind of made his wayover toward you grabbed his shoulder pad like
what was going on there? Ohyeah, yeah, I mean obviously,

(02:04:54):
uh, young guys scores to touchdownthe shoe he kind of blocks out of
anything. So I'm trying to coachthe locks, calling his name, trying
to get his tention back to getsome coaching. Uh. It was it
was nothing too crazy, cause likeI said, now we handle ball to
the rep around here, and sojust to make sure you know, uh,
obviously it's a great thing, right, I'm just going to touchdown.
It's a great thing. Everybody shownto see him score, but you have
some time to see some coaching.A lot of quarterbacks running the ball today.

(02:05:14):
I don't uh make that part ofthe game. I mean I I
think that just makes uh the offenseeven more pounced. You know you that's
play a lefting on the levens inten on eleven. So it's just another
guy to account for another guy youhave to uh move outside the box and
another guy after tend the leaves therest of the defense open for more uh
options and you know, families andso it's a it's an awesome thing.
You know, personally I wanted toslide, but but uh, it's it's

(02:05:36):
still cool to see how difficult didthat make it last year when ye your
last couple of years when you reallyever had that were running for it back.
You know, we did run ata quarterback game. None, it
wasn't difficult. It's just a newstyle offense. You know. Coach Kelly
comes in with uh his philosophy andwhat he wants to cues to do,
and the cues are actually do itall on the spring. So just gonna
keep building off that. Obviously,Uh he did a couple of good things

(02:05:57):
today some uh some good runs byout all the cues. Just building off
of it and see what we thinkyou're better done. I think you opened
today in the T formation seeming creativelike that. What's it like working with
Chip Kelly And how is that helpingthe offensive line? He's creativity and it's
it's it's really fun going through walkthrough. Obviously I only get the run
to play the inside outside sound,but you know we go back from film

(02:06:17):
like, well we're on the tform mission. But it's, uh,
everything's a lot everything's a lot morefun. All the guys are buying in,
all the kids are coming a lotmore fun. So coach kind of
brings us on his own juice towhat we have? Are you going on?
And just uh, every day,every guy, everyone improves off of
it. Sotly do you feel thatimprovement up front for you guys in the

(02:06:38):
offenseve line? You feel like that'shelping you guys right now? For sure?
Yeah, I mean, uh,we have a lot more experience in
the line, A lot more guyshave a year or two under the belts.
What did your impression of him?What does he do well that you're
like, Okay, yeah, thisis this is the our own coaches borne
those hardy you can get it rightafter the visit. I mean when you
came down here, was there athought process that you could commit? Did

(02:06:59):
you them down with an open mindor do you kind of have a feeling
that this was going to be doingagain your dat. I came down with
open I didn't know about the rodand round that, and then I got
here. I found the family havingyour player. And what was that moment
like for you talking to the coachestelling me to compared and telling your family?
Just what was that like for you? But it was great? I
have my mom, my dad,all my huns in the room or you

(02:07:21):
know my what was that reaction?Well, everybody already really from from doing
with gay time, So what wascoach last for that? It was kind
of when you think of the justto comment or the yeah just an ohio
straight back? You know, whetherit's physicality, like what are the first
things that come to mind when youthink of you know, high share or

(02:07:42):
any back sweet of powers on andtell you about it? Yeah, there
is that something that I mean youfeel like you have to you know,
working or is that something that you'relike, yeah, that's the kind of
back I am. I'm just gonnabe next to mine their lives. I
think that's hope back I am.But you go out and prove Yeah,
well, what are kind of afew of those things that you're like,
yeah, I need to work on. I go over the course of the
next keeps just everything, make sureI keep all the details, bist security.

(02:08:05):
Yeah, what a coach. I'lltell you that he likes about your
game? Is it art between thetackles, your speed or what is he
like right now? He said youlike marrow fucker backfield? Man. I
think he liked that. I'm like, what's kind of your main I mean,
obviously as an in state kid committedto this class, what's your pitch
now to other recruits and being like, this is why you should join Ohio
State twenty train. It's a realfamily. I'm in spirit. Everybody gets

(02:08:28):
them on, everybody talking to everybody, joys other what'd you say once you
get any training back or communs bringhim to well. I've always looked up
to Bill Jackson watching this film.You, Uh, that's funny. Do

(02:08:48):
you think that your boy style andhere his for mis perspect isn't just the
way that he really told Yeah,I think that all you want to go
into. Yeah, I think Ican. I think speed the power,
Yeah, I think absolutely. Whoare the main guys that you're You're talking
to right now to join this statI'm really talking to everybody the list,

(02:09:09):
and that all the committs and anyguys that you want to join the task.
To anybody at the top of yourlist, not oh sorry if you
already got asked this, but comingup here as a as a recruit,
as a commitmentm sre what what didyou want to show today? What did
you want to get out of thisexperience? It wasn't nothing to show,
nothing to prove. I just wantedto this one working love. How did

(02:09:30):
you feel like that went? Obviouslyhe's still relatively new here, but he
seems to bring up a little bitof a different energy than than some of
these camps in the Path. Ifeel like it went good. Yeah,
do you sense that energy? Imean, when you're out with him,
it's I feel is intense energy.He's different than other guys though, right,
I mean kind of How would youexplain his coaching than some of the
other running back coach you've made haveworked with in the path. It's just

(02:09:52):
a tense tense like go go good. Did you talk to coach talk on
when he was a leading I did, okay, So when when didn't he
get didn't work and getting moutimar likeRufford around like after the season like not
so flat? Okay, So Imean is it was? He kind of
the same guy that he is now, so just just in a new uniform

(02:10:13):
basically yeah, okay, And youguys obviously added Isaiah to the class,
and there's no secret they would liketo add another one. What are your
thoughts on being in a class withthree different running backs like that? I
have no problem to being in theclass. But what do you like about
Isaiah? I don't know, youdon't know, you've never met him,
but you just damn it on theperson when you committed. Who were some

(02:10:35):
of the guys that you should tofrom any but in particularly about after they
grow up? I'm not really putthe linebackers taking off his belt? Howcomes
nice, Joe? You just getcoming back. You're just getting in that.

(02:10:56):
I enjoy it every time. Justyou WoT your life to change in
your walkout in the door and justdecide to work. I'm planting and now
fly star number one player, crazyus. That's actually you know ever say,

(02:11:18):
it's just even getting the offer fromhere my life. That's just Skyros
gets appreciate this. I mean obviouslygot a couple of year before you did.
Hear it. I'm curious about howyou put so high state and you
are it's pretty you started pretty good. But I mean in terms of the

(02:11:39):
guys, don't you want to join? How you you're so much art your
great rights? What do you wantout of a quarterback in your class?
Like a white? You're missing?I like what this is one coach card

(02:12:13):
by my pressure. Thank you brothersvisiting the coach y y very much,

(02:12:43):
kind of children, Thank you veryper se did thank you once again,
your miss. We're talking with massand Kelly about that Nis what joking like
Commar it's the first time I methim. You know, we just find

(02:13:05):
it really well and yeah, whatdo you think we can bring to the
you know w Yeah, So likethe locks of sails locking in? What's
been like for you just moving outto California being out of Conde This is
a little obviously like help love helpingin this like different being in out of

(02:13:31):
state recruit here versus when you werejust a couple of Yeah, it's definitely
different. So it's flying here.You're new generation of recruits where I don't
think anybody outside looking you moved questionsthe strength of your commitment, like you're
locked into the last night, yousaid it over and over, But you're
making visits around the country, You'veseen other schools. It's it's almost a

(02:13:54):
totally different mindset. How do youapproach the other visits and how do you
communicate? What's Ohio State about then? And what's been the message to U
communicate for a house stay? Ijust let it all that, you know,
Uh, I'm always locked in,you know, I'm just still enjoying
the buses or as being in thegroup. You know, it's it is
only ever what's a the Sivens enjoy? Uh the other schools? I tell

(02:14:20):
them like, like yes, itcan be really hard. Try to get
to the flip cause that's it's OhioState. You know, this is where
I would be. So what isit if it's made you wanna take close
to us? What when chase house? The rehab process going so far,
it'schooling great man, it's just takingthem one day at a time. At
what stage are you? I knowthey said they wanted to see probably in
training camp and we would know alittle bit more. I guess at the

(02:14:41):
next week when you see a doctorfor what what stage are you? Yeah,
I'm back up training doing everything lifting. That's crazy, So I'm back
in that stage. Do you havea timetable? Like what would you be
ready for training camp? Or likewhat is your expectation? Uh? Right
now, just taking the one dayat a time, standing in my playbook,
So my numbers called them ready?And how important for you hasn't been

(02:15:01):
to I guess stay around the teamwhile you're in this process? Uh?
Great man? Nuh, you know, definitely getting in touch with the guys,
you know, knowing a lot ofs lot of the guys already,
a lot of the old State boyshere, So it's been great. Are
you encouraged by how you feel sofar after the procedure? Do you?
Oh? Yeah? What do yourexpectations work from what people told you?
How would how would you goose?Oh yeah, nah, I f I

(02:15:22):
feel fine. Shit, I justran ten fifties. Shoot, I'm I'm
getting back in shape. Shoot,getting in the weight room, about to
get strong again. So yeah,I'm i'm I'm i'm'a be ready. What
potential do you see with this defensiveline? Yeah? I mean now you
definitely stacked. I see a lotof great things. Uh, you know

(02:15:43):
we've worked together. Yeah, Ithink Scott's a limit. Some conversations have
you had with some of the veteranslike Cam or any other people on the
G line? Yeah, just uhgoing to Cam just aks'em about certain
things in terms of how he seesoffenses just whole time he's been in the
league, in terms of formations andhow he picks up on little pre snap

(02:16:03):
reads things like that. Chase,I think Makeing said, you know you
dove into the deep end of thecool h How I guess m much important
for you to be disinvested with histeam in and how much are you enjoying
that investment? Yeah? N that'sreal cool. But I uh I love
it here. Uh. Only thingI had to get used to is that
he but uh, it's it's realcool. Great teammates and everybody welcome you

(02:16:26):
with open arf. So it's agreat experience, Chase, if you gonna
get work inserted? Sorry? Isuh training camp day one? Is that
a realistic expectation? I'm just focusingon today. Are you running it?
Yup? Marshawn is another oh housethey got just having him back in the
building, just talking about what happened. Oh yeah, uh yeah, b
uh big brouh. You know it'suh, definitely excited to play with'em.

(02:16:50):
We always chatted obviously on different teams, but I'm definitely excited to to
play with'em. That's you know, that's that'd be big for me.
Was that one of the guys makinga decision that you you kind of talked
to about what this locker room islike, yeah, Marshaan Tyrne, But
yeah, I mean it was.We got a lot of great guys in

(02:17:11):
this day. You look at that, you know, on paper, you
know, I feel like definitely oneof the most talented defenses in the league
for sure. Now it's all aboutjust putting it together and you know,
coming together as a team. Theresearch on that one hundred years ago,
you know, folks had the ideaof building a stadium over sixty thousand people,

(02:17:35):
and that's because of what Chick Carleywas doing. And you know,
they had a wooden bleachers over hereand all these people started coming in and
the idea of bringing in a stadiumthat were sixty thousand people at the time
was like, this is crazy.What is college football turning into? And
they instead of going to the stateor going to the school the community.
They went to the community to raisethe money they raised over at the time,
over a million dollars. Well night. You fast forward one hundred years

(02:17:58):
and the conversation still might be like, what is college football doing right?
And in this situation then, Il we had to turn to the community
for help, and Bucky Nation showedup again in a big way. So
although the landscape is changing, Idon't know if you know, one hundred
years later, if it's that muchdifferent. It's just in a different time,
in a different you know, setof issues that we're working through.

(02:18:22):
But I think it's exciting. Ithink there's a lot of positives to it.
I do. I think that we'retaking the next step with the revenue
sharing to try to institutionalize some ofit, which would be big for us.
Real bill remits, Yeah, everyyears got question. It seems like
this year's team has fewer questions offthe line as specifically, if you look

(02:18:48):
ahead to really love more than amonth, what are the real questions that
you have in your mind about positionbats I would say on offense, you
know, we've got to square awaythe quarterback, as you know, I
feel like, you know, theoffensive line on the right side, we've

(02:19:09):
got to solidify that. I feellike we got to build, you know,
enough depth at receiver that we feellike we can put in five or
six in the game and feel goodabout it. On defense, I think
we're still looking to figure out,you know, who are going to be
the guys inside, you know,the the third, the fourth, the
fifth, defensive interier alignement that we'regoing to put in the game. And

(02:19:33):
then same thing just just I wouldsay depth, a little bit of safety,
just to kind of see who thosenext guys are. They're going to
step up and so we know it'sgoing to be a long year. We're
going to need everybody and and soin a lot of those areas it's depth,
Uh, special teams wise, youknow, punter is going to be
you know that that is significant.You know, we just brought in Nick
and you know, so there'll bea battle there. So I'd say those

(02:19:58):
are probably the areas we're focused themost. Ryan just to fall on the
offensive line, there was I thinka school aplogy you guys might look for
a transfer in that post spring window. Did you guys do that? Did
you guys not find the guy orwere you just confident the guys you have,
Just like you know in January,if if we're going to bring somebody
in, it is to fill ahole. We're not just going to bring

(02:20:20):
somebody in to bring somebody in.Like at all positions, we'll always look
to see what's out there. Wedid evaluate some of the guys that were
out there, and you know,you know, we felt like coming out
of it as we evaluated it.You know, there was a couple of
guys that you know, we checkedon, but but ultimately, like based
on where we were and some ofthe young guys that are coming up,
you know, we felt like wesaw some progress in the offensive line in

(02:20:43):
the spring. So you know,it wasn't there wasn't as many folks in
the portal, you know, inafter the spring. So we looked at
it, we identified it, Wedid our due diligence, but you know,
we're gonna go with who we havenow. Second Rold Bills, right,
You're it was interesting that you havetwo of maybe the top five ors

(02:21:03):
of guys in sport and then abunch of guys who haven't plenty uh maybe
similar that I know my question,but did you consider trying to add there
understanding the probably the difficult to sellwe can have such talent to the brink
somebody had the experiences Like what werethose conversations like and how did you settle
on being comfortable with you know,Trey and well, like you said,

(02:21:24):
you know, I think we're wewill get some experience there with those two
guys and then you know, wefelt like coming out of the spring that
James and Sam both did a nicejob and you know we're gonna have to
play them and they're gonna have toyou know, take on a little bit
of that. You know, wehave you know, started having conversation with
Caleb Downs. I was part ofthe recruiting process of possibly you know,

(02:21:45):
doing a little bit of running backas well. It's something that he wanted
to do. So we've been havinghim in some of the meetings and some
of the individual drills as a possibilitythere if you know, needed so down
the road to continue to build depthat that position. But you know,
I think I think, you know, we feel like you know, if
you have you know, four strongrunning backs going into it, then you
know that's gonna be that's gonna beenough. To carry the season. I

(02:22:09):
do think that the quarterbacks will runthe ball more this season, so that
should take some carries away from them. But to your point, you know,
James and Sam are gonna have tostep up to the guys that we
can count on. Save that foranother day. Yeah, just fall up
on it. Is he capable ofstepping in and being running back? I

(02:22:31):
mean, obviously, we'll see.We'll see. We talked about in the
recruiting process, you know, thefirst time around, and more specifically in
the second time around, and sohe's you know, he's been around a
little bit just to get a feelfor it. We did very little in
the spring. We did I thinkwe pitched them an option or something like
that in the spring just to kindof get them going. But we'll see,

(02:22:54):
we'll see where that goes. Wedon't have a specific plan right now,
but we do want to introduce himthat just the same thing like Lorenzo
Styles has played your seer where hedid that Notre Dame. You know,
he's out there a little bit justkind of learning. It's healthy. You
know, you're seeing it from theother side of the ball. This time
of the year, you can getaway with that a little bit, a
little bit in the preseason. Whereit goes, we'll see, but you

(02:23:15):
just never know. And we're tryingto put some contingency plans in place because
it could be a long season.Yeah, this is my forty fourth year
cover of House to Day. Idon't remember ever expectations like this in the
summer. There were some of themwere almost as big. Sure do you
sense that too? And what isthat pressure like as you're working through a
summer? Yeah, And people haveasked me that I go back to the
expectations every year are the same.I mean, it's just the truth.

(02:23:37):
When opening press conference, I saidyou got to beat the team up north,
and when every game after that,that's just the expectations. And when
you come up short, you knowyou've got to figure out a way to
get those things fixed. I thinkwe have done that. But the expectations
are the same every year. Pressureis the same every year. I just
like the pressure when you've got areally good team behind you. So that's
what we've got right now. Andyou know, we know it's going to
be a long season. We knowwhat we're working towards. But I will

(02:24:00):
say this about this team, well, we've been talented. That's there's been
times in the past we've been talented. I don't know since I've been here,
if we've been this talented and thisexperience together with guys that have played
a lot of football, fourth andfifth year guys, and that doesn't matter.
We'll go ex door, Stephen,since you brought it up, maybe
this is his talks because it's summerConmas, so you can now just have

(02:24:24):
conversations. Maybe we're making a bigout of nothing long term situations, but
we've seen it around college football leagueguys playing both sides of the ball.
I'm doing it quite well right TravisHuner is doing it out in Colorado,
and Caleb Jatsid's been apartment turns,so we see what he could do with
the ball. But there's also thestamina aspect of that. I just get
into a sixteen game season, SoI'm not saying it's sny forty snaps or
something like that. But what abouthis athleticism, what he brings to the

(02:24:46):
table, and let you know thatif you wanted to explore it in a
real game, he could last andstill be an effective seek. Yeah,
yeah, we'd have to see allthat he did it in high school.
But we got some really good runningbacks in a room. So it's not
something that we're planning on doing,but uh, we all we are gonna,
you know, work on a littlebit Caleb. Caleb enjoys that part
of it. We did agree thatthat was something that we were going to

(02:25:07):
look into. Where it goes,I don't I don't really know right now,
but I know that he has thecapability to do it. He has
the athleticism and do it, andyou know, we'll kind of see where
it goes, see see how hedoes, and you know, maybe hand
the ball Tom a little bit ofthe preseason because again, it's going to
be a long season. We haveto make sure we have continuency plans in
place. But I know it's somethingthat he enjoys having the ball in his

(02:25:30):
hand. So even during their firsttime around the recruiting process, we even
talked about him coming in as aas an offensive player. Ultimately we think
his ceiling is highest on defense.But you know, but I also agree,
I think that having you know,guys going in other side of the
ball and just see it, listento meetings is really healthy for the development.

(02:25:50):
So we're going to do that regardless. Your defensive recruiting right now is
maybe further a long and it's beenin the years past, and I think
we mus question about it in thepastway is this a product of seeing it
over the last couple of years andnow it's not just telling you guys,
hey, this might look like this, they're seeing it in real time.
Yeah. You know, we talkedabout it when Jim first came in,

(02:26:11):
and I think Tim walls an unbelievablejob as well in the back end,
and you know, Matt stepped rightin and James and Larry. I think
they're all doing a great job.But like you said, you know,
it's one thing to talk about it. That's theory. Testimony is this,
look at this is this is whatwe're doing. And then I think you're
seeing a lot of guys just excitedabout playing in this defense and think they
see the capabilities and the flexibility too. You know, right now, the

(02:26:33):
way we play, excuse me,the way we play right now is based
on you know, we have fourreally talented defensive linemen that are really good,
and we got a lot of depthto those positions, but there's also
flexibility with some of the things Gym'sdone in the past that you know,
we're definitely looking at, and someof the recruits that we're looking at who
brings some versatility pass rusher, youknow, we had that jack position and
those type of things. So that'sexciting as well. And I think you're

(02:26:56):
seeing a lot of the recruits,you know, really good fire up when
they get here. People. Yeah, coach, first couple years, your
identity was was very big from anAWFU standpoint and air it out type team.
Look at the key best talent andthe playmakers you have there. Because
your identity change, I guess whatdo you think the identity is of this

(02:27:16):
twenty point four Well, we'll seeas we go, but you know,
we know what we need to doto play in the big games. That's
never changed. And we have tobe able to stop the run, run
the football, take care of theball, and there'll be opportunities to throw
the ball that that'll happen. Butyou know we're gonna have to, you
know, do those things to winclose games and and play situational football.

(02:27:37):
But I think you know, youwon't really get a feel for what the
identity of the team is until weget into probably the beginning of October,
you know, and I think weall have ideas of what it could go.
But you know, now that we'replaying in a playoff format, just
like a lot of those NFL teamssometimes, you know, they don't really
quite understand their identity until they getabout halfway through the season. I don't
think it'll take that long. Butyou know, we're able to play some

(02:27:58):
games and kind to work through somethings. And I don't think our defense
is going to change a bunch interms of what we did last year.
I mean, it's a lot ofthe same guys back. Could look a
little different on offense. Have yougot time for two more? Go to
Dougla Maris? Okay? Right?You lose an important recruiting staffer to promotion
at Michigan, just the second timesomeone's gone to Michigan is this offseason?

(02:28:24):
How do you react to something likethat? Is something that someone like that
would take information that was started herethat could help Michigan or Borough high stages
reaction? Yeah, all good questions, And you know, I just I
want to talk about the guys thatare here, you know, the staff
members that are here, the coachesthat are here, the players that are

(02:28:45):
here, the ones that are Buckeyes. Joe didgon with the scheduling change that
was announced yesterday? How why didthey come together? Didn't have anything to
do with the expanded the playoffs?They 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

(02:29:07):
it. So yeah, I meanI think, you know, we do
have to look a little bit differentat 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 in herea little bit late. How do you
feel about your linebackers? Cody seemslike he as the bets, like he's
lucking as a starter, CJ.When do you see his role being Sonny?

(02:29:28):
When you see his role being gayand all this guy? Yeah,
good versatility all those guys, RvelReese, Like you said, CJ,
Gabe, Sonny, Cody. Youknow I'm missing a couple, I'm sure,
but like that was that y Rvel? Yeah, I mean these guys
are very versatile guys. You cansee the length on them, and you

(02:29:48):
know they do a good job interms of like fitting the runs they could.
They have enough length, you knowto cover and zone, but they'll
also blitz and that's something that wewanted to really work on this offseason,
is getting better or blitzing, youknow, and hopefully we can even take
the night next year. We gotJeremiah J J. Smith J J.
How'd you feel out there to day? You got a great time. I

(02:30:09):
heard the team. The team cameout. Don't three and old pool play?
When you come to these kind oftournaments, what kind of techniques do
you like to work on us?Do you think that you're gonna deep run
some short stuff from crossing the routes? What do you work on when you're
out of tournament like this? Reallyjust getting back in the goop. You
don't run chuck doing the week,so really just working on my releases.
Uh, that's your game, myfriends, class, I've been I've been

(02:30:31):
a chuck. So just when youget back. Now we know you pulled
the trigger on Ohio State, obviouslyyou're gonna take visits kind of make sure
that you're you're perfect, done yourdecision. What was it about Ohio State?
And Brian Hartline and Ryan David,that made you feel comfortable to commit
early? Really they sent me myfirst visit. We're not the first.
Can you offered me out? Youfeel first system? My first ar really

(02:31:03):
just what's up? What's up?What's what they say? Was what they
they they gave me? Uh reallyjust a kid that I'm a top artists.
I wasn't tough artist. I'm tryingto have them size now. I
know you got something your s fa family up there. You got Brandon
n s, you got card I'lltake What does it mean to potentially be
able to link up with them ina year and be able to kind of

(02:31:24):
run back what you guys have donein South Florida Express in Columbus, Ohio,
it'd be great we go there toOhio State take over. It'd be
grateful, a great I know myfirst round. Yeah, you're a super
humble kid. I've been really impressedby you today. Is there anything that
you want Ohio State fans to knowabout you? You know again, I

(02:31:45):
know you're just your all work,all work, all work. But what
are they getting when they get aJ. J. Smith to come to
Ohio saying kid in the job,don't do what I want to do.
Take care. That's perfect, man, God bless you. I appreciate you,

(02:32:05):
my man. Also watching today,thank you so much Smith. And
then later tonight I'll probably come backand watch the film again. But at
the end of the day, it'sjust trying to be around football, be
around the facility. How much ofyour film watching It's like solo and difference
shoot by yourself watching SUF how muchteam for earlier We've had more safeties come

(02:32:26):
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 the best position to win.
So myself, I'll watch film athome too by myself. But when I'm
here, there's always other players aroundme that are trying to or to get
better just like I am. Areyou only watching yourself? Watch? No,

(02:32:46):
I watched the NFL teams. Watchgood NFL safeties that are playing right
now. Javon Holland, pant SwineWidfield, go ays like that that can
that I can emulate and try tosee how they play. And then also
just watching other players here, otherplayers that do things well here. Just
just learning from them, trying tosee how they play the game, trying
to get better. Caleb, whatare some of the big differences that you've

(02:33:07):
seen so far between what you wentthrough at Alabama and so far you've gone
through up here. A lot ofit's the same, A little differences in
the defense and how they operate andhow they see things. But at the
end of the day, football's football. Defensive defense, So everybody gotta get
to the ball and make the typeof what do you think of us?

(02:33:28):
Oh? I love the city.I love uh High Street. I love
being in the city. I lovegoing to the restaurants here. The food's
great here. So I ain't gotno coop place for me. Because it's
like you got the campus obviously,then you also a big city. It's
it's different than Alabama because Alabama wasa college town and Testalusa was not as
big of a city. Here,there's a lot of people to see,

(02:33:48):
a lot of different businesses that youcan be a part of. So just
trying to learn the city and learnwhat everybody has to offer here. He'll
you probably noticed it when proct themedia's decision to go back to Alabama,
and then that starts a full levelof speculation as the are you were you
taking back by that? Did youfeel like you needed to make a declaration

(02:34:09):
off of that? Uh? Imean at the end of the day,
No, I didn't feel like Ineeded to say anything, cause at the
end of the day, I wasstill here a practice. I was still
here with my teammates. So Imean, I feel my my actions speak
for themselves. I'm I mean,I don't. I don't need to say
anything about that. Cayden. Italked to him when he did it,
and I congratulated him on his decision. I mean, that's what he feels
his best as when he feels hisbest, and I support him. But

(02:34:31):
I'm here. You guys have orin this new generation of you have that
sort of freedom, You have thatsort of control over your career in a
way that other people didn't. Thisit's something that you you have to kind
of take with a certain seriousness thatyou're making that right decision at all times.
I think ev I mean, inlife, you have to make decisions
based off of what she feels bestfor yourself. So that was a big

(02:34:52):
decision for him, and if hefeels that's what's best for himself, then
I support it. But at theend of the day, for college suble
athletes, I think that's the bestthing because the coaches have the same right
to do what they do. Coachcan come here for a month and leave,
and I mean then he's just leavingthe player at high and drove.
So I mean, if they're gonnahave the ability to do it, why
with the players and not have sometype of say in their in their life.

(02:35:16):
Kevin, you you made the impactoppostion last year's fresh What do you
think you could do an assault whenyou're under your belt here? I think
I can grow and what I didwell last year and increase on the qualities
that I was not as a leadeat during during the season. So just

(02:35:37):
being better in coverage, being betterthan the post, being better in my
tackling, being a better communicator withmy teammates, all that I think I
can offer to the team. Andbut at the end of the day,
it's gotta be a team collective togo do what we want to do.
What do you I mean this,obsee is a lower DEAs what do you
what do you think of being abig part of me? Is wasn't the
the lead last year and it shouldbe being better. Yeah, they were

(02:36:01):
a very eliite defense last year,and watching all the film from last year
and the whole season, they playeda great season. They played a lot
of good defense. Excuse me,what's your question? Just the idea of
being hard? What a big heart? What about an elaitue defense? Uh?
I mean I can only do mypart. I can only do my
one to eleventh and do my job. Every player I can't. I can't
try to do more than that,and every other player just has to do

(02:36:24):
their job and we'll do what weneed to do. Okay, we'll be
talking about your film watching habits.Is that the same in high school?
And what did that look like foryou on a regular high school good My
high school coach was one of myfavorite people in the world. Uh,
Freeman Davis. Me and him watchfilm together a lot. But that was
more so just myself watching film andtrying to grow. So I would say

(02:36:45):
I had a lot of the samehabits, and that's trusted over to college.
But a lot of that was meand my high school coach played a
game together. Another movie. Youaround everywhere here, but you know,
it seems like you're at that freesafety spot as opposed to the strong safety
spot you played at Alabama. Justwhat's said transition? Like? Do you
feel that does that even matter inthis kind of defense? I th I
mean it's the same spot really tothe it's the safety to the field safety

(02:37:09):
playing in the most space. That'swhat I'm used to. But at the
end of the day, I feellike I can play to the boundary,
I can play the dim money position, I can play nickel. So I
mean, at the end of theday, you gotta make plays wherever you're
at. And Calen, what haveyou been? What have your thoughts about
on the Jeremiah stut a very eliteathlete, very instinctual player, has a

(02:37:31):
great ball skills. Should uh,should have a big impact this year?
Anybody you caned ther parents what you'veseen? Nah, j Jason's on,
So Jesus, he's on. It'shis own man. Uh. Who else
caught your ride at your receiver group? Kayleb Uh? Is he elite in
your opinion? Uh? I watcheda Mecca Buka a lot and co when

(02:37:56):
I was in high school watching thegames, and then last you're watching some
of his film. He's been ane leade receiver then, and he's a
leade receiver now. And carl Otatehas had a great spring as well.
Yeah, and the you you personally, uh after the uh Steve appreciation Dale
on Saturday, you were mobbed aboutas much as anybody. What is what?

(02:38:16):
How have you felt the receipt meaningof autograph seekers at Saturday? You
know? Uh? Have you feltthe reception here? Uh? For you
over the last several months, butespecially like Saturday, I think it's been
very welcoming. I appreciate everybody andlike I appreciate when I go to class
seeing people that know me and justbeing able to meet them, being able
to say that I'm glad to behere, being able to say I'm glad

(02:38:37):
to be here to everybody that cameup to me. Yeah. So I'm
just I'm very appreciative of it.Do you feel their expectations for you?
You know what I mean that?Uh? I mean people mad so as
a versatility then, so I'm happyabout it. There. You moved around
a lot throughout your career. Thatthere's Jumbo's side you'll tackle I guess sas
in clean book and left on theright side. Do you think you kind
of benefit from focusing a little bitmore on the right serve, uh a

(02:39:00):
little bit. But you know,there's a new system that we have,
like I haven't found my mindset mostof them the right, but also have
my mind son and love too,just in case something does happening too,
like you know what I mean,like Colten or you know Pete, of
course, but I'm always gonna beready for life no matter what. How
quickly have you felt like you pickedup this new system that you're working in?

(02:39:20):
Now? Oh it's a we actuallypretty up picked up pretty well cause
it's the same system that I'm usedto back in the hot stick, cause
we're more like spread back at howI say. So, you know it's
pretty good. So it's one ofthose like the draft process off seasons,
A lot of people outside the building, team rangers get the right tack,
a lot of yeah alright, now, a lot of people in the building

(02:39:41):
we right, we have the righttime. All the people you motivated about
that, you follow it like ifyou hadna you do it, though I
don't I read into it a littlebit. But also the same time,
like they not here of course,but I don't really care what they say.
I know what I can do,and the team know I what I
can do. So they trusted meright now and I'm not gonna live them
right him. How hard or howeasy is that to compartmentalize that and use

(02:40:03):
that as fuel going forward rather thanto kind of maritate it, uh,
I j I just keep receipts.Everybody knows that one person I don't really
care for him at Also, that'sall good for But it's all love.
I love uh outside of this,But you keep doing it, keep it
better, keep on these nights,do what I can do there. You've
been a outspoken about your supporter ofZamir, and obviously it's just his chance

(02:40:26):
now to be the dog. Wait, what is it about him that you
bought in so early? The reasonwhy I buy some earliest cause us I
was at a house they they alwaystaught us. Actually I go getting,
and ever since I got here,i'm'a always wanna go get and I gotta
picked late. And I always wannaprove people wrong. You know, I
think prove people people wrong all mylife. I wanna keep doing that.

(02:40:48):
What's a long which I guess forjust like we can open it in like
the set you you know like acommunity, give that uh nine day difference,
nine day difference from my first year, in my second year to now.
Like now, I'm like, alright, I know I can play.
I know I can go ahead intoone of the best, specially match anybody
else that we going to play thisyear, and I know why I can
do. So all gotta do nowis ACTU meet my potential and should do

(02:41:11):
it and help everybody else out theteam as well. You've practiced a lot
against Malcolm and he's really come intohis own. What is it about Malcolm
that's helped him make that next step? There? Man, Malcolm, he's
quiet, he doesn't really say toomuch. He comes to the work every
day, do what he does,and he works hard. He doesn't plit
twice at anything. Yeah, he'llget mad over a co rest Bols.

(02:41:31):
At the same time that like hehas a metality of adult like he's he
don't really care what y'all think oranybody else, thanks for real. So
it's just like alright, let's keepgoing. That's how everybody is on the
team about ty raise kick got thatsame mindset. He does have the same
mindset. A little nervous, butuh Na, he nah. He has

(02:41:54):
definitely grown up a lot from hislike first year here until now, like
he has MM, but he's he'sgrowing up a lot mentally too. I'll
tell you, guys are reimagining theoffensive line a little bit with you out
there right side the farm there nextto you on the on the on that
side too, and then drafting theguys on the line here. How exciting
is that to be part of somethingthat's that's kind of being you know,

(02:42:15):
having that trust but also being reinventeda little bit. That was great,
you know, But me and doingthose like they're gonna keep replacing us,
of course, but all since time, we gotta keep going, you know,
became just really don't think about whatthey did. All we gotta do
understand about what what can we dowith the better in forteo as well?
Sorry, they don't put a loton the wet side the light a little

(02:42:35):
bit more. How How long areyou guys working together? I'm one hundred
percent now. And it was likea walk in the park. It's like
a sprained ankle, you know,it was very easy, you know,
because I had the knee. Theknee was pretty hard, you know,
and the Achilles was. I wouldsay it's easy, you know, just
because that's just my mentality, andit was. It was pretty easy to

(02:42:56):
be. But you know, I'vehad these injuries and it's been storm like
the past two years, you know, having haveing like good, great games.
The next thing you heard and thenyou know, so got got the
injury prone out there, you know. But I think the storm is over
with, you know, you know, and I think I'm I'm gonna gonna

(02:43:18):
take off now, you know,and there will be no setbacks and the
injury prone thing will be gone outof the window again. Yep. I'm
sorry, you're gonna be that.I am. I am excited. You
know. He does a lot ofgreat things, and he's a great person,
and we have a great relationship.It's gonna be it's gonna be a

(02:43:41):
fun year. We're gonna have alot of fun. We're gonna do a
lot of great things. So Ican't wait here waiting. The injuries you've
had Is that just bad luck?Is every is there anything you've been attributed
to behind just misfortunate? Yeah,it's just unfortunate, you know, But
God has a plan always, youknow. I don't know what the plan

(02:44:01):
exactly is, you know, Idon't know, but whatever plan it is,
it's for me to be here.You know, I had a great
rookie year. I didn't really havethe volume as other people my rookie year,
but I still had a great rookieyear. Six yards of carry,
you know, things like that.I think it was like nine touchdowns ten

(02:44:22):
including the playoffs. And so there'salways been like, all right, guy,
let me show my talent shine alittle bit. Like even when I
had the knee. So I hadthe knee, right, A lot of
people don't know like I didn't gethurt again whenever I got you know,
got cleaned up. So I wentdown in twenty one, right, had
the injury, the knee injury,and then came back later the next year,

(02:44:43):
and I played the first few gamesand it just there was a lot
of scars issue in there. SoI had to get it cleaned up.
I didn't get hurt again. Icould have played the whole year, but
I got it cleaned up so Ican feel like me. And so after
I got that cleaned up, thefirst two games back from the injury,
I had over one hundred and twentyyards rushing right and then went on had

(02:45:05):
great, great ending of the year, you know, one hundred total yards
in the playoff game we lost,which I hate the most. Stays,
don't marry me. I don't wantto win. But then come back 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 the storm is
now over, you know, andI do think that I'll be able to

(02:45:26):
shine my light to the whole world. Are you concerned that you have that
label of you can't said three?I could care less because I do.
I know this out there because asit should be. It should be.
I got hurt two major injuries backor not back to back years. But
you know, so I haven't beenon the field as much as I should.

(02:45:48):
That's true, that is true.But it's not like I'm having these
little little dinky injuries and sitting out. It's something I can't control, literally,
So that's why I'm not like,yeah, I am injury polle.
You could say that, you know, but I do think that the Chargers
are getting a guy that's going tobe healthy from now on, you know,

(02:46:09):
God willing, and it's gonna begreat, and I do think that
it's gonna be It's gonna be agreat However, many years here, when
you've been on the field, you'vebeen highly adopted. Point of years for
very average for your career. Likeknowing that when you're out there you're very
adopted, how much confidence does thatgive you? That really all you need
is is not what you need allthe confidence in the world, you know,

(02:46:31):
the way I work. I wouldn'tsay just from the numbers, but
just the way I work my workethic, you know, and my relationship
with Jesus is like I have themost confidence when I step out there because
I do know, like if hegrants me the health, it's over with.
I don't think I would be youknow, I think it will be

(02:46:52):
a great year or whatever, acouple of years. However, many years
he grants me great health, youknow. And I think just the work,
I think, my prayer and allthat stuff, that's what helped me
have that confidence. With the numberswill be there, and they they might
be higher after this year, youknow what I'm saying. And it's crazy
to think about cause I had sixor six yards per carry, you know.

(02:47:13):
So we'll see you're looking forward tothe running behind this line put together.
Oh yeah, yeah, yeah.I played with Bradley. I played
with him. You know, Iknow the Slater, I know all the
I know all the guys you know, and 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 why I came here for

(02:47:33):
a year. Or I wouldn't,I wouldn't say part of the recruitment,
but like whenever I decided I wasgonna sign, it was great to have
him in the room. What's yourrelationship, Yeah, we're great. We're
we have a great relationship. That'she's like my brother. So I think
a compliment each other very well.You know, he can do a lot

(02:47:56):
of stuff too. You know,got like a lot of people think he's
just power power power, by Ithink he has some other parts of his
game two which it'll be great becauseI feel like I could do everything and
when one get tired, we canroll it in. We keep rolling win
some games. When you the twoof you get going, how do you
think that's gonna look for? What? Like, what will be that partnership

(02:48:18):
kind of back there. I knowthat's a hard question. How do I
think I think it'll look beautiful.You know a lot of people call this
a passing league, but I thinkyou got to run the ball to win
the super Bowl. You know,if you look at the teams who win
the Super Bowl, they can runthe ball, they can control the clock.
And so if we're both good,it'll look great, beautiful. How

(02:48:41):
would you describe the Gregor running theoffense? I would I would describe it
as, you know, a greatoffense. I think he gives a quarter
he's going to give the quarterback alot of options. He's going to give
the running back a lot of options. He's gonna give the receiver a lot
of options, you know, AndI think it'll be I think it's gonna
be great. His offense is goingto be amazing. When we talked to

(02:49:03):
him, and you know, Iwas like, why are you an will
build something good rushing offenses throughout yourcareer every and you said that one part
of it is just you got acall place, You got a call run
place. As a running back,you know how much confidence, how much
excitem does it give you? Youknow, you have to play holler that's
gonna stick with it and allow youand the offensive line to get your resident.

(02:49:24):
Gives me a lot of excitement.You know, it's gonna be Like
I said, it's fun to playat his offense, you know, and
I think he does have some goodthings in the past game too, But
like you said, he sticks withthe run, and that's that's the identity
you. You want an offense thathas an identity, right, you won't
be looking everywhere else to find youryour identity. You want to have it.

(02:49:46):
And so I think his offense hasthat and the guys he builds and
puts in there, it complements thatidentity. So I think it's gonna be
great. You mentioned you're a hundredpercent now, so you'll be full go
for portraying him that's effected. Look, I ain't gonna answer any of the
fool if it's up to me.Yes, Look, because I had this

(02:50:07):
problem like three two years three yearsago, I'm thinking I'm full go.
I think I'm ready to go,and the next thing, you know,
I'm on pup like, hey,look some stuff above my prey pay grade.
So but I don't know, hopefullyI can start. I think I'm
ready to start, you know,at the beginning of training camp. But
that's not up to me. AsI've learned, I'll tell you how you're

(02:50:30):
feeling. I wouldn't say that.I think I've been I've been in some
great organizations, and I think thisthis organization is a great organization, and
the training staff is great, andso they just want what's best for me,
you know, and they're they're takingcare of me, which that's what
you want in an organization. Andso that's where that comes from, which

(02:50:52):
I appreciate it. Like I reallyappreciate that, you know, because I'm
the type of guy like I workreally hard, so maybe sometime I'm blind
to, you know, the dangerof something, you know, So I
appreciate it. But like I said, if it's up to me, yeah,
I'm out there. But never know, with any frustration for you during
the heading into free agency, youknow, dealing with with rehab and not

(02:51:13):
you know, having on a fullseason tape or production to go out there,
was there any part of that whereyou're like, gosh, you know,
had hit the open market with adifferent situation. You know. Nah,
I like it. I Like,how would I say this? I
like it? The hard way,but not you know, I like it

(02:51:35):
the hard way. I like it. I like trial and tribulations. So
I mean the dice that I wasgiven the role was I was coming off
of our achilles, and that wasthat was the lowest plan. So it
was beauty in that, like Iwas comfortable. I was caught like there

(02:51:58):
was multiple teams, you know,I wasn't. It wasn't like I didn't
have any other team. But Iwas comfortable and sitting back and just enjoying
the process, letting myself get fullyhealed. So whenever that team, whoever
I would sign with, who nowis the Chargers, is gonna get the
best me, you know. AndI think people all around the league know

(02:52:20):
that, like, Okay, thisguy, Okay, it's a high risk,
high reward type thing, right,not even a high risk hi low
rice because you it's a business,right. So I got hurt last year,
so not as much money needs tobe throwing there. But I think
everyone around the league knows that wheneverI am on the field, the numbers
don't lie, and so they knowthat, and a lot of teams were

(02:52:41):
like, all right, here,you can, we give you this,
but we want you to be healthyso when I'm healthy, it's gonna be
great. This is the chance thatI've been giving here. I'm so grateful
and I know that's gonna be.They won't be they won't regret it.
Are you the type of person thatlikes to throw people wrong? You as

(02:53:01):
the injury? That's two cents I'veheard. But me being who I am,
you know, I'm I'm I'm gonnathrow my two cents in there,
you know. So that's just uh, it's been awesome, man. We
he's he's a you know, aresource for me, just a person that
I can always bounce my thoughts offof. And now, you know,
just a year you said, thirteenmonths. Now I feel more comfortable just
you know, bringing certain things up. You know, you never you never

(02:53:22):
wanna come off too strong. ButI'm a curious guy. I got a
lot of questions. I like,I like football a lot. I like
to talk talk the games. So, you know, come to find out,
he's the exact same. So weuh, you know, we get
along well, and and uh,we're gonna keep keep building that relationship.
Sometimes in this league, playing youknow, eighteen games, they tryna make
a twenty. You know, that'slike it sound like a little a little
fever dream to be honest, Butbut uh, if we can find a

(02:53:45):
way to k you know, stayup right out there, keep keep Aaron
on his feet. You know,I'm I'm excited for that and uh everything
that comes with it. But uhbut yeah, like I said, man,
that's it's it's harder said than uhor harder done, and said,
I guess you know, it's oneof those things. It's like that's a
lot of games. You know,all of a sudden take a lot of
hits. They take a lot ofhits where they're not looking, and it's
just how can we keep him healthy? Yeah? Yeah, are you when

(02:54:05):
you think? I do you everreceived the room now musitions? You guys
have made one more money healthy andeverything like, yeah, you know,
I'm excited to see it at atfull health. You know, we've i
haven't got to see all the allthe guys out there at once. And
and you know, it's one ofthose positions where every day is something might
happen to Nick up. You know, it's just a a tough position to
stay out there at all times.But I feel like we got a great

(02:54:26):
group and and the number one thingis how can we stay healthy? How
can we you know, I'll beout on the field, and I think
having depth like this and the groupwe have is gonna help us. Having
guys that can do different things,that can go catch ball over in the
middle, all types of things thatit's gonna take some of the strain off
off all of us. You know, it's it's a good group. So
I'm excited to, uh, youknow, get out there. I feel
like we haven't had the whole wholething together, but you know, come

(02:54:50):
season time, a roll and it'sgonna be exciting. What about a guy
is in your old number? Yeah? Yeah, ma, like I yeah,
man, oh, you told mea lot, even feeling first day,
just trying to help me get usedto to write tackle. He got
my feet used to write tackle.Like my first day of practice, I'm
like, dude, I still feelfeel a little off. I don't feel

(02:55:11):
as balanced in my stands. Andhe showed me the small technique and to
do with my feet, which Istill do even even though I left tackle
just kept as part of my routine. That was part of my process and
getting to my stands. So stufflike that that he taught me from day
one, and obviously in practice wasfun just compete with him, you know,
it's just to meet at the backof the pocket and to dap each

(02:55:33):
other back to every rep like thatwas compete, you know what I mean.
So that's my guy. As muchas you love him on your left
side, How bittersweet is it asa certain matters because it would happened to
him? Well, yeah, that'sthe thing. That's not how It's definitely
not how I n in And that'snot how I thought about the transition would
go. You know, I thoughtit would be you know, homeson timing

(02:55:54):
and a cardinal his whole career.You know, you know, you wanted
to player forever, you know whatI mean when I was talking about his
plans, so you know, youw youis transitions like one of those fairy
tale like it's your time now.But but again, either way, you

(02:56:15):
know, we talked about it.You know that that's that's the how it
goes, you know. But obviouslyyou know he sees he's he's been one
of my bigges supporters. Again,I affect everybody leads in their own way,
you know, not everybody's the runright guys coming arounds go like and
that's not everybody right, Like Ifelt for me, that's me specifically on

(02:56:37):
game day sp with the O lineafter we do one on one like that's
my Like, well Hump did liket s like that's my like big vocal
time. I feel like I I'vetalked to Hump about this, you know,
just recently talking about how what Iwanna do for the room was I
wanna bring that Hump energy that hebrought right so last year. Of course

(02:57:01):
some traits been doing it for years, but the year while I spent with
him, he brought a lot ofthe energy and excitement and the happiness in
the room was just his natural energyto where I only had to focus on
me, you know, I didn'thave to make sure other other guys would,
you know, feel some type ofway when they came in here because

(02:57:22):
Hump brought that. But out ofHump's not here, but I saw what
he did for the room. Iwanna be that guy to make sure everyone's
amp to go to practice, everybody'shype. Weren't taking the field team one
period. You know it's a lowday or something. You know, it's
a it's a day, But likeI wanna make it feel like they're like
your parents. The tripper right now. I wanna bring that cause that's what

(02:57:43):
we and Hump did with each other. We will hpe each other up.
The dudes like dudes about to bewalked through. We're lit. So I
wanna do that. I wanna bringthat energy. I wanna make bring more
guys, you know, to dothat. You know, yeah, I
wanted to do that from day one, you know, I kind of I
wanted to do that from day one, from just talking to him, and

(02:58:03):
obviously it's that time. I spendthe off season before OTA started just being
in myself, just thinking about whatthe room needs, you know, because
I know I new new role asone of the leaders, you know on
my offense, is that we needa guy like that that's gonna make sure

(02:58:24):
the old line is picked up readyto go. Every day I was held
accountable. Little things are happened topractice and people aren't saying anything. And
how I may lead maybe different thansomebody else may lead. You know.
I like to and practice at leastlike the legal positivity, you know what
I mean. So, but hethe energy yet went beyond just the hype

(02:58:45):
up the DAL line and started tooso that's kind of how I wanna be
some goal mine literally my whole life. I wanna be a NFL team captain,
like specifically NFL. I wasn't acaptain of high school, wasn't a
captain of college sh But I madea joke when I was in high school.
It's like, did I feel likeI'm not gonna be a captain til
I get to the NFL. Yeah, but that would be awesome, you

(02:59:09):
know, but you know, ifit happens, i'd be great, But
not either way, I wanna assumea role as a captain from the respect
of the guys on the team.They DIDU award today and to get back
to that way, Yeah, Imean, I can't say that. I
mean, I guess the biggest thingis that I felt like it has felt

(02:59:31):
like how it you used to inthe past. But it didn't take just
the first day OTAs. It tooktraining left and right once the season ended,
cause I didn't know what it wasgonna be sure, So it took
a lot of yeah reps just toget back to feeling like myself for day
one OTAs and then that whole firstweek. But now like today specifically,

(02:59:54):
just changing some small things with myfeet that I did today talking about a
line coach, I was things Ican do with my feet to get to
the like to selling it the traditionalangle that I love to set on.
Felt even I thought I felt,I thought I felt great already my mout
I felt even better of it.So I'm even more excited tomorrow. Now
I'm getting my feedback to how Iliked it the right side and on the

(03:00:16):
left side, So I'm excited.I mean, obviously, I feel like
in the league, whether I leftor right, you're still going against premier
guys, So obviously you have highexpectations for your left hand or right tackle.
But there's definitely uh like the thelevel of energy and like the expectations
definitely taking the human start cause nowconnected the blank side that stuff that's de

(03:00:39):
tackle roles, you know. Soso yeah, I would say in terms
of communication as far as just evenoutside of facilities, just stuff like that,
like really creating that the tackle quarterbackbond even more off the field,
I think has been something that's evenbeen cool years that I got a text
one day I said, hey,like you play left, and I was

(03:01:01):
like, yem, you know,yeah, I've been training both. I've
been training both, you know.I asked after the season. They're like,
honestly, you know, we'll talkto you some play in the season
and I just gotta text me,like depending on what happens with with the
free agency then. So I waslike, you know what, I had
a whole season right tackle. Soif I get the word, I'm going

(03:01:22):
I'm standing right tackle. I'ted dowhat I did before. I'm built on
that bus. I was like,I might as wellst train the left tackle
now as if I'm gonna be lefttackle, and I'd rather do that than
training on right tackle. Get theko, Hey you're the left tackle.
I'm like, ooh, I didn'tswitch on my feet yet, you know
what I mean. So I'm like, let me just prepare in advance.
I was like, yeah, let'skind you know. I think occasionally on

(03:01:46):
third down there'd be a lot oftwists. I would just know like it's
a automatically coming. And I thinkthat was my mindset for like the first
half of the season, like Ididn't have to go into a game and
with surprise, oh my gosh,they did that. I kind of figured
like, okay, like this isthis is the type of rush want to
get this is how this guy usuallyrushes, but I get the vibe.
This is how the end's like therush. You know, tackles that are

(03:02:07):
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 anadvantage too. So you're not you're not
you're not old. They brought thetwisted my side again. It was never
an Aaron Donaldi. You know,they're coming up with minds, like three
plays in a row in two minutes. I knew that it was gonna when

(03:02:28):
it happened, so like, youknow what I mean, I'm watching more
than everybody else and he rarely Englandgoes out there on occasional third downs on
the d N. I was like, Alrea, you know it's gonna be
He's gonna pick me, you knowwhat I mean, So fact fact,
it's kind of a it's also kindof an advantage in the way, but
it's also excited. I'm like,Okay, I'm gonna get the hardest look,

(03:02:48):
you know. So those are real, real reps, you know,
the Bank, So really I'm notreally didn't kind of process that. I
was like, hey, when theytell me to let me know about my
training, I was training all left, so ta's. I guess if I
didn't hear anything about t's, Iwould have came in like, so you
know what I mean, because justlike I'm cool training both continuing, I

(03:03:11):
would have been cool training both continually. But I feel like anybody, any
position will be like okay, likeyou wanna as soon as possible, get
your feet, kind of set yourhands, then certain kind of well look
at say, well, this guyonly been on the field for three years

(03:03:35):
westernn Tucky and Oregon. Just becauseI didn't have the title of a running
back coach where I was at theMemphis, I never carried myself that way.
I was carried myself as a runningback coach. I approach every day
that way. So at Memphis wehad Darren Henderson, Patrick Taylor, Tony
Poller, Kenny Gangwell, Tonyo Gibson. I've seen talented backs, and I've

(03:03:56):
seen him be able to function withone another. So I hit that all
the time about well this ain't myfirst rodeo. Same thing out there in
Oregon, we Buckereven Norwich and GeorgeJames. You go look at their numbers.
They all functioned well together. Welearned how to play as one.
So this ain't my first rodeo soand plus I know those two kids because
I recruited them when they was inhigh school. So I'm up for the

(03:04:18):
challenge and the responsibility of it allright behind them, Dan Hope, Carlo's
just what is your kind of coachingphilosophy? How do you get the best
out of your running backs? Iget the best outum because I love the
young men. My main focus isto change the hearts and minds of them,
and they'll play for me. Ihad just got through reading Coach Trestle's
Winners Manual, and it's something thatI took from that book. You have

(03:04:41):
your purpose and you have your goals, all right. My purpose is to
serve and pour into the young men. Now, my goals as a football
coach, all of them are takecare of themselves. So that's one of
the ways. I'm just real relationshipbased in a very detailed at this position.
I know y'all heard me say itbefore, and I'm gonna keep saying
it. This is the worst coachposition in football, it's terrible guys hire

(03:05:03):
anybody to coach his position and recruiters. CARLS Locker is not a recruiter.
I'm an elite relationship builder, butI coached this position. I'm a ball
coach, so that's who I am. So I'm gonna pouring to these kids.
I think they kind of seeing itnow. And I jumped in day
one I'm ready to coach. Andthe phrase, you know, soft batch
cookies, Where did that phrase comefrom? Kind of what was this boy?

(03:05:24):
Let me tell you about that boy. I've been called everything but the
name the child of God by thepeople at the other places I left.
So that I been getting. Pillsburyneeds to give me a deal because I've
been getting I've been getting some DMand texts some of it. Some of
them have been so funny. TheSaftbat's cookie thing came from just having a

(03:05:45):
frame of mind, a mental toughness. It had nothing to do with guys
getting in the portal and anything.Now most people say I'm a Salftbat's cookie
for leaving there, but actuality,I'm not. Because it takes great strength
to make a decision leave a place. No a weak minded person wouldn't be
able to make the decision that Imade, So it took great strength to
do that. So I'm telling youby literally in my DMS, it's some

(03:06:09):
it's some great comedians out here thathave been sending me like tons of cookies
out like it's funny. Right behindhim, Tony Urban, how have you
going about the assessment of the talentin the room? Uh over the past
week or two? How much asthat on field? Off field? Like,
what's the process of getting to knowwho you have as players? Well?
I broke down well me being aguy that loves the running back position,

(03:06:33):
and I already broke those kids downcause I recruited him out of high
school. You know, c isfrom where I'm from in Montgomery. I
was one of the first guys tooffer him just watching him great contact,
balance, creative runner, great handsand trey. I recruited him out of
Virginia exceptional short air, your burstingquickness and things that I'm gonna help him

(03:06:54):
get better on. And then Irecruited James Peeples out of t out of
San Antonio, Texas. I knewwhat he was gonna what he was gonna
be TC and Sam those two kidsI'm getting to know and I'm gonna help
them improve the game. But wegot different runners in there. I like
to call myself, I'm in lovewith this position, so I get to

(03:07:15):
break down runners and help their game. So talented, talented room, very
talented. Uh far back uh,Jeremy Birmingham Podcast Couch. How do you
swear that that the soft past trookiesare actually the best cookies? The Philip
Britton mix, those are way betterthan the County chips and white things?
GEI with Terman, I mean,do you do you have to first find
a balance there or somewhere. Well, for me, I'm actually not eating

(03:07:39):
any cookies now, I'm just sayingI'm not eating any cookies this year.
I gave it up for a fastor no sweets for me for the whole
year. That something I gave up. So they the term the softhbast cookie
term. Look, guys, Iactually took that from I represent the high
school coaches of miss Tennessee. Iactually took that for a guy named coach

(03:08:01):
Slocum. He used to always saythat soft best cook I actually stole that
from him. I give him creditfor it, and I tell him all
the time. He said you Ishould have branded that cause you don'e took
it and ran away with it.But that's just where that comes from.
So that that now was standing asyou get to Ohio, stand and start
to look around the country at me, Oregon's a big place. That's a
that's a major job. Rightly,how how would you think that very you

(03:08:24):
opposite get logo under Jack ran theblacko. When you get out out of
the living pre and trail, howdoes that change the way that you feel
you're either received or or does itadd a different level to to just feeling
like I could go anywhere and getanybody in the country. And that's the
sangest thing for me. This isa great place. Oregon is a great
place too. But guess what whateverI put on, I know what I'm

(03:08:48):
going to represent for me. IN I N I know who who put
me here? Uh? I knowI represented something higher, you know,
Like I told you, I knowwhat my purpose is. My purpose is
to poorting the people. So whateverlogo I have on, I'm still gonna
be doing the same thing. Sothis is a great logo. Great logo

(03:09:09):
by well another logo every day it'sacross I see around my neck. I
know what I represent. So that'sthe greatest logo I could ever wear.
So it don't matter what other logoI have on. I got that one
on. I'm going to any houseand be a recruit. H Uh deep
right, camera, tiqu Robinson andthe athletic So which you you mentioned the
time at the Memphis and themis fourand about going back to you mentioned there

(03:09:33):
who you learned from that time thatwe au to take over to managing to
grow up kids? What did Ilearned from now? I just building a
just teaching the kids. We livein such a selfish world now, and
I can tell kids all the timesit's gotta be much more to football.
The ball gonna go flat one day. As I always say, what being
in that room there at Memphis is, it wasn't four five? Teaching them

(03:09:58):
how to be a m about beingone? I tell you the man all
time, it doesn't cost you anythingto celebrate another man's success. So teaching
them how to be one, andthen once they learned to be one,
they function and they feed off oneanother. So that's what I learned from
being there at Memphis. Butman roadbro started your career in law enforcement,
kind of influence you as a coachand kind of shape where you are.

(03:10:22):
Oh well, I just got throughtalking to somebody about that today. When
I first got in this profession andI got my own room in Western Tech,
I was asked, No, howwas I was gonna be able to
handle my room? I said,Man, I had a part with fifty
one inmates. You talking about mehaving got six or seven guys? Are

(03:10:43):
you kidding me? I'm talking aboutme having to do traffic stops. So
going on domestic no violence calls,it's simple easy. No, people don't
know what you care. Also know, you gotta have a certain demeaning about
yourself. So when I walk intoa room, it's the reason why I
go try ain't every morning. Thisis one of the same thing when I
was a police officer. You looka certain way kind of deter people from

(03:11:05):
doing certain things. So it's justwhy I go train every morning. I'm
gonna look just as good as myboys look. So uh it helped out
a lot. In other words,Uh from right Austin More the podcast Carls
Welcome to Columbus. H What wouldit mean to I don't know revolutionize the
way running backs or coach. Whatdoes that take? I ain't know.

(03:11:28):
I'm not gonna say revolutionized. Justgood. It's some good running back coaches
out here. Everybody's different. It'ssome great coaches out here. I just
want to head guys who say thaton these jobs to not just hire guys.
Just know, all coaches on yoursteps should be great recruiters, not
just a running back coach. Wecoach a position. We developed players as
well. I just want the coachesto realize, Hey, you know what,

(03:11:52):
let me look and be thorough aboutthis guy that I'm hiring for this
job. Is he teaching the position? Is he development the position? Because
you're not gonna hire anybody just coachquarterbacks, are you. Well, it
shouldn't be like that for the runningback position either. And I'm only passionate
about it cause I played it.I love it, So it's the only
position I want to coach. CouldI coach other positions? Yeah? I
played dB in college too, butI loved the running back position, so

(03:12:13):
I just wanted to see it coachwell. Ten many podcasts, Yeah,
a million questions. Oh that's acouple. Number one, when you when
you when your wife, whatever yougot the message stuff, are we moving
again? What was? What washer reaction? Nah? She she's just
new guy had give us, gaveus a new assignment. She w it
was never like we're moving again.Let me tell you guys something I grew

(03:12:35):
up. My mom was in themilitary, so I lived everywhere. I
lived in Panama of South America.I'm used to picking up and moving.
I lived in Fort Rodley, Kansas, Montgomery's home. Meph's my second home,
so I'm I'm used to moving now. My wife it was different for
her, but she just knew guythat gave us a new assignment. So
it's time to go. What diduh? What did coach Day tell you
when you heard you that he wantsout of you? That may be different

(03:12:58):
stuff slamming somebody else, But whatdid he say he wanted you to bring
to the running back room? Ithink he did his research on me.
He said he wanted the guy toto develop the position. That's not taking
a shot at the coach that washere who I'm friends with. He said
that they want somebody to really getthe guys going. Uh. I can

(03:13:22):
only be me and I told himthat cause I'm gonna be me every day
now, cause see my mindset,this is when I step in this building,
I got one mindset that's to domy job so well that the living
dead or unborn can do it anybetter. So when I leave it,
that's what my mindset is. HopefulI'm here for a long time, but
only God knows that. So butthat's my mindset. Every day I step

(03:13:43):
into the Wizard Hate soenter, that'smy mindset. I'm'a do my job so
well that living dead or I'm borncouldn't do it any better. So that's
what my mindset is. A coach. We got time for one last question,
Bill RIrA Benewitt's Plumbus Dispatch. Carlos. First of all, it's the
true that nobody calls you Carlos,never calls you Locke. That's the truth.
Yeah, I prefer to be calleda lot and I would say that,

(03:14:07):
not him in particular, But Iwouldn'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 how tohandle it. There's not a transcript on
on how to handle that variable.So you just guys just trying to do
what they think is right. That'sall they're really trying to do. And
I'm not saying there right or wrong, but he was trying to do the

(03:14:28):
same. And uh, you know, I think at the end of the
day he realized he made made thewrong decision and we connected on it.
We talked about it, and uh, you know, it was a great
opportunity to to to write or wrong. And uh, obviously we're very glad
he's here. I've always believed inhim. We believe in him, and
he believes in himself and that's partof the just trying to understand what's my

(03:14:48):
path, right. So, uhbut yeah, it's been great. Steps
have been made. He's growing Ubut he's nowhere near where he knows he's
capable of being. He's just probablya priceless a Ceremiah. I love the
way he lives. I love theway he approaches things. I love the
way the questions he asks. Ilove the way he makes mistakes and then

(03:15:11):
correct mistakes. Uh, it's veryveteran, Like I mean, there's so
much ball he has to learn.Like he literally does things that are good.
I'm like, do you know whatthat worked? He goes coach.
I have no freaking idea, Solike I'm trying to teach him all of
that why it works. So thenyou know, the consistency at which it
works just goes to the roof.And so but I'm very you know,

(03:15:31):
excited and proud of the conversations we'recurrently having and I'm excited for them to
keep going by what so powerful youworking? Tell I love working with Chip
Chip is. I love talking ball, I love the viewpoints I love I

(03:15:52):
love the veteran that he has,you know, and I love yea all
love all of it. I thinkthat you know, early on the biggest
impact, you know, just youknow, feeling perspective. I think in
the run game has been awesome,you know, and then you know,
off of the run game some ofthe actions or relief throws or all that

(03:16:16):
kind of stuff. I love whereit's at. I love working with them,
and I would say that I sleepa little better all right. Uh
No, It's it's really a greatcombo because like you know, we're obviously

(03:16:37):
we're doing a lot as a group. It's not just Chip and I so
but you know, obviously Chip hasan image and a view on things that
I never had, so to havethat experience and have that viewpoint. I'm
just trying to absorb as much asi can, but then also highlight some
things that we've really done a goodjob of and make sure those you know,

(03:16:58):
nothing really and we're just trying toenhance. We're not changing, we're
enhancing. So where the things fitis perfect, you know, I think,
uh, you know, the restof the dynamics of search hip can
talk about. But it's been it'sbeen awesome, so I'm excited about it.
We talked to a mecha you justtalking about moving from slot to the
house side. You know how goodhe's been in the slot. Is that

(03:17:20):
a difficult move for you guys justcoaches to know how good a guy is
in on one spot, but knowthat maybe for his long term future and
the no. I wouldn't say it'sanything on his future, because he's capable
of doing whatever you want to getdone. But I'd say that it says
more about the room. I thinkit's it's the growth of you know,

(03:17:43):
Brandon and the growth grow of Brysonthat's really you know, allowing my mind
to say, hey mech be prepared. You're gonna move around a lot,
you're gonna come out of that slot. You're gonna be outside. We're gonna
create mismatches out there. I mean, his ability to move around is critical.
But I would say between mech andbetween Carnel tasm to move around a
lot, it's gonna provide a lotof flexibility for our room and uh and

(03:18:05):
those top you know, six sevenguys that are really doing a good job
right now. Progress this spring forlike a because there's no time to think.
It's one of those things. I'mtrue when you has balanced how much
work does a need versus Yeah,heavy heavy emphasis on what work he needs,
you know, versus anything else.Uh, I rely on him.
We have great dialogue back and forth. It's a two way to It's a

(03:18:26):
two way conversation. And frankly,there's gonna be times we're like, hey,
Max, what do you wanna dotoday? You wanna go outside and
you go inside and I don't care. So, uh, we're not there
yet. We will be there,but it's just more about, you know,
when the room is ready to startmixing things up. Yeah, I

(03:18:56):
would say, there's God. Imean, I make sure I bring in
guys that are able to do allbut I have not asked them to yet.
So the only guys that in ourroom currently I've asked to do that
has been Mecca and Carnell, andthose are probably the two guys that I
would, you know, think heavilyon doing moving around a lot. I'm
not putting that on anybody else rightnow. I'm not saying they can't,
but at this point, having twoguys being able to swing, you probably

(03:19:18):
don't need much more than that.I need guys being experts at what they're
good at. So it it helpsthe offense still be great at everything and
be an expert at something and wecan use that to our to our advantage.
This year is different, like maybeyou guys who were more situational little
bit. The room's always different,frankly, I mean from twenty eighteen and

(03:19:41):
then nineteen and through COVID and andthose guys, and and then the depth
of those guys and then where Mechand Marvin and those guys were as freshmen
compared to you know. It's justit's always different, and uh, I
expect this one to be different again, I'm not sure at what level yet.
Last question, your relationship between theTV room your rights especially you know,

(03:20:01):
back to the forwards. I'm curious, Yeah, Dba as a leader
just like you, you know,played at Ohio Seas Intel experience. I'm
curious about how you've seen Tim kindof build Jamar Backer in especially on the
recruit Trob Mater specially hasn't maybe kindof the effective your recruiting, how that's
kind of enchanced. He would probablyknow more for that question than I would,

(03:20:22):
but I would say that, Yeah, we obviously feed off each other,
right, I mean, there reallyis a team sport, and we
can't do it without them, andthey can't do it without us, and
we can't do it without the quarterback, and we can't do it without the
old line. Soving all the waythrough ten years in this league, so
excited to see what he's got.How old did you know? Sores?
And when he was assistant here andI had gotten to know him a lot

(03:20:45):
better, wins the 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 off season, we talked.

(03:21:07):
I just congratulated him, and Ithink he's gonna bring something similar to
what we had with the Miko.It'll be good. Do you know Brandon
Stanley well at all? I meanobvious a joey platform. I don't know
too much about him. I've obviouslyheard from my brother, but I don't
even think i've said high yet.I haven't ran into him yet, but

(03:21:28):
I'm sure i'll get to know him. When you say, it looks similar
to the Miko, the energy orthe system maybe a little different energy,
but I think just knowing the systemfrom the 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'llbe pretty pretty seamless, and I think

(03:21:54):
we'll be firing on all cylinders.Three months removed from the super Bowl now,
So how have you? I guessdigested it and I guess physically everything
good to go. Yeah, Ifeel really good. I think it's been
one of my better off seasons ofjust kind of. It was a long
year, so I took it niceand slow to get back into it.

(03:22:16):
Not as young as I once was, so I'm taking at a little slower,
but everything's great. I'm feeling asgood as I felt. I'm excited
to actually get some practice in Lastyear was kind of tough, getting thrown
in Week one after I walked through, so that was another reason I'm excited

(03:22:37):
to be here is just to getpracticing a little bit in season. Practice
is one thing, but actually beingable to work your stuff and not have
a game coming up is good.With the super Bowl unfortunately, I know
how to bounce back from tough losses, so it was rough for a little
bit, but now it's just annoyingwhen people bring it up. Since the

(03:23:03):
last season, we've seen a Rockon TV commercials and on the stage with
Luke Coombs and throwing out the firstpitch of the Giants game. But he
seems like a guy that's totally unaffectedby celebrity, which he has now.
But what have you noticed in hisleadership style and the way he carries himself
any difference at all. I thinkhe's definitely getting a little more vocal within
the building, and uh yeah,I mean I don't think he's ever going

(03:23:28):
to change. I don't think he'ssomebody that's going to change even when he
gets paid next year. So he'she's a man of faith and he kind
of reminds me of Scotti Scheffler,but except for just super humble and really
good kid. And yeah, he'sdefinitely famous. I don't just from watching

(03:24:01):
Armstead get released obviously meant so muchto the defensive line into the team.
I mean, Colin John were prettyopen that they were willing to talk about
trading deebo or are you at yoult? Does that just another what's that feel
like in the locker room when thosesort of jowls happened. I didn't even
know that happened and I wasn't here, but you're talking about this offseason armstad

(03:24:26):
In alarm Er be released, sothat's certainly one thing. Yeah, it's
a tough business, for sure.You have to have thick skin and I
haven't gone through that, but Ithink you just have to understand that it
is a business and the team's goingto try and get as good as it

(03:24:46):
possibly can with or without you,and you have to look out for yourself.
That's why you go through holdouts anddo certain things that seem selfish in
the moment, but it is whatit is, and when everything's settled,
we're gonna come together as a teamand try and go get one. What's
the overall feeling around the group rightnow, Like, how much does it

(03:25:09):
feel like the excitement of the rampup to the season, Even though it's
early, it feels good. It'sbeen a couple of days for me,
so I like all the new guys. I'm getting to know everybody, but
I think the passes in the pastand we're ready to go. Do you
talk to me? You talked tobe at all about handling the business part
of this. He's going through somethingsimilar. We chat a little bit,

(03:25:30):
but not too much about the details. I just told him keep his head
up and try and stay positive throughit all. We your first impressions when
you heard what your schedule would bein that Aaron Rodgers' first UF it'll be
fun. Yeah, it's gonna begonna be a good one. Use me

(03:25:52):
kind of alluded to this. Butthe fact that last year you had to
have that hold out that affected yousomewhat early in the season. If you
hadn't had that experience, would yoube here right now? I mean,
was that part of the motivation forbeing here? Early just to have the
opposite when last. No, Idon't think that's one of the reasons.

(03:26:13):
But I just talked to Kyle andhe kind of asked me, Uh,
he kind of stated how he feltabout why it would be good for me
to be here and asked if Iagreed. And I agree. So it's
not like I'm missing too much.I think I'm out here. It's a
little less workload than I'm doing backhome, so it's kind of a good

(03:26:37):
active recovery thing for me, andI'm getting football stuff, football working specifically,
so that's good. I'm not it'snot compromising my training at all,
and I get to meet all theguys. It's positive. How did Joey
kick the news your brother? Didyou have to like let him down and

(03:26:58):
say that maybe you're Oh, no, he's he's there. He's got a
new regime over there. First,I actually thought I was coming next week
until recently, so I was gonnahave one more week at home, but
we're both in California. Share aboutreasons that you agreed with that here doesn't

(03:27:26):
feel different. Yeah, you know, it's not like these last eight years
have come in and thought we weregoing to lose or have have a bad
year. I felt like every yearwhen I tell you things are feeling good
and I feel optimistic, it wasn'ta lie. But yeah, I think
things are are definitely, like Isaid, trending in the right direction.

(03:27:48):
Everybody's on the details. I'm sureit's a word that you've heard a million
times. So yeah, I thinkit just feels like, uh, it
feels like coach is leading the teamthe way it should be led. It
has a feel of being back incollege, you know, with with coach
ierber Meyer, and you know,the message is sent from the top and

(03:28:11):
it doesn't get mixed up as it'smoving down the ladder. It's boom.
This is how we're doing things,and everybody's following that. And I think
it's impressive the details that everybody havebeen on, has has been on the
effort and just the competitiveness that that'sbeen going on over the last few weeks.

(03:28:33):
Yeah, it's it's it's been great. How much do you appreciate that
to stop and just described with theway Jim leys we shouldn't eat in the
messaging doesn't eat mixed up. Wye, you appreciate that so much? I
mean, it's I guess it's easyto appreciate when you kind of see it
working and you see guys improving,getting better. I just think the details

(03:28:58):
are really important. You can pretendthat leaving your shoes a mess or your
locker a mess isn't a big deal, and what matters is playing football.
But I think all those tiny detailsand things kind of add up and leak
into the important stuff like what you'redoing on the field. So if you

(03:29:18):
can have your toe behind the line, or have your locker and order and
all these things, they kind ofstack up into performing well and playing well
when things count. So you know, I appreciate that it's it also hasn't
been a fight with the guys inthe locker room. They buy in,
and you know, it's a lotof young guys, and I think they're

(03:29:39):
hungry to learn, hungry to competeand win. You know, it's just
an example, whether it's we talkedabout first day, you have your shoe,
if you could, if you couldspend the time on these small things
when nobody's watching. I think,like I was saying, it seems like
it might not add up too much, but I think in the long tournament

(03:30:00):
does, and it leaks into otherthings, whether you're doing your right assignment
on the field, being late tomeetings or all these things. If you
hold a standard and you stay tothat standard, I think it benefits you
long term. It's it been likeworm with Ben Herbert. Who has there
been anything in his training program orworking with you that you feel will benefit

(03:30:26):
you later? Yeah, Yeah,definitely. He's he's been great. He's
a no nonsense kind of guy,but he's not an old school in the
sense that he's bringing his way ofdoing things and that's the only way to
do things. He understands that guyshave been in the in the business for
a long time, Khalil me andwe have a way of doing things,
and all he wants to do isadd to that and help you get better

(03:30:48):
and perform the best you can.He's he stresses it all the time that
he's a tool for us, andyou know, he's been he's been great.
The guys love him. The energybrings is awesome, and I think
the stuff that we're doing in theweight room is great, great addition to
stuff that I may may do onthe side or whatever that is. Yeah,

(03:31:09):
I think we I mean, wehad a presentation today with all the
certain measurables that are changing, andif you guys are in the meeting,
you definitely see how beneficial he's beento the team so far. So obviously
staying healthy is is a huge factorto anybody's success. I'd say it's plagued
us a little bit for a while. So yeah, I think he's he's

(03:31:31):
definitely incredibly beneficial. When are youfully recurvered. I know at the end
of last season you might have beenable to Yeah, no, I was
not ready to go last year.No, tried practicing, tried coming back,
and uh it was it was notgood, but yeah, it was

(03:31:54):
Unfortunately, the year wasn't going greatand it just was unnecessary risk for I
mean, my foot could have hadsome real real issues if I came back
too early. So yeah, it'sbeen. It's been. It's been a
great off season. My foot's feelinggreat, toes good, hamstrings good.
I mean, there was a listof things last year in my hand,

(03:32:16):
so all those things are good.Finger gout surgery on my finger, So
that's feeling good. Yeah, it'sit's nice to be feeling better going into
your nine than you have since maybefive six years ago, which I've said,
I've said I've been feeling great lastcouple of years. I'm telling you
it's a real deal this time.But obviously anything can happen. But I

(03:32:37):
just feel it's fun feeling really confidentin your body and being able to perform.
So I could just go out duringpractice and you know, go balls
to the wall and do everything thatI feel like I need to to be
able to prepare. It's fun.My brother and whoever I trained with my

(03:32:58):
trainer Todd back home the UH,I think they'd be really proud of how
I've been working this offseason, andit's just exciting. Pointing was the injuries
on the Green Bay game? Youkind of yeah, it was a bit
of a build up, a littlebit of an overreaction, but you know,

(03:33:18):
it's just tough. It comes sometimeslike that, and I just felt
felt really uh defeated coming back.Had a broken hand. I'm like,
oh, yeah, I get toplay boom for a serious foot pops.
Thought I'd have to get surgery andall these thoughts flooded through my head.
Broke down a bit, and yeah, it just hurts. You know,

(03:33:39):
you're losing, you're getting injured,You've felt like you prepared really well in
the off season, and then theyear before you had groin surgery, so
you know, a lot of thingsbuild up. Yeah, you don't get
a break if you're injured. Everybodywants to go on. Fans are very
nice. But no, I justI'm grateful that I feel this way.

(03:34:03):
I'm still still nicey Ripe twenty eight, so not too old yet. But
yeah, I'm just excited. Ican't remember what the original question was at
this point, get something about mybody? How close you and Gift were?

(03:34:24):
How frustrating was it that you couldn'tyou know soon for one of those
last three games. It was frustrating, but I mean Gift was had my
back the whole way. I thinkfor Gift, for any but for the
whole team, just to show whatit means to me. It would have
been important for me to be outthere, but I literally couldn't. I

(03:34:46):
tried to practice. Injured my footworsetthe very first play I was and in
practice, so no chance that washappening unless I wanted to throw my next
season away as well. But no, I'm just I'm proud of him for
what he did with the team,how he handled it and I need to
call him back. Actually sorry,I give Yeah, I'm happy he gets

(03:35:11):
to stay close by with the withthe Rams and uh, I'm just proud
of all we accomplished here together overthe years and and we'll be close for
the rest of our lives. Itwas the footage. It was this guy
say, foot sprang. Yeah,I sprained one area of my foot.
Then when I tried to return andI sprained another area. Was able to
avoid getting surgery, which is kindof the main goal. But yeah,

(03:35:35):
it was. It was tough whenit comes to the addition of but Dupree,
when he felt like he's kind ofbrought to the to the room and
could bring on the field. Yeah, it's when I heard we got my
brother some I don't know, maybemy brother told me. I'm like,
really, we just got Bud Like, that's no, that's no small pickup.
He's a seriously elite pass rusher.Has had some trouble with injuries as

(03:36:01):
well, so I understand how thatis. But not only him as a
player, but as a personality.I heard Khalil just saying he's he's a
fun guy. He's a funny guy, and to have that in the room.
Another vet is always a great addition. But I'm just excited to have
him and Tuley and to be ableto rotate like that and not drop off
at all when we come off thefield is huge. And now Tuley's going

(03:36:26):
into a second year. Just whatdo you what do you kind of What
are some of the maturity maturity areasyou've said from him? You know,
I'm gonna say not much, andthat's a compliment because he was already mature
in those areas. I mean,he's on it everything playbook wise, always
doing his job, working hard,just refining his technique and pass rush.

(03:36:50):
I mean, we don't have thepads on right now, so the real
work will will begin, you know, in six weeks now. So but
yeah, I love Tully. I'veloved him since the first day he's walked
into the facility, and I knowhe's just going to continue to get better.
You think of the addition of JoeOld, Yeah, yeah, I'm
gonna need to beat him up alittle bit in camp. So he's so

(03:37:13):
he's ready, But no, Ithink anything to protect our number ten is
a good, good investment. Sohe seems like a real solid dude,
haven't talked to him too much.Great build, seems like he has good
hands, good feet, strong.We'll see. We'll see in a few
weeks when I lay a helmet inhis chin, how he holds up.

(03:37:35):
But it'll I'll take it easy onhim. Rashawn's a beast. Did you
know coach Harbond before he came here? And if you did, just what
were those first couple of conversations likethat? Yeah, probably have crossed paths
with him. Maybe maybe not.Actually I think what was it his first

(03:37:58):
year when I was a junior,So we kicked his ass as usual Mitt
Ohio State. No, No,they just want a championship, so I'd
say they probably have the bragging rightsright now. I'm like the guy talking
about his old high school. OhI remember we used to kicks. No,

(03:38:18):
but no, yeah, no,the rivalry is dead. I was
just saying this morning, you know, nine years and kind of forget about
that. I'm not a great alumni. Sorry, so he coached, But
no, it's great. That's what'sgreat about the NFL is you just have
guys from all backgrounds. You couldhate their guts one one year, and

(03:38:39):
then you come on the same teamand your brothers, and you're all working
towards one goal together. So ourfirst talk together was great. I just
sat down with him, went upinto his office and chopped it up about
life mainly and his opportunity here andhow much it means to him, and
uh, yeah, I think he'sa special guy. I think he's uh,

(03:39:01):
the way he conducts himself. He'san interesting cat for sure, and
I'm still still feeling him out.But one thing you can't denies that he
loves football and his main goal isto win football games. And that's what
we need. When you see himworking out with you guys and and pushing
slaves and doing all this stuff,just how interesting is that to see?
Yeah, I mean he was ahe was a great player himself, and

(03:39:24):
I think he's always been you know, built like that lack of a better
term. But yeah, he's uh, he's part of the guys. You
know, he's not this guy outsidelooking in. He he really I mean
he voiced that to me, isthat his favorite part of all of it
is being with the guys and andthe connections he makes. So yeah,

(03:39:45):
to to see a guy like thatcome in and embrace it all and kind
of be part of it himself isimportant. Your initial impressions of Pushman during
the defensive skaming. Yeah, it'sfunny to go from old Gift, old
Gift to this little young guy who'smy age. I wouldn't want to get
thrown into a room with me andKhalil if I was his age. But

(03:40:09):
no, he's been great. Ilove messing with him a little bit.
We little sarcasm back and forth,but no, he's great. He's very
talks very fast, and I don'tas you know, so sometimes I got
to be like, slow down,coach, come on. But no,
he's great. I'm excited, youknow, to get closer as the years.

(03:40:33):
As the year goes on, andI think he has he has a
lot of passion for the position,and all he wants to do is learn
and and help us to improve.So I'm excited about him and me and
I do miss Gift. Obviously,it was a long time with him,
but I am excited to have anew face and kind of have that challenge

(03:40:54):
for me. Worked much with Jesse'sdad since I know he coached with Linebergers
in Michigan. Did you ask aboutJesse, did you ask about doing Okay?
You asked about Jesse. Oh mygod, I was talking about freaking
Dylan the whole time. You guysare so confused. No, sorry,
I thought were I thought I was. I thought you mentioned coach Ronie.

(03:41:16):
No, No, coach Mentor hasbeen great as well. Yeah, they've
both been great. Sorry, runthat back. No, he's been good.
Uh yeah, very knowledgeable guy.Same thing. I'm excited to get
to know him more as the yeargoes on. Have you worked Have you
worked much? Yeah? No,I have not. I don't know if

(03:41:43):
I've said one word to him,but more words to come down the road.
Like you said, you've been inyears since twenty sixteen. Just where
are some of this stuff? Youjust one on a ram ramble about the
wrong guy for fifteen minutes walking WhatYeah, what the heck's like? Actually

(03:42:09):
that's literally not the person. Yeah, yeah, I figured out. What's
something that you you worked undering theoff season, something to improve your game
or is there something that you canUsually my answer is pretty consistent that I
just continue to try to prepare myselfphysically, whether that's my sprint work or

(03:42:35):
agility work and my lifting. Butyeah, just to get everything feeling great.
I dealt with those injuries, soI had to kind of ramp it
up with my finger and foot andall those things. But now I'm I'm
full full speed out there, andI'm just going to continue to do what
I know will prepare me for theseason. And uh, I know I'm

(03:42:58):
gonna get plenty of technique work andposition work when I'm out here. So
for now, I'm gonna spend thesefive weeks really getting uh preparing my body
workouts competitive again, another year,competitives with all that stuff. Yeah,
yeah, it's usually too hot outthere for much competition. We're just trying

(03:43:20):
to survive. So but yeah,it's always it's a it's a silent competition
between between each other, be likepeeking, He's like what was his time?
Was his time? But no,yeah, it's always. You can
never have an off day when whenyou're out there and he's he's warming up
like a beat, like a freakingrobot every day out there, so there's

(03:43:41):
no there's no off days. Haveyou you and him talked at all about
I mean, I mean this whenyou were having a contract in do you
have guys ever talk about pay system, teammates, environment, city, all
those kind of just like play intoit besides just the money thing. I
know, financials always play a bigrole and I kind of steer you into

(03:44:03):
the direction you want to go.But everything kind of plays into it.
And how much did you reach outto Shelby Drew knowing some of the guys
you knew that played here last yearto get a sense for what what Seattle
might offer you? I mean,not much right now, I'll talk to
I talk to Shelby a little bitabout it. Mainly no one, Drew
h just congratulate me, Bob.Did you come together pretty quickly? I

(03:44:31):
know you kind of came your agreementon that first Monday and everything with Seattle
that all kind of come together reallyfaster. Now, it was a long
day. Seattle came in almost outof nowhere. We had like a good
set of teams that we were talkingto, just trying to find like finalize
what was going on, what wasit the term is going to be?
You know, and Seattle came inhot. They showed a lot of interest,
and uh, they kind of justmotivated me to come here more and

(03:44:52):
more. And how similar will yourrole be, you know, in terms
of playing what you did at Denver? I I don't know that yet.
I kind of just mentioned previously.I don't know my role. I don't
know the ins and out yet.Once we'll get NO through the protocols and
nfl PA, we'll we'll talk aboutNO, the schemes and everything, right,

(03:45:15):
so welcome. When you were inDenver in the three four, where
did you find yourself most comfortable?And I played a lot of different positions
in Denver, I mean earlier inmy year, I played zero, I
played three, two one. Imean, I'm definitely more comfortable in a
shaded position, mainly being a threetechnique and five technique. That's why I
found myself to be more comfortable whetherI'm standing up or I'm not, whether

(03:45:37):
it's runner or pass, those seemto be my best my best fits.
And what is your impression of PeteCarroll's defense and whole environment from afar?
It seems like he holds in ourdefense a lot. Uh. I can't
really say too much about that.Yeah, I don't. I know Pete
Carroll very little, so I'm justtrying to figure out more and now I'll

(03:46:00):
give you a better answer later.What's some reputation around the league out of
the Seahawks. Uh, you know, hard nose, hard had type of
team, definitely on a little morelack side it as opposed to being stuck
up or military style, and whichis definitely good because then they this program
has won a lot of football games, have been super successful for many years,

(03:46:20):
as long as I've been alive,as long as I've been watching football,
and definitely this has been a goodprogram. And Pete Carroll has been
a hell of a coach for aslong as I can remember, even back
in his college of days. SoI'm looking forward to experiencing that. Boyle.
Yeah, I know you said youdon't know yet, you know what
your role be, but just whatwhat kind of player are you? You

(03:46:41):
who haven't watched it come of Denver? What what kind of player? Definitely
a high motor definitely not a onetrip pony type of player. Uh.
I like to attack, you know, whether it's a first ste or first
through through fourth down, I liketo attack. I'm always trying to apply
pressure. I'm definitely just a ahigh mortar guy in my opinion. Brady,

(03:47:03):
are there, Brady Henderson from ESPN, Nice to meet you. That's
yeah, this is not a teamthat really makes big splash signings in free
agency. Did you think going intoit the Seattle would be in play?
Uh No, not at all.Uh you you just it's kind of like
being a cure at the County store. You know, I've got a who
whole bunch of different options coming atyou, uh hearing, a whole bunch
of different crazy things, and uh, you know, you only get to

(03:47:24):
choose one. And this is theplace that that we both chose each other.
And I mean, I'm I'm lovingSeattle so far. You know,
I like these colors for real,for real. What what have you got
to do with Seattle or see sinceyou've been here? Not much? Uh,
just kind of just driving around thecity exploring, Uh, getting down
to the market a little bit.I want to get down of the Ferris

(03:47:45):
will do some more like touristy typeof things. You know, I'm new
to the city and I got alot to learn about the city. Larry.
Yeah, there's been a lot ofcomparisons with you to Michael Bennett.
I was wondering if you know MichaelBennett at all and you think those are
accurate? Uh? I know MichaelBerger then like nothing, I know nothing
about it, but besides his styleof play, but I'm honored to be

(03:48:05):
considered in the same conversation as himand style of play. You know,
he's a Hall of Fame type ofdeep lineman that I've known about since I
was a kid. I mean,last time he played here, I was
in high school. So you know, it's cool to it kind of came
full circle a little bit watching himon TV and now I'm being kind of
compared to him in the way.You know. I mean, I'm not
touching the surface of Michael Bennett.You know, he's a Hall of Famer

(03:48:26):
and I'm not there yet. Soyou know, I just got to keep
doing my due diligence to be abetter player. Can Hey Dreamont Welcome to
Seattle and then you get to playseveral seasons for vic Fango and three four
style defense and Seattle's playing a similarsystem now dating back to last year as
a defensive lineman, what do youthink is most important to be successful in

(03:48:50):
that system? Maybe fundamentals or justplaying style to be successful. From what
I learned, being gap sound andbeing patients always been the biggest thing,
and that's how we've been successful.When I was in Denver, just kind
of like relying on each other.I know that sounds kind of cliche,
but like it's kind of like thethe realm of being in the three four
defense. You gotta really really relyon the guys behind you and the guys

(03:49:11):
on the side of you to reallymake their to do their job to make
your job easier. Bob. Yeah, Uh, your yours that you didn't
start playing football, so you werejunior in high school and largely played basketball.
So then that's what made I guessdecided to go play football then away

(03:49:33):
from basketball. No, No,I've always loved football first. Uh,
it was just kind of just playingit out. You know, I love
the hoop, but you know,football was definitely about calling. Given I
was a two hundred and sixty fivepound power forward and I was like sixty
threes and change, so you know, I kind of chose the route that
God gave me. No, I'mnot six eight na. Yeah, welcome.

(03:49:58):
Yeah, And you quoted looking ata couple of other things that player
and can you just talk a littlebit about that, uh definite role that
just said of the news always kindof counted out, but you came through.
Can you elaborate more than that?Just from a standpoint like I always
get like over overshadowed, overlooked,whether it's a in something, you know

(03:50:20):
what I'm saying, Like, Ifeel like I do a lot more than
what can be sitting by the eyesof the inexperienced, you know, Scout
and I do a lot of differentdynamic things that help make play for others.
You know, I'm definitely an activeplayer. I'm always doing something,
whether in the Runner Pass game,so you know, I think that goes
on another sometimes and I'm looking forwardto putting people on notice. Thanks Crady.

(03:50:46):
What what do you like to dooutside of football? Uh? Big
gamer? I'm definitely I've been gettingto a lot of chess lately, so
just to expand my brain. Uh. I try to get the reading,
but if it's not sports related,I I'm really not interested in reading that
much, but mainly just video gamingand chest. And then when we write

(03:51:07):
and say your name, do youprefer your grandma? Uh? I mean
you can say, you can sayDraymond Jones. I mean, but like
just I feel like, personally justcall me Jory because easy because people like
to f my name up a lot, like a lot they call me Draymond
TA. I don't know, Like, what do you think some of that
I'll be able to bring out ofout of your games you keep trying to,
you know, just being more explosive, probably more yards for catch with

(03:51:30):
the uh space that he's putting usinto. The more yards, more yards
have to catch, more explosive pitmore exposed to play for for not just
only me, but she and uhak and taste them. So I'm excited
to to be able to be inthe system. I assume you you think
you guys can be a lot moreexplosive than than you in the last couple
of years. Oh yeah, ofcourse. It brings a lot of different

(03:51:52):
things, you know what I'm saying, the playbook, but just accountability,
uh, I feel like that's gonnalead us to a success. This is
the lank which is a little alittle shorter. Has it Have you found
that the language that you guys useis it about the same or is it
it's kind of the same. Really, it's a long long plays, but
it's more understanding for sure. Ifeel like you could get to that more

(03:52:13):
understanding plays and I feel like that'sthat's the difference. Hater was saying the
other day, just kind of likecoming into this offense after like twenty years
of Breeze and just kind of howit was just kind of built on top
of each other, on top ofeach other. It's like kind of a
lot to kind of take in.Do you do you find that they kind
of turn it down to something new, starting to like zero with everybody.
It's just a little bit easier tokind of get everybody on the same Yeah,

(03:52:33):
I feel like it's way easier.Like you said, it was kind
of more of a Drew Brees stylethe last playbook, So all credit to
them though they built that around him, around his players. But like I
said, it's it's more. Uh, this playbook is more for U matchups,
and I feel like it's gonna bebetter for us. How do you

(03:52:54):
think it's gonna really take advantage ofyour skill sets? Uh? Just building
around the rings that I have.You know what I'm saying, things that
I can do and things that shecan do, Uh, things that our
players can do. Is kind offocus on what we can do and building
on that. Uh. I feellike it's playing to the player strengths.
So I feel like it's gonna helpus a lot. Has been around the

(03:53:16):
way, this offense will have alot more speed. And how has that
transition event so far? I mean, like I said, it's building around
the players strengths. So of coursewe got speed, uh with me or
she and ati receiver. So justbuilding around that, like I said,
playing to our strengths and be ableto capitalize off that. Feel like it's
gonna help us a lot most oflike the up tempo astract and you know,
getting a lot of plays in lesstime. Oh yeah, yeah,

(03:53:37):
yeah, that's definitely gonna play abig difference. Like I said, coming
from the West Coast, Uh,they bringing that stand for an offense here.
So I'm excited to be able tobe a part of that. For
you personally, what's what's the nextlevel look like for you? What do
you what are you trying to accomplishthis year? Uh? Just staying consistent,
man, a couple of upside downslast year. Just building off that.

(03:53:58):
It's always always gonna work on thephysical part, but being able to
bounce back after a bad game.The mental mental aspect, Uh, just
learning learned that last year and beable to build on that this year is
a huge part. You know,with Mike Gon do you take it upon
yourself to kind of be that voicein the room or to take a step
forward even further as Uh, Imean it's not really. I mean everybody

(03:54:22):
kind of grown in the NFL,so it's just on you to be able
to have that standard. Like Isaid, I just try to do that,
lead by example. I'm not reallyoutspoken, but just lead by example,
working hard, trying to dominate everyrep and hopefully they follow after that.
Yards after the catch? Is thatyou feel like that's the strength of

(03:54:43):
yours that maybe wasn't utilize. Idon't know if utilizes the right word,
but you could show more. Yeah, it's offense that is built around that.
Uh just catching the ball in space, catching the ball over the middle
or even on the outside, uhwith with space and separation. Feel like
it's built around having yards have tocatch. So I'm definitely proud to be

(03:55:05):
in the system, like I said, and I'm excited. But is that
is that a mindset too? Likebeing good at yards after the catch?
Like? Oh yeah, I meanof course. I mean you don't want
to get tackled by the first person. And my mindset is trying to take
every take everything to the house.You know, every touch. So uh,
I definitely got to do that moreand definitely try to work on that
in practice. Keep thee great dudeman. Uh some some that I definitely

(03:55:31):
needed. Some that he relates tome. Uh, just from backgrounds,
and uh he's a great coach,great leader, Uh, motivational and uh.
Like I said, I'm excited tohave him around and for him to
push me. It's everything that Ineed. So you're talking about like mentally
bouncing back, you know, fromtough performances or whatever, Like, did

(03:55:52):
you like try to find your resourcesgoing to help you figure out how to
do that? Oh? Yeah,I mean it's older guys. U Uh
tell me that's natural. Just havebad games. But uh, just having
the standard that I have for myselfand the expectations I have for myself gets
hard sometimes. So just be ableto be hard on yourself but at the
same time just let it go andjust bounce back for the next game is

(03:56:16):
something that I learned last year.You one of those guys that feels like
you should always have a certain production. Are you okay with those certain games
where the defense is so focused onyou? The other guys have big games
and where you're just running good routes, and uh yeah, I definitely it
was like that early in my career, especially in college, but I found

(03:56:37):
out it's just about winning really,just trying if you are a number one
guys, to bring that attention toyou so other guys can get open.
It's gonna be games like that,but as long as we win and take
back with you guys moves it liketo know from the camera of emotions from
hearing about it to now when it'sover in your back out, feel unplucky.

(03:56:58):
It's amazing, you know, justa testament to him and you know,
one of the god we serve.And then two, just the work
that he's put in. You know, he's been you know, he came
back before it was even schedule.He can get cleared. And then on
top of that, you know,just coming back after that freak accident.
And you know, I think thatwe serve a God that's merciful and that's

(03:57:18):
that's purposeful, and he knows that, and he stepped into and me and
him we have those conversations about ourfaith. And then because like this football
stuff, it seems like it's everything, but it's not. You know,
we're we're people, and we gothrough a lot off the field people don't
know, and you know, ashis brother, I have to be there
for him, like just like he'sthere for me when I go through what

(03:57:39):
I go through. So I mean, I'm just proud of him, man,
Like the word proud is even probablyenough to like state the the feelings
that I have for that guy.Man, he's my one of my best
friends that I've you know, gottena known over the years in this in
this world of football and past thatMan, I feel like I'm known since
I've been three years old. Youknow, I think for like are Can
I, it's kind of like wegrew up together, and you know,

(03:58:01):
I just got a lot of lovefor that guy, and you know,
I'm very excited a him. He'sbeen snapping that practice and doing really well
and you know, to knock offthe rust that quick shows how much work
he's been in. How much morecomfortable are you walking up to ots this
year to be the last year thingskind of a little bit slower. Just
what's the biggest difference to you?Yeah, it's night and day. Man.
It's really like I feel like I'mrunning the show and I've got a

(03:58:24):
lot more responsibilities from Slow and fromthe Beacon, from dry Bill and really
our whole officeive staff. And youknow, I'm the captain of the ship
and I gotta run it the rightway. And I feel like I've you
know, stepped into that role justyou know, and I not only holding
out accountable, but also you know, hold myself accountable to those moments like
I don't let anything slide, uhcause that's that's the point of winning and

(03:58:46):
losing. So I think from lastyear to this year, like I've gotten
a lot better with like controlling myemotions, controlling my ball placement, knowing
what's NFL open, knowing my foodwork better, just really every little thing
I've taken a step, and thenon the other side of the ball,
you know, just everything slowed down. Seeing coverage. Demico does a good
job of blitching me and you know, working on their different coverages or different

(03:59:09):
looks and start too high, goto one, go back to two motion
like as man, go to covertoo, like all that stuff to keep
me true and honest. And youknow, I think I've tried to do
my best with my off season studyto you know, be better, and
I feel like I've done that andhad a good ota so far. So
got to finish with that mini camp. But it's been definitely a big transition
of just more comfortability from last yearthis year. College, you you always

(03:59:33):
had like a really talented receiver room, and then last year you had a
talented receive a room. So you'vehad the experience of having to feed a
lot of guys obviously had in digs, even Joe Mixing coming out of the
backfield. How much would that experiencefrom those you know, college and last
year help you with being able tomake sure that everybody's being fed the way
they are so getting donna have thebest possible offer if you guys like get

(03:59:54):
more. Yeah, I mean Idon't think nothing changes. You know.
It's like, uh, I tellI tell guy, because I get that
question a lot from I got peoplejust 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 got
to pick your poison playing us,like who are you gonna double? Who
you gonna cater to? Who?Like you got five dogs, who are

(04:00:16):
who are able to get the getthe ball? Each give and play you
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

(04:00:37):
again. He's done amazing so far, you know OTAs and will continue to
do such. But yeah, man, I think that past experience of playing
with Marv Jacks, Garrett, ChrisJamo, America Julian like those type of
guys, they'll tell you too,Like I know they'll probably have said it
before, but they'll tell you likethey may need that, and I made

(04:01:00):
them better. You know, That'smy job is to make everybody around me
better. So I'm excited. Manhas been healthy competition, Like I know,
Geart, I've seen his in thereal day. He was talking about
Ohio, see how like the receiverslike if Gear made a play, Chris
is like, nah, watch thislike it's the same thing here, which
is you know, really cool towatch. And you know, as the
quarterbacks meet, Davis in Case andTim were the same way too. So

(04:01:22):
healthy competition is the best way togrow and get better, and I think
that that's what it's about. Yousee how excited Diggs gets for Tangle when
he makes it play, and Metchgets for excited for when Nico makes a
play, and Tank gets excited whenRob makes a play. You know.
So it's amazing, and you knowwe got Noah coming back to which is
gonna be amazing. And I'm excited. Uh been there and a ton of

(04:01:43):
guys. There's a ton of talentsteeds showing up. Really, everybody's really
been doing Jay, Wayne, Johnnyyou know so and man, it's been
funj Uh, Nico done got yousome some makesure talent on the office side
of the ball. Well what doyou think about their dishes that he made
on the defensive side of the ball. Yeah, man, it's been great.
It's been good on good like gotalks about Irons, Trump and iron

(04:02:03):
you know, it's been a lotof smack talk, a lot of just
uh just good competition, you know. And then it starts with me and
his ease, you know, himbeing the leader of defense. I'm the
leader at the offense and you knowplaying him last year, I man,
he always showed up on tape whenI watched the Titans last year. So
it's cool to like see like thestuff he thinks. You can see him
at my locker, me and hisor us before practice after practice talking about

(04:02:26):
plays and you know, so,I mean it starts with us, and
then when you add Daniell, somebodywho's a very who plays really hard,
who's gonna help? Will you know? Them? Two dogs? You got
team in the in the middle withAutry and and Sosa and just a ton
of guys, man, you know, in the back end, got young
guys showing up. Kaitlin's doing reallywell in the back end along with Petrie

(04:02:52):
and Jimmy, along with Kamari.Kamar is shown up. Stein is playing
well as y'all seen. Uh So, man, it's just been dogs on
dog you know, like, andthat's that's that's that's the best teams I've
ever been on. Has been theclosest teams personally, but also the most
competitive team. So it's been dope. See that he broke out last year
and Nico broke out last year andhe Goo gets the contract exception, he's

(04:03:13):
here to twenty twenty seven. Whatdoes that do for you? Just knowing
that you have a familiar target towork with for the next few years.
You know, it's just something II'm first of all, I'm just proud
of that guy. Uh my brotherNico. He's shown up and shown out
you know when you know when hisnumber is called, he always makes to

(04:03:33):
play. And you know, he'sjust a special He's a generation talent man.
He's he's like al age is AndreJohnson in my opinion of just how
fast he is, how he getsin and out of his brace, his
releases, how strong he is.And I think last year was just a
uh a preview to what it's tookcome for him. And the one thing
I'm proud of him for is justthe work has never stopped. He's constantly

(04:03:54):
here working on his body, constantin here working on his hands. Is
his mobility in the weighting room,you know. So for me, I
mean just having a a true uh. I think we have like five number
ones, you know. So that'skind of cool to have. And I've
had that before in college and I'llhave it again and it's gonna be fine.
Man. And Nico he's gonna he'she loves to see everybody else he
eat too, so man, hishis love for his brothers. Has a

(04:04:16):
change, and you know it's it'sa it's a special feeling to see somebody
who deserves to get paid and youknow, get what they did, dad
what they deserve, and you know, I'm just really proud of him.
What does it mean for you tohave another opportunity to work with Barbasiola and
Angelie Johnson. I don't know ifyou remember that was a moment going into
the playoffs last season where you reallydidn't know if either one of those guys

(04:04:37):
would heat or fret. Shit.Yeah, I mean for both of them
to come back was very special.I think we both we all have a
better feel of how to work withone another. And you know, the
talent I am on the field,and the play caller that uh Bobby is
and then the the common coach Droughtis. You know, we all work
together and that and you know,slow as I'm in his office almost every

(04:05:00):
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 itcould be easier just to like let me
slide cause you know, I'm I'mout there still making plays, but he's
like, nah, you need tobe better here, here and there,
And you know that that's just uhshows what type of a leader he is.

(04:05:22):
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,or I wanna add this player to
try to see if we can getbetter here in this inn in this practice
where you know, I think wecan be really good at this type of
player. And he's very, veryaccepting when it comes to that. So

(04:05:43):
it's been cool to work with bothof them, and I'm very excited to
get another year on our belt.What was it like teacher last too?
Right here? What was it like, uh, teacher football internationally and the
the r the reception that you gotfrom the people there, it was it
was amazing. You know, firstof all, shout out to Beijing,
Shanghai and Tokyo, you know foraccepting me to Micah with open arms and

(04:06:05):
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 alreadyhave like the foundation of it, but
wanting to grow from there. Andyou know, I think football is a
family sport and like those people areour family now, and you know,

(04:06:26):
the Olympics come into where it's gonnabe international with flag football, I think
it's super dope. And to beable to get you know, to be
able to put our feet into thosethose uh doors already, you know,
it's kind of cool, you know. So, I mean, I'm very
grateful with my team with uh Bernieand David for setting that up and even

(04:06:48):
like the guys out there who whogave us top notch hospitality. It w
It was just amazing, man,the whole experience. So, you know,
just my first time really out thecountry and just being able to like
go to the Great Wall trying toand all that stuff and still do what
I love to do, you know, working out when Micah was cool and
uh he has a lot of crazytakets, but you know, I I
got love for that guy. Butit was fun. Man. John and

(04:07:11):
Jonathan, Dad, what's uh,what's it like have you kids over down
here with you and what's your relationshipbeen like? With him? Oh?
Yeah, Kay's my brother man.You know, I've been through taking thing
with him and he's somebody who II often look at as like like our
moms are like the same or ourfamilies are super close. In his college,

(04:07:33):
I think he's like my blood brotherswho like somewhere walking on the 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'sa brother that y uh they talk about
in the Bible, you know,like that like it's it's it's he's a
friend that is you know, likejust like a brother. And I don't

(04:07:56):
know if the work. Brother justalways just comes up with that, like
he just always there to you know, hold me up and he sees me
and he knows my emotions. Andfor him to be able to impress of
the culture of the players that arein this program right now, but I
think it speaks a lot to theleadership. There's a there's a lot of
older players on this team, andthey've set the tone for the younger players,
and I think the younger players havedone a great job of followship and

(04:08:16):
getting right in line with that.It's never hit it over play calling to
someone before. What does it meanto you? I guess he technically did
it to Bill when he was herefor a couple of weeks. But what
does that mean to you to kindof be getting that responsibility from him and
he's calling essentially the offense that yougave it? I guess in some way.
Yeah, I still think the playcalling part will be a collaborative effort.

(04:08:37):
And by that I mean that ifit's a good play, I called
it, and if it's a badplay, he called it. Because the
great part is an assistant coach isyou can just he can 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
it's been a collaborative effort. Andall of a sudden, someone that's calling

(04:09:00):
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 special, you know in the middle of
the fourth quarter that we haven't done. But I think it's the key to
really being successful on offense is ishow you game plan, how you put
it all together, and then howyou practice and train for that so that

(04:09:22):
you get a chance to execute it. Because the player's confidences become comes from
their demonstrated ability that they've done thisso many times in practice that when they
get out on the field that thisis like that to them, you know.
And it's not that they do itso they do it right, it's
they practice it so much so thatthey can't do it wrong. So,
you know, I think it's thatwhole part of it that is really the
key to being a really good gameplanning team. Second right, Doug Lane

(04:09:45):
reef Chip, When you had thatfeeling when you were coaching the quarterbacks during
BOWLD, did you consider at thatpoint maybe resigning as the head coach and
thinking like this is this is notwhere I am anymore out lead Even then
I'll look to see what else isout there. No, I never thought
about quitting anything, So you know, I just is there an opportunity that

(04:10:07):
I think I can that fit,you know, And I think that's the
you know, it's no different thanwhen you're talking to a recruit about them
make a decision on where they're goingto go to school. I think that
where they should go to school iswhere the best fit is for them.
So, you know, I justentertained some opportunities and I always felt I
felt like this was the best fit. But I never thought about quitting or
not coaching. I'm gonna coach.I'm gonna coach, and then I'm gonna

(04:10:30):
die. But I mean, that'show I think I think about things.
Is I can't picture that. Iknow someone I was on the Nike trip
and they like, how much longerare you gonna go? When I said
I'd I to go another fifteen twentyyears. I don't think about I don't
think about retirement. I don't thinkabout any of those things. That's just
not kind of my mindset that youknow. I love football and in the
as long as I can be partof this game, then I'll be part

(04:10:52):
of this game. Just the waythings worked out with your departure from UCLA,
is there anything that you wish youhad done differently, or anything you
regret or just that the circumstances thatpresented themselves. Do you think that you
handled that departure the best that youcould have. Yeah, I mean I
got an opportunity to tell my playerspersonally. You know, I think in
this day and age of the Internet, where they read it somewhere else and
you have to text message him.You know, that was always important to

(04:11:15):
me that I wanted to make sureI talked to my players and explain the
reasons of what I was doing.I wasn't leaving to take a head coaching
job somewhere else. I wasn't thinkingthat the grass is greener at another university.
Was just in my personal situation,this is what I wanted to do.
I wanted to take an opportunity togo be a position coach and coordinator,
and that's how it fit. Youknow. What I was happy is
that I always thought to Sean Foster, I think the world of them and

(04:11:37):
I think he's a special you know, and the fact that that they were
they gave him the opportunity to takeover there was you know, it worked
out. I didn't have any sayin that decision, you know, I
was gone, but I always thoughtthat the Shawn would be a great head
coach, and I'm really proud ofhim and happy that that he got the
opportunity to take that job. Rightbehind him, you have, your reputation

(04:12:00):
is innovator. Was part of theappeal of this is that you get to
get in the weeds a little bit. Maybe not mad scientists, maybe too
strong of a word, because you'reworking within the system. But was there
an appeal of you get to getmy hands dirty here again and innovate and
get back to that side of things. It was, but it was really
more important of who I get towork with, you know, and so

(04:12:22):
knowing you know, I've got Iknow a lot of guys on the staff
besides Ryan also, so you know, when I know what their mindset is
and what their values are and howthey do things, and so I want
to be a part of that.But there's a part of that. Yeah,
how much of a teacher you getlabeled in an innovator? The teachings
are part of this. How muchit is of a teacher are you?

(04:12:45):
And how patient are you? Yeah? I think we're all teachers. I
mean education is the transportation of knowledge, you know, So it really doesn't
matter what the coach knows. Itmatters what the players understand, you know,
So you have to be able tomake sure that while you're implementing things
is what resonates with them and howdoes that come back to them. So,
you know, a lot of ourteaching styles that we've learned is more

(04:13:05):
the socratic method of there's a lotof questions, you know, and a
lot of check for understandings, justto kind of find out where the players
are coming from, because it's whatthey know that that's ultimately gonna win games,
not what we know. You knowthat we're not playing the games.
We're not stepping across those white lines, you know. And your job as
a coach is to create an environmentwhere they have an opportunity to be successful
and then get out of their wayand let them go do it. So

(04:13:26):
I think the teaching aspect is huge, and we continue to research, you
know, some of the latest trendsin teaching to make sure that we are
transporting that knowledge to our players.Second roll left, Steve Hellwaggen, twenty
four seven Sports. Yeah, coach, just curious. You got five scholarship
quarterbacks with differing levels of experience,age and everything else. Not to annoy

(04:13:46):
him, But just want to askspecifically about Will Howard coming in after starting
part of two years at Key hasa stage. He just seems to promote
this idea that he's a football youknow above all else. Just how impressed
are you with his makeup, hisexperience, what he's bringing to the table

(04:14:07):
walking in here right now? Yeah? Really impressed. You know, you
don't have to talk to Will formore than five minutes to kind of know
where he's coming from. He's reallyfocused. You know, he knows he's
got a short window left in hiscollege career and it really wants to capitalize
on what that is. There's amaturity to Will, you know. I
really I've had experience, My experiencein this thing since the transfer portal opened

(04:14:30):
in college football is some of thebest players I've had an opportunity to coach
ward transfers. Sometimes when you're atrue freshman and it's five years out,
you know, it's like, hey, I got a ton of time,
you know. And sometimes when you'rea transfer, is that I've got nine
months, you know. So there'sa sense of urgency I think when you're
dealing with with transfers, and Ithink Will has exuded that since he's been
here. But the other thing thatI just in the short time that Will's

(04:14:52):
been here is how quickly he's fitin with the entire team, you know,
and how much the rest of theplayers respect him. You know.
He was one of the Gold ofWar winners for his work in the weight
room in this offseason, so thatsays a lot for him coming in here
as a in a short time,being able to to win a weight room
award, you know, to startoff, Do you guys hope to have
the number one internally externally at theend of spring or I guess just let

(04:15:16):
it play out? How do youI? I think it always every time
I've been involved in these, Ithink when they're organic is when it's the
best that. I don't think youcan anoint somebody or force the issue because
the players know, the players wouldunderstand. They see it every single day,
you know, and there's a teamchemistry part of this thing too,
So we're not gonna force the issue. A But I've always seen it play
itself out. So I've been fortunatethat there's always gonna be some quarterback battles

(04:15:39):
that at some point in time atevery school, there's a quarterback battle,
you know, and then and reallyyou gotta 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, Then we were excited to
have you here. I'm kind ofto talk about the innovative part. Ryan
said that that's something that he's workingwith you and now he wants you to

(04:16:02):
bring that here and how it fitwith Ohio State. Do any idea what
that's going to look like yet oris it just way too or I have
no idea, you know. Ithink part of it is is you're trying
to put the players in position tomake play. So a lot of that
comes from getting to understand the playersand what their skill sets are and how
we feature what their skill sets are, you know, and and the the

(04:16:22):
one thing after day one, Ican tell you that there there's a lot
of skill set out there, youknow. So that's that's what gets you
excited, you know, That's whatthat's what you jump out of bed in
the morning and you're excited to goto work because of the talent that you
get to work with. But theone thing that's the most impressive is the
work ethic that goes along with thattalent. You know, it's not just
empty talent. It's is you gotsome kids who want to I mean all
of them since I've been here,want to work, So that that's what

(04:16:45):
gets you excited. But I thinkassessing what the skill set is you know
that we have available to us onthe offensive side of the ball, is
vitally important. And then our jobis to put those guys in positions to
make place pressure. I mean,you've experienced what it's like to coach national
championship, how over teams this programright now and moving into a situation where

(04:17:07):
you gotta win quicken now. Sodoes that feel like pressure here for you
or is it a little bit ofexcitement or both? Well, I've always
subscribed to as pressure is what youfeel when you don't know what you're doing.
So if you don't want to feelpressure, and then you should know
what you're doing, So, youknow, I think it's it's part of
that, And I think part ofour job with our players in terms of
the education process, is getting themto understand that too. Is that you

(04:17:29):
know, it's it's about your preparation, it's about you and your development.
It's not about that. You can'tbe governed by what other people say.
It's it's what's 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
out on the field today. Igot a chance to do some football.
And then the challenge is when weget back on the field on Thursday,

(04:17:51):
can we be a little bit betterthan we were on Tuesday. And if
we're doing that, then we keepstacking good 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 andcons of coaching from the box and coaching
from the field. It's interesting talkto some up some coordinators. Tom Herman
talked about he swore he wanted tocoach from the box. Saw the game
so much better, sterile environment,not all the chaos on the field.

(04:18:11):
Some coaches you talk to the like, I want to be on the field
so I can look at my guysin the in the eye. Where are
you at as a as a coordinator? Honestly, and I've thought of this
a lot. I thought of ita lot during COVID because we had the
empty stands, you know, soI had thought about just walking up into
the stands for a little bit becauseI had a better advantage. I've always
believed you can see the game betterfrom up above, but I believe you

(04:18:32):
can feel the game better from thefield. So if there was any way
we could get a zip wire whereyou could do both, you know,
coach called from there and then zipout of the field get a chance to
talk to him, because it's adifferent deal when you're talking to the quarterbacks
on a phone, you know,than being able to look in their eye
and kind of see where they arewith it, and part of it is
the field part of it. Iremember when I coach Ryan once we were

(04:18:53):
playing Ukon and he got hit hardgoing out of bounce and he just walked
by me, and I was aplay caller, and he was like,
run the next play, and Ijust kind of looked at him. I
saw the look in his eyes becauseI don't think he could have thrown it,
you know, he was still tryingto get his win back. But
you wouldn't know that if you're upin the booth, you know, and
you call a pass play from upin the booth and you're like, how
come we can't complete that? Well, he just took a shot going out

(04:19:14):
of bounds. So it's that fineline that I don't have an answer,
you know. I think I thinkit's feel on the ground and it's see
from up above. Maybe in thisday a technology, they'll figure it out.
But we'll see how that that thatoperates, and whatever Ryan feels is
the best for the team is whatwe're gonna do. So your teams at
the Oregon were obviously now we're playingat this pass pace and run a bunch

(04:19:37):
of plays per a minute and yep, maybe not by pastill pretty fast.
What rule do you see tempo andhaving an offense and in the state in
college football and has maybe changed.I think the game is always evolving,
you know. I think when Ileft in two thousand and twelve to go
to the National Football League, Oregonwas the only team that was playing really
really fast and had shiny help.And when I came back in twenty seventeen,

(04:20:03):
everybody had shiny helmets and everybody wasplaying fast. So I think the
game is always going to go upand down, and there's going to be
different cycles that it goes through.I think tempo is part of an offense,
but I don't think it's an offensein itself. I think it's more
of like if you go to dinner, it's a side order. You know,
it's not the main course, butit's it's always good to have it.
So I think there's times when you'lluse it, but you're you're not

(04:20:25):
going to use it extensively the entiregame, just like you're not going to
throw the ball every single snap inthe game. You're not going to run
the ball every single snap in thegame. You know, there's there's not
a game of absolutes anymore. Ithink the ability to be diverse and have
it as a tool in your twobox, so to speak, is really
how we would look at using ithere. Because evens are now work familiar

(04:20:45):
with it, then I think so, you know, I think when you
first started doing tempo, there werepeople in the NCAA they want to outlaw
it. They want to make anNCAA role that you had you couldn't do
it, you know, And I'llI'll give coach shaping credit. I mean,
I think obviously Nick was the firstone to do it. He wanted
it outlawd and then all of asudden he adapted it and said, all
right, we like this, youknow, so we'll keep it in.
But it's I think people have itdoesn't matter what you do. There's there's

(04:21:10):
cycles to this game, and thenonce people catch on to that cycle,
then it moves. You know,it's no different than for three defenses and
three four defenses. You know whatis the rage when the when the Giants
won the Super Bowl, they werethere were three four defense and everybody,
everybody says, we have to dothat. What people didn't understand is they
had Carl Banks and Lawrence Taylor.It didn't matter what defense they were running.
I know, Gym's back there andJim played against the you know it

(04:21:32):
was they could have been a fourdown defense and those guys would have been
great players. But it's not thescheme. I think that the coaches that
do it the best way is theyinsert their players and put them in the
best position to make plays. Andnow, now will Temple be part of
it. It'll be part of it, but it's certainly not going to be
the main course. A sorry lastquestion, Tim, Oh, thank you
very much, Jerry. Uh.Remember one, there was the great moment

(04:21:53):
there when y'all were warming up,when you were you were talking with Tim
Walton and Caleb Downs comes up andconvert and as you're in this kind of
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 rake it?Yeah, I'll rank it. I'll be
very transparent. As I was tellingTim and Caleb what a great offensive player

(04:22:17):
I thought Caleb would be, couldbe and should be. But I'm not
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? What could I do if I
have him? But I don't.I don't get to you. Six after

(04:22:37):
he came back, you know,it was more of a just a game
time decision every week. You know, I wasn't practiced on Thursdays, and
that was the first time in mycareer I've really had to really just bite
the bullet and that approach. Andthen it was just responding to a game

(04:22:57):
and then you know, after thefirst game against Tennessee, it was you
know, just trying to climb up, climb up, uh and think,
MUTI out of a hole. Butyou know, I wanted to get back
and I felt like I could,but I knew I wasn't gonna be at
a hundred percent, but I hadto push it to you know, be
there for my team. Okay,I'm to clarify you reporting today doesn't is

(04:23:19):
an indicative of your contract status,not at all. Yeah. I mean
you mentioned leadership and about how youwanna be the best leaguer you can be.
Do you use any of this timeto you know, speak with any
of the better or the rookie playersand try to, you know, give
them some guidance as you approach stepYeah, you know, whether it's on
the field, off the field,you know, communication, uh dinners,

(04:23:42):
just you know, letting them knowI'm available for him. You know,
I think it can be something aslittle as just the steps on field goal
blot or field goal protection. Youknow, I've been doing it for thirteen
years. Uh it's still crazy.I'm still doing it, but uh,
you know, uh, those arethe ti type of things I'm just giving
guidance to and then you know,off the field, it's you know what

(04:24:04):
to expect around the city. Whereshould you be, where you should be,
how you can help yourself, youknow the little things. Yeah,
and what are you looking for yourcontract? You know, I'm looking to
be here, you know. Uh, the value is what we decide.

(04:24:26):
But you know, I think forme, I I I want to be
you know, valued at my position. You know, I I understand I
came up a rough season, butI don't think it's a step down of
where I can play. You know, I think when I'm at the top
of my game, I'm still youknow, top five player in my position.
And you know I played a runin the past and I bring leadership

(04:24:49):
and you know that's not anything Idiscover. Can you do you plan to
be here for mini camp? I'mthe start of training camp. Yeah.
How difficult has it been the lasttwo weeks to not be here? And
you said in your podcast the firsttime you never not been at OTA.
Yeah, it w It was difficult, But like you know, the thing
I got very frustrated with was justwhen people questioned my communication with the team.

(04:25:11):
You know, I uh was communicatingwith guys left and right, and
you know, front office, coaches, teammates, And all I care about
is how I am with my teammates. I don't want them to ever think
I don't care about them or howI'm not in it. And you know,
you can say whatever you want aboutme. But besides that, but

(04:25:33):
I'll always dedicate anything I can toBut and I don't want that to every
question. And Theya said that itfelt like sometimes you were holed up somewhere
watching film. You text your hyyou missed this, or you wanna be
f well, like the first day, he was batting all up Russ's passes,
So I had to let him know, you know, I, uh,
you gotta take advantage of that.You gotta make sure guys are you
know, uh know that you youstill care and you still wanna be a

(04:25:56):
part of this. Uh, youknow, just watching practice, there's a
couple of things we're doing different,whether I'm communicating with Gunbar or other people,
you know Toviet. Yeah, soyou're that You're also talking with him
and you you giving him the pointsduring the off season, just a constant
communication. How do you see himgrow as a person? You know,
as far as how he's approaching things, how he's getting ready for this season

(04:26:18):
from his rookie year. Uh.You know, I think the thing with
Keanu is he's more comfortable, youknow, you know it since his first
time around the track. You know, it's actually like he can you know,
uh, catch his feet under him. You know, I always think
when you're in your rookie season,you're going from bowl game. I don't
even know Wisconsin playing in a bowlgame. Sorry, Wisconsin, I don't

(04:26:38):
even know. But you know,personally, I just think when you go
from bowl game to training for theCombine to you know, rookie minicamps.
OTA's the you know mini camp,I mean the training camp the regular season,
you really don't get a time toreally catch yourself. You know,
he understands the playbook now, hecan be more vocal, you know.

(04:27:00):
And I think when my absence theother guy's absence, you know, you
need guys like that to step upand be ready for those opportunities. What
you had saying you have during theseason was more thorough. What was just
tightened down everything, you know onmy left side because I was overcompensating a
little bit, but you know itwas there wasn't anything that lingers. You

(04:27:22):
know, I'll say this, Agrowing is not like an a cl It's
not like anything's ever gonna ge affectedagain. And you know, you know,
I'm feeling good, able to doeverything squat and heavy with power and
speed, so you know, itfeels good to get after again. What
do you think of what the teamwas able to accomplish? Your off easily
turns of bringing guys like Russian andthings. You know, I think they're

(04:27:45):
all good acquisitions. But you know, you never want to be known as
a paper champion, so you 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
see where you're at in training camp, and then you build on that.

(04:28:06):
You know, I think we gotthe right guys in the building. It's
just about putting a complete team onthe field. Cam. How temper call
is it to separate the business partof the game from the actual football player.
Uh, you know you always wannayou always have to treat it like
a business because you know one dayit's gonna end. Uh, and that's

(04:28:27):
ben job. Uh. It's notlike in college where you know you got
four years guaranteed. I don't know, well now you you don't even know
whether nil and know it's crap,but the transfer portal portal, But you
know you have to I still havelove for this game, and I still
work my tail off and I stillput everything into it, and that's not

(04:28:48):
gonna change. But you have toknow, uh, what you bring to
the team and what your what yourvalue is. Cam you did it feel
to be out there with your teammatestoday? Emotionally great? You know we
got a new uh, we gota new training staff and still learning the
the warm up a little different.Uh, but uh, you know I
loved it. Uh, you know, just getting after it, learning new

(04:29:11):
guys, Uh, going through thesame drills I've been doing by myself.
Uh. I actually like having morepeople around, cause like kind of go
start crazy crazy when it's just youand another guy, You're like, damn,
I gotta go back up for anotherrep already. And so you know
it's nice to be up here andget a chance to, you know,
be with my guys. Can areyou confident and people will get done with

(04:29:34):
your emotions? Oh, I'm gonnaI'll try to remain pretty neutral, cause
you know, I don't wanna,you know, be too either way.
All I know is I want tobe here, but we'll see what happens.
This is my last year here.I I I've had a great career

(04:29:55):
here, but uh, we'll lookforward to play next year. That second
surgery you said it this time wason the left side. It was the
first time around on the right side, right side during the season, left
side, and that was just tighteningdown my corner. My corma saw.
It wasn't the same as my addoctor. You know, you can ask
doctor Bradley, uh doct doctor Zuckerbronwho uh did the surgery as well.

(04:30:19):
You know, I if anything's gonnahelp me and it'll make me a lot
stronger from here on up. Didyou say you were training with another guy?
Who have you kind of been Tyson? Oh? Uh, I've been
training with him for the last eightyears. We've always trained together. We
got a trainer up north, uhshadow of Cole Haley, who's my guy
trade trained trained, Uh, HeathMiller, Brett Keesel. The multitude of

(04:30:45):
guys that I all respect and we'vejust been getting after it can maybe very
few guys historically thirty five that getpaid big contractor you think that's held against
you. I think there's not alot of history behind it. But you
know, for me, I Ilook at as I'm not looking to be
like anybody else. You know,my game is different from everybody else in

(04:31:06):
this league. You know, Ilike to think, you know, I
can play the run in the past, and then that's where I'm different.
You know. I remember last yearMike t just brought to my attention.
You know, the thing that's reallycool is you watch powerlifters, and you
know, my game's built on poweringtechnique, and those guys go into the
forties and so you know, that'swhat kind of research I'm doing behind the

(04:31:29):
scenes. But you know, II we'll see what happens. There's there's
not a lot of history. ButI'm here to make history and I'm here
to you know, and win anotherSuper Bowl year and you know, have
a great season. Do you havea set goal for yourself on how many
years you wanna play in the NFLor do you just take things year by
the year. You know it,it was it was tough answering that question

(04:31:52):
right after the season. I willsay this guys. I I can't keep
answering that question right after the season. That is not fair to the season,
That's not fair to my family.Uh you know. But in my
mind, I got three years andI wanna maximize them. I wanna play
at a high level, and Iwanna go deep in the playoffs. And
you know, we got a goodteam, and I'm gonna do my part

(04:32:15):
to be ready for all those situations. If you plan on rafter soon when
you reported with troub, or isyour possibility that you might pull in and
any forceations, I I have noteven thought that far. I've taken a
day by day. Uh you know. Uh. I told my agent and
we talked about it. I meanwe were cool coming out here. You
know. I'll be here for manyyou know, and then I'll be there

(04:32:38):
for training parent you know, Idon't know what the work entails, but
when we get there, we'll we'llcross that bridge. Why is it you
do or remain a stealer for thosethree years? You know? There was
a conversation between me, Omar andMike t And there's certain guys that are

(04:32:59):
one helmet, uh you know,and I want to be one of those
one helmet guys and you know there'sa there's a hunger and desire there.
But that doesn't mean just hanging itup and calling a career. To me,
I think, you know, Igot more bullets to fire and uh,
you know I'm excited to do.That doesn't mean one you and Russell

(04:33:21):
Willis that are going to be outthere with Walter Man Waltim payton Man in
the year past. I saw Russ'son social media, but I haven't had
a chance to see it. Uh. I let that surprise happens when it
happens. But at the same time, we're in the process of recruiting,
you know, people to our teamas opposed to drafting. So it is
different than the NFL, and there'sa lot of things to consider, especially

(04:33:45):
with some of the i A WPrules that come with recruiting prospect Back left
with me, Brian, you talkeda lot about evaluating players, considering the
truth for Portland, trying to keepguys and all that isn't just try to
get as many of the best playersas we can now whereas it's still very
positioned focused in filling gaps. Asthat changed at all, Well, I

(04:34:06):
think the first thing is you haveto bring in the people that fit Ohio
State. That's the thing, andnow more than ever. I mean,
you know what do you hate saidit a long time ago? You win
with people like that's more prevalent nowmaybe even the back then. And I
say that because there's so much thatgoes with today's day and age. You
know, there's there's the portal likeyou're saying there's nil, there's just there's
a lot. So you want tohave great people in your program, great

(04:34:27):
coaches, great staff members, greatsupporting you know, people around the program,
supporting the people. But also youknow, the players, you know,
the family members. It's all gonnafit. And I think it's important
that we make sure we're doing thatat a high level. And you know,
just say well, let's go bringin the best players in the country.

(04:34:48):
Like, it doesn't work that way. You have to build a culture
and a winning culture. Uh,And that's what we're focused on now often,
right, I know, things canbut you guys wrap up, and
where did you got planned on JoshBryer right tackle, maybe the right side
of the lineup. What you guyssaw, Yeah, we see Josh making
a lot of progress. He's hadanother He's had a really good June and

(04:35:11):
other good off season, and wefelt like the spring he did a nice
job there. So we feel likethere's there's just been a lot of progress.
Man. I think coming off oflast year, he built some confidence
and then he knows he can doit. He knows the area's got improve
in in order for him to,you know, help us win the games
we need to win. So wefeel confident with him playing guard and tackle.
We've got to figure out what thatright side looks like. You know,

(04:35:33):
I would say we're probably leaning towards, you know, playing him at
tackle and trying to figure out whothat right guard is at this time.
But we do have some flexibility there. And you know, he's been a
leader for us, he's on theleadership committee, and and just looking at
you know, his numbers and howhe changed his body, we're expecting a
big fall from him, especially whenyou look at all this stuff that's changed

(04:35:55):
since you took over all how doyou constantly continue to adjust? I mean
at this point, every single day, how do you allow them to do
self to kind of change with thechangees well it even started, you know,
I feel like in nineteen that waslike the first year we were making
a transition, and then you know, COVID hit and then you know,
every year it just seems like there'ssomething else. And I could come to

(04:36:15):
the conclusion that every year is goingto be different and we have to adapt.
But there's certain things that we're notgoing to change. There's certain values
we're not going to change. Itjust you know, you know, principles
that have you know, stood thetest of time. And I shared this
with a group before when I starteddoing some research. As we were doing
some some of our recruiting you know, introductions and some of our you know

(04:36:37):
talks about you know, the traditionsof Ohio State. We talked about how
Ohio Stadium was built, you know, and when you when you when you
do your research on that one hundredyears ago, you know, folks have
the idea of building a stadium oversixty thousand people, and that's because of
what Chick Carley was doing. Andyou know, they had a wooden bleachers
over here and all these people sortof coming in and the idea of bringing

(04:37:00):
in a stadium that of our sixtythousand people at the time was like,
this is crazy. What is collegefootball turning into and they they instead of
going to the state or going tothe school the community, they went to
the community to raise the money theyraised over at the time over a million
dollars. Well night, Fast forwardone hundred years and the conversation still might
be like, what is college footballdoing right? And in this situation then

(04:37:21):
il we had to turn to thecommunity 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, onehundred years later, if it's that much
different. It's just in a differenttime, in a different you know,
set of issues that we're working through. But I think it's exciting. I

(04:37:42):
think there's a lot of positives toit. I do. I think that
we're taking the next step with therevenue sharing to try to institutionalize some of
it, which would be big forus REITs. Yeah, every years question,
it seems like this year's your questionsof the line as specifically, if

(04:38:07):
you look ahead to more than amonth, what are the real questions that
you have in your mind about position, battles and who's going I would say
on offense, you know, we'vegot to square away the quarterback as you
know, I feel like, youknow, the offensive line on the right
side, we got to solidify that. I feel like we got to build,

(04:38:32):
you know, enough depth at receiverthat we feel like we can put
in five or six in the gameand feel good about it. On defense,
I think we're still looking to figureout, you know, who are
going to be the guys inside,you know, the third, the fourth,
the fifth defensive interier linement that we'regoing to put in the game.

(04:38:52):
And then same thing just just Iwould say depth, a little bit of
safety, just to kind of seewho those next guys are. They're going
to step up, and so weknow it's going to be a long year.
We're going to need everybody and andso in a lot of those areas
it's depth. Special teams wise.You know, punter is going to be
you know that that is significant.You know, we just brought in Nick
and you know, so there'll bea battle there. So I'd say those

(04:39:17):
are probably the areas we're focused onthe most. Ryan just to fall on
the offensive line, there was Ithink a school apology. You guys might
be looked for a transfer in thatpost spring window. Did you guys do
that did you guys not find theguy or were you just confident the guys
you have, Just like you knowin January, if if if we're going
to bring somebody in, it isto fill a hole. We're not just

(04:39:38):
going to bring somebody in to bringsomebody 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, andyou know, you know, we felt
like coming out of it as weevaluated it, you know, there was
a couple of guys that you know, we checked on, but but ultimately
like based on where we were andsome of the young guys that are coming

(04:39:59):
up, you know, we feltlike we saw some progress in the offensive
line in the spring. So youknow, it wasn't there wasn't as many
folks in the portal, you know, in after the spring. So we
looked at it, we identified it, We did our due diligence, but
you know, we're gonna go withthrough we have now second round. Bill
landis right, You're it was interestingthat you have two of maybe the top

(04:40:22):
five ors of guys in sport andthen a bunch of guys who haven't plenty
uh maybe similar that I don't myquestion, but did you consider trying to
add their understanding? That probably thedifficult sell we have such telling how to
bring some you have these experiences,like what were those conversations like and how
did you sett along being comfortable withyou know, Trey and well, like
you said, you know, Ithink we're we will get some experience there

(04:40:45):
with those two guys and then youknow, we felt like coming out of
the spring that James and Sam bothdid a nice job and you know we're
gonna have to play them and they'regonna have to you know, take on
a little bit of that. Youknow, we have you know, started
having conversations with Caleb Downs. Iwas part of the recruiting process of possibly
you know, doing a little bitof running back as well. It's something

(04:41:06):
that he wanted to do. Sowe've been having him in some of the
meetings and some of the individual drillsas a possibility there if you know,
needed so down the road to continueto build depth at that position. But
you know, I think, youknow, we feel like you know,
if you have you know, fourstrong running backs going into it, then
you know that's gonna be that's gonnabe enough to carry the season. I

(04:41:26):
do think that the quarterbacks will runthe ball more this season, so that
should take some carries away from them. But to your point, you know,
James and Sam are gonna have tostep up to the guys that we
can count on. Save that foranother day. Yeah, just fall up
on it. Is he capable ofstepping in and being running back? Obviously,

(04:41:51):
we'll see, we'll see. Wetalked about in the recruiting process,
you know, the first time around, and more specifically in the second time
around, and so he's you know, he's been around a little bit just
to get a feel for it.We did very little in the spring.
We did I think we pitched theman option or something like that in the
spring just to kind of get themgoing. But we'll see, we'll see

(04:42:12):
where that goes. We don't havea specific plan right now, but we
do want to introduce him to thatjust the same thing like Lorenzo Styles has
played. Your see where we didthat at Notre Dame. You know,
he's out there a little bit justkind of learning. It's healthy. You
know, you're seeing it from theother side of the ball. This time
of the year, you can getaway with that a little bit a little
bit in the preseason. Where itgoes, we'll see, but you just

(04:42:33):
never know. We're trying to putsome contingency plans in place because it could
be a long season. Yeah,this is my forty first year cover of
House to Day. I don't rememberever expectations like this in the summer.
There were some of them were almostas big. Sure do you sense that
too, And what's that pressure likeas you're working through a summer? Yeah,
And people have asked me that Igo back to the expectations every year

(04:42:53):
the same. I mean, it'sjust the truth. When opening press conference,
I said, you got to beatthe team up north, and whenever
you game after that, that's justthe expectations. And when you come up
short, you know you've got tofigure out a way to get those things
fixed. I think we have donethat. But the expectations are the same
every year. Pressure is the sameevery year. I just like the pressure
when you've got a really good teambehind you. So that's what we've got

(04:43:14):
right now. And you know,we know it's going to be a long
season. We know we're working towardsBut I will say this about this team,
Well, we've been talented that's there'sbeen times in the past we've been
talented. I don't know since I'vebeen here, if we've been this talented
and this experience together with guys thathave played a lot of football, fourth
and fifth year guys, and thatdoesn't matter, We'll go thank ex door

(04:43:34):
Stephen play. Since you up.Maybe this is just tops because it's summertiviously,
you can now just have conversations.Maybe we're making a big out of
nothing long term situations, but we'veseen it around college football in league guys
playing both sides of the ball anddoing it quite well. Right, Travis
under is doing Colorado and Kaylyn Joshas been department turns, so we see

(04:43:55):
what he could do with the ball. But there's also the stamina aspect of
it. Just get into a sixteengame season, so I'm not saying it's
any forty snaps or something like that, But what about his athleticism what he
brings to the table, and letyou know that if you wanted to explore
it a real game, he couldlast and still be an effective See yeah,
yeah, we'd have to see allthat. He did it in high

(04:44:15):
school, but we got some reallygood running backs in a room. So
it's not something that we're planning ondoing, but uh, we all we
are gonna, you know, workon a little bit Caleb. Caleb enjoys
that part of it. We didagree that that was something that we were
gonna look into. Where it goes, I don't I don't really know right
now, but I know that hehas the capability to do it. He
has the athleticism and do it,and you know, we'll kind of see
where it goes, see see howhe does, and you know, maybe

(04:44:38):
hand the ball to a little bitin the preseason because again, it's going
to be a long season. Wehave to make sure we have continuoency plans
in place. But I know it'ssomething that he enjoys having the ball in
his hand. So even during theirfirst time around the recruiting process, we
even talked about him coming in asa as an offensive player. Ultimately we
think his ceiling is highest on defense. But you know, but I also

(04:45:00):
agree, I think that having youknow, guys going to other side of
the ball and just see it,listen to the meetings is really healthy for
their development. So we're gonna dothat regardless your defensive recruiting Right now,
is maybe further along, and it'sbeen in the years past, and I
think we passed much questions about itin the past, But is this a
product of seeing it over the lastcouple of years and now it's not just

(04:45:22):
telling guys, hey, this mightlook like this, they're seeing it in
real time. Yeah, you know, we talked about it when Jim first
came in, and I think Timwalls an unbelievable job as well in the
back end, and you know,Matt stepped right in and James and Larry.
I think they're all doing a greatjob. But like you said,
you know, it's one thing totalk about it. That's theory testimony is
just look at this is this iswhat we're doing. And then I think

(04:45:45):
you're seeing a lot of guys justexcited about playing in this defense and think
they see the capabilities and the flexibilitytoo. You know, right now,
the way we play, excuse me, the way we play right now is
based on you know, we havefour really talented defensive linemen that are really
good, and we got a lotof that to those positions. But there's
also flexibility with some of the thingsGym's done in the past that you know,
we're definitely looking at and some ofthe recruits that we're looking at who

(04:46:07):
bring some versatility, pass rusher,you know, we have that jack position
and those type of things. Sothat'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, I think your first
years your identity was was very veryfrom an awful standpoint and air it out
type team. Well look at thekey best talent and the playmakers you have

(04:46:30):
there. Because your identity change.I guess what do you think the identity
is of this twenty point fourth We'llsee as we go, But you know,
we know what we need to doto play in the big games.
That's never changed. And we haveto be able to stop the run,
run the football, take care ofthe ball, and there'll be opportunities to
throw the ball that'll that'll happen,but you know we're gonna have to,

(04:46:52):
you know, do those things towin close games and play situational football.
But I think, you know,you won't really get a feel for what
the identity of the team is untilwe get into probably the beginning of October,
you know, And I think weall have ideas of what it could
go. But you know now thatwe're playing in a playoff format, just
like a lot of those NFL teamssometimes, you know, they don't really
quite understand their identity until they getabout halfway through the season. I don't

(04:47:15):
think I'll take that long. Butyou know, we're able to play some
games and kind of work through somethings. And I don't think our defense
is going to change a bunch interms of what we did last year.
I mean, it's a lot ofthe same guys back could look a little
different on offense. Have you gottime for two more? Go to Doug
Limris. Okay, right, youlose an important recruiting staffer to promotion at

(04:47:37):
Michigan. Just time much to Michiganthis offseason. How do you react to
something like that? Is something thatsomeone like that would take information that was
learned here that could help Michigan orhigh stages reaction? Yeah, all good
questions, And you know, Ijust I want to talk about the guys

(04:47:59):
that are here and all the staffmembers that are here, the coaches that
are here, the players that arehere. Uh, we got Jeremiah J.
J. Smith J J. How'dyou fee out there to day.
You got a great time. Iheard the team. The team came out,
don't make three and old pool play. When you come to these kind
of tournaments, what kind of techniquesdo you like to work on it?

(04:48:19):
See think that you're gonna team runsome short stuff from crossing routes. What
do you work on when you're outof tournament like this? Really just getting
back in the goose during the week, So really just working on my releases.
Uh, that's why you game myfriends fast. I mean I'm gonna
chuck. So just when you getback. Now we know you pulled the
trigger on Ohio State. Obviously yougotta take visits kind of make sure that

(04:48:41):
you're you're perfect on your decision.What was it about Ohio State and Brian
Hartline and Ryan David that made youfeel comfortable to commit early? Really they
sent me my first visit, butnot the first. Can they offer me
system preston year? Really? Justwhat's up? What's up? What's what

(04:49:06):
they say? Was? Really theythey need? They gave me? Uh
really just a kid that I'm atough artist. I wasn't tough artist because
I'm trying to have mem size nowI know you got something your SFV family
up there. You got Brandon nS, you got Cardinal Day. What
does it mean to potentially be ableto link up with them in a year
and be able to kind of runback what you guys have done in South

(04:49:27):
Florida Express in Columbus, Ohio,it'd be great we go there to Ohio
State take over. It'd be grateful, all great, you can I love
going first round. Yeah, you'rea super humble kid. I've been really
impressed by you today. Is thereanything that you want Ohio State fans to
know about you? You know again, I know you're just your all work,

(04:49:48):
all work, all work. Butwhat are they getting when they get
a JJ Smith to come to Ohiosaying kids coming, job, don't game,
just know what I gotta do.Take They'll just come in. That's
perfect, man, God, blessyou. I appreciate you, my man.
Awesome watch you today. Thank youso much. J Smith. You

(04:50:11):
to be ahead of him, justliter like, what is your time away
from the practice school? It's likeit allows you to be such a love
First off, coaches line, hehere all day no matter what. But
for me myself, ever since Iwas a kid, my Dad always instilled
me and my brother to work hardand be like, just be around football,

(04:50:32):
be around what we want to begood at. So after here I'll
go watch more film, do alittle school work, and then later tonight
I'll probably come back and watch thefilm again. But at the end of
the day, it's just trying tobe around football, be around the facility.
How much of your film watching islike solo endeaver, just you buy
yourself watching suff How much do yoube for We've had more safeties come in

(04:50:56):
throughout the spring, more guys tryto learn the system and learn the game.
But I mean, at the endof the day, you gotta do
what you gotta do to put yourselfin a best position to win. So
myself, I'll watch film at hometoo by myself, but when I'm here,
there's always other players around me thatare trying to work to get better
just like I am. Are youonly watching or do you watch? No?
I watched the NFL teams, watchgood NFL saties that are playing right

(04:51:19):
now. Javon Holland, Pantswine Windfield, go as like that that can that
I can emulate and try to seehow they play. And then also just
watching other players here, other playersthat do things well here, just learning
from them, trying to see howthey play the game, trying to get
better. Caleb, what are someof the big differences that you've seen so
far between what you went through atAlabama and so far you've gone through A

(04:51:41):
fear A lot of it's the same. A little difference is in the defense
and how they operate and how theysee things. But at the end of
the day, football's football. Defensivedefense, So everybody gotta get to the
ball and make the type of areyou think. Oh, I love the
city. I love High Street,I love being in the city, love

(04:52:03):
going to the restaurants here. Thefood's great here. So uh, I
ain't got no coomp place for me. You find up there be cause it's
like you got the campus all ofa sudden, then you also a big
city. It's it's different than Alabamacause Alabama was a college town and Tessalusia
was not as big of a city. Here, there's a lot of people
to see, a lot of differentbusinesses that you can be a part of.
So just trying to learn the cityand learn what everybody has to offer

(04:52:26):
here. He'll you probably noticed thatwhen kid and Procking made his decision to
go back to Alabama, and thenthat starts a full level of speculation as
to are you were you taking backby that. Did you feel like you
needed to make a declaration off ofthat? Uh? I mean at the
end of the day, No,I didn't feel like I needed to say
anything, cause at the end ofthe day, I was still here a
practice, I was still here withmy teammates. So I mean, I

(04:52:48):
feel like my actions speak for themselves. I'm I mean, I don't I
don't need to say anything about that. Kay Diden and I talked to him
when he did it, and Icongratulated him on his decision. I mean,
that's what he feels his best aswhen he feels us and I support
him. But I'm here. Youguys have to have are in this new
generation of you have that sort offreedom, You have that sort of control
over your career in a way thatother people didn't. Is it's something that

(04:53:11):
you you have to kind of takewith the certain seriousness that you're making that
right decision in your career at alltimes. I think ev I mean it
in life, you have to makedecisions based off of what she feels best
for yourself. So that was abig decision for him. And if he
feels that's what's best for himself,then I support it. But at the
end of the day, for collegesuble athletes, I think that's the best
thing because the coaches have the sameright to do what they do. Coach

(04:53:33):
can come here for a month andleave, and I mean then he's just
leaving the player at high and dry. So I mean, if they're gonna
have the ability to do it whilewith the players not have some type of
say in their in their life.Kevin, here, you made the impact
opposite last year as a freshm Whatdo you think you could do as assault
when you're under your belt? Yeah, I think I can grow and what

(04:53:57):
I did well last year and increaseon the qualities that I was not as
a leite at during during the season. So just being better in coverage,
being better in the post, beingbetter in my tackling, being a better
communicator with my teammates, all thatI think I can offer to the team.
And but at the end of theday, it's gotta be a team

(04:54:18):
collective to go do what we wannado. What do you come in this
obst is a lower defense. Whatdo what do you think of being a
big part of me? Wasn't theelite last year and it should be being
better this year. Yeah, theywere a very elite defense last year,
and watching all the film from lastyear and the whole season, they played
a great season. They played alot of good defense. Excuse me,
WI question just the idea of beinghard. I'm a big part. I'm

(04:54:41):
not an league defense. I meanI can only do my part. I
can only do my one to eleventhand do my job. Every player I
can't. I can't try to domore than that, and every other player
just has to do their job andwe'll do what we need to do.
Okay, we'll be talking about yourfield punching habits. Was that the same
in high school? And what didthat look like for you want to bring
in high school? My high schoolcoach is one of my favorite people in

(04:55:03):
the world, uh Freeman Davis.Me and him watch film together a lot.
But that was more so just myselfwatching film and trying to grow.
So I would say I had alot of the same habits and has trusted
over to college. But a lotof that was me and my high school
coach got in the game together anothermovie. You around everywhere here, but
you know, it seems like you'rein that free safety spot as opposed to

(04:55:27):
the strong safety spot you played atall Damn though, just what said transition?
Like? Do you feel that doesthat even matter in this kind of
defense? I th I mean it'sthe same spot really to the it's the
safety to the field safety playing inthe most space. That's what I'm used
to. But at the end ofthe day, I feel like I could
play to the boundary. I canplay the Don Money position, I can

(04:55:47):
play Nickel. So I mean,at the end of the day, you
gotta make plays wherever you're at.Caleb, what have you been? What
have your thoughts going on? DownJeremiah school? Very elite athlete, varioustinctual
player, has a great ball skills. Should UH should have a big impact
this year. Anybody you need yourparents? What you've seen? Oo?

(04:56:11):
Nah Ja Jess's on, so Jesushe's on. It's his own man.
Uh. Who else? Who's caughtyour eye? At your receiver group?
Kayle? That UH is elite inyour opinion? Uh? I watched a
Mecca BOOKA a lot O H andCO. When I was in high school
watching the games and then last yearwatching some of his film. He's been
an elite receiver then and he's aleade receiver now. And Carlote has had

(04:56:36):
a great spring as well. Yeah, and uh, you you personally,
Uh after that uh Steve Appreciation Dayon Saturday, you were mobbed about as
much as anybody. What is what? How have you felt the receipt meaning
of autograph seekers at Saturday? Youknow? Uh? How have you felt
the reception here? Uh? Foryou over the last several months, but
especially like Saturday, I think it'sbeen very welcoming. I appreciate everybody and

(04:56:59):
like I appreciate when I go toclass seeing people that know me and just
being able to meet them, beingable to say that I'm glad to be
here, being able to say I'mglad to be here to everybody that came
up to me. Yeah. SoI'm just I'm very appreciative of it.
Do you feel their expectations for you? You know what I mean that?
Uh? I mean people may haveexpectations, but at the end of the
day, only one person can reallyjudge me, and that's God. I

(04:57:21):
mean. Other than that, atthe end of the day, it doesn't
really matter. Just how much haveyou been going tweeting the three different safety
spots every day? I take repsat all three spots just to try to
It helps you understand and learn thedefense from a new perspective. So being
able to see the ball from theboundary safety, see the ball from the

(04:57:41):
nickel spot, being able to seethe ball from the dime, it helps
you be able to see the wholegame and be able to understand everything that
goes on around you. Cause whenyou've moved on up the school, it's
you replied to there, you talkedto some sacks. It's a been a
book, report, little book,the points. Just then you know what
to ops and gold or your personalbefore back on talk before, does that
kind of autop here