Press Conference (Paris Johnson Jr.)

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Episode Transcript

(00:00):
The player forever, you know whatI mean when always talking about his plans,
so you know, you us transitionslike one of those fairy tale like
to your time now. But butagain either way, you know, we
talked about it. You know,that's that's the tow goes, you know,

(00:21):
but obviously you know he sees he'she's been one of my biggest supporters.
Again, I affect everybody leads intheir own way, you know,
not everybody's the guys coming around likeand that's not everybody, right, Like
I felt for me, that's mespecifically on game day with the O line

(00:41):
and after we do one on onelike that's my like, well, Hump
did, like that's my like bigvocal time. I feel like I've talked
to Hump about this, you know, just recently talking about how what I
want to do for the room isI want to bring that Hump energy that
he brought right so last year,of course some traits been doing it for

(01:03):
years, but the year when Ispent with him, he brought a lot
of the energy and excitement and thehappiness in the room was just his natural
energy to where I only had tofocus on me, you know, I
didn't have to make sure other otherguys are, you know, feel some
type of way when they came inhere because Hump brought that. But out

(01:25):
of Hump's not here, but Isaw what he did for the room.
I want to be that guy tomake sure everyone's amp to go to practice,
everybody's hype on taking the field teamone period, you know it's a
low day or something. You know, it's a it's a but like I
want to make it feel like yourparents a tripper right now. I want
to bring that because that's what wehumped into each other. Wee wile hpe

(01:46):
each other up, dudes like dudesabout to people walked with 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,
I wanted to do that from dayone, you know, I kind
of I wanted to do that fromday one, from just talking to him,
and obviously it's that time. Ispend the off season before OTA started

(02:10):
just being in myself, just thinkingabout what the room needs, you know,
because I know my new new roleas one of the leaders, you
know, on the offense, isthat we need a guy like that.
That's gonna make sure the old lineis picked up ready to go every day
and it was held accountable. Littlethings aren't happened to practice. People aren't

(02:31):
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
positivity, you know what I mean. So, but he the energy yet
went beyond just the hype up thedal line and started too. So that's
kind of how I wanna be somegoal mine literally my whole life. I

(02:53):
want to be NFL team captain,like specifically the NFL. I wasn't a
captain of high school, wasn't acaptain to college. But I made a
joke when I was in high schoolslike there, I feel like I'm not
gonna be a captain take it tothat NFL. Yeah, but that would
be awesome, you know. Butyou know, if it happens, I'd
be great. But not either way, I wanna assume a role as a

(03:17):
captain from the respect of the guyson the team, the dividual. A
word to me, and to getback to that word, yeah, I
mean I can't say that. Imean, I guess the biggest thing is
that I felt like it has feltlike how it you used to in the
past. But it didn't take justthe first day OTAs. It took training

(03:38):
left and right once the season ended, cause I didn't know what it was
gonna be sure, So it tooka lot of yeah reps just to give
back to feeling like myself for dayone OTAs and then that whole first week.
But now like today, specifically justchanging some small things with my feet.
I did say talking about Oline coachabout some things I can do with

(04:00):
my feed to get to that,the like to selling it the traditional angle
that I love to set on.Felt even I thought I felt, I
thought I felt great already my moatI felt even better. Okay, so
I'm even more excited tomorrow. NowI'm getting my feedback to how I liked
it the right side, and I'mon the left side, so I'm excited.
I mean, obviously, I feellike in the league, whether I

(04:23):
left or right, you're still goingagainst premier guys, So obviously you have
high expectations for your left hand orright tackle. But there's definitely uh like
the the level of energy and likethe expectations. Definitely taking a human spect
cause now connected the blind side,that's the that's de tackle role, you
know. So so yeah, Iwould say in terms of communication as far

(04:46):
as just even outside of facilities andstuff like that, like really creating that
that tackle quarterback bond even more offthe field, I think has been something
that's even been cool. I gota text one day he said, Hey,
like you play left and I waslike, yeah, you know,
yeah, I've been training both.I've been training both. You know.

(05:06):
I asked after the season. They'relike, honestly, you know, we'll
talk to you. So play inthe season and then I just gotta text
me, like depending what happens withthe free agency then. So I was
like, you know what, Ihad a whole season right tackle. So
if I get the word, I'mgoing I'm standing right tackle. I don't
used to do what I did before. I'm built on that bus. I

(05:28):
was like, I might as almosttrained the left tackle now as if I'm
going to be a left tackle,and I'd rather do that than training on
the right time and get the coo, hey you're the left tackle. I'm
like, oh, I didn't evenswitch my feet yet, you know what
I mean. So I'm like,let me just prepare in advance. I
was like, yeah, let's god, you know, I think occasionally on
third down there'd be a lot oftwists. I would just know, like

(05:48):
it's I'm automatically coming. And Ithink that was my mindset for like the
first half of the season. Butlike I didn't have to go to a
game and with surprise like oh mygosh, they did that. I kind
of figured like, okay, likethis is this is the type of rush
want to get, Like this ishow this guy usually rushes, but I
get the vibe this is how theend's like the rush, you know,

(06:08):
tackles that are you know, firstyear guys who got the premiere patch on.
I already knew what it was gonnabe, already knew 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 twisted my side again. So it
was never an Aaron Donald like youknow, they're coming out of minds.
Like three plays in a row andtwo minutes, I knew that I was
gonna happen. You know what Imean, I'm watching more than everybody else.

(06:31):
And he rarely England goes out thereon occasional third downs on the d
M. I was like, alreadyknow it's gonna be. He's gonna pick
me, you know what I mean, So fact fact it's kind of a
it's also kind of an advantage ina way, but it's also exciting,
like, Okay, I'm gonna getthe hardest. Look. You know those
are real, real reps, youknow the thing. So really, I

(06:54):
don't know, I really didn't kindof process that. I was like,
hey, when they tell me,the process were about how you might approach
this, and and what do youthink it's meaning? The key element?
You're getting the most out of thosebecause you got two guys. This ain't
my first rodeo, No. Iknow a lot of people look at say,
well, this guy only been onthe field for three years Westerton,

(07:18):
Tucky and Oregon. Just because Ididn't have the title of a running back
coach where I was at the Memphis, I never carried myself that way.
I was carried myself as a runningback coach. I approach every day that
way. So at Memphis we hadDarren Henderson, Patrick Taylor, Tony Poller,
Kenny game Well, Tonyo Gibson.I've seen talented backs and I've seen

(07:40):
them be able to function with oneanother. So I hear that all the
time about well, this ain't myfirst rodeo. Same thing out there at
Oregon we Buck Grivey Norwich and GeorgeJames. You go look at their numbers.
They all functioned well together. Welearned how to play as one.
So this ain't my first rodeo.So and plus I know those two kids
because I recruited them when they wasa high school So I'm up for the

(08:01):
challenge and the responsibility of it.Right behind the damn hope, Carlos,
Just what is your kind of coachingphilosophy? How do you get the best
out of your running backs? Iget the best out because I love the
young men. My main focus isto change the hearts and minds of them,
and they'll play for me. Ihad just got through reading Coach Trestle's

(08:22):
Winners Manual, and it's something thatI took from that book. You have
your purpose and you have your goals, all right. My purpose is to
serve and pour into the young men. Now, my goals is a football
coach. All of them are takecare of themselves. So that's one of
the ways. I'm just real relationshipbased in a very detail at this position.
I know y'all heard me say itbefore, and I'm gonna keep saying.

(08:43):
This is the worst coach position infootball. It's terrible guys hire anybody
to coach his position and recruiters.CARLS Locker is not a recruiter. I'm
an elite relationship builder, but Icoached this position. I'm a ball coach,
so that's who I am. SoI am gonna pouring to these kids.
I think they kind of seeing itnow. And I jumped in day
one I'm ready to coach and usedthe phrase, you know, soft batched

(09:03):
cookies. Where did that phrase comefrom? Kind of always fun this bolly,
let me tell you about that boy. I've been called everything but the
name the child of God by thepeople at the other places I left.
So that I've been getting Pillsbury needto give me a deal, because I've
been getting I've been getting some DMand textas I'm some of it. Some
of them have been so funny.The saftbat's cookie thing came from just having

(09:28):
a frame of mind, a mentaltoughness. It had nothing to do with
guys getting in the portal and anything. Now, most people say I'm a
sftbat's cookie for leaving there, butactually I'm not, because it takes great
strength to make a decision to leavea place. No, a weak minded
person wouldn't be able to make thedecision I made, So it took great

(09:48):
strength to do that. So I'mtelling you, if I literally in my
DMS, it's some it's some greatcomedians out here that have been sending me
like tons of cookies, and I'mlike, it's funny right behind them.
How are you going about the assessmentof the talent in the room over the
past week or two, how muchas that on field off field? Like,

(10:09):
what's the process of getting to knowwho you have as players? Well,
I broke down well me being aguy that loves the running back position,
and I already broke those kids downbecause I recruited him out of high
school. You know, Q isfrom where I'm from in Montgomery. I
was one of the first guys tooffer him just watching him, great contact,
balance, creative runner, great handsand trey. I recruited him out

(10:33):
of Virginia, exceptional short air,your bursting quickness, and things that I'm
gonna help him get better on.And then I recruited James Peeples out of
t out of San Antonio, Texas. I knew what he was gonna what
he was gonna be TC and Sam, those two kids I'm getting to know
and I'm gonna help them improve thatgame. But we got different runners in
there. I like to call myself, I'm in love with this position.

(10:58):
So I get to break down runnersand help their so talented, talented room
very talented, uh far back uh. Jeremy Birmingham Podcast Couch, how do
you swear that fact? The SouthPast trookies are actually the best trookies to
Philippriton makes or those are way betterthan the county chips and white things of
Terman. I mean, do youdo you have to first find a balance

(11:18):
there or somewhere. Well, forme, I'm actually not eating any cookies.
Nah, I'm just saying I'm noteating any cookies this year. I
gave it up for a fast orno sweets for me for the whole year.
That something I gave up. Sothey the term the South bast cookie
term. Look, guys, Iactually took that from I represent the high

(11:39):
school Coaches of Myths Tennessee. Iactually took that from a guy named coach
Slocum. He used to always saythat soft bast cookie. I actually stole
that from him. I give himcredit for it, and I tell him
all the time he said, youI should have branded that, cause you
done took it and ran away withit. But that's just where that comes
from. So that that now wasthen in as you get to a high

(12:00):
stadium, start to look around thecountry. Every Oregon's a big place.
That's a that's a major job.Really, how how do you think that
very your opposite of logo or thejat run the blocko When you get out
out of little pre in trail,how does that change the way that you
feel you're either received or or doesit add a different level too to just
feeling like I could go anywhere andget anybody in the country. And that's

(12:24):
the sagest thing for me. Thisis a great place. Oregon 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 N I know who
who put me here? Uh?I know I represented something higher? You
know, Like I told you,I know what My purpose is My purpose

(12:46):
is to poorting to people. Sowhatever logo I have on, I'm still
gonna be doing the same thing.So this is a great logo. Great
logo by well another logo. Everyday it's across I see around my neck.
I know what I represent. Sothat's the greatest logo I could ever
wear. So it don't matter whatother logo I have on. I got
that one though. I'm be'a goingto any house and be a recruit.

(13:07):
Uh uh deep right, camera tiquRobinson and the athletic pro which you you
mentioned the time in Memphis and themit's four NFL running backs you mentioned there
who you learned from that time thatwe the you take over to managing to
grow up and kid? What didI learned from them? I just building
a just teaching the kids. Welive in such a selfish world though,

(13:28):
And I can tell the kids allthe times it's gotta be much more to
football. The ball gonna go flatone day. As I always say,
what being in that room there atMemphis is it wasn't four five teaching them
how to be a b by beingone. I tell you them in all
time, it doesn't cost you anything. To celebrate another man's success. So
teaching them how to be one,and then once they learned to be one,

(13:52):
they function the in they feed offone another. So that's what I
learned from being there in Memphis.Uh right in front of Andy bachroom,
let'em in road cross Suddardy forin law enforce. I kind of influence
you as a coach and kind ofshap where you are. Oh well,
I just got through talking to somebodyabout that today. When I first got
in this profession and I got myown room in Western Tech, I was

(14:13):
asked, No, how was Iwas gonna be able to handle my room?
I said, Man, I hada part with fifty one inmates.
You talking about me having got sixor seven guys? Are you kidding me?
I'm talking about me having to dotraffic stop. So going on domestic
no vioence calls, it's simple easy. No, people don't know what you

(14:35):
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. It was when It's samething when I was a police officer.
You look a certain way kind ofdeter people from doing certain things. So
that reason why I go train everymorning. I'm gonna look just as good
as my boys look. So uhit helped out a lot. In other

(14:56):
words, Uh right, more thepodcast Carls Welcome to Columbus. What would
it mean to I don't know,revolutionize the way running backs or coach?
What does that take? I ain'tI'm not gonna say revolution now. It's
just good. It's some good runningback coaches out here. Everybody's different.

(15:16):
It's some great coaches out here.I just want the head guys who say
that on these jobs to not justhire guys. Just know, all coaches
on your staff should be great recruiters, not just some running back coach.
We coach a position. We developedplayers as well. I just want the
coaches to realize, Hey, youknow what, let me look and be

(15:37):
thorough about this guy that I'm hiringfor this job. Is he teaching the
position? Is he development the position? Because you're not gonna hire anybody just
coach quarterbacks, are you. Well, it shouldn't be like that for the
running back position. Neither. AndI'm only passionate about it because I played
it. I love it, soit's the only position I want to coach.
Could I coach other positions? Yeah? I played dB in college too,
but I love the running back position, so I just want to see

(15:58):
it. Coach well ten man tenmany podcasts, Yeah, a million questions.
Oh that's a couple. Number one, when y? When you when
your wife? Whatever? You gotthe message? Stuff? Or are we
moving again? What was What washer reaction? Nah? She she's just
new. Guy had given us,gave us a new assignment. Sh w
It was never like we're moving again. Let me tell you, guys something
I grew up. My mom wasin the military, so I lived everywhere.

(16:22):
I lived in Panama, South America. I'm used to picking up and
moving. I lived in Fort Rodley, Kansas. Montgomery's home Meph's my second
home. So I'm i'm'a used tomoving now. My wife it was different
for her, but she's just knewguy had gave us a new assignment.
So it's time to go. Whatdid uh? What did coach they tell
you when he heard you that hewants out of you. That may be
different. It's not slamming somebody else, But what did he say he wanted

(16:45):
you to bring to the running backroom. I think he did his research
on me. He said, hewanted the guy to to develop the position,
and that's not taking a shot atthe coach that was here who I'm
friends with. He said, theywant somebody to really get the guys going.

(17:06):
I can only be me, AndI told him that because I'm gonna
be me every day now. Becausesee, my mindset is when I step
in this building, I got onemindset that's to do my job so well
that the living dead or unborn cando it any better. So when I
leave it, that's what my mindsetis. Hopefully I'm here for a long
time, but only God knows that. So, but that's my mindset every

(17:26):
day that step into the Wizard HateSo that's my mindset. I'm gonna do
my job so well that living deador i'mborn couldn't do it any better.
So that's what my mindset is.Suppose we got time for one last question
Bill Ravenowitt's Plumbus Dispatch. Carlos.First of all, it's the truth that
nobody calls you Carlos, never callsyou Locke. That's the truth. Yeah,
I prefer to be called Locked inparticular, but I wouldn't say everyone

(17:49):
doesn't really know how to handle itproperly. You see it currently. I
mean, it's just it's a variablethat's new and how to handle it.
There's not a transcript 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. Andyou know, I think at the end

(18:10):
of the day he realized he mademade the wrong decision and we connected on
it. We talked about it,and you know, it was a great
opportunity to to to right or wrong. And obviously we're very glad he's here.
I've always believed in him. Webelieve in him, and he believes
in himself and that's part of thejust trying to understand what's my path,
right. So uh but yeah,it's been great steps have been made.

(18:33):
He's growing, but he's nowhere nearwhere he knows he's capable of being.
He's just really a priceless Caeremiah.I love the way he lives. I
love the way he approaches things.I love the way the questions he asks.
I love the way he makes mistakesand then correct mistakes. It's very

(18:53):
veteran, like, I mean,there's so much ball he has to learn,
Like he literally does things that areI'm like, do you know what
that worked? He goes coach,I have no freaking idea, So like
I'm trying to teach him all ofthat why it worked, so then you
know the consistency at which it worksjust goes to the roof. And so
but I'm very you know, excitedand proud of the conversations we're currently having

(19:15):
and I'm exciting it for them tokeep going, like, so power for
you, working with you. Ilove working with Chip Chip Is. I
love talking Ball, I love theviewpoints. I love I love the the
veteran that he has, you know, uh and uh. I love Noah

(19:38):
Like I love all of it.I think that you know, early on
the biggest impact, you know,just you know, feeling perspective. I
think in the run game has beenawesome, you know, and then you
know, off of the run gamesome of the actions or or relief throws
or all that kind of stuff.I love where it's at. I love
working with them, and he's agreat person to be around. I would

(20:07):
say that 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'snot just Chip and I so but you
know, obviously Chip has an imageand a view on things that I never

(20:29):
had. So to have that experienceand to have that viewpoint, I'm just
trying to absorb as much as ican, but then also highlight some things
that we've really done a good jobof and make sure those you know,
nothing's really changing, We're just tryingto enhance. We're not changing, we're
enhancing. So where the things fitis perfect, you know, I think,
uh, you know, the restof the dynamics and search Chip can

(20:51):
talk about. But it's been it'sbeen awesome, so I'm excited about it.
We talked to a mecca. You'rejust talking about moving from slot to
the house side. How good we'vebeen in the slot. Is that a
difficult move for you guys as coachesto know how good a guy is on
one spot but know that maybe forhis long term future and the no,

(21:11):
I wouldn't say it's anything on hisfuture, because he's capable of doing whatever
you want to get done. ButI'd say that it says more about the
room. I think it's it's thegrowth of you know, Brandon and the
growth grow of Bryson. That's really, you know, allowing my mind to
say, hey, Mech, beprepared. You're gonna move around a lot.
You're gonna come out of that slot, You're gonna be outside. We're

(21:33):
going to create mismatches out there.I mean, his ability to move around
is critical. But I would saybetween Mech and between Carnell Takes's ability to
move around a lot, it's goingto provide a lot of flexibility for our
room. And uh and those topyou know, six seven guys that are
really doing a good job right now. Progress look like this spring for a
mecca because there's no time. Ithink it's one of those things, I'm
true when you has balanced how muchwork doesn't need versus too much does act?

(21:56):
Yeah, heavy, heavy emphasis onwhat work he needs, you know,
versus anything else. I rely onhim. We have great dialogue back
and forth. It's a two way. It's a two way conversation. And
frankly, there's gonna be times we'relike, hey, Mech, what do
you wanna do today? You wannago outside, you gon go inside and
I don't care. So we're notthere yet. We will be there,
but it's just more about, youknow, when the room is ready to

(22:18):
start mixing things up, I wouldsay, there's God. I mean,
I make sure I'm bring in guysthat are able to do all, but

(22:41):
I have not asked them to yet. So the only guys that in our
room currently I have asked to dothat has been Mecca and Carnell, and
those are probably the two guys thatI would, you know, think heavily
on doing moving around a lot.I'm not putting that on anybody else right
now, not saying they can't,but at this point, having two guys
been able to swing, you probablydon't need much more than that. I
need guys being experts at what they'regood at, so it it helps the

(23:04):
offense. Don't be great at everythingand be an expert at something and we
can use that to our lot ofI like him. Yeah, it's a
bunch of good dudes just just outhere. So we're gonna keep working and
I like I like our edge guysthat we picked up, and I'm excited
to work with them. You know, much about how we played against him

(23:25):
leonor Floyd and what's been kind ofyour earlier him. I think he's super
skilled rusher, a little good length, and he's more athletic than I even
realized. And I think guys likehim, when they come to our scheme
are the best is brought out ofthem. So I'm excited to see what
potential he has. He's year nine, so I feel like you as a

(23:48):
D lineman, you can keep improvingall the way through ten years in this
league. So I'm excited to seewhat he's got. How old did you
know source? So when he wasassistant here and how gotten to know him
a lot better? What's the relationship? 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

(24:14):
a good leader. He knows thescheme really well, which is good.
I was happy to see him promoted. He called me in the off season,
we talked. I just congratulated him, and I think he's gonna bring
something similar to what we had withthe Miko'd be good. Do you know
Brandon Stanley well at all? Imean, obviously Joey played for him.

(24:36):
I don't know too much about him. I've obviously heard from my brother,
but I don't even think i've saidhigh yet. I haven't ran into him
yet, but I'm sure i'll getto know him. When you say it
looks similar to Mico of the energyor system, maybe a little different energy,
but I think just knowing the systemfrom the front to the back,

(25:00):
I think he knows how it tiesin. And he's been around with some
really good coaches, so I thinkit'll be pretty pretty seamless, and I
think we'll be firing on all cylinders. You're three months removed from the super
Bowl now, so how have you? I guess digested it, and I
guess physically everything good to go.Yeah, I feel really good. I

(25:22):
think it's been one of my betteroff seasons of just kind of it was
a long year, so I tookit nice and slow to get back into
it. Not as young as Ionce was, so I'm taking a little
a little slower, but everything's great. I'm feeling as good as I felt.
I'm excited to actually get some practicein. Last year was kind of

(25:45):
tough, getting thrown in week oneafter I walked through, so that was
Another reason I'm excited to be hereis just to get practicing a little bit
in season. Practice is one thing, but actually being able to work your
stuff and not have a game comingup is good. With the Super Bowl

(26:07):
unfortunately, I know how to bounceback from tough losses, so it was
rough for a little bit, butno, just annoying when people bring it
up. Since Angel last season,we've seen a Rock on TV commercials and
on the stage with Kluke Coombs andthrowing out the first pitch of the Giants
game. But he seems like aguy that's totally unaffected by celebrity, which

(26:27):
he has now. But what haveyou noticed in his leadership style and the
way he carries himself any difference atall. I think he's definitely getting a
little more vocal within the building.And uh yeah, I mean I don't
think he's ever gonna change. Idon't think he's somebody that's gonna change even
when he gets paid next year.So he's he's a man of faith and

(26:52):
he kind of reminds me of ScottieScheffler. But except for uh, just
super humble and really good kid.And yeah, he's definitely famous. Suffer.
I don't just from watching you.Armstead get released obviously meant so much

(27:18):
to the defensive line into the team. I mean, Colin John were pretty
open that they were willing to talkabout trading deebo or are you as youll?
Does that just another what's that feellike in the locker room when those
sort of joels happened. I didn'teven know that happened and I wasn't here,
but you're talking about this Armstead wellin alarm Er released, So that's

(27:45):
certainly one thing. Yeah, it'sa tough business, for sure. You
have to have thick skin and Ihaven't gone through that, but I think
you just have to understand and thatit is a business and the team's going
to try and get as good asit possibly can with or without you,

(28:06):
and you have to look out foryourself. That's why you go through holdouts
and do certain things that seem selfishin the moment, but it is what
it is, and when everything's settled, we're gonna come together as a team
and try and go get one nick. 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 early, it feels good.

(28:29):
It's been a couple of days forme. So I like all the new
guys. I'm getting to know everybody. But I think the passes in the
past and we're ready to go.Do you talk to you? Talked to
beat all about handling the business partof this. He's going through something similar.
We chat a little bit, butnot too much about the details.
I just told him keep his headup and try and stay positive through it.

(28:53):
All over your first impressions when youheard what your schedule would be in
that Aaron Rodgers' first time it'll befun. Yeah, it's gonna be gonna
be a good one. Nick Mekind of alluded to this for the fact
that last year you had to havethat holdout percent that affected you somewhat early

(29:15):
in the season. If you hadn'thad that experience, would you be here
right now? I mean, wasthat part of the motivation for being here
early? Just to have the oppositeone might be No, I don't think
that's one of the reasons. ButI just talked to Kyle and he kind
of asked me, h, hekind of stated how he felt about why

(29:37):
it would be good for me tobe here and asked if I agreed,
And I agree. So it's notlike I'm missing too much. I think
I'm out here. It's a littleless workload than I'm doing back home,
so it's kind of a good activerecovery thing for me. And I'm getting
football stuff, football work in specificglee, so that's good. I'm not

(30:02):
it's not compromising my training at all, and I get to meet all the
guys. It's positive. How didJoey take the news your brother? Did
you have to like let him down? And Oh no, he's he's there.
He's got a new regime over there. Did you first? I actually

(30:22):
thought I was coming next week untilrecently, so I was gonna have one
more week at home, but we'reboth in California. Anything you could like
share about tons reasons, reasons thatyou agreed with for being here. Uh,
yeah, just the things I alreadystated, Just getting around the guys

(30:45):
and just getting the football stuff honedin a little bit before camp starts.
You've been afraid, You've been afraidto speak out on player safety issues and
things like that when it comes toplay service and things like that. The
eighteen game schedule has been kind ofdiscussed again here recently. What is your
kind of take on that possibility.I mean, it's I guess it's easy

(31:15):
to appreciate when you kind of seeit working and you see guys improving,
getting better. I just think thedetails are really important. You can pretend
that leaving your shoes a mess oryour locker mess isn't a big deal,
and what matters is playing football.But I think all those tiny details and

(31:36):
things kind of add up and leakinto the important stuff, like what you're
doing on the field. So ifyou can have your toe behind the line,
or have your locker and order andall these things, they kind of
stack up into performing well and playingwell when things count. So you know,
I appreciate that. It's it alsohasn't been a fight with the guys

(32:00):
in the locker room. They buyin, and you know, it's a
lot of young guys, and Ithink they're hungry to learn, hungry to
compete, and winkers please. Youknow, it's just an example, whether
it's we talked about first day youhave your shoot, if you could,
if you could spend the time onthese small things when nobody's watching, I
think, like I was saying,It seems like it might not add up

(32:23):
too much, but I think inthe long term it does. And uh,
it leaks into other things, whetheryou're doing your right assignment on the
field, being late to meetings orall these things. If you hold a
standard and you stay to that standard, I think it benefits you long term.
It's it been like Ben Herbert,who has there been any anything in

(32:46):
his training program we're working with youthat you feel will benefit your later Yeah,
yeah, definitely. He's he's beengreat. He's a no nonsense kind
of guy. But he's not anold school in the sense that he's bringing
his way of doing things and that'sthe only way to do things. He
understands that guys have been in thein the business for a long time,

(33:07):
Khalil me and we have a wayof doing things, and all he wants
to do is add to that andhelp you get better and perform the best
you can. He stresses it allthe time that he's a tool for us.
And you know, he's been great. The guys love him. The
energy brings is awesome, and Ithink the stuff that we're doing in the

(33:28):
weight room is great, a greataddition to stuff that I may do on
the side or whatever that is.Yeah, I think we I mean,
we had a presentation today with allthe certain measurables that are changing, and
if you guys are in the meeting, you definitely see how beneficial he's been
to the team so far. Soobviously staying healthy is a huge factor to

(33:52):
anybody's success. I'd say it's plaguedus a little bit for a while.
So yeah, I think he's definitelyincredibly beneficial. Cool. What were you
like fully cover at the end oflast season you might have been able to
Yeah, No, I was notready to go last year. No,
tried practicing, tried coming back,and uh it was it was not good,

(34:19):
but yeah, it was Unfortunately,the year 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 tooearly. So yeah, it's been.
It's been. It's been a greatoff season. My foot's feeling great,
toes, good, hamstring skid.I mean, there was a list of
things last year my hand, soall those things are good. Finger cut

(34:44):
surgery on my finger, So that'sfeeling good. Yeah, it's it's nice
to be feeling better going into yearnine 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 youit's a real deal this time. But
obviously anything can happen. But Ijust feel it's fun feeling really confident in

(35:07):
your body and being able to perform. So I could just go out during
practice and you know, go ballsto the wall and do everything that I
feel like I need to to beable to prepare. It's fun. My
brother and whoever I trained with mytrainer Todd back home, I think they'd

(35:27):
be really proud of how I've beenworking this offseason, and it's just exciting.
Pointing was the injuries. I'member theGreen Bay game, you kind of
you, I'm just put Yeah,it was a bit of a build up,
a little bit of an overreaction,but you know, it's just tough.
It comes sometimes like that, andI just felt felt really uh defeated

(35:52):
coming back. Had a broken hand. I'm like, oh, yeah,
I get to play Boom first seriesfoot pops. Thought I'd have to get
surgery and all these stuff flooded throughmy head, broke down a bit,
and yeah, it just hurts.You know you're losing, you're getting injured.
You've felt like you prepared really wellin the off season, and then
the year before you had groin surgery, so you know, a lot of

(36:14):
things build up. Yeah, youdon't get a break if you're injured.
Everybody wants to go on. Fansare very nice, but no, I
just I'm grateful that I feel thisway. I'm still still nicey Ripe twenty
eight, so not too old yet. But yeah, I'm just excited.

(36:37):
I can't remember what the original questionwas. At this point, you get
something about my body, how closeyou and Gift were. How frustrating was
it that you couldn't you know soonfor one of those last three games.
It was frustrating, but I meanGift was had my back the whole way.

(37:01):
I think for Gift, for anybut for for the whole team,
just to show what it means tome. It would have been important for
me to be out there, butI literally could and I tried to practice.
Injured my foot worse the very firstplay I was and in practice,
so no chance that was happening unlessI wanted to throw my next season away

(37:23):
as well. But no, I'mjust I'm proud of him for what he
did with the team, how hehandled it, and I need to call
him back. Actually sorry, GIF. Yeah, I'm happy he gets to
stay close by with the with theRams, and I'm just proud of all
we accomplished here together over the yearsand and we'll be close for the rest

(37:45):
of our lives. It was thefoot injury. The foot sprang. Yeah,
I sprained one area of my foot. Then when I tried to return,
I sprained another area. Was ableto avoid getting surgery, which is
kind of the main goal, butyeah, it was. It was tough.
So we Uh, when it comesto the addition of what dupree,

(38:06):
what you felt like he's kind ofbrought to the to the room and and
could bring on the field. Yeah, it's when I heard we got my
brother some I don't know, maybemy brother told me. I'm like,
really, we just got Bud Like, that's no, that's no small pickup.
He's a seriously elite pass rusher.Has had some trouble with injuries as

(38:28):
well, so I understand how thatis, but not only him as a
player, but as a personality.I heard Khalil just saying he's he's a
fun guy. He's a funny guyand and to have that in the room
another vet is always a great addition. But I'm just excited to have him
into Lee and to be able torotate like that and not drop off at
all when we come off the fieldis huge. And now too, he's

(38:51):
going into a second year. Justwhat do you what do you kind of
what are some of the maturity maturityareas you see from him? You know,
I'm gonna say not much, andthat's a compliment because he was already
mature in those areas. I mean, he's on it everything playbook wise,
always doing his job, working hard, just refining his technique and pass rush.

(39:15):
I mean, we don't have thepads on right now, so the
real work will will begin, youknow, in six weeks now. So
but yeah, I love Julie.I've loved him since the first day he's
walked into the facility, and Iknow he's just gonna continue to get better.
Do you think of the addition ofJoe Old, Yeah, yeah,
I'm gonna need to beat him upa little bit in camp, so so

(39:37):
he's ready. But no, Ithink anything to protect our number ten is
a good, good investment. Sohe seems like a real solid dude.
Haven't talked to him too much.Great build, seems like he has good
hands, good feet, strong.We'll see. We'll see in a few

(39:57):
weeks when I lay a helmet,miss Chin, how he holds up.
But it'll I'll take it easy onhim. There is no Rashon's a beast.
Did you know Coach Harbond before hecame here? And if he did,
just what were those first couple ofconversations like that? Yeah, probably
have crossed paths with him. Maybemaybe not? Actually I think what was

(40:22):
it his first year when I wasa junior? So he kicked his ass
as usual at Ohio State. No, No, they just want a championship,
so I'd say they probably have thebragging rights right now. I'm like
the guy talking about his old highschool. Oh I remember, Yeah,
we used to kicks. No butno, yeah, no, the rivalry

(40:47):
is dead. I was just sayingthis morning, you know, nine years
and kind of forget about that.I'm not a great alumni. Sorry,
sorry, coach, But no,that's great. That's what's great about the
NFLS. You just have guys fromall backgrounds. You could hate their guts
one 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.

(41:12):
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
him. And uh, yeah,I think he's a special guy. I
think he's uh, the way heconducts himself. He's an interesting cat for
sure. And I'm still still feelingthem out. But one thing you can't
denies that he loves football and hismain goal is to win football games.

(41:37):
So and that's what we need.When you see him working out with you
guys and and pushing lives and doingall this stuff, just how interesting is
that? See? Yeah, Imean he was a he was a great
player himself, and I think he'salways been you know, built like that
lack of a better term. Butyeah, he's uh, he's part of

(41:58):
the guys. You know, he'snot this guy outside looking in. He
really, I mean he voiced thatto me, is that his favorite part
of all of it is being withthe guys and the connections he makes.
So yeah, to see a guylike that come in and embrace it all
and kind of be part of ithimself is important. Your initial impressions of

(42:20):
Coachman during the defensive. Yeah,it's funny you go from old gift,
old gift to this little young guywho's my age. I wouldn't want to
get thrown into a room with meand Khalil I was his age. But
no, he's been great. Ilove messing with him a little bit.
We little sarcasm back and forth.But no, he's great. He's uh,

(42:45):
very talks very fast, and Idon't as you know, so sometimes
I gotta be like, slow down, coach, come on. But no,
he's great. I'm excited, youknow, to get closer as the
years, as the year goes on, and I think he has he has
a lot of passion for the positionand all he wants to do is learn

(43:07):
and and help us to improve.So I'm excited about him, And I
mean I do miss Giff obviously itwas a long time with him, but
I am excited to have a newface and kind of have that challenge for
me. You worked much with withJesse's dad, since I know he coached
linebackers in Michigan. Wait, didyou ask about Jesse. Did you ask

(43:28):
about doing? Okay, you askedabout Jesse. Oh my god, I
was talking about freaking doing the wholetime. You guys are so confused.
No, sorry, I thought wereI thought I was. I thought you
mentioned coach Ronie. No, No, coach Mentor has been great as well.
Yeah, they've both been great.Sorry, run that back. No,

(43:50):
he's been good. Uh yeah,very knowledgeable guy. Same thing.
I'm excited to get to know himmore as the year goes on. Have
you worked Have you worked much duringthe season Jesse? Yeah? Uh no,
I have not. I don't knowif I've said one word to him,
but more words to come down theroad, Like you said, you

(44:15):
year since twenty sixteen. Just whatare some of this stuff? You just
someone on a ramble about the wrongguy for fifteen minutes walk in? What
Yeah? What the heck? Soactually that's literally not the person. Yeah,

(44:42):
yeah, I figured out. What'ssomething that you you worked unduring the
off season, something to improve yourgame or is there something that you can
Usually my answer is pretty consistent thatI just continue to try to prepare myself
physically, whether that's my I sprintwork or agility work. In my lifting,

(45:04):
but yeah, just to get everythingfeeling great, I had dealt with
those injuries, so I had tokind of ramp it up with my finger
and foot and all those things.But now I'm I'm full full speed out
there, and I'm just gonna continueto do what I know will prepare me
for the season. And uh,I know I'm gonna get plenty of technique

(45:27):
work and position work when I'm outhere. So for now I'm going to
spend these five weeks really getting preparinga body schematic standpoint. I don't know
the ins and outs of what I'mgonna be doing yet, so I'll wait
and see soon. But just whateverything going on? See hot to think
the best fits here we go.Yeah, Drea, welcome to Seattle.

(45:53):
Are you looking for and I fighthas a loaded question for real for uh,
you know in terms of you know, pay system, teammates, environment,
city, all those kind of justlike play into it. Besides just
the money thing. I know,financials always play a big role, and
I kind of steer you into thedirection you want to go, but everything

(46:15):
kind of plays into it. Andhow much did you reach out to Shelby
Drew knowing some of the guys youknew that played here last year. To
get a sense for what what Seattlemight offer you, I mean, not
much right now. I'll talk toI talk to Shelby a little bit about
it. Mainly no one Drew justcongratulate me, Bob. Did you come

(46:39):
together pretty quickly? I know youkind of came your agreement on that first
Monday, and everything with set thatcome together really faster. Now, it
was a long day. Seattle camein almost out of nowhere. We had
like a good set of teams thatwe were talking to, just trying to
finalize what was going on, whatwas it the terms going to be,
you know, and Seattle came inhot. They showed a lot of interest

(47:01):
and uh, they kind of motivatingme to come here more and more.
And how similar will your role be, you know in terms of playing what
you did in Denver. I don'tknow that yet. I kind of just
mentioned previously. I don't know myrole. I don't know the ins and
out yet. Once we'll get NOthrough the protocols and nfl PA, we'll
we'll talk about NO, the schemesand everything. Right, So welcome.

(47:27):
When you were in Denver in thethree four where did you find yourself most
comfortable and most effective. I playeda lot of different positions in Denver.
I mean earlier in my year,I played zero, I played three,
two one. I mean I'm definitelymore comfortable in a shaded position, mainly
being a three technique and five technique. That's why I found myself to be
more comfortable whether I'm standing up orI'm not, whether it's runner or pass.

(47:51):
Uh, those seem to be mybest my best fits. And what
is your impression of Pete Carroll's defenseand whole environ Uh? From afar,
it seems like he h he holdsin on defense a lot. Uh.
I can't really say too much aboutthat yet. I don't I know Pete
Carroll very little, so Uh,I'm just trying to figure out more and
I'll give you a better answer later. What's some reputation around the league out

(48:15):
of the Seahawks. Uh, youknow, hard nose hard had type of
team definitely on a little more lackside as opposed to being stuck up or
military style, and which is definitelygood because then they this program is one
A lot of football games have beensuper successful for many years as long as
I've been alive as long as I'vebeen watching football, and definitely this has

(48:36):
been a good program. And PeteCarroll has been a hell of a coach
for as long as I remember,even back in his college of days.
So I'm looking forward to experiencing that. Yeah, I know you said you
don't know yet. You know whatyour go which is what what kind of
player you fans who haven't watched Denver, what kind of player get? Definitely
a high motor, Definitely not aone trick pon any type of player.

(49:00):
I like to attack, you know, whether it's a first or first through
fourth down, I like to attack. I'm always trying to apply pressure.
I'm definitely just a high mortar guyin my opinion. Brady either Brady Henderson
for ESPN, Nice to meet you. Yeah, this is not a team

(49:21):
that really makes big splash signings infree agency. Did you think going into
it then, Settle? Uh,No, not at all. You just
it's kind of like being a cureat the county store. You know,
I've got a whole bunch of differentoptions coming at you. Uh, hearing
a whole bunch of different crazy things, and uh, you know, you
only get to choose one, andthis is the place that that we both
chose each other. And I mean, I'm loving Seattle so far. You

(49:43):
know, I like these colors forreal. What what have you got to
do with Seattle or see since you'vebeen not much? Uh, just kind
of just drive around the city exploring, get down to the market a little
bit. I want to get onof the Ferris will do some more like
touristy type of things. You know, I'm new to the city and I
I got a lot to learn aboutthe city. All right. Yeah,

(50:05):
there's been a lot of comparisons withyou to Michael Bennett. I was wondering
if you know Michael Bennett at alland you think those are accurate. I
know Michael berrt bene like nothing.I know nothing about it but besides his
style of play. But I'm honoredto be considered in the same conversation as
him and style of play. Youknow, He's a Hall of Fame type
of deep lineman that I've known aboutsince I was a kid. I mean,
last time he played here, Iwas in high school. So you

(50:27):
know, it's cool to it kindof came full circle a little bit watching
him on TV and now I'm beingkind of compared to him in the way,
you know. I mean, I'mnot touching the surface of Michael Bennett.
You know, he's a Hall ofFamer and I'm not there yet.
So you know, I just gotto keep doing my due diligence to be
a better player. Can Hey DreamontWelcome to Seattle and then you get to

(50:50):
play several seasons for vig Fango andthree four style defense and Seattle's playing a
similar system now dating back to lastyear as a defensive lineman, what do
you think his most important to besuccessful in that system? Maybe fundamentals or
just playing style to be successful.From what I learned, being gap sound
and being patient has always been thebiggest thing. And that's how we've been

(51:12):
successful when I was in Denver,just kind of like relying on each other.
I know that sounds kind of cliche, but like it's kind of like
the the realm of being in thethree four defense. You got to really
really rely on the guys behind youand the guys on the side of you
to really make their to do theirjob to make your job easier. Bob,

(51:34):
Yeah, well, uh, youyour stateoffs that you didn't start playing
football. So you were junior inhigh school and largely played basketball, So
then that's what made you, Iguess, decided to go play football then
away from basketball. No, No, I've always loved football first. Uh,
it was just kind of just playingit out. You know, I
love the who but you know,football was definitely about calling. Given I
was a two hundred and sixty fivepounds power forward and I was like sixty

(52:00):
change, so you know, Ikind of chose the route that God gave
me. No, I'm not sixeight, Yeah, I M well comes
to Seattle and you can quoted lookingat a couple of other things that you
player, and can you just talka little bit about that that I think

(52:21):
some of the us you know,always kind of counted out, but you
can you elaborate more than that justfrom a standpoint, like I always get
like over overshadowed, overlooked, whetherit's a in something, you know what
I'm saying, Like, I feellike I do a lot more than what
can be seen by the eyes ofthe inexperienced, you know, scout and

(52:42):
I do a lot of different dynamicthings that help make place for others.
You know, I'm definitely an activeplayer I'm always doing something whether in the
Runner Pass game, so you know, I think that goes onothers sometimes and
I'm looking forward to putting people onnotice. Thanks Brady. What what do
you like? Did you outside offootball? Uh? Big gamer? I'm

(53:04):
definitely. I've been getting to alot of chests lately, so just to
expand my brain. Uh. Itry to get into reading, but if
it's not sports related, I I'mreally not interested in reading that much,
but mainly just video gaming and chess. And then when we you write and
say your name, do you forher your grandma? Uh? I mean
you can say, you can sayDraymond Jones. I mean, but like

(53:24):
just I feel like personally, justcall me Drey because easy, because people
like to f my name up alot, like a lot they call me
DRAYMONDE. I don't know why youput a Drakemonte in my name or drakemond
t whatever you want to say.Who do you think some of that I'll
be able to bring out out ofyour games? You can keep trying to,
you know, just being more explosive, probably more yards for catch with

(53:45):
the space that he's putting us into, the more yards, more yards have
to catch. More exposive, pickmore exposed to play so for for not
just only me, but she anduh Ak and taste them. So I'm
excited to to be able to bein assistant. I assume you think you
guys can be a lot more explosierthan you have been in the last couple
of years. Oh yeah, ofcourse. It brings to a lot of

(54:07):
different things, you know what I'msaying, the playbook, but just accountability.
I feel like that's gonna lead usto success. They said the language
is a little a little shorter it. Have you found that the language that
you guys use. Is it aboutthe same or is it it's kind of
standing Really it's a long long plays, but it's more understanding for sure.
I feel like you can get tothat more understanding plays and I feel like

(54:30):
that's that's the difference. Hater wassaying the other day, just kind of
like coming into this offense after liketwenty years of breeze and just kind of
how it was just kind of builton top of each other and on top
of each other. It's like kindof a lot to kind of fake in.
Do you do you find that theykind of turn it down to something
new starting to like zero with everybody. It's just a little bit easier to
kind of get everybody on the sameYeah, I feel like it's way easier.

(54:52):
Like you said, it was kindof more of a Drew Brees style
the last playbook, So all creditto them, though they built that around
him, around this players, butuh, like I said, it's is
more. Uh, this playbook ismore uh for uh matchups, and Uh,
I feel like it's gonna be betterfor us or do you think it's
gonna really take advantage of just givesets? Uh? Just building around the

(55:14):
strengths that I have. You knowwhat I'm saying, things that I can
do and things that she can do. Uh, things that our players can
do. Is kind of focus onwhat we can do and and building on
that. Uh. I feel likeit's playing to the player strengths, So
I feel like it's gonna help usA lot has been around the way this
offense will have a lot more speed, and how has that transition been so
far? I mean, like Isaid, it's building around the players strengths.

(55:37):
So of course we got speed uhuh with me or uh she and
ati receiver, so uh, justbuilding around that. Uh, Like I
said, playing to our strengths andbe able to capitalize off that. Feel
like it's gonna help us a lotmost of like uh, the up tempo
astract and you know, getting alot of plays in it must time.
Oh yeah, yeah, yeah,yeah, that's that's definitely gonna play a
big difference. Like I said,coming from the West Coast, Uh,

(55:57):
they bringing that stand for an offensehere. So I'm excited to be able
to be a part of that.For you personally, what what's the next
level look like for you? Whatdo you what are you trying to accomplish
this year? Just staying consistent,man, a couple of ups and downs
last year, just building off that. Uh, it's always You're always gonna
work on the physical part, butbeing able to bounce back after a bad
game. The mental mental aspect,Uh, just learning learning that last year

(56:22):
and be able to build on thatthis year is a huge part. You
know with Mike Gon, do youtake it upon yourself to kind of be
that voice in the room or totake a step forward even further as Uh,
I mean it's not really. Imean everybody's kind of grown in the
NFL, so it's just on youto be able to have that standard.

(56:45):
Like I said, I just tryto do that, lead by example.
I'm not really outspoken, but justlead by example, working hard, trying
to dominate every rep and hopefully theyfollow after that yards after the catch?
Is that you feel like that's thestrength of yours that may he wasn't utilize
I don't know if utilizes the rightword, but you could show more.

(57:05):
And yeah, it's it's an offensethat uh is built around that. Uh
just catching the ball in space,catching the ball over the middle or even
on the outside, uh with withspace and separation. Feel like it's built
around having yards have to catch.So I'm definitely proud to be in the
system, like I said, andI'm excited. But is that is that
a mindset too? Like being goodat yards after the catch? Like?

(57:27):
Oh yeah, I mean of course. I mean you don't want to get
tackled by the first person. Andmy mindset is trying to take every take
everything to the house, you know, every touch. So uh, I
definitely got to do that more anddefinitely try to work on that in practice.
A great dude, man, uhsome some that I definitely needed something

(57:49):
that he relates to me. Uh, just from backgrounds, and uh he's
a great coach, great leader,Uh, motivational and uh. Like I
said, I'm excited to have himaround and for him to push me is
everything that I need. So you'retalking about like mentally bouncing back, you
know from tough performances or whatever.Like, did you try to fund your
resources going to help you figure outhow to do that? Oh? Yeah,

(58:10):
I mean it's older guys. Uhtell me that's natural. Most have
bad games. But uh, justhaving a standard that I have in my
career as a head coach to havehim on my staff at a couple of
places, so I got a chanceto see him work firsthand. You know,
I got to see him work firsthandas a player and then as a
coach. So the success he hadis not is not surprising to me.

(58:32):
Is there for you seeing where thesuccesses had? Yeah, I think we
all do that. I think wecome from a unique place in a really
small hometown in New Hampshire where weall take a lot of pride to where
we're from and and when anybody's successfulcoming out of there, then you kind
of take a little pride that that'sit's the upbringing that we all had.
You know in the UTH sports programthat we grew up in in every aspect,

(58:53):
whether it was football, baseball,basketball, those coaches we had an
amazing impact on us. And that'swhy we are where we are right now.
Ryan said, he doesn't think ofit as you working under him,
it's working with him. The factis he's the head coach. Quarter He
makes me call him sir though hejust said can you do that? Day

(59:15):
one? And I was like,all right, right now. But I
mean, he ultimately is the decisionmaker. You've been a head coach.
How do you think that's going towork. Do you think there'll be any
as close as you are, anykind of awkward moments the right term,
But when he's the ultimate decider andyou are working for him, Yeah,

(59:37):
I certainly understand my role. I'mnot Alhaic, Like I'm not I'm not
in charge here. Yeah, somepeople get that reference. Other people don't
get that reference. But I'd certainlyunderstand that, and and I actually kind
of relish it because I really lovethe scheming part. I love the individual
part. I love being in themeeting room of the quarterbacks uh and trying
to game plan. But everything wedo here is collaborative. You know.

(01:00:00):
The one thing that really struck mewhen I walked in this place is there's
an amazing coaching staff here, youknow, and if you get a chance
to talk to Larry Johnson just aboutfootball, or Tim Walton or Jim Knowles
or Brian Hartline or any of theseguys that are on the staff here,
it's it's a very collaborative effort.I think everybody's on the same page.
You know, it's not our offenseand their defense and it's Ohio State,

(01:00:22):
you know, it's it's Ohio Stateversus the twelve opponents that we're going to
play during the regular season and thenbeyond. So it's it's really collaborative.
And that's the thing I like,just in the short time that I've been
here, is how collaborative everybody's been. You know, we're all trying to
make each other better and we're alltrying to develop this team. Touched on
this when you said, you know, you'd like to do what you want

(01:00:43):
to do and not My sense isyou, in your perfect world, you'd
like to scribble plays on a napkinand not deal with boosters, do deal
with all the stuff that coaches headcoaches have to deal with now, how
much of a factor was that inthis decision? You can just do football?
No, that's not it. Imean I enjoy I mean we've had
some amazing I've had an opportunity andeverywhere I've been to meet some amazing people

(01:01:05):
that are associated with the program.And there's people that from my time at
New Hampshire or my time at Oregon. I was just with Phil Night two
weeks ago, you know, andgot an opportunity to spend some time with
him and his wife Penny, whoare dear friends of mine that have been
great mentors to me in my career. And there's a bunch of people that
at UCLA, Terry Donahue and AndreaDonna who were awesome to me. Angela
Mazzoni is a great friend, CaseyWassman, Troy Yikman. There was a

(01:01:27):
bunch of people at UCLA that Ireally enjoyed, you know, being around
and talking with. So I thinksometimes everybody wants to make a narrative of
it's either this or that. It'snever that. It's never just all ball,
it's never just all recruiting, it'snever just all boosters. It's a
mixture of everything. But I thinkthe one thing that as this position as
a head coach kept moving on isthat if you look at a lot of

(01:01:49):
them, they all become more CEOs. You know, I can't tell you
how many coaches that have called mesince I made this decision that said I'm
two years behind you, brother,You know that are thinking the same exact
way. And I think it's allpart of what we have to do.
I think we all need to protectthis game and promote this game, and
I think there are some rules thatwe need to get straightened out so that
people understand where what it's about,because the game is still about the players,

(01:02:10):
and I hope that never gets discounted. You know, it's it's always
been about the players, and Ithink if we can keep that at the
forefront the people that are making decisionson this, and I think Jean Smith
is one of the best influences inin the NCAAA, is to make sure
we keep that the main thing.The main thing needs to be the student
athletes. You know, you're comingin at a time where you've been through

(01:02:35):
some places where the expectations are high. I understand it's also coming into a
juncture where you know, the threelosses to Michigan and 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 the decisionthat then he makes to bring you in
to kind of help solve that.Yeah, I think the expectations can be

(01:02:59):
no harder than they are in ourown brain, you know. And I
think if you try to worry aboutwhat other people are thinking in their brains,
you're going to get screwed up alittle bit. So, you know,
I talked earlier the one thing aboutRyan that I know about him and
has always been he's the ultimate competitor. So he's got There's nowhere that has
higher expectations of Ohio State than Ryandoes, nor the rest of us that
joined him in are part of thisand that are working with him. So

(01:03:20):
you know, I don't think Ithink sometimes you can spend too much time
thinking about those things. You know, what you really have to do is
just as there's a big sign asyou walk into this place, it says
when the moment you know, Ithink that's a real thing that we have
to do as coaches is to makesure that our players aren't worried about what's
going on in the future, oror aren't worried about what's going on in
the past, or worry about canthey get a little bit better today,
you know, and can we makeimprovement? And I think the one thing
that I've seen here, and I'veonly been here for three weeks, but

(01:03:44):
there's a consistency to the players approachwhen they walk in this building every day,
which is it's unique. It's notlike that everywhere else. And it's
one of the things that I remarkto Mick when I you know, he
said, Hey, what do youthink? And I was like, it's
impressive. It's impressive the culture ofthe players that are in this program right
now. But I think it speaksa lot to the leadership is that there's
a lot of older players on thisteam and they've set the tone for the
younger players, and I think theyounger players have done a great job of

(01:04:05):
followship and getting right in line withthat. He's never hit it over play
calling to someone before what does itmean to you? I guess he technically
did it to Bill when he washere for a couple of weeks. But
what does that mean to you tokind of be getting that responsibility from him
and he's calling essentially the offense thatyou gave him. I guess in some
ways. Yeah, I still thinkthe play calling part will be a collaborative

(01:04:27):
effort. And by that I meanthat if it's a good play, I
called it, and if it's abad play, he called it. Because
the great part is an assistant coach, you can just hen point the finger
a little bit and say, hey, you know, I wanted to do
this, but he trumped me.So we haven't actually discussed game day yet.
You know, we'll see how thatoperates. But everywhere I've been it's
been a collaborative effort. And allof a sudden, someone that's calling the

(01:04:49):
plays isn't isn't like pulls one outof left field that you hadn't practiced and
hadn't been part of your offense andsaid, hey, let's do this.
You know, we're not running theannexation a port of rec you know,
we're not coming up with something specialyou know in the middle of the fourth
quarter that we haven't done. ButI think it's the key to really being
successful on offense. Is is howyou game plan, how you put it

(01:05:10):
all together, and then how youpractice and train for that so that you
get a chance to execute it.Because the player's confidence comes become comes from
their demonstrated ability that they've done thisso many times in practice that when they
get out on the field that thisis like that to them, you know.
And it's not that they do itso they do it right. It's
they practice it so much so thatthey can't do it wrong. So,
you know, I think it's thatwhole part of it that is really the
key to being a really good gameplanning team. Doug Lane, Marie Ship.

(01:05:36):
When you had that feeling when youwere coaching the quarterbacks during Bowl,
did you consider at that point mayberesigning as the head coach and thinking like
this is this is not where Iam anymore. I'll leave and then I'll
look to see what else is outthere. N I never thought about quitting
anything, So, you know,I just is there an opportunity that I

(01:05:58):
think I can that fit, youknow, And I think that's the you
know, it's no different than whenyou're talking to a recruit about them make
a decision on where they're going togo to school. I think that where
they should go to school is wherethe best fit is for them. So,
you know, I just entertained someopportunities and I always felt I felt
like this was the best fit.But I never thought about quitting or not
coaching. I'm gonna coach. I'mgonna coach, and then I'm gonna die.

(01:06:20):
But I mean, that's how Ithink I think about things. Is
I can't picture that. I knowsomeone I was on the Nike trip and
they like, how much longer areyou gonna go? When I said I
I have to go another fifteen twentyyears. I don't think about I don't
think about retirement. I don't thinkabout any of those things. That's just
not kind of my mindset that youknow. I love football and in the
as long as I can be partof this game, then I'll be part

(01:06:42):
of this game. Just the waythings worked out with your departure from UCLA,
is there anything that you wish youhad done differently, or anything you
regret, or just that the circumstancesthat presented themselves. Do you think that
you handled that departure the best thatyou could have. Yeah, I mean
I got an opportunity to tell myplayers personally. You know, I think
in this day and age of theinternet, where they read it somewhere else
and you have to text message him. You know, that was always important

(01:07:04):
to me that I wanted to makesure I talked to my players and explain
the reasons of what I was doing. I wasn't leaving to take a head
coaching job somewhere else. I wasn'tthinking that the grass is greener at another
university. Was just in my personalsituation, this is what I wanted to
do. I wanted to take anopportunity to go be a position coach and
coordinator, and that's how it fit. You know. What I was happy

(01:07:24):
is that I always thought to SeanFoster, I think the world of them,
and I think he's a special youknow, and the fact that that
they were they gave him the opportunityto take over there was you know,
it worked out. I didn't haveany say in that decision, you know,
I was gone, But I alwaysthought that Deshaun would be a great
head coach, and I'm really proudof him and happy that that he got

(01:07:44):
the opportunity to take that job rightbehind him. Actually, have your reputation
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 word. Couldyou working within the system. But was
there an appeal of get to getmy hands dirty here again and innovate and

(01:08:05):
to get back to that side ofthings. It was, but it was
really more important of who I getto work with, you know, and
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
want to be a part of that. But there's a part of that.

(01:08:26):
Yeah, how much of a teacheryou get labeled in the innovator? The
teaching is a part of this.How much is it is of a teacher?
Are you? And how patient areyou? Yeah? I think we're
all teachers. I mean education isthe transportation of knowledge, you know,
So it really doesn't matter what thecoach knows. It matters what the players
understand, you know. So youhave to be able to make sure that
while you're implementing things is what resonateswith them and how does that come back

(01:08:50):
to them? So, you know, a lot of our teaching styles that
we've learned is more the socratic methodof there's a lot of questions, you
know, and a lot of checkfor understandings just to kind of to find
out where the players are coming from, because it's what they know that's ultimately
gonna win games, not what weknow. You know that we're not playing
the games. We're not stepping acrossthose white lines, you know, And
your job as a coach is tocreate an environment where they have an opportunity

(01:09:12):
to be successful and then get outof their way and let them go do
it. So I think the teachingaspect is huge, and we continue to
research, you know, some ofthe latest trends in teaching to make sure
that we are transporting that knowledge toour players. The second roll left Steve
Hellwagen twenty four seven Sports. Yeah, coach, just curious you got five
scholarship quarterbacks with differing levels of experiencefrom age and everything else. Not to

(01:09:36):
annoy him, but just want toask specifically about Will Howard coming in after
starting part of two years at kidsa stage he just seems to promote this
idea that he's a football player,you know above all else. Just how
impressed are you with his makeup,his experience, what he's bringing to the

(01:09:57):
table walking in here right now?Yeah? Really impressed. You know,
you don't have to talk to Willfor more than five minutes to kind of
know where he's coming from. He'sreally focused. You know, he knows
he's got a short window left inhis college career and it really wants to
capitalize on what that is. There'sa maturity to Will, you know.
I really I've had experience, Myexperience in this thing since the transfer portal

(01:10:18):
opened in college football is some ofthe best players I've had an opportunity to
coach award transfers. Sometimes when you'rea true freshman and it's five years out,
you know, it's like, hey, I got a ton of time,
you know. And sometimes when you'rea transfer, is that I've got
nine months, you know. Sothere's a sense of urgency I think when
you're dealing with with transfers, andI think Will has exuded that since he's
been here. But the other thingthat I just in the short time that

(01:10:41):
Will has been here is how quicklyhe's fit in with the entire team,
you know, and how much therest of the players respect him. You
know, he was one of theGold Award winners for his work in the
weight room in this offseason, sothat says a lot for him coming in
here as in a short time beingable to win a weight room award,
you know, to start off,to have the number one internally externally at

(01:11:03):
the end of spring or I guess, just let it play out, how
do you I? I think italways every time I've been involved in these,
I think when they're organic is whenit's the best. Uh. I
don't think you can anoint somebody orforce the issue because the players know,
the players would understand. They seeit every single day, you know,
and there's a team chemistry part ofthis thing too, So we're not gonna

(01:11:23):
force the issue a But I've alwaysseen it play itself out. So I've
been fortunate that there's always gonna besome quarterback battles at at some point in
time. At every school there's aquarterback battle, you know, and then
and really you you gotta let themplay it out on the field, and
that's where it has to That's that'swhere it has to be. Decided just
a couple more. Hey, coachcan welcome, and we we're excited to

(01:11:44):
have you here. Think I'm kindof to talk about the innovative part.
Ryan said that that's something that he'salways loved about working with you, and
now he wants you to bring thathere and how it would fit with Ohio
State. Do you have any ideawhat that's gonna look like yet or is
it just way too up? Ihave no idea, you know. I
think part of it is is you'retrying to put the players in position to
make play. So a lot ofthat comes from getting to understand the players

(01:12:08):
and what their skill sets are andhow we feature what their skill sets are,
you know, and and the onething after day one, I can
tell you that there's a lot ofskill set out there, you know.
So that's that's what gets you excited. You know, That's that's what you
jump out of bed in the morningand you're excited to go to work because
of the talent that you get towork with. But the one thing that's
the most impressive is the work ethicthat goes along with that talent. You

(01:12:29):
know, it's not just empty talent, it's you got some kids who want
to I mean all of them sinceI've been here, want to work,
so that that's what gets you excited. But I think assessing what the skill
set is you know that we haveavailable to us on the offensive side of
the ball is vitally important, andthen our job is to put those guys
in positions to make place lots ofpressure. I mean, you've experienced what's

(01:12:50):
like to coach national championship cal overteams this program right now and moving into
a situation where you got to winquick and now. So does that feel
like pressure here for you or isit a little bit of excitement or well,
I've always subscribed to his Pressure iswhat you feel when you don't know
what you're doing. So if youdon't want to feel pressure, and then
you should know what you're doing,so you know, I think it's it's

(01:13:13):
part of that, And I thinkpart of our job with our players in
terms of the education process is gettingthem to understand that too. Is that
you know, it's it's about yourpreparation. It's about you and your development.
It's not about that you can't begoverned by what other people say.
It's it's what's my mindset, andhow am I intrinsically motivated? And then
how do I really compete against myselfon a daily basis to get a little
bit better. You know, wegot a little bit better today because we

(01:13:34):
get out on the field today andgot a chance to do some football.
And then the challenge is when weget back on the field on Thursday,
can we be a little bit betterthan we were on Tuesday? And if
we're doing that, then we keepstacking good days on top of good days,
and I think we'll be in goodspot and welcome, Thank you.
I'm gonna ask about the pros andcons of coaching from the box and coaching
from the field. It's interesting talkto some of some coordinators over Tom Herman

(01:13:56):
talked about he swore he wanted tocoach from the box. Saw the game
so much that are sterile environment,not all the chaos on the field.
Some coaches you talk to the like, I want to be on the field
so I can look at my guysin the in the eye. Where are
you at as a as a coordinator? Honestly, And I've thought of this
a lot. I thought of ita lot during COVID because we had the
empty stands, you know, SoI had thought about just walking up into
the stands for a little bit becauseI had a better advantage. I've always

(01:14:18):
believed you can see the game betterfrom up above, but I believe you
can feel the game better from thefield. So if there was any way
we could get a zip wire whereyou could do both, you know,
coach called from there and then zipout of the field, get a chance
to talk to him, because it'sa different deal when you're talking to the
quarterbacks on a phone, you know, than being able to look in their
eye and kind of see where theyare with it. And part of it

(01:14:40):
is the field part of it.I remember when I coached Ryan once.
We were playing Ukon and he gothit hard going out of bounce and he
just walked by me, and Iwas a play caller, and he was
like, run the next play,and I just kind of looked at him.
I saw the look in his eyesbecause I don't think he could have
thrown it, you know, hewas still 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 forthem up in the booth and You're

(01:15:00):
like, how come we can't completethat? Well, he just took a
shot going out of bound. Soit's that fine line and I don't have
an answer, you know. Ithink I think it's feel on the ground
and it's see from up above.Maybe in this day of technology, they'll
figure it out. But we'll seehow that that that operates, and whatever
Ryan feels is the best for theteam is what we're gonna do. So

(01:15:23):
your teams at the Oregon were obviouslyknow we're playing at this assid pace and
running a bunch of plays for aminute and yep, maybe not by pastill
pretty fast. What role do yousee tempo and having an offense in the
state in college football and has maybechanged? I think the game is always
evolving, you know. I thinkwhen I left in two thousand and twelve

(01:15:45):
to go to the National Football League, Oregon was the only team that was
playing really really fast and had shinyhelmets. And when I came back in
twenty seventeen, everybody had shiny helmetsand everybody was playing fast. So I
think the game is always going togo up and down, and there's gonna
be different cycles that it goes through. I think tempo is part of an
offense, but I don't think it'san offense in itself. I think it's

(01:16:05):
more of like if you go todinner, it's a side order. You
know, it's not the main course, but it's it's always good to have
it. So I think there's timeswhen you'll use it, but you're you're
not gonna use it extensively the entiregame, just like you're not gonna throw
the ball every single snap in thegame. You're not gonna run the ball
every single snap in the game.You know, there there's there's not a
game of absolutes anymore. I thinkthe ability to be diverse and have it

(01:16:29):
as a tool in your two box, so to speak, uh is really
how we would look at using it. Here are now more familiar with it
than I think. So, youknow, I think when you first started
going tempo, there were people inthe NCAA they want to outlaw, they
want to make an NCAA role thatyeah, you couldn't do it, you
know, and I'll I'll give coachShaping credit. I mean, I think
obviously Nick was the first one todo it. He wanted it outlawed,
and then all of a sudden headapted it and said, all right,

(01:16:50):
we like this, you know,so we'll keep it in. But it's
I think people have it doesn't matterwhat you do. There's there's cycles to
this game, and then once peoplecatch on to that cycle, then it
moves. You know, it's nodifferent than for three defenses and three four
defenses. You know what is therage when the when the Giants won the
Super Bowl, they were there werethree four defense and everybody, everybody says,

(01:17:13):
we have to do that. Whatpeople didn't understand is they had Carl
Banks and Lawrence Taylor. It didn'tmatter what defense they were running. I
know, Gym's back there and Jimplayed against the you know it was they
could have been a four down defenseand those guys would have been great players.
But it's not the scheme. Ithink that the coaches that do it
the best way is they insert theirplayers and put them in the best position
to make plays. And now nowwill Temple be part of it. It'll
be part of it, but it'scertainly not going to be the main course.

(01:17:38):
Last question, Tim, Oh,thank you very much. Jerry uh
number one. There was the greatmoment there when y'all were warming up when
you were you were talking with TimWalton and Caleb Downs comes up and conversing
and as you're in this kind ofa two part question, but number one,
what was just your take on thetalent you saw on that field today
on both sides of the ball.Where where would you rank it? You?

(01:18:00):
Yeah, I'll rank it. I'llbe very transparent. As I was
telling Tim and Caleb what a greatoffensive player I thought Caleb would be,
could be and should be. ButI'm not the head coach, so I
always turned stretch as a as anoffensive coordinator, I'm always looking at the
defensive players like I could use him. Oh what could I do if I

(01:18:23):
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
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

(01:18:44):
game is just execution. You knowthe times where we executed at a high
level, as times we won thosegames. You know, So that's just
the goal is just execute and tobe able to be on the same page
Bill chemistry right now, so youknow, when when the ball rolls,
you know where right r ready tofly around at a high level. So,
I mean that's the goal and that'sthat's you know, there's goals on

(01:19:05):
top of that, but that's thethat's the foundation right now. Oh,
Kay's foundation work. So CJ.I know that I know that it's still
pretty early, but how has itbeen so far getting to work with Diggs
and how is he fitting in?So far? He's been fitting great.
You know, he's coming in withuh his head down mentality, just working.
You know, he's helped me outa lot. Just you know,
he come comes from a from aa a good system over there where when

(01:19:28):
he was with the Bills, andthey did a lot of things with him
and really just offense and tell mehow like Josh played and things like that,
things that you know we do differentthat We've had this plenty of conversation,
you know, so he been he'scome in and and been a leader,
which which I'm proud of him for. And you know it just really's
has been unselfish and uh I wantedto see other guys eat and that was

(01:19:49):
his main things that he wanted tobe around other dogs. And you know,
he he he stepped into that rolewhere there's a dog everywhere. Every
he looks right, he looks left, there's gonna be a dog. So
he wanted that and that's what youknow. We we break to the table
and he's been nothing but just amazingso far. And I I'm very excited
to work with him as a teammate, as a what's it like to have

(01:20:11):
your friend take back with you?Guys? What was it like to go
from the camraon of emotions from hearingabout it to now when it's over and
you're back out there, you'll haveplun It's amazing. You know, it's
s just a testament to him andyou know, one of the god we
serve. And then two, uh, just the work that he's put in.
You know, he's been uh youknow, he came back before it

(01:20:32):
was even schedule. He can getcleared. And then on top of that,
you know, just coming back afterthat freak accident. And you know,
I think that we serve a godthat's merciful and that's that's purposeful and
he knows that, and he steppedinto and me and him we have those
conversations about our faith and then causelike this football stuff, it it seems
like it's everything, but it's not. You know, we're we're people,

(01:20:54):
and we we go through a lotoff the field people don't know. And
you know, as his brother,I have to be there for him,
like just like he's there for mewhen I go through what I go through.
So I mean, I'm just proudof him, man, Like the
word proud is even probably enough tolike state the the feelings that I have
for that guy. Man, he'smy one of my best friends that I've

(01:21:15):
n you know, gotten a knownover the years in this in this world
of football and past that man,I feel like I'm known since I've been
three years old. You know,I think for like our connections kind of
like we grew up together. Andyou know, I just got a lot
of love for that guy, andyou know, I'm very excited him.
He's been snapping that practice and doingreally well, and you know, to
knock off the rust that quick showshow much work he's been in. How
much more comfortable are you walking upto ots this year to read the last

(01:21:38):
year, things kind of a littlebit slower. Just's the biggest difference to
you. Yeah, it's night andday. Man, It's really like i
feel like I'm running the show andI've got a lot more uh responsibilities from
Slow and from the Beacon, fromdry Bill and really our whole office of
staff. And you know, I'mthe captain of the ship and I gotta
running the right way. And Ifeel like I've you know, stepped into

(01:22:00):
just you know and not only holdingout accountable, but also you know,
hold myself accountable to those moments likeI don't let anything slide, uh,
cause that's that's the point of winningand losing. So I think from last
year to this year, like I'vegotten a lot better with like controlling my
emotions, controlling my ball placement,knowing what's NFL open, knowing my food
work better. There's really every littlething I've taken a step and then on

(01:22:24):
the other side of the ball,you know, just everything slowed down.
Seeing coverage, Demico does a goodjob of blitching me and you know,
working on their different coverages and differentlooks. To start too high, go
to one and go back to twomotion like a man, go to cover
too, like all that stuff tokeep me true and honest. And you
know, I think I've tried todo my best with my off season study
to you know, be better,and I feel like I've done that and

(01:22:45):
had a good ota so far.So got to finish with that mini camp.
But it's been definitely a big transitionof just more comfortability from last year
to this year. College, youyou always had like a really talented receiver
room, and then last year youhave a talent to receive it room.
So you've had the experience of havingto feed a lot of guys obviously out
of the digs, even Joe Mixingcoming out of the backfield. How much

(01:23:06):
would that experience from those you know, college and last year help you with
being able to make sure that everybody'sbeing fed the way they are. So
if you can, you don't havethe best possible offer. If you guys
like get Moore, Yeah, Imean I don't think nothing changes, you
know. It's like I tell Itell guys, cause I get that question
a lot from I got people justwalking around just anywhere astra game whatever,

(01:23:28):
and I was like, man,it's football. You know you're open,
you get the ball, so uhand my things, you gotta pick your
poison playing us, like who yougonna double, who you gonna cater to?
Who you like? You got fivedogs? Who are who are able
to get the get the ball ineach give and play? You know,
So I think it's fine. Iknow Slow has done a great job of
being more creative and you know,has put different personnel packages out there,

(01:23:51):
guys in different positions at going frominside and outside, you know. And
you know, I'm I'm very excitedto work with with coach Low again.
He's done amazing so far. Youknow, Ota is and will continue to
do such. But yeah, man, I think that past experience of playing
with Marv Jax, Garrett, ChrisJamo, America Julian like those type of

(01:24:15):
guys, they'll tell you too,Like I know, they'll probably have said
it before, but they'll tell youlike they made me better and I made
them better. You know, that'smy job is to make everybody around me
better. So I'm excited. Manhas been healthy competition. Like I know,
Garrett, I've seen his interview theday he was talking about Ohio.
See how like the receivers, likeif gear made a play, Chris is

(01:24:36):
like, nah, watch this likeit's the same thing here, which is
you know, really cool to watch. And you know, as the quarterbacks
meet, Davis in case and Timwere the same way too. So healthy
competition is the best way to growand get better. And I think that
that's what it's about. You seehow excited Diggs gets for Tank when he
makes it play, and Metch getsfor excited for when Nico makes a play,

(01:24:57):
and Tank gets excited when rob Mato play. You know. So
it's amazing, and you know wegot Noah coming back to which is gonna
be amazing. And I'm excited beenthere and a ton of guys there's a
ton of talent, Steed showing up. Really, everybody's really been doing Jay,
Wayne, Johnny you know so andman it's been fun. Uh Nick
Wood and got you some some mixturetalent on the office side of the ball.

(01:25:18):
Well what do you think about theadditions that he made on the defensive
side of the ball. Yeah,man, it's been great. It's been
good on good like Demiga talks aboutiron shopping iron, you know, it's
been a lot of smack talk,a lot of just uh, just good
competition, you know. And thenit starts with me and disease. You
know, him being the leader ofdefense. I'm a leader at offense,
and you know, playing him lastyear. I man, he always showed

(01:25:40):
up on tape when I watched theTitans last year. So it's cool to
like see like the stuff he thinks. We you can see him at my
locker, me at his or usbefore practice, after practice talking about plays
and you know, so, Imean it starts with us, and then
when you add Danielle, somebody who'sa very who plays really hard, who's
gonna help, will you know?And then two dogs. He got team

(01:26:00):
in the in the middle, uhwith Autry and and Sosa and y just
a ton of guys, man,you know, in the back end,
got young guys showing up. Kaylin'sdoing really well in the back end along
with Petrie and uh Jimmy along withKamari Kamara is thhown up. Steen's playing
well as y'all seen. Uh.So, man, it's just been dogs

(01:26:21):
on dogs, you know, like, and that's that's that's that's the best
teams I've ever been on. Hasbeen the closest teams personally, but also
the most competitive team. So it'sbeen dope season. See that he broke
out last year and Nko broke outlast year and he go against the contract
eccentric he's here too twenty twenty seven. What does that do for you?
Just knowing that you haven't familiar targetto work with for the next few years.

(01:26:44):
You know, it's just something II'm first of all, I'm just
proud of that guy. Uh mybrother Nico. He's showing up and shown
out, you know when you knowwhen his number is called, he always
makes to play. And you know, he's just a special He's a generation
talent man. He's he's like alright, age is Andre Johnson in my opinion
of just how fast he is,how he gets in and out, his

(01:27:05):
brace, his releases, how stronghe is. And I think last year
was just a uh a preview towhat it's took come for him. And
the one thing I'm proud of himfor is just the work has never stopped.
He's constantly here working on his body, constant in here working on his
hands. Is his mobility in theweight room, you know, So for
me, I mean just having aa true uh I think we have like

(01:27:27):
five number ones, you know,so that's kind of cool to have and
I've had that before in college andI'll have it again and it's gonna be
fine. Man. And Nico he'sgonna he's he loves to see everybody else
eat too, so man, hishis love for his brothers has a change.
And you know, it's it's ait's a special feeling to see somebody
who deserves to get paid and youknow, get what they the d D
wait the what they deserve. Andyou know, I'm just really proud of

(01:27:48):
him. What does it mean foryou to have another opportunity to work with
Artistolla Andeli Johnson. I don't knowif you remember that was a moment going
into the playoffs last season where youlive in you know, if either one
of those guys would be heret shit. Yeah, I mean for both of
them to come back was very special. I think we both we all have
a better feel of how to workwith one another. And you know,

(01:28:10):
the talent I am on the fieldand the play caller that uh Bobby is
and then the the comment coach drovedis you know we all work together and
that and you know, slow asI'm in his office almost every morning just
going over stuff and watch for filmwith 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

(01:28:33):
when you know it could be easierjust to like let me slide, cause
you know, I'm I'm out therestill making plays, but he's like,
nah, you need to be betterhere, here and there. And you
know that's just shows what type ofa 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 his play, or I wantto add this player to try to see

(01:28:56):
if we can get better here inthis inn in this practice, or you
know, I think we can bereally good at this type of player.
And he's very very accepting when itcomes to that. So it's been cool
to work with both of them.And I'm very excited to get another year
on our belt. What what wasit like, uh, Teacher football internationally
and the the r the reception thatyou got from the people there, it

(01:29:19):
was it was amazing. You know, Uh, first of all, shout
out to Beijing, Shanghai and Tokyo. You know, for accepting Meeda Mica
uh with open arms and just thehospitality and the uh, just the culture
man there is just amazing. Theywanna learn about football, you know,
and it's it was cool just tosee like them already have like the foundation

(01:29:42):
of it, but wanting to growfrom there. And you know, I
think football is a family sport andlike those people are our family now.
And you know, the Olympics comeinto where it's gonna be international with flag
football, I think it's super dope. And to be able to get you
know, to be able to putour feet into those those uh doors already,
you know, it's kind of cool, you know. So I mean,

(01:30:03):
I'm very grateful with my team withuh uh Bernie and David for setting
that up and even like the guysout there who who gave us top notch
hospitality. It w It was justamazing, man, the whole experience.
So, you know, just myfirst time really out the country and just
being able to like go to theGreat Wall China and all that stuff and

(01:30:24):
still do what I love to do, you know, working out when Micah
was cool and uh, he hasa lot of crazy takes, but you
know, I I got love forthat guy. But it was fun.
Man John and Jonathan Dad. What'suh, what's it like having kids stuff
down here with you? And what'syour relationship been like with him? Uh?
Yeah, Kay's my brother, man. You know, I've been through

(01:30:45):
thinking thing with him, and he'ssomebody who I I often look at us
like like our moms are like thesame, or our families are super close.
In his college, I think he'slike my blood brothers who like somewhere
fuck count of line. I don'tknow how it works, but I just
he's already like there for me.He's always you know. I don't know,

(01:31:08):
man, Kat is just like thatguy. He's a brother that you
just you know, letting him knowI'm available for him. You know,
I think it can be something aslittle as just the steps on field goal
block or field goal protection. Youknow, I've been doing it for thirteen
years. It's still crazy. I'mstill doing it, but uh, you
know, Uh, those are thetype of things I'm just giving guidance to.

(01:31:30):
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 damn, what
are you looking for in your contract? You know, I'm looking to be
here. You know, the valueis what we decide. But you know,

(01:31:55):
I think for me, I wantto be you know, valued at
my position. You know, Uh, I understand I came up a rough
season, but I don't think it'sa step down of where I can play.
You know, I think when I'mat the top of my game,
I'm still you know, top fiveplayer in my position. And you know
I played a run in the pastand I bring leadership and you know that's

(01:32:18):
not anything I discover. Can youdo you plan to be here for many
Camp, ram A Storage, anycamp? Yeah? How difficult has it
been the last two weeks to notbe here? I mean you said in
your podcasts the first time you've nevernot been Yeah, it w It was
difficult, But like you know,the thing I got very frustrated with was
just and people questioned my communication withthe team. You know, I uh

(01:32:41):
was communicating with guys left and rightand you know, front office, coaches,
teammates, and all I care aboutis how I am with my teammates.
I don't want them to ever thinkI don't care about them or how
I'm not in it, and youknow, you can say whatever you want
about me. But besides that,but I always dedicate anything I can't him,

(01:33:02):
and I don't want that to everyquestion. Isaiya said that it felt
like sometimes you were hold up somewherewatching film. You text r H say
hey, you missed this, oryou wanna beep that. Well, like
the first day, he was battingall up Russ's passes, so I had
to let him know, you know, I, uh, you gotta take
advantage of that. You gotta makesure guys are you know, uh know

(01:33:23):
that you you still care and youyou still wanna be a part of this.
Uh, you know, just watchingpractice, there's a couple of little
things we're doing different, whether I'mcommunicating with dumbbar or other people. You
know, so be yeah, soyou're that You're also talking with him and
you you've given him pointers during theoff season, just constant communication. How
do you see him grow as aperson, you know, as far as

(01:33:44):
how he's approaching things, how hegetting ready for this season, promise his
rookie year. Uh, you know, I think the thing with Keanu is
he's more comfortable, you know,you know it since his first time around
the track. You know, it'sactually like he can you know, uh,
catch his feet under him. Youknow, I always think when you're
in your rookie season, you're goingfrom bowl game. I don't even know
Wisconsin played in a bowl game.Sorry Wisconsin, I don't even know.

(01:34:08):
But you know, personally, Ijust think when you go from bowl game
to training for the combine to youknow, rookie mining camps. 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
the playbook. Now you can bemore vocal, you know. And I

(01:34:29):
think with my absence, the otherguy's absence, you know, you need
guys like that to step up andbe ready for those opportunities. Big server
you had during the season was amore thorough What was just tightened down everything,
you know on my left side causeI was overcompetating a little bit,
but you know it was it wasn'tanything that lingers. You know. I

(01:34:51):
I'll say this, Uh, agrowing is not like an ACL It's not
like anything's that we're gonnaet affected again. And you know, you know,
I'm feeling good able to do everythingsquat and heavy with power and speed.
So you know it, it feelsgood to get after Again, what do
you think of what the team wasable to accomplish yourself season? In turn
to bring guys like Russian and things, you know, I I think they're

(01:35:14):
all good acquisitions. But you know, you never want to be known as
a paper champion and so can't winthe off season. I think the work
gets done out here on the field, gets done in the classroom, It
gets done training, uh, youknow, and then you see where you're
at in training camp and then youbuild on that. You know, I
think we got the right guys inthe building. It's just about uh,

(01:35:38):
putting a complete team on the field. Can how temper colleges it to separate
the business part of the game inthe actual football player. Uh, you
know, you you always wanna youyou always have to treat it like a
business, uh, because you knowone day it's gonna end. Uh And
that's Benny job. Uh. It'snot like in college where you know you

(01:36:00):
got four years guaranteed. You know, well, now you you don't even
know what an il and know it'scrap. But the transfer portal portal but
you know you have to I stillhave love for this game, and I
still work my tail off and Istill put everything into it, and that's
not gonna change. But you haveto know, uh, what you bring

(01:36:23):
to the team and what your whatyour value is. Yeah, if I
wanted to feel to be out therewith your teammates today, emotionally great.
You know. We got a newuh, we got a new training staff
and still learning the the warm upa little 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
doing by myself. Uh. Iactually like having more people around, cause

(01:36:46):
like kind of go stir crazy,cra crazy. When it's just you and
another guy, You're like, damn, I gotta go back up for another
rep already. And so you know, it's nice to be up here and
get a chance to, you know, be with my guysend cam. Were
you confident and be able to getdone with your emotion with Oh, I'm
gonna I'm We'll try to remain prettyneutral, cause you know, I don't

(01:37:10):
wanna be too either way. AllI know is I wanna be here.
But we'll see what happens is mylast year here? I I I I've
had a great career here, butuh, I'll look forward to play next
year. Can you with that secondsurgery you said it this time was on
the left side. It was thefirst time around on the right side,
right side during the season, leftside, and that was just tightening down

(01:37:35):
my corner. My corma saw.It wasn't the same as my ad doctor.
You know, you can ask doctorBradley, uh, doctor doctor Zuckerbron
who uh did the surgery as well? You know, I if anything's gonna
help me and you'll make me alot stronger from hearing up. Can you
say you were training with another guy? Who have you come been? Tyson?

(01:37:56):
Oh? Uh, I've been trainingwith him for the last eight years.
We've always trained together. We gota trainer up north. Uh shout
out Cole Haley. He's my guy, traded trained trained, Uh, Heath
Miller, Brett Keesel. The multitudeof guys that I all respect and we've
just been getting after it can bevery few guys historically thirty five that paid

(01:38:20):
big contractors. You think that's heldagainst you. I think there's not a
lot of history behind it. Butyou know, for me, I I
look as I'm not looking to belike anybody else. You know, my
game is different from everybody else inthis league. You know, I like
to think, you know, Ican play the run in the past,
and then that's where I'm different.You know. I remember last year Mike

(01:38:43):
t just brought to my attention.You know, the thing that's really cool
is you watch powerlisters, and youknow, my game's built on power and
technique, and those guys go intotheir forties and so you know, that's
what kind of research I'm doing behindthe scenes. But you know, I
I we'll see what happens. Theit's there's not a lot of history.

(01:39:04):
But I'm here to make history andI'm here to you know, win another
Super Bowl year and you know,have a great season. Do you have
a set goal over yourself on howmany years you wanna play in the NFL
or do you just take things yearby the year? You know it?
It was it was tough answering thatquestion right after the season. I will
say this, guys, I Ican't keep answering that question right after the

(01:39:26):
season. That is not fair tothe season, that's not fair to my
family. Uh, you know,but in my mind, I got three
years and I wanna maximize'em.I wanna play at a high level,
and I wanna go deep in theplayoffs. And you know, we got
a good team, and I'm gonnado my part to be ready for all
those situations. If you plan onpracticing when you report to Latrobe, or

(01:39:47):
is your cossibility that you might pullin and enforce the newituations? I I
have not even thought that far.I've taken a day by day. Uh
you know. Uh uh. Itold my agent and we talked about it.
I mean, we're cool coming outhere. You know. I'll be
here for many you know, andthen I'll be the returning pand you know,

(01:40:08):
I don't know what the work entails, but when we get there,
we'll we'll cross that bridgemans for thosethree years. You know, there was
a conversation between me, Omar andMike t And there's certain guys that are
one helmet guys, you know,and I want to be one of those

(01:40:30):
one helmet guys. And you know, there's a there's a hunger and desire
that I was doing a little bitof carrying the ball. I was Xavier
Johnson so learning from him and guyslike that, it makes me more comfortable.
But I could. I feel likeI could do anything on the field,
and I'll do anything to play sofast and do with me throwing the
ball, running the ball, catchingthe ball, blocking anything I'll do get

(01:40:50):
on the field, ILL do withthat. Specifically, talking about how competitive
you are, where do you thinkthat can drive from? This just comes
from where I'm from. South Ifeel like everybody down there we compete to
the max. There's no other placethat 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 when Istarted playing, It's just it was instilled

(01:41:12):
in me to just compete and bethat dog. Speaking of South Florida,
I mean I played with Jeremiah whenI was ten and eleven and that we
played against each other a couple ofyears of high school. So I've seen
him. The growth he's made overthese years is insane. The way his
body has changed is crazy. Andnow seeing out here today is just like

(01:41:35):
everything come full circle. You know, he's he was the best player in
the country last year. And forhim, for me seeing him grow up
and things like that. It's beenreally good Seuth Fresh, it's such a
stacker. Even Marvin Harrison Junior didn'tplay much as a truth Fresh, but
it seems like he might need theexception to the rule. I feel like

(01:41:55):
Jeremiah is just I mean, he'sdefinitely he's a different caliber. When when
you when you watch him and howsmooth he is and the physical abilities he
breaks to the game, I feellike he has to play some way.
He has to. He has toplay because he was the better of the
team. Jeremiah sophomore. And nowyou're like, you guys, this year,

(01:42:25):
the next three years, the champions, they're gonna get the best receiver
receiving room in the country. Youknow, we've been holding that narrative for
so long now, but we're gonnacontinue to do that. I mean,
we have conversations who like as usthree because we're we all play for the

(01:42:45):
same team. As you said,we just want to be the best and
we know when it's our time tocome, we're gonna do We're gonna do
that and definitely get a national championship. How special is that for you?
You guys get it's very special becauseyou would have never known in OT seven
when we were there, all onthe same field together on the same team.
Who never thought we would have beenat the Ohiose State University, all

(01:43:08):
playing on the same field at thesame time. So it's definitely specially the
dream come true. How's your bodychange in the offseason? How have you
gotten better? I definitely think mybody has changed a lot, and it's
changed the ways of like my body. Papper sentences went down a lot,
and I just feel like I overallfeel better when I like do long runs

(01:43:29):
and stuff like that. So Ihave a good, really good stamina right
now, So I just hope tokeep that though this year. As you
were after a fifty seven years touchdownin your first catch, you yeah,
yeah, yeah, I feel likeit was just adrenaline rushing. I feel
like I was more so a celebration, was more tired than the run and
actually everybody jumping on me and stufflike that. But it was definitely a

(01:43:51):
cool experience experience. Just mean,is there anything outside? It feels like
there's a little bit of South Floridamaybe like good track shoppers. Yeah,
what do you guys do? Likedid you see that in the corner?

(01:44:11):
I feel like if the if therewere anybody to be from South Florida at
cornm it would be day Uh IG B. Davidson niging notion guard and
looking over to the my counterpart guard. It's a great thing to say.
What what about Carsons skills might justallow him to shift over one's box was
last year? Why would he besuccessful? He's athletic, he's able to
run the ball. He's eatin aswell, which has off find your favorite

(01:44:32):
thing and been working in the space. That's uh, it's a huge u
thing to have. And uh,he's just trying to come up into the
neck guard spot. Now it's someof those counting on you guys like I
say, bad and fine Florida,But uh, he's he did a good
job to me and say we cando it to summer and get into the
fall camp. After Sam squared histouchdown past lock and was talking to him,
then he kind of made his wayover towards did you grab his shoulder

(01:44:53):
head like what was going on there? Oh? Yeah, yeah, I
mean obviously, Uh, young guysscored a touchdown. The shoe kind of
blocks out of anything. So I'mtrying to coach a Locke has on his
name, trying to get his attentionback to get some coaching. Uh it
was it was nothing too crazy.Coach locks it. Now we handle all
too the ref around here, andso just to make sure you know,
Uh, obviously it's a great thingfor him scoring to touchdown. It's great
thing. Everybody swan to see himscore. But you sometime to see some

(01:45:15):
coaching. A lot of quarterbacks runningthe ball today that part of the game.
I mean, I I think thatjust makes uh the offense even more
powers than even if he played elevenon the eleventh, ten on eleven.
So it's just another guy to accountfor, another guy you have to uh
move outside the box, another guyafter the fight dependant leaves the rest of
the defense open for more uh optionsthan the offensive. So it's a it's
an awesome thing. You know,personally I want to slide, but but

(01:45:40):
uh it's it's still cool. Sehow difficult did that make it last year?
When year in the last couple ofyears, when you really haven't had
that, we're running for it,you ab we do run at the quarterback,
which none It wasn't difficult. It'sjust a new style offense, you
know, Coach Kelly comes in with, uh, his philosophy and what he
wants to cues to do, andthe cues are actually went on the spring,
So I'm just gonna keep building offthat. Obviously we did a couple

(01:46:00):
of good things today, some somegood runs by all the cues, but
just building off of it and seewhat we can do better done. I
think you open today in the Tformations and creative like that. What's it
like working with Chip Kelly and howis that helping the offensive line? He's
creativity, It's it's it's really fungoing through walk through. Obviously I only
get the start run, play theinside outside sound, but you know we

(01:46:20):
go back from film like, wellwe're on the T formation, but it's,
uh, everything's a lot everything's alot more fun. All the guys
are buying in. All the guysare a lot more fun. So Coach
kind of brings us on his ownjuice to what we have, what you're
going on, and just uh,every day, every guy that everyone improves
off of it. So do youfeel that improvement up front for you guys

(01:46:42):
in the offensive line and you feellike that's helping you guys right now?
For sure? Yeah, I mean, uh, we have a lot more
experience in go line, A lotmore guys have a year or two under
their belts. And what did yourimpression of him? What does he do
well that you're like, okay,yeah, this is this is the prognoses
born hard. Yeah he can getit. Right after your visit and when
you came down here, was therea thought process that you could commit.

(01:47:02):
Did you come down with an openmind or did you kind of have a
feeling that this was gonna be doingwegein you? I came down with open
mone. I didn't know about theMoti made really and then I got here,
I found the family Abe where withthe players? What was that moment
like for you talking to the coachestelling me the player, telling your family?
Just what was that like for you? But it was great? I

(01:47:23):
have a mom my dad or mymother's in the room. You know what
was that reaction? Well? Myeverybody argue really except from things Fika,
So what was coach last that itwas time? When you think of the
just to comment or the yeah justan Ohio state back. You know,
whether it's physicality, like what arethe first things that come to mind when

(01:47:44):
you think of they don't high shateor anymore, speed of powers on and
tity got it. Yeah. Isthat something that I mean you feel like
you have to you know, workingor is that something that you're like,
Yeah, that's the kind of backI am. I'm just gonna be next
to mine their lives. I thinkthat's kind of back I am. But
you all you prove, yeah,like, well, what are kind of
a few of those things that you'relike, yeah, they need to work
on, like go over the courseof the next few months of just everything.

(01:48:05):
Make sure I keep all the details. Boston Cary. Yeah, what
a coach I'll tell you that helikes about your game? Is it art
between the tackles, your speed orwhat is he like right now? He
said he liked my row fucking backfieldman, and he like that. I'm
like, what's kind of your mainI mean, obviously as an in state
kid committed to this class, what'syour pitch now to other recruits and being

(01:48:27):
like this is why you should joinOhio State twenty train class. It's a
real family atmosphere. Yeah, everybodyget them on, everybody talking to everybody,
doing to other. What'd you sayonce you get as bringing I've always
looked up to Bo Jackson watching thisfilm you, Uh, that's funny.

(01:48:51):
Do you think that your boy styleand here his perspect isn't just the way
that he really field no thing thatyou want to grow into. I mean
I think I can. I thinkit's pre to pr Yeah. I think
in the page, who are themain guys thing you're you're talking to right
now to join the store? I'mreally talking to everybody to listen him and

(01:49:14):
that all the commute and any guysthat you want to join the task.
Anybody at the top of your listdidn't know? Oh sorry if you already
got asked this, but coming uphere as a as a recruit, as
a commitment, sere, what whatdid you want to show today? What
did you want to get out ofthis experience? It wasn't nothing to show,
nothing to prove. I just wantedto this working with his life.
How did you feel like that went? Obviously he's still relatively new here,

(01:49:36):
but he seems to bring up alittle bit of a different energy than than
some of these camps in the past. I feel like it went good.
Yeah, do you sense that energy? I mean when you're out with him,
it's I feel listen to this interview. He's different than other guys though,
right, I mean kind of Howwould you explain his coaching than some
of the other running back coach you'vemade up work with in the path.
It's just intense sense, like go, go go. Did you talk to

(01:49:59):
coach talk when you've been at Orgon? I did? Okay? So when
when didn't? He didn't organ gethim Autimer like Rufford around like after the
season, like not so far after? Okay? Is that I mean?
Is it was? He kind ofthe same guy that he is now,
so just just in a new uniformbasically. Then you guys obviously added Isaiah

(01:50:20):
to the class, and there's nosecret they would like to add another one.
What are your thoughts on being ina class with three different running backs
like that? I have no problembe able to class through another thing.
But what do you like about Isaiah? I don't live. You know,
you've never met him, but youjust damn it on the person coming when
you committed. Who were some ofthe guys that we should actually from any

(01:50:41):
of the particularly about after they goingup? I'm not really couple linebackers taking
off rest how came's nice funjo.You just be coming back. You're just
getting in that. I enjoy everytimes been great? Doesn't just you your

(01:51:09):
life chances you walked out good doorand just decide to work. I'm permitting
and now your flashtar number one pawus that's actually pick you ever says even
getting the offer from here my lifethat's just Skyros gets appreciate this. I

(01:51:33):
mean, obviously you've got a companyfor you get here. I'm curious about
how you put so higher and straightlike it's a pretty he started pretty good.
But I mean in terms of theguys, don't you want to join
how you're start your great right?See difference? What what do you want

(01:52:00):
me out of a quarterback in yourclass? Like the white you're missing?
I want to specypical like yeah,this is why the coach characterstics great pressure

(01:52:40):
or what? Thank you girls music, coats you very much, kind of
child, Thank you very er,thank you once again your music. We're
talking to Mons and Kelly about thatgun the first time I met it.

(01:53:06):
Know, we just find you.Yeah, what do you think people working
for the top, you know whenyou're yeah, so like with a lot
of savers a lot against what's beenlike when you're just moving out to California,
being out of counter days a littlelot like helping Ado like different being

(01:53:34):
out of state recruit here or whenyou were just a y. It's definitely
different. So it's flying here anew generation of recruits where I don't think
anybody outside looking. Your question isthe strength of your commitment? Like you're
locked into the last night you sendit over and over, but you're making

(01:53:56):
visits around the country, You've seenother schools. It's it's almost a totally
different mind. So how do youapproach these other visits and how do you
communicate with Ohio State about them?And what's been the message House State.
I just let it know that youknow, uh, I'm always locked in.
You know, I'm just still enjoyingthe buses or its being in the

(01:54:16):
group. You know, this isonly having one time the Sivings enjoy the
other schools out sid of life.Yes, it canna be really hard.
It's how you get to the flipcase. That's it's Ohio State to see
what it would be. So whatis it that's made you wanna take those
with us? What when Chase House? The rehab process going so far it's

(01:54:38):
going great, man, it's takingthem one day at a time. At
what stage are you? I knowthey said they wanted to see probably in
training camp and we would know alittle bit more. I guess at the
next week when you see the doctorfor what what stage are you? Yeah,
I'm back up training doing everything,lifting that crazy, So I'm back
in that stage. Do you havea timetable, like what you'd be ready
for training camp or like what isyour expectation? Uh? Right now,

(01:54:59):
just taking one day at the time, standing in my playbook, so my
numbers called'em ready? And howimportant for you hasn't been to I guess
stay around the team while you're inthis process. Uh, great man,
Nuh, 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. Soit's been great. Are you encouraged by
how you feel so far after theprocedure? Do you? Oh? Yeah?

(01:55:23):
What do your expectations work from whatpeople told you? How would how
would you goose? Oh? Yeah, nah, I f I feel fine.
Shit, I just ran ten fifties. Shoot, I'm I'm getting back
in shape. Shoot, getting inthe weight room, about to get strong
again. So yeah, I'm i'mI'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

(01:55:47):
worked together, Yeah, I thinkScott's a limit. Some conversations have you
had with some of the veterans,like Cam or any other people on the
G line? Yeah, just uhgoing to Cam just aks'em about certain
things in terms of how he seesoffenses, just whole time he's been in
the league, in terms of formationsand how he picks up on little pre

(01:56:08):
snap breeze things like that. Chase, I think Makey said, you know
you dove into the deep end ofthe cool h. How I guess M
much important for you to be disinvestedwith his team in and how much are
you enjoying that investment? Yeah?Nah, it's real cool. But I
uh I love it here. Uh. Only thing I had to get used
to is that heat. Uh butuh, it's it's real cool. Great
teammates and everybody welcome you with openoffs. So it's a great experience.

(01:56:31):
Chase, I you gonna get work. You innswered the sority is uh training
camp day one? Is that arealistic expectations? I'm just focusing on today.
Are you running it? Yup?Marshawn is another Oh hoose they got
just having him back in the building, just talking about what's happening. Oh
yeah, uh yeah, b uhbig brouh. You know it's uh.

(01:56:53):
Definitely excited to play with'em.We always chatted obviously on different teams,
but I'm definitely excited to to playwith them. That's you know, that's
gotta be big for me. Wasthat one of the guys making a decision
that you you kind of talked toabout what this locker room is? Like?
Yeah, Marshaan uh tyrne, Butyeah, I mean it was.

(01:57:15):
We got a lot of great guysin this day. You look at that,
you know on paper, you know, I feel like definitely one of
the most talented defenses in the leaguefor sure. Now it's all about just
putting it together and you know,coming together as a team. Your research
on that. A hundred years ago, you know, folks had the idea
of building a stadium over sixty thousandpeople, and that's because of what Chick

(01:57:41):
Carley was doing and you know,they had a wooden bleachers over here,
and all these people started coming inthe idea of bringing in a stadium that
were sixty thousand people. At thetime, was like, this is crazy.
What is college football turning into?And they instead of going to the
state or going to the school thecommunity, they went to the community to
raise the money they raised over atthe time over a million dollars. Well,
now you fast forward one hundred yearsand the conversation still might be like,

(01:58:03):
what is college football doing right?And in this situation then, I
l we had to turn to thecommunity for help, and Bucky Nation showed
up again in a big way.So although the landscape is changing, I
don't know if you know, onehundred years later, if it's that much
different. It's just in a differenttime, in a different you know,

(01:58:23):
set of issues that we're working through. But I think it's exciting. I
think there's a lot of positives toit. I do. I think that
we're taking the next step with therevenue sharing to try to institutionalize some of
it, which would be big forus real Reds. Yeah, every year's
got question. It seems like thisyear's team has fewer questions off the line.

(01:58:50):
Specifically, if you look ahead tomore than a month, what are
the real questions that you have inyour mind about position? I would say
on offense, you know, wegot to square away the quarterback as you
know, I feel like, youknow, the offensive line on the right

(01:59:12):
side, we've got to solidify that. I feel like we got to build,
you know, enough depth at receiverthat we feel like we can put
in five or six in the gameand feel good about it. On defense,
I think we're still looking to figureout, you know, who are
going to be the guys inside,you know, the third, the fourth,
the fifth, defensive interier, alinement that we're gonna put in the

(01:59:34):
game. And then same thing justjust I would say depth, a little
bit of safety, just to kindof see 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 everybody, and and so in a lot of
those areas, it's depth. Specialteams wise. You know, punter is
going to be you know that thatis significant. You know, we just

(01:59:56):
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 a
fall from the offensive line, therewas I think a school aplogy you guys
might look for a transfer in thatpost spring window. Did you guys do
that? Did you guys not findthe guy or were you just confident the
guys you have, just like youknow in January, if if we're going

(02:00:21):
to bring somebody in, it isto fill a hole. We're not just
going to bring somebody in to bringsomebody in. Like at all positions,
we'll always look to see what's outthere. We did evaluate some of the
guys that were out there, andyou know, you know, we felt
like coming out of it as weevaluated it, you know, there was
a couple of guys that you know, we checked on, but but ultimately,

(02:00:41):
like based on where we were andsome of the young guys that are
coming up, you know, wefelt like we saw some progress in the
offensive line in the spring. Soyou know, it wasn't there wasn't as
many folks in the portal, youknow, in after the spring. So
we looked at it, we identifiedit, We did our due diligence,
but you know, we're gonna gothrough. We have now second round,
Bill Anders right, you're Becker.It was interesting that you have two of

(02:01:05):
maybe the top five ors of guysin sport and then a bunch of guys
who haven't plenty uh, maybe someonethat I don't want question, but did
you consider trying to add there understandingthe probably the difficult to sell. We
have such talent, how to bringsomebody had these experiences? Like what were
those conversations like, and how didyou settle on being comfortable with you know,
Trey and well, like you said, you know, I think we're

(02:01:29):
we will get some experience there withthose two guys, and then you know,
we felt like coming out of thespring that James and Sam both did
a nice job and you know we'regonna have to play them and they're gonna
have to you know, take ona little bit of that. You know,
we have you know, started havingconversation with Caleb Downs. I was
part of the recruiting process of possiblyyou know, doing a little bit of
running back as well. It's somethingthat he wanted to do. So we've

(02:01:53):
been having him in some of themeetings and some of the individual drills.
Is as a possibility there if youknow, needed so down the road to
continue to build depth at that position. But you know, I think,
you know, we feel like,you know, if you have you know,
four strong running backs going into it, then you know that's gonna be
that's gonna be enough to carry theseason. I do think that the quarterbacks

(02:02:14):
will run the ball more this season, so that should take some carries away
from them. But to your point, you know, James and Sam are
gonna have to step up to youguys that we can count on. Save
that for another day. Yeah,just fall up on it. Is he
capable of stepping in and being runningback? I obviously, we'll see,

(02:02:39):
we'll see. We talked about inthe recruiting process, you know, the
first time around and more specifically inthe second time around, and so he's
you know, he's been around alittle bit just to get a feel for
it. We did very little inthe spring. We did I think we
pitched them an option or something likethat in the spring just to kind of
get them going. But yeah,we'll see, we'll see where that goes.

(02:02:59):
We don't have a specific plan rightnow, but we do want to
introduce him to that just the samething like Lorenzo Styles has played your seer
where he did that Notre Dame.You know he's out there a little bit,
just kind of learning. It's healthy. You know, you're seeing it
from the other side of the ball. This time of the year, you
can get away with that a littlebit, a little bit in the preseason.
Where it goes, we'll see,but you just never know. We're
trying to put some contingency plans inplace because it could be a long season.

(02:03:21):
Yeah, this is my forty fourthyear cover of hose Day. I
don't remember ever expectations like this.In the summer there were something were almost
as big. Sure do you sensethat too? And what is that pressure
like as you're working through a summerand people ask me that, I go
back to the expectations every year arethe same. I mean, it's just
the truth. When opening press conference, I said, you got to beat

(02:03:44):
the team up North and whenevery gameafter that. That's just the expectations.
And when you come up short,you know, you've got to figure out
a way to get those things fixed. I think we have done that.
But the expectations are the same everyyear. Pressure is the same every year.
I just like the pressure when you'vegot a really good team behind you.
So that's what we've got right now. You know, we know it's
going to be a long season,we know we're working towards. But I
will say this about this team,Well, we've been talented. That's there's

(02:04:08):
been times in the past we've beentalented. I don't know since I've been
here if we've been this talented andthis experience together with guys that have played
a lot of football, fourth andfifth year guys, and that doesn't matter.
Well, go thank x door Stephenplay. Since you brought it up.
Maybe this is his talks because it'ssummer times, so you can now
just have the conversations. Maybe we'remaking a big out of nothing long term

(02:04:30):
situations, but we've seen it aroundcollege football at league guys playing both sides
of the ball. I'm doing itquite well right Travis Huner is doing it
out in Colorado and Kayla Jas hasbeen apartment turns, so we see what
he could do with the ball.But there's also the stamina aspect of it.
I just get into a sixteen gameseason, so I'm not saying it's
sny forty snaps or something like that, But what about his athleticism, what
he brings to the table and letyou know that if you wanted to explore

(02:04:53):
it in a real game, hecould last and still be an effective seek.
Yeah. Yeah, we'd have tosee all that he did it in
high school. But we got somereally good running backs in a room.
So it's not something that we're planningon doing, but uh, we all
we are gonna, you know,work on a little bit Caleb. Caleb
enjoys that part of it. Wedid agree that that was something that we
were going to look into. Whereit goes, I don't I don't really

(02:05:15):
know right now, but I knowthat he has the capability to do it.
He has the athleticism and do it, and you know, we'll kind
of see where it goes, seesee how he does, and you know,
maybe hand the ball to a littlebit of the preseason because again it's
going to be a long season.We have to make sure we have continuocy
plans in place. But I knowit's something that he enjoys having the ball
in his hand. So even duringtheir first time around the recruiting process,

(02:05:36):
we even talked about him coming inas a as an offensive player. Ultimately,
we think his ceiling is highest ondefense. But you know, but
I also agree. I think thathaving you know, guys going in this
side of the ball and just seeit, listen to the meetings is really
healthy for the development. So we'regoing to do that regardless. Your defensive

(02:05:58):
recruiting right now is maybe for alongit's been in the years past, and
I think we passed much questions aboutit in the past, But is this
a product of seeing it over thelast couple of years and now it's not
just telling you guys, hey,this might look like this. They're seeing
it in real time. Yeah.You know, we talked about it when
Jim first came in, and Ithink Tim Wallon was an unbelievable job as
well in the back end, andyou know, Matt stepped right in and

(02:06:19):
James and Larry. I think they'reall doing a great job. But like
you said, you know, it'sone thing to talk about it. That's
theory testimony is this, look atthis is this is what we're doing.
And then I think you're seeing alot of guys just excited about playing in
this defense. I think they seethe capabilities and the flexibility too. You
know, right now, the waywe play excuse me. The way we
play right now is based on youknow, we have four really talented defensive

(02:06:43):
linemen that are really good, andwe got a lot of that to those
positions. But there's also flexibility withsome of the things Gym's done in the
past that you know, we're definitelylooking at and some of the recruits that
we're looking at who brings some versatility, pass rusher, you know, we
had that jack position and those typeof things. So that's exciting as well.
And I think you're seeing a lotof the recruits, you know,
really get fired up when they gethere. People. Yeah, coach,

(02:07:06):
I think your first couple of years, your identity was was very bigger from
an awful standpoint and air it outtype team. Look at the key best
of talent and the playmakers you havethere. Because your identity change, I
guess what do you think the identityis of this point point four? Well,
we'll see as we go, butyou know, we know what we
need to do to play in thebig games. That's never changed. And

(02:07:29):
we have to be able to stopthe run, run the football, take
care of the ball, and there'llbe opportunity used to throw the ball that'll
that'll happen. But you know we'regonna have to, you know, do
those things to win close games andplay situational football. But I think,
you know, you won't really geta feel for what the identity of the
team is until we get into probablythe beginning of October, you know,
and I think we all have ideasof what it could go. But you

(02:07:51):
know now that we're playing in aplayoff format, just like a lot of
those NFL teams sometimes, you know, they don't really quite understand their identity
until they get about halfway through this. I don't think I'll take that long.
But you know, we're able toplay some games and kind of work
through some things. And I don'tthink our defense is going to change a
bunch in terms of what we didlast year. I mean, it's a
lot of the same guys back couldlook a little different on offense. Have

(02:08:13):
you got time for two more?Go to dougla Maries? Okay? Right?
You lose an important recruiting staffer topromotion at Michigan just the second time,
so Mu's gone to Michigan this offseason. How do you react to something
like that? Is something that someonelike that would take information that was started

(02:08:35):
here that could help Michigan or burtO high stages reaction. Yeah, all
good questions, and you know,I just I want to talk about the
guys that are here, you know, the staff members that are here,
the coaches that are here, theplayers that are here, the ones that
are Buckeyes. Joe, didgon withthe scheduling change that was announced yesterday?

(02:08:56):
Did they come together? Didn't haveanything to do with these A little different?
Yeah, you know, I don'tknow all that came in came with
it. I know it got presentedto me a while back, and you
know I was on board with it. So yeah, I mean I think,
you know, we do have tolook a little bit different at our
scheduling as we move forward, basedon the way the format is at the

(02:09:20):
end of the season. That's quicklyabout the linebackers got in here a little
bit late. How do you feelabout your linebackers? Cody seems like he
always he's the Betrims, like he'slucking as a starter. CJ When do
you see his role being sonny?When you see his role being gay and
all this guys? Yeah, goodversatility, all those guys, Rvel Reese
like you said, CJ Gaye,Sonny Cody. You know I'm missing a

(02:09:43):
couple, I'm sure, but likethat was that y rvel? Yeah?
I mean these guys are very versatileguys. You can see the length on
them, and you know they doa good job in terms of like fitting
the runs they could they have enoughlength, you know, to covering zone.
But the LUs blitz and that's somethingI wanted to really work on this
offseason, is getting better at blitzing, you know, and hopefully we can

(02:10:05):
even take the number we got Jeremiahj J Smith JJ. How'd you fail
out there? Today? We gota group I heard the TV team came
out, don't three and old poolplay. When you come to these kind
of tournaments, what kind of techniquesdo you like to work on us you
think that you're going deep run someshort stuff from crossing the routes, what
do you work on when you're outof tournament like this? Really just getting

(02:10:28):
back in the goo because you don'trun doing the beat, so really just
working on my releases. Uh that'syour game, my friends, class I've
been I've been a chuck, sojust really getting back in. Now we
know you pulled the trigger on OhioState. Obviously you're gonna take visits kind
of make sure that you're you're perfecton your decision. What was it about
Ohio State and Brian Hartline and RyanDavid made you feel comfortable to could make

(02:10:48):
early? Really they sent me myfirst visit. We're not first camp.
They offered me not personal Christmas year, but it just what's up? What's
up? What's what they say?Was? But they they need they gave

(02:11:11):
me, Uh really just a kidthat I'm a talk artist. I wasn't
talk artistry. I'm trying to havethem size time. Now. I know
you got something your SFE family upthere. You got Brandon n s,
you got card I'll take What doesit mean to potentially be able to link
up with them in a year andbe able to kind of run back what
you guys have done in South FloridaExpress in Columbus Ohio, it'd be great

(02:11:31):
we go there to Ohio State takeover. It'd be grateful. All do
it out the great you can lovethe first round. Yeah, you're a
super humble kid. I've been reallyimpressed by you today. Is there anything
that you want Ohio State fans toknow about you? You know again.
I know you're just your all work, all work, all work. But
what are they getting when they geta J. J. Smith to come

(02:11:52):
to Ohio saying, kid coming inat the job, don't what I want?
Does just come? That's perfect,man, God bless you. I
appreciate you, my man. Alsowatching today, thank you so much,
Sith. And then later tonight I'llprobably come back and watch the film again.

(02:12:15):
But at the end of the day, it's just trying to be around
football, be around the facility.How much of your film watching is like
solo endefforce, you buy yourself watchingstuff. How much team we've had more
safeties come in throughout the spring,more guys try to learn the system and
learn the game. But I mean, at the end of the day,

(02:12:37):
you gotta do what you gotta doto put yourself in the best position to
win. So myself, I'll watchfilm at home too by myself, but
when I'm here there's always other playersaround me that are trying to work to
get better, just like I am. Are you only watching yourself or do
you watch? No? I watchedthe NFL teams. Watch good NFL safeties
that are playing right now. JavonHolland, Hantswin Wifield, go as like

(02:12:58):
that that can that I can andtry to see how they play. And
then also just watching other players here, other players that do things well here,
just learning from them, trying tosee how they play the game,
trying to get better. Caleb,what are some of the big differences that
you've seen so far between what youwent through at Alabama and so far you've
come through up here. A lotof it's the same, a little differences

(02:13:20):
in the defense and how they operateand how they see things. But at
the end of the day, football'sfootball, defensive defense, so everybody got
to get to the ball and makethe type of what do you think,
Oh, I love the city.I love High Street, I love being
in the city. I love goingto the restaurants here. The food's great
here. So I ain't got nogood place for me because it's like you

(02:13:41):
got the campus obviously, then alsoa big city. It's it's different than
Alabama because Alabama was a college townand Testalusa is not as big of a
city. Here, there's a lotof people to see, a lot of
different businesses that you can be apart of. So just trying to learn
the city and learn what everybody hasto offer her. He'll you probably noticed

(02:14:03):
that when kid in Proctmedia's decision togo back to Alabama, and then that
starts a whole level of speculation andstuff. Are you were you taking back
by that? Did you feel likeyou needed to make a declaration off of
that? Uh? I mean atthe end of the day, No,
I didn't feel like I needed tosay anything, cause at the end of
the day, I was still herea practice. I was still here with
my teammates. So I mean,I feel like my actions speak for themselves.

(02:14:24):
I'm I mean, I don't Idon't need to say anything about that.
Kayden and I talked to him whenhe did it. I mean I
congratulated him on his decision. Imean, that's when he feels his best.
That's when he feels his best,and I support him. But I'm
here. You guys have are inthis new generation of you have that sort
of freedom, You have that sortof control over your career in a way
that other people didn't. This it'ssomething that you you have to kind of

(02:14:46):
take with a certain seriousness that you'remaking that right decision at all times.
I think ev I mean it inlife, you have to make decisions based
off of what she feels best foryourself. So that was a big decision
for him. And if he feelsthat's what's best for us, say,
then I support it. But atthe end of the day, for college
suble athletes, I think that's thebest thing because the coaches have the same
right to do what they do.Coach can come here for a month and

(02:15:09):
leave, and I mean then he'sjust leaving the player at high and draw.
So I mean, if they're gonnahave the ability to do it,
why with the players not have sometype of say in their in their life.
Kevin, you you made the impactoppos last year as a crush.
What do you think you can doan assault when you're under your belt here?

(02:15:30):
I think I can grow and whatI did well last year and increase
on the qualities that I wasn't notas a leade at during during the season.
So just being better in coverage,being better in the post, being
better in my tackling, being abetter communicator with my teammates, all that
I think I can offer to theteam. And but at the end of

(02:15:52):
the day, it's gotta be ateam collective to go do what we want
to do. What do you Imean this office is a little to get
back. What do you what doyou think of being a big part of
me? Was there wasn't elite lastyear? It should be even better this
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 a wish your
question about just the idea of bigheart a big part? What about my

(02:16:16):
league defense? Uh? I meanI can only do my part. I
can only do my one to eleventhand do my job. Every player I
can't. I can't try to domore than that, and every other player
just has to do their job andwe'll do what we need to do.
Okay, we'll be talking about yourfilm watching habits. Was that the same
in high school? What did thatlook like for you in a regular high
school? My high school coach wasone of my favorite people in the world.

(02:16:39):
Uh, Freeman Davis. Me andhim watched film together a lot,
But that was more so just myselfwatching film and trying to grow. So
I would say I had a lotof the same habits and that's trusted over
to college. But a lot ofthat was me and my high school coach
playing the game together. Another movie. You around everywhere here, But you
know, it seems like you're athat free safety spot as opposed to the

(02:17:01):
strong safety spot you played at Alabama. Just what said transition? Like?
Do you feel that does that evenmatter in this kind of defense? I
th I mean it's the same spotreally to the it's the safety to the
field safety playing in the most space. That's what I'm used to. But
at the end of the day,I I feel like I can play to
the boundary. I can play theDon Money position, I can play Nickel.

(02:17:22):
So I mean, at the endof the day, you gotta make
plays wherever you're at. Calen.What have you been? What have your
thoughts about on the terremia spot?A very elite athlete, very instinctual player,
has a great ball skills. ShouldUH should have a big impact that
year. Anybody you can get parentswhat you've seen? Oh, nah,

(02:17:46):
j Jason's on suf Jesus his onlyit's his own man. Uh. Who
else's caught your rye at your receivergroup? Kaylen? That UH is elite
in your opinion. Uh, Iwatch a Mecca Buka a lot and co
when I was in high school,ye watching the games and then last year
watching some of his film. He'sbeen an elite receiver then and he's a

(02:18:07):
leade receiver now. And Carlote hashad a great spring as well. Yeah.
And the 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 recept meaningof autograph seekers at Saturday? Now?
Uh? Have you felt the receptionhere? Uh? For you over
the last several months, but especiallylike the Saturday, I think it's been

(02:18:30):
very welcoming. I appreciate everybody andlike I appreciate when I go to class
seeing people that know me and justbeing able to meet them and being able
to say that I'm glad to behere, being able to say I'm glad
to be here to everybody that cameup to me. Yeah. So I'm
just I'm very appreciative of it.Do you feel their expectations for you?
You know what I mean that?Uh? I mean people met so as
a versaiy then, so I'm happyabout it. There, he moved around

(02:18:54):
a lot throughout your career that there'sJumbo's side you'll tackle. I guess since
it's in Cleenbolle, noth on theright side. Do you think you kind
of benefit from focusing a little bitmore on the right side? Uh,
a little bit, But you know, there is a new system that we
have, Like I have been foundmy mindset most on the right, but
also have my mind's on the leveltoo, just in case something does happening
too, like you know what Imean, like Colten or you know,

(02:19:16):
Pete cost But I'm always gonna beready for the left no matter what.
How quickly have you felt like youpicked up this new system that you're working
in now? You know it's awe actually pretty up picked up pretty well
cause it's the same system that I'mused to back in the hot stae cause
we're more like spread back in thehot state. So you know, it's
pretty good. It's it's one ofthose like the draft process off season,

(02:19:37):
as a lot of people outside thebuilding, team rangers get the right tack,
a lot of yeah, alright,now, a lot of people in
the building, right, we havethe right time. All we big get
motivated right that you follow it likeif you can make you do it,
though I don't I read into ita little bit. But also the same
time like they not here of course, but I don't really care what they
say. I know what I cando, and the team know I w

(02:20:00):
can do so the interesting me rightnow and I'm not gonna live him right
down? How hard or how easyis that to compartmentalize that and use that
as fuel going forward rather than tokind of marity it, uh, I
j I just keep receipts. Everybodyknows that one person. I don't really
care for him at Also, it'sall good, but it's all love.
I love uh outside of that,but keeping me keep it better, keep

(02:20:22):
on these nights, do what Ican do there. You've been a outspoken
about your supporter of Zamier, andobviously it's just his chance now to be
the dog. Wait, what isit about him that you bought in so
early? The reason why I boughtit so earliest cause us I was at
a house state. They always taughtus to actually act, go getting,
and ever since I got here,i'm'a always wanna go get and I gotta

(02:20:45):
picked late and I always wanna provepeople wrong. You know I think prove
people people wrong all my life.I don't wanna keep doing that. What's
long to me? Which I guessmore just like you all put it in
like the set, you know,the community years you have ninety the first
nine. They difference from my firstyear, in my second year. So
now like now I'm like, alright, I know I can play. I

(02:21:05):
know I can go again into oneof the best, especially with Mats anybody
else that we want to play thisyear. And I know what I can
do. So all gotta do nowis ASHU meet my potential and should do
it and help everybody else out onthe team as well. You've practiced a
lot against Malcolm and he's really comeinto his own. What is it about
Malcolm that's helped him make that nextstep? There? Man, Malcolm,

(02:21:26):
he's quiet, he doesn't really saytoo much. He comes to the work
every day, do what he does, and he works hard. He doesn't
flit twice at anything. Yeah,he'll get mad over a co rest wells.
At the same time that like hehas a mentality of adult like he's
he don't really care what y'all thinkor anybody else thinks for real. So
it's just like, alright, justkeep going. That's how everybody is on

(02:21:46):
the team. About ty Raise gotthat same mindset. He does have the
same mindset, a little a littlenervous, but uh no, he nah.
He has definitely grown up a lotfrom his like universe your here until
now, like as he is hisneighborhood. M m. But he's he's
growing up a lot mentally too.I'll tell you, guys are reimagining the

(02:22:09):
offensive line a little bit with youout there right side the farm there next
to you on the on the onthat side too, and then drafting the
guys on the line here. Howexciting is that to be part of something
that's that's kind of being you know, having that trust but also being reinvented
a little bit. That's great,you know, But me and dealing those
like they gonna keep replacing us,of course, But all the same time,
we gotta keep going, you know, Kames really and think about what

(02:22:31):
they did. All we gotta dounderstand about what what came to do with
being better in Fortel as well.Sorry, don't put a lot on the
left side a little bit more.How how long are you guys working with
you? I'm one hundred percent now, And it was like a walk in
the park. It's like a sprainedankle. You know. It was very
easy, you know, because Ihad the knee. The knee was pretty

(02:22:52):
hard, you know, and theAchilles was I would say it's easy,
you know, just because that's justmy mentality, and it was. It
was pretty easy to be But youknow, I've had these injuries and it's
been storm like the past two years, you know, having haveing like good,
great games. The next thing,you know, hurt and then you

(02:23:13):
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 I'm gonna gonna takeoff now, you know, and there
will be no setbacks and the injuryprone thing will be gone out of the
window again. Yep, I'm sorry, You're gonna be back. I am.

(02:23:35):
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.
Check here waiting the injuries you've had. Does that just bad luck? Is
every Is there anything you've been attributeto beyond just misfortune? Yeah, it's

(02:23:58):
just unfortunate, you know. ButGod has 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's for me to be here.
You know. I had a greatrookie year. I didn't really have the
volume as other people my rookie year, but I still had a great rookie

(02:24:20):
year. Six yards of carry,you know, things like that. I
think it was like nine touchdowns tenincluding the playoffs. And so there's always
been like, all right, guy, lets me show my talent shine a
little bit. Like even when Ihad the knee. So I had the
knee, right, A lot ofpeople don't know, like I didn't get
hurt again. Whenever I got youknow, got cleaned up. So I

(02:24:41):
went down in twenty one, right, had the injury, the knee injury,
and then came back later the nextyear and I played the first few
games and it just feel there wasa lot of scars issue in there.
So I had to get it cleanedup. I didn't get hurt again.
I could have played the whole year, but I got it cleaned up so
I can feel like me. Andso after I got that cleaned up,

(02:25:01):
the first two games back from theinjury, I had over one hundred and
twenty yards rushing right, and thenwent on had great, great ending of
the year, you know, onehundred total yards in the playoff game we
lost, which I hate the most. Stays, don't marry me. I
want to win. But then comeback the next year hurt again like torn
achilles. So two really unfortunate injuries. But that's just God's plan, you

(02:25:26):
know. And I think that thestorm is now over, you know,
And I do think that I'll beable to shine my light to the whole
world. Are you concerned that youhave that label of you? Gay said?
I could care less because I do. I know this out there because
as as it should be, itshould be. I got hurt two major
injuries back or not back to backyears. But you know, so I

(02:25:50):
haven't been on the field as muchas I should. That's true, that
is true, But it's not likeI'm having these little little dinky injuries and
sitting out. It's something I can'tcontrol, literally, So that's why I'm
not bothered by it, Like,yeah, I am injury polle, you
could say that, you know,but I do think that the Chargers are
getting a guy that's gonna be healthyfrom now on, you know, God

(02:26:13):
willing, and it's gonna be great. And I do think that it's gonna
be It's gonna be a great However, many years here, when you've been
out on the field, you've beenhighly adopted five pointy years for very average
for your career. Like knowing thatwhen you're out there or you're very adopted,
how much confidence does that give youthat really all you need is is
not what you need all the confidencein the world, you know. The

(02:26:35):
way I work, I wouldn't sayjust from the numbers, but just the
way I work, my work ethic, you know, and my relationship with
Jesus is like I have the mostconfidence when I step out there because I
do know, like if he grantsme the health, it's over with.
I don't think i'll be you know, I think it will be a great

(02:26:56):
year or whatever a couple of years. However, many years grassed me great
health, you know. And Ithink just the work ethic, my prayer
and all that stuff that's what helpedme have that confidence with the numbers will
be there and they they might behigher after this year, you know what
I'm saying. And it's crazy tothink about because I had six or six
yards per carry, you know,so we'll see. You're looking forward to

(02:27:18):
the running behind this line that theyput together. Oh yeah, yeah,
yeah. I played with Bradley,I played with him. You know,
I know the Slater, I knowall the I know all the guys you
know, and I'm excited. Ithink it's like I said earlier, it's
a talented group. You know,we just got to put it together win
some games. Cause that's what Icame here for a year. Or I

(02:27:41):
wouldn't, I wouldn't say part ofthe recruitment, but like whenever I decided
I was gonna sign, it wasgreat to have him in the room.
What's your relationship, Yeah, we'regreat. We're we have a great relationship.
That's he's like my brother, SoI think compliment each other very well.
You know, he can do alot of stuff too. You know,
we got a lot of people thinkhe's just power, power, power,

(02:28:03):
but I think he has some otherparts of his game two which it'll
be great because I feel like Icould do everything, and when one get
tired, we can roll it in. We keep rolling win some games.
So when you the two of youget going, well, how do you
think that's gonna look for? What? Like? What will be that partnership
kind of back there? I knowthat's a hard question. How do I

(02:28:28):
think? I think it'll look beautiful. You know a lot of people call
this a passing league, but Ithink you gotta run the ball to win
the super Bowl. You know,if you look at the team to win
the super Bowl, they can runthe ball, they can control the clock,
and so if we're both good,it'll look great, beautiful. How
would you describe the record running offense? I would I would describe it as,

(02:28:50):
you know, a great offense.I think he gives a quarter he's
gonna give the quarterback a lot ofoptions. He's gonna give the running back
a lot of options. He's gonnagive the receiver a lot of options,
you know, and I think it'llbe I think it's gonna be great.
His offense is going to be amazing. When we talked to him, you
know, I was like, whythen he will build something good? Rushing
offenses throughout your career. You knoweverything you've been and you said that one

(02:29:15):
part of it is just you gota call place, You got a call
run place as a running back.You know, how much confidence, how
much second does it give you whenyou know you have to play all or
that's gonna stick with it and allowyou and the offensive line to get your
RESI gives me a lot of excitement. You know, it's gonna be Like
I said, it's fun to playin his offense, you know, And

(02:29:35):
I think he does have some goodthings in the past game too, But
like you said, he sticks withthe run, and that's that's the identity.
You You want an offense that hasan identity, right, you won't
be looking everywhere else to find youryour identity you want, you want to
have it, and so I thinkhis offense has that, and the guys
he builds and puts in there,it complements that identity. So I think

(02:29:56):
it's gonna be great. You're sowe full go for training, that'sation.
Look, I ain't gonna answer anyof the four if it's up to me.
Yes, Look, because I hadthis problem like three two years,
three years ago, I'm thinking I'mfull go. I think I'm ready to
go, and the next thing,you know, I'm on pup, like,

(02:30:18):
hey, look some stuff above myprey pay grade. So but I
don't know. Hopefully I can start. I think I'm ready to start,
you know, at the beginning oftraining camp. But that's not up to
me. As I've learned, I'lltell you how you feel. I wouldn't
say that. I think I've beenI've been in some great organizations and I

(02:30:39):
think this this organization is a greatorganization, and the training staff is great,
and so they just want what's bestfor me, you know, and
they're they're taking care of me,which that's what you want in an organization.
And so that's where that comes from, which I appreciate it, Like
I really appreciate that, you know, because I'm a type of I work

(02:31:00):
really hard, so maybe sometime I'mblind to, you know, the danger
of something, you know, SoI appreciate it. But like I said,
if it's up to me, yeah, I'm out there. But you
never know. With any frustration foryou during the heading into free agency,
you know, dealing with with rehaband not you know, having won a
full season tape or production to goout there was there any part of that

(02:31:22):
where you're like, gosh, youknow, had hit the open market with
a different situation. You know,Nah, I like it. I like,
how would I say this? Ilike it the hard way, but
not, you know, I likeit the hard way. I like it.

(02:31:43):
I like trial and tribulations. SoI mean the dice that I was
given the role was I was comingoff of our achilles, and that was
that was the lower's plan. Soit was beauty in that, Like I
was comfortable. I was caught likethere was multiple teams, you know,

(02:32:05):
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
is the Chargers, is going toget the best met you know. And
I think people all around the leagueknow that, like, Okay, this
guy, Okay, it's a highrisk, high reward type thing, right,

(02:32:28):
not even a high risk hi lowrice because you it's a business,
right, So I got hurt lastyear, so not as much money needs
to be throwing there. But Ithink everyone around the league knows that whenever
I am on the field, thenumbers don't lie, and so they know
that, and a lot of teamswere like, all right, here,
you can. We give you this, but we want you to be healthy.

(02:32:48):
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 regretit. Are you the type of
person that likes to people all likeyou bru for a couple things like the
high risk reward injury? But it'stwo cents I've heard. But me being

(02:33:09):
who I am, you know,I'm I'm I'm gonna throw my two cents
in there, you know. Sothat's just uh, it's been awesome,
man. We he's he's you know, a resource for me, just a
person that I can always bounce mythoughts off of. And now, you
know, just a year you said, thirteen months. Now I feel more
comfortable just you know, bringing certainthings up. You know, you never
you never wanna come off too strong. But I'm a curious guy. I
got a lot of questions. Ilike, I like football a lot.

(02:33:31):
I like to talk talk the games, so you know, come to find
out he's the exact same. Sowe uh, you know, we get
along well and and uh we're gonnakeep keep building that relationship. Sometimes in
this league, playing you know,eighteen games, they tryna make a twenty.
You know that's like it sound likea little a little fever dream to
be honest, But but uh,if we can find a way to k
you know, stay up right outthere and keep keep Aaron on his feet,

(02:33:52):
you know, I'm I'm excited forthat and uh everything that comes with
it. But uh but yeah,like I said, man, that's it's
it's harder said than uh or harderdone, and said I us, you
know, it's one of those things. It's like that's a lot of games,
you know, all of a sudden, take a lot of hits.
They take a lot of hits wherethey're not looking, and it's just how
can we keep him healthy? Yeah? Yeah, are you what do you
think? I do you ever seethe room now musitionans you guys have made
one more money healthy and everything like, yeah, you know, I'm excited

(02:34:16):
to see it at at full health. You know, we've i haven't got
to see all the all the guysout there at once and and you know,
it's one of those positions where everyday is something might happen to nick
up. You know, it's justa a tough position to stay out there
at all times. But I feellike we got a great group and and
the number one thing is how canwe stay healthy? How can we you
know, I'll be out on thefield. And I think having depth like
this and the group we have isgonna help us. Having guys that can

(02:34:39):
do different things, that can gocatch ball over the middle, all types
of things that it's gonna take someof the strain off off all of us.
You know, it's it's a goodgroup. So I'm excited to,
uh, you know, get outthere. I feel like we haven't had
the whole whole thing together. Butyou know, come season time, maroll
and it's gonna be exciting. Whatabout a guy's a your old number?
H Yeah yeah, ma, likeI oh a lot. He helped me

(02:35:01):
a lot, even felt like thefirst day, just trying to help me
get used to to write tackle.He got my feet used to write tackle.
Like my first day of practice.I'm like, dude, I still
feel he feel a little off.I don't feel as balanced in my stands,
and he showed me the small techniquething to do with my feet,
which I still do even even thoughI left tackle, just cause it's part

(02:35:22):
of my routine. That was partof my process and getting to my stands.
So stuff like that that he taughtme from day one and obviously in
practice was fun. Just compete withhim, you know, it's just to
meet at the back of the pocketand to dap each other back to every
rep like that was compete, youknow what I mean. So that's my
guy. As much as you lovehim on your the west side. How

(02:35:45):
bittersweet is it as a certain mattersbecause it would happened to him. Yeah,
that's the thing. That's not howit was definitely not how I n
in And that's how I thought aboutthe transition would go. You know,
I thought it would be you know, homeson timing and a cardinal so career
you know, you know you wantto play or forever, you know what
I mean. When I was talkingabout his plans, so you know,

(02:36:11):
you us transitions like one of thosefairytale like it's your time. But but
again, either way, you know, we talked about it. You know
that that's that's the how it goes, you know, but obviously you know
he sees he's He's been one ofmy bigges supporters. Again, I affect

(02:36:31):
everybody leads in their own way,you know, not everybody's the right guys
coming around like 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 Buhump did, like that's my like big vocal time.
I feel like I've talked Hump aboutthis, you know, just recently

(02:36:56):
talking about how what I want todo for the room is I want to
bring that Hump energy that he broughtright so last year, of course,
some traits were doing it for years, but the year when I spent with
him, he brought a lot ofthe energy and the excitement and the happiness
in the room was just his naturalenergy to where I only had to focus

(02:37:18):
on me, you know, Ididn't have to make sure other other guys
would, you know, feel sometype of way when they came in here
because Hump brought that. But outof Hump's not here, but I saw
what he did for the room.I want to be that guy to make
sure everyone's amp to go to practice, everybody's hype. Weren't taking the field
team one period. You know,it's a low day or something. You

(02:37:41):
know, it's a it's a butlike I want to make it feel like
like your parents the Tripper right now. I want to bring that because that's
what me and Hump did to eachother. People hpe each other up.
Dudes like dudes about to people walkedthrough and we're lit. So I want
to do that. I want tobring that energy. I want to make
bring more guys, you know,to do that. You know, I
want to do that from day one, you know, I kind of I
wanted to do that from day onefrom talking to him, and obviously it's

(02:38:09):
that time. I spend the offseason before OTA started just being in myself,
just thinking about what the room needs, you know, because I know
I new new role as one ofthe leaders, you know on my offense,
is that we need a guy likethat that's gonna make sure the old
line is picked up ready to go. Every day I was held accountable.

(02:38:33):
Little things are happening to practice,people aren't saying anything, and how I
may lead maybe different than somebody elsemay lead. You know, I like
the and practice at least like thelegal positivity, you know what I mean.
So, but he the energy yetwent beyond just the hype of the
deal line and start too. Sothat's kind of how I wanna be goal
in mine, literally my whole life. I want to be a NFL team

(02:38:58):
captain, like specifically the NFL.I wasn't a captain of high school,
wasn't a captain of college. ButI made a joke when I was in
high school. It's like there,I feel like I'm not gonna be a
captain til I get to the NFL. Yeah, but that would be awesome,
you know, but you know,if it happens, i'd be great.
But if not, either way,I wanna assume a role as a

(02:39:20):
captain from the respect of the guyson the team, the dual award today
and to get back to that way. Yeah, I mean, I can't
say that. I mean, Iguess the biggest thing is that I felt
like it has felt like how ityou used to in the past. But
it didn't take just the first dayOTAs. It took training left and right

(02:39:43):
once the season ended, cause Ididn't know what it was gonna be sure,
So it took a lot of yeahreps just to get back to feeling
like myself for day one OTAs andthen that whole first week. But now
like today specifically just changed some smallthings with my feet that I did say
talking about a line coach about somethings I can do with my feet to

(02:40:05):
get to that to sell on itthe traditional angle that I love to set
on. Felt even I thought Ifelt, I thought I felt great already
by moat, I felt even backof it. So I'm even more excited
tomorrow. Now I'm getting my feedbackto how I liked it the right side
and on the left side, andso I'm excited. I mean, obviously,
I feel like in the league,whether I left or right, you're

(02:40:26):
still going against premier guys. Soobviously you have high expectations for your left
hand or right tackle. But there'sdefinitely uh, like the the level of
energy and like the expectations, definitelytaking a human spect cause now connected the
black side, that's the that's thetackle roles, you know. So so

(02:40:48):
yeah, I would say in termsof communication as far as just even outside
of facilities, just stuff like that, like really creating that that tackle quarterback
bond even more off the field,I think has been something that's even done
cool. I got a text oneday, I said, Hey, like
you play left and I was like, yeah, you know, yeah,
I've been training both. I've beentraining both. You know. I asked

(02:41:11):
after the season. They're like,honestly, you know, we'll talk to
you still play in the season.And I just got a text me like,
depending what happens with with the freeagency then. So I was like,
you know what, I had awhole season right tackle. So if
I get the word I'm going I'mstanding right tackle, I don't do what
I did before. I'm built onthat bus. I was like, I
might as well just train the lefttackle now as if I'm going to be

(02:41:35):
left tackle. And I'd rather dothat than training on right time and get
the ko hey you're the left tackle. I'm like, oh, I didn't
even switch on my feet yet,you know what I mean. So I'm
like, let me just prepare inthe advance. I was like, yeah,
let's god. You know, Ithink occasionally i'm third down, there'd
be a lot of twists. Iwould just know like it's automatically coming.
And I think that was my mindsetfor like the first half of the season,

(02:41:56):
like I didn't have to go intoa game and with surprise like oh
my gosh, they did that.I kind of figured like, okay,
like this is this is the typeof rush mint again, this is how
this got usually rushes, but Iget the vibe, this is how the
end's like the rush. You know, tackles that are you know, first
year guys who got the premiere patchon. I already knew what it was
gonna be, already knew of everystunt, and honestly just knowing that it's

(02:42:20):
kind of an advantage too, soyou're not you're not you're not old.
They brought the twisted my side again. It was never an Aaron Donaldi.
You know, they're coming out themines like three plays in a row two
minutes. I knew that it wasgonna when it happened, So, you
know what I mean, I'm watchingmore than everybody else, and he rarely
Eveland goes out there on occasional thirddowns on the DN. I was like,
already know it's gonna be, He'sgonna pick me, you know what

(02:42:41):
I mean, So fact fact,it's kind of a It's also kind of
an advantage in a way, butit's also exciting, like Okay, I'm
gonna get the hardest look, youknow. So those are real, real
reps, you know, the bigSo really I'm not I really didn't kind
of process. I was like,hey, when they tell me to let

(02:43:03):
me know about I'm just gonna trainit. I was training all left,
so ta's I guess if I didn'thear anything about t's, I wouldy came
in like so you know what Imean, because just like I'm cool training
both continuing. I would have beencool training both continually. But I feel
like anybody, any position will belike okay, like you wanna as soon

(02:43:24):
as possible, give your feet kindof settled at your settled at your hands.
So then certain kind of what welllook at, say, well,
this guy only been on the fieldfor three years Westerkin, Tucky and Oregon.
Just because I didn't have the titleof a running back coach where I
was at the Memphis, I nevercarried myself that way. I was carrying

(02:43:46):
myself as a running back coach.I approach every day that way. So
at Memphis we had Darren Henderson,Patrick Taylor, Tony Poller, Kenny Gangwell,
Tonyo Gibson. I've seen out atthe backs and I've seen them be
able to function with one another.So I hear that all the time about
well, this ain't my first rodeo. Same thing out there in Oregon.

(02:44:07):
We Buckerevern Norwich and George James.You go look at their numbers. They
all functioned well together. We learnedhow to play as one. So this
ain't my first rodeo. So andplus I know those two kids because I
recruited them when they was in highschool. So I'm up for the challenge
and the responsibility of it all rightbehind them. Dann Hopeles Carlos, just
what is your kind of coaching philosophy? How do you get the best out

(02:44:30):
of your running backs? I getthe best out them because I love the
young men. My main focus isto change the hearts and minds of them,
and they'll play for me. Ihad just got through reading Coach Trestle's
Winners Manual, and it's some daythat I took from that book. You
have your purpose and you have yourgoals, all right, My purpose is
to serve and pour into the youngmen. Now my goals as a football

(02:44:52):
coach, all of them are takecare of themselves. So that's one of
the ways. I'm just real relationshipbased in a very detailed this position.
I know y'all heard me said before, and I'm gonna keep saying. This
is the worst coach position in football. It's terrible. Guys hire anybody to
coach his position and recruiters. CARLSLocker is not a recruiter. I'm an
elite relationship builder, but I coachedthis position. I'm a ball coach,

(02:45:16):
so that's who I am. SoI'm gonna pouring to these kids. I
think they kind of seeing it now. And I jumped in day one.
I'm ready to coach. And you'vephrased another soft batch cookies. Where did
that phrase come from? Kind ofwhat was pass boy? Let me tell
you about that boy. I've beencalled everything but the name the child of
God by the people at the otherplaces I left. So that I been

(02:45:37):
getting. Pillsbury needs to give mea deal because I've been getting I've been
getting some DM and texts of someof them have been so funny. The
saftbatch cookie thing came from just havinga frame of mind, a mental toughness.
It had nothing to do with guysgetting in the portal and anything.
Now, most people say I'm asaftbat's cookie for leaving there, but it

(02:45:58):
actually I'm not because it takes greatstrength to make a decision to leave a
place. No, a weak mindedperson wouldn't be able to make the decision
that I made, So it tookgreat strength to do that. So I'm
telling you ify literally in my DMS. It's some it's some great comedians out
here that have been sending me liketons of cookies out like it's funny.
Right behind him, Tony Urban,how have you going about the assessment of

(02:46:24):
the talent in the room? Uhover the past week or two? How
much is that on field off field? Like, what's the process of getting
to know who you have as players? Well, I broke down well me
being a guy that loves the runningback position, and I already broke those
kids down cause I recruited him outof high school. You know, Cue
is from where I'm from in Montgomery. I was one of the first guys

(02:46:46):
to offer him just watching him,great contact, balance, creative runner,
great hands and trey. I recruitedhim out of Virginia, exceptional short air,
your burst and quickness, and thingsthat I'm gonna help him get better
on. And then I recruited JamesPeoples out of t out of San Antonio,
Texas. I knew what he wasgonna what he was gonna be TC

(02:47:07):
and Sam. Those two kids,I'm getting to know and I'm gonna help
them improve that game. But wegot different runners in there. I like
to call myself, I'm in lovewith this position, so I get to
break down runners and help their game. So talented, talented room, very
talented, uh far back uh.Jeremy Birkingham Podcast coach, how do you

(02:47:28):
swear that that the soft past triokiesare actually the best cookies? The Philip
Britton nix and those are way betterthan the County chips and white therese with
Terman, I mean, do youdo you have to first find a balance
there or somewhere. Well, forme, I'm actually not eating any cookies.
Nah, I'm just saying I'm noteating any cookies this year. I
gave it up for a fast orno sweets for me for the whole year.

(02:47:52):
That something I gave up. Sothey the term the soft beast cookie
term. Look, guys, Iactually took that from I represent the high
school coaches of Myths Tennessee. Iactually took that from a guy named coach
Slocum. He used to always saythat soft best cooker. I actually stole
that from him. I give himcredit for it, and I tell him
all the time he said, youI should have branded that, cause you

(02:48:13):
DON'E took it and ran away withit. But that's just where that comes
from. So that that now wasstanding as you get to Ohio Stadium and
start to look around the country,any Oregon's a big place. That's a
that's a major job. Really,how how do you think that where your
oppositely the logo under Jack ran theblocko. When you get out out of
the living free and trail, howdoes that change the way that you feel

(02:48:35):
you're either received or or does itadd a different level to to just feeling
like I could go anywhere and getanybody in the comfy And that's the changest
thing for me. This is agreat place. Oregon was a great place
too. But guess what, whateverI put on, I know what I'm
going to represent for me. In I N I know who who put

(02:49:00):
me here? Uh? I knowI represented something higher, you know,
like I told you, I knowwhat my purpose is. My purpose is
to poorting the people. So whateverlogo I have on, I'm still gonna
be doing the same thing. Sothis is a great logo. Great logo
by wear another logo every day.It's across I see around my neck.
I know what I represent. Sothat's the greatest logo I could ever wear.

(02:49:20):
So it don't matter what other logoI have on. I got that
one on. I'm'a go into anyhouse and be a recruit. Uh uh
deep right, camera kick Robinson.The athletic from which you you mentioned the
time at Memphis and themis for andabout going back to you mentioned there who
you learned from that time that youthat you can take over to manage you

(02:49:41):
to grow up the kids. Whatdid I learned from now? I just
building a just teaching the kids.We live in such a selfish world now,
and I can tell the kids allthe times it's gotta be much more
to football. The ball gonna goflat one day. As I always say,
what being in that room there atMemphis is it wasn't for five teaching

(02:50:01):
them how to be about being one. I tell you the man all time.
It doesn't cost you anything to celebrateanother man's success, So teaching them
how to be one, and thenonce they learned to be one, they
function and they feed off one another. So that's what I learned from being
there at Memphis. Butman, roadbro started your career in law enforcement kind
of influence you as a coach andkind of shap where you are. Oh

(02:50:26):
well, I just got through talkingto somebody about that today. When I
first got in this profession and Igot my own room at Western Tech,
I was asked, No, howwas I was gonna be able to handle
them my room? I said,Man, I had a part with fifty
one inmates. You talking about mehaving got six or seven guys? Are

(02:50:46):
you kidding me? I'm talking aboutme having to do traffic stops or going
on domestic no violence calls. It'ssimple, easy, No, people don't
know what you care. Also knowyou gotta have a certain demeaning about yourself.
So when I walk into a room. It's the reason why I go
train every morning. This is oneof It's the same thing when I was
a police officer. You look acertain way kind of deter people from doing

(02:51:09):
certain things. So it's just whyI go train every morning. I'm gonna
look just as good as my boyslook, so U it helped out a
lot. In other words, uhfrom right Austin wore the podcast Carls Welcome
to Columbus. H What would itmean to I don't know, revolutionize the
way running backs or coach? Whatdoes that take? I ain't you know.

(02:51:33):
I'm not gonna say revolutionized. Justgood. It's some good running back
coaches out here. Everybody's different.It's some great coaches out here. I
just want to head guys who saythat on these jobs to not just hire
guys. Just know, all coacheson your steps should be great recruiters,
not just a running back coach.We coach a position. We developed players
as well. I just want thecoaches to realize, Hey, you know

(02:51:56):
what, let me look and bethorough about this guy that I'm hiring for
this job is teaching the position?Is he development the position? Because you're
not gonna hire anybody just coach quarterbacks, are you? Well? It shouldn't
be like that for the running backposition either. And I'm only passionate about
it cause I played it. Ilove it, so it's the only position
I want to coach. Could Icoach the other positions. Yeah, I
played dB in college too, butI loved the running back position, so

(02:52:18):
I just wanted to see it.Coach well ten May podcasts. Yeah,
a million questions. All that's acouple number one when you when you when
your wife whatever? You got themessage stuff? Or are we moving again?
What was? What was her reaction? Nah? She she just knew
guy had given us, gave usa new assignment. She w it was
never like we're moving again. Letme tell you guys something I grew up.

(02:52:39):
My mom was in the military,so I lived everywhere. I lived
in Panama of South America. I'mused to picking up and moving. I
lived in Fort Rodley, Kansas,Montgomery's home meph It was my second home.
So I'm i'm' used to moving now. My wife it was different for
her, but she just knew guythat gave us a new assignment. So
it's time to go. What diduh? What did coach they tell you
when you heard you that he wantsout of you. That may be different.

(02:53:03):
It's not slamming somebody else, Butwhat did he say he wanted you
to bring to the running back room. I think he did his research on
me. He said, he wantedthe guy to to develop the position.
That's not taking a shot at thecoach that was here who I'm friends with.
He said, they want somebody toreally get the guys going. I

(02:53:26):
can only be me, And Itold him that cause I'm gonna be me
every day now, cause see mymindset, this is when I step in
this building, I got one mindsetthat's to do my job so well that
the living dead or unborn can doit any better. So when I leave
it, that's what my mindset is. Hopefully I'm here for a long time,
but only God knows that. Sobut that's my mindset. Every day
I step into the Wizard Hate soenter, that's my mindset. I'm'a do my

(02:53:50):
job so well that living dead orI'm born couldn't do it any better.
So that's what my mindset is.S course, we got time for one
last question bill Ry Benowitt's Plumb's Dispatchus. First of all, is it
true that nobody calls you Carlos,neverone calls you lock that's the truth.
Yeah, I prefer to be calledlock Le And I would say that,

(02:54:11):
not him in particular, but Iwouldn't say everyone doesn't really know how to
handle it properly. You see itcurrently. I mean, it's just it's
a variable that's new and how tohandle it. There's not a transcript on
on how to handle that variable.So you just guys just trying to do
what they think is right. That'sall they're really trying to do. And
I'm not saying they're right or wrong. But he was trying to do the
same, and uh, you know, I think at the end of the

(02:54:33):
day he realized he made made thewrong decision and we connected on it,
we talked about it, and youknow, it was a great opportunity to
to to write or wrong. Anduh, obviously we're very glad he's here.
I've always believed in him. Webelieve in him, and he believes
in himself and that's part of thejust trying to understand what's my path,
right. So uh but yeah,it's been great. Steps have been made.

(02:54:56):
He's growing, but he's nowhere innew where he knows he's capable of
being and he's just probably impressive Ceremiah. I love the way he lives.
I love the way he approaches things. I love the way the questions he
asks. I love the way hemakes mistakes and then correct mistakes. It's

(02:55:18):
very veteran, Like, I mean, there's so much Ball he has to
learn. Like he literally does thingsthat are good. I'm like, do
you know what that worked? Hegoes coach, I have no freaking idea,
So like I'm trying to teach himall of that why it worked,
so then you know the consistency atwhich it works just goes to the roof.
And so but I'm very you know, excited and proud of the conversations
we're currently having, and I'm excitingfor them to keep going, like so

(02:55:43):
powerful you working with I love workingwith Chip Chip Is. I love talking
Ball. I love the viewpoints Ilove I love the veteran that he has,
you know, and I love nowlike I love all of it.

(02:56:03):
I think that you know, earlyon the biggest impact, you know,
just you know, feeling perspective.I think in the run game has been
awesome, you know, and thenyou know, off of the run game
some of the actions or or reliefthrows or all that kind of stuff.
I love where it's at. Ilove working with them, and I would

(02:56:31):
say that 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'snot just Chip and I so but you
know, obviously Chip has an imageand a view on things that I never

(02:56:52):
had. So to have that experienceand have that viewpoint, I'm just trying
to absorb as much as i can, but then also highlight some things that
we've really done a good job ofand make sure those you know, nothing's
really changing, We're just trying toenhance. We're not changing, we're enhancing.
So where the things fit is perfect. You know, I think,
uh, you know, the restof the dynamics of search Chip can talk

(02:57:15):
about. But it's been it's beenawesome, so I'm excited about it.
We talked to a mecha. You'retalking about moving from slot to the house
side. You know how good he'sbeen in the slot. Is that a
difficult move for you guys just coachesto know how good a guy is in
one spot, but know that maybefor his long term future and the no,

(02:57:35):
I wouldn't say it's anything on hisfuture, because he's capable of doing
whatever you want to get done.But I'd say that it says more about
the room. I think it's it'sthe growth of you know, Brandon and
the growth grow of Bryson. That'sreally you know, allowing my mind to
say, hey, Mech, beprepared. You're gonna move around a lot.
You're gonna come out of that slot, You're gonna be outside. We're

(02:57:56):
gonna create mismatches out there. Imean, his ability to move around,
it's critical. But I would saybetween Mech and between Carnell Tast's ability to
move around a lot, it's gonnaprovide a lot of flexibility for our room.
And uh and those top you know, six seven guys that are really
doing a good job right now.Progress this spring for like a because yeah,
there's no time. It's one ofthose things, I'm true when you
has balanced how much work does aneed versus much? Yeah, heavy,

(02:58:20):
heavy emphasis on what work he needs, you know, versus anything else.
Uh. I rely on him.We have great dialogue back and forth.
It's a two way to it's atwo way conversation and uh, frankly,
there's gonna be times we're like,hey, Mech, what do you wanna
do today? You wanna go outsideand you want go inside? And I
don't care. So, uh,we're not there yet. We will be
there, but it's just more about, you know, when the room is

(02:58:41):
ready to start mixing things up.Yeah, I would say there's got I
mean, I make sure I'm bringingguys that are able to do all,

(02:59:03):
but I have not asked them toyet. So the only guys that in
our room currently I've asked to dothat has been Mecca and Carnell, And
those are probably the two guys thatI would, you know, think heavily
on doing moving around a lot.I'm not putting that on anybody else right
now. I'm not saying they can't, but at this point, having two
guys being able to swing, youprobably don't need much more than that.

(02:59:24):
I need guys being experts at whatthey're good at, so it it helps
the offense still be great at everythingand be an expert at something, and
we can use that to our advantagethis ye, like maybe guys who were
more situational little bit. The room'salways different, frankly, I mean from
twenty eighteen and then nineteen and throughCOVID and and those guys, and and

(02:59:48):
then the depth of those guys andthen where Mech and Marvin and those guys
were as freshmen compared to you know, It's just it's always different, and
uh, I expect this one tobe different again, I'm not sure at
what level yet, Rynch. Lastquestion r relationship between the TV room and
your rest room, especially you know, the back of the boards. I'm
curious, Yeah, TV as aleader just like you you know, played

(03:00:09):
at Ohio s game tis Intel extreams. I'm curious about how you've seen Tim
kind of build a different mart backroom, especially on a recruit Troy Material
hasn't maybe kind of the effective yourrecruit, how that's kind of been aginst
He would probably know more for thatquestion than I would, but I would
say that, Yeah, we obviouslyfeed off each other, right, I

(03:00:30):
mean, there really is a teamsport, and we can't do it without
them, and they can't do itwithout us, and we can't do it
without the quarterback and we can't doit without the old line. So moving
all the way through ten years inthis league, so excited to see what
he's got. How old did youknow Sorts and when he was assistant here
and I've gotten to know him alot better. With's a relationship, maybe

(03:00:50):
right now. I know him prettywell. He was always just a good
dude around the facility. He didour ball meetings, so he's good in
front of a a group. He'sa good leader. He knows the scheme
really well, which is good.I was happy to see him promoted.
He called me in the offseason,we talked. I just congratulated him,

(03:01:13):
and I think he's gonna bring somethingsimilar to what we had with the Miko.
It'll be good. Do you knowBrandon Stanley well at all? I
mean, I was a Joey platform. I don't know too much about him.
I've obviously heard from my brother,but I don't even think i've said
high yet. I haven't ran intohim yet, but I'm sure i'll get
to know him. When you sayit looks similar to to Miko, the

(03:01:35):
energy or the system, maybe alittle different energy, but I think just
knowing the system from the front tothe back, I think he knows how
it ties in. And he's beenaround with some really good coaches, so
I think it'll be pretty pretty seamless, and I think we'll be firing on

(03:01:58):
all cylinders. You're three months removedfrom the super Bowl now, so how
have you I guess digested it,and I guess physically everything good to go.
Yeah, I feel really good.I think it's been one of my
better off seasons of just kind ofIt was a long year, so I
took it nice and slow to getback into it. Not as young as

(03:02:20):
I once was, so I'm takinga little a little slower, but everything's
great. I'm feeling as good asI felt. I'm excited to actually get
some practice in. Last year waskind of tough, getting thrown in week
one after I walked through, sothat was another reason I'm excited to be

(03:02:41):
here is just to get practicing alittle bit in season. Practice is one
thing, but actually being able towork your stuff and not have a game
coming up is good. With thesuper Bowl unfortunately, I know how to
bounce back from tough losses, soit was rough for a little bit.
But it's just annoying when people bringit up. Since the last season,

(03:03:07):
we've seen a Rock on TV commercialsand on the stage with Kluke Coombs and
throwing out the first pitch of theGiants game. But he seems like a
guy that's totally unaffected by celebrity,which he has now. But what have
you noticed in his leadership style andthe way he carries himself any difference at
all. I think he's definitely gettinga little more vocal within the building.
And uh yeah, I mean Idon't think he's ever gonna change. I

(03:03:33):
don't think he's somebody that's gonna changeeven when he gets paid next year.
So he's he's a man of faithand he kind of reminds me of Scottie
Scheffler, but except for just superhumble and really good kid. And yeah,

(03:03:54):
he's definitely famous. No shuffler,I don't just from watching Armstead get
released obviously meant so much to thedefensive line into the team. I mean,
Colin John were pretty open that theywere willing to talk about trading Deebo

(03:04:15):
or are you at youraft? Doesthat just another what's that feel like in
the locker room when those sort ofjoels happened. I didn't even know that
happened and I wasn't here, butyou're talking about this offseason Armstea in alarm
Er be released, so that's certainlyone thing. Yeah, it's a tough

(03:04:37):
business, for sure. You haveto have thick skin and I haven't gone
through that, but I think youjust have to understand that it is a
business and the team's going to tryand get as good as it possibly can
with or without you, and youhave to look out for yourself. That's
why you go through holdouts and docertain things that seem so elfish in the

(03:05:00):
moment, but it is what itis, and when everything's settled, we're
gonna come together as a team andtry and go get one. And what's
the overall feeling around the group rightnow? Like, how much does it
feel like the excitement of the rampup to the season, Even though it's
early, it feels good. It'sbeen a couple of days for me,
so I like all the new guys. I'm getting to know everybody, But

(03:05:24):
I think the past is in thepast and we're ready to go. Do
you talk to me? You talkedto beat all about handling the business part
of this. He's going through somethingsimilar. We chat a little bit,
but not too much about the details. I just told him keep his head
up and try and stay positive throughit all. Over your first impressions when
you heard what your schedule would bein that Aaron Rodgers's first up, It'll

(03:05:48):
be fun. Yeah, it's gonnabe gonna be a good one kind of
alluded to this for the fact thatlast year you had to have that about
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

(03:06:09):
the motivation for being here early,just to have the opposite one? M
No, I don't think that's oneof the reasons. But I just talked
to Kyle and he kind of askedme, h, 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

(03:06:33):
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 positivejokers. Brother, Oh no, he's

(03:07:03):
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, share about reasons that
you are not here. Doesn't feeldifferent. Yeah, you know, it's

(03:07:33):
not like these last eight years havecome in and thought we were going to
lose or have have a bad year. I felt like every year when I
tell you things are feeling good andI feel optimistic, it wasn't a lie.
But yeah, I think things areare definitely, like I said,
trending in the right direction. Everybody'son the details. I'm sure it's a

(03:07:54):
word that you've heard a million times, so yeah, I think it just
feels like, uh, it feelslike coach is leading the team the way
it should be led. It hasa feel of being back in college,
you know, with with coach ierberMeyer, and you know, the message
is sent from the top and itdoesn't get mixed up as it's moving down

(03:08:18):
the ladder. It's boom. Thisis how we're doing things, and everybody's
following that. And I think it'simpressive the details that everybody have been on,
has has been on the effort andjust the competitiveness that that's been going
on over the last few weeks.Yeah, it's it's it's been great.

(03:08:39):
How much do you appreciate that thestop just described the way jims we shouldn't
eat in the messaging doesn't eat mixedup. Why do you appreciate that sooner?
I mean it's I guess it's easyto appreciate when you kind of see
it working and you see guys improving, getting better, or I just think

(03:09:01):
the details are really important. Youcan pretend that leaving your shoes a mess
or your locker a mess isn't abig deal, and what matters is playing
football. But I think all thosetiny details and things kind of add up
and leak into the important stuff,like what you're doing on the field.

(03:09:22):
So if you can have your toebehind the line, or have your locker
and order and all these things,they kind of stack up into performing well
and and playing well when things count. So you know, I appreciate that.
It's it also hasn't been a fightwith the guys in the locker room.
They buy in, and you know, it's a lot of young guys,

(03:09:43):
and I think they're hungry to learn, hungry to compete and win.
You know, it's just an example, whether it's we talked about first day,
you have your shoe, if youcould, if you could spend the
time on these small things when nobody'swatching. I think, like I was
saying, it seems like it mightnot add up too much, but I
think in the long term it does, and it leaks into other things,

(03:10:07):
whether you're doing your right assignment onthe field, being late to meetings or
all these things. If you holda standard and you stay to that standard,
I think it benefits you long term. It's been like work with Ben
Herbert, who has there been anythingin his training program we're working with you

(03:10:28):
that you feel will benefit you later. Yeah, yeah, definitely. He's
been great. He's a no nonsensekind of guy, but he's not an
old school in the sense that he'sbringing his way of doing things and that's
the only way to do things.He understands that guys have been in the
business for a long time, Khalilme and we have a way of doing

(03:10:48):
things, and all he wants todo is add to that and help you
get better and perform the best youcan. 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, a great

(03:11:09):
addition to stuff that I may maydo on 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 beneficialhe's been to the team so far.
So obviously, staying healthy is isa huge factor to anybody's success. I'd

(03:11:31):
say it's plagued us a little bitfor a while. So yeah, I
think he's he's definitely incredibly beneficial.When are you fully recrvered, I know
at the end of last season youmight have been able to Yeah, No,
I was not ready to go lastyear. No, tried practicing,
tried coming back, and uh itwas it was not good, but yeah

(03:11:58):
it was Unfortunately, the year wasn'tgoing great and it just was unnecessary risk
for I mean, my foot couldhave had some real real issues if I
came back too early. So yeah, it's been. It's been. It's
been a great off season. Myfoot's feeling great, toes good, hamstrings
good. I mean, there wasa list of things last year in my
hand, so all those things aregood. Gout surgery on my finger.

(03:12:24):
So that's feeling good. Yeah,it's it's nice to be feeling better going
into year nine than you have sincemaybe five six years ago, which I've
said, I've said I've been feelinggreat last couple of years. I'm telling
you it's a real deal this time. But obviously anything can happen. But
I just feel it's fun feeling reallyconfident in your body and being able to

(03:12:48):
perform. So I could just goout during practice and you know, go
balls to the wall and do everythingthat I feel like I need to to
be able to prepare. It's fun. My brother and whoever I trained with
my trainer Todd back home, Ithink they'd be really proud of how I've
been working this offseason, and it'sjust exciting. Pointing was the injuries.

(03:13:13):
I remember the Green Big Game.You kind of yeah, it was a
bit of a build up, alittle bit of an overreaction, but you
know, it's just tough. Itcomes sometimes like that, and I just
felt felt really defeated coming back.Had a broken hand. I'm like,
oh, yeah, I get toplay boom for a serious foot. Pops

(03:13:35):
thought I'd have to get surgery andall these thoughts flooded through my head.
Broke down a bit, and yeah, it just hurts. You know,
you're losing, you're getting injured.You've felt like you prepared really well in
the off season, and then theyear before you had growing surgery, so
you know, a lot of thingsbuild up. Yeah, you don't get

(03:13:56):
a break if you're injured. Everybodywants to go on. Fans are very
nice, but no, I justI'm grateful that I feel this way.
I'm still still nicey Ripe twenty eight, so not too old yet, but
yeah, I'm just excited. Ican't remember what the original question was.

(03:14:18):
At this point, you get somethingabout my body. How close you and
Gift were. How frustrating was itthat you couldn't you know soon for one
of those last three games. Itwas frustrating, but I mean Gift was
had my back the whole way,I think for Gift, for any but

(03:14:43):
for the whole team, just toshow what it means to me. It
would have been important for me tobe out there, but I literally couldn't.
I tried to practice, injured myfootworse the very first play I was
and in practice, so no chancethat was happening unless I wanted to throw
my next season away as well.But no, I'm just I'm proud of

(03:15:05):
him for what he did with theteam, how he handled it, and
I need to call him back.Actually sorry, I give Yeah, I'm
happy he gets to stay close bywith the with the Rams and uh,
I'm just proud of all we accomplishedhere together over the years and and we'll
be close for the rest of ourlives. Was the footage, it was

(03:15:26):
this guy a foot sprang. Yeah, I sprained one area of my foot.
Then when I tried to return andI sprained another area. Was able
to avoid getting surgery, which iskind of the main goal, But yeah,
it was. It was tough whenit comes to the addition of but
Dupree, when he felt like he'skind of brought to the to the room

(03:15:48):
and could bring on the field.Yeah, it's when I heard we got
my brother some I don't know,maybe my brother told me. I'm like,
really, we just got Bud Likethat's no, that's no small pickup.
He's a seriously elite pass rusher hashad some trouble with injuries as well,
so I understand how that is,but not only him as a player,

(03:16:11):
but as a personality. I heardKhalil just saying he's he's a fun
guy. He's a funny guy,and to have that in the room another
vet is always a great addition.But I'm just excited to have him in
Tulle and to be able to rotatelike that and not drop off at all
when we come off the field ishuge. And Map two, he's going
into a second year. Just whatdo you what are you kind of what

(03:16:31):
are some of the maturity maturity areasyou've said from him? You know,
I'm gonna say not much, Andthat's a compliment because he was already mature
in those areas. I mean,he's on it everything playbook wise, always
doing his job, working hard,just refining his technique and pass rush.

(03:16:54):
I mean, we don't have thepads on right now, so the real
work will will begin, you know, and six weeks now. So but
yeah, I love Julie. I'veloved him since the first days he's walked
into the facility and I know he'sjust gonna continue to get better. You
think of the addition of Joe Old, Yeah, yeah, I'm gonna need
to beat him up a little bitin camp. So he's so he's ready,

(03:17:16):
But no, I think anything toprotect our number ten is a good,
good investment. So he seems likea real solid dude. Haven't talked
to him too much. Great build, seems like he has good hands,
good feet, strong. We'll see. We'll see in a few weeks when
I lay a helmet in his chin, how he holds up. But it'll

(03:17:41):
I'll take it easy on him.No, Rashawn's a beast. Did you
know Coach Harbond before he came here? And if you did, just what
were those first couple of conversations likethat? Yeah, probably have crossed paths
with him. Maybe maybe not.Actually I think what was it his first

(03:18:03):
year when I was a junior?So he kicked his ass as usual?
Mitt Ohio State. No, No, they just want a championship, so
I'd say they probably have the braggingrights right now. I'm like the guy
talking about his old high school.Oh I remember we used to kicks.
No but no, yeah, no, the rivalry is dead. I was

(03:18:28):
just saying this morning, you know, nine years and kind of forget about
that. I'm not a great alumni. Sorry, sorry coach, But no,
that's great. That's what's great aboutthe NFL is you just have guys
from all backgrounds. You could hatetheir guts one one year, and then
you come on the same team andyour brothers and you're all working towards one
goal together. So our first talktogether was great. I just sat down

(03:18:50):
with them, went up into hisoffice and chopped it up about life mainly
and his opportunity here and how muchit means to him. Uh. Yeah,
I think he's a special guy.I think he's the way he conducts
himself. He's an interesting cat forsure, and I'm still still feeling him
out. But one thing you can'tdenies that he loves football and his main

(03:19:13):
goal is to win football games.And that's what we need. When you
see him working out with you guysand and pushing his lives and doing all
this stuff, just how interesting isthat to see him. Yeah, I
mean he was a he was agreat player himself, and I think he's
always been, you know, builtlike that lack of a better term.
But yeah, he's uh, he'spart of the guys. You know,

(03:19:37):
he's not this guy outside looking in. He he really I mean he voiced
that to me. Is that hisfavorite part of all of it is being
with the guys and and the connectionshe makes. So Yeah, to to
see a guy like that come inand embrace it all and kind of be
part of it himself is important.Your initial impressions of coachman turn the defensive.

(03:20:00):
Yeah, it's funny to go fromold Gift, old Gift to this
little young guy who's my age.I wouldn't want to get thrown into a
room with me and khalilis his age. But no, he's been great.
I love messing with him a littlebit. We little sarcasm back and forth,
but no, he's great. He'suh, very talks very fast and

(03:20:26):
I don't as you know, sosometimes I got to be like, slow
down, coach, come on.But no, he's great. I'm excited,
you know, to get closer asthe years. As the year goes
on, and I think he hashe has a lot of passion for the
position and all he wants to dois learn and and help us to improve.

(03:20:46):
So I'm excited about him and meand I do miss Gift. Obviously,
it was a long time with him, but I am excited to have
a new face and kind of havethat challenge for me. Worked much with
with Jesse's dad, since I knowhe coached linebackers in Michigan. Did you
ask about Jesse? Did you askabout doing? Okay, you asked about

(03:21:09):
Jesse. Oh my god, Iwas talking about freaking doing the whole time.
You guys are so confused. No, sorry, I thought were I
thought I was. I thought youmentioned coach Ronie. No, no,
coach Mentor has been great as well. Yeah, they've both been great.
Sorry, run that back. No, he's been good. Uh yeah,

(03:21:31):
very knowledgeable guy. Same thing.I'm excited to get to know him more
as the year goes on. Haveyou worked Have you worked much during Rick
Jesse d Yeah, Uh no Ihave not. I don't know if I've
said one word to him, butmore words to come down the road,

(03:21:52):
Like you said, you've been inyears since twenty sixteen. Just what are
some of this stuff? You justramble about the wrong guy for fifteen minutes
walking what? Yeah? What thehecks like? Actually that's literally not the

(03:22:15):
person. Yeah, I figured out. What's something that you you worked undering
the off season? Something to improveyour game or is there something that you
can Usually my answer is pretty consistentthat I just continue to try to prepare
myself physically, whether that's my sprintwork or agility work and my lifting,

(03:22:41):
but yeah, just to get everythingfeeling great. I dealt with those injuries,
so I had to kind of rampit up with my finger and foot
and all those things. But nowI'm I'm full full speed out there,
and I'm just going to continue todo what I know will prepare me for
the season. And uh, Iknow I'm gonna get plenty of technique work

(03:23:05):
and position work when I'm out here. So for now, I'm gonna spend
these five weeks really getting h preparingmy body's workouts. Competitive again another year
competitive ates with you and all thatstuff. Yeah, yeah, it's usually
too hot out there for much competition. We're just trying to survive. So
but yeah, it's always it's ait's a silent competition between between each other,

(03:23:31):
be like peeking, He's like whatwas his time? Was his time?
But no, yeah, it's always. You can never have an off
day when when you're out there andhe's he's warming up like a beat,
like a freaking robot every day outthere, so there's no there's no off
days. Have you you and himtalked at all about I mean, I
mean just when you were having acontract in do you have a guy E

(03:23:54):
to talk about pay system, teammates, environment, city, all those kind
of just like play into it.Besides just the money thing. I know,
financials always play a big role,and I kind of steer you into
the direction you want to go.But everything kind of plays into it.
And how much did you reach outto Shelby Drew, knowing some of the
guys you knew the played here lastyear to get a sense for what what

(03:24:16):
Seattle might offer you. I mean, not much right now, I'll talk
to I'll talk to Shelby a littlebit about it. Mainly no one.
Drew just congratulate me, Bob.Did you come together pretty quickly? I
know you kind of came your agreementon that first Monday, and everything with

(03:24:37):
Seattle that all come together really faster. Now, it was a long day.
Seattle came in almost out of nowhere. We had like a good set
of teams that we were talking tojust trying to find like finalize what was
going on, what was the termis going to be, you know,
and Seattle came in hot. Theyshowed a lot of interest and uh,
they kind of just motivated me tocome here more and more. And how

(03:24:58):
similar will you be, you knowin terms of playing in Denver. I
don't know that yet. I kindof just mentioned previously. I don't know
my role. I don't know theins and out yet. Once we'll get
NO through the protocols and nfl PA, we'll we'll talk about no, the
schemes and everything. Right. Uh, so welcome. When you were in

(03:25:20):
Denver in the three four, wheredid you find yourself most comfortable and most
effective role? I played a lotof different positions in uh Denver. I
mean earlier in my year, Iplayed zero, I played three, two
one. I mean, I'm definitelymore comfortable in a shaded position, mainly
being a three technique and five technique. That's why I found myself to be
more comfortable whether I'm standing up orI'm not, whether it's runner or pass.

(03:25:43):
Uh, those seem to be mybest my best fits. And what
is your impression of Pete Carroll's defenseand whole environment set Uh from afar it
seems like he uh, he holdsin our defense a lot. Uh.
I can't really say too much aboutthat. Yeah, I don't know Pete
Carroll very little. So uh,I'm just trying to figure out more and

(03:26:03):
I'll give you a better answer later. What's some reputation around the league out
of the sea? Uh, youknow, hard nose, hard had type
of team, definitely on a littlemore lack side as opposed to being stuck
up or military style, and whichis definitely good because then they this program
is one a lot of football gameshave been super successful for many years,

(03:26:24):
as long as I've been alive,as long as I've been watching football,
and definitely this has been a goodprogram. And Pete Carroll has been a
hell of a coach for as longas I remember, even back in his
college days. So I'm looking forwardto experiencing that. Boyle. Yeah,
I know you said you don't knowyet, you know what your role,
but just what what kind of playerswho haven't watched time of Denver? What

(03:26:46):
kind of player? Definitely a highmotor, Definitely not a one trick pony
type of player. I like toattack, you know, whether it's a
first or first through fourth down,I like to attack. I'm always trying
to apply pressure. I'm definitely justa high mortar guy in my opinion,
Brady are the Brady Henderson from ESPN. Nice to meet you. Yeah,

(03:27:11):
this is not a team that reallymakes big splash signings in free agency.
Did you think going into it theSeattle would be in play. Uh No,
not at all. Uh. Youyou just it's kind of like being
a cure at the County Store.You know. I've got a whole bunch
of different options coming at you,uh hearing, a whole bunch of different
crazy things, and uh, youknow, you only get to choose one.
And this is the place that thatwe both chose each other. And

(03:27:33):
I mean, I'm loving Seattle sofar. You know, I like these
colors for real, for real.What what have you got to do with
Seattle or see since you've been there? Not much? Uh, just kind
of just drive around the city exploring, uh, getting down to the market
a little bit. I want toget down of the Ferris will do some
more like touristy type of things.You know, I'm new to the city
and I got a lot to learnabout the city. Larry. Yeah,

(03:27:56):
there's been a lot of comparisons withyou to Michael Bennett. I was wondering
if you know Michael Bennett at all, and you think those are accurate.
I know Michael Berr Ben like nothing. I know nothing about it but besides
his style of play, but I'mhonored to be considered in the same conversation
as him and style of play.You know, He's a Hall of Fame
type of deep lineman that I've knownabout since I was a kid. I

(03:28:16):
mean, last time he played here, I was in high school. So
you know, it's cool to itkind of came full circle a little bit
watching him on TV and now I'mbeing kind of compared to him in the
way, you know. I mean, I'm not touching the surface of Michael
Bennett. You know, he's aHall of Famer and I'm not there yet,
So you know, I just gotto keep doing my due diligence to
be a better player. Carn Hey, Dreamont, welcome to Seattle. I

(03:28:41):
know you get to play several seasonsfor VIC Fangio and three four style defense
and Seattle's playing a similar system nowdating back to last year as a defensive
lineman, what do you think ismost important to be successful in that system?
Maybe fundamentals or just playing style tobe successful. Just what I learned,
Being gap sound and being patient hasalways been the biggest thing, and

(03:29:03):
that's how we've been successful when Iwas in Denver, just kind of like
relying on each other. I knowthat sounds kind of cliche, but like
it's kind of like the the realmof being in the three four defense.
You got to really really rely onthe guys behind you and the guys on
the side of you to really maketheir to do their job to make your
job easier. Yeah. Uh,your you didn't start playing football, so

(03:29:31):
you were junior in high school andlargely played basketball. So then that's what
made I guess decided to go playfootball then away from basketball. No,
No, I've always loved football first. Uh, it was just kind of
just playing it out. You know. I love the who but you know,
football was definitely my calling given Iwas a two hundred and sixty five
pounds power forward and I was likesix streaes and change, So you know,

(03:29:52):
I kind of chose the route thatGod gave me. No, I'm
not six eight. Yeah, Vermond, welcome to Seattle, and you've been
quoted looking at a couple of artthings that you player, and can you
just talk a little bit about thatdefinite role that just sid of the uses

(03:30:13):
you always kind of counted out forus came through. Can you elaborate more
than that? Just from a standpoint, like I always get like over overshadowed,
overlooked, whether it's a in something, you know what I'm saying,
Like, I feel like I doa lot more than what can be seen
by the eyes of the inexperienced.You know, Scout and I do a

(03:30:35):
lot of different dynamic things that helpmake play for others. You know,
I'm definitely an active player. I'malways doing something, whether in a runner
pass game, so you know,I think that goes on oothers sometimes and
I'm looking forward to putting people onnotice. Thanks Brady. What uh what
do you like to do outside offootball? Uh? Big gamer? I'm

(03:30:56):
definitely I've been getting to a lotof chests lately, so uh, just
to expand my brain. Uh.I try to get into reading, but
if it's not sports plated, Id I I'm really not interested in reading
that much. But uh, mainlyjust video gaming and chest. And then
when we write and say your name, do you prefer your grandma? Uh?
I mean you could say you cansay Draymond Jones. I mean,

(03:31:16):
but like just I fel like personally, just call me Drey cause easy cause
people like to f my name upa lot, like a lot they call
me Draymond TA. I don't know, Like what do you think some of
that I'll be able to bring outof out of your game as you keep
trying to you know, just beingmore explosive. Uh, probably more yards
for catch. Uh with the uhspace that he's putting us into. Uh,

(03:31:37):
the more yard, more yards haveto catch, more EXPOSI to pick
more exposed to play. So forfor me, not just only me,
but she and uh ak and tastehim. So I'm excited to to be
able, uh, to be inthe system. If I assume you you
think you guys can be a lotmore explosive than than your eye in the
last couple of years. Oh yeah, of course. Uh. It brings
to a lot of different things,you know what I'm saying the playbook,

(03:31:58):
but just accountability. Uh, Ifeel like that's gonna lead us to success.
They said the language is a littlea little shorters it. Have you
found that the language that you guysuse. Is it about the same or
is it a little It's kind ofthe same. Really, it's a long
long plays, but it's more understandingfor sure. I feel like you can
get to that more understanding plays andUh, I feel like that's that's the

(03:32:20):
difference. Hater 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 and 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
to like zero with everybody, it'sjust a little bit easier to kind of
get everybody on the same Yeah,I feel like it's way easier. Like

(03:32:41):
you said, it was kind ofmore of a Drew Brees style the last
playbook, So all credit to themthough they built that around him, around
his players. But like I said, it's more, Uh, this playbook
is more for uh matchups, andI feel like it's gonna be better for
us. How do you think it'sgonna really take advantage of just your sex?

(03:33:01):
Uh? Just building around the strengthsthat I have. You know what
I'm saying, things that I cando and things that she can do,
Uh, things that our players cando is kind of focus on what we
can do and and building on that. Uh. I feel like it's playing
to the player strengths. So Ifeel like it's gonna help us a lot
has been around the way this offensewill have a lot more speed. And

(03:33:22):
how has that transition event so far? I mean, like I said,
it's building around the players strengths.So of course we got speed uh uh
with me or uh she and atireceiver, so uh, just building around
that. Uh. Like I said, playing to our strengths and be able
to capitalize off that. Feel likeit's gonna help us a lot most of
like the up tempo astract and youknow, getting a lot of plays in
a less time. Oh yeah,yeah, yeah, yeah, that's that's

(03:33:43):
definitely gonna play a big difference.Like I said, coming from the West
Coast, Uh, they bringing thatstand for an offense here, So I'm
excited to be be able to bea part of that. Do you personally,
what what's uh what's the NEX novellook like for you? What do
you where you trying to accomplish this? Yere? Uh? Just staying consistent,
man, a couple ups and downslast year, just building off that.
It's always you always gonna work onthe physical part, but being able

(03:34:05):
to bounce back after a bad gamethe mental mental aspect, Uh, just
learning learned that last year and beable to build on that this year is
a huge part. You know withMike Gon, do you take it upon
yourself to kind of be that voicein the room or to take a step
forward even further as Uh, Imean it's not really. I mean everybody

(03:34:26):
kind of grown in the NFL,so it's just on you to be able
to have that standard. Like Isaid, I just try to do that
lead by example. I'm not reallyoutspoken, but just lead by example,
working hard, trying to dominate everyrep and hopefully they follow after that yards
after the catch? Is that youfeel like that's the strength of yours that

(03:34:48):
maybe wasn't utilize I don't know ifutilizes the right word, but you could
show more. Yeah, it's offensethat is built around that, uh,
just catching the ball in space,catching the ball over the middle or even
on the outside, uh with withspace and separation. Feel like it's built
around having yards have to catch.So I'm definitely proud to be in the

(03:35:09):
system, like I said, andI'm excited, But is that is that
a mindset too, like being goodat yards after the catch, Like,
oh yeah, I mean, ofcourse. I mean you don't want to
get tackled by the first person.And my mindset is trying to take every
take everything to the house, youknow, every touch. So uh,
I definitely got to do that moreand definitely try to work on that and
practice keep thee great dude man,Uh some some that I definitely needed.

(03:35:37):
Some that he relates to me.Uh, just from backgrounds and uh he's
a great coach, great leader,Uh, motivational and uh. Like I
said, I'm excited to have himaround and for him to push me is
everything that I need. So you'retalking about like mentally bouncing back, you
know from tough performances or whatever,Like, did you like try to find
your resources going to help you figureout how to do that? Oh yeah,

(03:36:00):
I mean it's older guys that uhtell me, Uh that's natural,
just have bad games, but uh, just having the standard that I have
for myself and the expectations I havefor myself gets hard sometimes. So just
be able to be hard on yourselfbut at the same time just let it
go and just bounce back for thenext game. Is something that I learned
last year. You one of thoseguys that feels like you should always have

(03:36:24):
a certain level of production. Areyou okay with those certain games where the
defense is so focused on you thatother guys have big games and we were
just running good routes and the Uhyeah, I definitely was like that early
in my career, especially in college. Uh, but I found out it's
just about winning really, just tryingif you are a number one guys,

(03:36:46):
to bring that attention to you soother guys can get open. It's gonna
be games like that. Uh,but as long as we win. In
take Back with you, guys movesit life to go from the camera of
emotions from hearing about it to nowit's over in your back yud there.
It's amazing. You know, it'ss just a testament to him and you
know, one of the god weserve. And then two, uh,

(03:37:09):
just the work that he's put in. You know, he's been uh you
know, he came back before itwas even schedule. He can get cleared.
And then on top of that,you know, just coming back after
that freak accident. And you know, I think that we serve a god
that's merciful and that's that's purposeful andhe knows that, and he stepped into
and me and him we have thoseconversations about our faith and the cause.

(03:37:30):
Like this football stuff it seems likeit's everything, but it's not. You
know, we're we're people, andwe we go through a lot off the
field people don't know. And youknow, 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
the the feelings that I have forthat guy. Man, he's my one

(03:37:52):
of my best friends that I've nyou know, gotten to known over the
years in this in this world offootball and past. Man, I feel
like I'm going to since I've beenthree years old, you know, I
think for like our connections kind oflike we grew up together. And you
know, I just got a lotof love for that guy. And you
know, I'm very excited for him. He's been snapping that practice and doing
really well and you know, toknock off the rest that quick shows how

(03:38:13):
much work he's been in, howmuch more comfortable are you walking up to
ots this year to be the lastyear, things kind of a little bit
slower. Just's the biggest difference toyou. Yeah, it's night and day.
Man. It's really like i feellike I'm running the show and I've
got a lot more uh responsibilities fromSlow and from the Beacon, from dry

(03:38:33):
Bill and really our whole office ofstaff. And you know, I'm the
captain of the ship and I gottarun it the right way. And I
feel like I've you know, steppedinto that role just you know, and
now not only holding out accountable,but also you know, hold myself accountable
to those moments like I don't writeanything slide uh cause that's that's the point
of winning and losing. So Ithink from last year to this year,
like I've gotten a lot better withlike controlling my emotions, controlling my ball

(03:38:58):
placement, knowing what to NFL open, knowing my foot work better. There's
really every little thing I've taken astep and then on the other side of
the ball, you know, justeverything slowed down. Seeing coverage Demiico does
a good job of blitching me andyou know, working on their different coverages
or different looks and start too high, go to one and go back to
to motion like as man, goto cover too like all that stuff to

(03:39:20):
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 try to finish with that minicamp. But it's been definitely a big
transition of just more comfortability from lastyear this year. College, you you
always had like a really talented receiverroom, and then last year you had
a talented receive a room. Soyou've had the experience of having to feed

(03:39:43):
a lot of guys obviously you hadin digs, even Joe Mixing coming out
of the backfield. How much wouldthat experience 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 getting don't have the best possible offer,
if you guys like it more,yeah, I mean I don't think
nothing changes. You know. It'slike I tell I tell guys because I

(03:40:03):
get that question a lot from Igot people just walking around just anywhere Astra
game whatever, and I was like, man, it's football. You know,
you're open, you get the ball, so uh and my thing is
you got to pick your poison playingus, like who you gonna double,
who you gonna cater to? Who? Like you got five dogs? Who
are who are able to get theget the ball in each give and play?

(03:40:24):
You know, So I think it'sfine. I know Slow has done
a great job of being more creativeand you know, has put different personnel
packages out there, guys in differentpositions that going from inside and outside,
you know. And you know,I'm I'm very excited to work with with
coach Low again. He's done amazingso far, you know OTAs and will
continue to do such. But yeah, man, I think that past experience

(03:40:48):
of playing with Marv Jacks, Garytt, Chris Jamo, America Julian like those
type of guys, they'll tell youtoo, like you know, they'll probably
have said it before, but they'lltell you like they made me better and
I made them better. You know, that's my job is to make everybody
around me better. So I'm excited. Man, has been healthy competition.

(03:41:11):
Like I know, Garrett, I'veseen his in the real day. He
was talking about Ohio. See howlike the receivers like if Gear made a
play, Chris is like, nah, watch this like it's the same thing
here, which is you know,really cool to watch. And you know,
as the quarterbacks meet, Davis incase and Tim were the same way
too. So healthy competition is thebest way to grow and get better.
And I think that that's what it'sabout. You see how excited Diggs gets

(03:41:33):
for Tank when he makes it play, and metch gets for excited for when
Nico makes a play, and Tankgets excited when Rob makes a play.
You know. So it's amazing andyou know we got Noah coming back to
which is gonna be amazing. AndI'm excited. Uh been there and a
ton of guys. There's a tonof talent steeds showing up. Really,
everybody's really been doing Jay, Wayne, Johnny you know so and man it's

(03:41:54):
been fun. Uh Nico done gotyou some some makesure talent on the office
side of the bable. What doyou think about their dishes that he made
on the defensive side of the ball. Yeah, Man, it's been great.
It's been good on good like themGoa talks about Iron Trump and Iron
you know, it's been a lotof smack talk a lot of just uh,
just good competition, you know.And then it starts with me and
disease. You know, him beingthe leader of defense. I'm the leader

(03:42:16):
at offense. And you know,playing him last year. I mean,
he always showed up on tape whenI watched the Titans last year. So
it's cool to like see like thestuff he thinks. We you can see
him at my locker, me athis or us before practice after practice talking
about plays and you know, so, I mean it starts with us,
and then when you add Daniell,somebody who's a vet who plays really hard,

(03:42:37):
who's gonna help, will you know? And them two dogs. You
got team in the in the middlewith Autry and and Sosa and ya just
a ton of guys, man,you know, in the back end,
got young guys showing up. Kaitlyn'sdoing really well in the back end along
with Petrie and Jimmy, along withKamari Kamara has thrown up Steen just playing

(03:43:00):
well as y'all seen. Uh So, man, it's just been dogs on
dogs, you know, like,and that's that's that's that's the best teams
I've ever been on. Has beenthe closest teams personally, but also the
most competitive team. So it's beendope. See that he broke out last
year and Lego broke out last yearand hego gets the contract exception, he's
here to twenty twenty seven. Whatdoes that do for you? Just knowing

(03:43:20):
that you have a familiar target towork with for the next few years.
You know, it's just something II'm first of all, I'm just proud
of that guy. Uh, mybrother Nico. He's showing up and shown
out, you know when you knowwhen his number is called, he always
makes it play and you know,he's just a special He's a generation talent
man. He's he's like alright,age is Andre Johnson in my opinion,

(03:43:43):
of just how fast he is,how he gets in and out of his
brace, his releases, how stronghe is. And I think last year
was just a uh a preview towhat it's took come for him. And
the one thing I'm proud of himfor is just the work has never stopped.
He's constantly here working on his body, constantly here working on his head
and his his mobility in the weightingroom, you know, So for me,
I mean just having a a trueuh. I think we have like

(03:44:07):
five number ones, you know,so that's kind of cool to have.
And I've had that before in collegeand I'll have it again and it's gonna
be fun. Man. And Nicohe's gonna he's he loves to see everybody
else he eat too, so man, his his love for his brothers has
a change, and you know,it's it's a it's a special feeling to
see somebody who deserves to get paidand you know, get what they the
d d wait, they what theydeserve, and you know, I'm just

(03:44:28):
really proud of him. What doesit mean for you to have another opportunity
to work with Barbasola? Andelie Johnson. I don't know if you remember that
was a moment going into the playoffslast season where you really didn't know if
either one of those guys would herefret shit. Yeah, I mean for
both of them to come back wasvery special. I think we both we
all have a better feel of howto work with one another. And you

(03:44:50):
know, the talent I am onthe field, and the play caller that
uh Bobby is, and then thethe common coach Drought is. You know,
we all work together and that andyou know, slow as I'm in
his office almost every morning, justgoing over stuff and watching the film with
him, going over things that weneed to go to get better at.
And he always has his phrases,you know, working for the end at

(03:45:11):
mind, and you know he holdsme accountable when you know it could be
easier just to like let me slide, cause you know, I'm I'm out
there still making plays, but he'slike, nah, you need to be
better here, here and there,And you know that's just uh shows what
type of a leader he is.And you know, it's a honor to
be able to work with him again. And same for me, like to
him like, hey, flow,I'm not really feeling this play, or

(03:45:33):
I wanna add this player to tryto see if we can get better here
in this inn in this practice,or you know, I think we can
be really good at this type ofplayer. And he's very very accepting when
it comes to that. So it'sbeen cool to work with both of them,
and I'm very excited to get anotheryear on our belt right here.
What was it like, uh,teacher football internationally and the the r the

(03:45:56):
reception that you got from the itwas it was amazing. You know,
Uh, first of all, shoutout to Beijing, Shanghai and Tokyo you
know for accepting me to Micah withopen arms and just the hospitality and the
uh 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

(03:46:20):
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
are our family now, and youknow, the Olympics come into where it's
gonna be international with flag football,I think it's super dope. And to
be able to get you know,to be able to put our feet into
those those uh doors already, youknow, it's kind of cool, you

(03:46:43):
know. So I mean, I'mvery grateful with my team with uh uh
Bernie and David for setting that upand even like the guys out there who
who gave us top notch hospitality.It w It was just amazing, man,
the whole experience. So, youknow, just my first time really
out the country and just being ableto like go to the Great Wall China

(03:47:03):
and all that stuff and still dowhat I love to do, you know,
working out when Micah was cool anduh he has a lot of crazy
takes, but you know, II got love for that guy, but
it was fun. Man John andJonathan Dad. What's uh, what's it
like have you cast over down herewith you and what's your relationship been like
with him? Oh? Yeah,Kay's my brother. Man. You know,

(03:47:24):
I've been through thinking thing with him, and he's somebody who I I
often look at as like like ourmoms are like the same or our families
are super close. In his college, I think he's like my blood brothers
who like somewhere for walking on theline. I don't know how it works,
but I just he's always like therefor me. He's always you know,

(03:47:48):
I don't know, man, Kateis just like that guy. He's
a brother that y uh they talkabout in the Bible, you know,
like that like it's it's it's he'sa friend that is you know, like
just like a brother. And Idon't know if the word brother that has
always just comes up with that,Like he's just always there to you know,
hold me up and he sees meand he knows my emotions and for
him to be able to impress ofthe culture of the players that are in

(03:48:09):
this program right now, but Ithink it speaks a lot to the leadership.
There's a there's a lot of olderplayers on this team, and they've
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. It's
never hit it over play calling tosomeone before. What does it mean to
you? I guess he technically didit to Bill when he was here for
a couple of weeks. But whatdoes that mean to you to kind of

(03:48:31):
be getting that responsibility from him andhe's calling essentially the offense that you gave
it? I guess in some way. Yeah, I still think the play
calling part will be a collaborative 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 hen point the finger alittle bit and just say, hey,
you know, I wanted to dothis, but he trumped me. So

(03:48:54):
we haven't actually discussed game day yet. You know, we'll see how that
operates. But everywhere I've been it'sbeen a collaborative effort, and all of
a sudden, someone that's calling theplays. Isn't isn't like pulls one out
of left field that you hadn't practicedand hadn't been part 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 coming up with something special,

(03:49:16):
you know in the middle of thefourth quarter that we haven't done.
But I think it's the key toreally being successful on offense is is how
you game plan, how you putit all together, and then how you
practice and train for that so thatyou get a chance to execute it.
Because the player's confidence comes from theirdemonstrated ability that they've done this so many
times in practice that when they getout on the field that this is like
that to them. You know,it's not that they do it so they

(03:49:39):
do it right, it's they practiceit so much so that they can't do
it wrong. So, you know, I think it's that whole part of
it that is really the key tobeing a really good game planning team.
Second right, Doug Lane reef KingNorth Chip. When you had that feeling
when you were coaching the quarterbacks duringBOWLD, did you consider at that point
maybe resigning as the head coach,thinking like this is this is not where

(03:50:01):
I am anymore. I'll leave andthen I'll look to see what else is
out there. No, I neverthought about quitting anything. So, you
know, I just is there anopportunity that I think I can that fit,
you know, And I think that'sthe you know, it's no different
than when you're talking to a recruitabout them make a decision on where they're
gonna go to school. I thinkthat where they should go to school is
where the best fit is for them. So you know, I just entertained

(03:50:24):
some opportunities and I always felt Ifelt like this was the best fit.
But I never thought about quitting ornot coaching. I'm gonna coach. I'm
gonna coach, and then I'm gonnadie. But I mean, that's how
I think I think about things.Is I can't picture that. I know
someone I was on the Nike tripand they like, how much longer are
you gonna go? When I saidI to go another fifteen twenty years.
I don't think about I don't thinkabout retirement. I don't think about any

(03:50:48):
of those things. That's just notkind of my mindset that you know.
I love football and in the aslong as I can be part of this
game, then I'll be part ofthis game. Just the way things worked
out with your departure from me,CLA, is there anything that you wish
you had done differently, or anythingyou regret, or just that the circumstances
that presented themselves. Do you thinkthat you handled that departure the best that

(03:51:09):
you could have? Yeah? Imean I got an opportunity to tell my
players personally. You know, Ithink in this day and age of the
Internet, where they read it somewhereelse and you have to text message him.
You know, that was always importantto me that I wanted to make
sure I talk to my players andexplain the reasons of what I was doing.
I wasn't leaving to take a headcoaching job somewhere else. I wasn't
thinking that the grass is greener atanother university. Was just in my personal
situation, this is what I wantedto do. I wanted to take an

(03:51:31):
opportunity to go be a position coachand coordinator, and that's how it fit.
You know. What I was happyis that I always thought to Sean
Foster, I think the world ofthem, and I think he's a special
you know, and the fact thatthat they were they gave him the opportunity
to take over there was you know, it worked out. I didn't have
any say in that decision, youknow, I was gone. But I

(03:51:54):
always thought that de Shaun would bea great head coach, and I'm really
proud of him and happy that thathe got the opportunity to take that job
right behind it or actually, ifyour reputation is innovator, was part of
the appeal of this is that youget to get in the weeds a little
bit. Uh maybe not mad scientists, maybe too too strong of a word,
because you're working within the system.But was there an appeal of I

(03:52:16):
get to get my hands dirty hereagain and innovate and get back to that
side of things. It was,But it was really more important of who
I get to work with, youknow, and so knowing you know,
I've got I know a lot ofguys on the staff besides Ryan also,
so you know, when I knowwhat their mindset is and what their values
are and how they do things,and so I want to be a part

(03:52:37):
of that. But but there's apart of that, Yeah, yeah,
how much of a teacher you getlabeled with an innovator. The teachings are
part of this. How much isit is of a teacher, are you?
And how patient are you? Yeah? I think we're all teachers.
I mean, education is the transportationof knowledge, you know, So it
really doesn't matter what the coach knows. It matters what the players understand,
you know. So you have tobe able to make sure that while you're

(03:53:01):
implementing things is what resonates with themand how does that come back to them.
So, you know a lot ofour teaching styles that we've learned is
more the socratic method of there's alot of questions, you know, and
a lot of check for understandings,just to kind of find out where the
players are coming from, because it'swhat they know that that's ultimately gonna 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

(03:53:22):
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,
you know, some of the latesttrends in teaching to make sure that we
are transporting that knowledge to our players. The second left Steve Hellwagen twenty four
seven Sports. Yeah, coach,just curious, you got five scholarship quarterbacks

(03:53:45):
with differing levels of experience, ageand everything else. Not to annoy him,
but just want to ask specifically aboutWill Howard coming in after starting part
of two years at keys a stage. He just seems to promote this idea
that he's a football player, youknow above all else. Just how impressed

(03:54:07):
are you with his makeup, byhis experience, what he's bringing to the
table walking in here right now?Yeah, really impressed. You know,
you don't have to talk to Willfor more than five minutes to kind of
know where he's coming from. He'sreally focused. You know, he knows
he's got a short window left inhis college career, and it really wants
to capitalize on what that is.There's a maturity to Will, you know,

(03:54:28):
I really I've had experience. Myexperience in this thing since the transfer
portal opened in college football is someof the best players I've had an opportunity
to coach. Ard transfers sometimes whenyou're a true freshman and it's five years
out, you know, it's like, hey, I got a ton of
time, you know, And sometimeswhen you're a transfer is that I've got
nine months, you know. Sothere's a sense of urgency I think when
you're dealing with with transfers, andI think Will has exuded that since he's

(03:54:52):
been here. But the other thingthat I just in the short time that
Will's been here is how quickly he'sfit in with the entire team, you
know, and how much the therest of the players respect him. You
know. He was uh one ofthe Gold Award winners for his work in
the weight room in this offseason,so that says a lot for him coming
in here as a in a shorttime, being able to to win a
weight room award, you know,to start off. Do you guys hope

(03:55:13):
to have the number one internally externallyat the end of spring or I guess
just let it play out, howdo you I? I think it always
every time I've been involved in these, I think when they're organic is when
it's the best that I don't thinkyou can anoint somebody or force the issue
because the players know, the playerswould understand, they see it every single
day. You know, and there'sa team chemistry part of this thing too,

(03:55:35):
So we're not gonna force the issuea but I've always seen it play
itself out. So I've been fortunatethat there's always gonna be some quarterback battles
at at some point in time.At every school there's a quarterback battle,
you know. And then and reallyyou gotta let him play it out on
the field, and that's where ithas to That's that's where it has to
be decided. Just a couple Hey, welcome, then we we're excited to

(03:55:58):
have you here. I'm kind oftalk about the innovative part. Ryan said
that that's something that he's always lovedabout working with you, and now he
wants you to bring that here andhow it fit with Ohio State. Do
any idea what that's going to looklike yet or is it just way too
or I have no idea, youknow. I think part of it is
is you're trying to put the playersin position to make plays. So a

(03:56:18):
lot of that comes from getting tounderstand the players and what their skill sets
are and how we feature what theirskill sets are, you know, And
the one thing after day one Ican tell you that there's a lot of
skill set out there, you know. So that's that's what gets you excited.
You know, that's that's what youjump out of bed in the morning
and you're excited to go to workbecause of the talent that you get to
work with. But the one thingthat's the most impressive is the work ethic

(03:56:41):
that goes along with that talent.You know, it's not just empty talent.
It's you got some kids who wantto I mean all of them since
I've been here, want to work. So that's what gets you excited.
But I think assessing what the skillset is you know that we have available
to us on the offensive side ofthe ball is vitally important. And then
our job just to put those guysin positions to make place lots of pressure.

(03:57:03):
I mean, you've experienced what it'slike to coach national championship, how
over teams this program right now andmoving into a situation where you got to
win Quicken now. So does thatfeel like pressure here for you or is
it a little bit of excitement orboth? Well, I've always subscribed to
as pressure is what you feel whenyou don't know what you're doing. So
if you don't want to feel pressure, and then you should know what you're

(03:57:24):
doing, So, you know,I think it's it's part of that.
And I think part of our jobwith our players in terms of the education
process is getting them to understand thattoo, is that you know, it's
it's about your preparation, It's aboutyou and your development. It's not about
that you can't be governed by whatother people say. It's it's what's my
mindset and how am I intrinsically motivated? And then how do I really compete
against myself on a daily basis toget a little bit better. You know,

(03:57:46):
we got a little bit better todaybecause we get out on the field
today and got a chance to dosome football. And then the challenge is
when we get back on the fieldon Thursday, can we be a little
bit better than we were on Tuesday. And if we're doing that, then
we keep stacking good days on topof good days, and I think we'll
be in a good place and welcome, Thank you. I'm gonna ask about
the pros and cons of coaching fromthe box and coaching from the field.

(03:58:07):
It's interesting talk to some off somecoordinators. Tom Herman talked about he swore
he wanted to coach from the box. Saw the game so much better,
sterile environment, not all the chaoson the field. Some coaches you talk
to the like, I want tobe on the field so I can look
at my guys in the in theeye. Where are you at as a
as a coordinator? Honestly, AndI've thought of this a lot. I
thought of it a lot during COVIDbecause we had the empty stands, you

(03:58:28):
know, so I had thought aboutjust walking up into the stands for a
little bit because I had a betteradvantage. I've always believed you can see
the game better from up above,but I believe you can feel the game
better from the field. So ifthere was any way we could get a
zip wire where you could do both, you know, coach calling from there
and then zip down of the fieldget a chance to talk to him,
because it's a different deal when you'retalking to the quarterbacks on a phone,
you know, than being able tolook in their eye and kind of see

(03:58:50):
where they are with it, andpart of it is the field part of
it. I remember when I coachRyan once we were playing Ukon and he
got hit hard going out of bounceand he just walked by me and I
was a play caller, and hewas like, run the next play,
and I just kind of looked athim. I saw the look in his
eyes because I don't think he couldhave thrown it. You know, he
was still trying to get his winback. But you wouldn't know that if

(03:59:11):
you're up in the booth, youknow, and you call a pass play
from up in the booth and you'relike, how come we can't complete that?
Well, he just took a shotgoing out of bound. So it's
that fine line that I don't havean answer, you know. I think
I think it's feel on the groundand it's see from up above. Maybe
in this day a technology, they'llfigure it out. But we'll see how
that that that operates, and whateverRyan feels is the best for the team

(03:59:33):
is what we're gonna do. Soyour teams at the organ were obviously you
know, we're playing at this passpace and run a bunch of plays for
a minute and yep, maybe notby pass pretty fast. What role do
you see tempo and having an offenseand in the stay in college football and
has maybe changed? I think thegame is always evolving, you know.

(03:59:56):
I think when I left in twothousand and twelve to go to the National
foot Ball League. Oregon was theonly team that was playing really really fast
and had shiny helmets. And whenI came back in twenty seventeen, everybody
had shiny helmets and everybody was playingfast. So I think the game is
always going to go up and down, and there's going to be different cycles
that it goes through. I thinktempo is part of an offense, but

(04:00:16):
I don't think it's an offense initself. I think it's more of like
if you go to dinner, it'sa side order. You know, it's
not the main course, but it'sit's always good to have it. So
I think there's times when you'll useit, but you're you're not going to
use it extensively the entire game,just like you're not going to throw the
ball every single snap in the game. You're not going to run the ball
every single snap in the game.You know, there's there's not a game

(04:00:39):
of absolutes anymore. I think theability to be diverse and have it as
a tool in your two box,so to speak, is really how we
would look at using it here.Because evens are now work familiar with it,
then I think so, you know, I think when you first started
going Temple, there were people inthe NCAA. They want to outlaw it,
they want to make an NCAA rolethat, yeah, you couldn't do
it, you know, and I'llI'll give coach Shaping credit. I mean,

(04:01:00):
I think obviously Nick was the firstone to do it. He wanted
it out loud, and then allof a sudden he adapted it and said,
all, 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 cycles to this game, andthen once people catch on to that cycle,
then it moves. You know,It's no different than for three defenses
and three four defenses. You knowwhat is the rage when the when the

(04:01:22):
Giants won the Super Bowl, theywere they were three four defense and everybody,
everybody says, we have to dothat. What people didn't understand is
they had Carl Banks and Lawrence Taylor. It didn't matter what defense they were
running. I know, Gym's backthere and Jim played against the you know
it was they could have been afour down defense and those guys would have
been great players, but it's notthe scheme. I think that the coaches
that do it the best way isthey insert their players and put them in

(04:01:45):
the best position to make plays.And now, now will Temple be part
of it. It'll be part ofit, but it's certainly not going to
be the main course. Awesome,Sorry last question, Tim, Oh,
thank you very much. Jerry.Uh remember one of there was the great
moment there when y'all were warming up, when you were were talking with Tim
Walton and Caleb Downs comes up andconversing and as you're in this kind of
a two part question, but numberone, what was just your take on

(04:02:07):
the talent you saw on that fieldtoday on both sides of the ball.
Where where would you rank it?Yeah, I'll rank it. I'll be
very transparent. As I was tellingTim and Caleb what a great offensive player
I thought Caleb would be, couldbe and should be. But I'm not

(04:02:28):
the head coach, so I alwaysturned stretch as a as an offensive coordinator,
I'm always looking at the defensive playerslike I could use him. Oh,
what could I do if I hadhim? What could I do if
I have him? But I don't. I don't get to you after you
came back. You know, itwas more of a just a game time
decision every week. You know,I wasn't practiced on Thursdays, and that

(04:02:52):
was the first time in my careerI've really had to really just bite the
bullet and that approach. And thenit was just responding to a game.
And then you know, after thefirst game against Tennessee, it was,
you know, just trying to climbup, climb up. Uh, I
think much out of a hole,but you know I wanted to get back

(04:03:15):
and I felt like I could,but I knew I wasn't gonna be at
a hundred percent, but I hadto push it to you know, be
there for my team. Okay,I'm to clarify you reporting today doesn't is
an indicative of your contract status,not at all. Yeah. I mean
you mentioned leadership and about how youwanna be the best leaguer you can be.
Do you use any of this timeto you know, speak with any
of the better or the rookie playersand try to, you know, give

(04:03:37):
them some guidance as you approach newstep. Yeah, you know, whether
it's on the field, off thefield, you know, communication, uh,
dinners just you know, letting themknow I'm available for him. You
know, I think it can besomething as little as just the steps on
field goal blot or field goal protection. You know, I've been doing it

(04:03:58):
for thirteen years. Uh, it'sstill crazy. I'm still doing it.
But uh, you know, Uh, those are the ti type of things
I'm just giving guidance to. Andthen you know, off the field,
it's you know, what to expectaround the city. Where should you be,
where you should be, how youcan help yourself, you know,
the little things. Yeah, andwhat are you looking for for your contract?

(04:04:20):
You know, I'm looking to behere, you know, I.
Uh, the value is what wedecide. But you know, I think
for me, I I I wantto be you know, valued about my
position. You know, I Iunderstand I came up a rough season,
but I don't think it's a stepdown of where I can play. You

(04:04:41):
know, I think when I'm atthe top of my game, I'm still
you know, top five player inmy position. And you know I played
a run in the past and Ibring leadership and uh that's not anything I
discover. Can you do you planto be here for mini camp and the
start of training camp? Yeah?How difficult has it been the last two
weeks to not be here. Imean, you said in your podcast the

(04:05:03):
first time you've never not been atOTA. Yeah, it w It was
difficult, but like you know,the thing I got very frustrated with was
just when people questioned my communication withthe team. You know, I uh
was communicating with guys left and right, and you know, front office,
coaches, teammates, and all Icare about is how I am with my

(04:05:26):
teammates. I don't want them toever think I don't care about them or
how I'm not in it. Andyou know, you can say whatever you
want about me, but besides that, but I'll always dedicate anything I can
to them, and I don't wantthat to every question. And Jaya said
that it felt like sometimes you wereholed up somewhere watching film. You text
you you missed this, or youwant well, like the first day,

(04:05:48):
he was batting all up Russ's passes, so I had to let him know,
you know, uh, you gottatake advantage of that. You gotta
make sure guys are you know,uh know that you you still care,
you wanna be a part of this, uh, you know, just watching
practice. There's a couple of thingswe're doing different whether I'm communicating with Dunbar
or other people, you know Soviet. Yeah, so you're that You're also

(04:06:13):
talking with him and you you givinghim a pointyers during the off season,
just a constant communication. How doyou see him grow as a person,
you know, as far as howhe'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 morecomfortable, you know, you know it
since his first time around the track. You know, it's actually like he
can you know, uh catch hisfeet under him. You know. I

(04:06:35):
always think when you're in your rookieseason, you're going from bowl game.
I don't even know Wisconsin playing ina bowl game. Sorry, Wisconsin,
I don't even know. But youknow, personally, I just think when
you go from bowl game to trainingfor the Combine to you know, rookie
minicamps, OTA's the you know minicamp, I mean the training camp the

(04:06:56):
regular season. You really don't geta time to really catch yourself. You
know. He understands the playbook now, he can be more vocal, you
know, And I think when myabsence the other guy's absence, you know,
you need guys like that to stepup and be ready for those opportunities
you had, say you had duringthe season is a more thorough What was
just tightened down everything, you knowon my left side because I was overcompensating

(04:07:20):
a little bit, but you knowit was there wasn't anything that lingers.
You know, I'll say this,A growing is not like an a c
L. It's not like anything's evergoing to get affected again. And you
know, you know, I'm feelinggood, able to do everything squat and
heavy with power and speed, soyou know, it feels good to get

(04:07:43):
after again. What do you thinkof what the team was able to accomplish
A s off easily return to bringingguys like 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 you can't win the off season.
I think the work gets done outhere on the field, gets done
in the classroom. Wow, itgets done training, uh, you know,

(04:08:05):
and then you see where you're atin training camp, and then you
build on that. You know,I think we got the right guys in
the building. It's just about puttinga complete team on the field. Camp.
How tenther coll is it to separatefrom business part of the game in
the actual football player in the UK. Uh, you know you you always
wanna you you always have to treatit like a business because you know one

(04:08:30):
day it's gonna end. Uh.And that's any job. Uh. It's
not like in college where you knowyou got four years guaranteed. I don't
know, well now you you don'teven know where nil and all. It's
crap but the transfer portal portal.But you know, you have to I
still have love for this game,and I still work my tail off,

(04:08:50):
and I still put everything into it, and that's not gonna change. But
you have to know, uh whatyou bring to the team and what you're
which value is a wan. Didit feel to be out there with your
teammates today? Emotionally great? Youknow, we got a new uh,
we got a new training staff andstill learning the the warm up a little
different. Uh, but uh,you know I loved it. Uh,

(04:09:13):
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 start crazy crazy when it's
just you and another guy. You'relike, damn, I gotta go back
up for another rep already. Andso you know, it's nice to be
up here and get a chance to, you know, be with my guys.

(04:09:35):
Cam. Were you confident and deal? Will get done with your emotions?
Oh, I'm gonna we'll try toremain pretty neutral, cause you know,
I don't wanna, you know,be too either way. All I
know is I want to be here, But we'll see what happens. This
is my last year here. I'veI've had a great career here, but

(04:09:58):
U a quarter to play next year. Can you what that second surgery you
said if this time was on theleft side. It was the first time
around on the right side, rightside during the season, left side,
and that was just tightening down mycorner. My corma saw. It wasn't
the same as my ad doctor.You know, you can ask doctor Bradley,
uh, doctor doctor Zuckerbron who uhdid the surgery as well. You

(04:10:24):
know, I if anything's gonna helpme and it'll make me a lot stronger
from here on up. Did yousay you were 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 shadowtCole Haley who's my guy, traded h
trained trained uh Heath Miller, BrettKeesel, the multitude of guys that I

(04:10:48):
all respect, and we've just beengetting after it can He's very few guys
historically thirty five to get paid bigcontract and you think that's held against you.
I think there's not a lot ofhistory behind it. But you know,
for me, I I look atas I'm not looking to be like
anybody else. You know, mygame is different from everybody else in this

(04:11:09):
league. You know, I liketo think, you know, I can
play the run in the past,and then that's where I'm different. You
know, I remember last year Miket just brought to my attention. You
know the thing that's really cool isyou watch power lesters, and you know,
my game's built on powering technique,and those guys go into their forties
and so you know, that's whatkind of research I'm doing behind the scenes.

(04:11:33):
But you know, I I We'llsee what happens. The it's there's
not a lot of history, butI'm here to make history and I'm here
to, you know, and winanother Super Bowl year and you know,
have a great season. Do youhave a set goal over yourself on how
many years you wanna play in theNFL? Or did you just take things
year by the year. You knowit? It was it was tough answering

(04:11:56):
that question right after the season.I will say this, guys, I
I can't keep answering that question rightafter the season. That is not fair
to the season, That's not fairto my family. Uh you know.
But in my mind, I gotthree years and I want to maximize them.
I wanna play at a high level, and I wanna go deep in
the playoffs. And you know,we got a good team, and I'm

(04:12:18):
gonna do my part to be readyfor all those situations you plan for after
soon when you report to the troopor should possibility get you might pull in.
And I I have not even thoughtthat far. I've taken a day
by day. Uh you know.Uh. 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

(04:12:41):
for training Pam. You know,I don't know what the work entails.
But when we get there, we'llwe'll cross that bridge for you or remain
a stealer for those three years.You know, there was a conversation between
me, Omar and my t andthere's certain guys that are one helmet guys,

(04:13:05):
you know, and I want tobe one of those one helmet guys.
And you know, there's a there'sa hunger and desire there. But
that doesn't mean just hanging it upand calling a career to me, I
think, you know, I gotmore bullets to fire, and uh,
you know, I'm excited to dothat. One You and Russell Willison are
going to be out there with WalterMann. Uh what Waltim Payton man of

(04:13:28):
the Year pass. I saw Russ'son social media, but I haven't had
a chance to see it. Uh. I let the surprise happens when it
happened. But at the same time, we're in the process of recruiting,
you know, people to our teamas opposed to drafting. So it is
different than the NFL, and there'sa lot of things to consider, especially
with some of the I A wP rules that come with recruiting a prospect.

(04:13:54):
Back left with you, Brian,you talked a lot about evaluating players
with considering the truthsfer portal and tryingto keep God and all that. Is
it more so just trying to getas many of the best players as we
can. Now, where is itstill very positioned focused in filling gaps as
that changed at all? Well,I think the first thing is you have
to bring in the people that fitOhio State. That's the thing, and
now more than ever. I mean, you know, what do you hate

(04:14:16):
said it a long time ago?You win with people like that's more prevalent
now maybe even the back then.And I say that because there's so much
that goes with today's day and age. You know, there's there's the portal,
like you're saying, there's nil,there's just there's a lot. So
you want to have great people inyour program, great coaches, great staff
members, great supporting you know,people around the program, supporting the people,

(04:14:39):
but also you know, the players, you know, the family members.
It's all going to fit. AndI think it's important that we make
sure we're doing that at a highlevel. And you know, just say,
well, let's go bring in thebest players in the country, Like,
it doesn't work that way. Youhave to build a culture and a
winning culture and that's what we're focusedon now for things getting certainly changed.

(04:15:01):
But when you guys wrapped up camp, where did you land on Josh Bryer
right tackle? Maybe the right sideof the lineup? What you guys saw,
Yeah, we see Josh making alot of progress. He's had another
he's had a really good June andother good off season and we felt like
the spring he did a nice jobthere. So we feel like there's there's
just been a lot of progress.Man. I think coming off of last

(04:15:22):
year he built some confidence and thenhe knows he can do it. He
knows the area's got to improve inin order for him to you know,
help us win the games we needto win. So we feel confident with
him playing guard and tackle. Wegot to figure out what that right side
looks like. You know, Iwould say we're probably leaning towards, you
know, playing him at tackle andtrying to figure out who that right guard
is at this time. But wedo have some flexibility there, and you

(04:15:46):
know, he's been a leader forus, he's on the leadership committee and
and just looking at you know,his numbers and how he changed his body,
we're expecting a big fall from him. When when you look at all
this stuff that's changed since you tookover the college, how do you constantly
continue to adjust? I mean atthis point it's every single day. How
do you allow them to do solfto kind of change with the changes?

(04:16:08):
Well it even started, you know. I feel like in nineteen that was
like the first year we were makinga transition, and then you know,
COVID hit, and then you know, every year it just seems like there's
something else. And I could cometo the conclusion that every year is going
to be different and we have toadapt. But there's certain things that we're
not going to change. There's certainvalues we're not going to change. It
just you know, you know,principles that have you know, stood the

(04:16:30):
test of time. And I sharedthis with a group before when I started
doing some some research. As wewere doing some some of our recruiting you
know, introductions and some of ouryou know, talks about you know,
the traditions of Ohio State. Wetalked about how Ohio Stadium was built,
you know, and when you whenyou when you do your research on that

(04:16:51):
one hundred years ago. You know, folks have the idea of building a
stadium over sixty thousand people, andthat's because of what Chikarle doing. And
you know, they had a woodenbleachers over here and all these people started
coming in and the idea of bringingin a stadium that of our sixty thousand
people at the time was like,this is crazy. What is college football
turning into? And they instead ofgoing to the state or going to the

(04:17:12):
school the community, they went tothe community to raise the money they raised
over at the time over a milliondollars. Well night, Fast forward one
hundred years and the conversation still mightbe like what is college football doing right?
And in this situation then il wehad to turn to the community for
help, and Bucky Nation showed upagain in a big way. So although

(04:17:33):
the landscape is changing, I don'tknow if you know, one hundred years
later, if it's that much different. It's just in a different time,
in a different you know, setof issues that we're working through. But
I think it's exciting. I thinkthere's a lot of positives to it.
I do. I think that we'retaking the next step with the revenue sharing

(04:17:53):
to try to institutionalize some of it, which would be big for us.
Bits Yeah, every years question,it seems like this year's team has fewer
questions off the line as specifically,if you look ahead to rely more than

(04:18:14):
a month, what are the realquestions that you have in your mind about
position, battles and who's going Iwould say on offense, you know,
we got to square away the quarterbackas you know, I feel like,
you know, the offensive line onthe right side, we got to solidify
that. I feel like we gotto build, you know, enough depth

(04:18:37):
at receiver that we feel like wecan put in five or six in the
game and feel good about it.On defense, I think we're still looking
to figure out, you know,who are going to be the guys inside,
you know, the third, thefourth, the fifth defensive interier linement
that we're going to put in thegame. And then same thing, just
just I would say depth, alittle bit of safety, just to kind

(04:18:59):
of see who those next guys arethey're going to step up, and so
we know it's going to be along year. We're going to need everybody
and and so in a lot ofthose areas s depth, special teams wise,
you know, punter is going tobe you know that that is significant.
You know, we just brought inNick and you know, so there'll
be a battle there. So I'dsay those are probably the areas we're focused

(04:19:22):
on the most Ryan just a fallfrom the offensive line, there was I
think a school aplogy you guys mightbe looked for a transfer in that post
spring window. Did you guys dothat? Did you guys not find the
guy or were you just confident theguys you have, just like you know
in January, if if if we'regoing to bring somebody in, it is
to fill a hole. We're notjust going to bring somebody in to bring

(04:19:44):
somebody in. Like at all positions, we'll always look to see what's out
there. We did evaluate some ofthe guys that were out there, and
you know, you know, wefelt like coming out of it as we
evaluated it, you know, therewas a couple of guys that you know,
we checked on, but but ultimately, like based on where we were
and some of the young guys thatare coming up, you know, we
felt like we saw some progress inthe offensive line in the spring. So

(04:20:07):
you know, it wasn't there wasn'tas many folks in the portal, you
know, in after the spring,so we looked at it we identified it.
We did our due diligence, butyou know we're gonna go with through
we have now second round, landisright, You're it was interesting that you
have two of maybe the top fiveers of guys in sport and then a
bunch of guys who haven't plenty uhmaybe similar to that. I don't wine

(04:20:30):
question, but did you consider tryingto add there? Understanding that probably the
difficult sell we have such telling howthe Prince you have these experiences, like
what were those conversations like, andhow did you sett al on being comfortable
with you know, Trey and well, like you said, you know,
I think we're we will get someexperience there with those two guys. And
then you know, we felt likecoming out of the Spring that James and

(04:20:52):
Sam both did a nice job andyou know, we're gonna have to play
them and they're gonna have to youknow, take on a little bit of
that. You know, we haveyou know, started having conversations with Caleb
Downs. I was part of therecruiting process of possibly you know, doing
a little bit of running back aswell. It's something that he wanted to
do. So we've been having himin some of the meetings and some of
the individual drills as a possibility thereif you know, needed so down the

(04:21:17):
road to continue to build depth atthat position. But you know, I
think, you know, we feellike, you know, if you have
you know, four strong running backsgoing into it, then you know that's
gonna be that's gonna be enough tocarry the season. I do think that
the quarterbacks will run the ball morethis season, so that should take some
carries away from them. But toyour point, you know, James and

(04:21:37):
Sam are gonna have to step upto the guys that we can count on.
Save that for another day. Yeah, just fall up on it.
Is he capable of stepping in andbeing running back? Obviously, we'll see.
We'll see. We talked about inthe recruiting process, you know,

(04:22:00):
the first time around and more specificallyin the second time around, and so
he's you know, he's been arounda little bit just to get a feel
for it. We did very littlein the spring. We did I think
we pitched them an option or somethinglike that in the spring just to kind
of get them going. But we'llsee, we'll see where that goes.
We don't have a specific plan rightnow, but we do want to introduce

(04:22:22):
him to that just the same thinglike Lorenzo Styles has played your see where
we did that in Notre Dame.You know he's out there a little bit,
just kind of learning. It's healthy. You know, you're seeing it
from the other side of the ball. This time of the year, you
can get away with that a littlebit, a little bit in the preseason.
Where it goes, we'll see,but you just never know. And
we're trying to put some contingency plansin place because it could be a long
season. Yeah, this is myforty first year cover of House to Day.

(04:22:42):
I don't remember ever expectations like thisIn the summer. There were some
of them were almost as big.Sure do you sense that too, And
what is that pressure like as you'reworking through a summer? Yeah, And
people have asked me that I goback to the expectations every year the same.
I mean, it's just a truewhen opening press conference and said you
got to beat the team up north, and when every game after that,

(04:23:03):
that's just the expectations. And whenyou come up short, you know,
you've got to figure out a wayto get those things fixed. I think
we have done that, but theexpectations are the same every year. Pressure
is the same every year. Ijust like the pressure when you've got a
really good team behind you. Sothat's what we've got right now. And
you know, we know it's goingto be a long season. We know
we're working towards. But I willsay this about this team, Well,

(04:23:23):
well, we've been talented. That'sthere's been times in the past we've been
talented. I don't know since I'vebeen here, if we've been this talented
and this experience together with guys thathave played a lot of football, fourth
and fifth year guys, and thatdoesn't matter. We'll go extor Stephen.
Maybe maybe this is his top becauseit's summer conviaus so you can now just

(04:23:45):
have conversations. Maybe we're making abig nothing long term situations, but we've
seen it around college football at leagueguys playing both sides of the ball and
doing it quite well. Right TravisSun is doing in Colorado and Kaylyn Jos
has been apartment We see what hecould do the ball. But there's also
the standina aspect of that. Ijust get into a sixteen game season,
so I'm not saying it's penty fortysnaps or something like that, but what

(04:24:07):
about his athleticism what he brings tothe table, and let you know that
if you wanted to explore it areal game, he could last and still
be an effective See. Yeah,yeah, we'd have to see all that
he did it in high school.But we got some really good running backs
in a room. So it's notsomething that we're planning on doing. But
uh, we all we are gonna, you know, work on a little
bit Caleb. Caleb enjoys that partof it. We did agree that that

(04:24:29):
was something that we were going tolook into. Where it goes, I
don't I don't really know right now, but I know that he has the
capability to do it. He hasthe athleticism and do it, and you
know, we'll kind of see whereit goes, see see how he does,
and you know, maybe hand theball to a little bit of the
preseason because again it's going to bea long season. We have to make
sure we have continuency plans in place. But I know it's something that he

(04:24:51):
enjoys having the ball in his hand. So even during their first time around
the recruiting process, we even't talkedabout him coming in as a as an
offensive player. Ultimately think of ceilingis highest on defense. But you know,
but I also agree. I thinkthat having you know, guys go
on the other side of the balland just see it, listen to meetings
is really healthy for their development.So we're gonna do that regardless. Your

(04:25:15):
defensive recruiting right now is maybe furtherlong, and it's been in the years
past, and I think we passednumous questions about it in the past,
But is this a product of seeingit over the last couple of years and
now it's not just telling guys,hey, this might look like this,
they're seeing it in real time.Yeah. You know, we talked about
it when Jim first came in,and I think Tim Wall was an unbelievable

(04:25:36):
job as well in the back end, and you know, Matt stepped right
in and James and Larry. Ithink they're all doing a great job.
But like you said, you know, it's one thing to talk about it.
That's theory testimony is this, lookat this is this is what we're
doing. And then I think you'reseeing a lot of guys just excited about
playing in this defense and they seethe capabilities and the flexibility too. You
know, right now the way weplay, excuse me, the way we

(04:25:56):
play right now is based on youknow, we four really talented defensive linemen
that are really good, and wegot a lot of depth to those positions.
But there's also flexibility with some ofthe things Gym's done in the past
that you know, we're definitely lookingat and some of the recruits that we're
looking at who bring some versatility,pass rusher, you know, we have
that jack position and those type ofthings. So that's exciting as well.

(04:26:18):
And I think you're seeing a lotof the recruits, you know, really
get fired up when they get here. People. Yeah, coach, your
first years, your identity was wasvery very from an atal standpoint and air
it out type team. Look atthe keep best talent and the playmakers you
have there. Has your identity changed? I guess what do you think the
identity is of this point point four? We'll see as we go, but

(04:26:41):
you know, we know what weneed to do to play in the big
games. That's never changed. Andwe have to be able to stop the
run, run the football, takecare of the ball, and there'll be
opportunities to throw the ball that'll that'llhappen, But you know, we're gonna
have to, you know, dothose things to win close games and in
place situational football. But I think, you know, you won't really get

(04:27:03):
a feel for what the identity ofthe team is until we get into probably
the beginning of October, you know, and I think we all have ideas
of what it could go. Butyou know now that we're playing in a
playoff format, just like a lotof those NFL teams sometimes, you know,
they don't really quite understand their identityuntil they get about halfway through the
season. I don't think I'll takethat long. But you know, we're
able to play some games and kindof work through some things. And I

(04:27:25):
don't think our defense is going tochange a bunch in terms of what we
did last year. I mean,it's a lot of the same guys back
could look a little different on offense. Got time for two more? Go
to dougly maries. Okay, right, you lose an important recruiting staffer to
promotion at Michigan. Just time.So much gone to Michigan this offseason.

(04:27:47):
How do you react to something likethat? Is something that someone like that
would take information that was learned herethat could help Michigan or high stages reaction.
Yeah, all good questions. Andyou know, I just I want
to talk about the guys that arehere, you know, the staff members
that are here, the coaches thatare here, the players that are here.

(04:28:08):
Uh, we got Jeremiah J J. Smith J J. How'd you
feel out there today? You gota great time. I heard the TV
team came out. Don't three andold pool play? When you come to
these kind of tournaments, what kindof techniques do you like to work on
us you think that you're going temrun some short stuff from crossing routes?
What do you work on when you'reout of tournament like this? Really just

(04:28:30):
getting back in the goop doing theweek, So really just working on my
releases. Uh that's when game myfriends past. I've been I've been a
chuck, So just bring getting back. Now. We know you pulled the
trigger on Ohio State. Obviously yougotta take visits kind of make sure that
you're you're perfect on your decision.What was it about Ohio State and Brian
Hartline and Ryan Day that made youfeel comfortable to commit early? Really they

(04:28:52):
sent me my first visit, werenot the first camp me make some feel
system first just what's up? What'sup? What's what they say? Was
what they they they gave me?H really just a kid that I'm talk

(04:29:15):
mart, I wasn't talk Nat.I'm trying to help emphasize. Now.
I know you've got something your sF family up there. You got Brandon
n s, you got card I'lltake What does it mean to potentially be
able to link up with them ina year and be able to kind of
run back what you guys have donein South Florida Express in Columbus, Ohio,
it'd be great we go there toOhio State take over. It'd be

(04:29:37):
grateful, all great kind of onthe first round. Yeah, you're a
super humble kid. I've been reallyimpressed by you today. Is there anything
that you want Ohio State fans toknow about you? You know again,
I know you're just your all work, all work, all work. But
what are they getting when they geta J. J. Smith to come
to Ohio saying kid a job doingthe game? What I don't just come

(04:30:07):
in? That's perfect? Man,God, bless you. I appreciate you,
my man alsome watch you today.Thank you so much. And J
Smith to be ahead of him.I'm swearing like, what is your time
away from the practice school? It'slike it allows you to be such another
first off. Coaches line, hehere all day no matter what. But

(04:30:27):
for me myself, ever since Iwas a kid, my dad always instilled
me and my brother to work hardand be like just be around football,
be around what we want to begood at. So after here, I'll
go watch more film, do alittle school work, and then later tonight
I'll probably come back and watch thefilm again. But at the end of
the day, it's just trying tobe around football, be around the facility.

(04:30:49):
How much of your film watching it'slike solo endever, just you buy
yourself watch how much do you We'vehad more safeties coming throughout the spring.
More guys try to learn the systemand learn the game. But I mean,
at the end of the day,you gotta do what you gotta do
to put yourself in a best positionto win. So myself, I'll watch

(04:31:11):
film at home too by myself,but when I'm here, there's always other
players around me that are trying toor to get better, just like I
am. Are you only watching orso far do you watch? No?
I watched the NFL teams watch goodnflcaties that are playing right now, Javon
Holland, Hantswine Winfield, go aslike that that can that I can emulate
and try to see how they play. And then also just watching other players

(04:31:33):
here, other players that do thingswell here, just learning from them,
trying to see how they play thegame, trying to get better. Caleb,
what are some of the big differencesthat you've seen so far between what
you went through at Alabama and sofar you've gone through up here. A
lot of it's the same. Alittle difference is in the defense and how
they operate and how they see things. But at the end of the day,

(04:31:53):
football's football, defensive defense, Soeverybody gotta get to the ball and
make the type of you think.Oh I love the city. I love
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 comp place for me. Becauseit's like you got the campus all of
a sudden, then you also abig city. It's it's different than Alabama

(04:32:15):
cause Alabama was a college town andTessalosia was not as big of a city.
Here, there's a lot of peopleto see a lot of different businesses
that you can be a part of. So just trying to learn the city
and learn what everybody has to offerhere. He'll be probably noticed that when
Kat and Parka made his decision togo back to Alabama, then that starts

(04:32:36):
a full level of speculations. Theare you were you taking back by that?
Did you feel like you needed tomake a decoration off of that?
Uh? I mean at the endof the day, No, I didn't
feel like I needed to say anythingcause at the end of the day,
I was still here a practice.I was still here with my teammates.
So I mean, I feel likemy actions speak for themselves. I'm I
mean, I don't I don't needto say anything about that. Kay Diden

(04:32:56):
and I talked to him when hedid it. I can his decision.
I mean, that's what he feelshis best, that's what he feels is
the best, and I support him. But I'm here. You guys have
are in this new generation of youhave that sort of freedom, You have
that sort of control over your careerin a way that other people didn't.
This it's something that you you haveto kind of take with the certain seriousness

(04:33:18):
that you're making that right decision atall times, I think ev I mean
it, in life, you haveto make decisions based off of what she
feels best for yourself. So thatwas a big decision for him. And
if he feels that's what's best forhimself, then I support it. But
at the end of the day,for college stable athletes, I think that's
the best thing because the coaches havethe same right to do what they do.
Coach can come here for a monthand leave, and I mean then

(04:33:41):
he's just leaving the player at highand draw. So I mean if they're
gonna have the ability to do itwhile with the players not have some type
of say in their in their life. Kevin, you who made the impact
opposite last year as a freshman,what do you think you could do as
assault when you're under your belt?Yeah, I think I can grow and

(04:34:02):
what I did well last year andincrease on the qualities that I wasn't not
as a leade at during during theseason. So just being better in coverage,
being better in the post, beingbetter in my tackling, being a
better communicator with my teammates, allthat I think I can offer to the
team. And but at the endof the day. It's gotta be a

(04:34:22):
team collective to go do what wewant to do well. What do you
think I mean this outseason with defense, what do you think of being a
big part of it? Wasn't elitelast year and it should be be better
this year. Yeah, they werea very elite defense last year, and
watching all the film from last yearand the whole season, they played a
great season. They played a lotof good defense. Excuse me a wisp
question, just the idea of beingthe part a big part. I'm not

(04:34:45):
an league defense. I mean Ican only do my part. I can
only do my one to eleventh anddo my job. Every player I can't.
I can't try to do more thanthat, and every other player just
has to do their job and we'lldo what we need to do. Your
field punching habits, Was that thesame in high school? And what did
that look like for you on aregular high school? My high school coach

(04:35:07):
is one of my favorite people inthe world, uh, Freeman Davis.
Me and him watch film together alot, But that was more so just
myself watching film and trying to grow. So I would say I had a
lot of the same habits and hastrusted over to college. But a lot
of that was me and my highschool coach going the game together. Another
movie. You around everywhere here,but you know, it seems like you're

(04:35:29):
at that free safety spot as opposedto the strong safety spot you played at
Alabama. Just what said transition?Like? Do you feel that does that
even matter in this kind of defense? I th I mean it's the same
spot really to the it's the safetyto the field, the safety playing in
the most space. That's what I'mused to. But at the end of
the day, I I feel likeI could play to the boundary. I
can play the dome money position,I can play nickel. So I mean,

(04:35:52):
at the end of the day,you gotta make plays wherever you're at.
And Calen, what have you been? What have your thoughts been on
now? Jeremiah School a very eliteathlete, very instinctual player, has a
great ball skills. Should uh shouldhave a big impact this year. Anybody,
you can your parents what you've seen? Oh nah, ja Jesson's own

(04:36:17):
self, Jesus, he's on it'shis own man. Uh. Who else
who's caught your eye? That girdreceiver group, Kayle That UH is elite
in your opinion. Uh, Iwatched a Mecca booka a lot out of
H and Co. When I wasin high school. Yeah, watching the
games and then last year watching someof his film. He's been an elite
receiver then and he's a league receivernow. And Carlote has had a great

(04:36:40):
spring as well. Yeah. Anduh, you you personally, Uh,
after the UH stud appreciation Day onSaturday, you were mobbed about as much
as anybody. What is what?How have you felt the receipt meaning of
autographed seekers at Saturday? You know? Uh? How have you felt the
reception here? Uh? For youover the last several months, but especially
like Saturday, I think it's beenvery welcoming. I appreciate everybody and like

(04:37:03):
I appreciate when I go to class, seeing people that know me and just
being able to meet them, beingable to say that I'm glad to be
here, being able to say I'mglad to be here to everybody that came
up to me. Yeah. SoI'm just I'm very appreciative of it.
Do you feel their expectations for you? You know what I mean that?
Uh? I mean people may haveexpectations, but at the end of the
day. Only one person can reallyjudge me, and that's God. I

(04:37:25):
mean, other than that, atthe end of the day, it doesn't
really matter. Feel how much haveyou been mowing tweeting the three different safety
spots every day? I take repsat all three spots just to try to
It helps you understand and learn thedefense from a new perspective. So being
able to see the ball from theboundary safety, see the ball from a

(04:37:45):
nickel spot, being able to seethe ball from the dime, it helps
you be able to see the wholegame and be able to understand everything that
goes on around you. Cause whenyou've moved out up the stoolage, you're
flying of every few types on somesacks. It's a been a book reint
on footal point, it's just sto'sasome. All right, We are back

(04:38:06):
on the Andre Duke Show with CarterSmith and we have a massive special guest
tonight, Kirk Barton, former OhioState offensive lineman, former NFL player,
and it is a massive thank youKirk for coming on. How are you
doing. I'm doing great, man. I appreciate you guys having me,

(04:38:27):
and I love the massive shirt thatis the that's my favorite shirt I've ever
created, because we put massive inour YouTube titles a lot and then I
people made fun of it that don'tlike us, and I was like,
well, I'm put on a shirtand we're gonna sell it. We sold
more of those than any any itemin our shop, So thank you for
buying that. I appreciate you,by man, No, no problem,

(04:38:48):
Carter, how are you doing doingthis same? I'm doing doing great man,
Just you know, going through theweek getting it done. Super excited
to have a chance to talk withKirk. I loved Kirk when he was
a player at Ohio State. He'sgot a good relationship with my brother,
so I've met him a couple oftimes to that. So just really excited
to have you on the show.Kirk. Really appreciate you taking the time
to do this always. Man,Man, I appreciate you guys. So

(04:39:11):
with that being said, we willhop right into it. Kirk, you've
talked on your podcast Buckeye Scoop aboutthe Texas game in two thousand and five,
so and you brought it up thatthe kicker from Miami of Ohio went

(04:39:32):
to went to Alabama. So howbig would a kicker be in a game
like that back when you were playingwell. I mean, you know I
played with NuGen obviously Nujeh on thesecond round, and you know, he
hit a game winning fifty five yardfield goal against Marshall where we could have

(04:39:52):
lost that game. I mean wewere tired, you know, with like
three seconds left, and he hita field goal that thankfully didn't send us
over time. But you know,we and again I'm not pitting this on
Josh Houston. You know he kickedfive field goals that night, but you
know, we had a fifty yarderto basically ice the game over, and
you know, we would have beenup nine with no time, you know,

(04:40:14):
four minutes left, so they wouldhave needed two scores. They'd everyone
have gotten two scores versus our defense, and we missed it. And again
that's not blaming Josh, It's juststating evact, you know, or if
we have Mike Nugent or we haveyou know, an ACE kicker, you
know, we we win the Texasgame. And I think we have a
whole different set of circumstances. LikeI just I remember in oh four,

(04:40:36):
we were so bad on offense,especially in the beginning of the season,
that like Mike Duese that we playedNC State. NC State had one of
the best defenses I've ever seen.They had Mario, they had three first
round picks on their defensive line.They had Mario Williams, Manny Lawson,
uh uh da, Mario Presley,Tank Tyler. I mean, I mean
it was literally like unbelievable hugged theirdefense was and Steven Tullock was also like

(04:40:59):
a second round pick liberg So theirfront seven was incredible and Nuge like kicked.
I think he kicked four or five. We won like twenty two to
like fourteen or some weird score,and Nudge kicked like five field goals that
day. I think he kicked five. And like, you know, if
we don't have Nuge, we losethat game, we lose the Marshall Game.
So I just think in the airof the transfer portal, man,
when you can get a kicker who'smaybe kicked early in his career, you

(04:41:25):
know, because sometimes like kickers,they're not the easiest thing to evaluate.
But if a kid goes somewhere wherewe can start as a freshman, he
does great. And like a kidlike this who's got a year left,
I think you take him in aheartbeat and just totally fortify the offense and
make it an A plus offense becauseyou see like the best offenses in the
NFL. You know, Lamar Jacksonwon the MVP. He had justin Tucker.

(04:41:45):
The Chiefs obviously had Harrison, Butker, I just I love kickers that
have huge legs, like guys thatcan hit from mid fifties, hit from
fifty And there's got to be akicker somewhere on this earth that's you got
eligibility, that can do that.And we haven't had a guy that could
do that consistently for a long time. But Michigan finds guys and these other

(04:42:07):
school somehow fun guys. And inthe transfer portal era, I think that
our kicking, uh not punting.Our punters have been good. Cam Johnson
still in the NFL, but arekicking. You know, we haven't had
a kicker do anything in the NationalFootball League since Nuge and that was an
O four, So I don't knowhow that's possible. But again that's just
my opinion. And you know,Jaden Feeling might prove me wrong. I

(04:42:30):
hope he listens to everything I sayand he proves me wrong, and he
wins the gross of this year becauseagain, Mike Nugett as a true freshman
was terrible, and then as asophomore he was the best kicker in America.
So things can change. But youknow, I think that kickers are
valuable. And again, I knoweveryone makes makes fun of kickers and they're
not real players, but you knowwhen they win national championships and they win

(04:42:52):
Super Bowls, and you know,they're the guys that have their balls on
the line, you know, withone second left and they got to a
sit down the middle to win thegame, that counts to me. So
that's just my opinion. I wasvery disappointed we didn't get this kid from
Miami because I was praying that he'dhit the portal and he did, and
then of course he goes Alabama.So there's my thoughts. Yeah, And
I mean, how big would ithave been to have a kicker like Nugent

(04:43:15):
in the Georgia game a couple ofyears ago, right where you could possibly
win the game there if you havea kicker that can bury a fifty five
yarder. Yeah, I mean,that's I mean, And honestly, it's
sometimes it's not just that that endof game kick. But sometimes there's just
there's points in games with where whenyou miss a field goal, it's a
humongous momentum swing and you can feellike the air come out of the building

(04:43:37):
sometimes, like when we miss oneon the road or or when you hit
it. If you hit it,it's a huge you know, going in
at halftime or whatever, like youget some points on the board. Again,
people might think that that's nothing,getting an extra three, but you
know, when you miss a fieldgoal, man, especially in a tight
game versus like equal talent, itreally means something. So when you play
Michigan, man, you got tohit your layups. Man, you got
to hit your three. You know. And that's the thing that we're not

(04:44:00):
we haven't been great about absolutely.So just real quick, going back to
the Texas game from that year,Obviously we're dealing with another quarterback battle this
year, correct me if I'm wrong. You guys kind of had a quarterback
battle going on to start that season. Correct, Yeah, it was.
It was a weird situation because youknow, Troy obviously got suspended for the

(04:44:22):
l Mobile and for Week one versusMiami of Ohio. Uh, and then
you know we uh, you know, Justin. Justin played the ALM Mobile.
He did a great job. Hedid well against Miami of Ohio.
And then you know, week two, we're playing Texas, who's the best
team in the country. They wonthe national title, and we had this
kind of a wonky rotation where Justinstarted and then Troy came in, and

(04:44:44):
you know, it just it wasone of those circumstances where it was tough
because you know, I mean,I hate rotating quarterbacks. I don't think
it's fair to the quarterbacks, butI think that when you've got two guys
that are equal, and I feltlike at the end of O four Troy
separated, but that he kind ofstubbed his toe with the suspension. So
it was a tough call. Andagain I do I wish that we would
have just picked one and one withit, probably especially if we got to

(04:45:07):
pick Troy. But it, uh, you know, the quarterback things aren't
always as cut and dry as asyou can think, especially when guys aren't
there non contact in fall camp,you know, because Troy. You know,
when guys can can move, youknow, when you see these modern
quarterbacks like Kyler Murray and Jalen Hurtsand Lamar Jackson, the guys that you
take in your fantasy football league,and basically it's like having like a third

(04:45:30):
running back in your starting lineup.When you have the guys that are athletic,
like when they're when those guys arein a quarterback competition during fall camp
and they're non contact and they can'tcreate and do the things that make them
special, then all of a sudden, I don't think you really know what
they could do until you put themout there in a real game where there
is no black jersey, there isno non contact jersey. But you know,

(04:45:53):
a guy like Troy, you know, when he could create on the
run, it was kind of likeAlan Iverson with his cross over, you
know what I mean, like whenyou get open man. I mean,
he could he could make things happenthat nobody in the history of O HIGHSTA
football could make happen. So Iyou know, it was it was tough
again, it was Uh that's oneof those haunting ones. I mean that
that game probably haunts me more thanFlorida because Florida we just got our our

(04:46:17):
wheels, we got our doors blownup. But Florida also like we weren't
we weren't really that good in Osix, Like in O five, we
were really good, like like thatO five Ohio State team. If they
wuld have played the O six team, the five team would have dog locked
us, just because our defense wasso much better and and and really our
offensive was too because we had nickman Gold and Robsons like we had NFL
dudes on our line. Uh,that were much better than the guys that

(04:46:40):
we played in O six. Sothat that Texas game haunts me to this
day because we had the best teamin the country beat and we let them
go, which that sucks. Yeah. Absolutely. In another game that you're
what about Penn State? Did weplayed those? Yeah, that was the

(04:47:00):
first white out, So that spawnedthe white out craze and it was it
was an It was the best collegefootball environment of all time. I mean
it was. 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 likelike uh you know, something like Rob

(04:47:21):
SAMs, Nickmangle, they've been there. But they played and I think it
was a noon game in three butthey we'd never experienced a white out before,
so I don't think we were readyfor the noise, and I got
hurt, which is what really sucked. In the second quarter, I blew
my knee out on a field goalprotection and it hurt bad, and it
sucked, and I couldn't finish thegame. And they're their best player was

(04:47:42):
their d N that I blocked allday. And he was a first round
pick. Tom Beholey played for theChiefs. I was pro bowler, and
like I played him at OH fourand I thought he was good, but
I didn't think he was like incredibleor anything. Like I didn't think he
was like some guy was like,oh my god, how I'm gonna block
this guy? And when I wasin there O five, like, I
handled him and he played and Iplayed against them the whole game because he

(04:48:02):
didn't flip, like they don't fliptheir dns. They play the same guy
plays against the right tackle the wholegame. So I was handling them and
and I killed him in OH fourwhen I was a freshman, and I
frankly wasn't even good. And youknow, so then when I got hurt,
it like it got a little bittougher because we had to put you
know, we put Rob Sims atright tackle. Rob Sims it never played
right tackle his life, and theyput him out there, and then we

(04:48:23):
put Booty out there at right tackle. Booty was a true freshman, and
you know, no eighteen year oldcan handle that environment. He actually did
pretty well. But you know,at the end of the game you have
Tom of course sacks the quarterback andit's like my nightmare, uh realized when
the guy that I handled the wholeyear, like ends the game and kills
Stray and trade as a summersault andlike they still play that clip when we

(04:48:45):
play Penn State because it was thedramatic of an ending. So that sucked.
So yeah, those are the twoand that was the hardest part.
Man, is like by that timein the season, like the season was
over basically because we lost two.And you know, back then it was
like if you're not in the youknow, the top two, ish,
you're not going to have a shotto play for the championship. That was
PREVCS, but it was still youknow, once you get down get a

(04:49:07):
second loss through like six weeks,man, your season's over for you.
You know, in terms of winningthe Natty, which was our natural that
was actually our goal. Yeah,absolutely, back then it was you know,
one loss you might still have achance, but two losses basically you're
out of it. So that hadto be tough. And then kind of
getting away from maybe some of themore negative memories of that year. The

(04:49:30):
one game that I personally had ainvested interest in was the I believe it
was a Fiesta Bowl with Notre Dame. Kind of walk me through what you
guys thought when you watch them onfilm and kind of your guys's mentality going
into that game. Well, Imean, we knew they were really good.
We knew that they they had alot of NFL guys that were really

(04:49:52):
well coached. People can say whateverthey want about Charlie Weiss, but you
know, their offense was was reallygood. I mean Brady I was playing
at a very high level. Obviously, he was a guy that probably could
have left him been a top tenpick. I don't think it's safe for
his senior year helped him. Ithink if he had left after that third
year, he had have made moregood running back Darius Walker. Their line

(04:50:15):
was really good. Ryan Harry hada bunch of NFL guys, Ryan Harris
the left tackle, good player,Samarga who ended up being a pitcher in
the in the big leagues. Uhwas a force as a wide receiver.
Defensively, I remember that Victor AbbeyAmieri, who again that was there were
another team that didn't flip. SoI played against Victor Abby Mary the entire
game and he was the best playerin their entire defense. He ended up
being a second round pick by theEagles. They had Zibbi Tomas of Kowski,

(04:50:40):
who we actually had the same agent, so we actually became pretty tight
once we got to the league.But you know, they had uh,
they had dudes, but again 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 we werethrowing it up over the top to Teddy
and san Antonio and we didn't thinkthey could run with us, and they
couldn't. So that was that wassomething that like our game plan was,

(04:51:02):
let's let's take them deep, anduh, we knew they were gonna blitz
it was. It's kind of funnywhen you study these teams, is that
what are the weird things you studyare? Like what could they do against
you that they maybe haven't shown onfilm? Given the break given a thirty
day absence between you know, theMichigan game and then the Bull game,
so we didn't have a big timetitle game back then. So after we
beat Michigan before Thanksgiving, we didn'tplay again until January. So it's a

(04:51:26):
big thirty five day winner. Soyou could literally and sall an entire new
defense, and we thought they weregoing to blitz us pretty heavy, just
based on our runs and our tendenciesand the one end around the Z round,
which you know ted Gin was theZ which is like your flank or
your speed receiver. We we wedid a self scout and we'd ran to

(04:51:48):
the right behind me like seventy fivepercent of the time that year. So
we ran our signature play which waslike it was called eight load, which
is an option play that Troy Troynever pitched. It was an option play
where he'd never pitched it. Heonly carried it, and uh, I
guess Iowa. We scored two touchdownswith it. We ran it a lot,
but we put in a reverse offof it. So you start the

(04:52:08):
option action and you see the linebackerscome flying right into the hole where where
we hit it. Because I'm surethat they went over that with their scout
team for a long time and uhand they over commit big time to where
the play was going. But thenyou have Ted coming back the other way
on the on the Z round,so there was nobody there and san Antonio,
san Antonio had the best crack blockand he probably he had been thrown

(04:52:30):
in prison if he did that todaybecause he'd been targeting and everything else.
But san Antonio killed their uh,their their their walkout guy, their their
walkout linebacker, like killed him,took him off his feet, and uh
and Ted was like off to theraces. So I just remember our offensive
staff did a great job tress bullslike Jim Bowman. Those guys really did

(04:52:51):
a good job of scheming those guysup. And uh, you know our
defense, our defense played well,you know, I mean they weathered the
early storm because Notre Dame went rightdown the field and scored to start the
game, and then they they clampedup a little bit, and uh,
but it was good. I mean, we do it would be a challenge,
and those are the fun games becausethey had they had equal talent,
so us we were probably a littlemore talented. But it wasn't like the
normal, huge gap of talent thatOhio State football normally encounters on a Saturday.

(04:53:15):
Yeah. Absolutely. That was theone thing that I wondered if you
touch on just because watching the game, you know, the thing that jumped
off the screen to me was justhow much faster you guys were, at
least at receiver compared to the defensivebacks. It looked like they were running
in long grass and you guys wereon AstroTurf. Yeah. I mean,
we just were lucky. We hadTed and Santonio and Gonzo and uh,
you know, obviously Gonzo that thatthat play where he didn't catch it was

(04:53:38):
the play of the game where Zibakowskipicked it up and ran it back to
the house, because that was uh, you know, that was like the
early the early times of replay wherethey