Press Conference (Garrett Wilson)

Episode Transcript

(00:00):
That that we wouldn't have had initiallyat this time of the year, you
know, last year, you know, those those tougher conversations, those ones
where we might disagree when we doagree, where where he's got his two
cents on it, which is,you know, always the best two cents
I've heard. But me being whoI am, you know, I'm I'm
I'm gonna throw my two cents inthere, you know. So that's just
uh, it's been awesome. Man. We he's he's you know, a

(00:21):
resource for me, just a personthat I can always bounce my thoughts off
of. And now, you know, just a year you said, thirteen
months, now I feel more comfortablejust you know, bringing certain things up.
You know, you never you neverwanna come off too strong. But
I'm a curious guy. I gota lot of questions. I like I
like football a lot. I liketo talk talk the games. So you
know, come to find out,he's the exact same. So we,
uh, you know, we getalong well, and you know we're gonna

(00:43):
keep keep building that relationship. Sometimesin this league, playing you know,
eighteen games, they trying to makea twenty. You know, it's like
it sound like a little a littlefever dream to be honest, But but
uh, if we can find away to k you know, stay up
right out there, keep keep airingon his feet. You know, I'm
I'm excited for that and uh everythingthat comes with it. But uh,
but yeah, like I said,man, that's it's it's harder said than
uh or harder done, and said, I guess you know, it's one

(01:04):
of those things. It's like that'sa lot of games. You know,
all of a sudden take a lotof hits. They take a lot of
hits where they're not looking, andit's just how can we keep him healthy?
Yeah? Yeah, are you whendo you think? I do you
ever see your room now? Positionsand you guys have made when more Monty
healthy and everything like yeah, youknow, I'm excited to see it at
at full health. You know,we've i haven't got to see all the
all the guys out there at once. And and you know, it's one

(01:26):
of those positions where every day issomething might happen to nick up. You
know, it's just a a toughposition to stay out there at all times.
But I feel like we got agreat group and and the number one
thing is how can we stay healthy? How can we you know, I'll
be out on the field, andI think having depth like this and the
group you have is gonna help us. Having guys that can do different things,
that can go catch ball over themiddle, all types of things that

(01:47):
it's gonna take some of the strainoff off all of us. You know.
It's it's a good group. SoI'm excited to, uh, you
know, get out there. Ifeel like we haven't had the whole whole
thing together, but you know,come season time, a roll and it's
gonna be exciting. What about yourGod is in your old number? Uh?
Yeah, yeah, like a yeahman, he's uh, he's a
brute man. I think it's likeyou know how to write, like when

(02:10):
you use your right hand, youknow how your handwriting should look. It's
about taking the reps to make surematches. I guess, you know,
so you're taking the reps to getback to that. I think it's all
what it does. I mean obviously, like he's one of my biggest supporters,
you know, so obviously you knowhe's he's he's excited about the opportunity

(02:30):
for me, you know, soI'm excited about it. Help you oh
a lot. He helped me alot, even from like the first day,
just trying to help me get usedto to write tackle. He got
my feet used to write tackle likemy first dad practicing like dude, I
still feel he feel a little off. I don't feel its balanced to my

(02:53):
stands. And he showed me thesmall technique and to do with my feet,
which I still do even even thoughtleft tackle just keeps as part of
my routine. That was part ofmy process and getting to my stand So
just stuff like that that he taughtme from day one and obviously in practice
was fun. Just compete and youknow it's just to meet at the back

(03:13):
of the pocket and to dap eachother back whatever you reap. Like that
was compete, you know what Imean. So that's my guy. As
much as you love your the WestSide, how bittersweet is at a certain
matters because it would happen to him. Yeah, that's the thing. That's
not how It was definitely not howI and how I thought about the transition
would go. You know, Ithought it would be you know, on

(03:34):
homesoone timing a cardinal his whole career. You know, you know, you
want to play here forever, youknow what I mean When I was talking
about his plans, so you know, you win, you wish transitions like
one of those fairy tale like toyour time. But but again either way,

(03:55):
you know, we talked about it. You know that that's that's the
how goes, you know, butobviously you know he sees he's he's been
one of my biggest supporters. Again, I affect everybody leads in their own
way, you know, not everybody'sthe guys coming around like and that's not
everybody right like effect for me,that's me specifically on game day with the

(04:20):
O line after we do one onone like that's my like, well,
Hump did like like that's my likebig vocal time. I feel like I've
talked to Hump about this, youknow, just recently talking about how what
I want to do for the roomwas I want to bring that Hump energy
that he brought right so last year. Of course, some traits been doing

(04:43):
it for years, but the yearI spent with him, he brought a
lot of the energy and excitement andthe happiness in the room was just his
natural energy to where I only hadto focus on me, you know,
I didn't have to make sure otherother guys are, you know, feel
some type of way when they camein here because Hump brought that. But

(05:04):
out of Hump's not here, butI saw what he did for the room.
I want to be that guy tomake sure everyone's amped to go to
practice, everybody's hype. Weren't takingand field team one period. You know
it's a low day or something.You know, it's a it's a day,
but like I want to make youfeel like your parents is tripper right
now. I want to bring thatbecause that's when me and Hump did to

(05:26):
each other. We will hpe eachother's other dudes like dudes were about to
get walked through. We're lit.So I want to do that. I
want to bring that energy. Iwant to make bring more guys, you
know, to do that. Youknow, I wanted to do that from
day one, you know, Ikind of I wanted to do that from
day one, from just talking tohim, and obviously it's that time.

(05:46):
I spend the off season before OTAstarted just being in myselfish thinking about what
the room needs, you know,because I know I knew new role as
one of the leaders, you knowon the offense is that we need a
guy like that that's gonna make surethe old line is picked up ready to

(06:08):
go. Every day I was heldaccountable little things or happened to practice.
People aren't saying anything. And howI may lead maybe different than somebody else
may lead. You know. Ilike to a practice at least like to
leave with positivity, you know whatI mean. So, but he the
energy yet went beyond just the oldhype up the deal line and stuff too.
So that's kind of how I wannabe s goal mine literally my whole

(06:32):
life. I wanna be a NFLteam captain, like specifically the NFL.
I wasn't a captain of high school, wasn't a captain in college. But
I made a joke when I wasin high school. I was like,
there, I feel like I'm notgonna be a captain to like gets to
the NFL. Yeah, but thatwould be awesome, you know, but
you know, if it happens,I'd be great. But not either way,

(06:55):
I wanna assume a role as acaptain from the respect of the guys
on the team, invidual award tome and to get back to that point,
yeah, I mean I can't saythat I mean, I guess the
biggest thing is that I felt likeit has felt like how it you used
to in the past. But itdidn't take just the first day OTAs.

(07:16):
It took training left and right oncethe season ended, cause I didn't know
what it was gonna be sure,so it took a lot of yeah reps
just to get back to feeling likemyself for day one OTAs and then that
whole first week. But now liketoday, specifically just changing some small things

(07:38):
with my feet. I did saytalking about a line coach about some things
I can do with my feet toget to the to sell at that traditional
angle that I loved to set on. Felt even I thought I felt,
I thought I felt great already bymokay, I felt even better of it.
So I'm even more excited tomorrow.Now I'm getting my feedback to how
I liked it the right side andon the left side, so I'm excited

(07:59):
to teach. I mean, obviously, I feel like in the league,
whether I left or right, arestill going against premier guys, So obviously
you have high expectations for your leftand your right tackle. But there's definitely
uh like the the level of energyand like the expectations definitely take and the
human start, cause now connected theblank side that stuff, that's the tackle

(08:22):
roles, you know. So soyeah, I would say in terms of
communication as far as just even outsideof facility and just stuff like that,
like really creating that tackle quarterback bondeven more off the field, I think
has been something that's even been cool. I got a text one day it's
like, hey, like you playleft, and I was like, yeah,

(08:45):
you know, yeah, I've beentraining both. I've been training both.
You know. I I aks afterthe season. They're like, honestly,
you know, we'll talk to youstill play in the season. And
I just got a text me like, depending what happens with with the free
agency then. So I was like, you know what, I had a
whole season right tackle. So ifI get the word, I'm going I'm
standing right tackle. I don't justdo what I did before. I'm built

(09:07):
on that bus. I was like, I might as almost trained the left
tackle now as if I'm gonna bea left tackle, and I'd rather do
that than training on right tackle andget the koll Hey you're the left tackle.
I'm like, oh, I didn'teven switch on my feet yet.
You know what I mean. SoI'm like, let me just prepare in
the advance. I was like,yeah, it's god. You know,
I think occasionally on third down there'dbe a lot of twists. I would

(09:28):
just know like it's I'm antomatically coming. And I think that was my mindset
for like the first half of theseason. But like I didn't have to
go into a game and with surpriselike oh my gosh, they did that.
I kind of figured like, okay, like this is this is the
type of rushman again, like thisis how this guy usually rushes. But
I get the vibe, this ishow the ends like the rush you know,
tackles that are you know, firstyear guys who got the premier patch

(09:52):
on. I already knew what itwas gonna be, already knew of every
stunt and honestly just knowing that it'skind of an advantage too. So you're
not you're not you're not old.They brought the twist of my side again.
It was never an Aaron Donald likeyou know, they're coming out of
minds, like three plays in arow two minutes. I knew that it
was gonna win happen, you knowwhat I mean. I'm watching more than
everybody else, and he rarely Englandgoes out there on occasional third down.

(10:15):
Was on the d end. Iwas like, you know, it's gonna
be he's gonna pick me, youknow what I mean, So fact fact
it's kind of it's also kind ofan advantage in the way, but it's
also exciting, like, Okay,I'm gonna get the hardest. Look.
You know, those are real,real reps, you know the bank,
So really, I'm not really didn'tkind of process that. I was like,

(10:37):
hey, when they tell me tolet me know, but I'm just
gonna train it. I was trainingall left to Ta's. I guess if
I didn't hear anything about Ta's,I would have came in like so you
know what I mean, because justlike I'm cool training both continue, I
would have been cool training both continually. But I feel like anybody, any

(10:58):
position will be like, okay,like you wanna as soon as possible give
your feeds accountability at the time Ustinwhat I uh, what'd you seem the
guy with accounted law? See,yeah, I mean he's quick. You
know, he can create a lotof space and uh small spaces, so
uh it's quick, you know,uh, savvy with his rout running,
and you know he's just he's justa hard worker. You know. You

(11:18):
know there's some plays where he knowshe's not getting the ball and he's still
still winning the route. So youknow, just to have that player,
uh A a player like that givethat much effort uh on the field every
play, it's really really good tosee. And I think it's you know,
really uh gonna rub up on theother guys too. I'm good,
I'm about to. I'm'a get another. What's it like working with uh some

(11:39):
of the tight ends that you guyshappened to Ron there, I know after
Smith straight just talked about the versatilitythat a lot of other guys have,
especially in that grip. Yeah,I mean we have a different uh uh
a lot of you know, differentguys in the tight end room. You
know, Darnelly brings sides to theroom. Uh, Rodney Speed, Uh
Connor, he has a great awarenessin the field. Pat of course,
he you know, he's a greatall round sight end. And then uh,

(12:01):
you know, uh crew, he'sa he's a back, he's smart,
he knows what he's doing. So, I mean, just all the
guys in the room. You know, they're smart and attentive and they f
I f I feel like they've jare just to the offense. Will so's
it. What's been like working withTom or on? What's he been kind
of working with you? Specious?Yeah, I mean Tony's been great.

(12:22):
Uh just his at tis attention todetail, the way he comes you know,
in each and every day. Hecomes in the same guy every day,
and uh, to be honest,I haven't you know, I don't
think I've had to coach that detailed. But as Tom, you know,
he's very detailed in terms of youknow, practice ref you sending us,
uh the info, breaking down eachand every play and really just really just

(12:46):
focused on the detail, to behonest with you, I think, Uh,
that's the thing that sets him apart. And you know he's he pushed
us to be hard. I meanour our indie periods or you know,
conditioning, So of course that's goodfor us. But I mean he's been
great so far. So excited touh, you know, allow that allow
our relationship to grow and excited towork for him is what he's doing kind

(13:07):
of compliment what you're doing individually.You know, when you're away from the
facility working with you know, coachesone on one anything like that. You
said, what does he do here? That kind of compliments what you do
away from the facility when you're troubling. I mean, I think he does
different stuff. So I think,uh, that's a good thing about it.
You know some stuff that we dohere. Oh sorry, uh,

(13:28):
I don't you know, usually dooutside of the facility. So it's good
getting that different work in, differentdrill work that I can you know,
implement into my you know, offseason program and stuff like that. So
it's good that I'm learned HI stufffor sure. Deep efficiency that was specially
the last year. What what whatwhat is our smith in the offense talk
about you trying to make make thatincorporate that into being a big part of

(13:50):
this office. I mean yeah,uh, I think we have fast guys,
guys that can get down the fieldwith speed, Guys like Quiz,
Calvin, Scottie, Van, youknow, me and Rust. You know,
we've we've had a lot of deepball success and of a lot of
explosive plays in the past. Soyou know that's just uh, you know
what, I guess how our offenseis built to be honest with you.

(14:11):
But I mean, our job isto create explosives and you know, push
the ball down the field. Soanytime we get those ops, we definitely
wanna capitalize on those. Are yourcoach, just enresting any part of your
mechanics in any way that I mean? Yeah, Uh, I think there's
always room to improve, uh,mechanic wise and stuff like that. So
I think you know, Matt Baker, uh he's a or a quarterback assistant.

(14:31):
He you know, usually stays onme the most about it. Okay,
So I appreciate the fact that hedoes that, and I usually,
you know, make sure he doesn'tmake sure I just just stay on top
of it, you know, asa whole, and you know, make
sure, uh, my mechanics arealways clean. Can you talk about one
particular element that they're distressing. It'sit's different areas, to be honest,
I don't think it's just one specificarea, but it's it's different areas.

(14:52):
Justin in your opinion, was theresomething that you wanted to work on maybe
get better at when you got hereat this point in your career. I
mean, like, like I said, there's you know, no matter who
you are, you know, there'salways stuff to get better at, always
different areas. Nobody's perfect in onearea, so I think you can continue
to prove in all air in mygame, you know me personally, So
I'm just focused on getting better everyGod. So when we talked to a

(15:13):
Russ yesterday, he said that rustedthat he personally felt kind of revived you
being in another staff in his career. Is there any of that sense of
maybe rejuvenation or feeling revived. Obviouslyyou haven't been in the league for thirteen
years, but is there a newenergy that you get being in a different
organization, going through mini camp ina different way for the first time.
I think so, you know,just being around a new team, uh

(15:35):
uh an organization that's you know,just just with this culture, you know,
me being in you know, twodifferent places now, you just I
realize that, you know, youdon't get this culture everywhere. I think
Chicago, I think they are,you know, kind of changing the narrative
now, but I mean, thishas just been the culture here for so
many years to where I mean youcan see it. It's just the way

(15:56):
that you know, we attack eachevery day and coach heut he stays honest
about it. So I think justhaving that and uh, you know,
reiterating that you know each and everyday that keeps guiding itsposing guys are ready
to compete each and every day.Is it easy to step into an organization
when there already is such a culturethat's been established for a long term to
kind of know where you fit andknow what's expected. Most definitely, I

(16:21):
think, you know, especially asa leader as a player on the team.
You just don't have to thank youfor checking out this content from posts
at Sports. If you watch thisvideo on YouTube, please like the video.
Yeah. I mean, I thinkcollege football is different and ideologies and
understandings and have changed. And Ithink that, you know, the portal

(16:48):
is a variable. And I wouldsay that not him in particular, but
I wouldn't say everyone doesn't really knowhow to handle it properly. You see
it currently. I mean, it'sjust it's a variable that it's new and
how to handle it. There's nota transcript on how to handle that variable.
So you just guys just trying todo what they think is right.
That's all they're really trying to do. And I'm not saying that right or

(17:10):
wrong, but he was trying todo the same. And you know,
I think at the end of theday he realized he made made the wrong
decision and we connected on it.We talked about it, and you know,
it was a great opportunity to towrite or wrong. And obviously we're
very glad he's here. I've alwaysbelieved in him. We believe in him,
and he believes in himself. Andthat's part of the just trying to

(17:30):
understand what's my path right. Souh but yeah, it's been great.
Steps have been made. He's growing, but he's nowhere near where he knows
he's capable of being just probly apriceless caremia. I love the way he
lives. I love the way heapproaches things. I love the way the

(17:52):
questions he asks. I love theway he makes mistakes and then correct mistakes.
It's very veteran, like, Imean, there's so much ball he
has to learn. Like he literallydoes things that are good. I'm like,
do you know what that worked?He goes coach, I have no
freaking idea, So like I'm tryingto teach him all of that why it
worked, so then you know theconsistency at which it works just goes to
the roof and so but I'm veryyou know, excited and proud of the

(18:17):
conversations we're currently having, and I'mexciting it for them to keep going.
By what you like you working withtell I love working with Chip, Chip
Is. I love talking Ball,I love the viewpoints. I love I

(18:37):
love the the veteran that he has, you know, uh and uh,
I love Yeah, Like I loveall of it. I think that you
know, early on the biggest impact, you know, just you know,
feeling perspective. I think in therun game has been awesome, you know,
and then you know, off ofthe run game some of the actions
or or relief throw are all thatkind of stuff. I love where it's

(19:00):
at. I love working with them, and I would 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

(19:23):
group. It's not just Chip andI so but you know, obviously Chip
has an image and a view onthings that I never had. So to
have that experience and have that viewpoint, I'm just trying to absorb as much
as I can, but then alsohighlight some things that we've really done a
good job of and make sure thoseyou know, nothing's really changing. We're

(19:44):
just trying to enhance. We're notchanging, we're enhancing. So where the
things fit is perfect. You know. I think, uh, you know,
the rest of the dynamics of searchChip can talk about. But it's
been it's been awesome, so I'mexcited about it. We talked to a
Mecca who're just talking about moving fromslot to the house side. You know
how good we've been in the slot. Is that a difficult move for you

(20:07):
guys just coaches to know how gooda guy is on one spot, but
know that maybe for his long termfuture and the no. I wouldn't say
it's anything on his future, becausehe's capable of doing whatever you want to
get done. But I'd say thatit says more about the room. I
think it's it's the growth of youknow, Brandon and the growth grow of

(20:27):
Bryson. That's really you know,allowing my mind to say, hey mech
be prepared. You're gonna move arounda lot. You're gonna come out of
that slot, You're gonna be outside. We're gonna create mismatches out there.
I mean, his ability to movearound is critical, but I would say
between Mech and between Carnell Takes's abilityto move around a lot, it's going
to provide a lot of flexibility forour room and uh and those top you

(20:49):
know, six seven guys that arereally doing a good job. Right now,
progress looks like this spring for amecca because there's no time to think.
It's one of those things, I'mtrue where you has balanced how much
worked does a need versus so much? Yeah? Yeah, heavy, heavy
emphasis on what work he needs,you know, versus anything else. Uh.
I rely on him. We havegreat dialogue back and forth. It's
a two way to It's a twoway conversation. And frankly, there's gonna

(21:12):
be times we're like, hey,Mech, what do you wanna do today?
You wanna go outside? You andgo inside? And I don't care.
So we're not there yet. Wewill be there, but it's just
more about, you know, whenthe room is ready to start mixing things
up. I would say, there'sGod. I mean, I make sure

(21:41):
I bring in guys that are ableto do all but I have not asked
them to yet. So the onlyguys that in our room currently I have
asked to do that has been Meccaand Carnell, and those are probably the
two guys that I would, youknow, think heavily on doing moving around
a lot. I'm not putting thaton anybody else right now, not saying
they can't, but at this point, having two guys being able to swing,

(22:03):
you probably don't need much more thanthat. I need guys being experts
at what they're good at, soit it helps the offense. Don't be
great at everything and be an expertat something and we can use that to
our to our advantage. This yearis different, like maybe you guys were
more situational. Yeah, the room'salways different, frankly, I mean from
twenty eighteen and then nineteen and throughCOVID and and those guys, and and

(22:27):
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. Last question,dr relationship between the TV rooms and your
Western room, especially you know theback of the boards. I'm curious Dbag

(22:48):
as a leader just like you youknow, played at Ohio Species of intel
seris. I'm curious about how you'veseen Tim kind of build a different backs
room, especially on the referee,tell the amount of successfu guys, and
maybe kind of the infective. Hewould probably know more for that coroving all
the way through ten years in thisleague, so I'm excited to see what

(23:10):
he's got. How old did youknow sores So when he was assistant here
and you've gotten to know him alot, that it wins a relationship made
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 group. He's agood leader. He knows the scheme really

(23:33):
well, which is good. Iwas happy to see him promoted. He
called me in the offseason. Wetalked. I just congratulated him, and
I think he's gonna bring something similarto what we had with the Miko good.
Do you know Brandon Stanley well atall? I mean, obviously Joey
played for him. I don't knowtoo much about him. I've obviously heard

(23:53):
from my brother, but I don'teven think i've said high yet. I
haven't ran into him yet, butI'm sure i'll get to know when you
say it looks similar to Miko,the energy or the system maybe a little
different energy, but I think justknowing the system from the front to the
back, I think he knows howit ties in, and he's been around

(24:17):
with some really good coaches, soI think it'll be pretty pretty seamless,
and I think we'll be firing onall cylinders. You're three months removed from
the Super Bowl now, so howhave you? I guess digested it,
and I guess physically everything good togo. Yeah, I feel really good.
I think it's been one of mybetter off seasons of just kind of

(24:40):
it was a long year, soI took it nice and slow to get
back into it. Not as youngas I once was, so I'm taking
a little a little slower, buteverything's great. I'm feeling as good as
I felt. I'm excited to actuallyget some practice in. Last year was
kind of tough, getting thrown inWeek one after a walk through, so

(25:06):
that was another reason I'm excited tobe here, is just to get practicing
a little bit in season. Practiceis one thing, but actually being able
to work your stuff and not havea game coming up is good. With
the Super Bowl Unfortunately, I knowhow to bounce back from tough losses,
so it was rough for a littlebit, but now it's just annoying when

(25:27):
people bring it up. Since thelast season, we've seen a Rock on
TV commercials and on the stage withKluke Coombs and throwing out the first pitch
of the Giants game. But heseems like a guy that's totally unaffected by
celebrity, which he has now.But what have you noticed in his leadership
style and the way he carries himselfany difference at all. I think he's

(25:51):
definitely getting a little more vocal withinthe building. And uh yeah, I
mean I don't think he's ever gonnachange. I don't think he's somebody that's
gonna change even when he gets paidnext year. So he's he's a man
of faith and he kind of remindsme of Scotti Scheffler, but except for

(26:15):
just super humble and really good kid. And yeah, he's definitely famous,
I don't just from watching he sawArmstead get released obviously meant so much to
the defensive line into the team.I mean, Colin John were pretty open

(26:37):
that they were willing to talk abouttrading Deebo or are you at draft?
Does that just another what's that feellike in the locker room when those sort
of joels happened. I didn't evenknow that happened and I wasn't here,
But you're talking about this offseason Armsteadin alarm Eric released, so let's it's

(27:00):
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 that itis a business and the team's going to
try and get as good as itpossibly can with or without you, and

(27:21):
you have to look out for yourself. That's why you go through holdouts and
do certain things that seem selfish inthe 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. What'sthe overall feeling around the group right now?
Like, how much does it feellike the excitement of the ramp up
to the season, even though it'searly, it feels good. It's been

(27:45):
a couple of days for me,so I like all the new guys.
I'm getting to know everybody, ButI think the past is in the past
and we're ready to go. Doyou talk to you talked to beat all
about handling the business part of this. He's going through some similar We chat
a little bit, but not toomuch about the details. I just told
him to keep his head up andtrying to stay positive through it all.

(28:10):
First impressions when you heard what yourschedule would be in that Aaron Rodgers' first
up, it'll be fun. Yeah, it's gonna be gonna be a good
one. Excuse me kind of alludedto this. But the fact that last
year you had to have that holdout sent that affected you somewhat early in
the season. If you hadn't hadthat experience, would you be here right

(28:33):
now? I mean, was thatpart of the motivation for being here early,
just to have the opposite when lastyear might be No, I don't
think that's one of the reasons.But I just talked to Kyle and he
kind of asked me. He kindof stated how he felt about why it
would be good for me to behere and asked if I agreed, and

(28:56):
I one did agree. So it'snot like I'm missing too much. I
think I'm out here. It's alittle less workload than I'm doing back home,
So it's kind of a good activerecovery thing for me. And I'm
getting football stuff, football working specifically, so that's good. I'm not it's

(29:17):
not compromising my training at all,and I get to meet all the guys.
It's positive. Your brother to lethim down. Oh no, he's
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

(29:41):
more week at home. But we'reboth in California. Everything you could share
about Conn's reason reasons that you agreedwith from the top, and it doesn't
get mixed up as it's moving downon the ladder. It's boom. This
is how we're doing things, andeverybody's following that, and I think it's

(30:06):
impressive the details that everybody have beenon, has has been on the effort
and just the competitiveness that that's beengoing on over the last few weeks.
Yeah, it's it's it's been great. How much do you appreciate that the
stops described the way jingle I shouldn'teat in the messaging doesn't eat mixed up?

(30:27):
I appreciate that so much. Imean, it's I guess It's easy
to appreciate when you kind of seeit working and you see guys improving,
getting better. I just think thedetails are really important. You can pretend
that leaving your shoes a mess oryour locker a mess isn't a big deal,

(30:51):
and what matters is playing football.But I think all those tiny details
and things kind of add up andlee into the important stuff, like what
you're doing on the field. Soif you can have your toe behind the
line, or have your locker andorder and all these things, they kind
of stack up into performing well andand playing well when things count. So

(31:15):
you know, I appreciate that.It's it also hasn't been a fight with
the guys in the locker room.They buy in, and you know,
it's a lot of young guys,and I think they're hungry to learn,
hungry to compete and win. Youknow, it's just an example, whether
it's we talked about first day,you have your shoes, if you could,

(31:37):
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 out
up too much, but I thinkin the long term it does, and
it leaks into other things, whetheryou're doing your right assignment on the field,
being late to meetings or all thesethings. If you hold a standard

(31:57):
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 anything in his
training program we're working with you thatyou feel will benefit you 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

(32:20):
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,
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
he can. He's he stresses itall the time that he's a tool for
us, and you know, he'sbeen he's been great. The guys love

(32:44):
him. The energy brings is awesome, and I think the stuff that we're
doing in the weight room is great, a great addition to stuff that I
may may do on the side orwhatever that is. Yeah, I think
we I mean, we had apresentation today with all the measurables that are
changing, and if you guys arein the meeting, you definitely see how

(33:05):
beneficial he's been to the team sofar. So obviously staying healthy is is
a huge factor to anybody's success.I'd say it's plagued us a little bit
for a while. So yeah,I think he's he's definitely incredibly beneficial.
You like fully covered. I knowat the end of last season you might

(33:25):
have been able to play. Yeah, No, I was not ready to
go last year. No, triedpracticing, tried coming back, and uh
it was it was not good,but yeah, it was Unfortunately, the
year wasn't going great and it justwas unnecessary risk for I mean, my

(33:46):
foot could have had some real realissues if I came back too early.
So yeah, it's been. It'sbeen. It's been a great off season.
My foot's feeling great, toes,good, hamstring, skod I mean,
there was a list of things lastyear in my hand, so all
those things are good. Finger goutsurgery on my finger, So that's feeling

(34:06):
good. Yeah, it's it's niceto be feeling better going into your nine
than you have since maybe five sixyears ago, which I've said I've said
I've been feeling great the last coupleof years. I'm telling you it's a
real deal this time. But obviouslyanything can happen. But I just feel
it's fun feeling really confident in yourbody and being able to perform. So

(34:30):
I could just go out during practiceand you know, go balls to the
wall and do everything that I feellike I need to to be able to
prepare. It's fun. My brotherand whoever I trained with my trainer Todd
back home, I think they'd bereally proud of how I've been working this

(34:50):
offseason, and it's just exciting.The pointing was the injuries on the green
They game you kind of 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 defeated coming

(35:12):
back. Had a broken hand,I'm like, oh, yeah, I
get to play Boom first series footPops. Thought I'd have to get surgery
and all these thoughts flooded through myhead. Broke down a bit, and
yeah, it just hurts. Youknow you're losing, you're getting injured,
You've felt like you prepared really well, in the offseason, and then the
year before you had growing surgery,so you know, a lot of things

(35:34):
build up. Yeah, you don'tget a break if you're injured. Everybody
wants to go on. Fans arevery nice, but no, I just
I'm grateful that I feel this way. I'm still still nicey Ripe twenty eight,
so not too old yet. Butyeah, I'm just excited. I

(35:57):
can't remember what the original question wasat this point, how close you and
Gift were, How how frustrated wasit that you couldn't you know for one
of those last three games. Itwas frustrating, but I mean Gift was

(36:20):
had my back the whole way.I think for Gift, for any but
for for the whole team, justto show what it means to me.
It would have been important for meto be out there, but I literally
could and I tried to practice.Injured my footworse the very first play I
was and in practice, So nochance that was happening unless I wanted to
throw my next season away as well. But no, I'm just I'm proud

(36:45):
of him for what he did withthe team, how he handled it,
and I need to call him back. Actually, sorry, Gif. Yeah,
I'm happy he gets to stay closeby with the with the Rams and
just proud of all we accomplished heretogether over the years and and we'll be
close for the rest of our lives. Was the foot was the guys foot

(37:08):
sprain? Yeah, I sprained onearea of my foot. Then when I
tried to return and I sprained anotherarea. Was able to avoid getting surgery,
which is kind of the main goal, But yeah, it was.
It was tough when it comes tothe addition of but Dupree, when he
felt like he's kind of brought tothe to the room and could bring on

(37:30):
the field. Yeah, it's whenI heard we got my brother some I
don't know, maybe my brother toldme. I'm like, really, we
just got budd Like, that's no, that's no small pickup. He's a
seriously elite pass rusher. Has hadsome trouble with injuries as well, so
I understand how that is, butnot only him as a player, but

(37:52):
as a personality. I heard Khaliljust saying he's he's a fun guy.
He's a funny guy, and andto have that in the room another vet
is always a great addition. ButI'm just excited to have him and Tuley
and to be able to rotate likethat and not drop off at all when
we come off the field is huge. And map Tules going into a second

(38:12):
year, just what do you whatare you kind of What are some of
the maturity maturity areas you see fromhim? You know, I'm gonna say
not much, And that's a complimentbecause he was already mature in those areas.
I mean, he's on it everythingplaybook wise, always doing his job,
working hard, just refining his techniqueand pass rush. I mean,

(38:36):
we don't have the pads on rightnow, so the real work will will
begin, you know, in sixweeks now. So but yeah, I
love Tuli. I've loved him sincethe first day he's he's walked into the
facility, and I know he's justgonna continue to get better. What 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,

(38:59):
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

(39:19):
lay a helmet in his chin.Hell, he holds up, but it'll
I'll take it easy on him.No, Rashon'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 passed
with him. Maybe maybe not.Actually I think what was it his first

(39:45):
year when I was a 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 the bragging rightsright now. I'm like the guy talking
about it old high school. Iremember, Yeah, we used to kicks.
No, but no, yeah,no, the rivalry is dead.

(40:08):
I was just saying this morning,you know, nine years and kind of
forget about that. I'm not agreat alumni. Sorry, sorry coached,
But no, it's great. That'swhat's great about the NFL is you just
have guys from all backgrounds. Youcould hate their guts one one year,
and then you come on the sameteam and your brothers and you're all working

(40:29):
towards one goal together. So ourfirst talk together was great. I just
sat down with them, went upinto his office and chopped it up about
life mainly and his opportunity here andhow much it means to him. And
uh, yeah, I think he'sa special guy. I think he's uh,
the way he conducts himself. He'san interesting cat for sure. And

(40:50):
I'm still still feeling them out.But one thing you can't denies that he
loves football and his main goal isto win football games and that's what we
need. Working out with you guysand and pushing his lives and doing all
this stuff. Just how interesting isthat to see? Yeah, I mean
he was a he was a greatplayer himself, and I think he's always
been, you know, built likethat lack of a better term. But

(41:16):
yeah, he's, uh, he'spart of the guys. You know,
he's not this guy outside looking in. He he really, I mean he
voiced that to me, is thathis favorite part of all of it is
being with the guys and and theconnections he makes. So Yeah, to
to see a guy like that comein and embrace it all and kind of

(41:36):
be part of it himself is important. Your initial impressions of Coachman during the
defensive Sam, Yeah, It's funnyto go from old gift, old gift
to this little young guy who's myage. I wouldn't want to get thrown
into a room with me and Khalilshis age. But no, he's been
great. I love messing with hima little bit. We little sarcasm back

(42:00):
and forth. But no, he'sgreat. He's uh, very talks very
fast, and I don't as youknow, so sometimes I gotta be like,
slow down, coach, come on. But no, he's great.
I'm excited, you know, toget closer as the years, as the
year goes on, and I thinkhe has he has a lot of passion

(42:23):
for the position and all he wantsto do is learn and and help us
to improve. So I'm excited abouthim. And I mean I do miss
Giff obviously, it was a longtime with him, but I am excited
to have a new face and kindof have that challenge for me. You
worked much with with Jesse's dad,since I know he coached linebackers in Michigan.

(42:46):
Did you ask about Jesse? Didyou ask about doing? Okay,
you asked about Jesse. Oh mygod, I was talking about freaking doing
the whole time. You guys areso confused. No, sorry, I
thought we were. I thought Ithought you mentioned coach Rony. No,
no, coach Mentor has been greatas well. Yeah, they've both been

(43:07):
great. Sorry, run that back. No, he's been good. Uh
yeah, very knowledgeable guy. Samething. I'm excited to get to know
him more as the year goes on. Have you worked Have you worked much?
Jesse? Yeah? No I havenot. I don't know if I've

(43:28):
said one word to him, butmore words to come down the road.
Like you said, you've been inyears since twenty sixteen. Just what are
some of this stuff? You justwent a ramble about the wrong guy for
fifteen minutes. You walk in whatYeah, what the hecks? Actually that's

(43:54):
literally not the person. Yeah,I figured out with something that you you
worked undering the off season, somethingto improve your game or is there something
that you can Usually my answer ispretty consistent that I just continue to try

(44:15):
to prepare myself physically, whether that'smy sprint work or agility work and my
lifting, but yeah, just toget everything feeling great. I 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

(44:36):
there, and I'm just going tocontinue to do what I know will prepare
me for the season. And uh, I know I'm gonna get plenty of
technique work and position work when I'mout here. So for now, I'm
going to spend these five weeks reallygetting uh preparing my body's workouts competitive again,

(44:57):
another year of competitive mis with youand name work. Yeah. Yeah,
it's usually too hot out there formuch competition. We're just trying to
survive. So but yeah, it'salways it's a it's a silent competition between
between each other, be like Peeking'slike what was his time? Was his
time? But no, yeah,it's always. You can never have an

(45:19):
off day when when you're out thereand he's he's warming up like a beat,
like a freaking robot every day outthere, so there's there's no off
days. Have you you and himhave talked at all and out I mean
any of this when you were kindof a contract thing, do you have
guys have to talk about on anybody? Yeah, I mean it's it's a
conversation, not a not really aserious conversation, but something that's come up

(45:45):
before. But yeah, I meanit would be cool. It would be
cool at some point. I Ialways thought of myself being somebody that will
play here and retire here, whichI think not many people do on one
team, and I think would bea cool thing to accomplish. But you

(46:06):
never know. I'm gonna worry aboutthis year. First. Sorry, it's
kind of we're on a food story. But so you guys have like the
lowest or second lowest food cucheria inthe NFLPA serverally last year and let it
moved to the facility, Like,have you talked a lot about food and
how you did some time? Isit fine? Because you have been looking
forward to the food upgrades and I'llhave you thought about it at all?

(46:28):
Yeah? No, it's Wolfgang Puckor whatever is the is the word?
Yeah, that's great. I've beenworking with my chef for seven years now,
so she's been great, so I'venever really had to worry about that
too much. But yeah, myweight's good. I've been eating a lot
this off season, so that's good. But yeah, I'm excited to maybe

(46:51):
be able to Sorry Christina, butmaybe I won't need a chef next year.
I'll have I'll have my uh seehow the seem the best fit.
Christy again, Chris caps here,here we go. Yeah, Drea,
welcome to Seattle. What were youlooking for in free agency? I felt

(47:15):
that's a loaded question for real,for real, Uh, you know,
in terms of you know, paysystem, teammates, environment, city,
all those kind of just like playinto it. Besides just uh the money
thing. I know, financials alwaysplay a big role, and I kind
of steer you into the direction youwant to go, but everything kind of
plays into it. And how muchdid you reach out to Shelby Drew,

(47:38):
knowing some of the guys you knewthe played here last year to get a
sense for what what Seattle might offeryou. I mean, not much right
now, I'll talk to I'll talkto Shelby a little bit about it.
Mainly no one, Drew. Uh, just congratulate me, Bob. Did

(47:58):
you come together pretty quickly? Iknow you kind of came to your agreement
on that first Monday, and everythingwith Seattle that come together really faster.
Now, it was a long day. Seattle came in almost out of nowhere.
We had like a good set ofteams that we were talking to just
trying to finalize what was going on. What was it the term is going
to be you know, and Seattlecame in hot. They showed a lot

(48:19):
of interest and uh they kind ofmotivating me to come here more and more.
And how similar will your role be, you know in terms of playing
what you did in Denver. Idon't know that yet. I got of
just mentioned previously. I don't knowmy role. I don't know the ins
and out yet. Once we'll getyou no through the protocols and nfl PA,
We'll we'll talk about no, theschemes and everything. Right, U,

(48:45):
so welcome. When you were inDenver in the three four, where
did you find yourself most comfortable andmost effective? And I played a lot
of different positions in Denver, Imean earlier in my year, I played
zero, I played three, twoone. I mean I definitely more comfortable
in a shaded position, mainly beinga three technique and five technique. That's
why I found myself to be morecomfortable whether I'm standing up or I'm not,

(49:07):
whether it's runner or pass. Uhthyse seem to be my best my
best fits. And what is yourimpression of Pete Carroll's defense and whole environment?
Uh? From afar it seems likehe holds in on defense a lot.
Uh. I can't really say toomuch about that. Yeah, I
don't. I know Pete Carroll verylittle, so uh, I'm just trying

(49:28):
to figure out more and I'll giveyou a better answer later. What's some
reputation around the league out of theSeahawks? Uh, you know hard nos
Hard had type of team definitely ona little more lax side as opposed to
being stuck up or military style,and which is definitely good because then they
this program is won. A lotof football games have been super successful for

(49:49):
many years, as long as I'vebeen alive and as long as I've been
watching football, and definitely this hasbeen a good program. And Pete Carroll
has been a hell of a coachfor as long as I remember, even
back in his college day. SoI'm looking forward to experiencing that. John
Boyle, Yeah, I know yousaid you don't know yet, you know
what your role is going to be, but just what what kind of player
you fans who haven't watched it,denver, what kind of player? This?

(50:14):
Definitely a high motor, definitely nota one trip pon any type of
player I like to attack. Youknow, whether it's a first or first
through fourth down. I like toattack. I'm always trying to apply pressure.
I'm definitely just a high mortar guyin my opinion. Brady, are
there, Brady Henderson from ESPN,Nice to meet you. Yeah, this

(50:37):
is not a team that really makesbig splash signings in free agency. Did
you think going into it that Seattlewould be in Uh? No, not
at all. You just it's kindof like being a cure at the county
store. You know, I've gota whole bunch of different options coming at
you, uh hearing, a wholebunch of different crazy things, and uh,
you know, you only get tochoose one. And this is the
place that that we both chose eachother. And I mean, I'm loving

(51:00):
Seattle so far. You know,I like these colors for real. Real.
What what did you got to doin Seattle? Since? Not much?
Uh, just kind of just drivingaround the city, exploring, uh,
getting down to the market a littlebit. I want to get on
the Ferris will do some more liketouristy type of things. You know,
I'm new to the city and Igot a lot to learn about the city.

(51:21):
All right. Yeah, there's beena lot of comparisons with you to
Michael Bennett. I was wondering ifyou know Michael Bennett at all and you
think those are accurate. I knowMichael berrt Ben it like nothing. I
know nothing about it but besides hisstyle of play. But I'm honored to
be considered in the same conversation ashim and uh style of play. You
know, He's a Hall of Fametype of deep lineman that I've known about

(51:42):
since I was a kid. Imean, last time he played here,
I was in high school. Soyou know, it's cool to it kind
of came full circle a little bitwatching him on TV and now I'm being
kind of compared to him in theway, you know. I mean,
I'm not touching the surface of MichaelBennett. You know, he's a Hall
of Famer and I'm not there yet. So you know, I just got
to keep doing my diligence to bea better player. Carbon Hey, dream

(52:06):
Moont, Welcome to Seattle. Andthen you get to play several seasons for
vig Fango and three four style defenseand Seattle's playing a similar system now dating
back to last year as a defensivelineman, what do you think is most
important to be successful in that system, maybe fundamentals or just playing style to
be successful. From what I learned, being gap sound and being patient has

(52:29):
always been the biggest thing, andthat's how we've been successful when I was
in Denver, just kind of likerelying on each other. I know that
sounds kind of cliche, but likethere's kind of like the the realm of
being in the three four defense.You got to really really rely on the
guys behind you and the guys onthe side of you to really make their
to do their job to make yourjob easier. Bob. Yeah, well

(52:53):
your balhouse date payoffs that you didn'tstart playing football till you were junior in
high school and largely played basketball tillthen. That's what made you, I
guess decided to go play football thenaway from basketball. No, no,
no, I've always loved football.First. Uh, it was just kind
of just playing it out. Youknow, I love a hoop, but
you know, football was definitely aboutcalling. Given I was a two hundred

(53:14):
and sixty five pound power forward andI was like sixtytrees and changed, so
you know, I kind of chosethe route that God gave me. You
know, I'm not six eight,Yeah, well comes to Seattle and you
get quoted and looking at a coupleof art things that you wasn't undergog player

(53:35):
And can you just talk a littlebit about that uh definite role that some
of the US always kind of countedout when US came through. Can you
elaborate more than that just from astandpoint like I always get like over overshadowed,
overlooked, whether it's uh in something, you know what I'm saying,
Like, I feel like I doa lot more than what can be uh
seen by the eyes of the inexperienced, you know, Scout and I do

(54:00):
a lot of different dynamic things thathelp make plays for others. You know,
I'm definitely an active player. I'malways doing something, whether in the
runner pass game, so you know, I think that goes on another sometimes
and I'm looking forward to putting peopleon notice. Thanks Brady. What uh
what do you like to do outsideof football? Uh? Big gamer?

(54:22):
I'm 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 as portulated, I'm reallynot interested in reading that book. Who
do you think some of that willbe able to bring out out of your
games. You can keep trying to, you know, just being more explosive,
probably more yards for catch with thespace that he's putting us into.

(54:45):
The more yards, more yards haveto catch, more explosive, pit more
exposed to play, so for fornot just only me, but she ak
and taste them. So I'm excitedto be able to be in the system.
I assume you think you guys canbe a lot more exposed than you
have in the last couple of years. Oh yeah, of course. It
brings a lot of different things,you know what I'm saying, the playbook,

(55:07):
but just accountability. I feel likethat's gonna lead us to success.
They said the language is a littlea little shorter it Have you found that
the language that you guys use.Is it about the same or is it
it's kind of the same. Really, it's a long, long place,
but it's more understanding for sure.I feel like you can get to that
more understanding plays and I feel likethat's that's the difference. Hater was saying

(55:30):
the other day, just kind oflike coming into this offense after like twenty
years of breeze and just kind ofhow it was just kind of built on
top of each other and on topof each other. It's like kind of
a lot to kind of take in. Do you do you find that they
kind of turn it down to somethingnew, starting to like zero with everybody.
It's just a little bit easier tokind of get everybody on the same
Yeah. I feel like it's wayeasier. Like you said, it was
kind of more of a Drew Breesstyle the last playbook, So all credit

(55:54):
to them though they built that aroundhim, around his players. But like
I said, it's more, Uh, this playbook is more uh for uh
matchups, and uh, I feellike it's gonna be better for us.
How do you think it's gonna reallytake advantage of your skill sets? Uh?
Just building around the strengths that Ihave. You know what I'm saying,

(56:15):
things that I can do and thingsthat she can do, uh,
things that our players can do.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 I feellike it's gonna help us A lot has
been around the way this offense willhave a lot more speed. And how
has that transition been so far?I mean, like I said, it's
building around the players strengths. Soof course we got speed uh uh with

(56:37):
me or uh she and Ati receiver, so uh, just building around that.
Uh. Like I said, playingto our strengths and be able to
capitalize off that. Feel like it'sgonna help us a lot, well most
of like the up tempo astract andyou know, getting a lot of plays
in the less 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, they bringingthat stand for an offense here. So

(56:57):
I'm excited to be be able tobe a part of that. For you
personally, What what's the next levellook like for you? What do you
what are you trying to accountli Thishthis year? Just staying consistent, man,
a couple of ups and downs lastyear, just building off that.
It's always always gonna work on thephysical part, but being able to bounce
back after a bad game. Themental mental aspect, Uh, just learning

(57:19):
learned that last year and be ableto build on that this year is a
huge part. You know with MikeGon, do you take it upon yourself
to kind of be that voice inthe room or to take a step forward
even further as Uh, I meanit's not really. I mean, everybody
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

(57:45):
lead by example. I'm not reallyoutspoken, but just lead by example,
working hard, trying to dominate everyrep and hopefully they follow out to that
yards after the catch? Is thatyou feel like that's the strength of yours
that maybe wasn't utilize. I don'tknow if utilizes the work, but you
could show more. Yeah, it'sit's an offense that uh is built around

(58:06):
that. Uh just catching the ballin space, catching the ball over the
middle or even on the outside,uh with with space and separation. I
feel like it's built around having yardshave to catch. So I'm definitely proud
to be in the system, likeI said, and I'm excited. But
is that is that a mindset too? Like being good at yards after the
catch? Like? Oh yeah,I mean of course. I mean you
don't want to get tackled by thefirst person. And my mindset is trying

(58:30):
to take every take everything to thehouse, you know, every touch,
So uh, I definitely got todo that more and definitely try to work
on that and practice a great dudeman, Uh some some that I definitely
needed. Something that he relates tome. Uh just from backgrounds, and

(58:50):
uh he's a great coach, greatleader, Uh, motivational and uh.
Like I said, I'm excited tohave him around and for him to push
me is everything that I need.So you're talking about like mentally bouncing back,
you know, from tough performances orwhatever, Like, did you try
to fund your resources gonna help youfigure out how to do that? Oh?
Yeah, I mean it's older guys. Uh uh tell me that's natural.

(59:13):
Just have bad games. But uh, just having the standard that I
have for myself and the expectations Ihave for myself gets hard sometimes. So
just be able to be hard onyourself but at the same time just let
it go and just bounce back forthe next game is something that I learned
last year. You're one of thoseguys that feels like you should always have
a certain level production. Are youokay with those certain games where the defense

(59:37):
is so focused on you that otherguys have big games and you're just running
good routes and uh yeah, I'ddefinitely be one dimensional. In football.
You need to be able to throwthe ball as much as run the ball.
You know, It's funny. Somepeople think I'm an area guy.
Some people think I'm ana wing teaguys. Some people think I want to
run the ball every down. Youknow, we're gonna We're gonna do what's
best for a house state, andthat's that's kind of what our game plan

(59:59):
is right now. Austin wore apodcast. When you think about your first
evaluations of the quarterbacks and going throughthese fifteen practices at how do you want
to structure that? I know thatyou and Ryan have probably talked about that
a good amount, Like what's theright way to set up a spring position
battle? How many reps does everybodyneed? What's sort of your plan just

(01:00:20):
from a general perspective, I guessyeah, you know, we're really detailed
in what practice looks like and howthat's going to operate. But I also
think you need to let the playersgo, you know, So I don't
think you need to put shackles onthem, so to speak, and just
keep them constrained. I think yougot to let them go, and you
got to let them operate, andwe were rotating I think everybody on every
two snaps today just and that wasjust what we're going to do on day
one. You know, we'll reassessit after we got through it. Get

(01:00:44):
a chance to count up all thereps of how many plays, how many
plays each guy got and did theyget more in seven on than they did
in eleven on? You know,and we'll go through that whole thing and
that'll be a constant flow in termsof how we're doing it. But I
think the best way people learn isthey learn by doing, you know.
So they've been great in the meetingrooms. They're sharp when you get him
on the board, they're really goodwhen they're watching film. But you got

(01:01:04):
to go out and you gotta playthe game. And so the more that
we can put them in those situationsto play the game, the better we'll
have an opportunity to evaluate them.Uh ship thinking of all of these things,
Uh go back, so forwar withRyan Day, you mentioned since you've
done him since she was a kid, what were your first impressions back then?

(01:01:24):
And then she come full circle tonow, like how do you how
do you feel about that? It'sstill the same way he you know,
even since he was playing little league, he was the ultimate competitor, you
know, and he was always tryingto find a way to win. He
was great at a lot of sports, Baseball, basketball, football, you
know. I got an opportunity torecruit him, you know, so I
coached him when I was at NewHampshire. I recruited him out of high

(01:01:45):
school and we all and we grewup really close to each other, so
same elementary school, same high school, same junior high, same college.
You know. So I've known himsince for for a really long time.
But that competitive fire burns deep withhim, and that's the one thing that
I've always admired with him. Andhe's got an amazing athletic brain in terms
of how to process things and howto how to put people in position to

(01:02:06):
make place. He's always been thatprototypical coach on the field, no matter
what sport he was playing. SoI knew he was destined to be a
coach, you know. And Iwas fortunate in my career as a head
coach to have him on my staffin a couple of places, so I
got a chance to see him workfirsthand, you know. I got to
see him work firsthand as a playerand then as a coach. So the
success he had is not is notsurprising to me? Is there for you

(01:02:29):
seeing Ryan the successes had. Yeah, I think we all do that.
I think we come from a uniqueplace and in a really small hometown in
New Hampshire where we all take alot of pride to where we're from and
and when anybody's successful coming out ofthere, then you kind of take a
little pride that that's it's the upbringingthat we all had, you know,
in the UTH sports program that wegrew up in in in every aspect,
whether it was football, baseball,basketball, those coaches we had an amazing

(01:02:52):
impact on us and that's why weare where we are right now. Biltry
And said, he doesn't think ofit as you working under him, that's
working with him. The fact ishe's the head coach. He makes me
call him sir though he just saidcan you do that day one and I
was like, all right, rightnow. But I mean he ultimately is

(01:03:16):
the decision maker. You've been ahead coach. How do you think that's
going to work? Do you thinkthere'll be any as close as you are?
Any kind of awkward moments the rightterm. But when he's the ultimate
decider and you are working for him, Yeah, I certainly understand my role.
I'm not alhag like I'm not.I'm not in charge here. Yeah,

(01:03:38):
some people get that reference. Otherpeople don't get that reference. But
I'd certainly understand that, and andI actually kind of relish it because I
really love the scheming part. Ilove the individual part. I love being
in the meeting room of the quarterbacksand trying to game plan. But everything
we do here is collaborative. Youknow. The one thing that that really
struck me when I walked in thisplace is there's an amazing coaching staff here.

(01:04:00):
You know, and if you geta chance to talk to Larry Johnson
just about football, or Tim Waltonor Jim Knowles or Brian Hartline or any
of these guys that are on thestaff here, it's it's a very collaborative
effort. I think everybody's on thesame page. You know, it's not
our offense and their defense and it'sOhio State, you know, it's it's
Ohio State versus the twelve opponents thatwe're gonna play during the regular season and

(01:04:21):
then beyond. So it's it's reallycollaborative. And that's the thing I like,
just in the short time that I'vebeen here, is how collaborative everybody's
been. You know, we're alltrying to make each other better and we're
all trying to develop this team.You've touched on this when you said,
you know, you'd like to dowhat you want to do and not My
sense is you, in your perfectworld, you'd like to scribble plays on

(01:04:42):
a napkin and not deal with boosters, do deal with all the stuff that
coaches head coaches have to deal with. Now, how much of a factor
was that in this decision? Youcan just do football? No, that's
not it. I mean I enjoyI mean we've had some amazing I've had
an opportunity and everywhere I've been tomeet some amazing people that are associated with
the program. And there's people thatfrom my time at New Hampshire or my

(01:05:03):
time at Oregon. I was justwith Phil Night two weeks ago, you
know, and got an opportunity tospend some time with him and his wife,
Penny, who are dear friends ofmine that have been great mentors to
me in my career. And there'sa bunch of people that UCLA, Terry
donnahe Andrea Donna who were awesome tome. Angela Mazzoni is a great friend,
Casey Wassman, Troy Aikman. Therewas a bunch of people at UCLA
that I really enjoyed, you know, being around and talking with. So

(01:05:26):
I think sometimes everybody wants to makea narrative of it's either this or that.
It's never that. It's never justall ball, it's never just all
recruiting, it's never just all boosters. It's a mixture of everything. But
I think the one thing that asthis position as a head coach kept moving
on is that if you look ata lot of them, they all become
more CEOs. You know. Ican't tell you how many coaches that have
called me since I made this decisionthat said I'm two years behind you,

(01:05:49):
brother, you know that are thinkingthe same exact way. And I think
it's all part of what we haveto do. I think we all need
to protect this game and promote thisgame, and I think there are some
rules that we need to get straightenedout so that people understand where what it's
about. Because the game is stillabout the players, and I hope that
never gets discounted. You know.It's it's always been about the players,
and I think if we can keepthat at the forefront, the people that

(01:06:12):
are making decisions on this, andI think Jean Smith is one of the
best influences in in the NCAAA,is to make sure we keep that the
main thing. The main thing needsto be the student athletes. Com you
know, you're coming in at atime where you've been through some places where
the expectations are high. I understandit's also coming into a juncture where,

(01:06:34):
you know, the three losses toMichigan, the not making the playoff last
year, the urgency is pretty highhere. I guess just sort of what
the perspective do you have on kindof the stakes that there are for Ryan
this year and the decision that thenhe makes to bring you in to kind
of help solve that. Yeah,I think the expectations can be no harder

(01:06:54):
than they are in your own brain, you know. And I think if
you try to worry about what otherpeople are thinking in their brains, you're
gonna ge screwed up little bit.So, you know, I talked earlier
the one thing about Ryan that Iknow about him and has always been.
He's the ultimate competitor. So he'sgot there's nowhere that has higher expectations of
Ohio State than Ryan does, northe rest of us that joined him in
are a part of this and thatare working with him. So, you

(01:07:15):
know, I don't think I thinksometimes 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 as youwalk into this place, it says when
the moment, you know, Ithink that's a real thing that we have
to do as coaches, is tomake sure that our players aren't worried about
what's going on in the future,or or aren't worried about what's going on
in the past, or worry aboutcan they get a little bit better today,
you know, and can we makeimprovement? And I think the one
thing that I've seen here, andI've only been here for three weeks,

(01:07:38):
but there's a consistency to the playersapproach when they walk in this building every
day, which is it's unique.It's not like that everywhere else. And
it's one of the things that Iremark to Mick when I you know,
he said, hey, what doyou think and I was like, it's
impressive. It's impressive the culture ofthe players that are in this program right
now. But I think it speaksa lot to the leadership. There's there's
a lot of older players on thisteam, and they've set the tone for

(01:07:58):
the younger players, and I thinkthe younger player have done a great job
of followship and getting right in linewith that. He's never hit it over
a play calling to someone before.What does it mean to you? I
guess he technically did it to Billwhen he was here for a couple of
weeks, But what does that meanto you to kind of be getting that
responsibility from him and he's calling essentiallythe offense that you gave it? I
guess in some way. Yeah,I still think the play calling part will

(01:08:20):
be a collaborative effort. And bythat I mean that if it's a good
play, I called it, andif it's a bad play, he called
it. Because the great part isan assistant coach, you can just hen
point the finger a little bit andjust say, hey, you know,
I wanted to do this, buthe trumped me. So we haven't actually
discussed game day yet. You know, we'll see how that operates. But

(01:08:40):
everywhere I've been it's been a collaborativeeffort, and all of a sudden,
someone that's calling the plays isn't isn'tlike pulls one out of left field that
you hadn't practiced and hadn't been partof 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 upwith something special you know in the
middle of the fourth quarter that wehaven't done. But I think it's the
key to really being successful in offenseis is how you game plan, how

(01:09:03):
you put it all together, andthen how you practice and train for that
so that you get a chance toexecute it. Because the player's confidences become
comes from their demonstrated ability that they'vedone this so many times in practice that
when they get out on the fieldthat this is like that to them,
you know. And it's not thatthey do it so they do it right,
it's they practice it so much sothat they can't do it wrong.
So, you know, I thinkit's that whole part of it that is

(01:09:25):
really the key to being a reallygood game planning team. R Doug Lane
reefing North Chip when you had thatfeeling when you were coaching the quarterbacks during
Bowl. Did you consider at thatpoint maybe resigning as the head coach and
thinking like this is this is notwhere I am anymore. I'll leave and
then I'll look to see what elseis out there. No. I never

(01:09:46):
thought about quitting anything. So,you know, I just is there an
opportunity that I think I can thatfit, you know, And I think
that's the you know, it's nodifferent than when you're talking to a recruit
about them making this as you knowwhere they're gonna go to school. I
think that where they should go toschool is where the best fit is for
them. So, you know,I just entertained some opportunities and I always

(01:10:06):
felt I felt like this was thebest fit. But I never thought about
quitting or not coaching. I'm gonnacoach. I'm gonna coach, and then
I'm gonna die. But I meanthat's how I think I think about things.
Is I can't picture that. Iknow someone I was on the Nike
trip and they like, how muchlonger are you gonna go? When I
said I have to go another fifteentwenty years. I don't think about I

(01:10:26):
don't think about retirement. I don'tthink about any of those things. That's
just not kind of my mindset thatyou know. I love football and in
the as long as I can bepart of this game, then I'll be
part of this game. Just theway things worked out with your departure from
UCLA, is there anything that youwish you had done differently, or anything
you regret, or just that thecircumstances that presented themselves. Do you think

(01:10:47):
that you handled that departure the bestthat you could have? Yeah, I
mean I got an opportunity to tellmy players personally. You know, I
think in this day and age ofthe internet, where they read it somewhere
else and you have to text messagehim, you know, that was always
important to me that I wanted tomake sure I talked to my players and
explain the reasons of what I wasdoing. I wasn't leaving to take a
head coaching job somewhere else. Iwasn't thinking that the grass is greener at

(01:11:08):
another university. Was just in mypersonal situation, this is what I wanted
to do. I wanted to takean opportunity to go be a position coach
and coordinator, and that's how itfit you know, what I was happy
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,

(01:11:30):
it worked out. I didn't haveany say in that decision, you know,
I was gone. But I alwaysthought that the Shawn would be a
great head coach, and I'm reallyproud of him and happy that that he
got the opportunity to take that jobright behind him. Actually have your reputation
as innovator. Was part of theappeal of this is that you get to
get in the weeds a little bit. Uh maybe not mad scientists, maybe

(01:11:51):
too too strong of a word,because you're working within the system. But
was there an appeal of I getto get my hands very here again and
innovate and get back to that sideof things. It was, But it
was really more important of who Iget to work with, you know,
and so knowing you know, I'vegot I know a lot of guys on
the staff besides Ryan also, soyou know, when I know what their

(01:12:15):
mindset is and what their values areand how they do things, and so
I want to be a part ofthat. But there's a part of that.
Yeah, how much of a teacheryou get labeled in the innovators.
The teachings are part of this.How much of a teacher or even how
patient are you? Yeah? Ithink we're all teachers. I mean,
education is the transportation of knowledge,you know, So it really doesn't matter
what the coach knows. It matterswhat the players understand, you know.

(01:12:38):
So you have to be able tomake sure that while you're implementing things is
what resonates with them and how doesthat come back to them? So,
you know a lot of our teachingstyles that we've learned is more of the
Socratic method of there's a lot ofquestions, you know, and a lot
of check for understandings, just tokind of find out where the players are
coming from, because it's what theyknow that's ultimately gonna win games, not

(01:12:59):
what we know. You know thatwe're not playing the games, we're not
stepping across those white lines, youknow, And your job as a coach
is to create an environment where theyhave an opportunity to be successful and then
get out of their way and letthem go do it. So I think
the teaching aspect is huge, andwe continue to research, you know,
some of the latest trends in teachingto make sure that we are transporting that
knowledge to our players. The secondroll left Steve Hellwaggen twenty four seven Sports.

(01:13:21):
Yeah, coach, just curious yougot five scholarship quarterbacks with differing levels
of experience from age and everything else. Not to annoyed him, but just
want to ask specifically about Will Howardcoming in after starting part of two years
at Kansas State. He just seemsto promote this idea that he's a football

(01:13:44):
player, you know above all else. Just how impressed are you with his
makeup, his experience, what he'sbringing to the table walking in here right
now? Yeah, really impressed.You know that you don't have to talk
to Will for more than five minutesto kind of know where he's coming from.
He's really focused. You know,he knows he's got a short window
left in his college career and itreally wants to capitalize on what that is.

(01:14:06):
There's a maturity to Will, youknow, I really I've had experience.
My experience in this thing since thetransfer portal opened in college football is
some of the best players I've hadan opportunity to coach award transfers. Sometimes
when you're a true freshman and it'sfive years out, you know, it's
like, hey, I got aton of time, you know. And
sometimes when you're a transfer, isthat I've got nine months, you know.

(01:14:28):
So there's a sense of urgency Ithink when you're dealing with with transfers,
and I think Will has exuded thatsince he's been here. But the
other thing that I just in theshort time that Will has been here is
how quickly he's fit in with theentire team, you know, and how
much the rest of the players respecthim. You know. He was one
of the Gold Award winners for hiswork in the weight room in this offseason,
so that says a lot for himcoming in here as in a short

(01:14:49):
time being able to win a weightroom award, you know, to start
off, you guys hope to havethe number one internally externally at the end
of spring or I guess, justhow do you I? I think it
always every time I've been involved inthese, I think when they're organic is
when it's the best that I don'tthink you can anoint somebody or force the
issue because the players know the playerswould understand. They see it every single

(01:15:12):
day, you know, and there'sa team chemistry part of this thing too,
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 them play it out on
the field, and that's where ithas to That's that's where it has to
be decided. Just a couple ageHey, welcomes than we were excited to

(01:15:39):
have you here. I'm kind ofto talk about the innovative part. Ryan
said that that's something that he's alwaysloved about working with you, and now
he wants you to bring that hereand how it would fit with Ohio State.
Do you have any idea what that'sgonna look like yet or is it
just way too up? I haveno idea, you know. I I
think part of it is is you'retrying to put the players in position to
make plays. So a lot ofthat comes from getting to understand the players

(01:16:01):
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

(01:16:24):
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.And then our job is to put those
guys in positions to make plays.Lots of pressure. I mean, you've

(01:16:45):
experienced what it's like to coach nationalchampionship, call over teams this program right
now and moving into a situation whereyou got to win Quicken now, So
does that feel like pressure here foryou or is it a little bit of
excitement or both? Well, I'vealways subscribed to it this pressure is what
you feel when you don't know whatyou're doing. So if you don't want
to feel pressure, then you shouldknow what you're doing, so, you

(01:17:05):
know, I think it's it's partof that, and I think part of
our job with our players in termsof the education process is getting them to
understand that too. Is that youknow, it's it's about your preparation.
It's about you and your development.It's not about that you can't be governed
by what other people say. It'sit's what's my mindset and how am I
intrinsically motivated? And then how doI really compete against myself on a daily

(01:17:26):
basis to get a little bit better. You know, we got a little
bit better today because we get outon the field today and got a chance
to do some football. And thenthe challenges when we get back on the
field on Thursday. Can we bea little bit better than we were on
Tuesday? And if we're doing that, then we keep stacking good days on
top of good days, and Ithink we'll be in good spot. And
welcome, thank you. I'm gonnaask about the pros and cons of coaching
from the box and coaching from thefield it's interesting talk to some offen some

(01:17:48):
coordinators. Tom Herman talked about heswore he wanted to coach from the box,
saw the game so much better,sterile environment, not all the chaos
on the field. Some coaches youtalk to the like, I want to
be on the field so I canlook my guys in the eye where you
as a as a coordinator, honestly, and I've thought of this a lot.
I thought of it a lot duringCOVID because we had the empty stands,

(01:18:09):
you know, so I had thoughtabout just walking up into the stands
for a little bit because I hada better advantage. I've always believed you
can see the game better from upabove, but I believe you can feel
the game better from the field.So if there was any way we could
get a zip wire where you coulddo both, you know, coach called
from there and then zip down ofthe field get a chance to talk to
him, because it's a different dealwhen you're talking to the quarterbacks on a

(01:18:29):
phone, you know, than beingable to look in their eye and kind
of see where they are with it, and part of it is the field
part of it. I remember whenI coached Ryan once we were playing Ukon
and he got hit hard going outof bounce and he just walked by me,
and I was a play caller,and he was like, run the
next play, and I just kindof looked at him. I saw the
look in his eyes because I don'tthink he could have thrown it, you
know, he was still trying toget his win back. But you wouldn't

(01:18:50):
know that if you're up in thebooth, you know, and you call
a pass play from up in thebooth and you're like, how come we
can't complete that? Well, hejust took a shot going out of bound.
So it's that fine line and Idon't have an answer, you know.
I think I think it's feel onthe ground and it's see from up
above. Maybe in this day atechnology, they'll figure it out. But
we'll see how that that that operates, and whatever Ryan feels is the best

(01:19:14):
for the team is what we're gonnado. So your teams at the Oregon
were obviously now we're playing at thisassid pace and running a bunch of players
per minute and yep, maybe notact by a pass pretty fast. What
rule do you see tempo and havingan offense in the station in college football
and has maybe changed. I thinkthe game is always evolving, you know.

(01:19:35):
I think when I left in twothousand and twelve to go to the
National Football 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 gonna be different cycles that

(01:19:56):
it goes through. I think tempois part of an offense, but I
don't think it's an offense in itself. I think it's more of like if
you go to dinner, it's aside order. You know, it's not
the main course, but it's it'salways good to have it. So I
think there's times when you'll use it, but you're you're not gonna use it
extensively the entire game, just likeyou're not gonna throw the ball every single
snap in the game. You're notgonna run the ball every single snap in

(01:20:16):
the game. You know, therethere's there's not a game of absolutes anymore.
I think the ability to be diverseand and have it as a tool
in your two box, so tospeak. Uh is really how we would
look at using it. Here arenow more familiar with it then, I
think. So, you know,I think when you first started going Temple,
there were people in the NCAA.They want to outlaw it, they
want to make an NCAA role thatyeah, you couldn't do it, you

(01:20:38):
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,
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 four three defenses and three four

(01:21:00):
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,
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 downdefense and those guys would have been great
players. But it's not the scheme. I think that the coaches that do

(01:21:21):
it the best way is they inserttheir players and put them in the best
position to make plays. And now, now will Temple be part of it.
It'll be part of it, butit's certainly not going to be the
main course. A sorry last question, Tim, Oh, thank you very
much, Jerry uh. Number one, there was a great moment there when
y'all were warming up, when youwere you were talking with Tim Walton and

(01:21:42):
Caleb Downs comes up and conversing andas you're in this kind of a two
part question, but number one,what was just your take on the talent
you saw on that field today onboth sides of the ball. Where where
would you rank it? Yeah,I'll rank it. I'll be very transparent.
As I was telling Tim and Calebwhat offensive player I thought Caleb would
be, could be, and shouldbe. But I'm not the head coach,

(01:22:09):
so I always durned stretch as aAs an offensive coordinator, I'm always
looking at the defensive players like Icould use him. Oh what could I
do if I had him? Whatcould I do? If I have him,
but I don't. I don't getto choose him anymore because I'm I'm
not. I don't have the pick. But I was just talking to him
about he's He's a great young man. And if you watch, if you
want to watch a highlight type watches, you know, I understand I came

(01:22:30):
up a rough season, but Idon't think it's a step down of where
I can play. You know,I think when I'm at the top of
my game, I'm still you know, top five player in my position.
And you know, I played arun in the past and I bring leadership
and that's not anything I discover.Can you plan to be here for Mini

(01:22:51):
camp? Rama started dreaming camp?Yeah? How difficult has it been the
last two weeks to not be here? I mean you said in your podcast
the first time you've never not Yeah, it w It was difficult, But
like you know, the thing Igot very frustrated with was just when people
questioned my communication with the team.You know, I uh was communicating with

(01:23:11):
guys left and right, and youknow, front office, coaches, teammates,
and all I care about is howI am with my teammates. I
don't want them to ever think Idon't care about them or how I'm not
in it, and you know,you can say whatever you want about me.
But besides that, but I'll alwaysdedicate anything I can to them,

(01:23:31):
and I don't want that to everyquestion. Isaiah said that it felt like
sometimes you were pulled up somewhere watchingfilm. You text your hy you missed
this or you want well, likethe first day, he was batting all
up Russ's passes, so I hadto let him know, you know,
I, uh, you gotta takeadvantage of that. You gotta make sure
guys are you know, uh knowthat you you still care and you still

(01:23:53):
wanna be a part of this.Uh, you know, just watching practice,
there's a couple of little things we'redoing different, whether I'm communicating with
Gunbar or other people. You know. Yeah, so you're that you're also
talking with him and you you've givenhim a point years 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 and how he getting

(01:24:15):
ready for this season from his rookieyear. Uh, you know, I
think the thing with Keanu is he'smore comfortable, you know, you know,
it since his first time around thetrack. You know, it's actually
like he can you know, uh, catch his feet under him. You
know, I always think when you'rein your rookie season, you're going from
bowl game. I don't even knowWisconsin played in a bowl game. Sorry
Wisconsin, I don't even know.But you know, personally, I just

(01:24:40):
think when you go from bowl gameto training for the combine to you know,
rookie minicamps, OTA's the you knowmini camp, I mean the training
camp the regular season, you reallydon't get a time to really catch yourself.
You know, he understands the playbook. Now he can be more vocal,
you know, and I think whenmy apps since now other guys asence.

(01:25:01):
You know, you need guys likethat to step up and be ready
for those opportunities. What do yousay during the season was more thorough?
What was just tightened down everything?You know on my left side because I
was overcompensating a little bit, butyou know it was there wasn't anything that
lingers. You know, I'll saythis, A growing is not like an

(01:25:24):
a c L. It's not likeanything's that we're going to get afected again.
And you know, you know I'mfeeling good, able to do everything
squat and heavy with power and speed, so you know, it feels good
to get after Again, what doyou think of what the team was able
to accomplish A shofas return of bringingguys like Russian and things with you know,
I think they're all good acquisitions.But you know, you never want

(01:25:46):
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,
and then you see where you're atin training camp and then you build
on that. You know, Ithink we got the right guys in the
building. It's just about uh,putting a complete team on the field.

(01:26:09):
Cam how Fifer collages to separate thebusiness part of the game in the actual
football player. Uh. You know, you you always wanna you always have
to treat it like a business becauseyou know one day it's gonna end.
Uh. And that's any job.Uh, It's not like in college where
you know you got four years guaranteed. I don't know, well now you

(01:26:32):
you don't even know whether n Iam and know it's crap. But the
transfer portal portal. But you knowyou have to I still have love for
this game, and I still workmy tail off and I still put everything
into it, and that's not gonnachange. But you have to know,
uh, what you bring to theteam and what your what your value is,

(01:26:54):
Cam, you want did it feelto be out there with your teammates
today? Emotionally great? You knowwe got a new uh you got a
new training staff and still learning thethe warm up a little different. Uh,
but uh, you know I lovedit. Uh, you know,
just getting after it, learning newguys, Uh, going through the same
drills I've been doing by myself.Uh. I actually like having more people

(01:27:15):
around, cause like kind of gostir crazy, cra 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, h you know, be with my
guys. Cam. Were you confidentand deal? We'll get done with your
emotion. Oh, I'm gonna I'mWe'll try to remain pretty neutral, cause

(01:27:39):
you know, I don't wanna,you know, be too either way.
All I know is I wanna behere. But we'll see what happens.
This is my last year here.I I I I've had a great career
here, but uh, we'll lookforward to play next year. Can you
what that second surgery? You saidit this time was on the left side.
It was the first time around onthe right right side during the season,

(01:28:02):
left side, and that was justtightening down my corner. My corma
saw. It wasn't the same asmy ad doctor. You know, you
can ask doctor Bradley, uh doctdoctor Zuckerbron who uh did the surgery as
well. You know, I ifanything's gonna help me and it'll make me
a lot stronger for here on up. Did you say you were training with

(01:28:23):
another guy? Who have you kindof been Tyson? Oh? I've been
training with him for the last eightyears. We've always trained together. We
got a trainer up north, uhshadow Cole Haley, who's my guy,
traded trained trained, uh Heath Miller, Brett Keesel. The multitude of guys
that I all respect and we've justbeen getting after it. Can He's very

(01:28:45):
few guys historically thirty five that getpaid big contract and you think that's held
against you. I think there's nota lot of history behind it. But
you know, for me, II look at as I'm not looking be
like anybody else. You know,my game is different from everybody else in
this league. You know, Ilike to think, you know, I
can play the run in the past, and then that's where I'm different.

(01:29:10):
You know. I remember last yearMike t just brought to my attention.
You know, the thing that's reallycool is you watch powerlifters, and you
know, my game's built on powerand technique, and those guys go into
their forties and so you know,that's what kind of research I'm doing behind
the scenes. But you know,I I We'll see what happens. The

(01:29:31):
it's there's not a lot of history. But I'm here to make history and
I'm here to you know, winanother super Bowl here 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
here right here? You know it? It was it was tough answering that
question right after the season. Iwill say this, guys, I I

(01:29:53):
can't keep answering that question right afterthe season. That is not fair to
the season. That's not fair tomy family. Uh you know, but
in my mind, I got threeyears and I wanna maximize them. I
wanna play at a high level andI wanna go deep in the playoffs.
And you know, we got agood team and I'm gonna do my part
to be ready for all those situationshere. If you plan on practice when

(01:30:15):
you report to the trope, oris your possibility that you might pull in
and any forces. I I havenot even thought that far. I've taken
a day by day uh you know. Uh uh. I told my agent
and we talked about it and mewe were cool coming out here. You
know, I'll be here for Minny, you know, and then I'll be
there for training pan. You know, I don't know what the work entails,

(01:30:39):
but right when we get there,we'll we'll cross that bridge. Why
is it you or remain a stealerfor those three years? You know,
there was a conversation between me,Omar and Mike t And there's certain guys
that are one helmet guys, youknow, and I want to be one

(01:31:00):
of those one home of guys.And you know, there's a there's a
hunger and desire there. But thatdoesn't mean just hanging it up and calling
a career to me, I thinkyou know I got more bullets to fire
and uh, you know I'm excitedto do that. What's the meaning last
one? You? And what didyour impression of him? What does he
do well that you're like, Okay, yeah, this is this is the

(01:31:23):
brother I want to take card hecloses you born, you get close Gard.
Yeah, you committed right after yourvisit. I mean when you came
down here, was there a thoughtprocess that you could commit. Did you
come down with an open mind ordid you kind of have a feeling that
this was gonna be the weekend ofevening? Uh? I came down with
open one. I didn't know ifI'm going You made around that and then
I got here. I felt theuh family amage where the player of the

(01:31:44):
What was that moment like for youtalking to coaches telling me and play telling
new family? Just what was thatlike for you? But it was great?
Uh, I have my mom,my dad, all my brother's in
the room. Areas that reaction,well my everybody argument except for the thing
you dona. But so what ofthose coach last y, when you think

(01:32:04):
of like just to comment or theyeah, just an Ohio State back.
You know, whether it's physicality,Like, what are the first things that
come to mind when you think ofthe Ohio State or any back? Sweet
of power? Yes on and tellyou about it. Yeah. Is that
something that I mean you feel likeyou have to you know, working,
or is that something that you're like, Yeah, that's the kind of back
I am. I'm just going tobe next to mine their lives. I

(01:32:26):
mean that's the cow back I am. But you always prove Yeah, Well,
what are kind of a few ofthose things that you're like, Yeah,
I need to work on like overthe course of the next few months,
or I'm just everything. Make sureI keep all the details. Will
security? What a coach I tellyou that he likes about your game?
Is it art between the tackles?Your speed? Well? What is he
like you? He said you likemorow fucker backfield hand or man he liked

(01:32:46):
that. I'm not going to keepeach other. What's kind of your main
I mean, obviously as an instate kid committed to this class, what's
your pitch now to other recruits andbeing like this is why you should join
Ohio States main class. It's areal family. I'm all right, everybody
getting them on, everybody talking toeverybody doing tother what'd you say? What
do you get in you's bringing upto as well? I've always looked up

(01:33:15):
to blow Jack and watching this film. Do you uh that's funny? Do
you think that your boy style themiror his for perspective and just the way
that he can as host offield?Yeah? I think that you want to
roll into Yeah, I think Ican. I think to speed the card?
Yeah, I think I Who arethe main guys that you're you're talking

(01:33:35):
to you right now to join theFOM. I'm really talking to everybody,
uh, polistic room and that partfrom this show, and any guys that
you want to join the class,anybody at the top of your verst,
not at the FI. I'm sorryif you've already asked this, but coming
up here as a as a recruit, as a commitment here, what what

(01:33:56):
did you want to show today?What did you want to get out of
this experience? It wasn't up inthe show, nothing cool. I just
wanted to this one working with goodLuck. How did you feel like that
went? Obviously he's still relatively newhere, but he seems to bring a
little bit of a different energy thanthan 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 yeah, I feel intense
energy. He's different than other guysthough, right, I mean kind of

(01:34:18):
How would you explain his coaching thansome of the other running back coach you
may have worked with in the path. It's just intense, its sense,
like go go good. Yeah.Did you talk to coach lack one when
you even want to organ? Idid? Okay? So when when didn't
he didn't organ and get him Ultimerlike Rufford around like half of the season

(01:34:39):
like not too Farctice? Okay?Is it? I mean, is it
was? He kind of the sameguy that he is now? Maybe so
just just make a new uniform basicYeah, okay. Then you guys obviously
added Isaiah to the class, andthere's no secret they would like to add
another one. What are your thoughtson being in a class with three different
running backs like that? I haveno problem being in the past through.
What are you like about Isaiah?I don't know, you don't you've never

(01:35:02):
met him, but just damn thatthe first when you committed who were some
of the guys that you start torefrom it in particularly about actually going back.
I'm not really a couple of linebackerstaking on the stuff's you mean,
black Sky. I appreciate this.I mean obviously got a couple of years

(01:35:32):
before you did. Hear it.I'm curious about how you put so high
state, Like, how do youdo it's pretty he started pretty good.
But I mean in terms of theguys that if you want to join your

(01:35:56):
great right, what do you wantout of the quarterback? Like a white
you're miss a specifically like this isone of the interesting let's just hard to
see great a couple or thank youbrothers. Music cost be very much to

(01:36:44):
thank you very much, to thankyou once again your music. We're talking
with monsters and tell you about that. What do I not coms? So
it's the first time I met it. Know, we just find it.

(01:37:06):
Yeah, what do you think wecan bring into the top? You know?
We were talking yeahs like the locksand said, what is the locking
in? What's been like for youjust moving out to California, being out
of condident this little honestly like helpme just yeah, like different being what

(01:37:32):
a state recruit here when you werejust out. Yeah, it's definitely different.
So it's flying here a new generationof recruits where I don't take anybody
outside looking you to know, thequestion is the strength of your commitment,
Like you're locked into the last date, you send it over and over,
but you're making visits around the country, You've seen other schools. It's it's

(01:37:55):
almost a totally different minds. Innineteen that was like the first year we
were making trends and then you know, COVID hit, and then you know,
every year it just seems like there'ssomething else. And I because come
to the conclusion that every year isgoing to be different and we have to
adapt. But there's certain things thatwe're not going to change. There's certain
values we're not going to change.It just you know, you know,
principles that have you know, stoodthe test of time. And I shared

(01:38:18):
this with a group before when Istarted doing some some research as we were
doing some some of our recruiting youknow introductions and some of our you know
talks about you know, the traditionsof Ohio State. We talked about how
Ohio Stadium was built, you know, and when you when you when you
do your research on that one hundredyears ago, you know, folks have

(01:38:40):
the idea of building a stadium oversixty thousand people, and that's because of
what Chick Harley was doing. Andyou know, they had a wooden bleachers
over here, and all these peoplestarted coming in and the idea of bringing
in a stadium that of our sixtythousand people at the time was like,
this is crazy. What is collegefootball turning into? And they instead of
going to the state or going tothe school the community, they went to
the community to raise the money theyraised over at the time over a million

(01:39:03):
dollars. Well night, fast forwardone hundred years and the conversation still might
be like, what is college footballdoing right? And in this situation then,
I l we had to turn tothe community for help, and Bucky
Nation showed up again in a bigway. So although the landscape is changing,
I don't know if you know,one hundred years later, if it's
that much different. It's just ina different time, in a different you

(01:39:28):
know, set of issues that we'reworking through. But I think it's exciting.
I think there's a lot of positivesto it. I do I think
that we're taking the next step withthe revenue sharing to try to institutionalize some
of it, which would be bigfor usis yeah, every years question,
it seems like this year's team hasyour questions off line address specifically, if

(01:39:57):
you look ahead to start more thana month, what are the real questions
that you have in your mind aboutposition battle. I would say on offense,
you know, we got to squareaway the quarterback as you know,
I feel like, you know,the offensive line on the right side,
we got to solidify that. Ifeel like we got to build, you

(01:40:21):
know, enough depth at receiver thatwe feel like we can put in five
or six in the game and feelgood about it. On defense, I
think we're still looking to figure out, you know, who are going to
be the guys inside, you know, the third, the fourth, the
fifth, defensive interier alignment that we'regoing to put in the game. And

(01:40:42):
then same thing just just I wouldsay depth, a little bit of safety,
just to kind of see who thosenext guys are. They're going to
step up, and so we knowit's going to be a long year.
We're going to need everybody and andso in a lot of those areas,
it's depth. Special teams wise,you know, punter is going to be
you know that that is significant.You know, we just brought in Nick
and you know, so there'll bea battle there. So I'd say those

(01:41:06):
are probably the areas we're focused onthe most Ryan just to fall on the
offensive line, there was I thinka school of clog. You guys,
might we looked for a transfer inthat post spring window. Did you guys
do that? Did you guys notfind the guy or were you just confident
the guys you have, just likeyou know in January, if if we're

(01:41:27):
going to bring somebody in, it'sto 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,
like based on where we were andsome of the young guys that are

(01:41:48):
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 springs, So
we looked at it, we identifiedit, we did our due diligence,
but you know we're gonna go through. We have now second round bills,
right, you're better. It wasinteresting that you have two of maybe the

(01:42:11):
top five ers of guys in sportand then a bunch of guys who haven't
plenty. Maybe someone did I knowmy question, but did you consider trying
to add there understanding that probably thedifficult to sell we have such talent,
how the prince somebody of these experiences, Like what were those conversations like,
and how did you set along beingcomfortable with you know, Trey and well,
like you said, you know,I think we're we will get some

(01:42:33):
experience there with those two guys.And then you know, we felt like
coming out of the spring that Jamesand Sam both did a nice job and
you know, we're gonna have toplay them and they're gonna have to you
know, take on a little bitof that, you know, we have
you know, started having conversations withCaleb Bowns. I was part of the
recruiting process of possibly you know,doing a little bit of running back as

(01:42:55):
well. It's something that he wantedto do. So we've been having him
in some of the meetings and someof the individual drills as a possibility there
if you know, needed so downthe road to continue to build depth at
that position. But you know,I think, you know, we feel
like, you know, if youhave you know, four strong running backs
going into it, then you knowthat's gonna be that's gonna be enough to

(01:43:16):
carry the season. I do thinkthat the quarterbacks will run the ball more
this season, so that should takesome carries away from them. But to
your point, you know, Jamesand Sam are gonna have to step up
to the guys that we can counton. Save that for another day,
Yeah, just fall up on that. Is he capable of stepping in and

(01:43:39):
being running back? Obviously, we'llsee, we'll see. We talked about
in the recruiting process, you know, the first time around and more specifically
the second time around, and sohe's you know, he's been around a
little bit just to get a feelfor it. We did very little in
the spring. We did I thinkwe pitched them an option or something like

(01:43:59):
that in the spring just to kindof get them going. But we'll see
where that goes. We don't havea specific plan right now, but we
do want to introduce him to thatjust the same thing like Lorenzo Styles has
played your seer where he did thatin Notre Dame. You know he's out
there a little bit just kind oflearning. It's healthy. You know,
you're seeing it from the other sideof the ball. This time of the
year, you can get away withthat a little bit, a little bit
in the preseason. Where it goes, we'll see, but you just never

(01:44:24):
know. And we're trying to putsome contingency plans in place because it could
be a long season. Yeah,this is my forty first year covering of
House Stay. I don't remember everexpectations like this In the summer, there
were some of them were almost abig sure. Do you sense that too,
And what is that pressure like asyou're working through a summer. Yeah,
And people have asked me that Igo back to the expectations every year

(01:44:44):
are the same. I mean,it's just the truth. When opening press
conference and said you got to beatthe team up north, and when every
game after that, that's just theexpectations. And when you come up short,
you know, you've got to figureout a way to get those things
fixed. I think we have donethat, but the expectations are the same
every year. Pressure is the sameevery year. I just like the pressure
when you've got a really good teambehind you. So that's what we've got
right now. And you know,we know it's going to be a long

(01:45:05):
season. We know we're working towards. But I will say this about this
team, Well, we've been talented. That's there's been times in the past
we've been talented. I don't knowsince I've been here if we've been this
talented and this experience together with guysthat have played a lot of football,
fourth and fifth year guys, andthat doesn't matter. We'll go Thanks Extor
Stephen playing since you brought it up, maybe this is his talks because it's

(01:45:30):
summer co obviously you can now justhave a conversations. Maybe we're making a
big deal out of nothing long termsituation, but we've seen it around college
football in league guys playing both sidesof the ball and doing it quite well.
Right Travis Sun is doing it outin Colorado and Kaylyn Jasi's been department
turns, so we see what hecould do with the ball. But there's
also the stamina aspect of that gettinginto a sixteen game season. So I'm
not saying it's any Morty snaps orsomething like that, but what about his

(01:45:54):
athleticism what he brings to the table, and let you know that if you
wanted to explore it a real game, he could last still be an effective
seek. Yeah. Yeah, we'dhave to see all that he did it
in high school. But we gotsome really 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.We did agree that that was something that

(01:46:15):
we were going to look into.Where it goes, I don't I don't
really know right now, but Iknow that he has the capability to do
it. He has the athleticism anddo it, and you know, we'll
kind of see where it goes,see see how he does, and you
know, maybe hand the ball Toma little bit in the preseason because again,
it's going to be a long season. We have to make sure we
have continuoency plans in place. ButI know it's something that he enjoys having

(01:46:38):
the ball in his hand. Soeven during their first time around, the
recruiting process. We even talked abouthim coming in as a as an offensive
player. Ultimately we think his ceilingis highest on defense. But you know,
but I also agree. I thinkthat having you know, guys going
on this side of the ball andjust see it, listen to the meetings
is really healthy for the development.So we're gonna do that. Regard for

(01:47:00):
this. Your defensive recruiting right nowis maybe further long it's been in the
year's past, and I think wepassed numerous questions about 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 Walls is an unbelievable

(01:47:21):
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 waywe play, excuse me, the way

(01:47:43):
we play right now is based onyou know, we have four really talented
defensive linemen that are really good,and we got a lot of that to
those positions. But there's also flexibilitywith some of the things Gym's done in
the past that you know, we'redefinitely looking at and some of the recruits
that we're looking at who brings someversatility pass rusher, you know, we
have that jack position and those typeof things. So, uh, that's
exciting as well. And I thinkyou're seeing a lot of the recruits,

(01:48:06):
you know, really get fired upwhen they get here. People. Yeah,
first years, your identity was wasvery clear from an awful standpoint and
air and out type team. Lookat the key best of talent and the
playmakers you have there. Has youridentity changed? I guess what do you
think the identity is of this twentypoint fourth Well, we'll see as we

(01:48:27):
go, but you know, weknow what we need to do to play
in the big games. That's neverchanged. And we have to be able
to stop the run, run thefootball take care of the ball, and
there'll be opportunities to throw the ballthat'll that'll happen. But you know we're
gonna have to, you know,do those things to win close games and
and play situational football. But Ithink, you know, you won't really

(01:48:48):
get a feel for what the identityof the team is until we get into
probably the beginning of October, youknow, and I think we all have
ideas of what it could go.But you know, now that we're playing
in a playoff format, like alot of those NFL teams sometimes, you
know, they don't really quite understandtheir identity until they get about halfway through
the season. I don't think I'lltake that long. But you know,
we're able to play some games andkind of work through some things. And

(01:49:11):
I don't think our defense is goingto change 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 onoffense. Have you got time for two
more? Go to doug Lyn Race? Okay? Right? You lose an
important recruiting staffer to promotion at Michiganjust the second time. So much gone
to Michigan this offseason. How doyou react to something like that, is

(01:49:34):
something that someone like that would takeinformation that was learned here that could help
the Michigan or hurt O highest stagesreaction. Yeah, all good questions,
and you know, I just Iwant to talk about the guys that are
here, you know, the staffmembers that are here, the coaches that
are here, the players that arehere, the ones that are Buckeyes.

(01:49:58):
Joe, didgon with these usually changedannounced yesterday? Did they come together?
Didn't have anything to do with theexpanded playoff? Maybe a little different?
Yeah, you know, I don'tknow all that came in came with it.
I know it got presented to mea while back, and you know
I was on board with it.So yeah, I mean I think,

(01:50:18):
you know, we do have tolook a little bit different at our scheduling
as we move forward, based onthe way the format is at the end
of the season. That's quickly aboutthe linebackers got in here a little bit
late. How do you feel aboutyour linebackers? Cody seems like he always
ease the Betans is like he's luckingas 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 are Vel Reese,

(01:50:41):
like you said, c J,Gabe, Sonny, Cody. You
know I'm missing a couple, I'msure, but like that was that y
Rvel? Yeah? I mean theseguys are very versatile guys. You can
see the length on them, andyou know they do a good job in
terms of like fitting the runs.Gonna know how the ship runs right now,

(01:51:02):
so they know how things should operate. And I gotta spend time making
sure those other guys get ready andget caught up the speed in a timely
fashion. It's great. Uh,he's taking a great step forward. Like
I said, he's the next guyup man. I mean he's been extremely
you know, important on the growthof our secondary because now you know we're

(01:51:26):
working him inside some Uh he's playedoutside at both corner spots. You know,
he got that it factor, youknow what I mean. So so
we look what he brings the energyto competitiveness. We got to build off
the last year, uh and expandthe role for him and make sure he's
uh, he's ready to go.But he's been doing great. It's uh,

(01:51:55):
we're just authentic really not giving alot of recruiting talk. It is
what it is. We try toshoot straight, honest communication, honest assessment,
the character, the value, thework at it, and the main
things the competition. You got tocompete. If you don't want to compete,
it's not gonna be the place foryou, because that's the that's the

(01:52:18):
thing that will get us where weneed to go is competition in the room.
And those guys here love to compete. We sell that were looking for
guys who embrace that, who chairsbeing in those spots. And you can
take time to grow, you know, you don't have to have the the
pig mentality of problem of instant gratification. You know, you can develop and

(01:52:40):
grow so and sometimes you may bebehind a guy that's a really good player.
Is nothing wrong with developing and growingand playing when your time is right,
and if the time is right rightnow as a freshman, like what
Jermaine did you play early? Youknow, So we try to also sell
that, you know, we careabout them as people and try to prepare
you for life after football. Sowas bigger than just football. Don't you

(01:53:00):
prepare you for life, whether it'sthe NFL or ow with a regular career
in the in the workforce. Wewant you to prepare you as a young
man, and we try to sellthat and preach that to the parents with
to remain and having that in factthat you mentioned rolling all these different spots,
do you anticipate you know, therewasn't a lot of rotation among the
cornerbacks last year when everyone was healthy, And do you anticipate maybe rolling him

(01:53:23):
through the rest guys here with thelongerst season potentially, Yeah, we play
it by here, you know whatI mean. We see how it goes
by the time we get into thecamp. But you know, obviously he's
earning the stripes, so you knowwhat I mean. When you earn the
stripes, you know o job tocreate opportunities for you, you know what
I mean. We have to seehow it goes with all that other stuff,
you know, once we get closerto the season and we'll get into
game plan stuff. But he's doinga great job, and he's and he's

(01:53:45):
taking a great step forward way thatyou or the way he kind of established
him. Now he seems like it'sbeen like the centerpieces relationships and kind of
killing prime. And I'm curious,is that something that you came in here
with you, like a couple ofyears ago, with the intention fuel is
and something that you're like, it'skind of cool to be to go over
the course of your times position.No, it's been there for a while.

(01:54:06):
I've been doing that for a longtime. It's all about relationship.
If you develop real relationship and you'reauthentic and your communication and you have honest
feedback and you have you know,direct teaching. The guys that have valuating
character and they appreciate that stuff,they embrace that. So but they have
to know your care and you haveto know that it's real, and they
have to know that you you're reallyconcerned about their wall of being as a

(01:54:28):
young man. And when you getclose to them and spend a lot of
time with them off the field,you can coach them hard and you can
you can and you can you cansay truthful things to them and then they'll
embrace it and you have real conversationbecause you know the only goal is to
help them get better as a youngman. A couple years ago, the
receiver room is so far ahead andmore to really get a kind of skewed

(01:54:48):
that evaluation sometimes doing and how isthat dynamic change. In these two yearsstist
group's gotten older and you can bemore talent. Yeah, it's done balanced
duff a little bit. Now.That goes with great competition. We have
the U We go against the bestreceivers in college football, so that helps
escalate your growth process because if youdon't figure it out real fast, you'll
get embarrassed. So that competition.But what happened with that, eye guys

(01:55:11):
start competing, eye guys start growing. Eye guys got better, and now
is even up a little bit,so where you get really good work at
practice to day, you know whatI mean. So it's competitive, it's
fun. Those guys both on bothsides of ball care about each other.
So it's great competition. And they'reall real, real close. So you
know what I mean. It's thatstuff that gets us better, that will
prepare us for Saturday. I saidmy first day of practice. Actually receivers

(01:55:34):
kind of got them as kind ofwell, no, it's just it's gonna
competitive, man. They got thebest group in the country that you're going
against every day, so you haveto bring it every day, you know
what I mean. So they wegot a great quarterback room. We've got
a great receiver room. The runningbacks are really good, so when you

(01:55:54):
out there going against them, it'sdeep, so you have to be ready
for it. And obviously, man, we're seeing a lot of good stuff
with with with Stay and coach Kellydoing over there, and so it prepares
you a lot and it helps usgrow. Watching is a wide receiver room
kind of in it like a partof your regree. Bits like these are

(01:56:15):
the guys you get to play again. Yeah, all of that because you
know that's where you get better ironshoppings iron So you know you get to
see that every day at practice.That helps you grow. It's no better,
uh thing to go against every daythan to see that on a daily
basis. Also room besides story lookingat oh, we just moving a lot
of guys around. You watch thatpractice. We have a lot of guys

(01:56:35):
in there right now. You know, we probably have three or four different
guys in there. Obviously, LittleLorenzo's in there, Jermaine is in there,
k Miles, We we have wehave about four or five guys moving
around right now. We just trythings out in spring ball, see where
the fit, you know, seewhat things work together. So there's gonna
probably some more guys in there.You know, we move it around to
try to just get the right fitthroughout the end and see how it goes

(01:56:55):
by the time we get ready tostart the season. He can run and
he's strong, you know what Imean. He's fast, Uh, very
serious about his business. Uh.He's big, it's two hundred pounds.
He can run, he's strong,he's conscientious. You know I mean,
he's starting to grow and he's startingto get get better with it, you
know I mean, so we lookedfor big things for him in the spring.
What do you want to see thisspring? Keep competing, you know
what I mean. Now he's madethe transition. Competing today, you know

(01:57:20):
what I mean, Start going inthat transition is all just like having Jermaine
last year. You throw him inthe fire, you let him go,
you compete, you go. Bythe time we get out of the end
of training camp, ye'll be themfigured it out. You have all that,
but now you just throw it allat him. Compete, continue to
grow, continue to learn. Hehas the skill set, he has the
length. Now you just got toput it all together. And it takes
time to do that. And hopefullyyou see that by the time we get

(01:57:43):
in the training camp. Seems likemidway through spring and kind of click for
Jermaine last year and he started tosee him. It could not be more
hacker to be here. Super happyto be here at trut too as well
or right to work. Hello everybody, there's Robinson University, Missouri. I
just want to thank you, misterBill Wilmant to your coach Gannon for this
amazing opportunity. I'm glad to behere with Marvin Harrison right next to me.

(01:58:08):
So Phil great, I'm really excitedand I'm excited for this journey.

(01:58:30):
See fifteen here in town. Marvin, when did you know the Cardinals were
going to select you? Did youknow before they called or was there an
agreement in place before? No,I did not know until I got the
phone call from the Arizona Cardinals.Marvin Richard signs Fox then welcome to the
valley. I know kind of tweetedto you, tweeted out to you once

(01:58:51):
you got drafted. What was itlike to get a message from the franchise
quarterback and what kind of thoughts haveyou had about team up with this guy
in the near future. Yes,sir, it's been great. He always
want to support and love from yourquarterback. And Nika is a great player,
too excited to play with him,and it's gonna be my job to
make his job easier. Darius DarrenUrban from Azycardinals dot Com. I know

(01:59:15):
that, uh, a lot ofplayers these days aren't sticking in one school
uh for a long time. Andyou did it for five years. I
mean even Marvin did it for three. Like what what went behind that?
And why was it meaningful for youto stay at one school? Yes,
at Missouri, you know, wehad some tough seasons, but we were
really built with an edge energy,details, good in emotional consistency, and

(01:59:36):
I just found myself just trying togrow and get better each year and also
as a team, you know,win more games each year. And that
was my That was my home,I was my family. I was blessed
to you know, get two degreesas well off the field, and I
just love missou two degrees. Wow. Marvin mc Bob McMahon at Arizona Republic,

(01:59:58):
congratulations, Thank you both of you. You're known as all business and
I want to know how that's goingto serve you well in this league from
personal standpoint, your brand, everythingyou do or a daily preparation. There's
a lot that goes into being allbusiness. Tell me what that is to
you. Yeah, I mean it'sjust being a pro. It's kind of
raised and grew up to do andkeep the same mindset, same attitude that

(02:00:23):
I've had throughout my whole career.Once I get here, continue to work
hard, be consistent and discipline,you know, and all that I do.
So I'm looking forward to put inthe work. Hey Marvin, Josh
Wayne ESPN. What were the bestpieces of advice your dad gave you about
being an NFL player? I mean, yeah, it takes a lot of
work, a lot of preparation.Know, from Monday to Saturday, it's

(02:00:45):
all work and then Sunday should bethe easy part. I go out there
and have fun, ready to putthe work in. So it starts with
the work first and then no,when Sunday comes is rieka benefits. Hey
Darius Howard, balls are from cardswire. I can't help but notice that
ring on your finger. Is thata cotton bowl ring? Yes, it
is the cotton bowler. You showedit to Marvin very quickly. No,

(02:01:09):
I'll tell the Marva you know.He was glad he didn't play the whole
week. Leading know, you know, you see Ohio State. Everybody said,
okay, Marvin Harrison, and nowis he gonna play? To go
play? He didn't play, soyou know we left out. So hey,
Marvin Paul KELBC Cardinals Broadcasting, doyou believe that receivers have to earn

(02:01:30):
the trust for their quarterback? Andif so, what does that usually require?
Absolutely, you got to earn thetrust of the quarterback. And I
think it starts, you know,every day in practice and being consistent.
Really and you can't just do itone day. Can't you do it for
one week? Has to be youknow, done over and over and over
again. I think that's how trusthas earned. So no matter where you
get picked, when you're first receiverit's round seven, doesn't really matter,

(02:01:53):
have to go and earn trust tothe quarterback, your coaches, your teammates.
So it all starts in practice.What's going on? It's good to
see again Tyler Drake, there's asports systems for Darius. What's the feeling
of just being able to represent yourschool as that first round pick and what
kind of impact can that have forthose guys following in your footsteps? Yeah,
it's awesome. I feel like I'msetting the standard going forward. But

(02:02:15):
best the name was Zoo is knownas Delon Zoo, so I'm just added
to the family. But now ifeel like I'm setting the standard for my
younger teammates that this is attainable ifyou work really hard, be consistent,
and really get us your strength coach. I feel like every program is built
out the stremp coach and that developsall the habits on and off the field.
Darius zach Ershmanezcardinals dot Com right overhere, JJ mentioned that he loves

(02:02:38):
the violence that you played with.You mentioned the different tendencies that you picked
up. The emotional consistency is thegreat. How do you balance that the
violence with discipline on the field.Honestly, just through preparation and practice.
I'm a big guy. I'm abig believer in inside hands, so that's
why I'm always working my hand placementand then I lift weight, so you
know that's all connected. So I'mjust trying to be focused on my technique

(02:03:00):
as much as possible. Hey,Marvin over here, David Brant with the
Associated Press. You know a lotof rookies come into the league and they
get a little bit of leeway.It's like, oh, he's young,
he needs to grow and stuff likethat. But obviously you're gonna be expected
to be the guy here really quickly. How do you deal with that pressure?
How do you go about just somuch being expected of you so quickly?

(02:03:24):
I mean, yeah, I havehigh standards for myself, but I'm
just gonna go in there and tryto work, you know, the best
I can. I just want tohelp the team win really, so without
that role I play, you know, come September, let me do my
best. You know, do thatrole now. This one's for both of
you, guys. The fans wantto know who you guys are on the
inside. I don't know how muchyou're willing to reveal to us today.

(02:03:45):
A lot would be nice. Canyou tell us what you like to do
away from football, what pisses youoff about things, and you know,
what makes you roll. I'm prettysimple. I like, you know,
be in my apartment, watch amovie. If I go out and I
go to a restaurant, get somefood. But other than that, I

(02:04:08):
may do too much. And thenI'm pretty easygoing. Guys, so I
try to nothing bothering me. Toomuch. Yeah, I said the same
thing. A real chill guy,just really obsessed with football. But outside
of football, like I said,I got my two degrees. I got
my undergrad hospitality management and the minorand business I got my masters and Positive
Culture with FLA leadership. So justthinking about being well rounded, and then

(02:04:30):
I do philanthropy work. I startmy own nonprofit foundation Darius Robinson Helping Hands
Foundation, But really just football andthen everything else. Honestly, congratulations,
guys, welcome to the Valley.I'm Robbie Baker with Fox ten. Darius,
This is for you. After thedraft last night, you had a
great response about how your process andpreparing for a game. Just kind of

(02:04:53):
wondering where your love for kind ofthe grind comes from and your love for
that process comes from. I wouldsay my junior year because I played literally
off and on. But I gotmy junior year and I was playing high
school and my whole goal is justto earn a scholarship. But during that
process, I really fell in lovewith the game, fell in love with
working out relationships with teammates. Andnow it's kind of like my advice and
I can't let it go and justkind of finding ways to always get better.

(02:05:16):
You know, Luke liting here withtwelve Sports. Congrats both of you
walking to the valley. This one'sfor you. Marvin. I'm curious your
thoughts or what was that conversation likewith your dad after your name was called
and you were able to be draftedby this organization, and how surreal is
it for you to be following yourown father's footsteps but in your own way.
Yeah, I mean it was verybrief actually just in the second graduations,

(02:05:38):
I walk up to the stage andthen I had to do a bunch
of interviews afterwards. So I don'tthink it's hit both of us yet.
I don't know what's happened. Ithink, you know, one of Michaels
always to make him proud, soI hope I did that. Marvin,
bo Brock, pH and X Sports. When do you anticipate catching your first
passes from Kyler Murty? I don'tknow, I don't know. I guess

(02:05:59):
we'll see you hopefully as soon aspossible. Darius, you mentioned philanthropy,
and I know there's been it's beentalked about how you took some of the
nil money to do a get backto school for the kids in Colombia.
Where where did that belief in doingthose things come from? I say my
family, my brother and my momreally instilled that into me and to me

(02:06:20):
at a young age, just giveback your blessings to others. In my
fifth year at Missou is the bestyear of my life, So why would
I not share my blessings with others. So that's what really motivated me to
do that. And now being inNFL, you know, my goals to
do three events each year and justgive back because you know, it's life
outside of football and bigger blessings outthere. Marvin, you obviously played with

(02:06:42):
a number of highly drafted receivers atOhio State. What sort of feedback have
you gotten about the NFL from them? Any, you know, by making
the transition in the league itself.Yeah, it's a long season. I
think going from in a twelve gamerecord season you have in college to was
it seventeen games now and you gotthree preseason, I feel just the biggest
challenge the game stays the thing.Obviously, we're all skilled and very talented

(02:07:04):
athletes, so the mental part isprobably the biggest thing and the biggest change
from the college to pros Marvin,what's your timeline for hiring an agent?
Right over here on the way partright you haven't hired an agent? Why
is that? Is there a timelineto hiring one? And are you going
to sign the NFLPA licensing agreement.I'll continue to talk to my team.

(02:07:25):
We do what's best for me.I'm moving forward. We just take it
one day at a time. Ijust got drafted, so I'm trying to
enjoy the moment and be happy whileI can. At the moment. Hey,
Marvin, I'll say, Romaro,Arizona Republic, Welcome. Man.
Can you just kind of share alittle bit about you touched on it briefly
here, but just a little bitmore about growing up with your dad and
you know, the experiences you hadin Indianapolis and games and so on and

(02:07:46):
so forth. Yeah, I mean, there's no better role model, coach,
mentor that you can have. Allthe way through our college we were
captains together Ohio State, so weshare a lot of We shared a lot
of time there together. And thenbefore Pro day he came up and we
threw that night before Pro Day andwe've i mean we've played in touch.

(02:08:07):
I feel like pretty well, he'sjust an awesome human and even a better
teammates. If I could ask youquickly, what did you make of what
he was able to do after yousaw him and you played with him the
year before, and he came onand did what he did his rookie year.
What did you make of what hewas able to do in his rookie
season? Man, I just tobe honest with you, it was no
surprise to me or anybody in thatOhio State facility. Its just we knew

(02:08:33):
how to do a special and whenhe got the chance, got with the
right people and the right coaching staff. The dudes unbelievable. Brian Bearfield,
Hey, kay, welcome to Houston. Brian Bearfield, big sarch media for
everybody just called me storage, asyou could tell by the hats. So

(02:08:54):
kay, I don't want to takeyou back down memory lane for just one
second. I just looked up someof the stats. So you were in
high school. You were running backone thousand and four into seventy seven yards
your senior year, seventeen touchdowns,linebacker, one hundred and sixty three tackles,
four intercessions. You broke your highschool scoring record in basketball overall athlete.
Even when you got to Ohio State, you didn't really you were like

(02:09:16):
a hybrid. They didn't really knowwhere to put you until you ended up
at tight end. So I sayall that to ask you what the Houston
Texans are getting an athlete who's willingto play anywhere and everywhere they need them.
Correct? One hundred percent. Yeah, that's one hundred percent, one
hundred percent correct, no doubt aboutit. I'll do whatever we got to
do here to win ball games.And I mean they got awesome players,

(02:09:39):
awesome coaching staff, so just supersuper blessed here. How much did that
how much does that background help youor help you to get through you know,
college and now get you to whereyou are today? Uh? I
think every day I've been thrown ina million different directions, pool in a
million different directions, And to behonest with you, I mean, nothing's
ever gone like how it's supposed toon pin the paper in my life and

(02:10:01):
my coaching career, so I meanmy playing career, excuse me. And
it's just I think I'm just Ifeel like I'm battle tested and i feel
like I'm ready to go. Thankyou. Yeah? Cool, Cool,
You're un mute any better. Katiegot me. Yeah, I got you

(02:10:28):
now. Cole Thompson USA Today TexansWire, congratulations are getting drafted. I
just heard you kind of mentioned alittle bit about coaching. You're talking about
your coaching career, not your playingcareer. Do you want to get into
coaching afterwards when you're done playing football? No? No, no, it's
a lot of emotions going through mybody right now. So regardless, No,

(02:10:50):
I'm not playing on getting coaching.I'm playing on just playing as long
as I can. Just a quickfollow up, and you look at a
guy like Tamiko Ryans, who isa former player that is very close to
the league, only has been outfor about seven years. What does it
mean to be playing for somebody who'stranslated over to this new side of things
but also understands what a player goesthrough on the daily basis. I think

(02:11:11):
that makes the biggest difference in theworld. And I think you can tell
by the way the players respect himand just how and the job he's done
in the short time he's been there. I mean, the dude's unbelievable.
He seems like an unbelievable person.I'm just really, really excited to be
able to planner Nathan Cody. HeykCody Davis from Sports Illustrated. You and

(02:11:33):
I met at the NFL COMBA.By the way, Yeah, I would
like to know, man, whatare what type of tid end are the
Houston Texans getting? Man, I'lltell you what they're getting. Just a
complete utility player. Basically, I'mgoing to do whatever you asked me to
do at one hundred percent, onehundred everything I got every single time,

(02:11:54):
and just I'm going to be theexact gluve in the locker room. I'm
going to be a dude people cancome to when things go wrong. I'm
sure shity to help his team anywayI can. Kim, Hey, Kate,
it's Kim Davis with Chalk Talk.Congratulations on getting drafted by the Texans.
Kind of following up on what Cody, just to ask you from your

(02:12:16):
comation with CJ. I know he'sspoken how you have the staff, but
what do you know about this justfrom what you've seen this offense? And
although you're utility player, what excitesyou most about it other than obviously playing
with CJ? Now, I justthink one. I think Dalton Schultz is
a great player. I've watched alot of his film growing up, and
just even last couple of years,study a lot of what he does,

(02:12:37):
especially on the Cowboys and now justto be able to learn from a guy
like that and take notes and tipshow he handles his life and everything.
It's gonna be awesome for right now, in long term down the road.
And one quick follow up, whatdo you know about the city of Houston?
Have you spending time here? No? No, I trained in Brisco,
Dallas for a little bit for acouple of months, and then that

(02:13:01):
was really about it. Other thanthat, I've never really been to Houston,
But I mean, I'm really excitedto come. All right, thank
you the media, you too,Aaron, Hey Kate. When it comes
to blocking, some tight ends embraceit, some do it because it's part
of the job. What's your mentalitytoward blocking? And I have a follow

(02:13:24):
up, Man, I love blocking. I do. I'm gonna throw my
face in the fire chance I canget. I might always be pretty,
but I promise you're gonna get everyounce of power I got. And the
draft process as a proven guy,did you go on a lot of visits
did you work out privately we're someonesthat you remember. And what kind of

(02:13:46):
level of activity did you have withTexan's Combine meetings, et cetera. Yeah,
thank you, Yeah, we had. We had a formal at the
combine and I've always, like Isaid, always talked to CJ closely,
so just having that and then justthroughout the PROTX we had a couple of
zoom calls here and there, andother than that, I mean, I
trained the Ohio State coach Mick andcoach at the train coaches up there with

(02:14:09):
training, a group of me,Tommy Iickenberg, and Still Chambers, my
roommates that we lived with in theafternoon, and that was really about it.
We just trained and play ball atthat point and the other teams.
Did you go on trips and thingslike that. We took one local visit
to the Bengals. That was it. We have time for a couple more.
Go ahead, sarge, Oh,Kate, I know that you know.

(02:14:33):
We asked you a lot of questionsabout playing with CJ. But you've
been scouted as a tight end butcan also be linked out to the wide
receiver position. Being at Ohio Statefor as long as you were, what
did you pick up from a lotof those great Ohio state wide receivers that
came through the time you were there, you just watched. I mean,
you watch those guys go about howthey handled releases, how they handled their

(02:14:54):
feet atop and the routes and everythinglike I mean, for me, I've
never played it in my life.So uh starting you literally started from square
one, absolute square one. Solearning slowly with them, and then this
is a business and you have todo what's best for his career and his
future as well. So you know, obviously has familiarity with Joe Brady and

(02:15:16):
had one of his best seasons withthem, So you know, I think
he's gonna be a big part oftheir offense and continue to grow as a
receiver. You know, it's alost for our room because he's a dynamic
playmaker. He can play inside andout and just his energy. Man,
I think he really became one ofthe favorite teammates on the team because he
kept things light. But he alsowas a really hard worker and and made

(02:15:37):
plays when we need him to.So on a personal standpoint, I'm definitely
gonna, you know, miss himhaving him in the building. And he's
kind of like the guy you Iget to talk to and he's like my
best friend. But on the otherhand, I get to see him,
you know, continue take steps inhis career. Uh, he's still very
young, so he has a lotof good football ahead of him. Literally

(02:15:58):
mm hm. Sense of offense andbe different for the offense. Yeah,
yeah, we haven't honestly even startedinstall yet, so I haven't even got
a lay of the land quite yet. I'll probably take a look at just
got our I pass within the lastfew days, so I'll try to take
a sneak peek at what we havelooking for. But you know, I

(02:16:20):
know with him talking to zach Ertz, he does a great job of trying
to get his playmakers involved, whichI think we have a really good group
of guys from the running backs toreceivers and some solid tight ends as well.
So I'm just looking forward to seewhere I fit into that. And
you know, I think with him, his biggest things is making sure the
playmakers are making plays and trying tofit the scheme around that, which is

(02:16:41):
always good to hear, good tosee too. This offense, Yeah,
yeah, it's definitely you know,an adjustment obviously when you're learning a new
offense and It's kind of the samementality I take into last year in years

(02:17:03):
past, where you kind of justwant to take a day one approach,
kind of erase what you've learned inthe past. But at the end of
the day, I think you know, schemes in the NFL are relatively similar.
Is just the names and the formationsthat may be a little different.
So just getting used to the terminologyand Cliff's offense is just going to be

(02:17:24):
something that's adjustment for all of us. But the good thing about it is
I got some good time on myhands to really put some work in studying
when I leave this place, soI could come in here when we have
walkthroughs and when we start to putour helmets on, we can really hit
the ground running. So so farit's we haven't learned anything yet, But
my approach is the same, tryto take good notes in there, ask
good questions, and then study onmy own at night. I know you

(02:17:48):
like to go to the season.Yeah, yeah, I think I got
some really good work down in Florida. Is just working on my footwork,
just being better at the top ofmy routes, sharper on my speed cuts,
dig routes out routes and just beingcleaner with my footwork at the top

(02:18:09):
of the routes. I think,you know, with a little bit of
zone covers that we've seen in thepast with some teams kind of running more
too hot show, you're gonna geta little bit more of catch technique where
guys are kind of sitting at thetop of your route. So I want
to be better at being efficient togetting out of those routes when a guy's
kind of sitting at my depth,whether it's a fifteen yard comeback or a
twelve yard crowl route, you know, being able to get out efficiently so

(02:18:33):
I can keep creating keep the separationwithin my route. So obviously I'm always
still working on my ball skills andmaking sure I'm just catching a lot of
footballs in the off season, butjust really being better at the top of
the routes and you know, sharperout of my cuts is something that I
think I can improve on. Goodto see you too. You know you're

(02:18:56):
obvious team and with so many newplayers room, what is the challenge you're
going to have and locker room?Yeah, because there's so many different personalities.
Yeah, I think I think that'sreally started with coach Quinn in the
way he's really integrated everybody over thefirst two days. I think we haven't

(02:19:18):
even got into x's and oo's quiteyet. We've just really beginning to know
one another, getting out there withChad and the strength coaches and getting some
good workouts in just kind of creatinga foster in an environment where everybody's the
same and continuing to have a competitiveenvironment. I think that brings out the
best in one another. And obviously, you know, you have guys like
Zach Ertz who's played a lot offootball and won a championship, Marcus Mariota,

(02:19:41):
obviously, Bobby Wagner, who's afuture Hall of Famer. So you
got some guys who have been broughtin here who know what it's supposed to
look like at this level. Andfor myself, I just want to continue
to add uh my value and beeven more vocal this year than I have
in the past, especially with possiblya new quarterback coming in. I think
that can really help our offense.Have you know, some more unity with

(02:20:03):
the guys who know what it lookslike, helping bringing those guys, the
younger guys along. I don't knowif you had a chance to watch Dan
opening conference. He didn't want touse the word rebuild. Yeah, changes
going on with this franchise, allthe new changes and new coaching staff,
all the new players. Is therea certain word you wo use or how

(02:20:24):
do you view everything? Honestly,I just think of it as a as
a new year. Just talking toSam Cosmy, Uh, we've been here
for a few years, so it'sa lot of new faces. I think,
you know, this is probably themost I would say turnover we've had
in the last few years. Sothere's guys coming from all different areas,
walks of life, and but Ithink the one thing is the same.

(02:20:46):
They're all coming in looking for anopportunity to compete, take another step in
their careers, and prove that they'reone of the best players at the position.
And I think coach Quinn has emphasizedthat we're gonna have the opportunity to
prove ourselves. Whether you're a tenyear vet or a second year player.
You know, this is a cleanslate for everybody. So I think it's

(02:21:07):
just about getting on the same page, enjoying coming in here and working together,
and also just pushing each other inthese workouts and then when we start
getting on the field, uh,really get that competition going. Try to
simulate as we go along in thisoff season process of how the games are
going to be. Hey, howare you doing? Good to see you

(02:21:31):
too. Yeah. I think CoachQuinn has really assemble assembled a very unique
group of coaches. There's multiple headcoaches, there's multiple quarter uh coordinators that

(02:21:52):
have come from different places, andso you have guys who have a lot
of football experience, some have played, some have coached some big games.
And then you bring in, youknow, the the talent that we have
defensively and offensively, and I justthink you can feel the unity and the
sameness and the message that he's tryingto preach to our team, and it's

(02:22:13):
we're gonna be tough and we're goingto be competitive, but we're also going
to have fun. And he,like I think he said in Your Guys'
interview, he said, he likesto do you know, hardship with good
people. So I think that's fun. You know, a guy like me
likes to put my nose down andgrind and work. So I know him
and I are going to continue tohit it off and you know, it's

(02:22:33):
just my job to help bring otherguys along with me. Thank you more.
What does it look like to takeyour next step as a vocal leader?
Yeah, what does that mean toyou? I think for me,
I've I've grown a lot in myvocal leadership. I think I try to

(02:22:54):
always find the balance of when tosay something when not to say something.
I think I never want I've alwayswanted to be a person when I say
something that means something like you don'twant to be You're giving all the motivational
speeches, but you're not backing upwith your play, or you're talking so
much you kind of your message getdrowned out. And so it's kind of
continue to find that balance of whento say things and when to kind of

(02:23:16):
just take a step back. ButI think I've I've gotten a really good
feel of how to do that.I think obviously with a new coaching staff,
you just try to understand what theyhow they want things done, and
you try to, you know,bring what you do well into that,
and you also try to encourage theguys who haven't taken those steps in their
career to do that as well.So I think for me, it's just

(02:23:37):
really starting in my position group.I think we have still a very young
group, kind of inexperience for themost part, but I think we have
a lot of talent in there,and it's just my job, in Bobby's
job, and to continue to bringthat group along as we go throughout this
season. Yeah. Approach. Yeah, I hit it really hard this offseason.

(02:24:11):
So I kind of started training alittle bit after the Super Bowl,
so I got a good six toeight weeks into where I feel football ready
right now, which is great forme because you know, obviously we're probably
having a mini camp at the endof this month, so that'll be I'm
already in football shape, So that'sthat's exciting to know that I'm ready to
be able to run routes and getgoing with our quarterbacks and get going with

(02:24:31):
our system. So you know,as this off season goes on, I
just trust the plan that Chad andthe guys have here. I want to
be here for all the workouts andthings like that and be a part of
the team building and just continue tolearn the playbook as we start to install
things, and uh be at apoint where I could go out there and
be confident in my game. WhatI've worked on this offseason and and put

(02:24:52):
that into how that fits into thisoffense. So I always try to pride
myself on knowing multiple positions, justto have be flexible for the team and
be flexible for myself, so I'llbe ready for whatever they wherever they put
me. I'm surprised you're going tohave a new quarterback this year. Yeah,

(02:25:18):
yeah, you never, well Idon't say never, but it's it's
always tough seeing like someone you builda really good relationship with go on and
move on in their career, andespecially your quarterback, because as a receiver,
you want to continue to try tobuild that chemistry, you know what
I mean. That was only ourfirst year playing with one another, and
I feel like him and I hadour uh we made some great plays and

(02:25:39):
we had some you know, roomfor growth, and I think that comes
with any new quarterback receiver relationship andso but to see him go in a
situation where have a chance to competeand play under a really good quarterback in
Geno, you know, I thinkhe'll he'll really like playing with receivers like
uh, well, throwing the receiverslike Locket and and Jackson Smith and jig

(02:26:01):
but in DK, you know whatI mean. So I think he's going
in a situation where you think different. Uh, it's more mentally than any
thing though, Like less side wasalways my uh best side back in college,
but since I got to IF,I've always been playing right. But
you know, it's a it's agood challenge for me and I can show
people I can actually play right andleft. So it's a versatility then,
so I'm happy about it. There, you moved around a lot throughout your

(02:26:24):
career that it's jumbo side tackle,I guess in the sentence and playing book
left on the right side. Doyou think you kind of benefit from focusing
a little bit more on the rightside? Uh, a little bit.
But you know, there's a newsystem that we have, Like I been
playing my mindset most on the right, but also have my mind'st and left
too, just in case something that'shappening to like you know what I mean,
like Colten or you know, Pete, of course. But I'm always

(02:26:46):
gonna be ready for love no matterwhat. How quickly have you felt like
you picked up this new system thatyou're working in now, you know it's
a we actually pretty picked up prettywell, cause it's the same system that
I'm used to back in the safebecause we're more like spread that I say,
so you know, it's pretty goodstill, It's one of the like
the draft process off seasons. Alot of people outside the buildings, you're

(02:27:09):
rangers getting the right tack. Yeah, a lot of yeah alright now,
but a lot of people in thebuilding right we have the right time.
All the people get motivated by that. You follow it like if you been
a nature do it. Though Idon't, I read into it a little
bit. But also the same time, like they not here the words,
but I don't really care what theysay. I know what I can do,
and the team know I what Ican do, So like they trusted

(02:27:30):
me right now and I'm not gonnalive them right now. How hard or
how easy is that to compartmentalize thatand use that as fuel going forward rather
than they're kind of maritating it,uh, I j I just keep the
seats. Everybody knows that one personI don't really care for him. And
also that's all good, but it'sall love. I love uh outside of
this, but you keep doing me, keep it better, keep on these

(02:27:50):
nights, do what I can do. There. You've been a outspoken about
your supporter Zamir, and obviously it'sjust a chance now to be the dog.
Wait, what is about him thatyou bought in so early? The
reason why I bought it so earliestcause uh, I was at a house
state. They always taught us anactually to get it, and ever since
I got here, I'm always wannago get and I gotta picked late,

(02:28:13):
and I always wanna prove people wrong. You know, I think prove people
wrong all my life. I wannakeep doing That's which I guess or just
like we don't put it like theset, you feel like a community this
year nine day difference nine day differencefrom my first year and my second year
to now. Like now, myguy, I know I can play.

(02:28:33):
I know I can go against oneof the best, specially with Plants anybody
else that we want to play thisyear, and I know what I can
do. So all I do nowis as you meet my potential and should
do it and help everybody else outthe 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.

(02:28:54):
He's quiet. He doesn't really saytoo much. He comes to the work
every day, do what he does, and and he works hard. He
doesn't flit twice at anything. Yeah, he'll get mad over a coch reps
most At the same time that likehe has a mentality of at all,
Like he's he don't really care whaty'all think or anybody else thinks for real,
So it's just like, alright,just keep going. That's how everybody

(02:29:15):
is on the team. About Tyraisontoo, You got that same mindset.
He does have the same mindset upa little nervous, but uh nah,
he nah. He has definitely growna lot from his like first year here
to now, like he has.But he's he's growing up a lot mentally

(02:29:35):
too. Until you guys are reimaginingthe offensive line a little bit with you
out there right side, yeah,uh farm there next to you on the
on the west side too, andthen drafting the guys on the line here,
how long exciting is that to bepart of something that's that's kind of
being you know, having that trustbut also being reinvented a little bit.
That's great, you know, Butme and doing those like they gonna keep
a placing us, of course,but all the same time we gotta keep

(02:29:58):
going, you know, became silwhat they did. What we gotta do
is saying about what what can theydo with you? Sorry, don't put
a lot of them outside. Howlong were you togever be working pretty well?
You know, you guess say forthe rest we had like a a
little rooking moment a little bit,but you know, yeah, you know,

(02:30:18):
those those tougher conversations, those oneswhere we might disagree, where we
do agree, where where he's gothis two cents on it, which is,
you know, always the best twocents I've heard. But me being
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

(02:30:39):
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 Stan. But I'm a curious guy. I
got a lot of questions. Ilike, I like football a lot,
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. So some

(02:31:00):
times in this league, playing youknow, eighteen games, they trying to
make it twenty. You know,it's like it sound like a little a
little fever dream to be honest,but but uh, if we can find
a way to k you know,stay up right out there, keep keep
Aaron on his feet. You know, I'm I'm excited for that and uh
everything that comes with it. Butuh but yeah, like I said,
man, that's it's it's harder saidthan uh or harder done, and said,
I guess you know, it's oneof those things. It's like that's

(02:31:20):
a lot of games, you know, all of a sudden, take a
lot of hits. They take alot of hits where they're not looking,
and it's just how can we keephim healthy? Ya ya are you when
do you think? I do youever to shoot the room? Now?
Positions you guys have made when morewant healthy and everything, like, yeah,
you know, I'm excited to seeit at at full health. You
know, we've i haven't got tosee all the all the guys out there
at once, and and you know, it's one of those positions where every

(02:31:41):
day is something might happen to nickup. You know, it's just a
a tough position to stay out thereat all times. But I feel like
we got a great group and andthe number one thing is how can we
stay healthy? How can we youknow, I'll be out on the field,
and I think having depth like thisand the group you have is gonna
help us. Having guys that cando different things, that can go catch
ball for the middle, all typesof things that it's gonna take some of

(02:32:01):
the strain off off all of us. You know. It's it's a good
group. So I'm excited to,uh, you know, get out there.
I feel like we haven't had thewhole whole thing together. But you
know, come season time, morol, and it's gonna be exciting. What
about your old number? Yeah,yeah, like yeah, man, he's
uh, it was a brute andthen once he catches up ball, I

(02:32:22):
mean he's got great instinct of wherethe defense is. I think the talent
on this team is really good too, And I think that I can come
in here and make a big differenceyou know, and we can win a
lot of football games, you know. So that was my that was part
of my decision. Your acutest back, How was that. I'm one hundred

(02:32:46):
percent now and it was like awalk in the park. It's like a
sprained ankle. You know. Itwas very easy, you know, because
I had the knee. The kneewas pretty hard, you know, and
the Achilles was I would say it'seasy, you know, just because that's
just my mentality, and it was. It was pretty easy to be But
you know, I've had these injuriesand it's been stormed like the past two

(02:33:11):
years, you know, having havelike good, great games. The next
thing, you know, heard andthen you know, so got got the
injury prone out there, you know. But I think the storm is over
with, you know, you know, and I think I'm I'm gonna gonna
take off now, you know,and there will be no setbacks and the

(02:33:31):
injury prone thing will be gone outof the window again. Yep. I'm
sorry, You're gonna be back.I am. I am excited. You
know. He does a lot ofgreat things, and he's a great person
and we have a great relationship.It's gonna be it's gonna be a fun
year. We're gonna have a lotof fun. We're gonna do a lot
of great things. So I can'twait to hear what the injuries you've had?

(02:33:56):
Is that just bad luck? Isevery Is there anything a tribute to
behind just this form? Yeah,it's just unfortunate, you know, But
God has a plan always, youknow, I don't know what the plan
exactly is, you know, Idon't know, but whatever plan it is,
it's for me to be here.You know, I had a great

(02:34:18):
rookie year. I didn't I didn'treally have the volume as other people my
rookie year, but I still hada great rookie year. Six yards of
carry, you know, things likethat. I think it was like nine
touchdowns ten including the playoffs. Andso there's always been like, all right,
guy, lets me show my talentshine a little bit. Like even
when I had the knee. SoI had the knee right, A lot

(02:34:39):
of people don't know, like Ididn't get hurt again. Whenever I got
you know, got cleaned up.So I went down in twenty one,
right, had the injury, theknee injury, and then came back later
the next year and I played thefirst few games, and it just feel
there was a lot of scars issuein there. So I had to get
it cleaned up. I didn't gethurt again. I could have played the
whole year, but I got itcleaned up so I can feel like me.

(02:35:03):
And so after I got that cleanedup, the first two games back
from the injury, I had overone hundred and twenty yards rushing right and
then went on had great, greatending of the year, you know,
one hundred total yards in the playoffgame we lost, which I hate the
most. Stays, don't marry me. I want to win. But then
come back the next year hurt againlike torn achilles. So two really unfortunate

(02:35:26):
injuries. But that's just God's plan, you know. And I think that
the storm is now over, youknow, And I do think that I'll
be able to shine my light tothe whole world. Are you concerned that
you have that label? You gainsstand? I could care less because I
do. I do. I knowthis out there because as as it should

(02:35:48):
be, it should be. Igot hurt two major injuries back, not
back to back years. But youknow, so I haven't been on the
field as much as I should.That's true, that is true, but
it's not like I'm having these littlelittle dinky injuries and sitting out. It's
something I can't control literally, sothat's why I'm not bothered by it.
Like, yeah, I am injurypolling, you could say that, you

(02:36:11):
know, but I do think thatthe Chargers are getting a guy that's gonna
be healthy from now on. Youknow, God will it, and it's
gonna be great. And I dothink that it's gonna be It's gonna be
a great However, many years herewhen you've been I don't feel you've been
highly adopted five pointy years for veryaverage for your career. Like knowing that

(02:36:31):
when you're out there you're very adopted, how much confidence does that give you?
That really all you need is isnot you need all the confidence in
the world. You know. Theway I work, I wouldn't say just
from the numbers, but just theway I work my work ethic, you
know, and my relationship with Jesusis like I have the most confidence when
I step out there because I doknow, like if he grants me the

(02:36:54):
health, it's over with. Idon't think i'll be you know, I
think it will be a great yearor whatever. A couple of years.
However, many years he grasped megreat health, you know, and I
think just the work ethic, myprayer and all that stuff, that's what
helped me have that confidence with thenumbers will be there and they might be
higher after this year, you knowwhat I'm saying. And it's crazy to

(02:37:16):
think about because I had six orsix yards per carry, you know.
So we'll see you're looking forward tothe running behind this line put together.
Oh yeah, yeah, yeah.I played with Brandley, I played with
him. You know, I knowthe Slater, I know all the I
know all the guys, you know, and I'm excited. I think it's
like I said earlier, it's atalented group. You know. We just

(02:37:37):
got to put it together win somegames. Cause that's what I came here
for a year. Or I wouldn't, I wouldn't say part of the recruitment.
But like whenever I decided I wasgonna sign, it was great to
have him in the room. Yeah, we're great. We're we have a
great relationship. That's he's like mybrother, so I think compliment each other

(02:38:01):
very well. You know. Hecan do a lot of stuff too,
you know, got like a lotof people think he's just power power,
power, But I think he hassome other parts of his game two which
it'll be great because I feel likeI could do everything, and when one
get tired, we can roll itin. We keep rolling win some games.
So when you the two of youget going, how do you think

(02:38:22):
that's gonna look for? What willlike? What will be that partnership kind
of back there? I know that'sa hard question. How do I think?
I think it'll look beautiful. Youknow a lot of people call this
a passing league, but I thinkyou gotta run the ball to win the
super Bowl. You know, ifyou look at the teams who win the
Super Bowl, they can run theball, they can control the clock,

(02:38:45):
and so if we're both good,it'll look great, beautiful. How would
you describe the Gregor running the offense? I would I would describe it as,
you know, a great offense.I think he gives a quarter He's
gonna give the quarterback back a lotof options. He's going to give the
running back a lot of options.He's gonna give the receiver a lot of

(02:39:05):
options, you know, and Ithink it'll be I think it's gonna be
great. His offense is going tobe amazing. When we talked to him,
you know, I was like,why are you an able to build
something good rushing offenses throughout your careerevery where you've been, And you said
that one part of it is justyou got to call a place. You
got to call run place as arunning back. You know, how much
confidence, how much second does itgive you when you know you have to

(02:39:26):
play caller that's gonna stick with itand allow you and the offensive line to
give you a resident gives me alot of excitement. You know. It's
gonna be Like I said, it'sfun to play in his offense, you
know. And I think he doeshave some good things in the past game
too, But like you said,he sticks with the run, and that's
that's the identity you You want anoffense that has an identity, right,

(02:39:48):
You won't be looking everywhere else tofind your your identity. You want to
have it. And so I thinkhis offense has that and the guys he
builds and puts in there, itcomplements that I identity. So I think
it's gonna be great. Full gofor training. Look, I ain't gonna

(02:40:09):
answer any of THEO if it's upto me. Yes, Look, because
I had this problem like three twoyears three years ago, I'm thinking I'm
full go. I think I'm readyto go, and the next thing,
you know, I'm on pup,like, hey, look some stuff above
my prey pay grade. So butI don't know, hopefully I can start.
I think I'm ready to start,you know, at the beginning of

(02:40:31):
training camp. But that's not upto me. As I've learned, I
tell you, I wouldn't say that. I think I've been I've been in
some great organizations, and I thinkthis this organization is a great organization,
and the training staff is great,and so they just want what's best for

(02:40:52):
me, you know, and they'rethey'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 Ireally appreciate that, you know, because
I'm the type of guy, likeI work really hard, so maybe sometime
I'm blind to you know, thedanger of something, you know, so
I appreciate it. But like Isaid, if it's up to me,

(02:41:13):
yeah, I'm out there. Butyou never know, with any frustration for
you during the heading into free agency, you know, dealing with with rehab
and not you know, having wona full season tape or production to go
out there is there any part ofthat where you're like, gosh, you
know, had hit the open marketwith a different situation. You know,
Nah, I like it. Ilike, how would I say this?

(02:41:39):
I like it the hard way?But not, you know, I like
it the hard way. I likeit. I like trial and tribulations.
So I mean the dice that Iwas given the role was I was coming
off of our Achilles and that wasthe lowest plan. So it was beauty

(02:42:03):
in that, like I was comfortable. I was caught like there was multiple
teams, you know, I wasn't. It wasn't like I didn't have any
other team. But I was comfortableand sitting back and just enjoying the process,
letting myself get fully healed. Sowhenever that team, whoever I would
sign with, who now is theChargers, is going to get the best

(02:42:24):
me, you know, And Ithink people all around the league know that,
like, Okay, this guy,Okay, it's a high risk,
high reward type thing, right,not even a high risk for low rice
because you it's a business, right, So I got hurt last year,
so not as much money needs tobe throwing there. But I think everyone
around the league knows that whenever Iam on the field, the numbers don't

(02:42:45):
lie, and so they know that, and a lot of teams were like,
all right, here, you cangive you this, but we want
you to be healthy. So whenI'm healthy, it's gonna be great.
The chance that I've been giving hereso grateful and I know that's gonna be.
They won't be they won't regret it. Are you the type of person

(02:43:05):
that likes the opportunity for me?You know? So I'm excited about it.
Oh a lot. He helped mea lot, even feel like the
first day, just trying to helpme get used to to write tackle.
He got my feet used to writetackle. Like my first day practice,
I like, dude, I stillfeel you feel a little off. I

(02:43:26):
don't feel balanced to my stands.And he showed me the small technique and
to do with my feet, whichI still do even even though I left
tackle just cause it's part of myroutine. That was part of my process
and getting in my stands. Sostuff like that that he taught me from
day one and obviously in practice wasfun. Just compete with him. You
know, it's just to meet atthe back of the pocket and to dap

(02:43:50):
each other back to every rep likethat was competing, you know what I
mean. So that's my guy,as much as you love him on the
left side, How bittersweet is itis? Yeah, that's the thing.
That's not how It was definitely nothow I and and that's how I thought
about the transition will go. Youknow, I thought it would be you
know, homesong timing and the cardinalhis whole career. You know, you

(02:44:15):
know, you want to play hereforever, you know what I mean When
I was talking about his plans,so you know, you win, you
wish transitions like one of those fairytale like to your time. But but
again, either way, you know, we talked about it. You know,
that's that's the how it goes,you know. But obviously you know

(02:44:37):
he sees he's he's been one ofmy biggest supporters. Again, I felt
everybody leads in their own way,you know, not everybody's the right guys
coming around like and that's not everybodyright like I feel for me, that's
me specifically on game day with theO line after we do one on one

(02:44:58):
like that's my like, well humdid like that's my like big vocal time.
I feel like I've talked to Humpabout this, you know, just
recently talking about how what I wantto do for the room is I want
to bring that Hump energy that hebrought right so last year. Of course

(02:45:18):
some traits been doing it for years, but the year when I spent with
him, he brought a lot ofthe energy and excitement and the happiness in
the room was just his natural energyto where I only had to focus on
me, you know, I didn'thave to make sure other other guys are,
you know, feel some type ofway when it came in here because

(02:45:39):
Hump brought that. But out ofHump's not here, but I saw what
he did for the room. Iwant to be that guy to make sure
everyone's ampt to go to practice,everybody's hype weren't taken and field team one
period. You know it's a lowday or something. You know, it's
it's a thing, But like Iwant to make it feel like your parent's
the tripper right now. I wannabring that cause that's what me and Hume

(02:46:01):
did to each other. We wannapeach other up. Dudes, like dudes
were about to be walked through.We're lit. So I want to do
that. I want to bring thatenergy. I wanna make bring more guys,
you know, to do that.You know, yeah, I wanted
to do that from day one,you know, I kind of I wanted
to do that from day one,from just talking to him, and obviously

(02:46:22):
it's that time. I spend theoff season before OTA started just being in
my selfish thinking about what the roomneeds, you know, because I know
I knew a new role as oneof the leaders, you know, on
the offense, is that we needa guy like that that's gonna make sure
the old line is picked up readyto go every day and it was held

(02:46:45):
accountable. Little things aren't happening topractice and people aren't saying anything. And
how I may lead maybe different thansomebody else may lead, you know.
I like to a practice at leastlike the leave of positivity, you know
what I mean. So, buthe the g went beyond just the hype
up the dal On and stuff too. So that's kind of how I wanna

(02:47:05):
be s goal mine literally my wholelife. I wanna be a NFL team
captain, like specifically NFL I wasn'ta captain of high school. I wasn't
a captain of college. But Imade a joke when I was in high
school. I was like, didI feel like I'm not gonna be a
captain til I get to the NFL. Yeah, but that would be awesome,

(02:47:26):
you know, but you know,if it happens, i'd be great.
But if not, either way,I wanna assume a role as a
captain from the respect of the guyson the team they did award today.
And to get back to that word, yeah, I mean, I can't
say that. I mean, Iguess the biggest thing is that I felt

(02:47:46):
like it has felt like how youused to in the past. But it
didn't take just the first day OTAs. It took training left and right once
the season ended, cause I didn'tknow what it was gonna be sure,
so a lot of yeah reps justto get back to feeling like myself for

(02:48:07):
day one OTAs and then that wholefirst week, but now like today,
specifically just changing some small things withmy feet that I did say talking about
a line coach about some things Ican do with my feet to get to
that to sell at the traditional anglethat I love to set on felt even
I thought I felt I thought Ifelt great already by my okay, I
felt even better. Okay, soI'm even more excited tomorrow. Now I'm

(02:48:28):
getting my feedback than how I likedit the right side and on the left
side. So I'm excited. Imean, obviously, I feel like in
the league, whether I left orright, you're still going against premier guys.
So obviously you have high expectations foryour left hand or right tackle.
But there's definitely uh, like thethe level of energy and like the expectations

(02:48:52):
definitely taking a human spect cause nowconnected the black side, that's the that's
the tackle role, you know.So so yeah, I would say in
terms of communication as far as justeven outside the facility and just stuff like
that, like really creating that thetackle quarterback bond even more off the field,
I think has been something that's evenbeen cool. I got a text

(02:49:15):
one day and I said, Hey, like you play left, And I
was like, yeah, you know, yeah, I've been training both.
I've been training both. You know. I I aks after the season,
They're like, honestly, you know, we'll talk to you some play in
the season, and I just gottatext me like, depending what happens with
with the free agency then. SoI was like, you know what,
I had a whole season right tackle, So if I get the word,

(02:49:39):
I'm going I'm standing right tackle.I don't just do what I did before.
I'm throwed on that bus. Iwas like, I might as almost
trained the left tackle now as ifI'm gonna be left tackle, and I'd
rather do that than training on righttackle. Get the call, hey you're
the left tackle, I'm like,ooh, I didn't even I didn't even
switch on my feet yet, youknow what I mean. So I'm like,
let me just prepare in advance.I was like, yeah, this
guy, you uh. I thinkoccasionally on third down there would be a

(02:50:03):
lot of twists. I would justknow like it's automatically coming. And I
fact, that was my mindset forlike the first half of the season.
Like I didn't have to go intoa game and was surprise like, oh
my gosh, they did that.I kind of figured like, okay,
like this is this is the typeof rushman again, like this is how
this guy usually rushes. But Iget the vibe this is how the ends
like the rush, you know,tackles that are you know first year guys

(02:50:26):
who got the premiere patch on.I already knew what it was gonna be,
already knew every stunt and honestly justknowing that it's kind of an advantage
too. So you're not you're notyou're not old. They brought the twist
of my side again. It wasnever an Aaron Donald like, you know,
to coming out the mindes like threeplays in a row and two minutes
I knew that it was the winningSo you know what I mean, I'm

(02:50:46):
watching more than everybody else, andhe rarely even goes out there on occasional
third down was on the d end. I was like, al you know
it's gonna be. He's gonna pickme, you know what I mean?
So fact fact it's kind of It'salso kind of an advantage in a way.
That's also exciting here with the twoguys, this talent and this this
background at the top of that group. How much of your discussions with Brian

(02:51:07):
do I guess the interview process wereabout how you might approach this and and
what do you think is meaning thekey element? You're getting the most out
of those because you got two guys. This ain't my first rodeo. No,
I know a lot of people lookat say, well, this guy
only been on the field for threeyears Westernon, Tucky and Oregon. Just

(02:51:30):
because I didn't have the title ofa running back coach where I was at
the Memphis, I never carried myselfthat way. I was carried myself as
a running back coach. I approachedevery day that way. So at Memphis
we had Darren Henderson, Patrick Taylor, Tony Poller, Kenny Gangwell, Tonyo
Gibson. I've seen talented backs,and I've seen them be able to function
with one another. So I hearthat all the time about well, I

(02:51:54):
say my first rodeo. Same thingout there at Oregon, we Bucke,
Iervin Norwich and George James. Yougo look at their numbers. They all
functioned well together. We learned howto play as one. So this ain't
my first rodeo. So and plusI know those two kids cause I recruited
on when they was in high school. So I'm up for the challenge and
the responsibility of it. Got rightbehind the damn Hopele Carlos, Just what

(02:52:16):
is your kind of coaching philosophy?How do you get the best out of
your running backs. I get thebest out them because I love the young
men. My main focus is tochange 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 somethday that Itook from that book. You have your
purpose and you have your goals,all right. My purpose is to serve

(02:52:37):
and pourtant to the young men.Now my goals is a football coach.
All of them are take care ofthemselves. So that's one of the ways.
I'm just real relationship base and I'mvery detailed at this position. I
know y'all heard me say it before, and I'm gonna keep saying. This
is the worst coach position in football. It's terrible, guys hire anybody to
coaches position and recruiters. Carls Lockis not a I'm an elite relationship builder,

(02:53:01):
but I coached this position. I'ma ball coach, so that's who
I am. So I'm gonna pouringto these kids. I think they kind
of seeing it now and I jumpedthere in day one. I'm ready to
coach, and you RaSE, youknow, soft batched 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

(02:53:22):
God by the people at the otherplaces I left, so that I been
getting pills Hey, Pillsbury need togive me a deal, cause I've been
getting I been getting some DM andtexts. I'm some of it. Some
of them have been so funny.The saut batch cookiet th thing came from
just having a frame of mind,a mental toughness. It had nothing to
do with guys getting in the portaland anything. Now most people say I'm

(02:53:45):
a saltbatched cookie for leaving there,but actually I'm not, because it takes
great strength to make a decision toleave a place. No, a weak
minded person wouldn't be able to makethe decision that I made, So it
took great strength to do that.So I'm telling you, but by literally
in my DMS, it's some it'ssome great comedians out here that have been
sending me like tons of cookies outlike it's funny. Right behind him,

(02:54:09):
Tony, how have you going aboutthe assessment of the talent in the room?
Uh? And hope it was thepast week or two. How much
is that unfield 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 running back position, and I already broke those kids down
cause I recruit him out of highschool. You know, Q is from

(02:54:31):
where I'm from in Montgomery. Iwas one of the first guys to offer
him just watching him great contact,balance, creative runner, great hands and
trey. I recruited him out ofVirginia exceptional short of your bursts and quickness
and things that I'm gonna help himget better on. And then I recruited
James Peeples out of t out ofSan Antonio, Texas. I knew what

(02:54:52):
he was gonna what he was gonnabe TC and Sam. Those two kids
I'm getting to know and I'm gonnahelp them improve their game. But we
got different runners in there. Ilike to call myself, I'm in love
with this position, so I getthe break down runners and help their game.
So talented, talented, room,very talented, uh far back uh.

(02:55:13):
Jeremy Birmingham Podcast, how do youswear that that the softbast cookies are
actually the best cookies to Philip brittinnigs or those are way better than the
country chips are white things, Terrier, I mean, do you do you
have to first find a balance thereor someone. Well, for me,
I'm actually not eating any cookies now, I'm just saying I'm not eating any

(02:55:35):
cookies this year. I gave itup for a fast or no sweets for
me for the whole year. That'ssomething I gave up. So they the
term the south bast cookie term.Look, guys, I actually took that
from I represent the high school coachesof meThe, Tennessee. I actually took
that from a guy named coach Slocum. He used to always say that south

(02:55:56):
bast Cookie. Actually stole that fromhim. I give him credit for it,
and I tell them all the timehe said, you I should have
branded that, cause you don't tookit and ran away with it. But
that's just where that comes from.So that that now standing. As you
get to a high stand and youstart to look around the country at Oregon's
a big place, that's a that'sa major job with how how do you
think that where your opposite logo underJeff Rand blocko When you get out out

(02:56:20):
of the little free and trail.How does that change the way that you
feel you're either received or or doesit add a different level to to just
feeling like I can go anywhere andget anybody in the company. And that's
the changest thing for me. Thisis a great place. Oregon is a
great place too. But guess what, whatever I put on, I know

(02:56:41):
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 is to poorting the people.So whatever logo I have on, I'm
still gonna be doing the same thing. So this is a great logo.
Great logo by wear another logo everyday. It's across I see around my

(02:57:05):
neck. I know what I represent. So that's the greatest logo I could
ever wear. So it doesn't matterwhat other logo I have on. I
got that one on. I'm goingto any house and be a recruit.
Uh uh deep right camera Tick Robinsonand the athletic from which you you mentioned
the time if Memphis and nine it'sfour NFL Where backs you mentioned there?
Who you learned from that time thatyou that you to take over, to

(02:57:30):
manage you, to grow up.And kids? What did I learn from
them? I just building a justteaching the kids. We live in such
a selfish world, though, AndI can tell the kids all the times
it gotta be much more the football. The ball gonna go flat one day.
As I always say, what beingin that room there at Memphis is,
it wasn't four five teaching them howto be a b by being one?

(02:57:52):
I tell you them, in alltime, it doesn't cost you anything
to celebrate another man's success. Soteaching'em how to be one, and
then once they learned to be one, they functioned in They feed off one
another. So that's what I learnedfrom being there at Memphis and from let
him in the road, Carol,start of your career in law enforcement kind
of influence you as a coach andkind of shape where you are. Oh

(02:58:13):
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
my room? I said, Man, I had a part with fifty one
inmates. You talking about me havinggot six or seven guys, Are you

(02:58:35):
kidding me? I'm talking about mehaving to do traffic stops or going on
domestic you know, vience calls.It's simple, easy. No, people
don't know what you care. Alsoknow, you gotta have a certain demeaning
about yourself. So when I walkinto a room, it's the reason why
I go train every morning. Thisis when. It's same thing when I
was a police officer. You looka certain way kind of deter people from

(02:58:58):
doing certain things. So it's justwhy I go train every morning. I'm'a
look just as good as my boyslook. So uh it helped out a
lot. In other words, Uhfrom Rol Right, Austin Ward. Uh
the podcast, Uh, Carls,Welcome to Columbus. Uh what would it
mean to I don't know, revolutionizethe way running backs are coach? What
what does that take? I ain'teven I'm not gonna say revolutioniz. I

(02:59:22):
just some good It's some good runningback coaches out here. Everybody's different.
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 a running back coach.
We coach a position, we developedplayers as well. I just want the

(02:59:43):
coaches to realize, Hey, youknow what, let me look and be
thorough about this guy that I'm hiringfor this job. Is he teaching the
position? Is he developing 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 either. And I'monly passionate about it cause I played it.
I love it, So it's theonly position I want to coach cause
I coach the other positions. Yeah, I played dB in college too,

(03:00:05):
but I love the running back positionso and I just wanted to see it
coach well. Ten May podcasts.Yeah, a million questions. All that's
a couple. Number one, wheny, when you when your wife whatever?
You got the message stuff? Orare we moving again? What was
What was her reaction? Nah?She she just new guy had give us,
gave us a new assignment. Sit. It was never like we're moving

(03:00:26):
again. Let me tell you guyssomething I grew up. My mom was
in the military, so I livedeverywhere I lived in Panama of South America.
I'm used to picking up and movingI lived in Fort Riley, Kansas,
Montgomery's home if it was my secondhome, so I'm I'm used to
moving now. My wife it wasdifferent for her, but she just knew
guy that gave us a new assignment. So it's time to go. What

(03:00:46):
did uh? What did coach theytell you when you heard you that he
wants out of you? That maybe different. It's not slamming somebody else,
But what did he say he wantedyou to bring to the running back
room? I think he did hisresearch on me. He said he want
the guy to to develop the position. And that's not taking a shot at
the coach that was here who I'mfriends with. He said, they want

(03:01:09):
somebody to really get I like ouredge guys that we picked up, and
I'm excited to work with him.Do you know much about how do you
play against him? Leonar Boyd andwhat's been kind of your earlier him?
Uh? I think he's super skilled, Russia, a little good length,
and he's more athletic than I evenrealized. And I think guys like him

(03:01:31):
when they come to our scheme arethe best is brought out of him.
So I'm excited to see what potentialhe has. He's year nine, so
I feel like you as a dlineman, you can keep improving all the
way through ten years in this league. So I'm excited to see what he's
got. How old did you knowsores of when he was assistant here?

(03:01:52):
And have you gotten to know hima lot better? What's the relationship?
Maybe right now? I know himpretty well. He was always uh,
just a good around the facility.He did our ball meetings, so he's
good in front of a group.He's a good leader. He knows the
scheme really well, which is good. I was happy to see him promoted.

(03:02:15):
He called me in the off season. We talked. I just congratulated
him, and I think he's gonnabring something similar to what we had with
the Miko good. Do you knowBrandon Stanley well at all? And I
mean obviously Joey play for him.I don't know too much about him.
I've obviously heard from my brother,but I don't even think i've said high

(03:02:35):
yet. I haven't ran into himyet, but I'm sure i'll get to
know him. When you say itlooks similar to to Miko, the energy
or the system maybe a little differentenergy, but I think just knowing the
system from the front to the back. I think he knows how it ties
in, and he's been around withsome really good coaches, so I think

(03:02:58):
it'll be pretty pretty seamless, andI think we'll be firing on all cylinders.
You're three months removed from the SuperBowl now, so how have you?
I guess digested it, and Iguess physically everything good to go.
Yeah, I feel really good.I think it's been one of my better
off seasons of just kind of itwas a long year, so I took

(03:03:20):
it nice and slow to get backinto it. Not as young as I
once was, so I'm taking alittle a little slower, but everything's great.
I'm feeling as good as I felt. I'm excited to actually get some
practice in. Last year was kindof tough, getting thrown in Week one

(03:03:41):
after I walked through, so thatwas another reason I'm excited to be here,
is just to get practicing a littlebit in season. Practice is one
thing, but actually being able towork your stuff and not have a game
coming up is good. With theSuper Bowl unfortunately, I know how to

(03:04:01):
bounce back from tough losses, soit was rough for a little bit,
but now it's just annoying when peoplebring it up. Since Angel last season,
we've seen a Rock on TV commercialsand on the stage with Kluke Coombs
and throwing out the first pitch inthe Giants game. But he seems like
a guy that's totally unaffected by celebrity, which he has now. But what

(03:04:22):
have you noticed in his leadership styleand the way he carries himself any difference
at all. I think he's definitelygetting a little more vocal within the building.
And uh yeah, I mean Idon't think he's ever gonna change.
I don't think he's somebody that's gonnachange even when he gets paid next year.
So he's he's a man of faithand he kind of reminds me of

(03:04:46):
Scottie Scheffler, but except for justsuper humble and really good kid. And
yeah, he's definitely famous. Idon't just from watching Armstead get released obviously

(03:05:11):
meant so much to the defensive lineinto the team. I mean, Colin
John were pretty open that they werewilling to talk about trading Deebo or are
you as round? Does that justanother what's that feel like in the locker
room when those sort of joels happened? I didn't even know that happened and

(03:05:31):
I wasn't here, But you're talkingabout this offseason, armstall in alarm Eric
released, so that's certainly one thing. Yeah, it's a tough business,
for sure. You have to havethick skin and I haven't gone through that,
but I think you just have tounderstand that it is a business and

(03:05:54):
the team's going to try and getas good as it possibly can with or
without you, and you have tolook out for yourself. That's why you
go through holdouts and do certain thingsthat seem selfish in the moment, but
it is what it is, andwhen everything's settled, we're gonna come together
as a team and try and goget one. What's the overall feeling around

(03:06:16):
the group right now, Like,how much does it feel like the excitement
of the ramp up to the season, Even though it's early, it feels
good. It's been a couple ofdays for me, so I like all
the new guys. I'm getting toknow everybody, But I think the past
is in the past and we're readyto go. You talk to you talked
to Beat all about handling the businesspart of this, and he's going through

(03:06:37):
something similar. We chat a littlebit, but not too much about the
details. I just told him keephis head up and try and stay positive
through it all. Over your firstimpressions when you heard what your schedule would
be in that Aaron Rodgers's first time, it'll be fun. Yeah, it's
gonna be gonna be a good one. Excuse me kind of alluded to this

(03:07:01):
for the fact that last year youhad to have that hold out that affected
you somewhat early in the season.If you hadn't had that experience, would
you be here right now? Imean, was that part of the motivation
for being here early, just tohave the opposite one last year? Might?
No, I don't think that's oneof the reasons. But I just

(03:07:24):
talked to Kyle and he kind ofasked me. He kind of stated how
he felt about why it would begood for me to be here and asked
if I agreed, And I oneagree. So it's not like I'm missing
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

(03:07:48):
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 positive. Oh no, he's he's there.

(03:08:09):
He's got a new regime over there. I actually thought I was coming next
week until recently, so I wasgonna have one more week at home.
But we're both in California. I'vecome 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.

(03:08:33):
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
word that you've heard a million times, So yeah, I think it just
feels like it feels like coach isleading the team the way it should be
led. It has a feel ofbeing back in college, you know,

(03:08:56):
with with coach ierber Meyer, andyou know the message is sent from the
top and it doesn't get mixed upas it's moving down the ladder. It's
boom. This is how we're doingthings, and everybody's following that. And
I think it's impressive the details thateverybody have been on has has been on
the effort and just the competitiveness thatthat's been going on over the last few

(03:09:22):
weeks. Yeah, it's it's it'sbeen great. How much do you appreciate
that? To stop and just describedwith the way Jim I shouldn't eat in
the messaging doesn't eat mixed up?Might you appreciate that so much? I
mean it's I guess it's easy toappreciate when you kind of see it working

(03:09:45):
and you see guys improving, gettingbetter. I just think the details are
really important. You can pretend thatleaving your shoes a mess or your locker
a mess isn't a big deal,and what matters is playing for ball.
But I think all those tiny detailsand things kind of add up and leak

(03:10:05):
into the important stuff, like whatyou're doing on the field. So if
you can have your toe behind theline, or have your locker and order
and all these things, they kindof stack up into performing well and and
playing well when things count. Soyou know, I appreciate that. It's
it also hasn't been a fight withthe guys in the locker room. They

(03:10:26):
buy in, and you know,it's a lot of young guys, and
I think they're hungry to learn hungryto compete and win. You know,
it's just an example, whether it'swe talked about first day you have your
shoot, if you could, ifyou could spend the time on these small
things when nobody's watching. I think, like I was saying, it seems

(03:10:48):
like it might not add up toomuch, but I think in the long
term it does, and it leaksinto other things, whether you're doing your
right assignment on the field, beinglate to meetings or all these things.
If you hold a standard and youstay to that standard, I think it
benefits you long term. It's beenlike work with Ben Herbert. Has there

(03:11:11):
been any anything in his training programwe're working with you that you feel will
benefit you later? Yeah, yeah, definitely. He's he's been great.
He's a no nonsense kind of guy. But he's not an old school in
the sense that he's bringing his wayof doing things and that's the only way
to do things. He understands thatguys have been in the in the business

(03:11:31):
for a long time, Khalil meand we have a way of doing things,
and all he wants to do isadd to that and help you get
better and perform the best he can. He's he stresses it all the time
that he's a tool for us,and you know, he's been, he's
been great. The guys love him. The energy brings is awesome, and

(03:11:52):
I think the stuff that we're doingin the weight room is great, great
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 were in the
meeting, you definitely see how beneficialhe's been to the team so far.

(03:12:13):
So obviously, staying healthy is isa huge factor to anybody's success. I'd
say it's plagued us a little bitfor a while. So yeah, I
think he's he's definitely incredibly beneficial.When were you fully, I know,
at the end of last season,you might have been able to play.
Yeah, No, I was notready to go last year. No,

(03:12:37):
tried practicing, tried coming back,and uh it was it was not good,
but yeah, it was Unfortunately theyear wasn't going great and it just
was unnecessary risk for I mean,my foot could have had some real real
issues if I came back too early. So yeah, it's been, it's

(03:12:58):
been, it's been a great offseason. My foot's feeling great, toes
good, hamstrings good. I mean, there was a list of things last
year in my hand, so allthose things are good. Finger cut surgery
on my finger, so that's feelinggood. Yeah, it's nice to be
feeling better going into your nine thanyou have since maybe five six years ago,

(03:13:20):
which I've said, I've been feelinggreat last couple of years. I'm
telling you it's a real deal thistime. But obviously anything can happen.
But I just feel it's fun feelingreally confident in your body and being able
to perform. So I could justgo out during practice and you know,
go balls to the wall and doeverything that I feel like I need to

(03:13:43):
to be able to prepare. It'sfun. My brother and whoever I trained
with my trainer Todd back home,I think they'd be really proud of how
I've been working this off season,and it's just exciting. Obvious the pointing
was the injuries on the Great BigGame. You've kind of yeah, that

(03:14:07):
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, and
I just felt felt really defeated,coming back, had a broken hand,
I'm like, oh, yeah,I get to play boom for a serious
foot. Pops thought I'd have toget surgery, and all these thoughts flooded
through my head. Broke down abit, and yeah, it just hurts.

(03:14:31):
You know, you're losing, you'regetting injured. You've felt like you
prepared really well in the offseason,and then the year before you had growing
surgery, so you know a lotof things build up. Yeah, you
don't get a break if you're injured. Everybody wants to go on. Fans
are very nice, but no,I just I'm grateful that I feel this

(03:14:54):
way. I'm still still nice.Ripe twenty eight, so not too old
yet, but yeah, I'm justexcited. I can't remember what the original
question was at this point, howclose you and Gift were, How how

(03:15:16):
frustrating was it that you couldn't youknow for one of those last three games.
It was frustrating, but I meanGift was had my back the whole
way. I think for Gift,for any but for for the whole team,
just to show what it means tome. It would have been important
for me to be out there,but I literally could and I tried to

(03:15:37):
practice injured my footworse the very firstplay I was and in practice, So
no chance that was happening unless Iwanted to throw my next season away as
well. But no, I'm justI'm proud of him for what he did
with the team, how he handledit, and I need to call him

(03:15:58):
back. Actually sorry, GIF.Yeah, I'm happy he gets to stay
close by with the with the Ramsand uh, I'm just proud of all
we accomplished here together over the yearsand and we'll be close for the rest
of our lives. Was the footinjury, it was the guys foot sprain.
Yeah, I sprained one area ofmy foot. Then when I tried

(03:16:18):
to return, I sprained another area. Was able to avoid getting surgery,
which is kind of the main goal, But yeah, it was. It
was tough when it comes to theaddition of but Dupree, when he felt
like he's kind of brought to theto the room and could bring on the
field. Yeah, it's when Iheard we got my brother some I don't

(03:16:41):
know, maybe my brother told me. I'm like, really, we just
got Bud, Like that's no,that's no small pickup. He's a seriously
elite pass rusher has had some troublewith injuries as well, so I understand
how that is, but not onlyhim as a player, but as a
personality. I heard Khalil just sayinghe's he's a fun guy. He's a

(03:17:01):
funny guy, and to have thatin the room another vet is always a
great addition. But I'm just excitedto have him and Tuley and to be
able to rotate like that and notdrop off at all when we come off
the field is huge, and mapTuley's going into a second year. Just
what do you what are you kindof What are some of the maturity maturity

(03:17:22):
areas you see from him? Youknow, I'm gonna say not much,
and that's a compliment because he wasalready 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 rushI mean, we don't have the
pads on right now, so thereal work will will begin, you know,

(03:17:46):
in six weeks now. So butyeah, I love Tulie. I've
loved him since the first day he'she's walked into the facility and I know
he's just gonna continue to get better. What do you think of the addition
of Joe Old. Yeah, yeah, I'm gonna need to beat him up
a little bit in camp. Sohe's so he's ready. But no,
I think anything to protect our numberten is a good, good investment.

(03:18:11):
So he seems like a real soliddude. Haven't talked to him too much.
Great build, seems like he hasgood hands, good feet, strong,
We'll see. We'll see in afew weeks when I lay a helmet
in his chin. Hell, heholds up, but it'll I'll take it
easy on him. No, Rashon'sa beast. Did you know coach Harbond

(03:18:37):
before he came here? And ifhe did, just what were those first
couple of conversations like that? Yeah, probably have crossed paths with him.
Maybe maybe not. Actually, Ithink what was it his first year when
I was a junior, So hekicked his ass as usual at Ohio State.

(03:18:58):
No, No, they just wantto championships. I'd say they probably
have the bragging rights right now.I'm like the guy talking about his old
high school. Oh, I rememberwe used to kicks. No but no,
yeah, no, the rivalry isdead. I was just saying this
morning, you know, nine yearsand kind of forget about that. I'm

(03:19:18):
not a great alumni. Sorry,sorry, coach, but no, it's
great. That's what's great about theNFL is you just have guys from all
backgrounds. You could hate their gutsone one year, and then you come
on the same team and your brothersand you're all working towards one goal together.
So our first talk together was great. I just sat down with them,

(03:19:39):
went up into his office and choppedit up about life mainly and his
opportunity here and how much it meansto him and h Yeah, I think
he's a special guy. I thinkhe's uh, the way he conducts him.
So he's an interesting cat for sure. And I'm still still feeling them
out. But one thing you can'tdeny is that he loves football and his

(03:20:01):
main goal is to win football games. And that's what we need. When
you see him working out with youguys and and pushing slaves and doing all
this stuff, just how interesting isthat to see? Yeah, I mean
he was a he was a greatplayer himself, and I think he's always
been, you know, built likethat lack of a better term. But

(03:20:22):
yeah, he's uh, he's partof the guys. You know he's not
this guy outside looking in. Hehe 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 during the defensive

(03:20:46):
skare. Yeah, it's funny togo from old 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 khalils hisage. But no, he's been great.
I love messing with him a littlebit. We little sarcasm back and

(03:21:07):
forth, but no, he's great. He's uh, very talks very fast
and I don't as you know,so sometimes I gotta be like slow down,
coach, come on. But no, he's great. I'm excited,
you know, to get closer asthe years. As the year goes on,
and I think he has he hasa lot of passion for the position,

(03:21:31):
and all he wants to do islearn and and help us to improve.
So I'm excited about him and meand I do miss Giff obviously,
it was a long time with him, but I am excited to have a
new face and kind of have thatchallenge for me. Worked much with with
Jesse's dad, since I know hecoached linebackers in Michigan. Did you ask

(03:21:52):
about Jesse? Did you ask aboutdoing? Okay, you asked about Jesse.
Oh my god, I was talkingabout freaking doing the whole time.
You guys are so confused. No, sorry, I thought we I thought
I was. I thought you mentionedcoach Ronie. No, No, coach
Mentor has been great as well.Yeah, they've both been great. Sorry,

(03:22:15):
run that back. No, he'sbeen good. Uh yeah, very
knowledgeable guy. Same thing. I'mexcited to get to know him more as
the year goes on. Have youworked Have you worked much Jesse? Yeah?
No, I have not. Idon't know if I've said one word
to him, but more words tocome down the road, like you said,

(03:22:41):
you can be in year since twentysixteen. Just where are some of
this stuff? You just went ona ramble about the wrong guy for fifteen
minutes walking what Yeah, what thehecks? Actually that's literally not the person.

(03:23:03):
Yeah. I figured out something thatyou you worked under the off season,
something to improve your game or isthere something that you can Usually my
answer is pretty consistent that I justcontinue to try to prepare myself physically,

(03:23:24):
whether that's my sprint work or agilitywork and my lifting, but yeah,
just to get everything feeling great.I dealt with those injuries, so I
had to kind of ramp it upwith my finger and foot and all those
things. But now I'm I'm fullfull speed out there, and I'm just
going to continue to do what Iknow will prepare me for the season.

(03:23:48):
And uh, I know I'm gonnaget plenty of technique work and position work
when I'm out here, So fornow, I'm going to spend these five
weeks really getting uh prepare in mybody. There was workouts, competitive again,
another year of competitive and all thatstuff. Yeah. Yeah, it's
usually too hot out there for muchcompetition. We're just trying to survive.

(03:24:11):
So but yeah, it's always it'sa it's a silent competition between between each
other. Be like Peeking's like whatwas his time? Was his time?
But uh no, yeah, it'salways. 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 there's no off days.

(03:24:35):
Have you got you and him talkedat all and out? I mean,
I mean this when you were havinga contract day. Do you have
guys have to talk about on anybody? Yeah, I mean it's it's a
conversation, not a not really aserious conversation, but something that's come up
before. But yeah, I meanit would be cool. It would be

(03:24:56):
cool at some point. I hI always thought of myself being somebody that
will play here and retire here,which I think not many people do on
one team, and I think wouldbe a cool thing to accomplish. But
you never know. I'm gonna worryabout this year. First, guys,

(03:25:16):
Sorry, it's kind of we're doinga food story. But so you guys
have like the lowest or second oldestfood cceria in the nflpa's ye last year
and let it moved to the facility, Like you talked about about food and
how he did some time. Isit fine because you are you looking forward
to the food upgrades at all?Have you thought about it at all?
Yeah? No, it's Wolfgang Puckor whatever is the is the word.

(03:25:39):
Yeah, that's great. I've beenworking with my chef for seven years now,
so she's been great, so I'venever really had to worry about that
too much. But yeah, myweight's good. I've been eating a lot
this off season, so that's good. But yeah, I'm excited to maybe
be able to Sorry Christine, butmaybe I won't need a chef next year.

(03:26:01):
I'll have my I'll have my I'llhave my Wolfgang Puck food and that'll
be good. So yeah, I'mexcited about the move. Found a new
spot, excited to kind of learnthe area and all that. Even though
I won't ever leave my house,do not need a lot of the facility.

(03:26:22):
Just a chef was good at all. We all eat here sometimes you
know, it's may not be thebest setup, but they'll prepare your food.
That's that's plenty good. I'm aman air character, shout out.
No, they work harder than literallyanybody in the entire facility. So they
may not have the best means backthere, but they've they freaking worked their

(03:26:43):
butts off, and to this offenseafter like twenty years of breeze and just
kind of it was just kind ofbuilt on top of each other, on
top of each other. It's likekind of a lot to kind of take
in. Do you do you findthat they kind of turn it down to
something new, starting new, likezero with everybody. It's just a little
bit easier to kind to get everybodyunerstand. Yeah, I feel like it's
way easier. Like you said,it was kind of more of a Drew

(03:27:05):
Brees style, uh the last playbook, so uh all credit to them though
they built that around him, aroundhis players. But uh, like I
said, it's is more. Uh, this playbook is more uh for uh
matchups, and uh, I feellike it's gonna be better for us.
How do you think it's gonna reallytake advantage of your skill sets? Uh?
Just building around the strengths that Ihave. You know what I'm saying,

(03:27:28):
things that I can do and thingsthat she can do, Uh,
things that our players can do.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 I feellike it's gonna help us a lot around
the way this offense will have alot more speed. And how has that
transition event so far? I mean, like I said, it's building around

(03:27:48):
the player strengths, so of coursewe got speed uh uh with me or
uh she and ati receiver. Souh, just building around that. Uh.
Like I said, playing to ourstrengths and be able to capitalize off
that. Life's gonna help us alot most of like the up tempo asterist
and getting a lot of plays inunless time. Oh yeah, yeah,
yeah, that's definitely gonna play abig difference. Like I said, coming
from the West Coast, Uh,they bringing that stand for an offense here.

(03:28:11):
So I'm excited to be able tobe a part of that. For
you personally, what what's the nextlevel look like for you? What do
you what are you trying to accomplishthis year? Just staying consistent, man,
a couple of ups and downs lastyear, just building off that.
It's always always gonna work on thephysical part, but being able to bounce
back after a bad game the mentalmental aspect. Uh, just learning learned

(03:28:33):
that last year and be able tobuild on that this year is a huge
part. You know with Mike Gon, do you take it upon yourself to
kind of be that voice in theroom or to take a step forward even
further as Uh, I mean it'snot really. I mean everybody kind of
grown in the NFL. So it'sjust on you to be able to have

(03:28:54):
that standard. Like I said,I just try to do that lead by
example. I'm not really outspoken,but just lead by example, working hard,
trying to dominate every rep and hopefullythey follow after that. Yards after
the catch? Is that you feellike that's the strength of yours that maybe
wasn't utilize. I don't know ifutilizes the right word, but you could

(03:29:16):
show more. Yeah, it's anoffense that is built around that, uh,
just catching the ball in space,catching the ball over the middle or
even on the outside, uh withwith space and separation. Feel like it's
built around having yards after 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?

(03:29:39):
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 I definitely got
to do that more and definitely tryto work on that in practice. A
great dude man some some that Idefinitely needed something that he relates to me

(03:30:01):
Uh, just from backgrounds and uhhe's a great coach, great leader,
Uh, motivational and uh. LikeI said, I'm I'm excited to have
him around and uh for him topush me is everything that I need.
So you're talking about like mentally bouncingback, you know, from from tough
performances or whatever. Like, didyou like try to find your resources gonna
help you figure out how to dothat? Oh? Yeah, I mean

(03:30:22):
it's older guys. Uh uh tellme, Uh that's natural just have bad
games, but uh, just havingthe standard that I have for myself and
the expectations I have for myself,uh gets hard sometimes. So uh just
be able to uh be hard onyourself, but at the same time just
let it go and just bounce backfor the next game. It's something that

(03:30:43):
I learned last year. You oneof those guys that feels like you should
always have a certain love production orare you okay with those certain games where
the defense is so focused on youthat other guys have big games and where
you're just running good routes and theUh yeah, I definitely was. It
was like that early in my career, especially in college, but I found
out it's just about winning. Really. You know, I understand I came

(03:31:09):
up a rough season, but Idon't think it's a step down of where
I can play. You know,I think when I'm at the top of
my game, I'm still you know, top five player in my position.
And you know, I played arun in the past and I bring leadership
and that's not anything I discover.Can you do you plan to be here
for mini camp and the start oftraining camp? Yeah? How difficult has

(03:31:31):
it been the last two weeks tonot be here? I mean you said
in your podcast the first time you'venever not been in Yeah, it was
difficult. But like you know,the thing I got very frustrated with was
just some people questioned my communication withthe team. You know, I was
communicating with guys left and right,and you know, front office, coaches,

(03:31:52):
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 do,
and I don't want that to everyquestion. Isaiah said that it felt

(03:32:13):
like sometimes you were holed up somewherewatching film. You text us miss this
or you want to be that.Well, like the first day, 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, uhknow that you you still care and you
still wanna be a part of us. You know, just watching practice,

(03:32:35):
there's a couple of things we're doingdifferent, whether I'm communicating with dumbbar or
other people. You know, 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, girl asa person? You know, as far
as how he's approaching things, howhe's getting ready for this season from his
rookie year. Uh, you know, I think the thing with Keanu is

(03:32:56):
he's more comfortable, you know,you know, 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 going frombowl game. I don't even know Wisconsin
played in a bowl game. Sorry, Wisconsin, I don't even know.
But you know personally, I justthink when you go from bowl game to

(03:33:20):
training for the combine to you know, rookie mining camps, OTA's the you
know mini camp, I mean thetraining camp the regular season, you really
don't get a time to really catchyourself. You know, he understands the
playbook. Now, he can bemore vocal, you know. And I
think when my absence the other guy'sabsence, you know, you need guys
like that to step up and beready for those opportunities. But server you

(03:33:43):
had during the season was a morethorough 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't anythingthat lingers. You know, I'll say
that's a growing is not like ana cl It's not like anything's that we're
going to get affected again. Andyou know, you know, I'm feeling

(03:34:05):
good, able to do everything squatand heavy with power and speed, so
you know, it feels good toget after again. What do you think
of what the team is able tofee accomplish your shots usually term to bring
guys like Russian and things. Youknow, I think they're all good acquisitions.
But you know, you never wantto be known as a paper champion,
so you can't win the off season. I think the work gets done

(03:34:30):
out here on the field, getsdone in the classroom, Wow, 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 putting a
complete team on the field. Camp. How temper company is to separate from
business part of the game in theactual football player. Uh, you know,

(03:34:54):
you always wanna you always have totreat it like a business because you
know one day it's gonna end.Uh. And that's Benny job. Uh.
It's not like in college where youknow you got four years guaranteed.
I don't know, well now youdon't know what nil and know it's crap,
but the transfer portal portal. Butyou know, you have to know,

(03:35:18):
I still have love for this game, and I still work my tail
off and I still put everything intoit and that's not gonna change. But
you have to know what you bringto the team and what your what your
value is. Everyone did a feelto be out there with your teammates today.
Emotionally great you know, we gota new uh, we got a
new training staff and still learning thethe warm up a little different, but

(03:35:41):
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.I actually like having more people around,
cause like kind of go start crazywhen it's just you and another guy.
You're like, damn, I gottago back up for another a rep already.

(03:36:01):
And so you know, it's niceto be up here and get a
chance to, you know, bewith my guys. Cam. Are you
confident and be able to get donewith your emotions? Oh, I'm gonna
we'll try to remain pretty neutral becauseyou know, I don't wanna be too
either way. All I know isI wanna be here, but we'll see

(03:36:24):
what happens. Is my last yearhere, I I I I've had a
great career here, but uh,I'll look forward to play next year.
Can you with that second surgery yousaid it this time was on the left
side. It was the first timearound on the right side, right side
during the season, left side,and that was just tightening down my corner.
My corma saw it wasn't the sameas my ad doctor. You know,

(03:36:48):
you can ask doctor Bradley, uh, doctor doctor Zuckerbron who uh did
the surgery as well. You know, I if anything's gonna help me and
it'll make me a lot stronger fromhearing up and you say you were training
with another guy who you have kindof been Tyson. Oh, I've been
training with him for the last eightyears. We've always trained together. We

(03:37:09):
got a trainer up north. Uhshout out Cole Haley. He's my guy,
traded h trained trained, Uh,Heath Miller, Brett Keesel, the
multitude of guys that I all respect, and we've just been getting after can
Man. Very few guys historically thirtyfive that you paid big contract that you
think that's held against you. Ithink there's not a lot of history behind

(03:37:31):
it. But you know, forme, I I look at as I'm
not looking to be like anybody else. You know, my game is different
from everybody else in this league.You know, I like to think,
you know, I can play therun in the past, and then that's
where I'm different. You know.I remember last year Mike t just brought
to my attention. You know,the thing that's really cool is you watch

(03:37:54):
powerlifters, and you know, mygame's built on powering technique and those guys
going to their forties and so youknow, that's what kind of research I'm
doing behind the scenes. But youknow, I I We'll see what happens.
There's not a lot of history,but I'm here to make history and
I'm here to you know, Iwin another Super Bowl year and you know,

(03:38:18):
have a great season. Do youhave a set goal over yourself on
how many years you want to playin the NFL? Or do you just
take things year by the year?You know it was it was tough answering
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. H you know,
But in my mind, I gotthree years and I wanna maximize them.

(03:38:41):
I wanna play at a high level, and I wanna go deep in the
playoffs. And you know, wegot a good team and I'm gonna do
my part to be ready for allthose situations. Here. If you plan
on practicing when you report to latrobor is your possibility that you might fuld
in and enforces. I I havenot even thought that far. I've taken

(03:39:01):
a day by day Uh you know. Uh uh I told my agent and
we talked about it. I meanwe were cool coming out here. You
know. I'll be here for manyyou know, and then I'll be there
for training than you know. Idon't know what the work entails, but
when we get there, we'll we'llcross that bench. Why is it a
dodge for you or remain as stealerfor those three years? You know,

(03:39:26):
there was a conversation between me Omarand Mike t And there's certain guys that
are one helmet guys, you know, and I wanna be one of those
one helmet guys. And you knowthere's a there's a hunger and desire there.
But that doesn't mean just hanging itup and calling it a career.
To me, I think, youknow, I got more bullets to fire

(03:39:52):
and uh you know, I'm excitedto do that. What's the meaning last
one? You and Russell Willison aregonna be out there with Walter Man?
Uh what WALTI Payton many year packI saw Russ's on social media, but
I haven't had a chance to seeit. I'll let that surprise happens when
it happens. But you know,it's cool to have another Walter Payton Man
the Year winner. You know.I think it's an honor to be there.

(03:40:16):
And I'll say one thing, Iwon't be here. I'm just telling
you guys, So it's not abig deal. I won't be here because
I have to do a Walter PaytonMan your thing on Thursday. So it's
not like I'm skipping, all right. But you know, it's an honor
to be with Russ and you know, you know, it's in honor of

(03:40:37):
doing things in the community and doinggreat work. And you know, the
cool thing is as much as weget quarterbacks and going through these fifteen practices,
how do you want to structure that? I know that you and Ryan
have probably talked about that a goodamount, Like what's the right way to
set up a spring position battle?How many reps does everybody need? What's

(03:40:58):
sort of your plan just from ageneral I guess yeah, you know,
we're really detailed in what practice lookslike and how that's going to operate.
But I also think you need tolet the players go, you know,
So I don't think you need toput shackles on them, so to speak,
and just keep them constrained. Ithink you got to let them go
and you got to let them operate. And we were rotating I think everybody
on every two snaps today just andthat was just what we're gonna do on

(03:41:20):
day one. You know. We'llreassess it after we got through it.
Get a chance to count up allthe reps of how many plays, how
many plays each guy got, anddid they get more in seven on than
they did in eleven on? Youknow, and we'll go through that whole
thing and that'll be a constant flowin terms of how we're doing it.
But I think the best way peoplelearn is they learn by doing, you
know. So they've been great inthe meeting rooms. They're sharp when you
get them on the board, they'rereally good when they're watching film. But

(03:41:43):
you got to go out and yougot to play the game. And so
the more we can put them inthose situations to play the game, the
better we'll have an opportunity to evaluatethem. Thinking of all of these things.
Go back so forward with Ryan's day. You mentioned since you've noticed since
he was a kid, what wereyour first impressions back then and then you

(03:42:05):
come full circle to now, likehow do you what do you feel about
that? It's still the same wayhe you know, even since he was
playing little league, he was theultimate competitor, you know, and he
was always trying to find a wayto win. He was great at a
lot of sports, Baseball, basketball, football, you know. I got
an opportunity to recruit him, youknow, so I coached him when I
was at New Hampshire. I recruitedhim out of high school. We all,

(03:42:26):
and we grew up really close toeach other, so the same elementary
school, same high school, samejunior high, same college, you know.
So I've known him since for fora really long time. But that
competitive fire burns deep with him,and that's the one thing that I've always
admired with him. And he's gotan amazing athletic brain in terms of how
to process things and how to howto put people in position to make place.
He's always been that prototypical coach onthe field no matter what sport he

(03:42:48):
was playing. So I knew hewas destined to be a coach, you
know. And I was fortunate inmy career as a head coach to have
him on my staff in a coupleof places, so I got a chance
to see him work firsthand. Youknow, I got to see worked first
and as a player and then asa coach. So the success he had
is not is not surprising to me. Is there where you seeing Wheyan the

(03:43:09):
successes had. Yeah, I thinkwe all do that. I think we
come from a unique place in areally small hometown in New Hampshire where we
all take a lot of pride towhere we're from and and when anybody's successful
coming out of there, then youkind of take a little pride that that's
it's the upbringing that we all had, you know, in the U sports
program that we grew up in inin every aspect whether it was football,
baseball, basketball, those coaches wehad an amazing impact on us. And

(03:43:31):
that's why we are where we areright now. Ryan said, he doesn't
think of it as you working underhim, that's working with him. Fact
is he is the head coach.He makes me call him sir though he
just said can you do that dayone and I was like, all right,
right now, But I mean heultimately is it is the decision maker.

(03:43:56):
You've been a head coach how doyou think that's going to work.
Do you think there'll be any asclose as you are, any kind of
awkward moments the right term. Butwhen he's the ultimate decider and you are
working for him, Yeah, Icertainly understand my role. I'm not Alhaic
like I'm not I'm not in chargehere. Yeah, some people get that

(03:44:18):
reference. Other people don't get thatreference. But I'd certainly understand that,
and and I actually kind of relishit because I really love the scheming part.
I love the individual part. Ilove being in the meeting room of
the quarterbacks and trying to game plan. But everything we do here is collaborative.
You know. The one thing thatreally struck me when I walked in
this place is there's an amazing coachingstaff here, you know. And if

(03:44:39):
you get a chance to talk toLarry Johnson just about football, or Tim
Walton or Jim Knowles or Brian Hartlineor any of these guys that are on
the staff here, it's it's avery collaborative effort. I think everybody's on
the same page. You know,it's not our offense and their defense and
it's Ohio State, you know,it's it's Ohio State versus the twelve opponents
that we're going to play during theregular season and then beyond. So it's

(03:45:01):
it's really collaborative. And that's thething I like, just in the short
time that I've been here, ishow collaborative everybody's been. You know,
we're all trying to make each otherbetter and we're all trying to develop this
team. You've touched on this.Uh when you said you know, you'd
like to do what you want todo and not my sense is you,
in your perfect world, you'd liketo scribble plays on a napkin and not

(03:45:22):
deal with boosters, do deal withall the stuff that coaches, head coaches
have to deal with. Now,how much of a factor was that in
this decision? You can just dofootball? Now that that's not it?
I mean, I enjoy I mean, we've had some amazing I've had an
opportunity and everywhere I've been to meetsome amazing people that are associated with the
program. And there's people that frommy time at New Hampshire or my time

(03:45:43):
at Oregon. I was just withPhil Night two weeks ago, you know,
and got an opportunity to spend sometime with him and his wife Penny,
who are dear friends of mine thatthat have been great mentors to me
in my career. And there's abunch of people that a UCLA Terry Donahue
and Andrea Donna who were awesome tome. Angela Mazzoni is a great friend,
Casey Wasserman, Troyman. There wasa bunch of people at UCLA that
I really enjoyed, you know,being around and talking with. So I

(03:46:05):
think sometimes everybody wants to make anarrative of it's either this or that.
It's never that. It's never justall ball, it's never just all recruiting,
it's never just all boosters. It'sa mixture of everything. But I
think the one thing that as thisposition as a head coach kept moving on
is that if you look at alot of them, they all become more
CEOs. You know. I can'ttell you how many coaches that have called

(03:46:26):
me since I made this decision thatsaid I'm two years behind you, brother,
you know that are thinking the sameexact way. And I think it's
all part of what we have todo. I think we all need to
protect this game and promote this game. And I think there are some rules
that we need to get straightened outso that people understand what it's about,
because the game is still about theplayers, and I hope that never gets
discounted. You know, It's alwaysbeen about the players, and I think

(03:46:48):
if we can keep that at theforefront the people that are making decisions on
this, and I think Geen Smithis one of the best influences in the
NCAAA, is to make sure wekeep that the main thing. The main
thing needs to be the student athletes. You know, you're coming in at
a time where you've been through someplaces where the expectations are high. I

(03:47:09):
understand, but's also coming into ajuncture where, you know, the three
losses to Michigan, the not makingthe playoff last year, the urgency is
pretty high here. I guess justsort of what the perspective do you have
on kind of the stakes that thereare for Ryan this year and the decision
that then he makes to bring youin to kind of help solve that.

(03:47:30):
Yeah, I think the expectations canbe no higher than they are in your
own brain, you know. AndI think if you try to worry about
what other people are thinking in theirbrains, you're going to get screwed up
a little bit. So, youknow, I talked earlier. The one
thing about Ryan that I know abouthim and has always been he's the ultimate
competitor. So he's got There's nowherethat has higher expectations of Ohio State than
Ryan does, nor the rest ofus that joined him in are part of

(03:47:50):
this and that are working with him. So you know, I don't think
I think sometimes you can spend toomuch time thinking about those things. You
know, what you really have todo is just as theres a big sign
as you walk into this place,it says when the moment, you know,
I think that's a real thing thatwe have to do as coaches,
is to make sure that our playersaren't worried about what's going on in the
future, or or aren't worried aboutwhat's going on in the past, or
worry about can they get a littlebit better today, you know, and

(03:48:11):
can we make improvement? And Ithink the one thing that I've seen here,
and I've only been here for threeweeks, but there's a consistency to
the players approach when they walk inthis building every day, which is it's
unique. It's not like that everywhereelse, And It's one of the things
that I remark to Mick when Iyou know, he said, hey,
what do you think? And Iwas like, it's impressive. It's impressive
the culture of the players that arein this program right now. But I
think it speaks a lot to theleadership. There's there's a lot of older

(03:48:33):
players on this team, and they'veset the tone for the younger players,
and I think the younger players havedone a great job of followship and getting
right in line with that. It'snever ended over a play calling to someone
before. What does it mean toyou? I guess he technically did it
to Bill when he was here fora couple weeks, But what does that
mean to you to kind of begetting that responsibility from him and he's calling

(03:48:54):
essentially the offense that you gave it? I guess in some way. Yeah,
I still think the play only partwill be a collaborative effort. And
by that I mean that if it'sa good play, I called it,
and if it's a bad play,he called it. Because the great part
is an assistant coach, you canjust you point the finger a little bit
and just say, hey, youknow, I wanted to do this,
but he trumped me. So wehaven't actually discussed game day yet. You

(03:49:16):
know, we'll see how that operates. But everywhere I've been it's been a
collaborative effort, and all of asudden, someone that's calling the plays isn't
isn't like pulls one out of leftfield that you hadn't practiced and hadn't been
part of your offense and said,hey, let's do this. You know,
we're not running the annexation of PuertoRico. You know, we're not
coming up with something special, youknow in the middle of the fourth quarter

(03:49:37):
that we haven't done. But Ithink it's the key to really being successful
on offense is is how you gameplan, how you put it all together,
and then how you practice and trainfor that so that you get a
chance to execute it. Because theplayer's confidence comes comes from their demonstrated ability
that they've done this so many timesin practice that when they get out on
the field that this is like thatto them. You know, it's not
that they do it so they doit right. They practice it so much

(03:50:00):
so that they can't do it wrong. So, you know, I think
it's that whole part of it thatis really the key to being a really
good game planning team. Doug Lane, Marie King of North Chip. When
you had that feeling when you werecoaching the quarterbacks during Bowl, did you
consider at that point maybe resigning asthe head coach and thinking like this is
this is not where I am anymore. I'll leave and then I'll look to

(03:50:24):
see what else is out there.No. I never thought about quitting anything.
So, you know, I justis there an opportunity that I think
I can that fit, you know, And I think that's the you know,
it's no different than when you're talkingto a recruit about them make a
decision on where they're gonna go toschool. I think that where they should
go to school is where the bestfit is for them. So, you
know, I just entertained some opportunitiesand I always felt I felt like this

(03:50:46):
was the best fit. But Inever thought about quitting or not coaching.
I'm gonna coach. I'm gonna coach, and then I'm gonna die. I
mean, that's how I think Ithink about things. Is I can't picture
that. I know someone I wason the Nike and they like, how
much longer are you going to go? And I said I had to go
another fifteen twenty years. I don'tthink about I don't think about retirement.

(03:51:07):
I don't think about any of thosethings. That's just not kind of my
mindset that you know. I lovefootball and in the as long as I
can be part of this game,then I'll be part of this game.
Just the way things worked out withyour departure from UCLA, is there anything
that you wish you had done differently, or anything you regret, or just
that the circumstances that presented themselves.Do you think that you handled that departure

(03:51:28):
the best that you could have.Yeah, I mean I got an opportunity
to tell my players personally. Youknow, I think in this day and
age of the internet where they readit somewhere else and you have to text
message, and you know, thatwas always important to me that I wanted
to make sure I talk to myplayers and explain the reasons of what I
was doing. I wasn't leaving totake a head coaching job somewhere else.
I wasn't thinking that the grass isgreen or at another university. Was just
in my personal situation, this iswhat I wanted to do. I wanted

(03:51:50):
to take an opportunity to go bea position coach and coordinator, and that's
how it fit. You know.What I was happy is that I always
thought to Sean Foster or I thinkthe world of them, and I think
he's a special you know. Andthe fact that that they were they gave
him the opportunity to take over therewas you know, it worked out.
I didn't have any say in thatdecision, you know, I was gone,

(03:52:13):
But I always thought that Deshaun wouldbe a great head coach, and
I'm really proud of him and happythat that he got the opportunity to take
that job right behind him Actually haveyour reputation as 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

(03:52:37):
get to get my hands dirty hereagain and innovate and to get back to
that side of things. It was, But it was really more important of
who I get to work with,you know, 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 wanted to be a
part of that. But but there'sa part of that. Yeah, And

(03:53:00):
how much of a teacher you get, you get labeled in the innovators.
The teachings are part of this.How much is it is? Uh how
a teacher are even 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 iswhat resonates with them and how does that

(03:53:24):
come back to them? So,you know a lot of our teaching styles
that we've learned is more the socraticmethod of there's a lot of questions,
you know, and a lot ofcheck for understandings, just to kind of
find out where the players are comingfrom, because it's what they know that
that's ultimately gonna win games, notwhat we know. You know that we're
not playing the games, we're notstepping across those white lines, you know.
And your job as a coach isto create an environment where they have

(03:53:45):
an opportunity to be successful and thenget out of their way and let them
go do it. So I thinkthe teaching aspect is huge, and we
continue to research, you know,some of the latest trends in teaching to
to make sure that we are transportingthat knowledge to our players. Steve Helway
twenty four seven Sports. Yeah,coach, just curious, you got five
scholarship quarterbacks with differing levels of experience, age and everything else. Not to

(03:54:09):
annoyed him, but just want toask specifically about Will Howard coming in after
starting part of two years at KansasState. He just seems to promote this
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

(03:54:30):
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

(03:54:52):
opened in college football is some ofthe best paryers I've had an opportunity to
coach ard transfers. Sometimes when you'rea 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.So there's a sense of urgency I think
when you're dealing with with transfers,and I think Will has exuded that since
he's been here. But the otherthing that I just in the short time

(03:55:15):
that Will has been here is howquickly he's fit in with the entire team,
you know, and how much thethe rest of the players respect him.
You know. He was uh oneof the Gold Award winners for his
work in the weight room in thisoffseason, So that says a lot for
him coming in here as a ina short time, being able to to
win a weight room award, youknow, to start off, you guys
hope to have the number one internallyexternally at the end of spring or I

(03:55:39):
guess just let it play out.I think it always every time I've been
involved in these, I think whenthey're organic is when it's the best.
I don't think you can anoint somebodyor force 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
going to force the issue a butI've always seen it play itself out.

(03:56:00):
I've been fortunate that there's always gonnabe some quarterback battles at some point in
time. At every school, there'sa quarterback battle, you know. And
then and really I feel like inthe league, whether I left or right,
are still going against premier guys.So obviously you have high expectations for
your left and right tackle, butthere's definitely like the the level of energy

(03:56:22):
and like the expectations definitely take andthe human start because now conned the black
side that stuff, that's the tackleroles, you know. So so yeah,
I would say in terms of communicationas far as just even outside of
facility and just stuff like that,like really creating that tackle quarterback bond even
more off the field, I thinkhas been something that's even been cool.

(03:56:46):
I got a text one day asa head like you play left, and
I was like, yeah, youknow, yeah, I've been training both.
I've been training both. You know. I asked after the season,
They're like, honestly, you know, we'll talk to you playing season,
and I just got a text melike depending what happens with with the free
agency then. So I was like, you know what, I had a

(03:57:07):
whole season right tackle. So ifI get the word, I'm going I'm
standing right tackle. I don't justdo what I did before. I'm built
on that bus. I was like, I might as west train the left
tackle now as if I'm gonna beleft tackle. And I'd rather do that
than train on right time and getthe call, Hey you're the left tackle.
I'm like, oh, I didn'teven switch on my feet yet,
you know what I mean. SoI'm like, let me just prepare in

(03:57:30):
the advance. I was like,yeah, let's god. You know,
I think occasionally on third down therewould be a lot of twists. I
would just know like it's I'm antomaticallycoming. And I think that was my
mindset for like the first half ofthe season, Like I didn't have to
go to a gaming with surprise likeoh my gosh, they did that.
I kind of figured like, okay, like this is this is the type
of rush. Mean it get thisis how this got usually rushes, but

(03:57:52):
I get the vibe. This ishow the ends like the rush. You
know, tackles that are you know, first year guys who got the premier
patch on. I already knew whatit was gonna be, already knew over
every stunt and honestly just knowing thatit's kind of an advantage too. So
you're not you're not you're not old. They brought the twisted my side again.
It was never Aaron Donaldick. Youknow, they're coming out the mindes
like three plays in a row intwo minutes. I knew that it was

(03:58:16):
gonna win. It happened, solike you know what I mean, I'm
watching more than everybody else, andhe rarely Eveland goes out there on occasional
third downs on the d N.I was like, already know it's gonna
be. He's gonna pick me,you know what I mean, So fact
fact it's kind of it's also kindof advantage in a way, but it's
also exciting, like, Okay,I'm gonna get the hardest look. You
know, those are real, realreps you know in the bang. So

(03:58:41):
really I I don't know. Ireally didn't kind of process that. I
was like, hey, when theytell me to let me know about I'm
just gonna train it. I wastraining all left to Ta's. I guess
if I didn't hear anything about Ta's, I would have came in like so
you know what I mean, becausejust like I'm cool with training and both
continue, I would have been cooltrade both continually, but still not.

(03:59:03):
But what's it been like for you? Just see just the early stages of
how he challenges people, of howthey respond to I mean, yeah,
I mean at the end of theday, I think we're all grow men
in here, so you know,you should automatically, you know, take
accountability for you know, everything youdo on the field, whether it's something
good, whether it's something bad.And I think everybody's responded well to that.

(03:59:24):
So you know, I think thatdoes nothing, but you know makes
everybody better allowed to your teammates,to you know, put more trust in
to whoever it is has taken accountabilityat the time. Usta, what if?
Uh what do you see the guyaccountability? Yeah, I mean he's
quick. You know, he cancreate a lot of space and uh small
spaces, so uh it's quick,you know, uh, savvy with it's

(03:59:45):
rout running, and you know he'sjust he's just a hard worker. You
know. You know there's some playswhere he knows he's not getting the bold
and he's still still winning the'rooute. So you know, just to
have that player, uh A aplayer like that give that much effort uh
on the field every play, it'sreally really good to see. And I
think it's you know, really uhgonna rub up on the other guys too.

(04:00:05):
I'm good. I'm about the i'm'aget you another. What's it like
working with uh some of the tightends that you guys have in the room
there, I know after Smith straightjust talked about the versatility that a lot
of other guys have, especially inthat grip. Yeah, I mean we
have a different uh uh a lotof you know, different guys in the
tight end room. You know.Darnell he brings sides to the room.
Uh, Rodney speed, Uh Connor, he has a great awareness in the
field. Pat of course he youknow, he's a great all the round

(04:00:28):
tight end. And then uh,you know, uh crew, he's a
he's a bat, He's smart,he knows what he's doing. So I
mean just all the guys in therooms. You know, they're smart and
intensive, and they've i f Ifeel like they've j ad justice to the
offensivell so's it. What's been likeworking with Tom or from what's he been?
Kind of working what you wants?Yeah, I mean Tala's been great.

(04:00:52):
Uh just his that's he's attention todetail, the way he comes you
know, in each and every day. He comes into the same guy every
day and uh to be onside andyou know, I don't think I've had
to coach that detailed, but asTom, you know, he's very detailed
in terms of you know, practice, refuse sending us, uh the info,
breaking down each and every play andreally just really just focused on the

(04:01:16):
details to be honest with you.I think, uh that's the thing that
sets him apart. And you knowhe's he pushed us to be hard.
I mean our our endie periods oryou know, conditioning, So of course
that's good for us. But Imean he's been great so far. So
excited to uh, you know,allow that our allow our relationship to grow,
and excited to work with him becausewhat he's doing kind of compliment what

(04:01:37):
you're doing. Individually, you know, when you're away from the facility working
with you know, coaches one onone or anything like that. He said,
what does he what does he dohere? That kind of compliments what
you do away from the facility whenyou're troubling. I mean, I think
he does different stuff. So Ithink, uh, that's a good thing
about it. You know some stuffthat we do here. Oh sorry,
uh, I don't you know,usually do outside the facility. So it's

(04:02:00):
been getting that. It's different workin different drill work that I can you
know, implement into my you know, officers and program and stuff like that.
So it's good that I'm learning thisstuff. For sure. You have
a deep all of efficiencys any timesthat was the last year? What what?
What? What is this? Uh? Our smith in the offense talk
about you trying to make make thatincorporate that into being a big part of
this offer. I mean yeah,uh, I think we have fast guys,

(04:02:24):
guys that can get down the fieldwith speed. Uh, Guys like
Quez, Calvin, Scottie, Vanyou know me and Rust. You know,
we've we've had a lot of deepall success and a lot of explosive
plays in the past. So youknow, that's just uh, you know
what, I guess how our offenseis built. To be honest with you,
but I mean, our job isto create explosives and you know,
push the ball down the field.So anytime we get those opts, we

(04:02:46):
definitely wanna capitalize on those. Areyou tossing any part of your mechanics and
anybody that? I mean, yeah, uh, I think there's always room
to improve, uh, mechanic wiseand stuff like that. So I think
you know, Matt Baker, uh, he's a quarterback as sistem, he
you know, usually stays on methe most about it. So I appreciate
the fact that he does that,and I usually, you know, make

(04:03:07):
sure he doesn't make sure. Ijust just stay on top of it,
you know as a whole, andyou know, make sure my mechanics are
always clean. Can you talk aboutone particularly element that they're stressing. It's
it's different areas, to be honest, I don't think it's just one specific
area, but it's it's different areas, justin in your opinion, was there
something that you wanted to work onmaybe get better at when we got here
at this point of your career.I mean, like like I said,

(04:03:28):
there's you know, no matter whoyou are, you know there's always stuff
to get better at, always differentareas. Nobody's perfect in one area,
So I think you can continue toprove in all aired in my game,
you know me personally, So I'mjust focused on getting better. When we
talked to Russ yesterday, he saidthat rusted that he personally felt kind of
revived you being at another staff inhis career. Is there any of that

(04:03:50):
sense of maybe rejuvenation or feeling revived? Obviously you haven't been in the league
for thirteen years, but is therea new energy that you get being in
a different organization, going through minicamp in a different wait for the first
time. I think so, youknow, just being around a new team,
uh an organization that's players. Butto stay on day one that I
think that our scheme is going tobe this, this or this, it's

(04:04:11):
you know, that's going to bea work in progress as we start to
get familiar with what the player's skillsets are and then what we can do.
And it's always a combination of whatyou have up front and then what
you have out back. And Iknow we've got a couple of really talented
running backs behind them. So youknow, it's something that we're going to
look at. But I also knowyou can't be one dimensional in football.
You need to be able to throwthe ball as much as run the ball.
You know, It's funny. Somepeople think I'm an area guy,

(04:04:31):
some people think I'm a wing teaguy. Some people think I want to
run the ball every down. Youknow, we're gonna We're gonna do what's
best for a house state, andthat's that's kind of what our game plan
is right now, right Austin worea podcast. When you think about your
first evaluations of the quarterbacks and goingthrough these fifteen practices at how do you
want to structure that? I knowthat you and Ryan have probably talked about

(04:04:52):
that a good amount, Like what'sthe right way to set up a spring
position battle? How many reps doesit everybody need? What's sort of your
plan just from a general perspective,I guess yeah, you know, we're
really detailed in what practice looks likeand how that's going to operate. But
I also think you need to letthe players go, you know, so
I don't think you need to putshackles on them, so to speak,

(04:05:13):
and just keep them constrained. Ithink you got to let them go and
you got to let them operate,and we were rotating I think everybody on
every two snaps today just and thatwas just what we're going to do on
day one. You know. We'llreassess it after we got through it,
get a chance to count up allthe reps of how many plays, how
many plays each guy got and didthey get more in seven on than they
did in eleven on? You know, and we'll go through that whole thing
and that'll be a constant flow interms of how we're doing it. But

(04:05:35):
I think the best way people learnis they learn by doing, you know.
So they've been great in the meetingrooms, they're sharp when you get
them on the board, they're reallygood when they're watching film. But you
got to go out and you gotto play the game. And so the
more we can put them in thosesituations to play the game, the better
we'll have an opportunity to evaluate them. Thinking all of these things go back

(04:05:58):
so forward. You mentioned since you'vedone him since he was a kid,
what were your first impressions back then? And then she could come full circle
to now, like, how doyou how do you feel about that?
It's still the same way he youknow, even since he was playing the
little league, he was the ultimatecompetitor, you know, and he was
always trying to find a way towin. He was great at a lot

(04:06:20):
of sports, Baseball, basketball,football, you know. I got an
opportunity to recruit him, you know, so I coached him when I was
at New Hampshire. I recruited himout of high school and all, and
we grew up really close to eachother, so the same elementary school,
same high school, same junior high, same college. You know. So
I've known him since for for areally long time. But that competitive fire
burns deep with him, and that'sthe one thing that I've always admired with

(04:06:41):
him. And he's got an amazingathletic brain in terms of how to process
things and how to how to putpeople in position to make place. He's
always been that prototypical coach on thefield, no matter what sport he was
playing. So I knew he wasdestined to be a coach, you know.
And I was fortunate in my careeras a head coach to have him
on my staff in a couple ofplaces. So I got a chance to
see him work firsthand. You know, I got to see him work firsthand

(04:07:03):
as a player and then as acoach. So the success he had is
not is not surprising to me.Is there? Where do you see Ryan?
The success is at it? Yeah? I think we all do that.
I think we come from a uniqueplace in a really small hometown in
New Hampshire where we all take alot of pride of where we're from and
and when anybody's successful coming out ofthere, then you kind of take a

(04:07:24):
little pride that that's it's the upbringingthat we all had, you know,
in the UTH sports program that wegrew up in. In every aspect,
whether it was football, baseball,basketball, those coaches had an amazing impact
on us. And that's why weare where we are right now. For
girl Bill Rabinwick, Columbus dispatched,Ryan said, he doesn't think of it
as you working under him, that'sworking with him. Fact is he is

(04:07:46):
the head coach waiting off. Hemakes me call him sir though he just
said can you do that day oneand I was like, all right,
right now. But I mean heultimately is the decision maker. You've been
a head coach, how do youthink that's going to work. Do you
think there'll be any as close asyou are, any kind of awkward moments

(04:08:09):
the right term. But when he'sthe ultimate decider and you are working for
him, Yeah, I certainly understandmy role. I'm not alhag like,
I'm not in charge here. Yeah. Some people get that reference. Other
people don't get that reverence. ButI'd certainly understand that, and I actually
kind of relish it because I reallylove the scheming part. I love the

(04:08:30):
individual part. I love being inthe meeting room of the quarterbacks and trying
to game plan. But everything wedo here is collaborative. You know.
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,

(04:08:50):
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 otherwise it's Ohio State
and it's it's Ohio State versus thetwelve opponents that we're going to play during
the regular season and then beyond.So it's it's really collaborative. And that's
the thing I like, just inthe short time that I've been here,
is how collaborative everybody's been. Youknow, we're all trying to make each

(04:09:11):
other better and we're all trying todevelop this team. Touched on this,
you said, you know, youlike to do what you want to do
and not. My sense is you, in your perfect world, you'd like
to scribble plays on a napkin andnot deal with boosters, do deal with
all the stuff that coaches, headcoaches have to deal with. Now,
how much of a factor was thatin this decision? You can just do

(04:09:33):
football? No, that's not it. I mean, I enjoy I mean
we've had some amazing I've had anopportunity and everywhere I've been to meet some
amazing people that are associated with theprogram, and there's people that from my
time at New Hampshire or my timeat Oregon. I was just with Phil
Night two weeks ago, you know, and got an opportunity to spend some
time with him and his wife,Penny, who are dear friends of mine
that that have been great mentors tome in my career. And there's a

(04:09:56):
bunch of people that and UCLA,Terry Donahue, Andrea Donna who were awesome
me, Angela Mazoni is a greatfriend, Casey Wassman, Troy Yikman.
There was a bunch of people atUCLA that I really enjoyed, you know,
being around and talking with. SoI think sometimes everybody wants to make
a narrative of it's either this orthat. It's never that. It's never
just all ball, it's never justall recruiting, it's never just all boosters.

(04:10:16):
It's a mixture of everything. ButI think the one thing that as
this position as a head coach keptmoving on is that if you look at
a lot of them, they allbecome more CEOs. You know. I
can't tell you how many coaches thathave called me since I made this decision
that said I'm two years behind you, brother. You know that are thinking
the same exact way. And Ithink it's all part of what we have
to do. I think we allneed to protect this game and promote this

(04:10:39):
game, and I think there aresome rules that we need to get straightened
out so that people understand what it'sabout, because the game is still about
the players, and I hope thatnever gets discounted. You know, It's
always been about the players, andI think if we can keep that at
the forefront the people that are makingdecisions on this, and I think Geene
Smith is one of the best influencesin the NCAAA, is to make sure

(04:11:00):
we keep that the main thing,the main thing it needs to be the
student athletes. You know, you'recoming in at a time where you've been
through some places where the expectations arehigh, I understand, which also coming
into a juncture where you know,the three losses to Michigan, the not
making the playoff last year, theurgency is pretty high here. I guess

(04:11:22):
just sort of what the perspective doyou have on kind of the stakes that
there are for Ryan this year andthe decision that then he makes to bring
you in to kind of help solvethat. Yeah, I think the expectations
can be no higher than they arein your own brain, you know,
And I think if you try toworry about what other people are thinking in
their brains, you're going to getscrewed up a little bit. So,

(04:11:43):
you know, I talked earlier.The one thing about Ryan that I know
about him and has always been he'sthe ultimate competitor. So he's got There's
nowhere that has higher expectations of OhioState than Ryan does, nor the rest
of us that joined him in ourpart of this and that are working with
him. So you know, Idon't think I think sometimes you can spend
too much time thinking about the thosethings. You know, what you really
have to do is just as there'sa big sign as you walk into this

(04:12:03):
place, it says when the momentyou know, I think that's a real
thing that we have to do ascoaches, is to make sure that our
players aren't worried about what's going onin the future, or or aren't worried
about what's going on in the past, or worry about can they get a
little bit better today, you know, and can we make improvement? And
I think the one thing that I'veseen here, and I've only been here
for three weeks, but there's aconsistency to the players approach when they walk
in this building every day, whichis it's unique. It's not like that

(04:12:24):
everywhere else. And it's one ofthe things that I remarked to Mick when
I you know, he said,hey, what do you think? And
I was like, it's impressive.It's impressive the culture of the players that
are in this program right now.But I think it speaks a lot to
the leadership. There's a lot ofolder players 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. He's
never handed over a play calling tosomeone before. What does it mean to

(04:12:48):
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
be getting that responsibility from him andhe's calling essentially the offense that you gave
him. I guess yeah. Istill think the play calling part will be
a collaborative effort, and by thatI mean that if it's a good play,
I called it, and if it'sa bad play, he called it.

(04:13:09):
Because the great part is an assistantcoach, you can just a point
the finger a little bit and justsay, hey, you know, I
wanted to do this, but hetrumped me. So we haven't actually discussed
game day yet, you know,we'll see how that operates. But everywhere
I've been it's been a collaborative effort, and all of a sudden, someone
that's calling the plays isn't isn't likepulls one out of left field that you

(04:13:30):
hadn't practiced and hadn't been part ofyour offense and said, hey, let's
do this. You know, we'renot running the annexation of Puerto Rico.
You know, we're not coming upwith something special you know in the middle
of the fourth quarter that we haven'tdone. But I think it's the key
to really being successful on offense isis how you game plan, how you
put it all together, and thenhow you practice and train for that so
that you get a chance to executeit. Because the player's confidence comes comes

(04:13:52):
from their demonstrated ability that they've donethis so many times in practice that when
they get out on the field thatthis is like that to them. You
know, it's not that they doit so 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 that wholepart of it that is really the key
to being a really good game planningteam, right, Doug A ma Reeve
Kings of the North Chip when youhad that feeling when you were coaching the

(04:14:16):
quarterbacks during Bold that preparation, didyou consider at that point maybe resigning as
the head coach and thinking like thisis this is not where I am anymore.
I'll leave and then I'll look tosee what else is out there.
No. I never thought about quittinganything. So, you know, I
just is there an opportunity that Ithink I can that fit, you know,

(04:14:37):
And I think that's the you know, it's no different than when you're
talking to a recruit about them makea decision on where they're going to go
to school. I think that wherethey should go to school is where the
best fit is for them. So, you know, I just entertained some
opportunities and I always felt I feltlike this was the best fit. But
I never thought about quitting or notcoaching. I'm gonna coach. I'm gonna
coach, and then I'm gonna die. I mean, that's how I think

(04:14:58):
I think about things. Is Ican't picture that. I know someone I
was on the Nike trip and theylike, how much longer are you gonna
go? When I said I hadto go another fifteen twenty years. I
don't think about I don't think aboutretirement. I don't think about any of
those things. That's just not kindof my mindset that you know. I
love football and in the as longas I can be part of this game,
then I'll be part of this game. And you have just the way

(04:15:20):
things worked out with your departure fromUCLA. 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
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 them,
you know, that was always importantto me that I wanted to make

(04:15:41):
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
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

(04:16:02):
Foster, I think the world ofthem and I think he's a special you
know. And the fact that thatthey 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, you know, I was gone, But I always
thought that Deshaun would be a greathead coach and I'm really proud of him
and happy that that he got theopportunity to take that job. Right behind
him, you have your reputation asinnovator. Was part of the appeal of

(04:16:27):
this is that you get to getin the weeds a little bit. Uh
maybe not mad scientists, maybe tootoo strong of a word, because you're
working within the system. But wasthere an appeal of I get to get
my hands dirty here again and innovateand to get back to that side of
things. It was, But itwas really more important of who I get
to work with, you know,and so knowing you know, I've got

(04:16:52):
I know a lot of guys onthe staff besides Ryan also, so you
know, when I know what theirmindset is and what their values are and
how they do things, and soI want to be a part of that.
But there's a part of that.Yeah, how much of a teacher
you get labeled in the innovators.The teaching is a part of this.
How much is how the teacher areyou? And how patient are you?
Yeah? I think we're all teachers. I mean, education is the transportation

(04:17:15):
of knowledge, you know. Soit really doesn't matter what the coach knows.
It matters what the players understand,you know. So you have to
be able to make sure that whileyou're implementing things is what resonates with them
and how does that come back tothem? So, you know, a
lot of our teaching styles that we'velearned is more of the socratic method of
there's a lot of questions, youknow, and a lot of check for
understanding is just to kind of findout where the players are coming from,

(04:17:37):
because it's what they know that that'sultimately going to win games, not what
we know. You know that we'renot playing the games, we're not stepping
across those white lines, you know. And your job as a coach is
to create an environment where they havean opportunity to be successful and then get
out of their way and let themgo do it. So I think the
teaching aspect is huge, and wecontinue to research, you know, some
of the latest trends in teaching tomake sure that we are transporting that knowledge

(04:18:00):
to our players. Yeah, coach, just curious, You've got five scholarship
quarterbacks with differing levels of experience,age and everything else. Not to annoyed
him, but just want to askspecifically about Will Howard coming in after starting
part of two years at He's astate. He just seems to promote this

(04:18:22):
idea that he's a football player,you know above all else. Just how
impressed are you with his makeup,his experience, what he's bringing to the
table walking in here right now?Yeah, really impressed. You know that
you don't have to talk 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

(04:18:47):
to capitalize on what that is.There's a maturity to Will, you know,
I really I've had experience. Myexperience in this thing since the transfer
portal opened in college football is someof the best players I've had an opportunity
to coach work 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.So there's a sense of urgency I think

(04:19:11):
when you're dealing with with transfers,and I think Will has exuded that since
he's been here. But the otherthing that I just in the short time
that Will has been here is howquickly he's fit in with the entire team,
you know, and how much therest of the players respect him.
You know. He was 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 win a weight

(04:19:33):
room award, you know, tostart off, to have the number one
internally externally into spring or I guessI think it always every time I've been
involved in these, I think whenthey're organic is when it's the best.
I don't think you can anoint somebodyor force the issue, because the players
know, the players would understand,they see it every single day, you

(04:19:56):
know. And there's a team chemistrypart of this thing too, So we're
not going to for the issue.But I've always seen it play itself out.
So I've been fortunate that there's alwaysgoing to be some quarterback battles that
at some point in time at everyschool there's a quarterback battle, you know,
and then and really you got tolet them play it out on the
field, and that's where it hasto that's where it has to be decided.

(04:20:18):
Hey, welcome to you. We'reexcited to have you here. Thank
you. I'm kind of to talkabout the innovative part. Ryan said that
that's something that he's always loved aboutworking with you, and now he wants
you to break that here and howit would fit with Ohio State. Do
you have any idea what that's goingto look like yet or is it just
way too I have no idea,you know. I think part of it
is is you're trying to put theplayers in position to make plays. So

(04:20:41):
a lot of that comes from gettingto understand the players and what their skill
sets are and how we feature whattheir skill sets are, you know,
and the one thing after day one, I can 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'swhat That's what you jump out of bed
in the morning and you're excited togo to work because of of the talent
that you get to work with.But the one thing that's the most impressive

(04:21:03):
is the work ethic that goes alongwith that talent. You know, it's
not just empty talent. It's yougot some kids who want to I mean
all of them since I've been here, want to work. So that's what
gets you excited. But I thinkassessing what the skill set is you know
that we have available to us onthe offensive side of the ball is vitally
important. And then our job isto put those guys in positions to make
place made. There's lots of pressure. I mean, you've experienced what it's

(04:21:27):
like to coach national championship, callover teams this program right now and moving
into a situation where you got towin Quicken now. So does that feel
like pressure here for you or isit a little bit of excitement or both?
Well, I've always subscribed to aspressure is what you feel when you
don't know what you're doing. Soif you don't want to feel pressure,
then you should know what you're doing. So, you know, I think

(04:21:48):
it's it's part of that. AndI think part of our job with our
players in terms of the education processis getting them to understand that too.
Is that you know, it's it'sabout your preparation, It's about you and
your development. It's not about theYou can't be governed by what other people
say. It's it's what's my mindsetand how am I intrinsically motivated? And
then how do I really compete againstmyself on a daily basis to get a
little bit better. You know,we got a little bit better today because

(04:22:11):
we get out on the field todayand got a chance to do some football.
And then the challenges when we getback 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 interestingto talk to some offen some coordinators.

(04:22:32):
Tom Herman talking about it. Heswore he wanted to coach from the box.
Saw the game so much better,sterile environment, not all the chaos
on the field. Some coaches youtalk to the like, I want to
be on the field so I canlook at my guys in the in the
eye. Where are you at asa as a coordinator, honestly, And
I've thought of this a lot.I thought of it a lot during COVID
because we had the empty stands,you know, so I had thought about
just walking up into the stands fora little bit because I had a better

(04:22:53):
advantage. I've always believed you cansee the game better from up above,
but I believe you can feel thegame better from the field. So if
there was any way we could geta zip wire where you could do both,
you know, coach called from thereand then zip out of the field
get a chance to talk to him, because it's a different deal when you're
talking to the quarterbacks on a phone, you know, than being able to
look in their eye and kind ofsee where they are with it. And

(04:23:15):
part of it is the feel partof it. I remember when I coached
Ryan once we were playing Ukon andhe got hit hard going out of bounce
and he just walked by me,and I was a play caller, and
he was like, run the nextplay, and I just kind of looked
at him. I saw the lookin his eyes because I don't think he
could have thrown it, you know, he was still trying to get his
win back. But you wouldn't knowthat if you're up in the booth,
you know, and you call apass play from up in the booth and

(04:23:36):
you're like, how come we can'tcomplete that? Well, he just took
a shot going out of bound.So it's that fine line that I don't
have an answer, you know.I think I think it's feel on the
ground and it's see from up above. Maybe in this day a technology they'll
figure it out. But we'll seehow that that that operates, and whatever
Ryan feels is the best for theteam is what we're gonna do. So

(04:24:00):
your teams at the Oregon were obviouslynever playing at this assid pace and running
a bunch of players per minute,and yep, maybe not by as passing.
You said pretty fast, what ruledo you see tempo and having an
offense in the state YEA in collegefootball and has maybe changed. I think
the game is always evolving, youknow. I think when I left in
two thousand and twelve to go tothe National Football League, Oregon was the

(04:24:22):
only team that was playing really reallyfast and had shiny helmets. And when
I came back in twenty seventeen,everybody had shiny helmets and everybody was playing
fast. So I think the gameis always gonna go up and down,
and there's gonna be different cycles thatit goes through. I think tempo is
part of when those two keys,cause I recruited and when they was in
high school. So I'm most ofthe challenge and the responsibility of it right

(04:24:45):
behind Hi, Dan Hope, elevenCarlos Just what is your kind of coaching
philosophy? How do you get thebest out of your running backs? I
get the best out them cause Ilove the My main focus is it changed
the hearts and minds of them andthey played for I had just got through
reading Coach Trestle's Winners Manual, andit's something that I took from that book.

(04:25:06):
You have your purpose and you haveyour goals, all right. My
purpose is to serve and pour intothe young man. Now, my goals
is a football coach, All ofthem are take care of themselves. So
that's one of the ways. I'mjust real relationship base and I'm very detailed
at this position. I know y'allheard me say it before, and I'm
gonna keep saying. This is theworst coach position in football. It's terrible.

(04:25:27):
Guys hire anybody to coaches position andrecruiters. Carls Locker is not a
recruiter. I'm an elite relationship builder. But I coached this position. I'm
a ball coach, so that's whoI am. So I'm gonna pouring to
these kids. I think they kindof seeing it now and I jumped in
day one. I'm ready to coachand phrase, you never saw fat cookies?
Where did that phrase come from?Kind of always for this boy.

(04:25:48):
Let me tell you about that boy. I've been called everything but the name
the child of God by the peopleat the other places I left. So
that I been getting a Pillsbury needsgive me a deal, cause I've been
getting I've been getting some DM andtexts. I'm something. Some of them
have been so funny. The Sawbat'scookie thing came from just having a frame

(04:26:11):
of mind, a mental toughness.It had nothing to do with guys getting
in the portal and anything. Now, most people say I'm a salftbatch cookie
for leaving there, but actually I'mnot because it takes great strength to make
a decision to leave a place.No, a weak minded person wouldn't be
able to make the decision that Imade, So it took great strength to
do that. So I'm telling youI by literally in my DMS, it's

(04:26:33):
some it's some great comedians out herethat have been sending me like tons of
cookies, and I'm like, it'sfunny. Right behind him, Tony,
how have you got about the assessmentof the talent in the room over the
past week or two? How muchis that on field off field? Like,
what's the process of getting to knowwho you have as players? Well?

(04:26:53):
I broke down, Well, mebeing a guy that loves the running
back position already broke those kids downcause I recruit him out of high school.
You know, Q is from whereI'm from in Montgomery. I was
one of the first guys to offerhim just watching him, great contact,
balance, creative runner, great handsand trey. I recruited him out of

(04:27:15):
Virginia. Exceptional short air, yourburst and quickness and things that I'm gonna
help him get better on and thenI recruited James Peeples out of t out
of San Antonio, Texas. Iknew what he was gonna what he was
gonna be TC and Sam. Thosetwo kids, I'm getting to know and
I'm gonna help them improve that game. But we got different runners in there.

(04:27:36):
I like to call myself, I'min love with this position. So
I get to break down runners andhelp the game. So talented, talented
room, very talented. Uh farback uh Jersey Birmingham podcast couch. How
do you squeare that? Back?Saw? Past trookies are actually the best
cookies to Phil brittin mix or thoseare way better than the county chips and
white things go with terrify. Imean you find a balance there or someone.

(04:28:02):
Well for me, I'm actually noteating any cookies. Nah, I'm
just saying I'm not eating any cookiesthis year. I gave it up for
a fast or no sweets for mefor the whole year. That's something I
gave up. So they the termthe South bast cookie term. Look,
guys, I actually took that fromI represent the high school coaches of Myths

(04:28:22):
Tennessee. I actually took that froma guy named Coach Slocum. He used
to always say that South bast Cookie. I actually stole that from him.
I give him credit for it,and I tell him all the time he
said, you I should have brandedthat, cause you done took it and
ran away with it. But that'sjust where that comes from. That that
I was standing. As you getto Ohio stand you start to look around

(04:28:42):
the country any Oregon's a big place, that's a a major job with How
how do you think that where youhope logo under Jazz Brandon Blocko, when
you get out out of the LivingFree and trail, how does that change
the way that you feel you're eitherreceived or or does it at a different
level to to just feeling like Ican go anywhere and get anybody in the

(04:29:06):
company. And that's the sagest thingfor me. This is a great place.
Oregon is a great place too.But guess what whatever I put on,
I know what I'm going to representfor me, I n I N
I know who who put me here? Uh, I know I represent something
higher, you know, Like Itold you, I know what my purpose

(04:29:26):
is. My purpose is to poortingto people. So whatever logo I have
on, I'm still gonna be doingthe same thing. So this is a
great logo, great logo, butI well another logo every day. It's
across I see around my neck.I know what I represent. So that's
the greatest logo I could ever wear. So it doesn't matter what other logo
I have on. I got thatone on. I'm going to any house
and be a recruit. Uh uhdeep rite to camera, Tick Robinson and

(04:29:51):
the athletic so which you you mentionedthe time at Memphis and themis for NFL
or backs you mentioned there who youlearned from that time? You you can
take over to managing to grow upand kid? What did I learn from
them? Just building up? Justteaching the kids. We live in such
a selfish world though, and Ican tell the kids all the times,

(04:30:11):
it's gotta be much more to football. The ball gonna go flat one day.
As I always say, what beingin that room there at Memphis is
it wasn't four five? Teaching themhow to be abou about being one?
I tell you them in all time, it doesn't cost you anything to celebrate
another man's success. So teaching themhow to be one, and then once

(04:30:32):
they learned to be one. Theyfunction and they feed off one another.
So that's what I learned from beingthere in Memphis and bach let him in
row Crols thard of your career inthe law enforce that kind of influence you
as a coach and kind of shapewhere you are. Oh well, I
just got through talking to somebody aboutthat today. When I first got in

(04:30:52):
this profession and I got my ownroom in Western Tech, I was aksed,
No, how would I gonna beto handle them my room? I
said, Man, I had apart with fifty one inmates. You talking
about me having got six or sevenguys? Are you kidding me? I'm
talking about me having to do trafficstops. So going on domestic no virus
calls, it's simple easy. No, people don't know what you care.

(04:31:18):
Also know, you gotta have acertain demeaning about yourself. So when I
walk into a room. It's thereason why I go train every morning.
This is one of It's the samething when I was a police officer.
You look a certain way kind ofdeter people from doing certain things. So
the 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
words, Uh, from right AustinMore the podcast Carls Welcome to Columbus.

(04:31:44):
H What would it mean to Idon't know, revolutionize the way running backs
are coach? What does that take? I ain't know. I'm not gonna
say revolutionized, just some good.It's some good running back coaches out here.
Everybody's different. It's some great coachesout here. I just want the
head guys who say that on thesejobs to not just hire guys. As

(04:32:06):
you know, all coaches on yourstaff should be great recruiters, not just
a running back coach. We coacha position. We developed players as well.
I just want the coaches to realize, Hey, you know what,
let me look and be thorough aboutthis guy that I'm hiring for the job.
Is he teaching the position? Ishe 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

(04:32:30):
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 love the running back position, so
I just want to see it.Coach well May podcasts. Yeah, a
million questions. Oh that's a couple. Number one, when you when you
when your wife whatever? You gotthe message stuff? Or are we moving
again? What was what was herreaction? Nah? She she's just now.

(04:32:53):
Guy that give us gave us anew assignment. Sit. It was
never like we're moving again. Letme tell you guy something. I grew
up. My mom was in themilitary, so I lived everywhere. I
lived in Panama of South America.I'm used to picking up and moving.
I lived in Fort Rodley, Kansas, Montgomery's home if it was my second
home. So I'm I'm used tomoving now. My wife it was different
for her, but she just knewguy that gave us a new assignment.

(04:33:17):
So it's time to go. Whatdid what did coach they tell you when
he heard you that he wants outof you. That may be different.
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 wanted the guy todevelop the position. That's not taking
a shot at the coach that washere who I'm friends with. He said,

(04:33:41):
they want somebody to really get theguys going. I can only be
me And I told him that becauseI'm gonna be me every day now,
because see my mindset, this iswhen I step in this building, I
got one mindset that's to do myjob so well that the living, dead
or unborn can do. Went inand bettle, So when I leave it,
that's when my mindset is hopeful I'mhere for a long time, but

(04:34:04):
on the God knows that. So, but that's my mindset every day step
into with hayes Son, that's mymindset. I'm gonna do my job so
well and living Everyone doesn't really knowhow to handle it properly, you see
it currently. I mean, it'sjust it's a variable that's new and how
to handle it. There's not atranscript on on how to handle that variable.
So you just guys just trying todo what they think is right.

(04:34:26):
That's all they're really trying to do. And I'm not saying that right or
wrong. But he was trying todo the same, and uh, you
know, I think at the endof the day he realized man made the
wrong decision and we connected on it. We talked about it, and you
know, it was a great opportunityto to to write or wrong. And
uh, obviously we're very glad he'shere. I've always believed in him.
We believe in him, and hebelieves in himself, and that's part of

(04:34:48):
the just trying to understand what's mypath, right. So, uh but
yeah, it's been great. Stepshave been made. He's growing, but
he's nowhere near where he knows he'scapable of. And he's just probably a
press with Ceremiah. I love theway he lives. I love the way
he approaches things. I love theway the questions he asks. I love

(04:35:11):
the way he makes mistakes and thencorrect mistakes. It's very veteran, like,
I mean, there's so much ballhe has to learn. Like he
literally does things that are good.I'm like, do you know what that
worked? He goes coach, Ihave no freaking idea, So, like,
I'm trying to teach him all ofthat why it works, so then
you know, the consistency at whichit works just goes to the roof.

(04:35:32):
And so but I'm very you know, excited and proud of the conversations we're
currently having and I'm excited for themto keep going by what power you work?
And I love working with Chip ChipIs. I love talking Ball,
I love the viewpoints, I loveI love the veteran that he has,

(04:35:57):
you know, and I love Noah, Like I love all of it.
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.

(04:36:18):
I love where it's at. Ilove working with them, and I
would say that I sleep a littlebetter, all right. Uh No,
It's it's really a great combo because, like you know, we're obviously we're

(04:36:41):
doing a lot as a group.It's not just Chip and I so but
you know, obviously Chip has animage and a view on things that I
never had. So to have thatexperience and to have that viewpoint, I'm
just trying to absorb as much asI can, but then also highlight some
things that we've really done a goodabove and make sure those you know,
nothing's really changing, We're just tryingto enhance. We're not changing. We're

(04:37:03):
enhancing, so where the things fitis perfect. You know, I think,
uh, you know the rest ofthe dynamics of search Chip can talk
about. But it's been it's beenawesome, so I'm excited about it.
You 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 as coachesto know how good a guy is in

(04:37:26):
one spot, but know that maybefor his long term future and the no.
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

(04:37:49):
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
gonna create mismatches out there. Imean, his ability to move around is
critical. But I would say betweenMech and between Carnell Tast's ability to move
around a lot, it's gonna providea lot of flexibility for our room and
uh and those top you know,six seven guys that are really doing a

(04:38:10):
good job right now. Progress thisspring for like a because yeah, there's
no time to think. It's oneof those things, I'm true where you
has balanced how much work does aneed versus much Yeah, heavy, heavy
emphasis on what work he needs,you know, versus anything else. Uh,
I rely on him. We havegreat dialogue back and forth. It's
a two way to It's a twoway conversation. And uh, frankly,

(04:38:30):
there's gonna be times we're like,hey, mech what do you wanna do
today? You wanna go outside andyou gonn go inside? And I don't
care. So, uh, we'renot there yet. We will be there,
but it's just more about, youknow, when the room is ready
to start mixing things up. Iwould say, there's God. I mean,

(04:38:59):
I I make sure I'm bringing guysthat are able to do all,
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'mnot putting that on anybody else right now,
not saying they can't, but atthis point, having two guys being

(04:39:21):
able to swing, you probably don'tneed much more than that. I need
guys being experts at what they're goodat, so it it helps the offense.
Don't be great at everything and bean expert at something, and we
can use that to our to ouradvantage this ent, like maybe guys who
were more situational. The room's alwaysdifferent, frankly, I mean from twenty

(04:39:41):
eighteen and then nineteen and through COVIDand and those guys, and and then
the depth of those guys and thenwhere Mec 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 to be differentagain. And I think guys like
him when they come to our schemeare the best is brought out of him.

(04:40:03):
So I'm excited to see what potentialhe has. He's year nine,
so I feel like you, asa d lineman, you can keep improving
all the way through ten years inthis league, So I'm excited to see
what he's got. How old didyou know? Sorenson when he was assistant
here and had gotten to know hima lot. Bet it WIT's a relationship

(04:40:25):
Madi right now. I know himpretty well. He was always just a
good dude around the facility. Hedid our ball meetings, so he's good
in front of a group. He'sa good leader. He knows the scheme
really well, which is good.I was happy to see him promoted.

(04:40:45):
He called me in the offseason,we talked. I just congratulated him,
and I think he's gonna bring somethingsimilar to what we had with the Miko's
be good. Do you know BrandonStaley well at all? I mean,
obviously Joe he played for him.I don't know too much about him.
I've obviously heard from my brother,but I don't even think i've said high

(04:41:06):
yet. I haven't ran into himyet, but I'm sure i'll get to
know him. When you say itlooks similar to Miko, the energy or
system, maybe a little different energy, but I think just knowing the system
from the front to the back,I think he knows how it ties in.
And he's been around with some reallygood coaches, so I think it'll

(04:41:30):
be pretty pretty seamless, and Ithink we'll be firing on all cylinders.
You're three months removed from the SuperBowl now, so how have you?
I guess digested it, and Iguess physically everything good to go. Yeah,
I feel really good. I thinkit's been one of my better off
seasons of just kind of it wasa long year, so I took it
nice and slow to get back intoit. Not as young as I once

(04:41:56):
was, so I'm taking a littlea little slower, but everything's great.
I'm feeling as good as I felt. I'm excited to actually get some practice
in. Last year was kind oftough, getting thrown in Week one after
a walk through, so that wasanother reason I'm excited to be here is
just to get practicing a little bitin season. Practice is one thing,

(04:42:19):
but actually being able to work yourstuff and not have a game coming up
is good. With the Super Bowlunfortunately, I know how to bounce back
from tough losses, so it wasrough for a little bit. But it's
just annoying when people bring it up. Since Angel last season, you've seen

(04:42:42):
a Rock on TV commercials and onthe stage with Kluke Coombs and throwing out
the first pitch of the Giants game. But he seems like a guy that's
totally unaffected by celebrity, which hehas now. But what have you noticed
in his leadership style and the wayhe carries himself any difference at all.
I think he's definitely getting a littlemore vocal within the building. And uh

(04:43:06):
yeah, I mean I don't thinkhe's ever gonna change. I don't think
he's somebody that's gonna change even whenhe gets paid next year. So he's
he's a man of faith and hekind of reminds me of Scotti Scheffler,
but except for just super humble andreally good kid. And yeah, he's

(04:43:30):
definitely famous. I don't just fromwatching saw Armstead get released obviously meant so
much to the defensive line into theteam. I mean, Colin John were
pretty open that they were willing totalk about trading deebo or are you all?

(04:43:51):
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 offseason armsin alarm er least, so that's
certainly one thing. Yeah, it'sa tough business, for sure. You

(04:44:14):
have to have thick skin and Ihaven't gone through that, but I think
you just have to understand that itis a business and the team's going to
try and get as good as itpossibly can with or without you, and
you have to look out for yourself. That's why you go through holdouts and
do certain things that seem selfish inthe moment, but it is what it

(04:44:38):
is, and when everything's settled,we're gonna come together as a team and
try and go get one. Now, 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.
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 past is in

(04:45:00):
the past and we're ready to go. You talk to you talked to be
all about handling the business part ofthis. He's going through something similar.
We chat a little bit, butnot too much about the details. I
just told him keep his head upand try and stay positive through it all.
You first impressions when you heard whatyour schedule would be in that Aaron

(04:45:22):
Rodgers' first time it'll be fun.Yeah, it's gonna be from your perspective,
how much did that factory just knowingwhat he was doing and kind of
maybe yeah, you know, itdid factor in a little bit, but
it is it's a personal decision,and it was a quick process. Honestly

(04:45:44):
it was. It was a weekweek, two weeks. Uh, figured
it out and then moved on.And it's something I really haven't thought of
at all over the last few months. I've just been trying to prepare and
I'm feeling really good, really good. Things are going really great back home
training. So you know, gotthat under got it behind me, and

(04:46:06):
moved on. Since you've been here, does it feel different. Yeah,
you know, it's not like theselast eight years have come in and thought
we were going to lose or havea bad year. I felt like every
year when I tell you things arefeeling good and I feel optimistic, it
wasn't a lie. But yeah,I think things are are definitely, like

(04:46:29):
I said, trending in the rightdirection. Everybody's on the details. I'm
sure it's a word that you've hearda million times. So yeah, I
think it just feels like 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 IrbanMeyer, and you know, the message

(04:46:53):
is sent from the top and itdoesn't get mixed up as it's moving down
the ladder. It's boom, thisis how we're doing and things and everybody's
following that. And I think it'simpressive the details that everybody has been on,
has has been on the effort andjust the competitiveness that that's been going

(04:47:14):
on over the last few weeks.Yeah, it's it's it's been great.
How much do you appreciate that?To stop and just described the way Jim
Lees I shouldn't eat in the messagingdo they eat mixed up? I'd you
appreciate that so much? I mean, it's I guess it's easy to appreciate
when you kind of see it workingand you see guys improving, getting better.

(04:47:41):
I just think the details are reallyimportant. You can pretend that leaving
your shoes a mess or your lockermess isn't a big deal and what matters
is playing football. But I thinkall those tiny details and things kind of
add up and leak into the importantstuff, like what you're doing on the
field. So if you can haveyour toe behind the line, or have

(04:48:03):
your locker and order and all thesethings, they kind of stack up into
performing well and and playing well whenthings count, So you know, I
appreciate that. It's it also hasn'tbeen a fight with the guys in the
locker room. They buy in,and you know, it's a lot of
young guys, and I think they'rehungry to learn, hungry to compete and

(04:48:25):
win. You know, it's justan example, whether it's we talked about
first day you have your shoot,if you could, if you could spend
the time on these small things whennobody's watching. I think, like I
was saying, it seems like itmight not add up too much, but
I think in the long term itdoes, and it leaks into other things,

(04:48:47):
whether you're doing your right assignment onthe field, being late to meetings
or all these things. If youhold a standard and you stay to that
standard, I think it benefits youlong him. It's been like work with
Ben Harbart. Has there been anythingin his training program we're working with you

(04:49:07):
that you feel will benefit your way, Yeah, yeah, definitely. He's
He's been great. He's a nononsense kind of guy. But he's not
an old school in the sense thathe's bringing his way of doing things and
that's the only way to do things. He understands that guys have been in
the in the business for a longtime, Khalil me and we have a
way of doing things, and allhe wants to do is add to that

(04:49:30):
and help you get better and performthe best he can. He's he stresses
it all the time that he's atool for us, and you know,
he's been He's been great. Theguys love him. The energy brings is
awesome, and I think the stuffthat we're doing in the weight room is
great, great addition to stuff thatI may may do on the side or

(04:49:52):
whatever that is. Yeah, Ithink we I mean, we had a
presentation today with all the certain measurablesthat are changing, and if you guys
were in the meeting, you definitelysee how beneficial he's been to the team
so far. So obviously, stayinghealthy is is a huge factor to anybody's
success. I'd say it's plagued usa little bit for a while. So

(04:50:15):
yeah, I think he's he's definitelyincredibly beneficial. When when were you fully
at the end of last season youmight have been able to. Yeah,
No, I was not ready togo last year. No, tried practicing,
tried coming back, and uh itwas it was not good, but

(04:50:37):
yeah it was. Unfortunately the yearwasn't going great and it just was unnecessary
risk for I mean, my footcould have had some real real issues if
I came back too early. Soyeah, it's been, it's been.
It's been a great off season.My foot's feeling great, toes good,
hampshring, skod. I mean,there was a list of things last year,

(04:50:57):
my hand, so all those thingsare good. Finger gout surgery on
my finger, So that's feeling good. Yeah, it's it's nice to be
feeling better going into your nine thanyou have since maybe five six years ago,
which I've said, I've said I'vebeen feeling great the last couple of
years. I'm telling you it's areal deal this time. But obviously anything

(04:51:19):
can happen. But I just feelit's fun feeling really confident in your body
and being able to perform. SoI could just go out during practice and
you know, go balls to thewall and do everything that I feel like
I need to to be able toprepare. It's fun, my brother and

(04:51:40):
whoever I trained with my trainer Toddback home. I think they'd be really
proud of how I've been working thisoffseason and it's just exciting. The pointing
was the injuries on the GREA biggame, you've kind of yeah, it
was a bit of a build up, a little bit of an overreaction,

(04:52:02):
but you know, it's just tough. It comes sometimes like that, and
I just felt felt really defeated comingback, had a broken hand. I'm
like, oh, yeah, Iget to play boom for a series foot
pops. Thought I'd have to getsurgery, and all these thoughts flooded through
my head, broke down a bit, and yeah, it just hurts.
You know, you're losing, you'regetting injured. You've felt like you prepared

(04:52:26):
really well in the offseason, andthen the year before you had groin surgery,
so you know, a lot ofthings build up. Yeah, you
don't get a break if you're injured. Everybody wants to go on. Fans
are very nice, but no,I just I'm grateful that I feel this
way. I'm still still nice.Ripe twenty eight, so not too old

(04:52:52):
yet, but yeah, I'm justexcited. I can't remember what the original
question was at this point, howclose you and Gift were, How how
frustrating was it that he couldn't youknow for one of those last three games.

(04:53:15):
It was frustrating, but I meanGift was had my back the whole
way, I think for Gift,for any but for for the whole team,
just to show what it means tome. It would have been important
for me to be out there,but I literally could and I tried to
practice, injured my footworse the veryfirst play I was and in practice,
So no chance that was happening unlessI wanted to throw my next season away

(04:53:41):
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 just proud of all we
accomplished here together over the years,and and we'll be close for the rest

(04:54:03):
of our lives. Was the footinjury? It was this guys. Foot
sprain. Yeah, I sprained onearea of my foot, then when I
tried to return, I sprained anotherarea. Was able to avoid getting surgery,
which is kind of the main goal, But yeah, it was it
was tough when it comes to theaddition of but Dupre, who he felt

(04:54:25):
like he's kind of brought to theto the room and could bring on the
field. Yeah, it's when Iheard we got my brother something. I
don't know, maybe my brother toldme. 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 hadsome trouble with injuries as well, so

(04:54:47):
I understand how that is, butnot only him as a player, but
as a personality. I heard Khaliljust saying he's he's a fun guy.
He's a funny guy, and andto have that in the room another vet
is always a great addition. ButI'm just excited to have him and Tuley
and to be able to rotate likethat and not drop off at all when
we come off the field is huge. And now Tuly's going into a second

(04:55:10):
year. Just what do you whatare you kind of What are some of
the maturity maturity areas you see fromhim? You know, I'm gonna say
not much, and that's a complimentbecause he was already mature in those areas
I mean he's on it everything playbookwise, always doing his job, working
hard, just refining his technique andpass rush. I mean, we don't

(04:55:33):
have the pads on right now,so the real work will will begin,
you know, in six weeks now. So, but yeah, I love
Tulie. I've loved him since thefirst day he's he's walked into the facility,
and I know he's just gonna continueto get better. What do 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.

(04:55:56):
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

(04:56:21):
I'll take it easy on him.No, Rashon's a beast. Did you
know Coach Harbond before he came here? And if he did, just what
were those first couple of conversations likethat? Yeah, I probably have crossed
passed with him. Maybe maybe not. Actually, I think what was it

(04:56:41):
his first year when I was ajunior, so he kicked his ass as
usual Mitt 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 high school. Oh I remember we used to kick
No but no, yeah, no, the rivalry is dead. I was

(04:57:07):
just saying this morning, you know, nine years and kind of forget about
that. I'm not a great alumni. Sorry, sorry coached, But no,
it'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

(04:57:30):
with them, went up into hisoffice and chopped it up about life mainly
and his opportunity here and how muchit means to him. And yeah,
I think he's a special guy.I think he's the way he conducts himself.
He's an interesting cat for sure,and I'm still still feeling them out.
But one thing you can't denies thathe loves football and his main goal

(04:57:53):
is to win football games, soand that's what we need. You see
him working out with you guys andpush his lives and doing all this stuff.
Just how interesting is that to see? Yeah, I mean he was
a he was a great player himself, and I think he's always been,
you know, built like that lackof a better term, but yeah,

(04:58:15):
he's uh, he's part of theguys. You know, he's not this
guy outside looking in. He hereally, I mean he voiced that to
me, is that his favorite partof all of it is being with the
guys and and the connections he makes. So Yeah, to to see a
guy like that come in and embraceit all and kind of be part of
it himself is important. Your initialimpressions of Coachman during the defensive gaming are,

(04:58:40):
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,

(04:59:04):
and I don't as you know,so sometimes I gotta 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.

(04:59:26):
So I'm excited about him and meand I do miss s Giff.
Obviously it was a long time withhim, but I am excited to have
a new face and kind of havethat challenge for me. You worked much
with with Jesse's dad, since Iknow he coached linebackers in Michigan. Did
you ask about Jesse? Did youask about doing? Okay, you asked

(04:59:48):
about Jesse. Oh my god,I was talking about freaking doing the whole
time. You guys are so confused. No, sorry, I thought were
I thought I was. I thoughtyou mentioned Tony. 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,

(05:00:11):
very knowledgeable guy. Same thing.I'm excited to get to know him more
as the year goes on. Haveyou worked if you worked much the season
Jesse yeah, no, I havenot. I don't know if I've said
one word to him, but morewords to come down the road. Like

(05:00:33):
you said, you been year sincetwenty sixteen. Just where are some of
this stuff? You just went ona ramble about the wrong guy for fifteen
minutes walking what Yeah, what thehecks? Actually that's literally not the person.

(05:00:55):
Yeah, yeah, I figured outsomething that you you worked undering the
off season, something to improve yourgame or is there something that you can
Usually my answer is pretty consistent thatI just continue to try to prepare myself
physically, whether that's my sprint workor agility work and my lifting, but

(05:01:22):
yeah, just to get everything feelinggreat. I dealt with those injuries,
so I had to kind of rampit up with my finger and foot and
all those things. But now I'mI'm full full speed out there, and
I'm just going to continue to dowhat I know will prepare me for the
season. And uh, I knowI'm gonna get plenty of technique work and

(05:01:45):
position work when I'm out here,So for now, I'm going to spend
these five weeks really getting uh preparingmy body there, workouts competitive again,
another year of competitive with you andall that stuff. Yeah, yeah,
that's usually too hot out there formuch competition. We're just trying to survive.
So but yeah, it's always it'sa it's a silent competition between between

(05:02:08):
each other, be like Peeking's likewhat was 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 there's no off days.
Have you you and haven't talked atall and out I mean, I

(05:02:30):
mean just when you were having acontract thing, do you have guys have
to talk it off on any other? Yeah, I mean it's it's a
conversation, not a not really aserious conversation, but something that's come up
before. But yeah, I meanit would be cool. It would be
cool at some point. I Ialways thought of myself being somebody that will

(05:02:56):
play here and retire here, whichI think not many people you on one
team, and I think would bea cool thing to accomplish. But