Press Conference (Justin Frye)

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Episode Transcript

(00:00):
Guys are going into year three,that's when you really start to figure it
out your body, the speed ofthe game, the technique, the fundamentals.
And he's done a good job ofadapting and really growing himself on the
pace that you need to for ayoung guy. That's you know, coming
out of the fire a little bit. Last year he talked about being at
a better weight. Now it's abetter weight, it's real weight close to

(00:20):
three hundred, and it comes upbeing faster, more confident. Is that
where for a center like was lastyear kind of trial by buyer for him?
Is it just like how is thatprocess? But not playing at all
his first year? When starting it'syou, it's for whether it's Carson Hensman
or you know, Johnny Jones,like you get thrust into real reps and
the full speed. It's faster thanyou've ever seen. And so now he

(00:43):
has that book of work too thathe can look back on where the understanding
of the game, the understanding ofthe speed of the game, the intensity.
You know, I've said it athousand times that he doesn't get incrementally
faster or stronger. The game mentallyslows down for him. So he can
use his skill set that way,So what is that we're talking about.
That's a strength because those numbers aregoing up, so he can play with
more pillar strength, he can playmore contact, he can play more comfortable.

(01:08):
Even though his forty time didn't gofrom a five to zero to a
four to eight. Ad himself inhe just jumped right in. Unbelievable job
both ways of him just coming inwith shelving the ego that he had he
really had none and walking in saying, I'm walking into a room, as
we told him when we recruit him, like you're coming into a room a

(01:29):
bunch of good dudes, and thenour good dudes are good dudes. He
came in and there was no it'slike, you're here, here's how we
do, here's how we operate,and let's go. And so that learning
curve for all those whether it's ahigh school media guy or a veteran media
guy that transfers in, there's alearning curve there, just you know,
circling back to what we had naturalmaturation a little bit because he's been through
a little bit of spring Boy,he's been through a little bit of camps,

(01:49):
so you're still learning new terminology,you're learning a new skill set.
But he just dove right in andwanted to be a sponge and wanted to
learn it. He's doing a goodjob and he's improving every day, you
know. So that's what's making thebattle and the competition all these graded snaps
really you know good for us isbecause they all have that mindset. So
from SETH awesome, the unit inthe group awesome because there was no combativeness

(02:14):
to it. It was let's getin, let's go, and let's compete
and then let the guys win.Uh, just learning the same deal all
young guys you come in, yougot to learn how to play in friction.
So having you know, three tech, having a two I, having
those guys like right in front ofyou that every time you take one of
those reps and you're out of yourbase or you're in your base, you

(02:35):
feel the good, you feel thebad. So being more consistent that way,
you know, you can't make movesor shift guys if they're not mentally
there. And so for him,he's got a pretty good football FQ.
So he's continued, he's growing everyday, he's working and he's getting beat
every day too, and he's learningfrom those you know from the springtime.
You know, we have saying inour room, we're like in the spring
it's yes and it's no, andI know it's K and o W.

(02:55):
Why didn't the rep work? Whathappened? And how do I make sure
I don't repeat the same mistake?And so whether he's coming in and watching
the tape on his own and thencome up with questions, he's grabbing me
and watching tape with me, orwe're coming doing stuff as a unit.
He's learning so that the same dealof the game can slow down and he
gets more comfortable there in friction.So I mean he's his weights up,
his strengths up. He's spent anoff season with Mick. You know,

(03:16):
there's a lot of development that stillhas to be had. Obviously not a
finished product, but being able mentallyfor a guy to handle that, you
know, helps a lot. Similarto Luke a leaner guy. Did you

(03:39):
tell him that he paid you tosay that? That might be the first
time he ever heard that in hislife. No, Uh, now you
know, I Luke Carson, whoeverit may be that that jump of eighteen
to nineteen and nineteen, that's oneyear old kid that plays a lot into

(04:00):
it too. Being in a fullyear with Mick. I mean all those
guys you come in at midyear,like your Devo and Dion and Ian Moore.
Right now you're keeping your head abovewater. That's your whole first year.
Now you can actually get and wecan sit. So when you sit
and talk about a jam combo ora lock or whatever the call may be
to Luke, he registers that andnot like something new because then there's paralysis

(04:24):
by analysis. So I think themental part, on top of another year,
natural maturity of getting bigger and stronger, that's always gonna help. You're
not gonna guys here, they're notgonna regress. It's gonna keep adding progress
and how fast can we get thatgoing. It's what we're working on every
day with him. But said thathe would had been ball guard to this
point, and coach Days mentioned itseveral times that like, Josh could play

(04:44):
guard too, and you guys aretrying to work through that fire. Yeah
he's I mean Josh could play allfive. I mean he snapped the ball
in high school. You know,Josh had a great offseason. But for
you when you're going through a springand it's fact finding and experimentation. How
much do you want just put themin different spots or not, because you
also have an eye on August totry and settle on five man rotation.

(05:06):
What do you have to get areally good gradable set so that everybody has
numbers of you know, just likewe said before, how many times have
we done a run blocking or passblocking in this situation so that that all
evens out. So that's it's notexperimentation, it's just making sure that you
get a good book of work tolook at and grade that. So as

(05:27):
we you know, work guys aroundthe platoons and go just to making sure
that everybody gets good gradable reps.So we can sit back by the end
of spring and say, all right, this is you're comparing apples and apples
and oranges oranges and not you know, apples oranges, because it's completely different
that way. So that's kind ofthe thought behind that. As you're going
through the spring. Got a coupleof years ago, I would apport you
here as office would that laughed,you know, but then I said,

(05:53):
you know, it's college football,so who knows, right, what's that
been? Like, I'm sure you'reenjoying, Yeah, I mean he just
added to another piece of just goodpeople here. I mean, you're still
you're coming to work here with guysevery day. You know, with the
kids, we talk about a ton. But then for us as coaches is
the staff. So adding just anothergood dude that's in the room. Obviously

(06:15):
as he says something, and youknow, he might speak in old terms
or terms that we had, youknow, maybe be a little bit of
a Rosetta stone, like no,no, this is this. He's like,
yeah, that's right, because thathappens to all coaches. That happened
to me when we got here.At first, I was at with the
coach day sometime with Ryan's like,you know, what do we call this?
Because he was in a system likethat before. He said, oh
this is this now. So Ithink just the you know translation of Rosettes

(06:38):
stone there help. But just overallstandpoint of adding a great guy, that's
a great coach that's been around,that's he's going to supplement the room.
And every time you add something newto the room, then that makes the
room better, it makes you individuallybetter. Oh look how he does that.
Maybe I could do that. MaybeI can bring that to my meeting
room. Maybe I can bring thatto communication to the staff or to the

(06:58):
kids or whatever it is, becausehe's he's done it for a long time,
and he's done at a high levelfor a long time. So it's
good to add that guy to usand then continues us the rest of the
staff for me and Brian and Keyand and and everybody just learning and growing
with that kind of specifically just Imean, does he from a talent standpoint?
Does does he see things sometimes othersdon't see? I mean, does

(07:18):
he I mean you know, Imean what does he kind of brings from
the chalkboard aspect of things? Well, I mean what you're saying, So
what does he see? It's goodto have fresh eyes come in that.
Maybe you know, you're getting aroutine and you get in a rhythm and
then all of a sudden, runninggame uh football. You know. He's

(07:39):
one of those guys I think goesinto the category it's forgotten a lot of
more football than some people have learnedin their life. But no, his
he I believe he coached every positionon the field, both sides of Walter's
whole career. So as he looksup and he writes when he's talking about,
well, this will linebacker is goingto do that, then he might
have coached that at Columbia, right, or this is what the three text
gonna read on the down block ofa tackle because he's coached the offensive line

(08:00):
and he's been coordinator for a longtime. So just a really good vision
of big picture understanding and you know, the next step and not just being
right now. Yeah, if hehad a theme or whatever this spring,
because ob means this seems kind oflike a how to make it or breaking
time for him, but the timeto step up and step in. The

(08:20):
point was nobody cares. Nobody careswhat you know, what struggles do you
have or whatever you got to goduring the field to get the job done.
I mean it's if you don't anythingdifferent about tag Ricky. Get what
do you see about t Yeah,he was competing his butt off. I
mean he's kind of living that way. You know. That's why we have
that the red line over there whenyou cross the line. You know,
coach they talks about that here likethat. It's it's the game doesn't care

(08:45):
you're off the field. You gotto come out and step out and do
your job. It doesn't care aboutanything off the field, right, that
can sound really negative and harsh,but then it also if you just spend
your tone like, isn't it beautifulthat the game doesn't care. It doesn't
care that your skin, your socioeconomicbackground, where you've come from. If
you just want to do it theright way in the fifty three and a

(09:05):
third, the game will love youback, you know. And so I
think it's the approach mentally that guystake that way. So yeah, for
Tegra that he's he's taking that approachlike he wants to come in and be
a guy. So he's fighting andcawing and scratching every day. So when
he makes a mistake, he's tryingto correct it. When he does it,
well, he's trying to enhance it. And that's what competitive people do
and that's what he showed up todo. So I know that's that's good

(09:26):
that he said that. On thefield, been like as a center and
is that difficult when you're coming into a new offensive line to have that
or is there something natee about thecenter position if you've been experienced at it
like he has, where you kindof have that I guess command on the
field over with any offensive on soto say it over and start over again.

(09:46):
You're saying the comfort of center withyou now, sat Okay, Yeah,
I'm saying, like, how hashis command of the field been and
hasn't been difficult? I guess toadjust for him if he's to have a
certain level off field command, youknow at that Yeah, I mean it
on command is just great communication,getting everybody on the same page. Yes,
having a bunch of banked reps helps. But then when you do come

(10:09):
into a new offense, Uh,just like we talked, you know,
with Chip a little bit earlier.You know, he might have called it
yellow and we call it green orsomething. I don't just making stuff up,
but the transition of that in yourhead to get going with that.
But yeah, the comfort of havinga ball in your hand, having a
guy, I mean, you talkabout acclimization of football like play one handed
and have you know, TI leakthis far from your face. You better

(10:31):
have command of something, you know, so you got to understand the communication
and the technique and those things there. So yeah, I think him coming
into a new place, the game'snot as fast as it probably would be
for a younger guy. But alsothere's mistakes there that he can learn from
and grow from. And in thesame day he's you know, the one
thing we're not having concerns with,or we're not driving right now, is

(10:52):
the guys just competing and trying toget better after a mistake or like we
said with Tiger enhancing as they've donesome sprint. Yeah, every situation like
that gives somebody an opportunity. Wewere our depth was really down at safety
this spring. So because you hadlate than you had Jihad, you had

(11:15):
Malik and then Lorenzo, so itopened up opportunities. And Bonsu is a
guy who really got a lot ofreps and you saw him improve. And
then McLean, I think is ais a great plus. I mean,
he is a guy that has footballintelligence. He's picked it up. You

(11:37):
know, he's kind of one ofthose incoming freshmen who still should be in
high school. He's a guy Ithink you're going to point to and you
can see right now he's going tobe a player. Over to the right.
Austin Ward the podcast, A healthyMitchell Melton, How does he fit
in for your defense? What doeshe bring to it? Yeah, he's
you know, Mitch is that combination. You know in in our four down

(12:03):
you know, he's a guy thatcan do a lot of things. Drop
fold in there and make plays.You see some of that all the time.
Really athletic, you know, orkind of loaded at that end position.
So he's going to play there.But you know, like I said
last year, we we haven't neededit. But he's a guy you would

(12:26):
point to along with C. J. Hicks. You know, for the
for the long season, people getinjured, you get a little light inside.
It's always hard on the defensive tackles, but if you're going to play
with three ends, you know thatMitch is a guy who definitely can do
all that. He has that overto the left. Joey Koffmin, Columbus

(12:48):
Dispatch, Jim, You've talked aboutthis before, but I think in the
pastures where you're going up against areally talented receiver group offense, to encourage
your players to it's not okay ifthey give up to the play and to
go nearly almost the first half todaywere you dofins didn't get in the end
zone until the late in the secondhalf. Just and you guys have our
guys down the secondary. Just whatdid you think of that sort of trend

(13:11):
and how it's evolved in the wayyou guys almost shout them out the first
half. Yeah, I think it'sbecome, you know, an expectation.
Now. You know our dv's,you know, our bi a best in
America. We led the country inpass defense, right. I think it
was ninety six when I got here, and it was number one last year.

(13:33):
So they've they've taken that spirit.So it's a competitive spirit, it's
an expectation now it doesn't matter whowe're going against, it's it's they view
it as a standard. So thatwas good to see in the first first
half. Over to the right,Spencer Holbrook let them in roll. Jim.
We've talked about safety changing the waythat you play defense and the LEO

(13:56):
and the linebackers, but how muchdoes having the depth that you guys have
defensive tackle change the way that youcan do things defensively? Yeah? I
mean you're going to play to yourstrengths, you know, And that's that's
my job, is to what dowe have and what do we do best?
And when you have defensive tackles whoBut I've said it before, it

(14:18):
helped our defense so much last year. When you have defensive tackles that actually
make tackles, which is what wehave right now, it changes the way
you call a game. You know, it certainly helps you be in better
shape on explosive plays on the backend. You don't have to do a
whole lot to help those guys outbecause they're making tackles. So you got

(14:41):
to go. You gotta go withthat, you know, you got to
You got to let those guys playand and they're good, so you can't
get too far away from the schemeof having those defensive tackles make plays because
they're doing it and it works overto the left. Tony Gertman Buckeye Huddle.
Jim Ryan talked about the quarterback runbeing more of a thing with the
offensive here during the season. Howmuch of when you're facing a team like

(15:03):
that, how much does that impactyour day to day throughout the week preparing
for that. Yeah, it's thetodd you know it. I think it
changes everything you do on defense.You see it everywhere from the NFL on
down. If you have a quarterbackwho can make plays with his feet,
your scheme better be designed that,you know, to to take that away

(15:24):
and to account for it. Soit changes the way you look at everything
when you're game planning. Thank you, Donovan over here to the right,
Tim May the Tim May podcast.Yeah, you bet. When I asked
Ryan about just for example, CalvinSimpson Hunt, but the corner seemed to
be playing almost with a chip onyour shoulder to a certain extent, I
mean, Davis and Nick Banosen tooktoday personally it looked like, you know

(15:46):
what I mean, because some ofthe hype going into the game, but
what do you see from that groupin particular that who is you going into
this off see? Yeah, whenyou can when you have corners that you
can count on again, just likehaving defensive tackles in the run game,
when you have corners you can counton that are going to compete all the

(16:07):
time, no matter what the situationis. And we've developed that again,
it changes the way you call theentire game. I mean, you're you're
able to leave those guys on anisland, You're able to switch up coverages,
and they know what they're doing andthey take great pride in it.
So having those guys out there inthe development, it's a big deal.

(16:29):
It really is. And he's Huntinto the picture a little more. It
late last year. Lay. Yeah, I mean he's he did come in
late, and you know he compete. He's one of those guys that just
competes every day, doesn't say much. You know, he's trying to live
up to the standard or the otherguys. And you see him coming along,

(16:52):
you know, you see him breakthe work. Hello, everybody there
is Robinson, University of missouris onto your coach Gannon for this amazing opportunity.
I'm glad to be here with MarvinHarrison right next to me. So
pheel great. I'm really excited andI'm excited for this journey. See you

(17:27):
fifteen here in town. Marvin,When did you know the Cardinals were going
to select you? Did you knowbefore they called or was there an agreement
in place before? No, Idid not know until I got that phone
call from the Arizona Cardinals. MarvinRichard Science Fox ten, Welcome to the
valley. I know ktt of tweetedto you, tweeted out to you once

(17:49):
you got drafted. What was itlike to get a message from the franchise
quarterback and what kind of thoughts haveyou had about teaming up with this guy
in the near future. Hey,yes, sir, been great. You
always want to support and love fromyour quarterback. And Nika is a great
player. Excited to play with him, and it's gonna be my job to
make his job easier. Darius DarrenUrban from Azycardinals dot Com. I know

(18:11):
that, uh, A lot ofplayers these days aren't sticking in one school
uh for a long time. Andyou did it for five years. I
mean even Marvin did it for three. Like, what what went behind that?
And why was it meaningful for youto stay at one school? Yes,
at Missouri, you know, wehad some tough seasons, but we
were really built with an edge energy, details, good in emotional consistency,

(18:33):
and I just find myself just tryingto grow and get better each year and
also as a team, you know, win more games each year. And
that was my that was my home. I was my family. I was
blessed to you know, get twodegrees as well off the field, and
I just love missou two degrees.Wow, Marvin, Bob Mcbob McMahon at
Arizona Republic, Congratulations, Thank youto both of you. You're known as

(18:59):
all big and I want to knowhow that's going to serve you well in
this league from personal standpoint, yourbrand, everything you do in a daily
preparation. There's a lot that goesinto being all business. Tell me what
that is to you. Yeah,I mean that's just being a pro.
It's kind and raised and grew upto do and keep the same mindset,

(19:19):
same attitude that I've had throughout mywhole career. Once I get here,
continue to work hard, be consistentand discipline you know, and all that
I do. So I'm looking forwardto putting the work. Hey Marvin Josh
Wayne ESPN, what were the bestpieces of advice your dad gave you about
being an NFL player? I mean, yeah, it takes a lot of
work, a lot of preparation.You know, from Monday to Saturday,

(19:42):
it's all work. And then Sundaysshould be the easy part. I go
out there and have fun, readyto put the work in. So it
starts with the work first and thenno, when Sunday comes is reek the
benefits. Hey Darius Howard Ballzer fromCards Wire, I can't help but notice
that ring on your finger. Isthat a bowl ring? Yes? It
is? Then you showed it toMarvin very quickly. No, I I

(20:07):
was telling Marva. You know hewas glad he didn't play. The whole
week leading up, you know,you see Ohio State, everybody said,
okay, Marvin Harrison and now he'sis he gonna play? To go play?
He didn't play, so you knowwe lucked out. So hey,
Marvin Paul KELVC Cardinals Broadcasting, doyou believe that receivers have to earn the

(20:27):
trust of their quarterback? And ifso, what does that usually require?
Absolutely, you got to earn trustthe quarterback. And think it starts,
you know, every day in practiceand being consistent. Really and you can't
just do it one day. Can'tyou do it for one week? It
has to be you know, doneover and over and over again. I
think that's how trust has earned.So no matter where you get picked,

(20:48):
when you're first receivers, round sevendoesn't really matter. Have to go and
earn trust for the quarterback, yourcoaches, your teammates. So it all
starts in practice. What's going on, guys, Good to see again,
Tyler Drake, there's no sports forDarius. What's the feeling of just being
able to represent your school as thatfirst round pick and what kind of impact
can that have for those guys fallowingin your footsteps. Yeah, it's awesome.

(21:10):
I feel like I'm setting the standardgoing forward. But best the name
was Zoo is known as Delon Zoo, so I'm just added to the family.
But now I feel like I'm settingthe standard for my younger teammates that
this is attainable if you work reallyhard, be consistent, and really get
us your strength coach. I feellike every program is built out the stremp
coach, and that develops all thehabits on and off the field. Darius

(21:32):
zach Ershmanezcardinals dot Com right over here, JJ mentioned that he loves the violence
that you play with. You mentionedthe different tendencies that you picked up.
The emotional consistency is the great.How do you balance that the violence with
discipline on the field. Honestly,just through preparation and practice. I'm a
big guy. I'm a big believerin inside hands, so that's why I'm
always working my hand placement and thenI lift weight, so you know that's

(21:55):
all connected. So I'm just tryingto be focused on my technique as much
as possible. Hey, Marvin overhere, David Brant with the Associated Press,
you know a lot of rookies comeinto the league and they get a
little bit of leeway. It's like, oh, he's young, he needs
to grow and stuff like that.But obviously you're gonna be expected to be
the guy here really quickly. Howdo you deal with that pressure? How

(22:18):
do you go about just so muchbeing expected of you so quickly? I
mean, yeah, I have highstandards for myself, but I'm just gonna
go in there and try to work, you know, the best I can.
I just want to help the teamwin really, so without a role
I play, you know, comeSeptember, let me do my best,
do their role. This one's forboth of you, guys. The fans
want to know who you guys areon the inside. I don't know how

(22:41):
much you're willing to reveal to ustoday. A lot would be nice.
Could you tell us what you liketo do away from football? What what
pisses you off about things, andyou know, what what makes you roll.
I'm pretty simple. I like,you know, in my apartment,
watch a movie. If I goout and I go to a restaurant,

(23:03):
get some food. But other thanthat, they do too much and then
I'm pretty easygoing. Guys, SoI try not to nothing bothered me too
much. Yeah, I say thesame thing. A real chill guy,
just really obsessed with football. Butoutside of football, like I said,
I got my two degrees. Igot my undergrad hospitality management and the minor
and business I got my master andPositive Culture with FLA Leadership. So just

(23:26):
thinking about being well rounded. Andthen I do philanthropy work. I started
my own nonprofit foundation, Darius RobinsonHelping Hands Foundation. But really just football
and then everything else. Honestly,congratulations, guys, welcome to the valley.
I'm Robbie Baker with Fox ten.Darius, This is for you.
After the draft last night. Youhad a great response about how your process

(23:48):
and preparing for a game. Justkind of wondering where your love for kind
of the grind comes from and yourlove for that process comes from. I
would say my junior year because Iplayed little league ball off and on.
But I got my junior year andI was playing in high school and my
whole goal is just to earn ascholarship for During that process, I really
fell in love with the game,fell in love with working out relationships with
teammates, and now it's kind oflike my advice and I can't let it

(24:11):
go and just kind of finding waysto always get better, you know.
Luke Linting here with twelve Sports,congrats both of you walking into the valley.
This one's for you. Marvin.I'm curious your thoughts or what was
that conversation like with your dad afteryour name was called and you were able
to be drafted by this organization,and how surreal is it for you to
be following your own father's footsteps butin your own way. Yeah, I

(24:33):
mean it was very brief actually,just in the second graduations, I walk
up to the stage and then Ihad to do a bunch of interviews afterwards.
So I don't think it's hit bothof us yet. I don't know
what's happened. I think, youknow, one of Michaels always make him
proud, so I hope I didthat, Marvin, Bobrock pH and X
Sports. When do you anticipate catchingyour first passes from Kyler Murty? I

(24:55):
don't know. I don't know.I guess we'll see, hopefully as soon
as possible. Darius, you mentionedphilanthropy, and I know there's been it's
been talked about how you took someof the nil money to do get back
to school for the kids in Colombia. Where where did that belief in doing
those things come from? I saymy family, My brother and my mom

(25:17):
really instilled that end of me andto me at a young age, just
give back your blessings to others.In my fifth year at Missou is the
best year of my life, Sowhy would I not share my blessings with
others. So that's what really motivatedme to do that. And now being
in NFL, you know, mygoals to do three events each year.
I just give back because you know, it's life outside of football and bigger
blessings out there. Marvin, youobviously played with a number of highly drafted

(25:41):
receivers at Ohio State. What sortof feedback have you gotten about the NFL
from them? Any? You know, by making the transition in the league
itself. Yeah, it's a longseason. I think going from in a
twelve game Rigord season you have incollege to was it seventeen games now and
you got three preseason, I feellike just the biggest challenge the game stays
the thing. Obviously, never're allskilled and very talented athletes, so the

(26:03):
mental part is probably the biggest thingand the biggest change from the college to
pros Marvin, what's your timeline forhiring an agent? Right over here on
the way far right, you haven'thired an agent. Why is that?
Is there a timeline to hiring one? And are you gonna slam the NFLPA
licensing agreement. I'll continue to talkingto my team. We do what's best
for me. I'm moving forward.We just take it one day at a

(26:26):
time. I just got drafted,so I'm trying to enjoy the moment and
be happy while i can at themoment. Hey, Marvin, I'll say,
Romaro, Arizona Republic, Welcome.Man. Can you just kind of
share a little bit about you touchedon it briefly here, but just a
little bit more about growing up withyour dad and you know, the experiences
you had in Indianapolis and games andso on and so forth. Yeah,
I mean, there's no better rolemodel, coach, mentor that you can

(26:52):
have that someone who's played the game. And then you know he's actually your
father too, so he means alot to me. His help and get
to the point I'm at right now, and just he's been very detailed and
everything I've done growing up and playingfootball, so we're thankful for him.
I'm glad that he can be herewith me today. Luke Glinton again here
with twelve scores is for Darius Sterius. M I z z yes Sir mi
alma mater as well. Curious whatdo you think you learned the most from

(27:15):
your time at Mazoo that has helpedyou be ready for this moment. I'll
say the biggest thing is not howyou start, is how you finished.
And I feel like me being draftedthat was the exclamation point on my career
at Mazoo. But now I gotto start all over again and really earned
respect on my teammates and coaches andthen earn a role with create and do
the things that make him special.Then all of a sudden, I don't

(27:37):
think you really know what they coulddo until you put them out there in
a real game where there is noblack jersey, there is no non contact
jersey. But you know a guylike Troy, you know, when he
could create on the run, itwas kind of like Alan Irison with his
crossover, you know what I mean, like when you get open man.
I mean, he could he couldmake things happen that nobody in the history
of O high sled football could makehappen. So I uh, you know

(28:00):
it was. It was tough.Again, it was. Uh that's one
of those haunting ones. I meanthat that game probably haunts me more than
Florida because Florida we just got ourour wheels, we got our doors blown
up. But Florida also like weweren't we weren't really that good in O
six, Like in O five wewere really good, like like that O
five Ohio State team if they wuldhave played the O six team, the
O five team when a dog lockedus, just because our defense was so

(28:22):
much better and and and really ouroffense was too because we had nick Man
Gold and Robsons, like we hadNFL dudes on our line. Uh that
were much better than the guys thatwe played in in O SX. So
that that Texas game haunts me tothis day because we had the best team
in the country beat and we letthem go, which that sucks. Yeah.
Absolutely. In another game that you'rewhat about Penn State, did we

(28:52):
played those Yeah, that was thefirst white out. So that spawned the
white out craze and it was itwas it was the best college football environment
of all time. I mean itwas. It was so loud, it
was so crazy, and and honestly, you know, I'd never been there.
Most of us had never been there. Some of the older like like
uh you know, something like RobSAMs, Nickmangle, they've been there.

(29:14):
But they played and I think itwas a noon game in three, but
they we'd never experienced a white outbefore, so I don't think we were
ready for the noise. And Igot hurt, which is what really sucked.
In the second quart, I blewmy knee out on a field goal
protection and it hurt bad, andit sucked, and I couldn't finish the
game. And their their best playerwas their DN that I blocked all day

(29:36):
and he was a first round fick. Tom Behley played for the Chiefs.
I was pro bowler, and likeI played him in OH four and I
thought he was good, but Ididn't think he was like incredible or anything.
Like. I didn't think he waslike some guy was like, oh
my god, how I'm gonna blockthis guy? And and when I was
in there O five, like,I handled him and he played and I
played against him the whole game becausehe didn't flip, like they don't flip
their dns. They play the sameguy plays against the right tackle the whole

(29:59):
game. So I was handling himand and I killed him in O four
when I was a freshman, andI frankly wasn't even good. And you
know, so then when I gothurt, it like it got a little
bit tougher because we had to putyou know, we put Rob Sims at
right tackle. Rob Sims it neverplayed right tackle of his life, and
they put him out there, andthen we put Booty out there at right
tackle. Booty was a true freshman, and you know, no eighteen year

(30:19):
old can handle that environment. Heactually did pretty well. But you know
at the end of the game,you know, Tom of course sacks the
quarterback and it's like my nightmare,uh realized when the guy that I handled
the whole year like ends the gameand kills Stroy and trade as a summerrsault
and like they still play that clipwhen we play Penn State because it was
the dramatic of an ending. Sothat sucked. So, yeah, those

(30:41):
are the two and that was thehardest part. Man, is Like by
that time in the season, likethe season was over. Basically because we
lost two and you know, backthen it was like if you're not in
the you know, the top twoish, you're not going to have a
shot to play for the championship.That was pre BCS, but it was
still you know, once he getdown, you get a second loss through
like six weeks, man, yourseason's over for you. You know,

(31:03):
in terms of winning the Natty,which was our natural that was actually our
goal. Yeah, absolutely, backthen it was you know, one loss
you might still have a chance,but two losses basically you're out of it.
So that had to be tough.And then kind of getting away from
maybe some of the more negative memoriesof that year. The one game that
I personally had a invested interest inwas the I believe it was a Fiesta

(31:29):
Bowl with Notre Dame. Kind ofwalk me through what you guys thought when
you watch them on film and kindof your guys's mentality going into that game.
Well, I mean, we knewthey were really good. We knew
that they had a lot of NFLguys that were really well coached. People
can say whatever they want about CharlieWeiss, but you know, their offense
was was really good. I mean, Brady was playing at a very high

(31:52):
level. Obviously, he was aguy that probably could have left him been
a top ten pick. I don'tthink it's safe for his senior year helped
him. I think if he hadleft after that third year, he had
have made more good running back DariusWalker. Their line was really good,
Ryan Harry had a bunch of NFLguys, Ryan Harris the left tackle,
good player, Samarga who ended upbeing a pitcher in the in the big

(32:15):
leagues. Uh was a force asa wide receiver. Defensively, I remember
that had victor Or Abbey Amieri whoagain that was there were another team that
didn't flip. So I played againstVictor Abby Mary the entire game and he
was the best player in their entiredefense. He ended up being a second
round pick by the Eagles. Uh. They had Zibbi Uh Thomas Abkowski who
we actually had the same agent.So we actually became pretty tight once we
got to the league. But youknow, they they had UH, they

(32:38):
had dudes, but again we wehad we had guys that could really run,
and we thought we could get aftertheir back end a little bit and
we did. Like that's why wewere thrown it up over the top to
Teddy and San Antonio, and wedidn't think they could run with us,
and they couldn't. So that wasthat was something that like our game plan
was, let's let's take him deep, and uh, we knew they were
gonna blitz it was It's kind offunny when you said of these teams,

(33:00):
is that what are the weird thingsyou study? Are? Like what could
they do against you that they maybehaven't shown on film? Given the break,
given a thirty day absence between youknow, the Michigan game and then
the Bull game. So we didn'thave a big ten title game back then.
So after we beat Michigan before Thanksgiving, we didn't play again until January.
So it's a big thirty five daywinners. So you could literally and
sall an entire new defense. Andwe thought they were going to blitz us

(33:23):
pretty heavy, just based on ourruns and our tendencies and the one end
around the Z round, which youknow ted Gin was the Z which is
like your flank or your speed receiver. We we we did a self scout
and we'd ran to the right behindme like seventy five percent of the time

(33:43):
that year, So we ran oursignature play which was like it was called
eight load, which is an optionplay that Troy Troy never pitched it.
It was an option play where he'dnever pitched it. He only carried it.
And uh, I guess Iowa.We scored two touchdowns with it.
We ran it a lot, butwe put in a reverse off of it.
So you start the option action andyou see the linebackers come flying right

(34:04):
into the hole where where we hitit, because I'm sure that they went
over that with their scout team fora long time and uh and they over
commit big time to where the playwas going. But then you have Ted
coming back the other way on theon the Z round, so there was
nobody there and san Antonio. SanAntonio had the best crack block and he
probably he had been thrown in prisonif he did that today because he had
been targeting and everything else. Butsan Antonio killed their uh, their their

(34:30):
their walkout guy, their their walkout linebacker, like killed him, took
him off his feet, and uhand Ted was like off to the races.
So I just remember, our offensivestaff did a great job tress bulls
like Jim Bowman. Those guys reallydid a good job of scheming those guys
up, and uh, you know, our defense, our defense played well,
you know, I mean they weatheredthe early storm because Notre Dame went
right down the field and scored tostart the game, and then they clamped

(34:52):
up a little bit. And uh, but it was good. I mean,
we do it would be a challengeand those are the fun games because
they had they had equal talent sous. We were probably a little more
talented, but it wasn't like thenormal huge gap of talent that Ohio State
football normally encounters on a Saturday.Yeah. Absolutely. That was the one
thing that I wondered if you touchon just because watching the game, you
know, the thing that jumped offthe screen to me was just how much

(35:14):
faster you guys were, at leastat receiver compared to the defensive backs.
It looked like they were running inlong grass and you guys were on AstroTurf.
Yeah, I mean, we justwere lucky. We had Ted and
Santonio and Gonzo and uh, youknow, obviously Gonzo that that that play
where he didn't catch it was theplay of the game where Zibakalski picked it
up and ran it back to thehouse. Because that was you know,

(35:36):
that was like the early the earlytimes of replay where they said that he
didn't catch it and it was incompletebecause that was that was gonna be a
fumble for a touchdown. Yeah,and I was like sitting there, I
was like, please, God,do not wht this be in touch because
I want to tie. I thinkthat would tie the game. But we
were able to get out and scoreand ice game down. But yeah,
it was, Uh, those youknow, those are type those are tight
games. And again that's why it'sfun at high stitch play against teams that

(35:59):
are equal talent or close, becausethen you have to really, you know,
you gotta really be sharp. Youcan't. You can't just you know,
Ohio State ninety nine percent of thetime when we play, we've got
better players than the other team onthe sideline. But it's that one percent
when you play Georgia or you playa good Notre Dame team where you got
to actually, you know, win, you have to go win the game
instead of just being better than theyare. So it was it was a

(36:22):
fun night and I didn't know that'dbe my last Bowl win, but you
know, it was really fun andit kind of I think it kind of
set us in a little bit ofa trap where it was like we had
this this streak of going to thefestival, we stayed at the Fairmont Scottsale
Princess, and then we wore thewhite jerseys and we beat you know,
the Hurricanes, we beat Kansas State, we beat Notre Dame. So then

(36:45):
of course the next year we playedFlorida, we get our breaks beat off,
and it's like, but we sayit at the same hotel and we're
the same we were. We werethe one seed and we wore our white
jerseys. Yeah, because again,like I don't know if it was superstition
or what it was, but itjust kind of what it is. I
mean, it didn't matter what colorjerseys were were And I'm just being funny,
but it was like we like fellinto the trap of familiarity. And

(37:06):
again I get it because you know, if you wear the red jers against
Florida and we get we lose fortyone to fourteen, then people were like,
why did you wear the white jerseys? You could have did that.
We were undefeated. It so thisis some one of those like funny things
that you think about sometimes twenty yearslater. Yeah, for sure. That
Florida game was I was at thatgame. That was the crowd and the
electricity in the stadium when Teddy tookthat kickoff back and then the just shock

(37:30):
and haul when they saw him hobblingoff the field was oh my god.
Well, the funny thing is thatI won't talk too much about it,
but it's like he came back inand played in the game. Like that
was funny. Thing is like Ididn't even know he got hurt because,
like I mean, that first offensiveplay that we had after Florida scored,
he's back out there and he actuallyran a route and we threw him the

(37:51):
ball. So like I it wasn'tlike okay, it wasn't like his leg
was like the bone was poking outof the skinner and yeah, like so
I didn't know what was going on, and obviously ted was too hurt to
play, but it was I remember, like I asked that. The thing
was like, why aren't you in? And he's like and he looked at
me and is like, come on, man, let's go. And I'm
like, I'm like, I loveTeddy, but I was like, why

(38:15):
aren't you playing? Like I mean, we need you. You're the best.
You're you're literally the best player onour team by far. You were
the eighth overall pick or ninth pickin the draft, like none of no
one else did the team was.They were close to the top ten in
the draft. So yeah, Imean that was like one of those ones
where you just know that it ain'tgonna be your night when your best player
gets hurt on the first play.You're just like this sometimes the football where

(38:36):
you're just like, God, thisis gonna suck. And it was,
like I tell people, like itwas like with the forty nine ers last
year, uh in the NFC Championship, Like they lose brock Purty and then
they lose their backup quarterback and they'redown to Deebus Samuel playing quarterback. Like
you just said that, like sometimesa football man, it just ain't your
night. And that was a night. It was definitely not a night.
And again it's not taking anything aweight from Urban Urban and ye, Urban

(38:58):
was the master of getting guys rightto go. And those guys were hungry
and disrespected and they played that cardup to the hill and and they smashed
us. And again that's like Itell people, that's the beauty of football
is everybody who's ever played or coachhas had their brains beat out at some
point. You know, it doesn'tmatter if Nick Saban, Dabo Sweeney,
Ryan Day, Like that's that's thebeauty of it. Bill Belichick got you're

(39:21):
gotta at some point it's gonna beyour turn to get smashed. And that
was our turn, and it was. It was a humbling night, but
it was a it was a terriblenight. But that's a part of part
of life. Like you don't getto littlem moll and uh, it was.
It sucked because I felt terrible forTroy because that was a game that
haunts his legacy because he probably ifhe wins that, he's probably the best
Buckeye of all time. But itjust kind of is what it is.

(39:45):
Yeah, definitely, I mean comingoff winning the Heisman, and I mean
it's not like Troy had a badgame that game or anything either. Well,
I mean, you know, hedidn't have a chance because we didn't
we didn't run the ball, hedidn't have his number one receiver. You
know. Again, it's like ifyou take Kelsey away from the homes or
when you see these quarterbacks, iftheir number one guy goes down. Sometimes

(40:05):
if they're just really incredible, theycan still make it work. But a
lot of times, man, it'sit's tough, you know, when you
don't have your your top guy.And and again like you know, we
we just we didn't play well,like like we didn't play There wasn't Eddy
Fest like I mean, are youknow our offense we sucked that offense,
but our defense gave up forty onepoints too. You know, we had
we had a bunch of personal fouls. We played dumb football. So and

(40:29):
Urban, you know, Urban wasahead of his time with that offense.
That offense was I was sitting therewatching that man, and our guys were
out of gas. Our guys werewinded, tired, and I was watching
it on the big screen. Andthey're the way that they they stretched the
field horizontally in the running game.I mean, our guys were basically like
running gasers the whole game, andthey were they were exhausted. So Urban

(40:51):
was ahead of his time with whathe did there. And uh, I
was excited when he came here becauseI got to learn that offense and it
was it was really cool. Yeah. Absolutely. In another game from from
your playing days, how about thegame in two thousand and six. What
was the build up going into thatgame? I think you know it was

(41:16):
it was one that obviously, likewhen you look at the schedules, and
it was like, once we gotpast like Penn State, we knew that
it was kind of cupcake city andwe had a scare against Illinois, but
otherwise it was, you know,we were coasting, and so was Michigan.
I mean, Michigan got past NotreDame or Penn State or somebody,
and then they were coasting, andit was like we saw what was coming.

(41:37):
After they smashed Notre Dame, theyjumped up with the polls pretty high,
and that, you know, that'swhat made it the magic of the
one two games. I mean,they beat that Notre Dame team was like
a preseason number two team. Ithink they were because they'd played us and
they had like twenty guys come back, so Brady was back and all those
guys and and Michigan just smashed themout at Notre Dame and so we knew

(42:00):
they were gonna be good. Andagain they were good at O five.
They just you know, they hadsome bad losses. They were injured,
but they still had like you know, sometimes the record doesn't reflect the talent
level because they still had Alan Branchand Lamar Woodley and Leon Hall and you
know, Mario Manningham. They hadguys that were like dudes, like real

(42:20):
du Jake Long obviously forst overall pickin the draft, So you know,
we knew they were gonna be good. They put in a new running game,
they ran the Denver Broncos zone offense, and they were really good at
that and they were like just buzzsawing teams when I'd watch them on film,
and I think that you know,we knew it was gonna be a
big challenge. And I worried aboutour defense in that game because I thought
our defense was good. I thinkit was great, and I was right,

(42:43):
and we ended up giving up likethirty nine points. But thank god,
we scored forty two. But thatwas the most points I think we'd
ever give it up to a Michiganteam, I think, but it was,
Hey, we scored three more thanthey did, and it's a team
game. But you know, Iknew that their offense was legit because I
mean, we've got Manningham, You'renumber one guy. Mike Cartt was a
good college player, not a goodNFL player, Jake long as your left

(43:04):
tackle Henny who played like fifteen yearsin the league, was a really good
quarterback. Like you knew it wasgonna be tough, and you knew you
were't going to shut him out,and uh I just the build up was
crazy. And then you know,Bo dies the day before the game,
which makes it even crazier because you'vegot you know there, you know,
the guy that they're they're you know, we've got the Woody Hayes Center,
they've got the schaen Beckler Hall.Uh So, the guy that their football
building is named after, dies theday before the game or Thursday before the

(43:28):
game. It was. It wasnuts. So yeah, there was a
lot of pressure to win. AndI don't know if we blew our stack
that night and we ran out ofgas for Florida or we thought we were
too good or what it was,but you know, it was kind of
like we sold out to beat Michiganand then like, you know, we
didn't have that same We didn't playanywhere near as flawless of a game against
Florida, obviously, because that Michiganteam was was a team that I think

(43:51):
they they kind of suffered the samefate where they you know, they kind
of blew their energy. Uh,and then they didn't do well in the
Rosewell versus sc either, because Ithink we were so exhausted from that game
and they were probably defeated from losingthat game. So I always like kind
of wonder about that because we justwe didn't look like the same team,
you know. And sometimes that happenswhen you've got all this energy and you

(44:12):
expend it and then you get towin, then you know you really need
the coaching staff and the leaders toto beat you back down and just submission
to get ready to go for thatnext one, because it's it's hard.
Man, you beat Michigan in thatone two game. Like, the environment
around Columbus is different people. Youknow, It's it's almost like you gotta
the Woody Haysing where it's like,you know, you know, kick the

(44:34):
old granny and the knee, Likeanyone that gives you a compliment over the
age of eighty three, kicker,kick him in the knee or whatever.
Like, yeah, that thing whereit's like if someone compliments, you don't
take it, like don't eat thecheese. Like there's all these motivational things
where it's like when people are sayinggreat things about you and how great you
are, don't listen to it,like, you know, don't focus on
you know, you gotta make itall white noise. And I think that's

(44:54):
something that we obviously could have beenbetter at, but that that Michigan game
will always be special, well,one of my favorite games, you know.
And again it's again that's another gamethat's clouded just because of how poorly
we did in the championship game.But at the time, the one versus
two game was incredible one and thatwas you know, again, like I
told that, that was like areal Michigan team. That was a good
Michigan team. That wasn't some ofthese teams that we've played recently have just

(45:16):
stunk up at Michigan. But thatwas like, you know, look at
the guys, Look at David Harris, played ten years for the Jets,
was a captain, and you know, like those guys went on and went
to the league and they were likelegit in the league. Yeah, and
you'd already touched on it a littlebit, and I don't know, I'm
curious to your thoughts. I almostfeel like when you come off a big

(45:37):
win like that, it's almost betterto go right back and play your next
game the next week, so you'restill off that high. But obviously with
the National Championship game, you guyshad forty days off in between. Do
you think that played a role asfar as you guys maybe lost some of
your energy or lost some of yourfocus after the Michigan game and maybe that

(45:58):
was part of the reason you didn'tperform as well in the in the Championship
game. Well, I think that. You know, obviously, now with
the current structure with the Big TenChampionship Game, you can't really celebrate the
Michigan game anymore because you got togo play especially now where they remove the
divisions and now it's like you're gonnahave to go play Oregon. You're gonna
have to go play a top fiveteam on the other side of the Big

(46:20):
Ten because it's literally going to bethe two top teams now. So I
mean, there could be scenario youplay Michigan again, so you don't you
don't get to relate celebrate because Imean back then, like when we played
like we were done before Thanksgiving,which is crazy. I mean, I
mean in O six, you knowwe had a bye week. Uh we
actually I think we played twelve straightgames in O six. We didn't we
didn't even have a bye week inO six because we played we had a

(46:42):
buy and then they removed the byeweek for whatever reason, and we played
Bowling Green that was during what wassupposed to be our bye week. So
we played twelve straight and we weredone super early. But I think with
the current structure, it's all differentbecause there's no real I mean, obviously
you're gonna celebrate beating Michigan, butyou know, you gotta play Organ the
next week. Like your celebration isgonna be you know, like a couple

(47:04):
hours and that's it because when yougot to go play the Organ Ducks or
whoever is that two team in theBig ten, like, you gotta get
your mind right. You can't beout, you know, kicking it and
having a good time and relaxing becauseyou're gonna be fight. You're gonna be
facing a monster. And that's somethingthat's gonna be intriguing this year because we
don't we don't get to play Iowaor Northwestern or Michigan State or these like
turds from the old Big ten likeWestern Conference that now you're gonna go play

(47:28):
like real teams, so that makesit tough. And then you know with
the playoffs, like, it's justgonna be such a it's gonna be such
a mental and physical proposition for theseguys because they've got to stay even and
they've got to peak at the righttime. And that's something that Urban was
great about, is he'd get theguys to peak at the right time,
because that's delicate because you know,you gotta figure out how hard do I

(47:50):
push them? How hard do Ibeat him down? You know, do
we put the hammer down on himand practice today or not? How beat
up are they? And that's whyMicky Baratti is really good. It is
because he'd always give them good adviceon you know, the team's beat trash,
take it down a little bit,or hey, let's turn it up
a little bit and beat them downa little bit, because you know,
managing your roster and managing the healthof your players is gonna be so critical

(48:13):
when you can play seventeen games nowbecause you know, like the old days,
like when I played, it wasthirteen at most, and now you've
got add four more games on topof it, and you're not playing Akron
four times, you're playing like secSkoals. You're playing good Big ten schools,
and it's gonna be it's gonna bea battle, and I mean,
I'm excited for it. I thinkit's gonna be great for college football.
But you know, managing your rosteris gonna be so critical going forward.

(48:35):
And that's why you know, OhioState knock on wood, hanging on to
their depth in the transferporter right nowis is absolutely huge. Yeah, absolutely.
I mean they're playing seventeen games.That's a full NFL season. So
in uh speaking of Michigan Kirk,I didn't know if you've got a chance

(48:58):
to catch the uh around more postgameinterview from the spring game, it almost
to me kind of looked like ahostage interview because he did his press conference
and then they interviewed him on thefield and he he looked zero energy,
didn't have hardly anything to say,Yeah, we played well, We're going

(49:22):
to continue to work. It wasalmost like he was deer in headlights almost.
I think he knows what's coming again. I know Michigan fans want to
say nothing's going to happen. Slapon the rest or whatever. But it's
just like, what do you lookat how egregious the cheating was and how
much of a luxury it is tohave an electronic paper material from a guy

(49:44):
like Connor Sallions who just used hisown name for buying tickets. And I'm
sure they found, you know,transactions, and I'm sure they're going through
his venmo and his bank statements andwhatever like I mean, because you know,
you can, you know, subpoenathat stuff, and it's gonna it's
gonna be ugly. And again,Michigan, the Hamburger gate thing just dropped

(50:05):
like this week, and that wasfrom twenty twenty during COVID. So you
know, these things take time.And everybody's like they want instant justice and
instant executions, but you know,the NCAA has got to be thorough and
and honestly, some of this informationtakes time to get and I think that
they're gonna be smashed. And againI say it, I've said it a

(50:25):
billion times on my show, likeevery single coach left the Strength coach.
I mean, Joe Harbaugh pillaged theentire scham Becker Hall of every coach that
he could get except for Shanmore,you know, and the guys that he
didn't want. So he didn't wantMike Hart obviously because Mike Hart's a head
case. And then his son JayHarbaugh went to Seattle with McDonald, who

(50:49):
was there, you know, twoyears ago. But I or three years
go, excuse me, So II think that they know what's coming.
I think it's gonna be hard torecruit up there. You know again,
they're getting kids to commit right now, which is great. They got a
good defensive player the other day,But will it stick if they get hammered,
which is what I'm projecting. They'regonna get hammered worse than we've seen
just because of you know again,they were cheating US Integrity, which is

(51:14):
a company you guys should google ifyou guys will assimulates like US Integrity is
involved in this thing. In USIntegrity, they they're they're uh, they're
hired by every major gambling company,every major league as in like the NFL,
the NHL, Major League Baseball,the NBA to investigate fraudulent, fraudulent

(51:35):
movement in in gambling lines. Youknow again, like we saw the NBA
player recently get get a lifetime Danbecause his friend, you know, dropped
eighty thousand dollars at a casino onyou know him, like scoring under eight
points and under six assists and underfour rebounds, and so that was like
yeah, yeah, people like guessI mean that that's like a lay up

(51:57):
for US integrity. But they theyinvestigate all batting powder. They have access
to all of the online transactions,and you know, their computers can pick
up when there's really suspicious activity onsome random event or random game or you
know, some acron versus bowling GreenTuesday night game all of a sudden gets
a million dollar wager on one side, Like that's gonna send up a big
red flag. So those guys areinvestigating Michigan. Obviously there's rumors of potential

(52:22):
gambling going on inside of chan BecklerHall, which would be a no no.
So again, it's there's a lotof layers to this, and we
have probably we've probably seen twenty percentof it compared to what the investigation's gonna
unveil. So I'm excited for it. I can't wait for it, and
it's gonna be one of the bestdays in Blucky Scoop history when it happens,

(52:45):
right right. You guys were thefirst ones to report on that in
to keep it going. And Ialmost have second hand embarrassment for the fan
base up there and for the Beatreporters, just for the simple fact of

(53:06):
that they had a lot of informationthat they sat on and and it's wild
to me that there was. Andthen before pro day he came up and
we threw that night before Pro Day, and we've i mean we've tayed in
touch. I feel like pretty well, he's just an awesome human and even
a better teammates. If I couldask you quickly, what did you make

(53:28):
of what he was able to doafter you saw him that you played with
him the year before and he cameon and did what he did his rookie
year. What did you make ofwhat he was able to do in his
rookie season. Man, I justto be honest with you, it was
no surprise to me or anybody inthat Ohio State facility. It's just we
knew how to do a special andwhen he got the chance, got over
with the right people and the rightcoaching staff. The dudes unbelievable. Brian

(53:54):
Bearfield, Hey, Kay, Welcometo Houston. Brian Bearfield, Big sarch
media for everybody just called me Sarage, as you could tell by the hats.
So, Kate, I don't wantto take you back down memory lane
for just one second. I justlooked up some of your stats. So
you were in high school, youwere running back one thousand and four into

(54:15):
seventy seven yards. Your senior yearseventeen touchdowns, linebacker, one hundred and
sixty three tackles, four intercessions.You broke your high school scoring record in
basketball overall athlete. Even when yougot to Ohio State, you didn't really
you were like a hybrid. Theydidn't really know where to put you until
you ended up at tight end.So I say all that to ask you

(54:37):
what the Houston Texans are getting anathlete who's willing to play anywhere and everywhere
they need them. Correct? Onehundred percent, Yeah, that's one hundred
percent, hundred percent correct, nodoubt about it. I'll do whatever we
got to do here to win ballgames. And I mean they got awesome
players, awesome coaching staff, Sojust super super blessed here. How much
did that? How much does thatbackground help you or help you to get

(55:00):
through you know, college? Andnow I'll get you to where you are
today. Uh, I think everyday I've been thrown in a million different
directions, pool in a million differentdirections. And to be honest with you,
I mean, nothing's ever gone likehow it's supposed to unpin the paper
in my life and my coaching career, so I mean my playing career,
excuse me, And it's just,uh, I think I'm just I feel
like I'm battle tested, and Ifeel like I'm ready to go. Thank

(55:22):
you. Yeah, cool, Cool, You're un mute any better? Katie
got me? Yeah, I gotyou now. Cole Thompson USA today Texans

(55:43):
Wire, Congratulations are getting drafted.I just heard you kind of mentioned a
little bit about coaching. You're talkingabout your coaching career, not your playing
career. Do you want to getinto coaching afterwards when you're done playing football?
No, No, I got It'sa lot of emotions going through my
body right now. So regardless,No, I'm not playing on getting coaching.

(56:05):
I'm playing on just playing as longas I can. Just a quick
follow up, and you look ata guy like Tamiko Ryans, who is
a former player that is very closeto the league only has been out for
about seven years. What does itmean to be playing for somebody who's translated
over to this new side of thingsbut also understands what a player goes through
on the daily basis. I thinkthat makes the biggest difference in the world.

(56:25):
And I think you can tell bythe way the players respect him and
just how and the job he's donein the short time he's been there.
I mean, the dude's unbelievable.He seems like an unbelievable person. I'm
just really really excited to be ableto plany er Nathan Cody you ayk Cody
Davis from Sports Illustrated. You andI met at the NFL COMBA. By

(56:46):
the way, Yeah, I wouldlike to know, man, what are
what type of tidien are the HoustonTexans getting. Man, I'll tell you
what they're getting, Just a completeutility player. Basically, I'm gonna do
whatever you asked me to do atone hundred percent, one hundred everything I
got every single time, and justI'm gonna be the exact gluve in the

(57:08):
locker room. I'm going to bea dude people can come to when things
go wrong. And I'm so excitedto help his team anyway. I can
Kim. Hey, Kate, it'sKim Davis with Chalk Talk. Congratulations on
getting drafted by the Texans. Right. Kind of following up on what Cody
just ask you from your consation withCJ. I know he's spoken how you

(57:32):
have the staff, but what doyou know about this just from what you've
seen this offense? And although you'reutility player, what excites you most about
it other than obviously playing with CJN. I just think one, I think
Dalton Schultz is a great player.I've watched a lot of his film growing
up and just even the last coupleof years study a lot of what he
does, especially was on the Cowboysand now just to be able to learn

(57:53):
from a guy like that and takenotes and tips how he handles life and
everything, it's gonna be awesome forright now. In long turn down the
road and one quick follow up,what do you know about the city of
Houston? Have you spending time here? No? No. I trained in
Brisco, Dallas for a little bitfor a couple of months, and then
that was really about it. Otherthan that, I've never really been to

(58:15):
Houston, but I mean I'm reallyexcited to come, all right, thank
you. The recording media you too, Aaron, Hey, Kate. When
it comes to blocking, some tightends embrace it. Some do it because
it's part of the job. What'syour mentality for blocking? And I have

(58:37):
a follow up, Man, Ilove blocking. I do. I'm gonna
throw my face in the fire chanceI can get. I might not always
be pretty, but I promise you'regonna get every ounce of power I got.
And the draft process as a provenguy, did you go on a
lot of visits? Did you workout privately? We are someones that you

(58:58):
remember. And what a level ofactivity do you have with Texans Combine meetings,
et cetera. K Yeah, wehad. We had a formal at
the Combine. Uh And I've always, like I said, always talked to
CJ closely. Uh So, justhaving that and then just throughout the prox
we had a couple of zoom callshere and there, and other than that,

(59:19):
I mean, I trained at OhaState Coach Mick and coach at the
train coaches up there with training agroup of me, Tommy Iickenberg and Steel
Chambers, my roommates that we livedwith in the afternoon, and that was
really about it. We just trainedand play ball at that point and the
other teams, did you go ontrips and things like that. We took
one local visit to the Bengals.That was it. We have time for

(59:40):
a couple more. Go ahead,sarge, h Kate. I know that
you know we asked you a lotof questions about playing with CJ. But
you've been scouted as a tight endbut can also be flanked out to the
wide receiver position. Being at OhioState for as long as you were,
what did you pick up from alot of those great Ohio State wide receivers

(01:00:00):
they came through the time you werethere. You just watch I mean,
you watch those guys go about howthey handle releases, how they handle their
feet atop and in the routes andeverything like. I mean, for me,
I've never played it in my life, so starting you literally started from
square one, absolute square one,so learning slowly with them. And then
I mean when you got the chancein the summers, I mean when I

(01:00:22):
was younger, you got the chanceto go train with Garrett, and the
summer and the sand and stuff like. You just try and take little bits
and pieces of what people have justapply it to your game. The best
you can, because not everybody's thesame. So you just pieces together how
you feel can help you the most. Thank you. We'll close with Cole
Heate. I know that your backgroundis in defense from your time at Ohio
State, that you translated over tothe offensive side to play tight end.

(01:00:45):
What kind of advantages are Houston's offensegetting with you being able to understand kind
of coverages? And you're in thehead tables obviously you just heard it from
pastors m A. Tayoe. Thankyou guys, past and Amen. It's

(01:01:06):
an archie girl. I mean nextto them are past president Tip Stare to
my father left. You just heardfrom him a few minutes ago. Coach
Dave Moore from the Massive Tis Letme correct myself, State champion head coach

(01:01:29):
that guys, hope you should bein the press of. Next to the
name is his lovely wife, Rebeccaand her Mea has signed on to speak
to us next year. She isgoing to be one of our speakers.
What a great story. She workswith a lot of privileged kids and also
as a track coach and wrote abook. So we've got a loft of

(01:01:52):
stuff to cover with Rebecca. Sowe're looking forward to that and then obviously
our speaker, mister Chiger, Iwant to thank our sponsors as we have
been doing all season long. LibertyFord, All Care, Prime All Cares,

(01:02:15):
Prime Time, Help Plant, WilkshireGolf Course, the Mary and Motley
Memorial will find the scholarship, anddoctor Peter Ferguson Chiropractor. A couple of
announcements. The history books that wegive all of our speakers. We had

(01:02:36):
a few lefts for the season.They were ten bucks. They're going to
be on sale for five dollars.Who all supplies last, So if you
wanted to pick one up, I'llbe you go with the math and get
one of those as well and loadedone that okay, German the fight over
don't forget. Next Monday is ourgolf outing at Wilkshire, So if you've

(01:03:00):
got a team to register, pleasedo that. Seat Bill Costello obviously,
and also we have I know therewas individuals that needed to be put on
a team. So if you arelooking for a team to jump on,
seat Bill and he can get yousquared away. Then following our dinner that
evening right here at Tozy so we'llhave some grave prizes and door prizes like

(01:03:24):
I said, and some things togive away as well as a grave meal
prepared by the staff. Here atozy. The Pro Football Hall of Fame
Residency program rolls along. I've beenmentioning this every week, and this past
week was Willie Roath and WILLI hassome fun in town. I had a

(01:03:47):
chance to have dinner with Willie,but he's he loves he loves Caron Ohio,
and I love to see that theseHall of famers come back and enjoy
themselves here in their second home.So I can tell you for stand that
Willie was really excited about it.And this week we have Lynn Swan,
so new Steeler fans keep an eyeout for Lyn Swan. Caps in Boston

(01:04:15):
talk about this every week. Seriesis two to one, Boston winning the
last game here in Cleveland they playedtonight, so the cast can bounce back
and see what they can do.Send them back to Boston. We've got
some birthdays wanted to announce, anda couple of these were given them me
as I walked in today. TiptRichard's birthday. Also, I know he's

(01:04:42):
back in the kitchen working his buttoff. Mikel Josie's birthday today as well,
and this one is special, thisone here. Please join me and
welcome me. Is he back here? And okay? Club member Bill Pilotti.
Bill turns ninety nine next Tuesday.Anyway, know Bill is a World

(01:05:14):
War Two veteror and fought in theBattle of the Balls, So thank you.
And then finally, June eighth isthe National High School Football Hall of
Fame dinner or events I guess youcall it. It is June eighth,

(01:05:39):
and RGIE is a member of thatHall of Fame as well. So if
you're interested and want to go tothat this year, we've got some great
new and Chinese and c RJ formore information for tickets and things like that
about the event. So June eighthwe want to put on your calendar.

(01:06:00):
So again no luncheon next week.This is our final week of the luncheon,
and then we will see you atthe golf outing and here at the
dinner next Monday night. Brings meto our speaker today, which we kind
of changing it up a little bit. Talked to Archie a couple weeks ago
and he said, how about ifwe just sit down and chat, And

(01:06:20):
I thought that was a great idea. Let's talk shoot some questions to him.
We'll open it up to the floorand do that. But before we
do that, I almost forgot.We've got a drawing. I can't believe
you guys didn't say I would.Let's keep that in mind. Three and

(01:06:42):
twenty dollars. It's our biggest onein the year. Ozzie's got the money
back there. We're gonna have Archiedrawing the ticket. Let's take me again.

(01:07:17):
I will put my glasses. Theynever let me forget it, nurs.
I messed up enough ones seven seven, five six four seven, three
hundred and twenty one dollars right nowpriors like three hundred three yeah, seven

(01:07:57):
five six four seven days. DecidedI'll eat my glasses on while I read
Archie's bio, because there's some reallygood stuff in here, and I want
to make sure I get it correct. Then we're gonna invite Archie over.
We're gonna have a seat over Aaron, and we're gonna save that state.
This is too ironic. Born atUniversity Hospital nearly in the shadow of Ohio

(01:08:25):
Stadium, Archie Griffin has been abuck out of his whole life. After
serving for eleven years as president andCEO, of the Ohio State Alumni Association.
Archie stepped back in twenty fifteen toa consultant role as a senior advisor
in the Office of Advancement at OhioState. During his tenure leading the Ohio
State University Alumni Association, Archie lateran expanded effort to embrace young alumni and

(01:08:51):
began initiatives focusing on career assistance andestablishing an office of Volunteer Relations. Owned
to the world as the only twotime Heisman Trophy winner, Griffin is also
one of a select group of Buckeyesto be named a three time All American
during his playing days from nineteen seventytwo to nineteen seventy five. A member

(01:09:15):
of the National Football Foundation in CollegeHall of Fame and current Board of Director,
Griffin is a member of the RoseBowl Hall of Fame and was named
All American Century Player by the Tournamentof Roses Association during the centennial celebration of
the Rose Bowl back in twenty fourteen. Gryffin is one of two players in

(01:09:36):
NCAA history to start in four RoseBowls. Following his story career of Ohio
State, Archie graduated in nineteen seventysix with a degree in industrial relations.
He was a first round draft choiceof the Cincinnati Bengals, where he served
as co captain and played for sevenseasons. He returned to Ohio State in

(01:09:59):
nineteen eighty four and rose to becomeAssociate director of Athletics for sports before taking
the leadership role with the Alumni Association. Playing under the legendary coach Whatdy Hayes,
Archie learned a life lesson to payingforward in life, devoting a countless
hours to philanthropic causes at Ohio State, Archie created the Archie Griffin Scholarship Fund,

(01:10:25):
which benefits Ohio State's Olympic sports programsin the central Ohio community. The
Archie and Bonelli Griffin Foundation Fund helpsdevelop sports, educational and travel programs for
youth as they aspire the next generationto dream big. Archie has three children,
Anthony, Andre and Adam, aswell as three grandchildren. Archie and

(01:10:49):
his wife, Bonita split their timenow between Westerville and another home in Florida.
Locally, Archie has been inducted inthe High High School Athletic Association's Circle
of Champions, which recognizes former highschool student athletes who have demonstrated outstanding character
and accomplishments on and off the field. He was inducted into the National Federation

(01:11:14):
of State High School Association of StateHigh School Association Hall of Fame in nineteen
ninety six. He was also honoredin May of twenty fifteen to be the
commencement speaker during his spring graduation ceremoniesat Ohio State. Archie was recently selected
as the number four all time playerin college football history by ESPN. I

(01:11:36):
want to know who the other threeomlegendary Ohio State coach. This is what's
impressive here, Woody Hayes said famouslyof Archie Griffin. He's a better young
man than he is a football player, and I've seen a lot of great
football players. A sought after speakerand humanitarian, Archie serves on any boards

(01:12:00):
and foundations. He's a former directorof Aberamery and Fish. Archie serves as
a director of Vancovid Insurance Company,member of the board of directors for the
Columbus Youth Foundation, and a memberof the board of directors for Triple A
Club Alliance. Let's welcome two timesHighsman Trophy winner Archie Ergre. You're think

(01:12:45):
I'm on we say this. Thankyou so much for that. Definely Christ
my mother and father still, Ithink, because I'm sure they're the only
ones who believe all those basics.Well, you know what, when I
got that, I looked at itand I said, you know, I
would cut it down a little bit, but I thought, now don't need

(01:13:06):
to, because we want to hearall about Archie Griffin and this is a
great opportunity. And as you cansee a lot of Scarlett and Gray out
there are a lot of hings andI thought this would be great. I
know you mentioned that, why don'twe just sit there in chat. I've
got some questions that I want toask you and let you elaborate on it
as well. So the first questionis your your family. It's a storied

(01:13:29):
American story really when you think aboutit. Your your parents grew up in
West Virginia coal mining camps and beforemoving north to really offer a better life
for their kids. You were bornin Columbus at University Hospital, which was
part of that bio. I meanyou had to look out and see that
horse you out there and say that'swhere I'm want to be. I wish

(01:13:51):
I could have looked out there timenot quite possible. Do you think about
your childhood and uh who were someof your greatest influences and and help you
stay on track? Well, youknow what, Uh, I guess I
have to start at home. Uhwith the family. You know, I
I was very important to come froma a a fairly large family. I've

(01:14:14):
got six brothers and one sister.And uh my parents, Uh they were
inspriority. I mean, uh mymother and father. My father was one
of the hardest work with the menthat I haven't I mean when you think
about it, Uh he worked threejobs uh to support uh our family.
And uh my mother was a ahomemaker and uh she did a wonderful job

(01:14:36):
with uh eight kids. And uhso when you talk about people who were
in inspiration, uh, my folkswere an inspiration to me. Uh.
As we were growing up, theyhad priorities for us. And the first
one was for all of us,all of us to always trusted God.
UH. Second one for all ofus to get an education, college education.

(01:14:56):
And the third one was for allof us to participate in sports.
And they wanted them to trust Godfirst. Because I always said to the
gods they controlled me life. Hecould help you in any situation that you
might find yourself in, and Iwill hardly believe that. And secondly,
they want us to have an educationalcollege education because that was something they didn't
get. I mean, they hada dream. Their dream was for all
eight of their kids to graduate incollege. And I'm very happy to say

(01:15:17):
that that was a dream come truthwith them because all they go, did
you graduate from college? And mymother and father were living. They were
so very very proud that fact.Then their third priority was of course to
all participate in athletics, and theywanted the Christip paid athletics because they felt
the athletics and kind of rounds theperson out. It teaches you a lot

(01:15:40):
of valuable lifelong lessons, things suchas the will to win, cope of
pressure, get along in the teamsituation, and all those things are very
very important to help you in life. Absolutely that I mean that they were
inspiring me. But there were others. There were others. I mean,
I certainly think of my my coaches. A coach in my high school coach,

(01:16:00):
uh Bob Steward, who uh gotless his soul just passed away about
a year ago. Uh created asfar as run but I when I when
I really think about UH people thatmade a difference, I think about a
junior high school guidance counselor. UH. His name was Oscar Giel. He
was a guidance counselor UH for ourstudent council. UH. He was the

(01:16:21):
leader of our student council, andand when I was in the eighth grade,
UH ninth grade, our service presidentof UH of of our student council.
And I just remember one day himsitting down with us and and and
talking with us about UH some thingsthat he thought would help us in our
lives. And what he talked tous about was what he called the three

(01:16:42):
d's, and three d's being numberone desired, number two dedication, and
number three UH determination. And Iremember telling us that if we'd apply those
three d's to anything that we wantedto do, then we could always feel
good of our subs cause if weuse those three d's, UH in essence,
what we have done as we havegiven a total commitment, desired,
you know, setting goals for yourself, dedication, committed yourself to a little
goals, and determination, overcoming theofficers and giving away those three d's have

(01:17:08):
been how I say my secret saucefor success, because I've used those three
d's and just about everything I haveever done in life. And I learned
from junior high school guidance council bythe name of the district hospital here.
So those are just some of thepeople that impacted me Franklin in a very
very possible way as I was comingup. Well, certainly has paid off

(01:17:30):
for you. You know, afteryour football days were over, and you
spent nineteen years in the athletic departmentin Ohio State. At eleven of those
years as the alumni association president,that level was on top of that nineteen
it's right, and at thirty thirtyI came into just get away with thirty

(01:17:54):
years ninete grade years too, nineteenin the athletic department, eleven more.
Yeah, as as our association nowpresident. What were some leadership lessons that
he learned that he tried to applyin the business group. Well, when
you think about leaderships, I'll thinkabout the coaches in particular. But before
I ever do that, the Goldgroup very basic. I'll try to make

(01:18:18):
things simple. The Gold group dounto others as you wish they would do
unto you, To me, thatwas one of the greatest things you could
have as a leader. And allthat the meanings that you treating people right.
I said, I can't think ofa leadership lesson any better than that,

(01:18:41):
treating people right, being empathetic,feeling what others feel. I mean,
that's that's a great lesson to havewhen you're in a leadership. Grow.
But I think the coaches and someof the things that I learned from
him, he was a great leader. I mean, and I think he
was even a better person than hewas a coach. Yeah, you know,

(01:19:04):
I just think that much of him. But but he was a great
leader. Uh. He had greatleadership qualities dedicated dedicated to the house Pate
University, dedicated uh, to thegame of college football, dedicated to the
coaches who worked for him. Hehad them players who played for UH.
He was a disciplinarian. He said, UH, fair, reasonable rules,

(01:19:25):
regulations, and he would enforce thoserules of regulation. He was honest.
Great leadership lesson. He can't thinkof the person more honest and what he
ate is uh and UH the bestthing about the best thing about is the
fact that he cared about people.That's what he made him such a great

(01:19:46):
person. I know people you knowtalk about the incident that uh took him
out of the game, But Icould tell you as a guy that played
uh for coaches who uh loved coaches, that man cared about people you all
know. Uh the pay forward urnUh he really set that pay forward turn

(01:20:06):
on the map. I mean hetalked to us about paying Forward years and
years before the movie Paying Forward cameout or any of uh signs that are
on the house stay and then hetalked about paying Forward. I'll never forget
that. He used to always onThursday nights, uh after practice. Uh

(01:20:28):
it was a life there of practice, he would take us uh over the
children's hospital. Uh. He hadone of those hel Camino. You guys
remember the El Camino uh kund oft It wasn't the truck, but it
was uh a cars that had hpar open back. We jump in the
back. He takes us down tothe children's hospital to to talk with the
kids uh that were the children's hospital, cause they loved for the Hill State
football players to come down and andtalk with He knew that, and every

(01:20:51):
Thursday he takes a couple of usuh down uh the children's hospital and talking
on because he knew that it uhhad a positive impact. One of those
kids till pop. But he careda great deal about people. And you
when you talk about leadership, youknow, caring, being dedicating, being
honest, and certainly treating people right. Our characteristics that you want to give

(01:21:16):
your leaders. I'm gonna take youback to your first game and then you
talk about perseverance and overcoming obstacles andthings like that. It didn't start off
too good for him. You wannashare that story, Well, it didn't
start off too good. Uh.Uh my my first year to Ohio State
when I when I've been recruited abouthow State though, a lot of people

(01:21:42):
told me I should go to myhouse state. They said, uh that
I was too small. They saidthat, uh, you know, coach
Age was only recruiting me so thatuh uh team up North Uh wouldn't get
me. You said, you know, you'll never play for Ohio State because
you know you're you're just not bigenough. Coachesing on, we had those
big backs, well over two hundredpounds. He was a fullback oriented coach.

(01:22:04):
And then I should go to asmaller school where I'd get a chance
to play well. Being an athlete, you know I I I fell out
my billionaire or anyone else. Itook it as a challenge, UH to
go to House State. And Iremember when I reported the camp in the
summer of nineteen seventy two. Nowsome of you might remember that nineteen seventy
two was the UH UH very firstyear that they U that they allowed freshmen

(01:22:27):
to play on marsity teams in thecurrent areas. That was the very first
year. And you might remember thatif there were those plane crashes, certainly
at Marshall and the Wichita State hadplane crashes, and and Marshall, UH,
they wanted to continue UH their footballprogram, but they couldn't do it
without freshmen playing. So the NCAAthey opened up freshman being up for everybody,

(01:22:53):
and so that was the very firstyear that freshman were to play.
Well with that three the case,my number one goal, UH was to
make the varsity team because I wantedto prove to everybody who said that I
couldn't play at Ohio State. Iwanted to prove to him that I could
play at a house state. I'llnever forget when I reported the camp in
nineteen seventy two. I'll put inthe back and put in the back.
Been playing on the fifth team andplaying on the fifteen, been playing on

(01:23:15):
the scout squad, and I thinksomething, you know what that is?
That's for Orleans's the beach squad.I mean, we were the guys that
took the beat and every day inpractice from the first teams, our job
was to run the opposing teams playedwhile the first team defense got their practice
off the bus. You talk aboutdiscouraging, that was really discouraging because for
some strange reason, that first teamdefense seemed to know what plays we were
running and when we were running.So as a running back you couldn't gain

(01:23:38):
any yardage at all against that firstteam. Well, that year, our
first game was a home game andit was against the University of Iowa.
Because it was a home game,Coach Hayes he allowed everybody to advest because
he believed that if you practice forohiose State, that you should be identified
at the house state university of uniformat a home game. I really bit

(01:24:00):
about that because that was the leastshowing that I was part of the team.
You know, even though uh Iwas uh on the fifteen at tailback,
and then even though that you knowthere were three number forty five out
on the field that day. Well, in the ninety four UH coach age
nine before every game he took allthe varsity, all over the varsity,

(01:24:23):
which was about UH sixty four players, he took them away to a hotel
with his freshman reserves. UH westayed in the dormitory. We met up
at the varsity, did a game, stayed. That game against I was
started and we're Benwe were pretty bad. And in the fourth quarter, with
a couple of minutes to go tothe game, Coach A decided to give
a few friends and an opportunity toplay. And I was one of those
freshmen. And now I can rememberhim parting off the bench to go into

(01:24:45):
the game, and I remember outsided. I was because this was my big
chance and I could get in thegame, run for a touchdown on baby,
just make a big play. Hemight put me on that varsity team.
And again that was my goal.I wanna be a part of varsity.
I wanna show everybody who said thatI couldn't the Plattle House that I
wanna show me I couldn't playtole House. Then well, all went into the
game, got into the huddle,and to my surprise, the first player

(01:25:06):
that was called was an eighteen sweetnow in eighteen sweep was a pitcher out
to me going around the right side. I mean, great opportunity. We
broke the huddle, lined up inthe eye in formation. Quarterbacks started to
call the signals. And as hestarted calling the signals, I got the
thing. I said, you know, I'm wondering balls the line that's gonna
open up the same pack of callfor me. Yeah, as they've opened

(01:25:27):
up for other running backs a roundhere, because all day long they have
to make me big, huge overprobably running backs around. So Simon was
one of they to do the samething for me. For the ball was
snappers, And as soon as theball was snapped, I did something that
was fundamentally wrong to see when you'rerunning back or a tailback that you're gonna
get a pitch out. One ofthe fundamental things that you talked from day
one, coach, with what rightyou gotta look the ball into your hand.

(01:25:49):
You gotta wash the ball come fromthe quarterback's hands into your own hands.
But when the ball was snapped,the first thing I was I focused
my attention when the hall which Iwas gonna run through. And when I
looked towards that hole, I wasshocked because those guys that opened up a
hole big enough you could drive atruck throw to me, the hole was
just that big. So instead ifyou turn it back towards the quarterback and

(01:26:10):
watching the ball come into my hand, I kept my eyes on that hole
it's on to make sure it didn'tgo anywhere men with my eyes on to
hold a quarterback crystal ball through.The ball hit me in the hands and
I hum him. And that's justone thing you don't do when you play
with coach, had you not fromhim now, as you can imagine,
I was disappointed. He took meout of the game and I watched the

(01:26:32):
rest of the game, which wasnot much left from the bench, very
very disappointed. I'll never forget goinghome that night. My father said some
something was wrong with me. Heasked me about I told him, I
Sai, Daddy know, I don'tknow that I'll get another chance, you
know, biggest fifteen jail back beingon the scout squad. I I don't
know that I'll just having fumble.I don't know that I'll get another chance

(01:26:56):
this year. For my father,like he always would do is he gave
me a He said, hey,they didn't think you could play. They
went to Michie in the game andI struck a quarter with him. He
might have something next. But Iwent back to practice that next week.
I was still on the fifth team, still on the scouts squad, still
taking that meeting every day for thefirst teamers. Our next game was against

(01:27:17):
the University of North Carolina, andit was also a home game, and
again because it was a home game, everybody was allowed to dress now.
Before the game, coach took thevarsity away to the hotel with Scrashman.
Reserves stayed in Dovatory, met upwith the varsity gating game of the Stadion.
Game against North Carolina started first quarter. North Carolina blocked fun of ours

(01:27:38):
and they went ahead of US sevento other and all of a sudden midway
through the first quarter, called fromthe bench called Ben kept calling Brinton.
I know didn't mean me going,so they kept calling Brimin. No.
I was the only rivering on theteam at the time, So I got
up and went to run out ontothe field. And when I went to
run out onto the field, oneof my teammates called me back because all

(01:28:00):
excitement, I had forgotten to takemy helmet with us leave to leave.
The coach Hayes meant for me togo into the game after I had fun
up the week before. I wasfeel a team tailback, I was on
the scouts squad. How could theymeant for me to go into the game.
It was truly a mystery to me. All I could tell you is
if I went into the game,and I'll be totally honest with you,

(01:28:20):
I was in a daze the wholetime. And all I know is that
my number was being called and Iwas running with the ball. And I'll
never forget when I left that gameafter playing about two and a half quarters.
When I left that game, eightysix thousand fans that went to my
house stadium and they stood up thatthey gave me a standing ovation. And
they did that because in those twoand a half quarters, I had brushed

(01:28:43):
two hundred and thirty nine yards.Well it was at that time, at
that time, that was the HighState rushing record. Now, I'll just
never ever ever forget that I countedas a par I really knew because the
night before that game, when ourfriend is up every night. I asked
to go to the book, giveme a chance to play in that game.

(01:29:03):
And when he give me the chanceto play, help they play to
the best of my ability. Hedid that for me, and I'm so
frey Bary, for I had alot of exciting games in while stay,
but that that about doubt was themost exciting. What happened to happen in
my Friend of the Year, Wellit certainly fueled you, I know,
because it's now been fifty years sinceyou won that Heisman Trophy, the first

(01:29:28):
one. Yeah, and uh,what what do you remember about that night
at the ceremony. Well, it'sdifferent now than it was when I was
when I wanted I'll never get it. Uh. They called the Athletic department

(01:29:49):
on the Monday after the Monday afterwe played that team of Nord. They
they called the Athletic department and toldthem that I needed to be a New
York Uh. They were gonna makean announcement of uh the Hide and con
Trophy winner. Uh. There wouldbe two or three others uh there Uh,
but they were gonna make the announcement. The whole wanna hide in control.

(01:30:11):
So I was all excited. Uh, to go to New York on
Tuesday. Uh got on a plane. Uh they had an escort beating me
in Columbus and and UH escort meuh to uh New York. And I
got there and I was the onlyone there. So they made the announcement
that I want to hide in controluh huh and uh I was excited,

(01:30:33):
certainly. Uh. You know,I played on the great teams at House
taking that uh team was one ofthem that nineteen seventy fourteen. Uh.
But certainly I was excited because youknow, when you went to hide the
trophy as far as lockn certain Uh, that's a team award. You don't
win that kind of uh award,you don't. You gotta have people and

(01:30:54):
helping you out of great gem andI certainly had that during my time at
a House State. Well they madedidn't else that day and then uh the
next week, my whole family gotthe opportunity to come to New York and
they had the big dinner and thatwas very very special. I got really
emotional because uh looking out to theaudience and seeing my whole family and my

(01:31:15):
mother's father, my brothers and mysister, I mean everybody and j I
got older, taket my emotion becausethat was an also time for me.
But the next year they tried topull that same thing. They told me
they knew I knew the dream.So I happened to be going to Saint

(01:31:41):
Clairsville, Ohio on that Monday afterthe Michigan game in nineteen seventy five,
and so the sports information director toldme that on my way, I needed
to call in to see if theDowntown Athletic Club in New York called to
tell me to come to New York. Well, on my way to Saint

(01:32:02):
Clairsville, I stopped a filling stationand got on the payphone and all back
to the Athletic department, and Ithink it was Steve Staffoo's the assistant SID
at the time. He told methat, uh, Downtide Athletic Club called
and said, uh, they knewthat I knew the drill and that I

(01:32:25):
hadn't won the hide control, butI can't tell anybody, So I had
to wait till the next day togo to New York. And they announced,
uh, that I had won thesecond high the troll. And I
try to honor their request. Ito tell you that I did the best
of my mother, my girlfriend,and my teammates found out that night.

(01:32:49):
They didn't tell anybody. No,I don't think anybody, But yeah,
Joe, it's quite different now.You all know that. It's a it's
a big, huge ceremony, it'sa TV show on the ESPN. It's
a it's a great time for everybody, bring a lot of it, former
player, former winners back. Butit was quite a bit different back the
nineteen seventy four, nineteenth I betthat gas station wishes they knew that you

(01:33:14):
received the word and there that youwon the high spentrola you mentioned. You
know, it's changed. That haschanged in the game of football has changed,
uh as far as U ni Land the transfer portal and all this
stuff that's that's happening in the lastfew years. Your thoughts on that,
is it good for college football orwhat are your thoughts? Well, it's

(01:33:40):
a college spors in general. It'sit's it's good, but very good.
It's a little bit of bad.Yeah, let's see, it's good because
when when when you you you thinkin I l uh, let's talking about
in il you talk about an io. I mean people could see that coming.
I mean, yeah, everybody couldsee that coming. You started seeing
millions and billions of dollars being paiduh uh to the college coaches. You

(01:34:06):
just had knowed that, uh,something's gotta be given uh to the young
people uh playing the game. Soyou you you could see that company.
Now it didn't come the way thatI thought it would. Company. I
mean I I I I I II think they have to get some more
regarded rails around in IL and howit's done. You know, I when

(01:34:29):
I thought of Nilus, I usedto think of nil as uh. You
know, you you go to collegeon your scholarship, uh, you do
well and maybe uh A a cardealership might want you to do a rehersal
for them. You do that comhersion, you get paid for that was in
IL the way uh that I saw. Or if somebody wanted you to do

(01:34:54):
uh A company wanted you to comein and do a speaking and game for
them, you do that speaking gaming, you get paid for its. And
to me, that's what inn Iowas. Well it's gone far beyond that.
Now. You know you have todeal with uh uh nil money.
Uh when you when you recruit peopleyou're not supposed to with you, but

(01:35:15):
when you when when people are beingrecruited. I mean now I even hear
stories that uh some people are evenasked, uh ask them when to come
to universities to pay them uh likefive thousand dollars to come make visits and
thinks of that sort. That's nothow I'm envisioned in IL. So they
need to get some guard girls aroundit. But it's a good thing.
It's a good thing that they have, uh and I am it's a good
thing that uh players or athletes aregetting uh the opportunity uh to make uh

(01:35:42):
some money uh off of uh whatthey're doing. I I I think that's
a good thing. I've always beena proponent uh for that. Uh.
But at the same time, they'vegot to get some guard girls around.
I know the NCAA just recently uhpass the rules where the schools can get
involved and and helping kids with inI. Uh you know, if they
can use their marketing partners uh tohelp the kids skip with that in IL,

(01:36:04):
what's the goodness. It's a goodthing. But I've always felt that
the schools shouldn't be involved anyway,because I look at in IL as something
that if the schools had control ofit would be Uh, in a better
situation, you wouldn't have to dealwith the agents and all that stuff that's
uh getting involved in. Yeah,and when transfer portal is nothing, Yeah

(01:36:26):
there transfer bortal. I'll tell youit's uh, it's crazy, and it
it works for some. I meanthere's been some people that's gone through that
transfer portal and they've done a greatjob, that's worked down and win.
But what people don't know about arethose that get stuck in the portal.
I mean, I think I thinkJean Smith was telling me that, uh

(01:36:47):
there were go up. It waslast year or a year before, but
uh, there were like thirty fivehundred people went into the portal. A
thousand'em didn't come out of theport So you know, if for waves,
so you've got to be very verycareful how you handled uh those situations.
So you know, it's uh itworks for something. I mean,

(01:37:09):
I I think of you know,people like Gobroke who who went in and
got the LSU and the did terrificthings. Uh, people like that.
Those are the ones that you hearabout, but you don't hear about the
ones that get stuck in that portal. So uh, again very good.
It's a little bit bad and keepingwith change in college football. As a

(01:37:35):
Big ten guy, you know thelandscape with a Big tennis change, got
USC, Oregon, Washington, whoelse? Uh you said that all coming
uh into the Big Ten? Whatdo you make of that? Well?
I can see that number too,you know when you when you when you

(01:37:56):
see the the SEC and those teams, I go or like that. You
knew that the Big Ten was gonnahave an answer for that, and they
answered being For a long time,the Big Ten has been talking about uh
being a conference uh that goes fromcoast to coast and uh, now if
you look at it, uh thisyear it will be a conference from coast

(01:38:19):
to coast, from the east coastto the west coast. And uh,
you know, I think it's excited. I know what do he age is
probably rolling over in his grave andknow in uh UC in the USC you're
playing in the Big Ten. Uh, But uh yeah, I think it's
uh gonna be exciting uh to watch. I can't wait to see USC UC

(01:38:40):
l Egs come and playing us inNovember. And you know that's that's That's
what I'm reported to. So nowyou know it it it it, It's
gonna be inter. It's gonna beanswered. But you it it's gonna end
up with, in my opinion,a couple of super conferences. Uh you
know, we we just gets aeighteen eighteen. Uh so I could see

(01:39:02):
the big thing to add another coupleand I certainly seen the sec added some
more. Uh, it's it's gonnahave gonna have super confidence. You you
mentioned Woody. I wanna go backto uh the first time you met Woody
Hayes. Uh I. I've heardjust from a few people that I've known
over the years that when Woody cameto the house a lot of times he

(01:39:23):
didn't talk football and called football allyeah, and and tell us about when
he came to your house. Well, first first, you know, he
moved to salesman. Oh man,he he he ain't him in the house,
and he's got the parents there.That's who he selling. You know,
you just see it, they said, the parents and uh. But

(01:39:44):
the thing about about coach is that, uh he he really did say anything
about football at all. Matter offact, did there was so much that
uh I thought, well, maybehe doesn't want me to play football for
me? You know, all hetalking about was in education and how Foch
well us for UH media getting goodeducation and UH, you know so again
I I I wasn't so sure thatif you did he wanted me to play

(01:40:06):
football. UH, but he continuedto recruit me. So you know,
I I chose to go about ourstate and I'm glad that I did it
because I'll never forget. And thefirst meeting that we attended a freshly,
uh, the first thing that theytold all of us was that we were
in school for anything else other thanto get a good education, then we
might as well get up a leadersmeeting. He had the same stuff.

(01:40:27):
But you always said that an athletewithout an education couldn't be headed for a
bad situation. You know, whenyou think about that, that's so very
true because when you you think aboutthe number of athletes that played the game
of football, I mean, it'sit's huge. You know, over sixty
thousand athletes UH played the game UHcoming out of uh uh high school,

(01:40:49):
coming out of college. And whenyou think of the number that UH made
it in the pros, you know, it's not any comparison because you've got
thirty two pro teams, you gotseven round the draft. That's two hundred
and twenty four people two hundred,twenty four sixty seventy thousand. It's not
very good algie with me. Whenthe coaches always tried to make the hospital

(01:41:13):
that you had to have something elseto fall back on. That fallback position
that he constantly referred to that hedrilled into Huss was that you had to
have an education. You had tohave something you got. A fallback position
was always your education. You getout making good and be able to move
out to the campus. I knowthis is my last question for you,

(01:41:34):
and then we're gonna open it upwith a couple of orphans. All right,
I always wondered, and you know, I'm watching your career. You
know, you started off with awith a bad fumble and and things like
that, but you had such anincredible career after that, and you played
against some really good teams in theRose Bawls and and throughout the the regular

(01:41:55):
season. I mean, the teamup north had some pretty good teams,
so they did, and and therewere some other teams to Iowa back then
was good, and then there weresome other teams. Who was the toughest
guy you ever played against? Toughestguy playing kids? A lot of tough
guys. A lot of really reallytough guys, you know, I I

(01:42:15):
I I'll I'll go over to abouta pro career. Uh uh one of
the guys, uh that uh wasreally really tough. It hit me the
hardest. Well you remember guys,remember Hollywood Henderson. Oh yeah, you
know I had something that hitting meso hard, hollering. Man. I
believe Kenny Anderson was throwing to bea running the past, but I was

(01:42:38):
at least man on pass playing.I was one out the side Kenny Anderson
football up in the area. Itjust like seem back. It took forever
from now, and when it camedown, I thought it. Hollywood Henderson
hit me so hard. I meanI he hit me into the next day.
He get me so hard. I'llnever forget that. And then I

(01:43:00):
was reading his book and he talkedabout that kid. That's how hard he
was hard enough, but he wantedto talk about it in his book.
He said, I hit art scriptso hard. I knocked both times and
told his office. I mean,and he did, he did, He
did be hard. Uh. Butthe other guys, I mean, you

(01:43:21):
know, I've heard you mentioned someof the Pittsburgh Steelers and you know the
Pro Football Hall of Fame, alost Fitzburg Steelers or in the Hall of
Fame, and one of them Jacklamberd I mean he he, he was
one of those guys, Jack Lambert. Uh and and and not necessarily as
the hardest hitter, but he wasthe surest tip. I mean, you

(01:43:45):
could never get away from Jack,you know. And I just never forget
how how he uh used to Uhwait when when when first played a game
on offense? I'll never forget lineup and I information looking across the line
of spermis at Jack Lamber this firstplayed a game. Can't just started right?

(01:44:06):
Jack Lamber had blood all over you? Where did that come from?
First playing the game? What didyou do in the liner room? And
never play? He had little allall over. He's just hunbelievable. But
he was a great short tackler.UH gonna loved playing against uh. I

(01:44:30):
I I like it cause I actuallyknew a little bit about him because he
played gas played with my brother Darrelat Kent Staton's, so I had an
opportunity to watch him play, uheven when I was uh in high school
and uh and and he always paida lot of potential in they want to
college because he was on the sameteams as one of my brothers. Well,

(01:44:50):
I know these folks have some questions. We're gonna open them to the
floor before Archie has to leave here, So go ahead, Archie. Yes,
sir A thousand you mentioned that wentinto the portal. Do they have
any sources, Well, they canask their team to let them back in,
or they could, you know,try to go to another team,

(01:45:12):
try to get accepted on another team. But you know, you go into
that portal, sometimes you can getlost in that portal. I mean the
team that you left don't have totake to get back. Say, yeah,
that's that's what I'm saying. Imean, it's one of those situations
where you know, you can goin that portal, hopefully you'll come out,
but you might not come out.And you hope you got the other

(01:45:34):
opportunities out there for you can take. And most of the time what will
happen is they'll go to uh maybea lesser a division uh of some sort.
Uh. But yeah, I mean, it's it's it. It's not
just a one way thing. Youdon't go in and out of Matt get
picked up by somebody. Yes,you tell us say, uh, Cornelia's

(01:45:54):
screen story A Cornelia's great story there. Yeah, well you all remember was
pretty long. Being going into mysixth year, I kind of know the
lay of the land and everything andanything that I can do to help them
become acclimated and be a part ofour team, and we try to do
that. So obviously I don't know, they don't ask me, and uh,

(01:46:16):
but my job is when they gethere to kind of help bring them
along as much as I can,because you know, we'll go as far
as the quarterback goes. Good tosee you too, no longer here.
Yeah, what was that like thatgoing in? Yeah, we were,

(01:46:43):
we were training. We trained atBambritos together, so I got to see
him for the most part of theoff season, and first of all,
I was happy for him. Obviously, we know that this is a business
and you have to do what's bestfor his career and his future as well.
So you know, obviously has familiaritywith Joe Ray. He had one
of his best seasons with them,so you know, I think he's gonna
be a big part of their offenseand continue to grow as a receiver.

(01:47:06):
You know, it's a lost forroom because He's a dynamic playmaker. He
can play inside and out and justhis energy. Man, I think he
really became one of the favorite teammateson the team because he kept things light,
but he also was a really hardworker and and uh made plays when
we need him to. So ona personal standpoint, I'm definitely gonna you
know, miss him having him inthe building, and he's kind of like

(01:47:27):
the guy you I get to talkto and he's like my best friend.
But on the other hand, Iget to see him, you know,
continue to take steps in his career. Uh, he's still very young,
so he has a lot of goodfootball ahead of him. Literally king offense
and how be different for the offense. Yeah. Yeah, we haven't honestly

(01:47:50):
even started install yet, so Ihaven't even got a lay of the land
quite yet. I'll probably take alook at just got our I pass within
the last few days, so I'lltry to take a sneak peek at what
we have looking for. But youknow, I know with him talking to
zach Ertz, he does a greatjob of trying to get his playmakers involved,
which I think we have a reallygood group of guys, from the

(01:48:11):
running backs to receivers and some solidtight ends as well. So I'm just
looking forward to see where I fitinto that. And you know, I
think with him, his biggest thingsis making sure the playmakers are making plays
and trying to fit the scheme aroundthat, which is always good to hear,
good to see too. This iswhat your offense? Yeah, yeah,

(01:48:40):
it's definitely, you know, anadjustment obviously when you're learning a new
offense. And it's kind of thesame mentality I take into last year in
years past, where you kind ofjust want to take a day one approach,
kind of erase what you've learned inthe past. But at the end
of the day, I think,uh, you know, schemes in the
NFL are relatively simil is just thenames and the formations that may be a

(01:49:01):
little different. So just getting usedto the terminology and Cliff's offense is just
going to be something that's an adjustmentfor all of us. But the good
thing about it is I got somegood time on my hands to really put
some work in studying when I leavethis place, so I could come in
here when we have walkthroughs and whenwe start to put our helmets on,
we can really hit the ground runningso so far it's we haven't learned anything

(01:49:25):
yet. But my approach is thesame, try to take good notes in
there, ask good questions, andthen study on my own at night.
I know you like the yeah,yeah, I think I got some really
good work down in Florida. Isjust working on my footwork, just betting

(01:49:45):
better at the top of my routes, sharper on my speed cuts, dig
routes, out routes, and justbeing cleaner with my footwork at the top
of the routes. I think,you know, with a little bit of
zone covers that we've seen in thepast with some teams kind of running more
too hot show, you're gonna geta little bit more of catch technique where
guys are kind of sitting at thetop of your route. So I want
to be better at being efficient togetting out of those routes when a guy's

(01:50:09):
kind of sitting at my depth,whether it's a fifteen yard comeback or a
twelve yard crowl route, you know, being able to get out efficiently so
I can keep create and keep theseparation within my route. So obviously I'm
always still working on my ball skillsand making sure i'm just catching a lot
of footballs in the off season,but just really being better at the top

(01:50:30):
of the routes and you know,sharper out of my cuts is something that
I think I can improve on.Good to see you too. You know,
you're obviously one of the leaders ofthis team and team captain, and
with so many new faces, newplayers locker room, what is the challenge
you're going to have and the otherleaders in that locker room blend everything together

(01:50:51):
because there's so many new and differentpersonalities. Now, yeah, I think
I think that's really started with coachQuinn in the way he's really integrated everybody.
The first two days. I thinkwe haven't even got into x's and
oo's quite yet. We've just reallybegin to know one another. Getting out
there with Chad and the strength coachesand getting some good workouts in just kind
of creating a foster in an environmentwhere everybody's the same and continuing to have

(01:51:16):
a competitive environment. I think thatbrings out the best in one another.
And obviously, you know, youhave guys like Zach Ertz who's played a
lot of football and won a championship, Marcus Mariota, obviously, Bobby Wagner,
who's a future Hall of Famer.So you got some guys who have
been brought in here who know whatit's supposed to look like at this level.
And for myself, I just wantto continue to add my value and
be even more vocal this year thanI have in the past, especially with

(01:51:40):
possibly a new quarterback coming in.I think that can really help our offense.
Have you know, some more unitywith the guys who know what it
looks like, helping bringing those guys, the younger guys along. I don't
know, if you had a chanceto watch, he didn't want to use
the word yeah, coaching staff,all the new players is they Honestly,

(01:52:12):
I just think of it as aas a new year. Just talking to
Sam Cosmy, Uh, we've beenhere for a few years, so it's
a lot of new faces. Ithink, you know, this is probably
the most I would say turnover we'vehad in the last few years. So
there's guys coming from all different areas, walks of life, and but I
think the one thing is the same. They're all coming in looking for an
opportunity to compete, take another stepin their careers, and uh prove that

(01:52:35):
they're one of the best players atthe position, and I think Coach Quinn
has emphasized that we're gonna have theopportunity to prove ourselves. Whether you're a
ten year vet or a second yearplayer. You know, this is a
clean slate for everybody. So Ithink it's just about getting on the same
page, enjoying coming in here andworking together, and also just pushing each

(01:52:57):
other in these workouts, and thenwhen we start getting on the field,
uh, really get that competition going. Try to simulate as we go along
in this off season process of howthe games are going to be. Hey,
how are you doing? Good tosee too, and yeah, I

(01:53:27):
think Coach Quinn has really assemble assembleda very unique group of coaches. There's
multiple head coaches, there's multiple quarterUH coordinators have come from different places,
and so you have guys who havea lot of football experience, some have
played, some have coached in biggames. And then you bring in,
you know, the the talent thatwe have defensively and offensively, and I

(01:53:49):
just think you can feel the unityand the sameness in in the message that
he's trying to preach to our team, and it's we're gonna be tough and
We're going to be competitive, butwe're also going to have fun. And
he like I think he said inYour Guys' Interview, he said he likes
to do you know, hardship withgood people. So I think that's fun.

(01:54:10):
You know, a guy like melikes to put my nose down and
grind and work. So I knowhim and I are going to continue to
hit it off. And you knowit's just my job to help bring other
guys along with me. Thank you. More like to take your next step
as a vocal leader, Yeah,what does that mean to you? I

(01:54:32):
think for me, I've grown alot in my vocal leadership. I think
I try to always find the balanceof when to say something, when not
to say something. I think Inever want I've always wanted to be a
person when I say something that meanssomething like you don't want to be You're
giving all the motivational speeches, butyou're not backing up with your play,
or you're you're talking so much youkind of your message is drowned out.

(01:54:55):
And so it's kind of continued tofind that balance of when to say things
and when to kind of take astep back. But I think I've I've
gotten a really good feel of howto do that. I think obviously with
a new coaching staff, you justtry to understand what they how they want
things done, and you try to, you know, bring what you do
well into that and you also tryto encourage the guys who haven't taken those

(01:55:16):
steps in their career to do thatas well. So I think for me
is just really starting in my positiongroup. I think we have still a
very young group, kind of inexperiencefor the most part, but I think
we have a lot of talent inthere, and it's just my job,
in Bobby's job, and to continueto bring that group up being part of
this program and you know, justcontribute as much as I can. What

(01:55:41):
was the major point for you todecide as a RAMS? You know,
I had some familiarity with Stafford,you know, I had him my rookie
year, and you know, I'veseen the pieces to the puzzle and you
know, the ability to you know, possibly make it all the way,
and I definitely wanted to be apart of something like that. Fort Hi

(01:56:03):
Jana, Welcome to Los Angeles andJordan with the athletic congratulations. Thank you,
Jordan, and so we respect thewatch placement here on the on the
back. I'm actually a lefty though, so I got it on the wrong
one, but I'm kind of ambidexor so we can forgive it. I
just wanted to get your a littlebit deeper takeaways of what you make of

(01:56:27):
the personnel along this offensive front,showing up Kevin Dotson on the opposite side
of you at guard and then SteveBobbula probably moving to center. Your impressions
of those guys. I know youhaven't you know, been down the ground
for that long, but just fromafar, what you make of those guys
and Rob Hans Sign and Alerc Jacksonon the outsides. Yeah, I mean

(01:56:47):
we've had some cross tape through theseason, so I was able to see
like the work that they do,and uh, you know, that's a
powerful bunch. I came out thesame year as Dotson, so I had
some familiarity with him through college,and uh, you know, watching him,
Steven Alaric and Rob, you knowthat's a that's a good group,
kind of similar to what we havein Detroit, and you know there's there's

(01:57:08):
some specialness there. So I'm excitedto be a part of it, you
know, Sean McVay has praised alot of the run game that you guys
deployed, and particularly kind of gettinga little bit more to the duo,
the man blocking and the gap stuff, as as a lot of teams shift,
we're still on the outside stuff.Is there when you watch that cross

(01:57:28):
tape? Is there a crossover inyour mind of things that you're already comfortable
with that the Rams last year startedreally installing and deploying behind some of these
new personnel. Oh yeah, Imean the gap scheme and the duo just
in general is probably our bread andbutter and Detroit and Glad I said bread
and butter over here, So youknow this is it's not going to be
too hard of a transition. Andyou know things like that are right up

(01:57:53):
my alley. And then finally,you know Matthew Stafford. I know you
had familiar toy with him your rookieyear, but watching from afar what he
was able to do in LA andyou know we saw him kind of get
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

(01:58:15):
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
us look good and make plays happen. Thanks John, I congratulations, Thank
you. Adam. Hey Joan,I'm Adam with Orange County Register. Congratulations,

(01:58:41):
Thanks Adam, appreciate it. Yeah, I'm curious kind of what the
process looks like. You know,you agree it turns out two hours into
free agency. What are those twohours look like? We are you talking
to you? Talk to anyone withthe range personally, it's like, just
what are those three hours look likefor you? Actually, me and my
wife were just sitting at home andlike the I guess twelve o'clock hit and

(01:59:03):
we were like we thought it wasgoing to be like an idiot and you
know, mayhem and kind of satthere for like forty five minutes, and
my agent was calling me. Itwas like, what do you think of
Los Angeles? And I was like, that doesn't sound too shabby. And
we talked about it, and youknow, it sounded like the right move.
Good weather, good place to begood, winning culture, great staff,

(01:59:25):
and you know, just everything overallwas just a plus. So we
couldn't deny that. I know,it's kind of the nature of the business.
What is it like or to makea decision like that, by such
a light altering decision like that onsuch short notice. Yeah, I mean
it is. It is pretty crazy, you know, just the amount of

(01:59:46):
timing you have. But you know, you kind of have a I don't
know, I've been on the outsidelooking in at this place for a while,
so I kind of had a generalidea what's going on, and a
lot of familiarity within our building.Like Brad Hon, you know, he
was from here, so I kindof got a feel of the people that,
you know, they they've been aroundand how they run things. So
I kind of got a good feelabout how it would be here. Thank

(02:00:12):
you, Stu They jonas Stu Jacksonfrom the Rims dot comedy Beneath you name
my fellow Jackson brother. What's up? Man? Hey, what's up?
Listen? That you spent most ofyour football career, whether it be you
know, college or obviously the NFLnow in the Midwest or East Coast,
so now that you're here. What'slike just being out here and uh,

(02:00:36):
you know being in southern California Now, I will say the weather is beautiful,
you know, it's excellent and definitelygoing to miss the East Coach.
You know, I've I've got alot of roots there in the Midwest.
You know, I've started a lotthere, but nothing like new beginnings and
no better place to be in here. And I guess what did you notice
about just this offense from Afar?I know Jordan asked you about some of

(02:00:59):
the specifics with schematic carryover, butyou know, beyond that, beyond Matthew
Stafford, what it would appeal toyou about being a part of this offense
and being a part of this team. Beyond those things. Yeah, just
I mean a lot of similarities onwhat we do. You know, the
gap scheme, play action and youknow, having to drop back. You
know, I'm comfortable in whatever we'vehad. I've had eight this would be

(02:01:20):
I think nine now nine different offensivecoordinators since I started college. So I'm
comfortable in whatever. It doesn't reallymatter. But like I said, the
pieces to the puzzle were you know, incredible, whether it's the wide receivers,
the running back, the QB,the old line, the defense.
You know, it's it's a it'sa pretty good team over here. So
I'm excited to be a part ofit. Thank you so much. Appreciate

(02:01:43):
it. Gary, Hi Jonah Garyfrom the Los Angeles Times, Sir,
thank you, Gary. I'm curious, we think, what was it like
the part of you know, alionization that enjoyed that urge last season and

(02:02:05):
what, if anything are your memories? But playing against the Rams in that
wildcard game at work Field? Uh? Yeah, you know, being a
part of something, uh, youknow and Detroit where for so long that
the city was dying for a winnerand being able to bring it there and
and you know, change the trajectoryof everything and and bring some light to

(02:02:25):
the situation. It was awesome andthere's nothing like it. But you know,
when when you when you face thel A Rams, you know they
got they got a special defense,and you know up front they they got
the guys. You know, sodid not fair. Will you talk about

(02:02:50):
the differences between left and right andjust I mean, obviously it's different size
of it, But is it schematicallyor is it physically anything different? It's
more mentally any think though, likeleast side was always my uh best side
back in college. But since Igot to if, I've always been playing
right. But you know, it'sa it's a good challenge for me and
I can show people I can actuallyplay right and left. So it's a

(02:03:13):
versatility thing. So I'm happy aboutit. There. You moved around a
lot throughout your career that it's jumboside you tackle, I guess in the
sentence and clean book and left onthe right side. Do you think you
kind of benefit from focusing a littlebit more on the right side? Uh,
a little bit, But you know, there's a new system that we
have, Like I can playing mymindset most on the right, but also
have my mind's on the left too, just in case something does happening to

(02:03:34):
like you know what I mean,like Cotan or you know, Pete,
of course, but I'm always gonnabe ready for left no matter what.
How quickly have you felt like youpicked up this new system that you're working
in now? You know, it'sa we actually pretty up picked up pretty
well cause it's the same system thatI'm used to back in the saxe,
cause we was more like spread backat how I say, So, you

(02:03:55):
know, it's pretty good. Oneof the like the draft process off season,
as a lot of people outside thebuildings you made just get the right
time. Yeah, a lot ofyeah, alright now, A lot of
people in the building, right,we have the right time. All the
people do get motivated by that.You follow it like if you had nick
to do it. Though I don't. I read into it a little bit.
But also the same time, likethey not here of course, but

(02:04:16):
I don't really care what they say. I know what I can do,
and they team know what I cando, so they interested me right now.
And How'm I gonna live in writedown? How hard or how easy
is that to compartmentalize that and usethat as fuel going forward rather than to
kind of meritate it, uh?I j I just keep the seats.
Everybody knows that one person I don'treally care for him. And also that's

(02:04:38):
all being but it's all love.I love uh outside of this. But
you keep doing me, keep itbetter, keep on these mats. What
I canna do there. You've beena outspoken about your support of Zamir,
and obviously it's just his chance nowto be the dog. Wait, what
is it about him that you boughtin so early. The reason why I
bought it so earliest, cause uhis I was like, how say they

(02:05:00):
always taught us to actually to goget it, And ever since I got
here, i'm'a always wanna go getand I gotta picked late, and I
always wanna prove people wrong. Youknow, I think prove people wrong all
my life. I don't wanna keepdoing that. What's gong which like it's
more just like we don't put itlike the set you feel like a community
year that you have nine day difference, nine day difference from my first year,

(02:05:24):
in my second year to now.Like now, I'm like, alright,
I know I can play. Iknow I can go ahead and to
one of the best special plants anybodyelse that we want to play this year,
and I know what I can do. So all I do now is
actually meet my potential and should doit and help everybody else out the team
as well. You've practiced a lotagainst Malcolm and he's really come into his
own. What is it about Malcolmthat's helped him make that next step?

(02:05:45):
There? Man? Malcolm, he'squiet, he doesn't really say too much.
He comes in the work every day, do what he does and he
works hard. He doesn't plait twiceat anything. Yeah, he'll get mad
over a co respouse. At thesame time that like as 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 like, alright, just keep going. That's

(02:06:06):
how everybody is on the team aboutty raising too, you guys, that
same mindset. He does have thesame mindset. Put up a little a
little nervous, but uh nah,he nah. He has definitely grown up
a lot from it, like thefirst year here toil now like as he
has. But he's he's growing upa lot mentally too. I'll tell you,

(02:06:29):
guys are reimagining the offensive line alittle bit with you out there fright
side, yeuh uh, farm therenext to you on the on the ost
side too, and then drafting theguys on the line. You know,
how 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 rat
you know, but me and doingthose like they gonna keep replacing us,
of course, but all the sametime, we gotta keep going, you

(02:06:51):
know. We can't swil and thinkabout what they did. All we gotta
do is saying about what what cameto do with be better in fourteen as
well. Sorry, don't put alot on the off side. Write a
little bit more. How how longwere you guys working together? So we
working pretty well? You know yousay for us, we had like a
a little rooking moment a little bit, but you know, me and him,

(02:07:11):
that's been great friends. You know, I try like my brother and
I always will. You know,we talking every day about how can we
get better? Help can we helpeach other out on the on the right
side so we can actually make thatconnection. You guys played like Friday game?
Do you do you think of that? What are you about? Being
itself? Playing like the Wednesday Christmasand all that stuff. They gotta see

(02:07:32):
us then, thin, I seeus first. I don't really care about
that. It's time for play.Rus knows that uh workingpeting against each other
every day, him being out therefor me that you know, helps me
getting better, Uh us pushing eachother. So I mean, I definitely
don't have the mindset of you knowme just you know, sitting all year,
so uh, you know I'm comingin every day, giving it all

(02:07:54):
I got and you know, pushinghim to be his best, and he's
you know, pushing me to bemy best each and every day. So
I appreciate that you had a relationshipbefore this. Yeah, is it kind
of does this kind of help agrillio once 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 fora good bit now. And the fact
that I get to, you know, learn stuff from him, you know

(02:08:16):
that the things that he's accomplished,you know, up to this point in
his career has been great. Sojust me learning just a little details how
he's so uh inarticulous, in detailwithin every rat every individual drill just kind
of makes me think, like,you know, that's what I should be
doing each and every time. SoI'm I'm glad to have him here and
glad to you know, be ableto learn from him. Just how do
you look back all the times up? It's really good? What how do

(02:08:39):
you look back on the time all? Yeah, I mean there's a lot
of ups and downs, but allin all, I appreciate every relationship that
I built. All my teammates,they know that. Nothing but love for
the city, for the fans,and uh for my you know, old
teammates and coaches. Did you thewhole did you feel they did everything they
should have done to assault? I'mnot really gonna, you know, harp
on the past. It is whatit is. It's it's in the past.

(02:09:00):
Now I'm here now. So likeI said, I'm grateful to be
here, and uh, gratefully It'llbe a hardy tan. Why do you,
like, Jack Kevin, You're tradedat ten o'clock Global time, like
me, Are you able to sleepthat night or you on the phone?
What kind of happens after you getthat? I mean yeah, uh,
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

(02:09:20):
was just a little bit different thisyear. So I mean, I'm not
I'm not naive to the fact thatyou know, I can read body languages
and stuff like that, so itwasn't really just a shock to where it's
like, ah, I got tradedlike I I I knew what was gonna
happen beforehand. So I'm just gladI got you know, traded to the
spot that I wanted to be at. So is it a relief to to
get the newest done? Yeah,it happened, I think, so I

(02:09:41):
think when you're just you know,waiting, cause I knew I was gonna
get traded, you know, atthe end of the day, that's That's
just what it was. So itwas just you know, uh, just
me waiting and you know, meyou know, trying to figure out where
I'm gonna be at and uh stufflike that. It was definitely a relief
to you know, kind of beon a team and uh know where I'm
gonna be at. It's a reallygood situation because you could have gone down
Yeah yeah, I mean, youknow, shout out to uh uh you

(02:10:05):
know posy Key, you know whowould communicate it to to him, you
know, through my agent, andyou know, I told him where I
wanted to be and this was theplace I wanted to be, so you
know, he uh, you know, honored that, and I appreciate him
for that, and uh glad hewas uh able to put me in the
spot where where I wanted to beat. What needs to go right for
you to become the guy? Andyou know you kind of envisioned you and

(02:10:26):
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're ina good spot. And what are the
little things that you think it's gonnatake to get you to become the guy?
Where you all? I think,me, I just gotta you know,
keep working every day, like Isaid before, just being detailed and
every drill, not taking a dayoff, and I'm just good having rest
here learning from him. I waspushing each other each and every day.

(02:10:48):
So you know, I think justcontrolling what I can control every time I
step on the field, you know, just just fall out and uh played
to the best of my abilities andyou know, let let let God handle
the rest. So what kind ofthat's been on the team has been helpful?
You were closest to you as faras getting used to the team,
the organizations and plays work, anypractice, Yeah, I mean, uh,
this is a new offense, sonobody really has been in the offense

(02:11:09):
before. But I mean there's alot of young guys on the team.
So I think just that fact rightthere, it's easier to communicate with people
and kind of just you know,kind of just built that relationship cause you
have so much in common already.So I've already uh hung out with a
handful of guys on the team,already built those relationships, and you know,
we're just gonna continue to grow,get closer with each other and uh
you know, ready ready to uhget to playing this season stuff. Justin

(02:11:30):
what was it about this team thissituation that appealed to you, Uh,
just the culture I really think atOhio State. I think there was a
video that dropped with you know,Coach T. I I can just you
know, feel the energy and justyou know, just the consistency throughout the
years and the culture that Coach Thas and just the standard that you know,
the Steelers have have set, thisorganization has set. So I think

(02:11:52):
that was the biggest apeal for me. And you know, our defense is
always you know, gonna top tierand you can't you can't win games without
defense. So yeah, just justthe culture Coach T and you know,
of course the team itself. Soit wasn't an issue that it was a
situation where they had like literally daysbefore, had gotten a guy that they
said this is gonna be our start. Nah, I mean I wanted to
come here before Russ got here andafter too, So it was it was

(02:12:16):
more so the team, not youknow, not worried about who was here,
none of that sense. So yetto Pittsburgh when he got here.
After the city the people, Imean, yeah, I will say this,
I think Pittsburgh has one of theor has a lot of nice people.
That's one thing I've noticed. LikeI've taken a few ubers to the
airport and I've had full thirty minuteconversation with the Uber driver. So yeah,

(02:12:37):
just just people, uh you know, their generosity, they're their niceness.
I'm going out and people don't evenknow who I am. They're just
being so nice to me. SoI think that's one thing I've noticed.
And then I started going on thewalk so this past offseason, so just
the different views of the city,the bridges and stuff like that. It's
it's pretty cool to me. Doyou know the offense is knew, it's
just day one, but from whatyou've learned so far, how do you
feel like Arthur Smith's that's gonna putyour skill sets on the future yourself.

(02:13:00):
I mean, yeah, I think, uh, you know, he's he's
had experience with you know, doingthird quarterbacks, a lot of quarterbacks in
the past, Ryan Marcus, ofcourse, Desmond and Tyler in the past
past few years, so you know, he knows how to play to his
player strengths. And you know,of course he's new here too, so
he's gotta figure out, you know, what guys do, uh, what
things the best way, and youknow we're just gonna keep building again,
getting better every day. But Idefinitely you know, trust him to you

(02:13:24):
know, put everybody in the rightspot to uh have as much do where
where he's got his two cents onit, which is, you know,
always the best two cents I've heard. But me being who I am,
you know, I'm I'm I'm gonnathrow my two cents in there, you
know. So that's just uh,it's been awesome, man. We he's
he's you know, a resource forme, just a person that I can
always bounce my thoughts off of.And now, you know, just a
year you said, thirteen months,now I feel more comfortable just you know,

(02:13:46):
bringing certain things if you know,you never you never wanna come off
too strong. But I'm a curiousguy. I got a lot of questions.
I like, I like football,lot like to talk talk the games.
So you know, come to findout he's the exact same. So
we uh, you know, weget along well and and uh we're gonna
keep keep building that relationship. Sometimesin this league playing you know, eighteen
games, they trying to make ittwenty. You know, it's like it

(02:14:07):
sound like a little a little feverdream to be honest, but but uh,
if we can find a way tok you know, stay up right
out there, keep keep Aaron onhis feet. You know, I'm I'm
excited for that and uh everything thatcomes with it. But uh but yeah,
like I said, man, that'sit's it's harder said than uh or
harder done. And said, Iguess you know, it's one of those
things. It's like that's a lotof games, you know, all of
a sudden, take a lot ofhits. They take a lot of hits

(02:14:28):
where they're not looking, and it'sjust how can we keep him healthy?
Yeah? Yeah, are you whendo you think I do you ever see
the room now? Positions you guyshave made when more money, healthy and
everything like, yeah, you know, I'm excited to see it at at
full health. You know, we'vei haven't got to see all the all
the guys out there at once.And and you know, it's one of
those positions where every day is somethingmight happen to nick up. You know,

(02:14:48):
it's just a a tough position tostay out there at all times.
But I feel like we got agreat group and and the number one thing
is how can we stay healthy?How can we you know, I'll be
out on the field, and Ithink having depth like this and the group
we have is gonna help us.Having guys that can do different things,
that can go catch the ball overthe middle, all types of things that
it's gonna take some of the strainoff off all of us. You know.
It's it's a good group. SoI'm excited to, uh, you

(02:15:11):
know, get out there. Ifeel like we haven't had the whole whole
thing together. But you know,come season time, morol, and it's
gonna be exciting. What about yourwhole number? Yeah, yeah, like
a yeah, man, he's uh, it was a brute and then once
he catches that ball, I meanhe's he's got great instinct of where the
defense is gonna be at, howto make someone miss Yeah, man,
just just play or forever, youknow what I talk about his plans,

(02:15:39):
so you know, you transitions likeone of those fairs. But again,
either way, you know, wetalked about it. You know, that's
that's the how it goes, youknow. But obviously you know he's he's
he's been one of my biggest supporters. Yeah, and affect that everybody leads

(02:16:01):
in their own way, you know, not everybody's. The guys come around
like and that's not everybody, right, Like I felt for me, that's
me specifically on game day with theO line after we do one on one
like that's my Like, well,Hump did, like that's my like big
vocal time. I feel like I'vetalked to Hump about this, you know,

(02:16:24):
just recently talking about how what Iwanna do for the room is I
want to bring that Hump energy thathe brought right so last year. Of
course, some traits have been doingit for years, but the year when
I spent with him, he broughta lot of the energy and excitement and
the happiness in the room was justhis natural energy to where I only had

(02:16:46):
to focus on me. You know, I didn't have to make sure other
other guys are, you know,feel some type of way when it came
in here because Hump brought that.But out of Hump's not here, but
I saw what he did for theroom. I want to be that guy
to make sure everyone's amp to goto practice, everybody's hype. We're taking

(02:17:07):
and field team on period. Youknow it's a low day or something.
You know, it's a it's aday. But like I want to make
you feel your parents the tripper rightnow. I want to bring that cause
that's what we and Home do witheach other. Weep, hype each other
up, dudes like dudes about tobe walked through. We're lit. So
I want to do that. Iwant to bring that energy. I want
to make bring more guys, youknow, to do that. You know,

(02:17:28):
yeah, I wanted to do thatfrom day one, you know,
I kind of I wanted to dothat from day one, from just talking
to him, and obviously it's thattime. I spend the off season before
OTA started just being in myself,just thinking about what the room needs,
you know, because I know Iknew a new role as one of the

(02:17:50):
leaders. You know on the offenseis that we need a guy like that
that's gonna make sure the old lineis picked up ready to go. Every
day I was held accountable. Littlethings aren't happened to practice, people aren't
saying anything. And how I maylead maybe different than somebody else may lead.
You know. I like to apractice at least like to leave with

(02:18:11):
positivity, you know what I mean. So, but he the energy I
went beyond just the whole hype up, the deal on and stuff too.
So that's kind of how I wannabe s goal mine literally my whole life.
I wanna be a NFL team captain, like specifically the NFL. I
wasn't a captain of high school,wasn't a captain of college. But I

(02:18:33):
made a joke when I was inhigh school. It's like there, I
feel like I'm not gonna be acaptain til I get to the NFL.
Yeah, but that would be awesome, you know, but you know,
if it happens, i'd be great. But if not, either way,
I wanna assume a role as acaptain from the respect of the guys on

(02:18:54):
the team, the individual word todayand to get back to that way.
Yeah, I mean I can't saythat. I mean, I guess the
biggest thing is that I felt likeit has felt like how you used to
in the past. But it didn'ttake just the first day OTAs. It
took training left and right once theseason ended, because I didn't know what
it was gonna be sure, Soit took a lot of yah reps just

(02:19:20):
to get back to feeling like myselffor day one OTAs and then that whole
first week. But now like today, specifically just changing some small things with
my feet that I did today talkingabout a line coach about some things I
can do with my feet to getto that to sell at the traditional angle
that I loved to set on.Felt even I thought I felt, I
thought I felt great already by myokay, I felt even back Okay,

(02:19:43):
So I'm even more excited tomorrow.Now I'm getting my feedback and how I
liked it the right side and onthe left side, So I'm excited.
I mean, obviously, I feellike in the league, whether I left
or right, you're still going againstpremier guys, so obviously you have highestations
for your left and and right tackle. But there's definitely, uh like the

(02:20:05):
the level of energy and like theexpectations definitely take and the humans back because
now connected the blind side that stuffthat's de tackle role, you know.
So so yeah, I would sayin terms of communication as far as just
even outside the facility and just stufflike that, like really creating that the
tackle quarterback bond even more off thefield, I think has been something that's

(02:20:28):
even been cool. I got atext one day it's like, hey,
like you put left and I waslike, okay, you know, yeah,
I've been training both. I've beentraining both. You know. I
I asked after the season. They'relike, honestly, you know, we'll
talk to you still play in theseason. And I just got a text
and like, depending what happens.But with the free agency then, so

(02:20:50):
I was like, you know what, I had a whole season right tackle.
So if I get the word,I'm going I'm standing right tackle.
I don't just do what I didbefore. I'm built on bus. I
was like, I might as wellstrained the left tackle now as if I'm
gonna be a left tackle, andI'd rather do that than training on the
right time because the ko, heyyou're the left tackle. I'm like,
oh, I don't not even gonnaswitch on my feet yet, you know

(02:21:11):
what I mean. So I'm like, let me just prepare in advance.
I was like, yeah, les, god, you know, I think
occasionally I'm third down, there wouldbe a lot of twists. I would
just know like it's automatically coming.And I think that was my mindset for
like the first half of the season, like I didn't have to go into
a game and with surprise like ohmy gosh, they did that. I
kind of figured like, okay,like this is this is the type of

(02:21:33):
rush mint again, this is howthis guy usually rushes. But I get
the vibe, this is how theends like the rush you know, tackles
that are you know, first yearguys who got the premiere patch on.
I already knew what it was gonnabe, already knew of every stunt and
honestly just knowing that it's kind ofan advantage too, So you're not you're
not you're not old. They broughtthe twist of my side again, it

(02:21:54):
was never an Aaron Donald like youknow, they're coming out of mind like
three plays in a row and twominutes, I knew that it was the
way, you know what I mean, I'm watching more than everybody else,
and he rarely Eland goes out thereon occasional third downs on the d M.
He's gonna pick me, you knowwhat I mean. So in fact
fact, it's kind of it's alsokind of advantage in the way, but

(02:22:16):
it's also excited, like, Okay, I'm gonna get the hardest look.
You know, those are real,real reps, you know the thing.
So really, I'm not really tokind of process. And I was like,
hey, when they tell me Iain't, I guess you anyview process
were about how you might approach thisand and and what do you think is
meaning the key element? You're gettingthe most out of those because you got

(02:22:39):
two guys. This ain't my firstrodio. No. I know a lot
of people look at say, well, this guy only been on the field
for three years Western Tucky and Oregon. Just because I didn't have the title
of a running back coach where Iwas at the Memphis, I never carried
myself that way. I was carryingmyself as a running back coach. I

(02:23:01):
approach every day that way. Soat Memphis we had Darren Henderson, Patrick
Taylor, Tony Poller, Kenny gangwellTonyo Gibson. I've seen talented backs and
I've seen them be able to functionwith one another. So I hear that
all the time about Well, Ithis ain't my first rodeo. Same thing
out there at Oregon. We Buck, even Norwich and George James. You

(02:23:22):
go look at their numbers. Theyall functioned well together. We learned how
to play as one. So thisain't my first rodeo. So and plus
I know those two kids cause Irecruited them when they was in high school.
So I'm up for the challenge andthe responsibility of it. All right
behind them, Dan Hope Leven WarriorsBroos, Just what is your kind of
coaching philosophy? How do you getthe best out of your running backs?

(02:23:43):
I get the best out them causeI love the young man. My main
focus is to change the hearts andminds of them, and they'll play for
me. I had just got throughreading Coach Trestle's Winners Manual, and it's
something that I took from that book. You have your purpose and you have
your goals, all right, Mypurpose is to serve and pour into the
young man. Now, my goalsas a football coach, all of them

(02:24:05):
are take care of themselves. Sothat's one of the ways. I'm just
real relationship based and I'm very detailedat this position. I know y'all heard
me say before, and I'm gonnakeep saying. This is the worst coach
position in football. It's terrible guyshire anybody to coach his position and recruiters.
CARLS. Locker is not a recruiter. I'm an elite relationship builder,
but I coached this position. I'ma ball coach, so that's who I

(02:24:28):
am. So I'm gonna pouring tothese kids. I think they kind of
seeing it now and I jumped inday one. I'm ready to coach.
And you've the phrase another soft batchcookies. Where did that phrase come from?
Kind of always pass boy. Letme tell you about that boy.
I've been called everything but the namethe child of God by the people at
the other places I left. Sothat I been getting. Pillsbury needs to

(02:24:50):
give me a deal because I've beengetting I've been getting some DM the texts.
Some of them have been so funny. The saltbatch could the thing came
from just having a frame of mind, a mental toughness. It had nothing
to do with guys getting in theportal and anything. Now, most people
say I'm a salt basted cooking forleaving there, but actually I'm not because

(02:25:13):
it takes great strength to make adecision to leave a place. No,
a weak minded person wouldn't be ableto make the decision that I made,
So it took great strength to dothat. So I'm telling you I by
literally in my DMS, it's someit's some great comedians out here that have
been sending me like tons of cookiesand out like it's funny. Right behind
him, Tony Urban, Hu,how have you got about the assessment of

(02:25:35):
the talent in the room? Uh? And over the past week or two,
how much as that on field?Off field? Like, what's the
process of getting to know who youhave as players? Well? I broke
down well me being a guy thatloves the running back position. And I
already broke those kids down cause Irecruit them out of high school. You
know, Cue is from where I'mfrom. And Montgomery. I was one

(02:25:56):
of the first guys to offer himjust watching him, great contact, balance,
creative runner, great hands and Trey. I recruited him out of Virginia,
exceptional short air, your burst andquickness and things that I'm gonna help
him get better on. And thenI recruited James Peeples out of t out
of San Antonio, Texas. Iknew what he was gonna what he was
gonna be TC and Sam. Thosetwo kids I'm getting to know and I'm

(02:26:22):
gonna help them improve that game.But we got different runners in there.
I like to call myself, I'min love with this position, so I
get to break down runners and helptheir game. So talented, talented room,
very talented. Uh far back uh. Jeremy Birkingham Podcast Couch, how
do you swear that I saw fasttrookies are actually the best cookies to Philip

(02:26:45):
Brittannis and those are way better thanthe county chips and white things with Terman,
I mean, do you do youhave to first find a balance there
or someone. Well, for me, I'm actually not eating any cookies now,
I'm just saying I'm not eating anycookies this year. I gave it
up for a fast or no sweetsfor me for the whole year. That's

(02:27:05):
something I gave up. So theythe term the South bast cookie term.
Look, guys, I actually tookthat from I represent the high school coaches
of myths Tennessee. I actually tookthat from a guy that coach Slocum.
He used to always say that Southbast cookie. I actually stole that from
him. I give him credit forit, and I tell him all the
time he said, you I shouldhave branded that, cause you done took

(02:27:26):
it and ran away with it.But that's just where that comes from.
So that that now was standing asyou get to Ohio standing and start to
look around the country at me,Oregon's a big place, that's a that's
a major job. Really, howhow do you think that where you Opa
logo under jaf Ran the blocko,when you get out out of the Living
Free and trail, how does thatchange the way that you feel you're either

(02:27:48):
received or or does it add adifferent level to to just feeling like I
could go anywhere and get anybody inthere. And that's the changest thing for
me. This is a great place, Origan is 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 puts me here?

(02:28:13):
Uh? I know I represented somethinghigher, you know, Like I told
you, I know what my purposeis. My purpose is to poorting the
people. So whatever logo I haveon, I'm still gonna be doing the
same thing. So this is agreat logo. Great logo by well another
logo. Every day it's across Isee around my neck. I know what
I represent. So that's the greatestlogo I could ever wear. So it
don't matter what other logo I haveon. I got that one on.

(02:28:35):
I'm going to any house and bea recruit. Uh uh deep rite camera
tick Robinson. The athletic from whichyou you mentioned the time of Memphis and
them it's for and about running backsyou mentioned there who you learned from that
time that you that you to takeover to manage you to grow up your
kids. What did I learned fromthem? I just building a just teaching

(02:28:58):
the kids. We live in sucha selfish world enough, and I can
tell kids all the times it's gottabe much more to football. The ball
gonna go flat one day. AsI always say, what being in that
room there at Memphis is it wasn'tfour five teaching them how to be abbout
being one? I tell you themin all time, it doesn't cost you

(02:29:18):
anything to celebrate another man's success.So teaching them how to be one,
and then once they learned to beone, they function and they feed off
one another. So that's what Ilearned from being there at Memphis and from
Butterman Road. Bro start of yourcareer in law enforcement kind of influence you
as a coach and kind of shapingwhere you are. Oh well, I
just got through talking to somebody aboutthat today. When I first got in

(02:29:43):
this profession and I got my ownroom at Western Tech, I was aked.
No, how was I was gonnabe able to handle my room?
I said, Man, I hada part with fifty one inmates. You
talking about me having got six orseven guys? Are you kidding me?
I'm talking about me having to dotraffic stops. So going on domestic no

(02:30:03):
virus calls, it's simple, easy, No, people won't know what you
care. Also know, you gottahave a certain demeaning about yourself. So
when I walk into a room,it's the reason why I go train every
morning. This is when it's thesame thing when I was a police officer.
You look a certain way kind ofdeter people from doing certain things.
So the reason why I go trainevery morning, I'm gonna look just as

(02:30:24):
good as my boys look so Uit helped out a lot. In other
words, uh from Earl Right AustinMore the podcast Carls Welcome to Columbus.
What would it mean to I don'tknow, revolutionize the way running backs or
coach? What does that take?I ain't you know. I'm not gonna

(02:30:46):
say revolutionized is some good. It'ssome good running back coaches out here.
Everybody's different. It's some great coachesout here. I just want to head
guys who say that on these jobsto not just hire guys. Just know
all coaches on your staffs be greatrecruiters, not just a running back coach.
We coach a position. We developedplayers as well. I just wanted
the coaches to realize, Hey knowwhat, let me look and be thorough

(02:31:09):
about this guy that I'm hiring forthe job. Is he teaching the position?
Is he developing the position? Becauseyou're not gonna hire anybody just coach
quarterbacks, are you. Well,it shouldn't be like that for the running
back position either. And I'm onlypassionate about it cause I played it.
I love it, So it's theonly position I want to coach. Could
I coach the other positions? Yeah, I played dB in college too,
but I love the running back position, so I just wanted to see it.

(02:31:31):
Coach well ten many podcasts, Yeah, a million questions. Oh that's
a couple. Number one, whenyou when you, when your wife?
Whatever? You got the message stuff? Or are we moving again? What
was What was her reaction? Nah? She she's just now guy that give
us gave us a new assignment.Shit, w it was never like we're
moving again. Let me tell youguys something. I grew up. My

(02:31:52):
mom was in the military, soI lived everywhere. I lived in Panama
of South America. I'm used topicking up and moving. I lived in
Fort Rodley, Kansas. Montgomery's homeif it is my second home, so
I'm I'm used to moving now.My wife it was different for her,
but she just knew guy that gaveus a new assignment. So it's time
to go. What did what didcoach they tell you when he heard you
that he wants out of you.That may be different. It's not slamming

(02:32:16):
somebody else. But what did hesay he wanted you to bring to the
running back room. I think hedid his research on me. He said
he wanted the guy to develop theposition. That's not taking a shot at
the coach that was here, whoI'm friends with. He said, they
want somebody to really get the guysgoing. Uh, I can only be

(02:32:39):
me, And I told him thatbecause I'm gonna be me every day now,
because see my mindset, this iswhen 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 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 that step into
this was so that's my mindset.I'm gonna do my job so well that

(02:33:03):
living dead and I'm born couldn't doit any and better. So that's what
my mind set is. Suppose wegot time for one last question. Bill
Rabinowitz, Plumbus Dispatch Carlos. Firstof all, is it true that nobody
calls you Carlos, never calls youLocke. That's the truth. Yeah,
I prefer to be called Lock inparticular, but I wouldn't say everyone doesn't
really know how to handle it properly. You see it currently. I mean,

(02:33:26):
it's just it's a variable that's newand how to handle it. There's
not a transcript on on how tohandle that variable. So you just guys
just trying to do what they thinkis right. That's all they're really trying
to do. And I'm not sayingthat right or wrong. But he was
trying to do the same, anduh, you know, I think at
the end of the day he realizedhe made made the wrong decision and we

(02:33:46):
connected on it, we talked aboutit, and you know, it was
a great opportunity to to write orwrong. And uh, obviously we're very
glad he's here. I've always believedin him. We believe in him,
and he believes in himself and that'spart of the just trying to understand what's
my path, right. So,uh, but yeah, it's been great.
Stuffs have been made, he's growing, but he's nowhere near where he

(02:34:09):
knows he's capable of being. He'sjust probably a priceless ceremiah. I love,
uh, the way he lives.I love the way he approaches things.
I love the way the questions heasks. I love the way he
makes mistakes and then correct mistakes.H it's very veteran, like I mean,
there's so much Ball he has tolearn, Like, he literally does

(02:34:31):
things that are good. I'm like, do you know why that worked?
He goes coach, I have nofreaking idea, So like I'm trying to
teach him all of that why itworked, so then you know, the
consistency at which it works just goesthrough the roof. And so but I'm
very you know, excited and proudof the conversations we're currently having, and
I'm exciting it for them to keepgoing by what power for you work.

(02:34:54):
I love working with Chip Chip Is. I love talking Ball. I love
of the viewpoints I love I lovethe veteran that he has, you know,
and uh I love now like Ilove all of it. I think
that you know, early on thebiggest impact, you know, just you

(02:35:18):
know, feeling perspective. I thinkin the run game has been awesome,
you know, and then you know, off of the run game some of
the actions or or relief throws orall that kind of stuff. I love
where it's at. I love workingwith them, and I would say that

(02:35:43):
I sleep a little better all right. Uh No, It's it's really a
great combo because, like you know, we're obviously we're doing a lot as
a group. It's not just Chipand I so but you know, obviously
Chip has an image and a viewon things that I never had. So
to have that experience and to havethat viewpoint, I'm just trying to absorb

(02:36:05):
as much as i can, butthen also highlight some things that we've really
done a good job of and makesure those you know, nothing's really changing,
We're just trying to enhance. We'renot changing, we're enhancing. So
where the things fit is perfect,you know, I think, uh,
you know, the rest of thedynamics of search hip can talk about.
But it's been it's been awesome,so I'm excited about it. We talked

(02:36:28):
to him. Mecah's just talking aboutmoving from slot to the outside. You
know how good he's been in theslot. Is that a difficult move for
you guys as coaches to know howgood a guy is in one spot but
know that maybe for his long termfuture and the no. I wouldn't say
it's anything on his future, becausehe's capable of doing whatever you want to

(02:36:48):
get done, but I'd say thatit says more about the room. I
think it's it's the growth of youknow, Brandon and the growth grow of
Bryson. That's really, you know, in 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

(02:37:09):
I would say between Mech and betweenCarnell Takes's ability to move around a lot,
it's gonna provide a lot of flexibilityfor our room. And uh and
those top you know, six sevenguys that are really doing a good job
right now. Progress look like thisspring for Meca. Because times it's one
of those things, I'm true,where you guys balance how much work does
a need versus Yeah, heavy heavyemphasis on what work he needs, you

(02:37:31):
know, versus anything else. Uh, I rely on him. We have
great dialogue back and forth. It'sa two way to it's a two way
conversation. And uh, frankly,there's gonna be times we're like, hey,
Mech, what do you wanna dotoday? You wanna go outside,
you wanna go inside? And Idon't care. So, uh, we're
not there yet. We will bethere, but it's just more about you
know when the room is ready tostart mixing things up. You know,

(02:38:07):
I would say there's got I mean, I make sure I'm bringing guys that
are able to do all, butI 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, and thoseare probably the two guys that I would,
you know, think heavily on doingmoving around a lot. I'm not
putting that on anybody else right now, not saying they can't, but at

(02:38:28):
this point, having two guys beingable to swing, you probably don't need
much more than that. I needguys being experts at what they're good at,
so it it helps the offense stillbe great at everything and be an
expert at something and we can usethat to our I like them. Yeah,
it's a bunch of good dudes justjust got here. So we're gonna

(02:38:50):
keep working and I like I likeour edge guys that we picked up,
and I'm excited to work with them. Know much about Against. I think
he's super skilled, Russier well,good length, and he's more athletic than
I even realized. And I thinkguys like him when they come to our

(02:39:11):
scheme are the best is brought outof him. So I'm excited to see
what potential he has. He's yearnine, so I feel like you as
a d lineman, you can keepimproving all the way through ten years in
this league. So I'm excited tosee what he's got. How old did
you know sores So when he wasassistant here and I have gotten to know

(02:39:31):
him a lot better. It's arelationship maybe right now. I know him
pretty well. He was always justa good dude around the facility. He
did our ball meetings, so he'sgood in front of a group. He's
a good leader. He knows thescheme really well, which is good.

(02:39:52):
I was happy to see him promoted. He called me in the offseason.
We talked. I just congratulated him, and I think he's gonna bring something
similar to what we had with theMiko. It'll be good. Do you
know Brandon Stanley well at all?I mean, obviously Joey played for him.
I don't know too much about him. I've obviously heard from my brother,

(02:40:13):
but I don't even think i've saidhigh yet. I haven't ran into
him yet, but I'm sure I'llget to know him when you say it
looks similar to the Miko of theenergy or system. Maybe a little different
energy, but I think just knowingthe system from the front to the back,
I think he knows how it tiesin, and he's been around with

(02:40:35):
some really good coaches, so Ithink it'll be pretty pretty seamless, and
I think we'll be firing on allcylinders. You're three months removed from the
super Bowl now, so how haveyou? I guess digested it, and
I guess physically everything good to go. Yeah, I feel really good.
I think it's been one of mybetter off seasons of just kind of it

(02:40:58):
was a long year, so Itook a nice and slow to get back
into it. Not as young asI once was, so I'm taking a
little, uh, a little slower, but everything's great. I'm feeling as
good as I felt. I'm excitedto actually get some practice in. Last
year was kind of tough, gettingthrown in Week one after I walked through,

(02:41:22):
so that was another reason I'm excitedto be here, is just to
get practicing a little bit in season. Practice is one thing, but actually
being able to work your stuff andnot have a game coming up is good.
With the Super Bowl. Unfortunately,I know how to bounce back from
tough losses, so it was roughfor a little bit, but now it's

(02:41:45):
just annoying when people bring it up. Since the last season, we've seen
a Rock on TV commercials and onthe stage with Kluk Koombs and throwing out
the first pitch in the Giants game. But he seems like a guy that's
totally out of affected by celebrity,which he has now. But what have
you noticed in his leadership style andthe way he carries himself any difference at
all. I think he's definitely gettinga little more vocal within the building.

(02:42:11):
And uh yeah, I mean Idon't think he's ever going to change.
I don't think he's somebody that's goingto change even when he gets paid next
year. So he's he's a manof faith and he kind of reminds me
of Scotti Scheffler, but except forjust super humble and really good kid.

(02:42:37):
And yeah, he's definitely famous.I don't just from watching Armstead get released
obviously meant so much to the defensiveline into the team. I mean,
Colin John were pretty open that theywere willing to talk about trading deebo or

(02:42:58):
are you does that just another what'sthat feel like in the locker room when
those sort of jowls happen. Ididn't even know that happened and I wasn't
here, but you're talking about thisoffseason arms in alarm er release, so
that's certainly one thing. Yeah,it's a tough business, for sure.

(02:43:22):
You have to have thick skin,and I haven't gone through that, but
I think you just have to understandthat it is a business and the team's
going to try and get as goodas it possibly can with or without you,
and you have to look out foryourself. That's why you go through
holdouts and do certain things that seemselfish in the moment, but it is

(02:43:46):
what it is, and when everything'ssettled, we're gonna come together as a
team and try and go get one. What's the overall feeling around the group
right now? Like, how muchdoes it feel like the excitement of the
ramp up to the season, eventhough it's really 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 past is in the

(02:44:09):
past and we're ready to go,you talk to me? Can you talk
to be at all about handling thebusiness part of this? He's going through
something similar. We chat a littlebit, but not too much about the
details. I just told him tokeep his head up and try and stay
positive through it all. First impressionswhen you heard about your schedule would be

(02:44:30):
in that Aaron Rodgers' first up,it'll be fun. Yeah, it's gonna
be gonna be good on Nick excuseme, kind of alluded to this.
But the fact that last year youhad to have that hold out for said
that affected you somewhat early in theseason. If you hadn't had that experience,
would you be here right now?I mean, was that part of

(02:44:54):
the motivation for being here early justto have the opposite last year? Might
be? No, I don't thinkthat's one of the reasons. But I
just talked to Kyle and he kindof asked me. He kind of stated
how he felt about why it wouldbe good for me to be here and
asked if I agreed. And Iagree. So it's not like I'm missing

(02:45:18):
too much. I think I'm outhere. It's a little less workload than
I'm doing back home. So it'skind of a good active recovery thing for
me. And I'm getting football stuff, football working specifically, so that's good.
I'm not it's not compromising my trainingat all, and I get to
meet all the guys. It's positives. Let him. Oh no, he's

(02:45:48):
he's there. He's got a newregime over there. First, I actually
thought I was coming next week untilrecently, so I was gonna have one
more week at home. But we'reboth in California. Everything you could share
about tons reasons, reasons that you'veagreed with, Uh, yeah, just

(02:46:15):
the things I already stated, justgetting around the guys and just getting the
football stuff honed in a little bitbefore camp starts. You've been afraid,
You've been afraid to speak out onplayer safety issues and things like that when
it comes to playing service and thingslike that. The eighteen game schedule has
been kind of discussed again here recently. What what is your kind of take
on that possibility. I don't knowhow many. I mean, it's I

(02:46:46):
guess it's easy to appreciate when,uh, you kind of see it working
and you see guys improving, gettingbetter. I just think the details are
really important. You can pretend thatleaving your shoes a mess or your locker
a mess isn't a big deal,and what matters is playing football. But

(02:47:07):
I think all those tiny details andthings kind of add up and leak into
the important stuff, like what you'redoing on the field. So if you
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

(02:47:31):
hasn't been a fight with the guysin the locker room. They buy in,
and you know, it's a lotof young guys, and I think
they're hungry to learn, hungry tocompete and win. You know, it's
just an example, whether it's wetalked about first day, you have your
shoe, if you could, ifyou could spend the time on these small
things when nobody's watching. I think, like I was saying, it seems

(02:47:54):
like it might not add up toomuch, but I think in the long
term it does, and it leaksinto other things, whether you're doing your
right assignment on the field, beinglate to meetings or all these things.
If you hold a standard and youstay to that standard, I think it
benefits you long term. It's itbeen like worm Ben Herbert, who has

(02:48:16):
there been any anything in his trainingprogram we're working with you that you feel
will benefit you later. Yeah,Yeah, definitely, 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 wayof doing things and that's the only way
to do things. He understands thatguys have been in the in the business

(02:48:39):
for a long time, Khalil meand we have a way of doing things,
and all he wants to do isadd to that and help you get
better and perform the best you can. He's he stresses it all the time
that he's a tool for us,and you know, he's been He's been
great. The guys love him.The energy brings is awesome, and I
think the stuff that we're doing inthe weight room is great, great addition

(02:49:03):
to stuff that I may may doon the side or whatever that is.
Yeah, I think we I mean, we had a presentation today with all
the certain measurables that are changing,and if you guys are in the meeting,
you definitely see how beneficial he's beento the team. So far.
So obviously staying healthy is is ahuge factor to anybody's success. I'd say

(02:49:26):
it's plagued us a little bit fora while. So yeah, I think
he's he's definitely incredibly beneficial. Whenwere you, like fullet recovered. I
know at the end of last seasonyou might have been able to play.
Yeah, No, I was notready to go last year. No,
tried practicing, tried coming back,and uh it was it was not good.

(02:49:50):
But yeah, it was Unfortunately theyear wasn't going great and it just
was unnecessary risk for I mean,my foot could have had some real real
issues if I came back too early. So yeah, it's been. It's
been. It's been a great offseason. My foot's feeling great, toes,
good, hamstring skid. I mean, there was a list of things

(02:50:11):
last year in my hand, soall those things are good. Finger gout
surgery on my finger, So that'sfeeling good. Yeah, it's it's nice
to be feeling better going into yournine than you have since maybe five six
years ago, which I've said,I've said I've been feeling great last couple
of years. I'm telling you it'sa real deal this time. But obviously

(02:50:33):
anything can happen. But I justfeel it's fun feeling really confident in your
body and being able to perform.So I could just go out during practice
and you know, go balls tothe wall and do everything that I feel
like I need to to be ableto prepare. It's fun. My brother

(02:50:54):
and whoever I trained with my trainerTodd back home, I think they'd be
really proud of how I've been workingthis off season and it's just exciting.
Pointing was the injuries on the GreatBig Game? You kind of you,
Yeah, it was a bit ofa build up, a little bit of

(02:51:15):
an overreaction, but you know,it's just tough. It comes sometimes like
that, and I just felt feltreally uh defeated coming back, had a
broken hand. I'm like, oh, yeah I get to play Boom first
serious foot pops. Thought I'd haveto get surgery, and all these thoughts
flooded through my head. Broke downa bit, and yeah, it just

(02:51:35):
hurts. You know, you're losing, you're getting injured. You've felt like
you prepared really well in the offseason, and then the year before you
had growing surgery, so you knowa lot of things build up. Yeah,
you don't get a break if you'reinjured, everybody wants to go on.
Fans are very nice, but no, I just I'm great that I

(02:52:00):
feel this way. I'm still stillnice. Ripe twenty eight, so not
too old yet. But yeah,I'm just excited. I can't remember what
the original question was at this point, get something about my body? How
close you and Gift were? Howfrustrating was it that you couldn't you know

(02:52:26):
soon for one of those last threegames? It was frustrating, but I
mean Gift was had my back thewhole way. I think for Gift,
for any but for the whole team, just to show what it means to
me. It would have been importantfor me to be out there, but
I literally couldn't. I tried topractice, injured my footworse the very first

(02:52:46):
play I was and in practice,So no chance that was happening unless I
wanted to throw my next season awayas well. But no, I'm just
I'm proud of him for what hedid with the team, how he handled
it, and I need to callhim back. Actually sorry, I Gif.

(02:53:07):
Yeah, I'm happy he gets tostay close by with the with the
Rams, and uh, I'm justproud of all we accomplished. Here together
over the years and and we'll beclose for the rest of our lives.
Was the footage? Was this guya foot sprang? Yeah, I sprained
one area of my foot. Thenwhen I tried to return and I sprained
another area. Was able to avoidgetting surgery, which is kind of the

(02:53:31):
main goal, But yeah, itwas. It was tough when it comes
to the addition of but Dupree,when he felt like he's kind of brought
to the to the room and couldbring on the field. Yeah, it's
when I heard we got my brothersomething. I don't know, maybe my
brother told me. I'm like,really, we just got Bud Like,
that's no, that's no small pickup. He's a seriously elite pass rusher.

(02:53:58):
Has had some trouble within views 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 to have that in the roomanother vet is always a great addition.
But I'm just excited to have himand Tuley and to be able to rotate
like that and not drop off atall when we come off the field.

(02:54:20):
Is huge, and now Toole's goinginto a second year. Just what do
you what are you kind of whatare some of the maturity maturity areas you've
said from him? You know,I'm gonna say not much, And that's
a compliment because he was already maturein those areas. I mean, he's
on it everything, playbook wise,always doing his job, working hard,

(02:54:45):
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 butyeah, I love Tuli. I've
loved him since the first day he'sblocked in the facility, and I know
he's just gonna continue to get better. Do you think of the addition of

(02:55:05):
Joe Old, Yeah, yeah,I'm gonna need to beat him up a
little bit in camp. So he'sso he's ready, But no, I
think anything to protect our number tenis a good, good investment. So
he seems like a real solid dude. Haven't talked to him too much.
Great build, seems like he hasgood hands, good feet, strong,

(02:55:28):
We'll see. We'll see in afew weeks when I lay a helmet in
his chin, how he holds upbut it'll I'll take it easy on him,
for Shawn's a beast. Did youknow coach Harbond before he came here?
And if you did, just whatwere those first couple of conversations like

(02:55:48):
that? Yeah, probably have crossedpaths with him. Maybe maybe not.
Actually I think what was it hisfirst year when I was a junior?
So we kicked his ass as usualat Ohio State. No, No,
they just want a championships. I'dsay they probably have the bragging rights right

(02:56:09):
now. I'm like the guy talkingabout his old high school. Oh I
remember we used to kick No,but no, yeah, no, the
rivalry is dead. I was justsaying this morning, you know, nine
years and kind of forget about that. I'm not a great alumni. Sorry,
sorry coached, But no, it'sgreat. That's what's great about the

(02:56:31):
NFLS. You just have guys fromall backgrounds. You could hate their guts
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 them,went up into his office and chopped
it up about life mainly and hisopportunity here and how much it means to

(02:56:52):
him. And yeah, I thinkhe's a special guy. I think he's
the way ducks. He's an interestingcat for sure, and I'm still still
feeling them out. But one thingyou can't denies that he loves football and
his main goal is to win footballgames. So and that's what we need.
When you see him working out withyou guys and and pushing slaves and

(02:57:13):
doing all this stuff, just howinteresting is that to see interactive? Yeah,
I mean he was a he wasa great player himself, and 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 guyoutside looking in. He he really,

(02:57:35):
I mean he voiced that to me, is that his favorite part of all
of it is being with the guysand and the connections he makes. So
Yeah, to to see a guylike that come in and embrace it all
and kind of be part of ithimself is important. Your initial impressions of
Pushman during the defensive game, Yeah, it's funny to go from old gift,

(02:57:56):
old gift to this little young guywho is my age. I wouldn't
want to get thrown into a roomwith me and Khalil. I was his
age. But no, he's beengreat. I love messing with him a
little bit. We little sarcasm backand forth. But no, he's great.
He's uh, he's very talks veryfast, and I don't as you

(02:58:20):
know, so sometimes I got tobe like, slow down, coach,
come on. But no, he'sgreat. I'm excited, you know,
to get closer as the years.As the year goes on, and I
think he has he has a lotof passion for the position, and all
he wants to do is learn andand help us to improve. So I'm

(02:58:41):
excited about him and 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. Work much with with Jesse's dad,
since I know he coached linebackers inMichigan. Wait, did you ask
Jesse yes about doing Okay, youasked about Jesse. Oh my god,

(02:59:03):
I was talking about freaking dying thewhole time. You guys are so confused.
No, sorry, I thought Ithought I was. I thought you
mentioned coach RONI No, no coachmentor has been great as well. Yeah,
they've both been great. Sorry,run that back. No, he's
been good. Uh yeah, veryknowledgeable guy. Same thing. I'm excited

(02:59:30):
to get to know him more asthe year goes on. Have you worked
if you worked much Duras, Yeah, no, I have not. I
don't know if I've said one wordto him, but more words to come
down the road. Like you said, you've been in year since twenty sixteen.

(02:59:50):
Just where are some of this stuff? You justone on a ramble about
the wrong guy for fifty minutes talkingwhat Yeah, what the hecks? Actually
that's literally not the person. Yeah, yeah, I figured out something that

(03:00:16):
you you worked undering the off season, something to improve your game or is
there something that you can Usually myanswer is pretty consistent that I just continue
to try to prepare myself physically,whether that's my sprint work or agility work
and my lifting, but yeah,just to get everything feeling great. I

(03:00:39):
dealt with those injuries, so Ihad to kind of ramp it up with
my finger and foot and all thosethings. But now I'm I'm full full
speed out there, and I'm justgoing to continue to do what I know
will prepare me for the season.And uh, I know I'm gonna get
plenty of technique work and position workwhen I'm out here, So for now,

(03:01:03):
I'm gonna spend these five weeks reallygetting uh preparing about a schematic standpoint.
I don't know the ins and outsof what I'm gonna be doing yet,
so I'll wait and see soon.But just what everything going on?
See how to seek the best fit? Christy Chris caps Here we go.

(03:01:24):
Yeah, Dria, welcome to Seattle. Like were you looking for in free
agency? I felt that's a loadedquestion for real, for real, Uh,
you know, in terms of youknow, pay system, teammates,
environment, city, all those kindof just like play into it. Besides
just uh the money thing. Iknow, financials always play a big role,

(03:01:45):
and I kind of steer you intothe direction you want to go.
But everything kind of plays into it. And how much did you reach out
to Shelby Drew know what some ofthe guys you knew the played here last
year to get a sense for whatwhat Seattle might offer you? I mean
not much. Now I'll talked toI talk to Showby a little bit about
it. Mainly no one, Drew, Uh, just congratulate me, Bob,

(03:02:11):
did you come together pretty quickly.I know you kind of came your
agreement on that first Monday, andeverything with Seattle that of come together really
faster. Now, it was along day. Seattle came in almost out
of nowhere. We had like agood set of teams that we're talking to,
just trying to find like finalize whatwas going on, what was the
term is going to be, youknow, and Seattle came in hot.

(03:02:33):
They showed a lot of interest anduh, they kind of motivating me to
come here more and more. Andhow similar will your role be, you
know in terms of playing what youdid in Denver. I don't know that
yet. I kind of just mentionedpreviously, I don't know my role.
I don't know the ins and outyet. Once we'll get NO through the
protocols and the nfl p A,we'll we'll talk about NO, the schemes

(03:02:54):
and everything, right, so welcome. When you were in Denver in the
three four, where did you findyourself most comfortable. I played a lot
of different positions in h Denver.I mean earlier my year, I played
zero, I played three two one. I mean I'm definitely more comfortable in

(03:03:15):
a shaded position, mainly being athree technique and five technique. That's why
I found myself to be more comfortablewhether I'm standing up or I'm not,
whether it's runner or pass. Uh, those seem to be my best my
best fits. And what is yourimpression of Pete Carroll's defense and whole environment
from afar? It seems like heholds in on defense a lot. Uh.

(03:03:37):
I can't really say too much aboutthat. Yeah, I don't.
I know Pete Carroll very little,so uh, I'm just trying to figure
out more and I'll give you abetter answer later. What's the reputation around
the league out of the Seahawks?Uh, you know hard nos Hard had
type of team definitely on a littlemore lack side as opposed to being stuck
up or military style, and whichis definitely good because then this program is

(03:04:01):
one a lot of football games havebeen super successful for many years, as
long as I've been alive, aslong as I've been watching football, and
definitely this has been a good program. And Pete Carroll has been a hell
of a coach for as long asI remember, even back in his college
of days. So I'm looking forwardto experiencing that. John Boyle, Yeah,
I know you said you don't knowyet, you know what your role

(03:04:22):
is going to be, but justwhat what kind of player? You know,
for fans who haven't watched it,den what kind of player this is
getting. Definitely a high motor Definitelynot a one trick pon any type of
player. I like to attack,you know, whether it's a first or
first through fourth down, I liketo attack. I'm always trying to apply
pressure. I'm definitely just a highmortar guy in my opinion. Brady,

(03:04:48):
are there, Brady Henderson from ESPN? Nice to meet you. Yeah,
this is not a team that reallymakes big splash signings in free agency.
Did you think going into it thatSeattle would be in play? No,
not at all. Uh. Youjust it's kind of like being a cure
at the County store. You know, I got a whole bunch of different
options coming at you. Uh hearing, a whole bunch of different crazy things,
and uh, you know, youonly get to choose one. And

(03:05:09):
this is the place that that weboth chose each other. And I mean,
I'm loving Seattle so far. Youknow, I like these colors for
real? What what did you gutto do with Seattle or see since you've
been not much. Uh just kindof just drive around the city exploring,
uh, getting down to the marketa little bit. I want to get
out of the Ferris will do somemore like touristy type of things. You

(03:05:30):
know, I'm new to the cityand I got a lot to learn about
the city. All right. Yeah, there's been a lot of comparisons with
you to Michael Bennett. I waswondering if you know Michael Bennett at all
and you think those are accurate.I know Michael Berger then, like nothing.
I know nothing about it, butbesides his style of play, but
I'm honored to be considered in thesame conversation as him and uh style of

(03:05:52):
play. You know, He's aHall of Fame type of deep lineman that
I've known about since I was akid. I mean, last time he
played here, I was in highschool. So you know, it's cool
to it kind of came full circlea little bit watching him on TV and
now I'm being kind of compared tohim in a way, you know.
I mean I'm not touching the surfaceof Michael Bennett. You know, he's
a Hall of Famer and I'm notthere yet. So you know, I

(03:06:13):
just got to keep doing my duediligence to be a better player. Can
hey dreamont Welcome to Seattle. Iknow you get to play several seasons for
VIC Fangio and three four style defenseand Seattle's playing a similar system. Now,
dating back to last year as adefensive lineman, what do you think
is most important to be successful inthat system? Maybe fundamentals or just playing

(03:06:37):
style to be successful. From whatI learned, being gap sound and being
patient has always been the biggest thing, and that's how we've been successful when
I was in Denver, just kindof like relying on each other. I
know that sounds kind of cliche,but like there's kind of like the realm
of being in the three four defense. You gotta really really rely on the
guys behind you and the guys onthe side of you to really make their

(03:06:58):
to do their job to make yourjob. Yeah, Bob, Yeah,
Well, uh, your your ohowState playoffs said you didn't start playing football
till you were junior in high schooland largely played basketball. So then that's
what made you, I guess,decided to go go play football? Then?
Was that away from basketball? No? No, no, I've always

(03:07:20):
loved football. First, Uh,it was just kind of just playing it
out. You know, I lovethe WHO, but you know, football
was definitely about calling. Given Iwas a two hundred and sixty five pound
power forward and I was like sixstreason changed, so you know, I
kind of chose the route that Godgave me. No, I'm not six
eight Lstena. Yeah, I Verymond. Welcome to Seattle, And you've been

(03:07:43):
quoted and you're looking at a coupleof articles that you wasn't underdog player,
and can you just talk a littlebit about that that role that was said
of the russ you know, alwayskind of counted out, but US came
through. Can you elaborate more thanthat? Just from a standpoint like I
always get like over overshadowed, overlooked, whether it's a in something, you

(03:08:05):
know what I'm saying, Like,I feel like I do a lot more
than what can be sitting by theeyes of the inexperienced, you know,
scout and I do a lot ofdifferent dynamic things that help make plays for
others. You know, I'm definitelyan active player. I'm always doing something,
whether in the runner pass game,so you know, I think that
goes on another sometimes and I'm lookingforward to putting people on notice. Thanks

(03:08:28):
Brady. What uh, what doyou like to do outside of football?
Uh? Big gamer? I'm definitelyI've been getting to a lot of chess
lately, so just to expand mybrain. I try to get into reading,
but if it's not sports plated,I really not interested in reading that
much, but mainly just video gamingand chess. And then when we write

(03:08:52):
and say your name, do youprefer your grandma? I mean you could
say, you can say Draymond Jones. I mean, but like just I
feel like personally is called me Jordybecause easy, because people like to f
my name up at like a lot, they call me Dramonte. I don't
know why you put a Dramonte inmy name or Drakemond t whatever you want
to say. What do you thinksome of that will be able to bring
out out of your game as youkeep trying to, you know, just

(03:09:15):
being more explosive, Probably more yardsfor catch with the space that he's putting
us into. The more yards,more yards have to catch, more exposed
to pick, more exposed to playsfor for not just only me, but
she and Ak and taste them.So I'm excited to be able to be
in the system. I assume youthink you guys can be a lot more
explosive than than you been in thelast couple of years. Oh yeah,

(03:09:37):
of course. It brings a lotof different things, you know what I'm
saying, the playbook, but justaccountability. Uh, I feel like that's
gonna lead us to success. Thissaid, the language is a little a
little shorter, has it. Haveyou found that the language that you guys
use. Is it about the sameor is it it's a long, long
place, but it's more understanding.For sure. I feel like you can

(03:10:00):
get to that more understanding plays anduh, I feel like that's that's the
difference. He was saying the otherday, just kind of like coming into
this offense after like twenty years ofBreeze and just kind of how it was
just kind of built on top ofeach other, on top of each other.
It's like kind of a lot tokind of take in. Do you
do you find that they kind ofturn it down to something new starting at
like zero with everybody. It's justa little bit easier to kind of get
everybody on the same d Yeah,I feel like it's way easier, Like

(03:10:24):
you said, it was kind ofmore of a Drew Brees style, uh
the last playbook, so uh allcredit to them though they built that around
him, around his players. Butuh, like I said, it's it's
more Uh this playbook is more uhfor uh matchups, and uh, I
feel like it's gonna be better forus. How do you think it's gonna
really take advantage of just skill sets? Uh? Just building around the strengths

(03:10:46):
that I have. You know whatI'm saying, things that I can do
and things that she can do,uh, things that our players can't do.
Is kind of focus on what wecan do and building on that.
Uh. I feel like it's playingto the player strengths. So I feel
like it's gonna help us a lothas been around the way this offense will
have a lot more speed, andhow has that transition been so far?

(03:11:07):
I mean, like I said,it's building around the players strengths. So
of course we got speed uh withme or she and ati receiver. So
just building around that, like Isaid, playing to our strengths and be
able to capitalize off that. Feellike it's gonna help us a lot.
But most of like the up tempoASTCT and you know, getting a lot
of plays in less time. Ohyeah, yeah, yeah, that's definitely
gonna play a big difference. LikeI said, coming from the West Coast,

(03:11:30):
Uh, they bringing that stand foran offense here. So I'm excited
to be able to be a partof that. For you personally, what's
what's the next level look like foryou? What do you What are you
trying to accomplish this year? Uh, just staying consistent. Man, a
couple of upside downs last year.Just building off that. Uh, it's
always always gonna work on the physicalpart, but being able to bounce back

(03:11:50):
after a bad game. The mentalmental aspect. Uh, just learning and
learning that last year and be ableto build on that this year is a
huge part. You know with MikeGon, do you take it upon yourself
to kind of be that voice inthe room or to take a step forward
even further as I mean, it'snot really I mean everybody kind of grown

(03:12:11):
in the NFL, So it's juston you to be able to have that
standard. Like I said, Ijust try to do that lead by example.
I'm not really outspoken, but justlead by example, working hard,
trying to dominate every rep and hopefullythey follow out of that yards after the
catch? Is that you feel likethat's the strength of yours that maybe wasn't

(03:12:33):
utilize. I don't know if utilizesthe right word, but you could show
more. Yeah, it's an offensethat is built around that. Just catching
the ball in space, catching theball over the middle or even on the
outside with space and separation. Feellike it's built around having yards after catch.
So I'm definitely proud to be inthe system, like I said,

(03:12:54):
and I'm excited. But is thatis that a mindset too? Like being
good at yards after the catch?Like? Yeah, I mean of course.
I mean you don't want to gettackled by the first person. And
my mindset is trying to take everytake everything to the house, you know,
every touch. So I definitely gotto do that more and definitely try
to work on that in practice.Keep a great dude man. Uh some

(03:13:18):
some that I definitely needed. Somethat he relates to me, uh just
from backgrounds and uh he's a greatcoach, great leader, Uh, motivational
and uh. Like I said,I'm excited to have him around and for
him to push me is everything thatI need. Sothing you're talking about like
mentally bouncing back, you know,from tough performances or whatever like, did

(03:13:39):
you try to fund your resources goingto help you figure out how to do
that? Oh? Yeah, Imean it's older guys. Uh uh tell
me that's natural. Just have badgames. But uh, just having the
standard that I have in my careeras a head coach to have him on
my staff in a couple of places, so I got a chance to see
him work firsthand. You know,I got to see him work first hand
as a player and then as acoach. So the success he had is

(03:14:01):
not is not surprising to me.Is there where you seeing Ryan the successes
had? Yeah? I think weall do that. I think we come
from a unique place and in areally small hometown in New Hampshire where we
all take a lot of pride towhere we're from and and when anybody's successful
coming out of there, then youkind of take a little pride that that's
it's the upbringing that we all had, you know, in the U sports

(03:14:22):
program that we grew up in inin every aspect whether it was football,
baseball, basketball, those coaches werehad an amazing impact on us and that's
why we are where we are rightnow. Ryan said, He doesn't think
of it as you working under him, it's working with him. Fact is
he is the head coach. Hemakes me call him sir though he just

(03:14:46):
said can you do that? Dayone and I was like, all right,
right now? But I mean heultimately it is the decision maker.
You've been a head coach. Howdo you think that's going to work?
Do you think there'll be any asclose as you are, any kind of
awkward moments the right term. Butwhen he's the ultimate decider and you are

(03:15:09):
working for him, Yeah, Icertainly understand my role. I'm not al
Haag like I'm not. I'm notin charge here. Yeah, some people
get that reference. Other people don'tget that reference. But I'd certainly understand
that, and I actually kind ofrelish it because I really love the scheming
part. I love the individual part. I love being in the meeting room
of the quarterbacks and trying to gameplan. But everything we do here is

(03:15:31):
collaborative. You know. The onething that really struck me when I walked
in this place is there's an amazingcoaching staff here. You know, And
if you get a chance to talkto Larry Johnson just about football or Tim
Walton, or Jim Knowles or BrianHartline or any of these guys that are
on the staff here. It's it'sa very collaborative effort. I think everybody's
on the same page. You know, it's not our offense and their defense,

(03:15:54):
and it's it's Ohio State. Youknow, it's it's Ohio State versus
the twelve opponents that we're gonna playduring the regular sea and then beyond.
So it's it's really collaborative. Andthat's the thing I like, just in
the short time that I've been here, is how collaborative everybody's been. You
know, we're all trying to makeeach other better and we're all trying to
develop this team. Touched on thiswhen you said, you know, you'd
like to do what you want todo and not My sense is you,

(03:16:18):
in your perfect world, you'd liketo scribble plays on an atkin and not
deal with boosters that deal with allthe stuff that coaches, head coaches have
to deal with. Now, howmuch of a factor was that in this
decision? You can just do football? No, that's not it. I
mean, I enjoy I mean,we've had some amazing I've had an opportunity
and everywhere I've been to meet someamazing people that are associated with the program.

(03:16:39):
And there's people that from my timeat New Hampshire or my time at
Oregon. I was just with PhilNight two weeks ago, you know,
I 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 at UCLA, Terry donnahe
and Andrea Donna who were awesome tome. Angela Mazzoni is a great friend,
Casey Wasserman, Troy Ayekman. Therewas a bunch of people with UCLA

(03:17:00):
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.
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

(03:17:22):
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,
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 what it's about,
because the game is still about theplayers, and I hope that never

(03:17:43):
gets discounted. You know, It'salways been about the players, and I
think if we can keep that atthe forefront the people that are making decisions
on this, and I think JeanSmith is one of the best influences in
the NCAAA, is to make surewe keep that the main thing. The
main thing needs to be the studentathletes right behind himthan Barrett Cleveland dot Com.
You know, you're coming in ata time where you've been through some

(03:18:07):
places where the expectations are high.I understand you're also coming into a juncture
where, you know, the threelosses to Michigan, the not making the
playoff last year, the urgency ispretty high here, I guess is sort
of what the perspective do you haveon kind of the stakes that there are
for Ryan this year, and thedecision that then he makes to bring you
in to kind of help solve that. Yeah, I think the expectations can

(03:18:31):
be no higher than they are inyour own brain, you know. And
I think if you try to worryabout what other people are thinking in their
brains, you're going to get screwedup a little bit. So, you
know, I talked earlier the onething about Ryan that I know about him
and has always been he's the ultimatecompetitor. So he's got There's nowhere that
has higher expectations of Ohio State thanRyan does, nor the rest of us
that joined him and are a partof this and that are working with him.

(03:18:52):
So you know, I don't think. I think sometimes you can spend
too much time thinking about those things. You know. What you really have
to do is just as there's abig sign as you walk into this place
that says when the moment, youknow, I think that's a real thing
that we have to do as coaches, is to make sure that our players
aren't worried about what's going on inthe future, or or aren't worried about
what's going on in the past,or worry about can they get a little
bit better today, you know,and can we make improvement? And I

(03:19:13):
think the one thing that I've seenhere, and I've only been here for
three weeks, but there's a consistencyto the players approach when they walk in
this building every day, which isit's unique. It's not like that everywhere
else. And it's one of thethings that I remark to Mick when I
you know, he said, Hey, what do you think, And I
was like, it's impressive. It'simpressive the culture of the players that are
in this program right now. ButI think it speaks a lot to the
leadership. There's there's a lot ofolder players on this team, and they've

(03:19:35):
set the tone for the younger players, and I think the younger players have
done a great job of followship andgetting right in line with that. He's
never handed over play calling to someonebefore. What does it mean to you?
I guess he technically did it toBill when he was here for a
couple weeks, But what does thatmean to you to kind of be getting
that responsibility from him and he's callingessentially the offense that you gave him.
I guess in some way, Yeah, I still think the play calling part

(03:19:58):
will be a collapse bit of effort. And by that I mean that if
it's a good play, I calledit, and if it's a bad play,
he called it. Because the greatpart is an assistant coach, you
can just point the finger a littlebit 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 see how that operates.
But everywhere I've been it's been acollaborative effort and all of a sudden,

(03:20:22):
someone that's calling the plays isn't isn'tlike pulls one out of left field
that you hadn't practiced and hadn't beenpart of your offense and said, hey,
let's do this. You know,we're not running the annexation of Puerto
Rico. You know we're not comingup with something special, you know in
the middle of the fourth quarter thatwe haven't done. But I think it's
the key to really being successful onoffense is is how you game plan,
how you put it all together,and then how you practice and train for

(03:20:45):
that so that you get a chanceto execute it. Because the player's confidence
comes become comes from their demonstrated abilitythat they've done this so many times in
practice that when they get out onthe field that this is like that to
them. You know, it's notthat they do it so they do it
right, it's they practice it somuch of it they can't do it wrong.
So, you know, I thinkit's that whole part of it that
is really the key to being areally good game planning team, right Doug

(03:21:07):
Lane, ma ree King North Chip. When you had that feeling when you
were coaching the quarterbacks during Bowlder,did you consider at that point maybe resigning
as the head coach and thinking likethis is this is not where I am
anymore. I'll leave and then I'lllook to see what else is out there.
No, I never thought about quittinganything. So, you know,
I just is there an opportunity thatI think I can that fit, you

(03:21:33):
know, And I think that's theyou know, it's no different than when
you're talking to a recruit about themmake a decision on where they're gonna go
to school. I think that wherethey should go to school is where the
best fit is for them. So, you know, I just entertained some
opportunities and I always felt I feltlike this was the best fit. But
I never thought about quitting or notcoaching. I'm gonna coach. I'm gonna
coach, and then I'm gonna die. But I mean that's how I think

(03:21:54):
I think about things. Is Ican't picture that I know someone I was
on the Nike trip and they arelike, how much LOFE gonna go?
When I said I'd I to goanother fifteen twenty years. I don't think
about I don't think about retirement.I don't think about any of those things.
That's just not kind of my mindsetthat you know. I love football
and in the as long as Ican be part of this game, then
I'll be part of this game.Just the way things worked out with your

(03:22:16):
departure from UCLA, is there anythingthat you wish you had done differently,
or anything you regret, or justthat the circumstances that presented themselves. Do
you think that you handled that departurethe best that you could have? Yeah,
I mean I got an opportunity totell my players personally. You know,
I think in this day and ageof the Internet where they read it
somewhere else and you have to textmessage him, you know, that was

(03:22:37):
always important to me that I wantedto make sure I talk to my players
and explain the reasons of what Iwas doing. I wasn't leaving to take
a head coaching job somewhere else.I wasn't thinking that the grass is greener
at another university. Was just inmy personal situation, this is what I
wanted to do. I wanted totake an opportunity to go be a position
coach and coordinator, and that's howit fit. You know. What I
was happy is that I always thoughtto Sean Foster, I think the world

(03:23:00):
of them, and I think he'sa special you know. And the fact
that that they were they gave himthe opportunity to take over there was you
know, it worked out. Ididn't have any say in that decision,
you know, I was gone,But I always thought that de Shaun would
be a great head coach, andI'm really proud of him and happy that
that he got the opportunity to takethat job. Right behind. Your reputation

(03:23:22):
as innovator was part of the appealof this is that you get to get
in the weeds a little bit.Uh maybe not mad scientists, maybe too
too strong of a work. Couldyou're working within the system. But was
there an appeal of I get toget my hands dirty here again and innovate
and get back to that side ofthings. It was, but it was
really more important of who I getto work with, you know, and

(03:23:45):
so knowing you know, I've gotI know a lot of guys on the
staff besides Ryan also, so youknow, when I know what their mindset
is and what their values are andhow they do things, and so I
wanted to be a part of that. But but there's a part of that.
Yeah, of a teacher you getlabeled in the innovators. The teachings
are part of this. How muchis of a teacher? Are even?

(03:24:07):
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

(03:24:28):
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 going to win
games, not what we know.You know that we're not playing the games.
We're not stepping across those white lines, you know. And your job
as a coach is to create anenvironment where they have an opportunity to be
successful and then get out of theirway and let them go do it.
So I think the teaching aspect ishuge, and we continue to research,

(03:24:52):
you know, some of the latesttrends in teaching to make sure that we
are transporting that knowledge to our players. Steve twenty four seven. Yeah,
coach, just curious you got fivescholarship quarterbacks with differing levels of experience,
age and everything else. Not toannoyed him, but just want to ask
specifically about Will Howard coming in afterstarting part of two years at Kansas State.

(03:25:16):
He just seems to promote this ideathat he's a football player, you
know above all else. Just howimpressed are you with his makeup, his
experience, what he's bringing to thetable walking in here right now? Yeah?
Really impressed. You know that youdon't have to talk to Will for
more than five minutes to kind ofknow where he's coming from. He's really

(03:25:37):
focused, you know, he knowshe's got a short window left in his
college career and it really wants tocapitalize on what that is. There's a
maturity to Will, you know.I really I've had experience. My experience
in this thing since the transfer portalopened in college football is some of the
best paryers I've had an opportunity tocoach ward transfers. Sometimes when you're a

(03:25:58):
true freshman and 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 ninemonths, you know. So there's a
sense of urgency I think when you'redealing with with transfers, and I think
Will has exuded that since he's beenhere. But the other thing that I
just in the short time that Willhas been here is how quickly he's fit
in with the entire team, youknow, and how much the the rest

(03:26:18):
of the players respect him. Youknow. He was uh one of the
Gold Award winners for his work inthe weight room in this offseason, so
that says a lot for him comingin here as a in a short time
being able to win a weight roomaward, you know, to start off,
you guys hope to have the numberone internally externally at the end of
spring or I guess just I thinkit always every time I've been involved in

(03:26:41):
these, I think when they're organicis when it's the best. I don't
think you can anoint somebody or forcethe issue because the players know the players
would understand. They see it everysingle day, you know, and there's
a team chemistry part of this thingtoo, So we're not going to force
the issue a but I've always seenit play itself out, so I've been
for that. There's always gonna besome quarterback battles that at some point in

(03:27:03):
time at every school there's a quarterbackbattle, you know, and then and
really you gotta let them play itout on the field, and that's where
it has to That's that's where ithas to be decided. Just a couple
Hey, welcomes th we We're excitedto have you here. I'm kind of
to talk about the innovative part.Ryan said that that's something that he's always
loved about working with you, andnow he wants you to bring that here

(03:27:26):
and how it would fit with OhioState. Do you have any idea what
that's gonna look like yet or isit just way too or I have no
idea, you know. I thinkpart of it is is you're trying to
put the players in position to makeplays. So a lot of that comes
from getting to understand the players andwhat their skill sets are and how we
feature what their skill sets are,you know, and and the the one

(03:27:46):
thing after day one, I cantell you that there there's a lot of
skill set out there, you know. So that's that's what gets you excited,
you know, That's what That's whatyou jump out of bed in the
morning and you're excited to go towork because of the talent that you get
to work with. But the onething that's the most import us of is
the work ethic that goes along withthat talent. You know, it's not
just empty talent. It's you gotsome kids who want to I mean all
of them since I've been here,want to work. So that that's what

(03:28:09):
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 job isto put those guys in positions to make
place lots of pressure. I mean, you've experienced what it's like to coach
national championship, call over teams thisprogram right now and moving into a situation

(03:28:30):
where you got to win Quicken now. So does that feel like pressure here
for you or is it a littlebit of excitement or both? Well,
I've always subscribed to as pressure iswhat you feel when you don't know what
you're doing. So if you don'twant to feel pressure, and then you
should know what you're doing. So, you know, I think it's it's
part of that, and I thinkpart of our job with our players in
terms of the education process is gettingthem to understand that too. Is that

(03:28:50):
you know, it's it's about yourpreparation, It's about you and your development.
It's not about that you can't begoverned by what other people say.
It's it's what's my mind and setand how am I intrinsically motivated? And
then how do I really compete againstmyself on a daily basis to get a
little bit better. You know,we got a little bit better today because
we get out on the field todayand I got a chance to do some
football, and then the challenges whenwe get back on the field on Thursday,

(03:29:13):
can we be a little bit betterthan we were on Tuesday? And
if we're doing that, then wekeep stacking good days on top of good
days, and I think we'll bein good spot and welcome. Thank you.
I'm gonna ask about the pros andcons of coaching from the box and
coaching from the field. It's interestingtalk to some offen some coordinators. Tom
Herman talking about he swore he wantedto coach from the box, saw the
game so much better, sterile environment, not all the chaos on the field.

(03:29:35):
Some coaches you talk to the like, I want to be on the
field so I can look at myguys in the eye. Where are you
at as a as a coordinator?Honestly, And I've thought of this a
lot. I thought of it alot during COVID because we had the empty
stands, you know, So Ihad thought about just walking up into the
stands for a little bit because Ihad a better advantage. I've always believed
you can see the game better fromup above, but I believe you can
feel the game better from the field. So if there was any way we

(03:29:58):
could get a zip wire. Youcould do both, you know, coach
called from there, then zip outof 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 feel part of it. Iremember when I coached Ryan once. We
were playing Ukon and he got hithard going out of bounce and he just

(03:30:20):
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,
how come we can't complete that?Well, he just took a shot going
out of bound. So it's thatfine line and I don't have an answer,
you know. I think I thinkit's feel on the ground and it's

(03:30:41):
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 team's
at the organ were obviously we're playingthis pace and run much of plays per
a minute and yep, maybe notact by a passill pretty fast. What

(03:31:05):
role do you see tempo and havingan offense in the state yea in college
football and has maybe changed? Ithink the game is always evolving, you
know. I think when I leftin two thousand and twelve to go to
the National Football League, Oregon wasthe only team that was playing really really
fast and had shiny helmets. Andwhen I came back in twenty seventeen,

(03:31:26):
everybody had shiny helmets and everybody wasplaying fast. So I think the game
is always going to go up anddown, and there's going to be different
cycles that it goes through. Ithink 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 going

(03:31:46):
to use it extensively the entire game. Just like you're not going to throw
the ball every single snap in thegame. You're not going to run the
ball every single snap in the game. You know, there's there's not a
game of absolutes anymore. I thinkthe ability to be diverse and and have
it as a tool in your twobox, so to speak, uh is
really how we would look at usingit. Here are now you were familiar

(03:32:09):
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
they want to make an NCAA rolethat you had. You couldn't do it,
you know, and I'll I'll givecoach Shaping credit. I mean,
I think obviously Nick was the firstone to do it. He wanted it
outlawed, 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

(03:32:31):
cycles to this game, and thenonce people catch on to that cycle,
then it moves. You know.It's no different than four 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

(03:32:54):
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, butit's certainly not going to be the
main course. A sorry last question, Oh, thank you very much,
Jerry. Number one, there wasa great moment there when y'all were warming

(03:33:16):
up, when you were you weretalking with Tim Walton and Caleb Downs comes
up and conversing and as you're inthis kind of a two part question,
but number one, what was justyour take on the talent you saw on
that field today on both sides ofthe ball. Where where would you rank
it? Yeah, I'll rank it. I'll be very transparent. As I
was telling Tim and Caleb what agreat offensive player I thought Caleb would be,

(03:33:41):
could be and should be. ButI'm not the head coach, so
I always turned stretch as a asan offensive coordinator, I'm always looking at
the defensive players like I could usehim. Oh what could I do if
I had him? Life if youdo it right away, so you know,
being accountable, you know, doingthe extra stuff away from the f
uh the facility. That stuff mattersat the end of the day, cause

(03:34:05):
all the expectations and all that pressure, that really doesn't matter if you do
those things, you know, Sowhat are your expectations for a year two
in this offense? I'll just keepgoing. You know, the name of
the game is just execution. Youknow. The times where we executed at
a high level at times we wonthose games. You know. So that's
just the goal is just to executeand to be able to be on the

(03:34:26):
same page bill chemistry right now,so you know when the t when the
ball rolls, you know, veryvery r ready to fly around at a
high level. So I mean that'sthe goal, and that's that's you know,
there's goals on top of that.But that's the that's the foundation right
now. Okay's foundation work. Sodo CJ. I know that, I
know that it's still pretty early.But how has it been so far getting

(03:34:46):
to work with Diggs and how ishe fitting in? So far? He's
been fitting in great. You know, he's coming in with uh his head
down mentality, just working. Youknow, he's helped me out a lodge
just you know, he come comesfrom a from a a a good system
over there where when he was withthe Bills, and they did a lot
of things with him and really justoffense and tell me how like Josh played
and things like that, things thatyou know, we do different than We've

(03:35:11):
had this plenty of conversation, youknow. So he been he's come in
and 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

(03:35:33):
know, we we bring to thetable. And he's been nothing but just
amazing so far. And I nI'm very excited to work with him a
brand, as a teammate, asa big what's like to have your friend
Tank back with you guys? Whatwas it like to go from the cameraon
of emotions, from hearing about itto now when it's over and your backyard
there he'll have plun It's amazing,you know, it's sh It's just a

(03:35:56):
testament to him and you know,one of the god we serve. And
then too, just the work thathe's put in. You know, he's
been uh you know, he cameback before it was even schedule. He
can get cleared and then on topof that, you know, just coming
back after that freak accident. Andyou know, I think that we serve
a guy that's merciful and that's that'spurposeful and he knows that and he stepped

(03:36:18):
into and me and him we havethose conversations about our faith and then because
like this football stuff, it seemslike it's everything, but it's not.
You know, we're we're people andwe go through a lot off the field,
people don't know, and you know, as his brother, I have
to be there for him, likejust like he's there for me when I
go through what I go through.So I mean, I'm just proud of
him, man, Like the wordproud is even probably enough to like state

(03:36:41):
the the feelings that I have forthat guy. Man, he's my one
of my best friends that I've youknow, gotten a known over the years
in this in this world of footballand past that Man, I feel like
I'm known since I've been three yearsold. You know, I think for
like our connections kind of like wegrew up together, and you know,
I just got a lot of lovefor that guy. You know, I'm
very excited for him. He's beensnapping that practice and doing really well and

(03:37:03):
you know, to knock off therust that quick shows how much work he's
been in. How much more comfortableare you walking up to ots this year
to read the last year things kindof 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 lot
more uh responsibilities from Slow and fromde Beaca and from Dry Bill and really

(03:37:26):
our whole office of staff. Andyou know, I'm the captain of the
ship and I gotta run it theright way. And I feel like I've
you know, stepped into that rolejust you know, and I not only
holding outs accountable, but also youknow, hold myself accountable to those moments
like I don't let anything slide,uh, cause that's that's the point of
winning and losing. So I thinkfrom last year to this year, like
I've gotten a lot better with likecontrolling my emotions, controlling my ball placement,

(03:37:50):
knowing what's NFL open, knowing myfood work better. There's really every
little thing I've taken a step,and then on the other side of the
ball, you know, just everything'sslowed down. Seeing cover Rich Demico does
a good job of blitching me andyou know, working on their different coverages
and different looks and start too high, go to one and go back to
two motion like as man, goto cover too like all that stuff to

(03:38:11):
keep me true and honest. Andyou know, I think I've tried to
do my best with my off seasonstudy to you know, be better,
and I feel like I've done thatand had a good ota so far.
So gotta finish with that mini camp. But it's been definitely a big transition
of just more comfortability from last yearthis year's college. You you always had
like a real talented receiver room,and then last year you had a talented
receiver a room. So you've hadthe experience of having to feed a lot

(03:38:35):
of guys. Obviously you had inDigs, even Joe Mison coming out of
the backfield. How much would thatexperience from those, you know, college
and last year help you with beingable to make sure that everybody's being fed
the way they are. So ifyou get you don't have the best possible
offer. If you guys like getmore up. Yeah, I mean I
don't think nothing changes. You know. It's like, uh, I tell
I tell guys, cause I getthat question a lot from I got people

(03:38:56):
was just walking around just anywhere,astra game whatever, and I was like,
man, it's football. You knowyou're open, you get the ball.
So uh and my thing is yougot to pick your poison playing us,
like who you gonna double, whoyou gonna cater to? Who?
Like you got five dogs, whoare who are able to get the get
the ball in each given play?You know? So I think it's fine.
I know Slow has done a greatjob of being more creative and you

(03:39:20):
know, has put different personnel packagesout there, guys in different positions that
going from inside and outside, youknow, and you know, I'm I'm
very excited to work with with coachLow again. He's done amazing so far,
you know OTAs and will continue todo such. But yeah, man,
I think that past experience of playingwith Marv Jack's Garrett, Chris Jamo,

(03:39:46):
America Julian like those type of guys, they'll tell you too, like
you know, they'll probably have saidit before, but they'll tell you like
they made me better and I madethem better. You know, that's my
job is to make everybody around mebetter. So I'm excited. Man has
been healthy competition, Like I knowGeart, I've seen his interview the day
he was talking about Ohio. Seehow like the receivers, like if Gear

(03:40:07):
made a play, Chris is like, nah, watch this like it's the
same thing here, which is youknow, really cool to watch. And
you know, as the quarterbacks meet, Davis in case and Tim were the
same way too, So healthy competitionis the best way to grow and get
better. And I think that that'swhat it's about. You see how excited
Diggs gets for Tank when he makesit play, and Metchi gets for excited

(03:40:28):
for when Nico makes it play,and Tank gets excited when Rob makes a
play. You know. So it'samazing, and you know we got Noah
coming back to which is gonna beamazing. And I'm excited. Gout been
there and a ton of guys.There's a ton of talent, Steed showing
up. Really, everybody's really beendoing Jay, Wayne, Johnny you know
so and man, it's been fun. See j uh Nicko done got you
some some mixture talent on the officeside of the ball. Well what do

(03:40:50):
you think about the additions that hemade on the defensive side of the ball.
Yeah, man, it's been great. It's been good on good like
Demigna talks about iron Shop behind.You know, it's been a lot of
smack talk, a lot of justuh, just good competition, you know.
And then it starts with me andhis ease, you know, him
being the leader of defense. I'mthe leader at offense. And you know,
playing him last year, I man, he always showed up on tape

(03:41:13):
when I watched the Titans last year. So it's cool to like see like
the stuff he thinks. We youcan see him at my locker, me
at his, or us before practice, after practice talking about plays and you
know, so, I mean itstarts with us, and then when you
add Daniell, somebody who's a verywho plays really hard, who's gonna help?
Will you know? Them? Twodogs? You got team in the
in the middle with Autry and andSosa and just a ton of guys,

(03:41:39):
man, you know, in theback end, got young guys showing up.
Kaitlin's doing really well in the backend along with Petrie and Jimmy,
along with Kamara. Kamar is showingup. Stein is playing well as y'all
seen. Uh So, man,it's just been dogs on dogs, you
know, like and that's that's that'sthat's the best teams I've ever been on.
Is and the closest teams personally,but also the most competitive team.

(03:42:01):
So it's been Dope. He's seehe broke out last year and Nico broke
out last year and he Goo getsthe contract. Eccentric he's here to twenty
twenty seven. What does that dofor you? Just knowing that you have
a familiar target to work with forthe next few years. You know,
it's just something I I'm first ofall, I'm just proud of that guy.
Uh my brother Nico. He's shownup and shown out, you know,

(03:42:24):
when you know and his number iscalled, he always makes to play
and you know, he's just aspecial He's a generation talent man. He's
he's like alright, age is AndreJohnson in my opinion of just how fast
he is, how he gets inand out, his brace, his releases,
how strong he is. And Ithink last year was just a uh
a preview to what it's took comefor him. And the one thing I'm

(03:42:46):
proud of him for is just thework has never stopped. He's constantly here
working on his body, constanting 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 one and
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,

(03:43:09):
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 the d d wait the what they
deserve, and you know, I'mjust really proud of him. What does
it mean for you to have anotheropportunity to work for Bobbysola Andel Roi Johnson.
I don't know if you remember thatwas a moment going into the playoffs

(03:43:31):
last season where you really didn't knowif either one of those guys would he
or shit. Yeah, I meanfor both of them to come back was
very special. I think we bothwe all have a better feel of how
to work with one another. Andyou know, the talent I am on
the field, and the play callerthat uh Bobby is and then the the
common coach Drought is. You know, we all work together and that and

(03:43:52):
you know, slow as I'm inhis office almost every morning just going over
stuff and watch the film with him, going over things that we need to
go to get better at. Andhe always has his phrases, you know,
working for the end at mind,and you know he holds me accountable
when you know it could be easierjust to like let me slide cause you
know, I'm I'm out there stillmaking plays, but he's like, nah,
you need to be better here,here and there, And you know

(03:44:15):
that that's just uh shows a typeof leader he is, and you know,
it's a honor to be able towork with him again. And same
for me, like to him like, hey, flow, I'm not really
feeling this play or I wanna addthis player to try to see if we
can get better here in this innin this practice where you know, I
think we can be really good atthis type of player. And he's very

(03:44:37):
very accepting when it comes to that. So it's been cool to work with
both of them, and I'm veryexcited to get another year on our belt.
What was it like last year righthere? What was it like?
Uh? Teacher football? Uh?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, shoutout to Beijing, Shanghai and Tokyo

(03:44:58):
you know for accepting me to Micahwith open arms and just the hospitality and
the just the culture man there isjust amazing. They want to learn about
football, you know, and it'sit was cool just to see like them
already have like the foundation of it, but wanting to grow from there.
And you know, I think footballis a family sport and like those people

(03:45:18):
are our family now. And youknow, the Olympics come into where it's
gonna be international with flag football.I think that's super dope. And to
be able to get you know,to be able to put our feet into
those those doors already, you know, it's kind of cool, you know.
So, I mean, I'm verygrateful with my team with uh Bernie

(03:45:39):
and David for setting that up andeven like the guys out there who who
gave us top notch hospitality. Itw It was just amazing, man,
the whole experience. So, youknow, just my first time really out
the country and just being able tolike go to the Great Wall China and
all that stuff and still do whatI love to do, you know,
working out with Micah school and uhhe has a lot of crazy takes,

(03:46:01):
but you know, I I gotleft for that guy. But it was
fun. Man, John and Jonathandadd what's uh, what's it like have
you cant stover down here with youand what's your relationship been like? With
him? Oh? Yeah, Kay'smy brother. Man you know, I've
been through taking thing with him,and he's somebody who I I often look

(03:46:22):
at as like like our moms arelike the same, or our families are
super close. As college. Ithink he's like my blood brothers who like
somewhere for walking down the line.I don't know how it works, but
I just he's always like there forme. He's always you know, I
don't know, man, Kate isjust like that guy. He's a brother

(03:46:43):
that you just you know, lettinghim know I'm available for him. You
know. I think it can besomething as little as just the steps on
field goal blot or a field goalprotection. I've been doing it for thirteen
years. Uh's still crazy. I'mstill doing it, but uh, you
know, Uh those are the tiptype of things I'm just giving guidance to.

(03:47:03):
And then you know, off thefield, it's you know what to
expect around the city. Where shouldyou be, where you should be,
how you can help yourself, youknow, the little things. Yeah,
what are you looking for in yourcontract? You know, I'm looking to
be here, you know. Uh, the value is what we decide.

(03:47:26):
But you know, I think forme, I I I wanna be you
know, valued at my position.You know, I I understand I came
up a rough season, but Idon'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 you know, top five player at my position.
And you know, I played arun in the past and I bring leadership

(03:47:50):
and uh, that's not anything Idiscover. Can you do you plan to
be here for mini camp or astory of training camp? Yeah? How
difficult has it been the last twoweeks too? Now? Your I mean
you said in your podcasts the firsttime you've never not been at Yeah,
it w it was difficult, Butlike you know, the thing I got
very frustrated with was just and peoplequestioned my communication with the team. You

(03:48:11):
know, I uh was communicating withguys left and right and you know,
front office, coaches, teammates,And all I care about is how I
am with my teammates. I don'twant them to ever think I don't care
about them or how I'm not init. And you know, you can
say whatever you want about me,but besides that, but I always dedicate

(03:48:35):
anything I can to them, andI don't want that to every question Isaiya
said that it felt like sometimes youwere pulled up somewhere watching film. You
text your say, hey, youmissed this, or you wanna tweak that.
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

(03:48:56):
part of this. Uh, youknow, just watching practic this, there's
a couple of little things we're doingdifferent, whether I'm communicating with dumbbar or
other people you know, to beYeah, so you're that You're also talking
with him and you you've given himpointers during the off season, just constant
communication. How do you see NewGirl as a person, you know,

(03:49:16):
as far as how he's approaching things, how he getting ready for this season
from his rookie year. Uh,you know, I think the thing with
Keanu is he's more comfortable, youknow. You know it's not 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'regoing from bowl game, I don't even

(03:49:37):
know Wisconsin played in a bowl game. Sorry Wisconsin, I don't even know.
But you know, personally, Ijust think when you go from bowl
game to training for the Combine toyou know, rookie minicamp to OTA's the
you know mini camp, I meanthe training camp the regular season, you
really don't get a time to reallycatch yourself. You know, he understands

(03:49:58):
the playbook. Now he can bemore of a local, you know,
And I think when my absence,the other guys absence, you know,
you need guys like that to stepup and be ready for those opportunities you
had. You had during the seasonwas a more thorough What was just tightened
down everything, you know on myleft side because I was overcompensating a little

(03:50:18):
bit, but you know it wasit wasn't anything that lingers. You know,
I'll say this, Uh, agrowing is not like an a cl
It's not like anything's that were goingto get afected again. And you know,
you know, I'm feeling good,able to do everything squat and heavy
with power and speed, so youknow, it feels good to get after

(03:50:39):
again. What do you think ofwhat the team was able to accomplish?
Your soft easily turn to bring guyslike Russian and things. You know,
I think they're all good acquisitions,but you know, you never want to
be known as a paper champion,so can't win the off season. I
think the work gets done out hereon the field, gets done in the
classroom, It gets done training,uh, you know, and then you

(03:51:03):
see where you're at in training camp, and then you build on that.
You know. I think we gotthe right guys in the building. It's
just about uh, putting a completeteam on the field. Cam how temper
colies is to separate the business partof the game in the actual football player.
Uh. You know, y youyou always wanna you you always have
to treat it like a business,uh, because you know one day it's

(03:51:26):
gonna end. Uh and that's aben job. Uh. It's not like
in college where you know you gotfour years guaranteed. You know, well,
now you you don't know whether nI am don't know it's crap,
but the transfer portal portal. Butyou know you have to I still have
love for this game, and Istill work my tail off, and I

(03:51:46):
still put everything into it and that'snot gonna change. But you have to
know, uh what you bring tothe team and and what your what your
value is. Okay, you dida bible to be out there with your
teammates today. I'm great. Youknow, we got a new uh,
we got a new training staff andstill learning the the warm up a little

(03:52:07):
different. Uh, but uh,you know I loved it. Uh,
you know, just getting after it, learning new guys. Uh, going
through the same drills I've been doingby myself. Uh. I actually like
having more people around, cause likekind of go stir crazy, k crazy
when it's just you and another guy, You're like, damn, I gotta
go back up for another rep already. And so you know, it's nice

(03:52:28):
to be up here and get achance to you know, be with my
guys. Cam. Were you confidentand be able to get done with your
emotions? Oh, I'm gonna I'lltry to remain pretty neutral, cause you
know, I don't wanna be tooeither way. All I know is I
wanna be here. But we'll seewhat happens. Cause my last year here,

(03:52:54):
I I I I've had a greatcareer here, but uh, we'll
look forward to play next year.Can you do what that second start or
you said it this time was onthe left side. It was the first
time around on the right side,right side during the season, left side,
and that was just tightening down mycorner, my cormasaw. It wasn't
the same as my ad doctor.You know, you can ask doctor Bradley,

(03:53:15):
uh doct doctor Zuckerbron who uh didthe surgery as well. You know,
I if anything's gonna help me andit'll make me a lot stronger for
hereing up. Did you say youwere training with another guy? Who have
you kind of been? Tyson?Oh? Uh, I've been training with
him for the last eight years.We've always trained together. We got a
trainer up north, uh shadow ofCole Haley. He's my guy, traded

(03:53:39):
trained trained uh, Heath Miller,Brett Hezel, the multitude of guys that
I all respect and we've just beengetting after it. kN hes very true
guys historically thirty five that you paidbig contractor do you think that's held against
you? I think there's not alot of history behind it. But you

(03:54:00):
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
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

(03:54:22):
know, my game's built on poweringtechnique, and those guys go into their
forties and so you know, that'swhat kind of research I'm doing behind the
scenes. But you know, II We'll see what happens. I it's
there's not a lot of history,but I'm here to make history and I'm
here to you know, win anotherSuper Bowl year and you know, have

(03:54:43):
a great season. Do you havea set goal over 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
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

(03:55:03):
my mind, I got three yearsand I wanna maximize'em. I wanna
play at a high level and Iwanna go deep in the playoffs. And
you know, we got a goodteam, and I'm gonna do my part
to be ready for all those situations. And if you plan on practice when
you report to the trove, oris your possibility that you might pull in
and enforces I I have not eventhought that far. I've taken a day

(03:55:26):
by day. Uh you know uhuh. I told my agent and we
talked about it. I mean,we were cool coming out here. You
know. I'll be here for manyyou know, and then I'll be there
for training. Parent you know,I don't know what the work entails,
but when we get there, we'llwe'll cross that bridge. Why is it

(03:55:46):
or remain a stealer for those threeyears? You know? There was a
conversation between me Omar and Mike tand there's a certain guys. Is there
one helmet guys? You know?And I want to be one of those
one helmet guys? And you knowthere's a there's a hunger and desire that

(03:56:07):
I was doing a little bit ofcarrying the ball. I was behind Xavier
Johnson, So learning from him andguys like that, it makes me more
comfortable. But I could. Ifeel like I could do anything on the
field, and I'll do anything toplay so fast to do with meat,
throwing the ball, running the ball, catching the ball, blocking anything I'll
do got the field with that specifically, talked about how competitive you are.
Where do you think that conditor drivecomes from. It just comes from where

(03:56:31):
I'm from, South Florida. Ifeel like everybody down there, we compete
to the max. There's no otherplace that competes like South Florida. There's
dogs all around the South Florida.So, I mean, it's just ever
since I was seven years old whenI started playing, It's just it was
instilled in me to just compete andbe that dog. Speaking of South Florida.
Once you've done about I mean,I played with Jeremiah when I was

(03:56:54):
ten and eleven, and then weplayed against each other a couple of years
of high school. So I've seenhim. The growth he's made over these
years is insane. The way hisbody has changed is crazy. And now
see him out here today is justlike everything come full circle. You know.
He he's what, he was thebest player in the country last year.
And for him, for me seeinghim grow up and things like that,

(03:57:16):
it's been really good to see freshsuch a stackero. But Marvin Harrison
junior didn't play much as a truefresh but it seems like he might be
the exception to the rule. Ifeel like Jeremiah is just I mean,
he's definitely he's a different caliber andwhen when you when you watch him and
how smooth he is and the physicalabilities he brings to the game, I

(03:57:37):
feel like he has to play someway. He has to he has to
play because he was the better ofthe team. Jeremiah sophomore And now,
yeah, you guys this years thatthey're gonna get the best receiver receiving room

(03:58:07):
in the country. You know,we've been helding that narrative for so long
now, but we're gonna continue todo that. I mean, we have
conversations like as us dream because we'rewe all play for the same team.
As you said, we just wantto be the best and we know when
it's our time to come, we'regonna do We're gonna do that and definitely
get a national championship. How specialis that for you? For you guys,

(03:58:28):
get it's very special because you wouldhave never known in OT seven when
we were there all on the samefield together on the same team. People
never thought we would have been atthe Ohio State University all playing on the
same field at the same time,So it's definitely special in them. It's
a dreams of true. How doesyour body change in this offseason? How

(03:58:48):
have you got? I definitely thinkmy body has changed a lot, and
it's changed the ways of like mybody happening. Sentences went down a lot,
and I just feel like I overallfeel better when I like do long
runs and stuff like that. SoI have a good, really good stamina
right now, so I just hopeto keep that up. Would you be
guys winded this year? As youwere after a fifty seven yard touchdown in

(03:59:09):
your first catch, you pretty windedfor you? Yeah? Yeah, yeah,
I feel like it was just adrenalinerushing. I feel like I was
more so a celebration, was moretired than the run. Actually, everybody
jumping on me and stuff like that. But it was definitely a cool experience
experience. Just talk to South Florida. Is there a little SOUTHWMBA is there

(03:59:35):
outside? It feels like there's alittle bit of South Florida there, like
a good track proppers. Yeah,what do you guys? Do you see
that in the corner? I feellike if there were anybody to be from
South Florida in the corner, itwould be I just do Davidson nigs guard
and you're looking over to the counterpartyguard. It's a great thing, sing,
What what about Carson's skills might justallow him to shift over one's box

(03:59:58):
was last year? Why you didn'tsuccessful? He's athletic, He's able to
run the ball us to eat inas well, which is all the point
of your favorite thing and working inthe space. That's uh, it's a
huge uh thing to have. Anduh he's just trying to come up into
the neck guard spot. You know, it's him of the kind of the
other guys. I got to saidthe bay tying for it, but uh,
you's don't. He did a goodjob today. Let's say we can
do it toil summer and get intothe ball camp. After your Sam squorre

(04:00:22):
his touchdown, which lock And wastalking to and then he kind of made
his way over to do you grabbedhis shoulder pad like what was going on
there? Oh yeah, yeah,I mean obviously, Uh, a young
guy scores the touchdown on the shoe, he kind of blocks out of everything.
So I'm trying to coach locks callhis name, trying to get his
attention back, he gets some coaching. Uh it was it was nothing too
crazy to coach locks it. Nowwe handle onto the rip around here,
and so just to make sure,you know, uh, obviously it's a

(04:00:43):
great thing for him scoring to touchdown. It's a great thing. Ever,
m's going to see him score.But you see time to see some coaching.
A lot of quarterbacks running the balltoday, uh back at that part
of the day. I mean,I I think that just makes a offense
even more bouncing that she can neverplayed left hand eleven set ten on the
eleven, So it's just another guyto account for. Another guyer moved outside
the box. And then after tendthe things, the rest of the defense

(04:01:05):
open for more uh options than youknow. So it's a it's an awesome
thing. You know, personally Iwant to slide, but but uh it's
it's still cool. See how difficultdid that make it last year? When
your last couple of years where youreally ever had that? What does a
running for you ability to run afor quarterback game? It's none. It
wasn't difficult. It's just a newstyle of offense. You know. Coach
Kelly comes in with his philosophy andwhat he wants the cues to do,

(04:01:28):
and the cues are actually want thespring us. So we're just gonna keep
building off that. Obviously H useda couple of good things today some uh
some good runs by all the cues, but just uh building off of it
and see what we can do better. I think you open today in the
T formations and creative like that.What's it like working with Chip Kelly And
how is that helping the offensive line? He's creativity? Uh, it's it's
it's really fun going through walkers.Obviously I only get the the run to

(04:01:52):
play the inside outside zone, butyou know we go back on film like
well we were in the tea FLMintent, but it's, uh, everything's
a lot everything's a lot more fun. All the guys are buying in all
the kinds of wanting more fun.So Coach kind of brings us his own
juice to what we have, whatyou're going on and just u every day
every guy that everyone improves off ofit. So toally, do you feel
that improvement up front for you guysin the office line? You feel like

(04:02:15):
that's helping you guys right now?For sure? Yeah, I mean,
uh, we have a lot moreexperience in the old line, A lot
more guys have uh a year ortwo under the belt. What did your
impression of him? What does hedo well that you're like, okay,
yeah, this is this is theBronner own pick and he closes you born
you be close on because you didn'tbe committed right off in the music.
I mean when you came down here, was there a thought process that you
could commit. Did you come downwith an open mind or did you kind

(04:02:37):
of have a feeling that this wasgonna be the weekend of your made Uh?
I came down with open mine.I didn't know about the mosten making
a really that then I got here. I felt the family atmosphere, the
player of the coaching. What wasthat moment like for you talking to coaches
telling me the commare telling your family. Just what was that like for you?
So it was great? Uh,I have a mom, my dad,
all my friends in the room there, you know my compete. What

(04:02:58):
was that reaction? Well, everybodyalready really consent with great fun. So
what was coach last that he waslike? When you think of like just
to comment or the yeah, justan Ohio State back, you know,
whether it's physicality, like, well, what are the first things that come
to mind when you think of theydon't high state or any now, speed
of powers on and uh tity gotit? Yeah? Is that something that

(04:03:22):
I mean you feel like you haveto you know we're going or is that
something that you're like, Yeah,that's the kind of back I am.
I'm just gonna be next to minethe AI. I think that's cop back
I am. But you all proveto get it. Well, what are
kind of a few of those thingsthat you're like, yeah, I need
to work on, like go overthe course of the next few months,
ord of just everything. Make sureI keep all the details. Last,
superio, what a coach I tellyou that he likes about your goal?

(04:03:43):
Does it right? Betword the tacklesyour speed? Well, what is he
like? He said? He like, maw fucker backfield, bad man.
He liked that. I'm not gonnabe kee travel. What's kind of your
main I mean, obviously as anin state kid committed to this class,
what's your pitch now to other recruitsand be like, this is why you
should join the Hio States. It'sa real family. I'm discrew. Yeah,

(04:04:03):
everybody get them on, everybody talkingto everybody to each other? What'd
you say once you get any runningbacks? Bring him to it? Well,
I've always looked up to Bill Jacksonwatching this film. Do you uh,

(04:04:24):
that's funny? Do you think thatyour boy style can hear his fiscal
perspect isn't just the way that hereally closed to go back to? Yeah?
I think that all you want toYeah, I think I can.
I think be the pard Yeah,I think I remember who are the main
guys that you're you're talking to rightnow to join the storm? I'm really
talking to everybody, uh, thelistening room and that all the commits and

(04:04:48):
any guys that you want to jointhe class, anybody at the top of
your restaurant. Not I'm sorry ifyou've already asked this, but coming out
here as a as a recruit,as a commitments here? What what did
you want to show today? Whatdid you want to get out of this
experience? It wasn't nothing to show, nothing cool. I just wanted to
do some working go love. Howdid you feel like that went? Obviously
he's still relatively new here, buthe seems to bring up a little bit

(04:05:11):
of a different energy than than someof these camps in the path. I
feel like it went good. Yeah, do you sense that energy? I
mean when you're out with him,it's feel intense interview. He's different than
other guys though, right, Imean kind of How would you explain his
coaching than some of the other runningback coach you may have worked with him
the path? It's just intense,intense like go go go. Yeah.
Did you talk to talk on whenhe had ever wagen? I did?

(04:05:33):
Okay? So when when didn't hedidn't work and getting market r like Rufford
around like after season like not toofar at this? Okay? Is it?
I mean, is it was?He kind of the same guy that
he is now, so just justin a new uniform. Basic. Yeah.
Then you guys obviously added Isaiah tothe class, and there's no secret

(04:05:54):
they would like to add another one. What are your thoughts on being in
a class with three different running backs? Like I have no problem being a
Custer and thinks one st What doyou like about isaa? I don't deniz
you've never met him, but youdon't just damn it not the person coming
when you committed? Who were someof the guys that you start to from
they in particularly about actually coming up. It's not really a couple of linebackers

(04:06:20):
taking on these talks joining Christ youjust can joy coming back. You're just
getting in that I enjoy every time. That's just been great, doesn't good?

(04:06:41):
Chris? Do you think put yourwife's chance that you watched out the
door if you were the last yand just decide about I'm committing and now
you're flashed number one single US.That's actually picky. I like, you
know ever since just even getting theoffer for here my life that this year
sky Spa appreciate. I mean,obviously you think you got a couple for

(04:07:07):
you did hear it and hears abouthow you put so higher shade? Like
you mean it's a pretty you startedpretty good. But I mean in terms
of the guy, don't you wantto join? You're ar testictart Mary Camper,
get your sun, get your pimpshirt? Something great? A great

(04:07:31):
right? Sea? What do youwant me out of a quarterback? In
your box? Like a white you'remissing a specifically like yeah, this is
war one out of the stick?Cont just start great? Top? What's

(04:08:03):
yours? Uh? Hodcaster could thinkyou grow the visit coachs the very very

(04:08:26):
once again your visits and talking ath Kelly about what you don't like that
coms it's the first time I methim. Know we just find it ud.
Yeah, what do you think youcan where you do? You know?

(04:08:48):
Yeah, it's like the lots andtakes. What's been like you California
being out of today, that's alittle lots like he love help me adds.
Yeahs like different being what a staterecruit here versus what you were just

(04:09:11):
Yeah, it's definitely different. Soit's flying here new generation of recruits where
I don't think anybody outside looking atthe room, the questions, the strength
of your commitment, like you're lockedin the last state. You send it
over and over, but you're makingvisits around the country. You've seen other
schools. It's it's almost a totallydifferent mindset. How do you approach those

(04:09:35):
other visits and how do you communicatewith Ohio State about them? And what's
been the message house State. Ijust let you know that you know,
I'm always locked in. You know, I'm just still undone buses. Just
recruit. You know, this isonly what's on the saving enjoy the other

(04:09:56):
school that's out of life. Yes, it's gonna be really hard. Sorry,
that's so high to stay here onthe feed. So what is it
if it's made you wanna take closeto this? What when chase house?
The rehab process going so far,it's going great, man, it's just
taking them one day at a time. At what stage are you? I
know day say they wanted to seeyou, probably in training camp and we
would know a little bit more.I guess after next week when you see

(04:10:18):
the doctor for what what stage areyou? Yeah, I'm back up training
doing everything, lifting crazy, soI'm back in that stage. Do you
have a time cable? Like whatwould you be ready for training camp?
Or? Uh? Like what isyour expectation? Uh? Right now?
Just taking one day at a time, standing in my playbook, so my
numbers called'em ready? And howimportant for you hasn't been to I guess

(04:10:39):
stay around the team while you're inthis process? Uh? Great man?
Uh? You know, definitely gettingin touch with the guys, you know,
knowing a lot of s lot ofthe guys already a lot of the
old State boys here. So it'sbeen great. Are you encouraged by how
you feel so far after the procedure? Do you? Oh? Yeah,
what are your expectations work? Whatfrom what people told you? How would
how would you close? Oh?Yeah, no, I f I'm field

(04:11:00):
five. Shit, I just ranten fifties. Shoot, I'm I'm getting
back in shape. Shoot, gettingin the weight room, about to get
strong again. So yeah, I'mi'm I'm i'm'a be ready. What potential
do you see with this defensive line? Yeah? I mean now you definitely
stacked. I see a lot ofgreat things. Uh, you know we've

(04:11:20):
worked together, Yeah, I thinkSkyt's limit. What conversations have you had
with some of the veterans, likeCam or any other people on the G
line? Yeah, just uh goingto Cam just aks'em about certain things
in terms of how he sees offenses, just whole time he's been in the
league, in terms of formations andhow he picks up on little pre shinga

(04:11:41):
breeze things like that. Schae Ithink making said, you know you dove
into the deep end of the coolh. How I guess M much important
for you to be disinvested with thisteam at 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
heat? But uh, it's it'sreal cool, great teammates and everybody welcomed

(04:12:01):
with open off. So it's agreat experience. Case. Ho, how
you gonna get what you innswered thesorry is uh training camp day one?
Is I a realistic expectation. I'mjust focusing on today? Are you running
it? Yup? Marshawn is inthe the ole house they got just having
him back in the building. Justtalk golo with that. Oh yeah,
uh yeah, b uh big bro. You know it's uh, definitely excited

(04:12:26):
to play with'em. We alwayschatted obviously on different teams, but I'm
definitely excited to to play with'em. That's you know, that's gotta be
big for me. Was that oneof the guys from making the decision that
you you kind of talked to aboutwhat this locker room is like, Yeah,
Marshaan uh tyrane, But yeah,I mean it was we got a

(04:12:48):
lot of great guys in this dYou look at that, you know on
paper, you know, I feellike definitely one of the more talented defenses
in the league for sure. Uhuh. Now it's all about just putting
it together and you know, comingtogether as a team. The research on
that one hundred years ago, youknow, folks had the idea of building

(04:13:09):
a stadium over sixty thousand people,and that's because of what Chick Harley was
doing. And you know, theyhad a wooden bleachers over here and all
these people started coming in and theidea of bringing in a stadium that of
over sixty thousand people at the timewas like, this is crazy. What
is college football turning into? Andthey instead of going to the state or
going to the school the community,they went to the community to raise the
money they raised over at the timeover a million dollars. Well, I

(04:13:33):
had fast forward one hundred years andthe conversation still might be like what is
college football doing right? And inthis situation with then il, we had
to turn to the community for help, and Bucky Nation showed up again in
a big way. So although thelandscape is changing, I don't know if
you know, one hundred years later, if it's that much different. It's
just in a different time, ina different you know, set of issues

(04:13:56):
that were working through. But Ithink it's exciting. I think there's a
lot of positives to it. Ido I think that we're taking the next
step with the revenue sharing to tryto institutionalize some of it, which would
be big for US Bills. Yeah, every years question, it seems like

(04:14:16):
this year's team has fewer questions ofthe line, specifically, if you look
ahead tore in a month, whatare the real questions that you have in
your mind about position, battles andwho's going I would say on offense,

(04:14:37):
you know, we've got to squareaway the quarterback as you know, I
feel like, you know, theoffensive line on the right side, we've
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

(04:14:58):
we're still looking to figure out,you know, who are going to be
the guys inside, you know,the third, the fourth, the fifth,
defensive interier, a linement that we'regoing to put in the game.
And then same thing, just justI would say depth, a little bit
of safety, just to kind ofsee who those next guys are. They're
going to step up, and sowe know it's going to be a long
year. We're going to need everybodyand and so in a lot of those

(04:15:22):
areas. It's depth, uh,special teams wise, you know punter is
going to be you know that thatis significant. You know, we just
brought in Nick and you know,so there'll be a battle there. So
I'd say those are probably the areaswe're focused on the most. Ryan just
to fall from the offensive line,there was I think a school applogy you
guys might have to look for atransfer in that post spring window. Did

(04:15:45):
you guys do that? Did youguys not find the guy or were 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 a hole.
We're not just going to bring somebodyin to bring somebody in. Like at
all positions, we'll always look tosee what's out there. We did evaluate
some of the guys that were outthere, and you know, you know,

(04:16:07):
we felt like coming out of itas we evaluated it, you know,
there was a couple of guys thatyou know, we checked on,
but but ultimately, like based onwhere we were and some of the young
guys that are coming up, youknow, we felt like we saw some
progress in the offensive line in thespring. So you know, it wasn't
There wasn't as many folks in theportal, you know, in after the
spring. So we looked at it, we identified it, We did our

(04:16:29):
due diligence, but you know we'regonna go through. We have now second
round, Bill las right, you'reit was interesting that you have two of
maybe the top five ors of guysin sport and then a bunch of guys
who haven't plenty uh maybe someone thatI don't want to question, but did
you consider trying to add there understandingthat probably the difficult sell. We have

(04:16:49):
such talent on top to bring somebodyof his experiences, Like what were those
conversations like and how did you settleon being comfortable with you know, Trey
and well, like you said,you know, I think we're we will
get some experience there with those twoguys. And then you know, we
felt like coming out of the Springthat James and Sam both did a nice
job and you know, we're gonnahave to play them and they're gonna have

(04:17:11):
to you know, take on alittle bit of that. You know,
we have you know, started havingconversations with Caleb Bowns. I was part
of the recruiting process of possibly youknow, doing a little bit of running
back as well. It's something thathe wanted to do. So we've been
having him in some of the meetingsand some of the individual drills as a
possibility there if you know it neededso down the road to continue to build

(04:17:32):
depth at that position. But youknow, I think, you know,
we feel like, you know,if you have you know, four strong
running backs going into it, thenyou know that's gonna be that's gonna be
enough to carry the season. Ido think that the quarterbacks will run the
ball more this season, so thatshould take some carries away from them.
But to your point, you know, James and Sam are gonna have to
step up to the guys that wecan count on. Save that for another

(04:18:00):
day, Yeah, just fall upon that. Is he capable of stepping
in and being running back? Imean obviously, yeah, a lot.
We'll see, we'll see. Wetalked about in the recruiting process, you
know, the first time around andmore specifically in the second time around,
and so he's you know, he'sbeen around a little bit just to get

(04:18:21):
a feel for it. We didvery little in the spring. We did
I think we pitched them an optionor something like that in the spring,
just to kind of get them going. But yeah, we'll see, we'll
see where that goes. We don'thave a specific plan right now, but
we do want to introduce him tothat just the same thing like Lorenzo Styles
has played your seer where he didthat Notre Dame. You know he's out
there a little bit, just kindof learning. It's healthy. You know,

(04:18:42):
you're seeing it from the other sideof the ball. This time of
the year. You can get awaywith that a little bit, a little
bit in the preseason. Where itgoes, we'll see, but you just
never know. And we're trying toput some contingency plans in place because it
could be a long season. Yeah, this is my forty fourth year covering
of hose Day. I don't rememberever expectations like this in the summer.
There were some of them were almostas big. Do you said that too,

(04:19:03):
And what is that pressure like asyou're working through a summer and people
have asked me that I go backto the expectations every year are the same.
I mean, it's just the truth. When opening press conference I said
you got to beat the team upnorth, and when every game after that
that's just the expectations, and whenyou come up short, you know you've
got to figure out a way toget those things fixed. I think we
have done that. But the expectationsare the same every year. Pressure is

(04:19:26):
the same every year. I justlike the pressure when you've got a really
good team behind you. So that'swhat we've got right now. And you
know, we know it's going tobe a long season. We know what
we're working towards. But I willsay this about this team, Well,
we've been talented. That's there's beentimes in the past we've been talented.
I don't know since I've been here, if we've been this talented and this
experience together with guys that have playeda lot of football, fourth and fifth

(04:19:48):
year guys, and that doesn't matter. We'll go on door step. Maybe
maybe this is just talks because it'ssummer tivious, You've got type of conversations.
Maybe we're making a big lot ofnothing long term situations. But we've
seen it around college football in theleague, guys playing both sides of the
ball and doing it quite well.Right Travis Hunner is doing down in Colorado,

(04:20:10):
and Caleb Dallas has been apartment turns, so we see what he could
do with the ball. But there'salso the stamina aspect of that. I
just get into a sixteen game season, so I'm not saying it's twenty forty
snaps or something like that. Butwhat about his athleticism, what he brings
to the table and let you knowthat if you wanted to explore it a
real game, he could last andstill be an effective safety. Yeah.
Yeah, we'd have to see allthat. He did it in high school.

(04:20:33):
But we got some really good runningbacks in a room. So it's
not something that we're planning on doing, but uh, well, we are
gonna, you know, work ona little bit Caleb. Caleb enjoys that
part of it. We did agreethat that was something that we were gonna
look and do. 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

(04:20:56):
hand the ball Tom a little bitthe preseason, because again, it's going
to be a long season. Wehave to make sure we have continuency 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've't
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.

(04:21:18):
I think that having you know,guys go on the other side of
the ball and just see it,listen to meetings is really healthy for the
development. So we're going to dothat regardless. Your defensive recruiting right now
is maybe further along it's been inthe years past, and I think we
passed differus questions about it in thepast. But is this a product of
seeing it over the last couple ofyears and now it's not just telling you

(04:21:41):
guys, hey, this might looklike this. They're seeing it in real
time. Yeah, you know,we talked about it when Jim first came
in, and I think Tim wallsan unbelievable job as well in the back
end, and you know, Mattstepped right in and James and Larry,
I think they're all doing a greatjob. But like you said, you
know, it's one thing to talkabout it. That's theory testimony is look
at this is this is what we'redoing. And then I think you're seeing

(04:22:03):
a lot of guys just excited aboutplaying in this defense and they see the
capabilities and the flexibility too. Youknow, right now the way we play,
excuse me, the way we playright now is based on you know,
we have four really talented defensive linementhat are really good, and we
got a lot of depth to thosepositions. But there's also flexibility with some
of the things Gym's done in thepast that you know, we're definitely looking
at and some of the recruits thatwe're looking at who brings some versatility,

(04:22:26):
pass rusher, you know, wehave that jack position and those type of
things. So that's exciting as well. And I think you're seeing a lot
of the recruits, you know,really get fired up when they get here.
People. Yeah, coach, yourfirst years, your identity was was
very very from an AWFU standpoint andair and out type team. Look at
the deep best talent and the playmakersyou have there, has your identity change?

(04:22:51):
I guess what do you think theidentity is of this point point?
For well, we'll see as wego, but you know, we know
what we need to do to playin the big games. That's never changed.
And we have to be able tostop the run, run the football,
take care of the ball, andthere'll be opportunities to throw the ball
that that'll happen. But you knowwe're gonna have to, you know,
do those things to win close gamesand and play situational football. But I

(04:23:15):
think, you know, you won'treally get a feel for what the identity
of the team is until we getinto probably the beginning of October, you
know, and I think we allhave ideas of what it could go.
But you know now that we're playingin a playoff format, just like a
lot of those NFL teams sometimes,you know, they don't really quite understand
their identity until they get about halfwaythrough the season. I don't think it'll
take that long. But you know, we're able to play some games and

(04:23:36):
kind of work through some things.And I don't think our defense is going
to change a bunch in terms ofwhat we did last year. I mean,
it's a lot of the same guysback could look a little different on
offense. Time for two more goto Doug Limerris. Okay, right,
you lose an important pretty staffer topromotion at Michigan. Just how do you

(04:24:00):
react to something like that, issomething that someone like that would take information
that was learned there that could helpthe Michigan or Borough high stages reaction.
Yeah, all good questions, andyou know, I just I want to
talk about the guys that are here, you know, the staff members that
are here, the coaches that arehere, the players that are here,

(04:24:22):
the ones that are Buckeyes. Joejug With the scheduling change that was announced
yesterday, did they come together?Didn't have anything to do with the expanded
the playoff? Maybe we think beginningof the season a little different. Yeah,
you know, I don't know allthat came in came with it.
I know it got presented to mea while back, and you know I
was on board with it. Soyeah, I mean I think, you

(04:24:47):
know, we do have to looka little bit different at our scheduling as
we move forward, based on theway the format is at the end of
the season. That's quickly about thelinebackers got in here a little bit late.
How do you feel about your linebackers? Cody seems like you always ease
the best news. He's walking asthe STARTERJ. But do you see his
role being Sonny? What do yousee his role being gay? All this
guy? Yeah, good versatility allthose guys, rvel Reese, Like you

(04:25:08):
said, CJ, Gabe, Sonny, Cody, I'm missing a couple,
I'm sure, but like that wasthat? Yeah? R bel Yeah,
I mean these guys are really versatileguys. You can see the length on
them, and you know, theydo a good job in terms of like
fitting the runs they could. Theyhave enough length, you know, to

(04:25:30):
covering zone. But they'll also blitzand that's something that we wanted to really
work on this offseason, is gettingbetter at blitzing, you know, and
hopefully we can even take the namehave we got Jeremiah j J Smith JJ?
How'd you feel out that today teamcame out don't three and old pool
play? When you come to thesekinds of tournaments, what kind of techniques

(04:25:52):
do you like to work one youthink that you're going deep some sort of
stuff, some crossing routes. Whatdo you work on when you're at a
tournament like this? Really just gettingback in the goose, you know,
all run doing the meat, Soreally just working on my releases. Uh,
that's when you're game my friends fast, I mean, I'm gonna chuck.
So just really getting back in.Now we know you pulled the trigger
on Ohio State, obviously you gonnatake visits kind of make sure that you're

(04:26:15):
you're perfect, done your decision.What was it about Ohio State and Brian
Hartline and Ryan Day that made youfeel comfortable to commit early? Really they
sent me my first visit when thefirst you can't. They offered me out.
So after you feel like fist myprism un you know, really,

(04:26:38):
just what's up? What's up?What's what they saw? Was? Really?
They what they need? They gaveme? Uh really just a kid
that I'm gonna talk hart I wasn'ttalk Marderi. I'm trying to do business
size. Now, I know yougot something your SFE family up there.
You got Brandon n s, yougot card I'll take. What does it
mean to potentially be able to wakeup with them in a year and be

(04:27:00):
able to kind of run back whatyou guys have done in South Florida,
Express in Columbus, Ohio be great, Ohio State take it would be grateful,
great my first round. Yeah,you're a super humble kid. I've
been really impressed by you today.Is there anything that you want Ohio State
fans to know about you? Youknow again, I know you're just your

(04:27:22):
all work, all work on work. But what are they getting when they
get a JJ Smith to come toOhio saying job, take care of sport
score, don't just come in that'sperfect man. Well, God bless you.
I appreciate you, my man alsomewatching you today, Thank you so

(04:27:42):
much. This is JJ Smith.And then later tonight I'll probably come back
and watch the film again. Butat the end of the day, it's
just trying to be around football,be around the facility. How much of
your film watching it's like solo endeavorto shoot, buy yourself watching? How
much people we've had more safeties comein throughout the spring, more guys try

(04:28:03):
to learn the system and learn thegame. But I mean, at the
end of the day, you gottado what you gotta do to put yourself
in a best position to win.So myself, I'll watch film at home
too by myself. But when I'mhere there's always other players around me that
are trying to or to get better, just like I am. Are you
only watching or so far you watch? No? I watched the NFL teams,

(04:28:23):
watch good NFL safties that are playingright now. Javon Holland, Antswine
Windfield, go ays like that thatcan that I can emulate and try to
see how they play. And thenalso just watching other players here, other
players that do things well here,just just learn from them, trying to
see how they play the game,trying to get better. What are some
of the big differences that you've seenso far between what you went through at

(04:28:45):
Alabama and so far you've gone throughup here. A lot of it's the
same. A little difference is inthe defense and how they operate and how
they see things. But at theend of the day, football's football,
defensive defense, So everybody gotta getto the ball and make the type of
what you think of coludos. Oh, I love the city. I love

(04:29:06):
uh High Street. I love beingin the city. I love going to
the restaurants here. The food's greathere. So uh I ain't got no
coomp place for me. You therebe cause it's like you got the campus
all of a sudden, then youalso a big city. It's it's different
than Alabama cause Alabama was a collegetown and Tusalosa was not as big of
a city. Here, there's alot of people to see, a lot

(04:29:26):
of different businesses that you can bea part of. So just trying to
learn the city and learn what everybodyhas to offer here. He'll be probably
noticed it. When Kid in Parkamedia'sdecision to go back to Alabama, then
that starts a full level of speculationas the are you were you taking back
by that? Did you feel likeyou needed to make a declaration after that?

(04:29:47):
Uh? I mean at the endof the day, No, I
didn't feel like I needed to sayanything, cause at the end of the
day, I was still here apractice, I was still here with my
teammates. So I mean, Ifeel like my actions speak for themselves.
I'm I mean, I don't Idon't need to say anything about that.
And I talked to him when hedid it, and I congratulated him on
his decision. I mean, that'swhat he feels his best as when he
feels his best, and I supporthim. But I'm here. You guys

(04:30:10):
have are in this new generation ofyou have that sort of freedom, You
have that sort of control over yourcareer in a way that other people didn't.
Is it's something that you you haveto kind of take through the certain
seriousness that you're making that right decisionin your career at all times, I
think ev I mean it in life, you have to make decisions based off
of what you feels best for yourself. So that was a big decision for

(04:30:30):
him, And if he feels that'swhat's best for himself, then I support
it. But at the end ofthe day, for college suable athletes,
I think that's the best thing becausethe coaches have the same right to do
what they do. Coach can comehere for a month and leave, and
I mean then he's just leaving theplayer at high and draw. So I
mean if they're gonna have the abilityto do it while with the players not
have some type of say in theirin their life. Kevin, you you

(04:30:53):
made them type opposite last year asa freshman. What do you think you
could do in assault when you're underyour belt? Yeah, I think I
can grow and what I did welllast year and increase on the qualities that
I wasn't not as a leite atduring during the season. So just being

(04:31:14):
better in coverage, being better inthe post, being better in my tackling,
being a better communicator with my teammatesall that I think I can offer
to the team, and but atthe end of the day, it's gotta
be a team collective to go dowhat we want to do. What do
you come in this outs at thedefense? What what do you think of
being a big part of was elitelast year and it should be better this

(04:31:36):
year. Yeah, they were avery elite defense last year. And watching
all the film from last year andthe whole season, they played a great
season. They played a lot ofgood defense. Excuse me, which you
question again just the idea of beingthe hard I'm a big part of I'm
not a league defense. Uh.I mean I can only do my part.
I can only do my one toeleventh and do my job. Every
player I can't. I can't tryto do more than that, and every

(04:31:59):
other player just to do their joband we'll do what we need to do.
Caleb be talking about your field punchinghabits. Was that the same in
high school and what did that looklike for you on a regular high school
My high school coach is one ofmy favorite people in the world. Uh,
Freeman Davis. Me and him watchfilm together a lot. But that
was more so just myself watching filmand trying to grow. So I would

(04:32:21):
say I had a lot of thesame habits and has trusted over to college.
But a lot of that was meand my high school coach starting the
game together and 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 said transition? Like, do you
feel that does that even matter inthis kind of defense? I th I

(04:32:41):
mean it's the same spot really tothe it's the safety to the field safety
playing in the most space. That'swhat I'm used to. But at the
end of the day, I feellike I could play to the boundary.
I can play the dome money position, I can play nickel. So I
mean, at the end of theday, you gotta make plays wherever you're
at. Caleb, what have you? What have your thoughts about on UH?
Jeremiah Smith a very elite athlete,very instinctual player, has a great

(04:33:07):
ball skills. Should UH should havea big impact a year. Anybody you
can comparison what you've seen. Ohnah, ja Jess's on, So Jesus,
he's on. It's his own man. Uh. Who else's caught your
eye at group? Receiver group?Kayle? That uh is elite in your
opinion? Uh? I watched aMecca booka a lot O H and Co

(04:33:33):
when I was in high school.Yeah, watching the games and then last
year watching some of his film.He's been an eleade receiver then and he's
a league receiver now. And Carlotehas had a great spring as well.
Yeah. And uh you you personally, Uh after the UH student appreciation day
on Saturday, you were mobbed aboutas much as anybody. What is what?
How have you felt the receipt meaningof autograph seekers at Seery now?

(04:33:56):
Uh? How have you felt thereception here? Uh? For you of
the last several months, but especiallylike the Saturday, I think it's been
very welcoming. I appreciate everybody,and like I appreciate when I go to
class, seeing people that know meand just being able to meet them,
being able to say that I'm gladto be here, being able to say
I'm glad to be here to everybodythat came up to me. Yeah.

(04:34:17):
So I'm just I'm very appreciative ofit. Do you feel their expectations for
you? You know what I meanthat, uh, I mean people mad.
So it's a versatility thing. SoI'm happy about it. There,
you moved around a lot throughout yourcareer where there's jumbo side you'll tackle I
guess in the sentence and playing bookthe left on the right side. Do
you think you kind of benefit fromfocusing a little bit more on the right
center? Yuah, a little bit. But you know, there's a new

(04:34:38):
system that we have, like Ihaven't find my mindset most of the right,
but also have my mind's on theleft too, just in case something
does happening to like you know,I mean like Coughtland or you know,
Pete of course. But I'm alwaysgonna be ready for life no matter what.
How quickly have you felt like youpicked up this new system that you're
working in there? You oh,it's a we actually pretty up picked up

(04:34:59):
pretty well cause it's the same systemthat I'm used to back in the hof
set. Cause we's more like spreadthat I say, so, you know,
it's pretty good. It's one ofthe like the draft process off seasons,
A lot of people outside the buildingsare the readers getting right tack?
Yeah? A lot of yeah,alright, now, a lot of people
in the building were like, wehave the right time. All the people
get motivated by that. You followit like if you petic to do it,

(04:35:22):
though I don't. I read intoit a little bit. But also
at the same time, like theynot here of course, but I don't
really care what they say. Iknow what I can do, and the
team know I what I can do, So they trusting me right now and
I'm not gonna live them right down. How hard or how easy is that
to compartmentalize that and use that asfuel going forward rather than the kind of
marinated it, uh I j Ijust keep the seats and everybody knows that

(04:35:45):
one person I don't really care forhim at Also it's all good, but
it's all love. I love uhoutside of this. But you keep doing
it, keep getting better, keepon these nights. See what I can
do there. You've been a Iwas spoken about your supporter of Zamir and
obviously it's just a chance now tobeat the dog. Wait, what is
it about him that you bought inso early? The reason why I bought

(04:36:07):
it so earliest cause uh, Iwas at the house date they always taught
us to actually getting and extince.I got here. I'm'a always wanna go
get it, and I gotta pickedlate, and I always wanna prove people
wrong. You know, I thinkprove people people wrong all my life.
I wanna keep doing it. What'sall which I guess more just like helpeyting,

(04:36:27):
like the set, you feel likethe community this year to nine eight
difference nine they difference from my firstyear, in my second year to now,
Like now, my guy, Iknow I can play. I know
I can go against one of thebest special nights anybody else that we want
to play this year, and Iknow what I can do. So all
I got to do now is actuallymeet my potential and should do it and

(04:36:48):
help everybody else out the team aswell. You've practiced a lot against Malcolm
and he's really come into his own. What is it about Malcolm that's helped
him make that next step? There? Man, Malcolm, he's quite.
He doesn't really say too much.He can come to the work every day,
do what he does, and heworks hard. He doesn't flit twice
at anything. Yeah, he'll getmad over a co respose. At the
same time that like he has amentality of adult like he's he don't really

(04:37:12):
care what y'all think or anybody elsethinks for real. So it's just like,
alright, just keep going. That'show everybody is on the team about
ty raising too. You guys thatthe same mindset. He does have the
same mindset. Who a little alittle nervous, but uh nah, he
nah. He has definitely grown upa lot from his like first year here

(04:37:33):
to now like he has, buthe's he's growing up a lot mentally too.
Until you guys are reimagining the offensiveline a little bit with you out
there on the right side, yeahuh arm there next to you on the
on the last side too, andthen drafting the guys on the line.
Ye know how long exciting is thatto be part of something that's that's kind
of being you know, having thattrust but also being reinvented a little bit.

(04:37:53):
That's rat you know, but meand doing those like they gonna keep
a placing of course, But allthe same time, we gotta keep going.
You know, we came seal andthink about what they did. All
we gotta do is staying about whatwhat came to do with things better for
the times. Well, sorry,they don't put a lot of them outside
like a little bit more. Howhow long are you guys working everything together?

(04:38:14):
I'm one hundred percent now. Andit was like a walk in the
park. It's like a sprained ankle. You know. It was very easy,
you know, because I had theknee. The knee was pretty hard,
you know, and the Achilles wasI would say it's easy, you
know, just because that's just mymentality, and it was. It was
pretty easy to be. But youknow, I've had these injuries and it's

(04:38:37):
been storm like the past two years, you know, having have like good,
great games. The next thing,you know, hurt and then you
know, so got got the injuryprone out there, you know. But
I think the storm is over with, you know, you know, and
I think I'm gonna gonna take offnow, you know, and there will
be no setbacks and the injury ownthing will be gone out of the window

(04:39:00):
again. Yep, I'll say,you're gonna be back. I am.
I am excited. You know.He does a lot of great things,
and he's a great person and wehave a great relationship. It's gonna be
it's gonna be a fun year.We're gonna have a lot of fun.
We're gonna do a lot of greatthings. So I can't wait to here

(04:39:22):
waiting to the interest you had?Is that just bad luck? Is every
Is there anything you've been attribute tobeyond just misfortunately? Yeah, it's just
unfortunate, you know. But Godhas a plan always, you know.
I don't know what the plan exactlyis, you know, I don't know,
but whatever plan it is, it'sfor me to be here. You

(04:39:45):
know. I had a great rookieyear. Uh I didn't. I didn't
really have the volume as other peoplemy rookie year, but I still had
a great rookie year. Six yardsof carry, you know, things like
that. I think it was likenine touchdowns ten including the playoffs. And
so there's always been like, allright, guy, let me show my
talent shine a little bit. Likeeven when I had the knee. So

(04:40:07):
I had the knee, right,A lot of people don't know, like
I didn't get hurt again. WheneverI got you know, got cleaned up.
So I went down in twenty one, right, had the injury,
the knee injury, and then cameback later the next year and I played
the first few games and it justfeel there was a lot of scars issue
in there. So I did getit cleaned up. I didn't get hurt
again. I could have played thewhole year, but I got it cleaned

(04:40:30):
up so I can feel like me. And so after I got that cleaned
up, the first two games backfrom the injury, I had over one
hundred and twenty yards rushing right andthen went on had great, great ending
of the year, you know,one hundred total yards in the playoff game
we lost, which I hate themost. Stats. Don't marry me.
I want to win. But thencome back the next year hurt again like

(04:40:52):
torn achilles. So two really unfortunateinjuries. But that's just God's plan,
you know. And I think thatthe storm is now over, you know,
And I do think that I'll beable to shine my light to the
whole world. Are you concerned thatyou have that label you can't stand?
See? I could care less becauseI do. I do. I know

(04:41:12):
this out there because as as itshould be, it should be. I
got hurt two major injuries back ornot back to back years. But you
know, so I haven't been onthe field as much as I should.
That's true, that is true.But it's not like I'm having these little
little dinky injuries and sitting out.It's something I can't control literally, so

(04:41:34):
that's why I'm not bothered by it. Like, yeah, I am injury
polling, you could say that,you know, but I do think that
the Chargers are getting a guy that'sgonna be healthy from now on. You
know, God will it, andit's gonna be great. And I do
think that it's gonna be It's gonnabe a great However, many years here,
when you've been on the field,you've been highly adopted, five point

(04:41:56):
years for very average for your career. Like knowing when you're out there you're
very adopted, how much confidence doesthat give you? That really all you
need is is not ledge. Youneed all the confidence in the world.
You know. The way I work, I wouldn't say just from the numbers,
but just the way I work mywork ethic, you know. And
my relationship with Jesus is like Ihave the most confidence when I step out

(04:42:19):
there because I do know, like, if he grants me the health,
it's over with, is it.I don't think I would be, you
know, I think it will bea great year or whatever, a couple
of years. However, many yearshe grants me great health, you know,
and I think just the work ethic, my prayer and all that stuff.
That's what helped me have that confidencewith the numbers will be there and

(04:42:41):
they might be higher after this year, you know what I'm saying. And
it's crazy to think about because Ihad six or six yards per carry,
you know. So we'll see you'relooking forward to the running behind this line
that they put together. Oh yeah, yeah, yeah. I played with
Brandley, I played with him,you know, I know Slater, I
know all the I know all theguys you know, and I'm I'm excited.

(04:43:03):
I think it's like I said earlier, it's a talented group. You
know. We just got to putit together win some games. Cause that's
why I came here for. That'sit all part of you, or I
wouldn't I wouldn't say part of therecruitment. But like whenever I decided I
was gonna sign, it was greatto have him in the room. What's
your relationship, Yeah, we're great. We're we have a great relationship.
That's he's like my brother. SoI think accompany ch compliment each other very

(04:43:30):
well. You know, he cando a lot of stuff too. You
know. We got like a lotof people think he's just power power power,
But I think he has some otherparts of his game two which it
it'll be great cause I feel likeI could do everything, and when one
get tired, we we can rollit in. We keep rolling win some
games. So when you the twoof you get going, well, how

(04:43:51):
do you think that's gonna look for? What would like? What will be
that partnership kind of back there?I know that's a hard question. How
do I think? I think it'lllook beautiful. You know a lot of
people call this a passing league,but I think you got to run the
ball to win the super Bowl.You know, if you look at the
team to win the Super Bowl,they can run the ball, they can

(04:44:11):
control the clock, and so ifwe're both good, it'll look great,
beautiful. How would you describe theGregor running offense? I would I would
describe it as, you know,a great offense. I think he gives
a quarter He's going to give thequarterback a lot of options. He's going
to give the running back a lotof options. He's gonna give the receiver

(04:44:33):
a lot of options, you know, and I think it'll be I think
it's gonna be great. His offenseis going to be amazing. When we
talked to him, you know,I was like, why have you been
able to build something good rushing offensesthroughout your career everywhere you've been, And
you said that one part of itis just you got a call place.
You got a call run place asa running back. You know, how
much confidence, how much excite doesit give you when you know you have

(04:44:55):
to play caller that's gonna stick withit and allow you and the offensive line
get your bread. Gives me alot of excitement. You know. It's
gonna be Like I said, it'sfun to play in his offense, you
know. And I think he doeshave some good things in the past game
too, But like you said,he sticks with the run, and that's
that's the identity you You want anoffense that has an identity, right,

(04:45:17):
You won't be looking everywhere else tofind your your identity. You want to
have it. And so I thinkhis offense has that and the guys he
builds and puts in there, itcomplements that identity. So I think it's
gonna be great. You will gofor train. Look, I ain't gonna

(04:45:37):
answer any of the if it's upto me. Yes, Look because I
had this problem like three two yearsthree years ago. I'm thinking I'm full
go. I think I'm ready togo, and the next thing, you
know, I'm on pup, like, hey, look some stuff above my
prey pay grade. So but Idon't know, hopefully I can start.
I think I'm ready to start,you know, at the beginning of training

(04:46:00):
camp. But that's not up tome. As I've learned, I wouldn't
say that. I think I've beenI've been in some great organizations, and
I think this this organization is agreat organization, and the training staff is
great, and so they just wantwhat's best for me, you know,

(04:46:22):
and they're they're taking care of me, which that's what you want in an
organization, and so that's where thatcomes from, which I appreciate it,
Like I really appreciate that, youknow, because I'm the type of guy,
like I work really hard, somaybe sometime I'm blind to you know,
the danger of something, you know, So I appreciate it. But
like I said, if it's upto me, yeah, I'm out there.

(04:46:42):
But you never know what any frustrationfor you during the heading into free
agency, you know, dealing withwith rehab and not you know, having
on a full season tape or adoptionto go out there. Is there any
part of that where you're like,gosh, you know, have hit the
open market with a different situation.Nah, I like it. I like,

(04:47:03):
how would I say this? Ilike it the hard way, but
not, you know, I likeit the hard way. I like it.
I like trial and true relations.So I mean the dice that I
was given the role was I wascoming off of Achilles, and that was

(04:47:29):
that was the lowest plan. Soit was beauty in that, Like I
was comfortable. I was caught likethere was multiple teams, you know,
I wasn't. It wasn't like Ididn't have any other team. But I
was comfortable and sitting back and justenjoying the process, letting myself get fully
healed. So whenever that team,whoever I would sign with, who now

(04:47:49):
is the Chargers, is going toget the best me, you know.
And I think people all around theleague though that like, Okay, this
guy, Okay, there's a highrisk, high war type thing, right,
not even a high risk of lowrace, because you it's a business,
right, So I got her lastyear, so not as much money,
and he's to be throwing there butI think everyone around the league knows

(04:48:11):
that whenever I am on the field, the numbers don't why and so they
know that, and a lot ofteams were like, all right, here,
you can will give you this,but we want you to be healthy.
So when I'm healthy, it's gonnabe great. This is the chance
that I've been giving here. I'mso grateful and I know that's gonna be.
They won't be they won't regret it. Are you the type of person

(04:48:33):
that likes to throw people wrong?Like you've a couple of things like the
high risk higher award injury. That'stwo cents I've heard. But me being
who I am, you know,I'm gonna throw my two cents in there,
you know. So that's just it'sbeen awesome. Man. He's you
know, a resource for me,just a person that I can always bounce
my thoughts off of. And now, you know, just a year you

(04:48:53):
said, thirteen months. Now Ifeel more comfortable just you know, bringing
certain things that if you know,you never you never want to come off
to stan. But I'm a curiousguy. I got a lot of questions.
I like, I like football alot. I like to talk talk
the games, so you know,come to find out he's the exact same.
So we uh, you know,we get along well, and and
uh we're gonna keep keep building thatrelationship. Sometimes in this league, playing

(04:49:15):
you know, eighteen games, theytryna make it twenty. You know,
it's like it sound like a littlea little fever dream to be honest,
but but uh, if we canfind a way to k you know,
stay up right out there, keepkeep Aaron on his feet. You know,
I'm I'm excited for that and uheverything that comes with it. But
uh but yeah, like I said, man, that's it's it's harder said
than uh or harder done, andsaid, I guess you know, it's
one of those things. It's likethat's a lot of games, you know,

(04:49:36):
all of a sudden, take alot of hits. They take a
lot of hits where they're not looking, and it's just how can we keep
him healthy? Yeah? Yeah,are you when you think I do?
You're a suit the room now,positions you guys have made when more Monty
healthy and everything like, yeah,you know, I'm excited to see it
at at full health. You know, we've i haven't got to see all
the all the guys out there atonce. And and you know, it's
one of those positions where every dayis something might happen to nick up.

(04:49:57):
You know, it's just a atough position to stay out there at all
times. But I feel like wegot a great group and and the number
one thing is how can we stayhealthy? How can we you know,
I'll be out on the field,and I think having depth like this and
the group we have is gonna helpus. Having guys that can do different
things, that can go catch ballover the middle, all types of things
that it's gonna take some of thestrain off off all of us. You

(04:50:18):
know, it's it's a good group. So I'm excited to, uh,
you know, get out there.I feel like we haven't had the whole
whole thing together, but you know, come season time, moroll and it's
gonna be exciting. What about aguy? Is that your old number?
Yeah? Yeah, like yeah,man,