Press Conference (JJ Smith)

Episode Transcript

(00:01):
We got Jeremiah J. J.Smith j J. How'd you feel out
that to day you got a guardthe team came out? Don't three and
old pool play? When you cometo these kind of tournaments, what kind
of techniques do you like to workon it? See think that you're gonna
deep run some short stuff from crossingroutes? What do you work on when
you're out of tournament like this?Really just getting back in the goose doing

(00:23):
your meat. So really just workingon my releases. Uh, that's when
your game, my friends class I'vebeen I'm gonna chuck, so just bring
getting back in. Now we knowyou pulled the trigger on Ohio State,
Obviously you're gonna take visits kind ofmake sure that you're you're perfect, done
your decision. What was it aboutOhio State and Brian Hartline and Ryan David
that made you feel comfortable to coldmake early? Really they sent me my

(00:44):
first visit? We're not taking thefirst you can't offer you feel like being
system my friend? Really, justwhat's up? What's up? What's what
they say? Was really? Theythey they gave me, uh really just

(01:04):
a kid that I'm a talk hartI wasn't talk artist I'm trying to have
them side. Now. I knowyou got something your s FV family up
there. You got Brandon n s, you got card I'll take. What
does it mean to potentially be ableto link up with them in a year
and be able to kind of runback what you guys have done in South
Florida Express in Columbus, Ohio,it'd be great we go there to Ohio

(01:26):
State take over. It'd be gratefulall through. Great, you can have
the first round. Yeah, you'rea super humble kid. I've been really
impressed by you today. Is thereanything that you want Ohio State fans to
know about you? You know again, I know you're just your all work,
all work, a work. Butwhat are they getting when they get
a J. J. Smith tocome to Ohio saying kid coming in the

(01:49):
job. Don't they just what Igotta do, must take care of person,
score, don't just come in toomuch job. That's perfect, man,
God, bless you. I appreciateyou, my man. Awesome about
you today. Thank you so Jonand I believe in this team. Okay,
maybe this is true. You feellike, ohiose they finished second the

(02:10):
first time around, because race isthat truth. Pyr think no comedy.
That's great, But obviously when theywere recruited he still back in a couple
of years ago, Jim knows wasin here. A lot of the pensive
stop was newt years there. Maybeit wasn't more telling me what it could
look like, and now I guessseeing what's looked like over the last two

(02:30):
years or that maybe matters where theycould telling it back to the looking pits.
That's definitely true. Uh, theyplayed great defense last year and just
seeing how watching the film and seeinghow they progressed and seeing how their defense
played last year definitely helped me makea more sound decision and having more facts
about what it would be getting into. And they told you, like,
what's your those safeties? Am maybesay right more so the adjuster than the

(02:57):
bandit. But at the end ofthe day, I mean, I I
just wanna play where I can geton the field. Who takes this defense
looked like what they were pitching youon as the group, has it lived
lived up to what they were tryingto tell you, what's what I look
like? Yeah, it definitely has. Do you have a connection with with
THEA about different different the d verygenuine person. He he always keeps it

(03:21):
straight with you. Everything that hesays, he has come to fluition,
so I can't knock him on anything. He's uh very close to my pops
too. They grew up together.So just knowing that relationship with him and
our relationship together, is I trI trusted him? You look like you
sort of campaign into your friend printsuh next year or is that something that
you wanted to he's doing when peoplelike doing right now? I did like

(03:44):
doing that at Alabama, But atthe end of the day, that's the
coach's decision. So I can't reallyuh speak on that right now. What
are your great guy very int uhintelligent? A lot to learn from him.
He knows this defense very well.Just being able to learn from him
and see how he sees the game, well, I think that'll very progress

(04:05):
my uh my development feel those guys, would you know the systems stuff as
the matter? But if you're thoselast place or I would that you started
get brother See like when you out, if you move a lot of back
and forth, maybe maybe it's somethingthat class to port maybe something. But
do you walk up to you guyslast day anything you last to get thither

(04:27):
in and how would you really getguys if you see Hey, how you
doing though, h you're good,I've been good. It was. There
was definitely some back and forth.There was a lot to think about,
a lot to process between me andmy family, so it wasn't really much
to say to the media or anything. But at the end of the day,
I made the decision and I'm here, so I'm glad to be here.

(04:49):
Yeah, pretty up, I justpush, how do you do you
think at all? Many? Howcan you what characters did you play that?
I think the development from when Iwas a kid. I've been training
with my dad and my brother sinceI was four or five years old,

(05:10):
So I don't wanna say I wasbuilt for this, but I mean,
at the end of the day,I've been doing this since I was a
kid, so there's barely been nochange. What did kid? It stands
out right now as you look backup. It about mixed safety. What
what what made him special? Verydisciplined person. He was committed every single
day to being his best self,and not many people can actually say that

(05:32):
and be truthful with that. Hewas the same person every single day,
and he taught me a lot aboutcommitment, about being disciplined, consistency,
everything that goes with that and beinggreat. I feel like that's what he
embodies. What with that in mind? What what is it about safety depends?
What's that excites you? What doyou know? What I mean?

(05:53):
Everybody makes a a a pig kid. It's somewhere in their lives and way
off as your big fans w Whatis it about playing keep? Then the
side shame? I feel like it'sbeing a part of a a bunch of
moving parts that have to work together. The offense has to do their own
thing, but the defense everybody hastheir own responsibility. And when everybody can

(06:15):
do their own responsibility, everybody's gonnamake plays and everybody's gonna be able to
succeed. So I just feel likebeing a part of that and tryna help
myself and help my team be better. In terms of that, that's a
that's a big thing for me.What what what did you get to a
good sacred about that ass? Maybeknow obviously it's known that the teachers really
would you give part? You knowyou would in terms of that kind of

(06:36):
problem. A lot about how tosee the game pre snap and during the
play, A lot about going intothe game in terms of how you watch
film, how you study, whatthings to see from the other team,
everything like that. That's that's whathe teaches that what sings out what isn't
known right now? I mean heused to come off with us as a

(06:58):
clearly telligence gap. What what's theimpression? Who played on you? Uh?
Very intelligent for sure. He seesa lot and he has an answer
for everything in terms of what teamscan bring him. So I just feel
like him the different ways that heplays defenses that will allow me to develop
in different ways. Well, howhave your parents who been not to how

(07:18):
people are very instinctual player, veryathletic, being able to make plays all
over the field, being able tosee plays before they happen. Who if
you were open for as to you? You know how just played bay Away?

(07:39):
How much here is it for?You understand a lot of LEAs since
he played into a game of playbookstill up the last night. Some people
I think I understand it more.I mean I definitely can't understand it from
a uh Ohio State perspective cause Ihaven't played, and then I haven't been
through that, so I can't reallyspeak on how they feel but I'm definitely

(08:01):
hugging to be missioning myself. Doyou feel what you said you believe in?
Why it like? What is itabout? You know? I mean
when you played for the next daywith the greatest poss he argues with about
by the mosses them put that sayto you? And what is what's it
about women? He's like to blay, I think you about that the first
time around, and then the secondtime? Games? Did they come back
at you? How much he needstogether? And what was it about games?

(08:24):
Making next year team or anything?Teacher? He was the same person.
He was, uh, very genuinewhen I was getting recruited in high
school, and he was very genuinewhen I talked to him two weeks ago.
Okay, So just being able tounderstand that he's about the people that
he works with, and he's veryhe believes in the people that he's around,
and he believes in the people thathe believes in. So just knowing

(08:46):
that and knowing what he stands forthat means a lot. He said,
you said, there was a lotof back that in during the vielde.
Oh, just I know everything yousend in the fashions or are going how
what was that might from ganges stillmake this way recruiting on steroids. I'd
say I got like a hundred andtwo calls in one day, so just

(09:09):
uh, well not in one day, probably seven or eight hours, but
just being able to minimize what mymind was going through. That was a
that was a big thing for me. And being able to make a sound
decision off of what I knew hasme calls except that con brand, how

(09:31):
do you want some bess adults?But what the kind of stuffs? What
I thought to make them sound work? Pretty much you have to go silent.
You have to be able to controlyour circle in terms of getting your
opinions from people that you trust in, people that you know you can count

(09:52):
on. So that was the biggestthing for me, just being able to
understand what the people around me werethinking and how I wanted to go about
it. Alright, Colors, that'stoo nice, dad opportune. At the
end of the day, I loveplaying football and that's what I'm here to

(10:16):
do. I'm not here to makemoney or do anything like that. I
know there's a lot of opportunities herein terms of the city of Columbus,
but at the end of the day, I'm here to help this team win
football games, and I'm here todo my best and try to develop if
you will to don't play for acool uh. I I played in cold

(10:37):
throughout my life, so it's notI mean Georgia is different, but I
mean I have had some cold experiences, so that's not a really a big
thing for mess table of transport.How much would you talk to the porch
of the quiet, gag you herefor this spot with what your will get
you? Let me talking about publicwants s cause I discussed Okay, I'm
gonna get public pots to you,just a bad It was discussed, but

(11:00):
it wasn't. It's not something thatwas a deal worker or anything for me,
So I wasn't. That wasn't thebiggest, the biggest yes or no
for me and it woman were stillwith the expectations of the U story,
the same expectations that I've had mywhole life, the same expectations that we
had at Bama to win games anddominate every game and go win a championship.

(11:24):
You when you were here, I'mplaying for what a load of none
spot months or saw the culture theyever saw the operations you thinking of for
a couple of weeks. If there'ssimilarities in the approach to how they go
about and try to what it happens, that would you give about this program
just in a couple of teachers,think we really just going about for the
traves Achinational Championship. It's all aboutthe work, It's all about the process.

(11:46):
It's all about doing everything daily topush yourself to be where we need
to be at the end of theat the end of the ride, how
did the program your help your uh? I would say the day of or
day like before the decision, itwas m pretty much just sitting on FaceTime

(12:07):
with him and my uncle, uh, just talking about what was gonna go
into the decision and seeing their inputon what they had to say about things
you need are ye, I'm aI would say, I'm a pretty respectful
person and I respect the people thatreached out to me, even if I

(12:28):
really wasn't trying to look at theirschool. So I'd probably say, like
eighty of'em, you have totell me go on with hide together what
you might want to go though justcause of acting having that help'em out
what I feel like you have tohave some sort of idea but people have
an idea where they're gonna go duringrecruitment too, So I wouldn't say it's
that big of a difference, butyou definitely have to have a more of

(12:54):
a singular mindset on a few places, like what a way for people time
to very calm, very I liketo chill out. Not not a lot
to do, just uh, hangout with my people and hang out with
my friends, hang out with myfamily, just be around people. WANDMA.

(13:16):
You got to make like you makefrom people. How much you have
to do what you about you.It was Uh, it was a highlight
for me for sure, just beinguh being named at and going in a
relationship with Seawn Alexander He's a greatperson and learning about him. It was

(13:37):
it was definitely an honor for me. You you stuff like that. I
feel like more than just Late Thanthe Sunday he can compliment each other.
A lot of people in the secondarycan work together to be cohesive and be
uh a brotherhood. So but LateThan and Sunny they welcome me and I
appreciate them for that. So Ithink us working together, we can we

(14:01):
can do some real damage. Ifif there's a game, there's a game
that if you have them both toit. A piece is who are as
a poligical days to that year?What game do you plots to? If
you just must take you, Iwould say as a collective the whole season.
You can see the growth. Youcan see the growth from the beginning
season to the end. But Iwould say Ka, Mississippi State or Texas

(14:28):
A and M would probably be thebest. Too interesting, Okay, what
are you the farm of peace tothis? And that's what really? Oh,
I can't say that that's that's forGod to decide. I can't really
say that is it? Is itbetter? Is it most fun? Do
you recruited as a high school orreferred on the FID? Definitely as a
high school? Not as rushed,I would say, taking the game you've

(14:56):
ever had, the gomigi places thatgas and how yourself like that? Mental
aspects of what have probably I wouldsay I'm a lead at that. Being
able to watch film and determine whatare the keys to look at each pay
play, being able to determine whichguys I need to change up my techniques

(15:18):
for uh, being able to determinewhat I'm looking at in terms of before
the play and what my teammates needto look at before the play. I
would say, I'm i'm e leadeat that and being able to make those
differences each week are a big thingfor me. They look to the movie
in strength and conditions to find yourbeing able to speak different feel that its

(15:45):
programs here. Uh, there's alot of similarities. Uh. Coach Blue
runs a great program and I loveeverything that he did for me there.
And those guys uh that worked there, like coach you get you J So
I'm appreciative of how they worked andthey did great things there. Coach Mick
does a great job here. SoI can't really say one's better than the

(16:06):
other. But Coach mc he's He'sa very intense person. What do you
have, lumpus Asmart you know?What do you? What do you have?
Lumbas so parts earlier. Oh,I love the city. I love
being around here. Uh. Ilove the feel of the town. So
just being a part of it isit's a great thing for me about see
you I sp I expect us tobe one of the best. I expect

(16:33):
us to excel and be better thanthey were last year. I expect us
to be elite. How much doyou expect to your place. Do you
do you expect? Excuse me?Thought is not what will instant a bad
one? How do you do agood tid? I mean I saw it,

(16:56):
but honestly, it was about memaking my own decision. Uh,
me making the decision that was bestfor myself. So I mean, like,
if you're going against HIH League,you're going against high, You're going
against you know, with Hero andk Mack and these guys. Now we're
getting really good gradable reps. Thatway. He had a great he had

(17:18):
a great offseason. Uh just allstarted in a weight room with Mick.
I mean, his his weights up, He's thick. He's always been an
explosive guy, but playing with alittle bit of power, you know,
behind that, he's learning to dothat, you know, in the natural
maturation. I mean for all thoseguys you talk for him, you talk
I mean just his class alone.I mean you're talking him, you're talking
George, you're talking Tiger. Likethose guys are going into year three,

(17:41):
that's when you really start to figureit out your body, the speed of
the game, the technique, thefundamentals. And he's done a good job
of adapting and really growing himself onthe pace that you need to for a
young guy. That's you know,coming out of the fire a little bit
last year. Yeah, he talkedabout like being at a better weight.
Now it's better weight, it's realweight, close to three hundred and comes
up being faster and more confident.Is that where for a center like this

(18:04):
last year kind of trial by firefor him? Is it just like how
was that process? But not playingat all his first year starting? It's
you, it's for whether it's CarsonHensman or you know, Johnny Jones,
like you get thrust into real repsand the full speed, it's faster than
you've ever seen. And so nowhe has that book of work too that
he can look back on where theunderstanding of the game, the understand of

(18:26):
the speed of the game, theintensity. You know, I've said a
thousand times that he doesn't get incrementallyfaster or stronger. The game mentally slows
down for him. So he canuse his skill set that way. So
what is that we're talking about.That's his weight, that's his strength because
those numbers are going up, sohe can play with more pillar strength,
he can play more contact, hecan play more comfortable even though his forty

(18:48):
time didn't go from a five tozero to a four to eight, made
himself. He just jumped right in. Unbelievable job both ways of him just
coming in with shelving the ego thathe had he really had none, and
walking in saying, I'm walking intoa room, as we told him when
we recruit him, like you're cominginto a room a bunch of good dudes,

(19:10):
and then our good dudes are gooddudes. He came in and there
was no it's like, you're here, here's how we do, here's how
we operate, and let's go.And so that learning curve for all those
whether it's a high school media guyor a veteran media guy that transfers in,
there's a learning curve there, justyou know, circling back to what
we had natural maturation a little bitbecause he's been through a little bit of
spring Boy, he's been through alittle bit of camps, so you're still

(19:30):
learning new terminology, you're learning anew skill set. But he just dove
right in and wanted to be asponge and wanted to learn it. He's
doing a good job and he's improvingevery day, you know, So that's
what's making the battle and the competitionall these graded snaps really you know good
for us is because they all havethat mindset. So from seth awesome,
the unit and the group awesome becausethere was no combativeness to it. It

(19:53):
was let's get in, let's go, and let's compete and then let the
guys win. Skill set made go. Uh, just learning the same deal
all young guys, you're coming,you got to learn how to play in
friction. So having you know,three tech, having a two I,
having those guys like right in frontof him that every time you take one
of those reps and you're out ofyour base or you're in your base,

(20:14):
you feel the good, you feelthe bad. So being more consistent that
way, you know, you can'tmake moves or shift guys if they're not
mentally there. And so for him, he's got a pretty good football FQ.
So he's continued, he's growing everyday, he's working and he's getting
beat every day too, and he'slearning from those you know, so in
the springtime, you know, wehave saying in our room, we're like
in the spring it's yes and it'sno, and I know it's k and
ow why didn't the rep work?What happened? And how do I make

(20:37):
sure I don't repeat the same mistake. And so whether he's coming in and
watching the tape on his own andthen come up with questions, he's grabbing
me and watching tape with me,or we're coming doing stuff as a unit.
He's learning so that the same dealof the game can slow down and
he gets more comfortable there in friction. So I mean he's his weights up,
his strengths up. He's spending offseason with Mick. You know,
there's a lot of development that stillhas to be had to finished product.

(21:00):
But being able mentally for a guyto handle that, you know, helps
a lot concern. Similar to Lukea leaner guy. Did you tell him
that he paid you to say thatthat might be the first time you ever

(21:22):
heard that in his life. No, uh, Now, you know,
like Luke Carson, whoever it maybe that that jump of eighteen to nineteen
nineteen to twenty year old kid thatplays a lot into it too. Being
in a full year with Mick,I mean all those guys you come in

(21:45):
at midyear, like your Devo andDion and Ian Moore. Right now,
you're keeping your head above water.That's your whole first year. Now you
can actually get and we can sit. So when you sit and talk about
a jam, combo or a lockor whatever the call may be to Luke,
he registers that and not like somethingnew because then there's paralysis by analysis.
So I think the mental part,on top of another year natural maturity

(22:07):
of getting bigger and stronger, that'salways gonna help. You're not gonna guys
here, They're not gonna regress.It's gonna keep adding progress and how fast
can we get that going. It'swhat we're working on every day with him.
But said that he would had beenball guard to this point, and
coach Days mentioned it several times thatlike, Josh could play guard too,
and you guys are trying to workthrough that fire. He's I mean Josh
could play all five. I meanhe snapped the ball in high school.

(22:32):
You know, Josh had a greatoffseason. But for you, when you're
going through a spring and it's factfinding an experimentation, how much do you
want to put them in different spotsor not? Because you also have an
eye on August to try and settleon a five man rotation. What's the
balance that you have to get areally good gradable set so that everybody has

(22:52):
numbers of you know, just likewe said before, how many times have
we done a run blocking or passblocking in this situation so that all evens
out. So that's it's not experimentation, it's just making sure that you get
a good book of work to lookat and grade that. So as we
you know, work guys around theplatoons and go just to making sure that
everybody gets good gradeable reps. Sowe can sit back by the end of

(23:12):
spring and say, all right,this is you're comparing apples to apples and
oranges oranges and not you know,apples oranges, because it's completely different that
way. So that's kind of thethought behind that as you're going through the
spring a couple of years ago tobe here off that laughed, you know,

(23:32):
but then I said, you know, it's college football, so who
knows, right, what's that like? Joy? Yeah, he just added
to another piece of just good peoplehere. I mean, you're still you're
coming to work here with guys everyday, you know, with the kids,
we talk about a ton, butthen for us as coaches and the
staff, So adding just another gooddude that's in the room. Obviously as

(23:56):
he says something, and you know, he might speak in old terms or
terms that we had, you know, maybe be a little bit of a
Rosetta stone, like no, no, no, this is this. He's
like, yeah, that's right,because that's that happens to all coaches.
That happened to me when we gothere. At first, I was at
with the coach day sometime with Ryan'slike, you know, what do we
call this? Because he was ina system like that before. He said,
oh, this is this now?So I think just the you know,
uh translation of rosettes stone there help. But just overall standpoint of adding

(24:19):
a great guy, that's a greatcoach that's been around. That's he's going
to supplement the room. And everytime you add something new to the room,
then that makes the room better,it makes you individually better. Oh
look how he does that. MaybeI could do that. Maybe I can
bring that to my meeting room.Maybe I can bring that to communication to
the staff or to the kids orwhatever it is. Because he's he's done

(24:40):
it for a long time, andhe's done at a high level for a
long time. So it's good toadd that guy to us and then continues
us to rest the staff for meand Brian and Key and and and everybody
just learning and growing with that kindof specifically just I mean, does he
from a talent standpoint? Does hesings? Sometimes others don't see I mean,
does he? I mean you knowwhat I mean? What does he
kind of bring from the chalkboard aspectof things? Well, I mean what

(25:04):
you're saying, so what does hesee? It's good to have fresh eyes
come in that. Maybe you knowyou're getting a routine and you get in
a rhythm and then all of asudden running game, uh football. You
know. He's one of those guysI think goes in the category it's forgotten
a lot of more football than somepeople have learned in their life. But
no, his he I believe hecoached every position on the field, both

(25:26):
sides of Walter's whole career. Soas he looks up and he writes when
he's talking about, well, thiswill linebacker is gonna do that, then
he might have coached that at Columbia, right, or this is what the
three texts gonna read on the downblock of a tackle. Because he's coached
the offensive line and he's been coordinatorfor a long time, so just a
really good vision of big picture understandingand you know, the next step and

(25:48):
not just being right now. Yeah, if he had a theme or whatever
this spring, because obviously this seemskind of like a how to make it
or breaking time for him, buttime to step up and step into nobody
cares. Nobody cares what you know, what struggles do you have or whatever.
You got to go to your fieldto get the job done. I
mean it's like if you know anythingdifferently about tag Rick, you get what

(26:11):
do you see about tak Yeah,he was competing his butt off. I
mean he's kind of living that way. You know. That's why we have
that the red line over there whenyou cross the line. You know,
Coach State talks about that here likethat. It's it's the game doesn't care
you're off the field. You gotto come out and step out and do
your job. It doesn't care aboutanything off the field. Right. That
can sound really negative and harsh,but then it also if you just spin

(26:33):
your tone like isn't it beautiful thatthe game doesn't care? It doesn't care
that your skin color, your socioeconomicbackground, where you've come from if you
just want to do it the rightway in the fifty three and a third,
the game will love you back,you know. And so I think
it's the approach mentally that guys takethat way. So yeah, for Tiger,
he's he's taking that approach like hehe wants to come in and be

(26:53):
a guy. So he's fighting andcawing and scratching every day. So when
he makes a mistake, he's tryingto correct it. When he does it
well, he's trying to enhance it. And that's what competitive people do and
that's what he showed up to do. So I know that's that's good that
he said that's coming on the fieldbeen like as a center And is that
difficult when you're coming in to anew offensive line to have that or is

(27:15):
there something made about the center positionif you've been experienced at it like he
has, where you kind of havethat I guess command on the field over
with any offensive Sorry to say itover and start over again. You're saying
the comfort of center with who nowseth Okay, Yeah, I'm saying,
like, how has his Higgs commandof the field been and hasn't been difficult?
I guess to adjust for him ifhe's to have a certain level of

(27:37):
onfield command, you know at thatcenter position. Yeah, I mean it's
on command. It is just greatcommunication, getting everybody on the same page.
Yes, having a bunch of bankedreps helps. But then when you
do come into a new offense.Uh, just like we talked, you
know with Chip a little bit earlier. You know, he might have called
it yellow and we call it greenor something. You know, the expectation

(28:00):
is, you know, I'm gonnahave that looking the league, and I
think that show just got better nowgoing into their three where you can really
look at it and say, wehave veteran players who understand the defense and
understand the position, plus the greatactors. Jim, what do you like
about Sonny and contact or about thesecret first seas? You know, it's

(28:22):
a it's a change for Sonny becausehe's playing in the box, you know,
from a low position instead of droppingin, so things happen a lot
faster. But you know, he'sreacted superbly. I mean he say,
he's a guy who's got football intelligence. He understands the scheme, played a
lot of positions. I think he'sgonna be great because One of the biggest

(28:47):
parts of being a linebacker is youhave to know every all the pieces around
you say you can play fast anduh, Sonny's showing a lot of that
in the first two days. Howspose where you where you got? Yeah,
I feel it's it's permanent. Butyou know, in terms of face

(29:11):
and and nickel packaging, you knowit's permanent. But there may be other
things where he'll still have multirilicities.You know, there's gonna be packaging.
Who gives a need to find backat this level? Is that what we
do to just just bring into ato listen to a pretty five pound now
or give us a defonies and it'swho's your moment, Steve Im It's just

(29:33):
thank Yeah, a little bit ofboth. I mean, anytime you make
a move, you wanted to beright for the player and for the you
know, the defense and the team. And I think that fit up naturally.
You know, Sonny. Sonny hadto uh fight to stay lean as
a DV and now he now youknow he gets to east you know,
and and and uh and but Ithink it worked out for both of us.

(29:56):
Idea, well, you know whenyou when you when I first met
him, when when I first gothere. You know, I think that
everybody talks about, you know,he's going to be a linebacker. He's
going to be a linebacker. ButI really wanted to see him at safety

(30:17):
first. That's what he wanted todo, That's what I wanted to see.
You know, I felt long termin my vision for him that playing
safety early in his career was goingto give him a better perspective of the
defense. You know, had MalcolmRoderiguez who was with the Lions at Oklahoma

(30:37):
State. Now he's about half asunny size, but he started as a
safety and when he became a linebacker, he understood things a lot better.
So my vision for Sonny was toyou know, start him out of safety
and then eventually move him down.How was Hicks doing and CJ and and
Sonny competing for the same spot generallyspeaking, Yeah, I mean, you

(30:57):
know, part of the time theyare, you know, part of the
time we'll have all three of themon the field with coach, so there's
balance there and that they're competing andthey also could be in the same package.
But's got a great attitude. Youknow, I've always felt that CJ

(31:18):
has a lot of pressure on him, you know, being from Ohio.
But he's coachable, and he understandsgrowth and our plans for him, and
he's got a great attitude and gaypowers. Where's he at his third year?
Probably and it didn't you didn't seeit because he didn't play a lot
in the games, but in ouropinion game, you know, the second

(31:40):
half of the season, what wesee in practices, it was probably one
of the most complete guys he reallywas. So he made a huge jump
second half of the season in termsof what he was doing in practice and
when he got into the game,a huge jump. You know. So
I feel like he is a guythat's gonna compete. Who's a guy that's

(32:01):
gonna be ready? You know,I feel like he's made too manus improvements
and we can start to count onit. Are you looking at just to
Will right now? Or is hea guy that's moving around to CJ's moving
around too, you know. Soyou know, you get into a three
linebacker package, you know, Sonnyand Cody and c J. You're you're

(32:24):
pretty good right but now, butyou can't just have one guy, so
you know, the Sonny's not thereat the sam then CJ's got to know
how to play it too, youknow, so that you can playing Gabe
in and Mike and Cody can playwell, you know, and you still
have a great lineup, so youalways have to plan for you know,

(32:45):
Okay, we'll start out this way, but who's who's in next? So
CJ has to know both positions too. Yeah. Are are y'all still a
four two five defense? How wouldyou? I mean? Yeah, we're
still four too times? Yeah,no, absolutely, multiplayers absolutely, of
course, soil fortuny five, butmultiple multiple deployments at times. You know,

(33:07):
we can be four three, Butyeah, you still got some right,
So now you got Yeah, yougot Sonny at a sam backer who's
who's has experienced playing safety, youknow what I mean. So that that
that really creates more multiplicity. Howdoes it help you do your job now
that you have a full time linebacker'scoach? And yeah, it's uh,

(33:30):
you know, just having James initiallylast year was a big bonus because of
his experience and and the way heworks with the players. He's a lot
nicer to them than I am.You know, last year it was good
cop, bad cop, you know, now the bad cops left the room.
So I'm sure the players love it. You know, the season.

(33:51):
I think the defense, if youlook at the defensive line and feel settled,
look in the secondary, feel settled. I think outside looking spot,
what what's their us? What canyou know a little bit of the question
A top top mark in disc thatof the right guys to make that week
started. Yeah, really confident.I think adding sunning it into that makes

(34:15):
a guy who's got a lot ofexperience, a lot of playing time,
you know, that really bolsters thatposition in that room. So I'm confident
in what we have there. CodySimon, you know, is a guy
who we think is gonna be greatand he's bearing be or a leader or
the defunt So I think it'll bea strange like did you see others less?

(34:37):
You know? Yeah, r Vel? You know, we kind of
experimented with Rvel at the the endlast year a little bit, and uh,
you know, I keep getting asked, you know, can he be
a linebacker? Can he be alinebacker? And I think he's gonna be
a great linebacker. You know,he just needs growth and learning. So

(35:00):
I would like to just continue togrow off our vel mentally in football intelligence,
you know after linebacker position. Sowill there be a role for him
this year? I don't know,because he is so athletic. You know,
he's a guy you kind of lookat and say, I can do
different things with you know when weget to the season. You know,

(35:21):
that's a guy you can always createsomething for that doesn't involve as much thinking,
you know, so he can justgo. But out here, I
want to keep growing him as alinebacker because his time will come. Where
you're as far as the jacket position, yeah, I mean it's it's it's
always there. You know. I'dlike to get it in this spring.

(35:42):
You know, we didn't used it, dabbled in at year one, didn't
use it last year. It's alwaysin our package, you know, so
at some point we'd like to getto it just to kind of keep it
fresh. She look like a Merchantiliwhat do you like? Very technici.
Yeah, he's got great speed,you know, good size. He's just

(36:07):
a he he looks like a nickel. You know, his skills are his
skills are like a nickel. Soyou know he's still learning. But you
saw uh Jordan make just cement uhtremendous progress with that last year. So
we gotta we gotta bring Lorenzo onthat team year and you kind of keep

(36:29):
him from there with Mike dont Yeah, Hero really flashed last year at times
when you go back and watch thefilm. So, uh, the fact
that we play a lot of rushingin I mean, that's a that's a
guy who whom he used to havea good spring for us because he's gonna

(36:50):
be uh, he's gonna be nextman there, you know. And you
know with a guy like Hero,he starts to really come along. You
know, you start to look atsome you know, double eagle type of
packaging. You know. My thoughtsare you know, with the with Jack
and j T. You know thatat some point I want to train them

(37:15):
as outside linebackers. You know,so if you've got Hero Thie League of
Tie and you get to you canget to more of you know, uh,
you know, five five guys,five d linemen in the game.
You know, with training guys likeJack and and j T and Kiyata,

(37:36):
you know, you know, it'sjust kind of in my thoughts like if
we're strong inside those those guys canbecome more multiple, you know, And
I think it's techniques and things thatthey can use when they get to the
next level. So that's kind ofbeen my thoughts too. Expound on that
little bit you're saying, Jack andj T possibly with that outside linebacker concept,

(37:57):
what exactly wuld Well, you know, you're always looking to get the
best eleven on the field, right, So when when you look at a
twelve personnel set, you say,Okay, I got you know, Sonny,
Cody and CJ with with the fourdown you know, you know,
could we have another component with youknow, Jack and JT and and three

(38:22):
tackles and Cody and Sonny or Codyand CJ. You know, I think
you know who's gonna be Who's goingto be the best eleven, you know
against bigger sets? Could it possiblybe hero, you know, versus having
a third linebacker? Could it bea three tackles you know, that's in

(38:43):
my thoughts. We haven't installed thatyet, but but I I'd like to
get to that just to see.And like I said, I feel like
with those guys, the more theyknow of how to really be an outside
linebacker better, it's gonna help themwhen they get to the next the next
level. So it's something I'd liketo do for them. To do.

(39:15):
Yeah, i'd expect. I meanLathan was making very good progress. You
know, always loved the way heplayed, his attitude, his physicality.
First year, you know he hadsome eye violations. You know he was
he was improving on that until hegot hurt. So you know he goes

(39:37):
down. I'd say the responsibility is, you know, first and foremost to
uh lead by example. I couldsit there and I can say all the
things I don't want to say,talk up a storm. At the end
of the day, you gotta justget you gotta work the work you got
you got to do, supposed todo. And I think that's gonna ultimately
lead guys in the right direction.So you know, that's the good thing

(39:59):
that I can kind of take onthe most is just lead by zi.
Yeah, get up, Yeah,Okay, Well the quick looks have hurry.
I'm a flying standpoint. Look tome, like you had a good
year last year. I mean here, I mean, if we if you
look back out on the oppos sayhow far have you come in that round?
Yeah, I've came along live.It's it's a very say. I'd

(40:19):
argue to say tight end is probablythe most developmental position on the field.
It takes a long time to getaround to. It takes a lot of
work, and I think it's afull process. It's not something that it's
a winner turnaround or a six monthturnaround. You come in trying to catch
it on the fly. That's somethingthat takes a lot of time and attention.
I'm just thankful for, you know, my great, great coaching staff
and the great unit around me gotsyou back then starting off with you know,

(40:43):
rout from those guys to CADE,I think there's been a great example
for the way they're supposed to attack, blocking and being a tight end here
out of Ohio State. And I'vebeen just you know, thankful to be
able to have that example. Heflawe, what are you wait now for?
Whatever? What's it been like?You have one? Yeah, well
it's been great. He's been good. An somebody that's came in humble and

(41:07):
is ready to work. That's that'sbeen like the only words that I have
from not not a minute of justlike many words. But he's here to
get up here to work and he'sdone just that. And I'm just the
we got to have you learned alot a little start walking or just kind
of it's all in fun, LikeI know you guys work, sorry Jill,
you miss Moore guy anything. Butalso that's what he's to know.
You guys learned a little bit.You guys learn a little bit walking down.

(41:28):
Yeah, I think essentially that's thethat's the culture of our room.
It's when we come off the ballviolent, we're looking to swing as hard
as we can. We'll clean upthe details after. And so that's kind
of our mindset going into it.And uh, yeah, you freaking you're
walking Chang. How long does youfeel like if you could know that you
still be received or so know you'rein reality, like you know you're blocked

(41:49):
the people to do it, Likehow hard is it to kind of change
the words action the more I knowyou guys don't pay at testure like outside
noise but also blocking said g Scottor text but really pretty good walk.
Yeah. I'd say it starts offwith like you kind of got to It
starts off with tuning out for theoutside noise and and what other people have
to say about it, And it'sreally grew up the mindset. I kind

(42:12):
of look at it as it's likea drop in a bucket, you know,
if I got a big bucket,there's no one thing I'm gonna do
to to make this bucket full.It's it's a daily thing where I put
one dropod of the day and youlook back over a year, two years,
three years, you look back andbe like, man, I've gotten
a lot better. So, likeI said, I'm just very thankful for
the unit. The guys that Ihave around me pushed me very hard,
but I'm just thankful. You mentionedthat develop that's part attendants. What was

(42:34):
the best challenging part that you tome fellow things to the pudet for Yeah,
I'd say it's definitely the size component. You know, you can't you
got to be someone that's you know, one the You gotta be big,
you gotta be strong, you gottabe fast. There's a lot of jobs
that you lot to do. It'sa very asking job. You need to
balt the big on some of thebiggest guys in the field, but also
run routes off some of the smallestguys in the field. And so I

(42:57):
think it's thankful just to be outhere and do exactly that. As didn't
like to get that shot the otherday in front of the pro scouts,
just run routes, kits falls,oh yeah, show off. Yeah.
No, it was a good opportunity. I think some of the big you
know reasoning behind it. We're justkind of giving those guys out there that
we're at Podavia limited numbers, sojust get out there and give those guys
a breather. But need the opportunityto get to go out there in front

(43:17):
of scouts. I think that's ait's a pretty good deal. And your
take on the quarterbacks to this point, the quarterback battle is going on.
What what? What's spend Your takeon Will for example, we'll get to
know him. Yeah. And thenand of course Devin, I think the
mindset that we embody around here isironing shoppering iron, and so that's kind
of like it's not just you know, one room, it's from top to
bottom thought this whole team. Nomatter what musician you are, we're here

(43:40):
to work. And I think we'reall here to make each other better.
Whether it's in a quarnerback room,a tight end room, were running back
room, offense, verus defense coachfor his coach, doesn't matter. We're
all just you know, iron andshopping iron, especially this time of year
in springball, we're not doing toomuch game planning for next week, which
we're really just spending this time toget better and just build a good foundation
for ourselves, has something to workon moving forward. If you've seen will

(44:01):
Will Howard fitting in more and moreis the practice of going on, you
know, getting to know everybody andall that kind. I mean, I
always been been here for a while. Yeah, no, I think,
yeah, I think that's time.I think as times goes, no matter
where you are, you start toadapt and you start to get used to
what we got going on here,and so it's good to have them.
Thanks you. Yeah, came in. What's it been like? Yeahs,

(44:32):
Yeah, I'd say when it comesto that, I think it's all the
glory to the Lord. And Idecided to give my life completely to the
Lord a little over a year ago, and that kind of really changed my
outlook on the way that I approachis football. It's no longer something that
I idolize. It's just something thatI do. And I think from the
time of my life where I stopped, you know, compartmentalizing who God was

(44:53):
in my life. God wasn't justsomething that I do on Sundays or something
that I do in the Bible study. It was something it went from what
I do to who I am.And so now I embody that is who
I am. And so some ofthe fruits of the spirit is peace,
patience, and kindness, and sothose are kind of the things that I
started to embody on this on thisjourney. I think it's easy to kind
of compartmentalize football away from faith,but ultimately it's all one. It's all

(45:15):
one. So it's given me aspirit of patience, peace and enjoy with
the guys around me. And soI'm just I'm thankful. I'm thankful to
be here. But just being quitehonest, I just I know for a
fact, I wouldn't be where I'mat right now. And I know on
the outside looking in you may ask, like, you know, where are
you right now? But I wouldn'tbe where I'm at, you know,

(45:36):
right now if it wasn't for myyou know, relationship with the Lord until
they came into my life and youknow, changed around for the body.
Gee, what did you see fromBennet Christian last year? How did you
handle that suspension? And how areyou working about who we go? Yeah?
I think he did a great job. A lot of perseverance. I
think that's no matter who you are. We kind of hear news like that
that are going to be out fora year. That's hard, no matter
where you are. One thing,I'm really proud of him because he,

(45:59):
you know, he came up andhe came to show up every single day,
and he got better. He gotbetter. The easy thing to do
in that kind of situation is tothrow in the towel and be like,
man, you know, you know, forget this, or you know,
I'll get better next year. ButI saw the driving him. One thing,
I've seen him every day. Heshowed up, he got better,
and I'm proud of Benett. I'mproud of this unit. Watch a question
I thin, like you said,you know her? I mean yeah,

(46:30):
I mean I don't know. Idon't really know how to answer that question,
because if you go from one unitto another unit, the moment you
trade units, you're no longer inthe unit you were initially, and so
you're now a tight end. Andso I mean to answer that question,
I think the time that I wentfrom in the receiving it to approaches things.
I love the way the questions heasks. I love the way he

(46:50):
makes mistakes and then correct mistakes.It's very veteran, Like, I mean,
there's so much Ball he has tolearn. Like he literally does things
that are good. I'm like,do you know what that worked? He
goes, coach, I have nofreaking idea, So like, I'm trying
to teach him all of that whyit worked, so then you know the
consistency at which it works just goesto the roof and so h. But
I'm very you know, excited andproud of the conversations we're currently having and

(47:15):
I'm exciting it for them to keepgoing. Oh. I love working with
Chip Chip Is. I love talkingBall. I love the viewpoints I love
I love the the veteran that hehas, you know, uh and uh.

(47:37):
I love now Like I love allof 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 throws or all thatkind of stuff. I love where it's

(47:57):
at. I love working with themand right person to be around. 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

(48:19):
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 goodjob of and make sure those you know,
nothing's really changing, We're just tryingto enhance. We're not changing,

(48:40):
we're enhancing. So where the thingsfit is perfect, you know, I
think, uh, you know,the rest of the dynamics of search Chip
can talk about. But it's beenit's been awesome, So I'm excited about
it. We talked to accad you'retalking about moving from slot to the house
side. We've been in the spot. Is that a difficult move for you

(49:02):
guys's coaches to know how good aguy is in on one spot but know
that maybe for his long term futureAnd then no, I wouldn't say it's
anything on his future, because he'scapable of doing whatever you want to get
done. But I'd say that itsays more about the room. I think
it's it's the growth of you know, Brandon and the growth grow of Bryson.

(49:24):
That's really, you know, allowingmy mind to say, hey,
Mech, be prepared. You're gonnamove around a lot. You're gonna come
out of that slot, You're gonnabe outside. We're gonna create mismatches out
there. I mean, his abilityto move around is critical. But I
would say between Mech and between CarnellTakes's ability to move around a lot,
it's gonna provide a lot of flexibilityfor our room. And uh and those

(49:45):
top you know, six to sevenguys that are really doing a good job.
Right now. Progress looks like thisspring for Alecca because there's no time.
It's one of those things, I'msure where you has balanced how much
work does a need versus so much? Yeah? Yeah, heavy, heavy
emphasis on what work he needs,you know, versus anything else. I
rely on him. We have greatdialogue back and forth. It's a two

(50:05):
way. It's a two way conversation. And frankly, there's gonna be times
we're like, hey, Mech,what do you want to do today?
You wanna go outside? You goinside and I don't care. So we're
not there yet. We will bethere, but it's just more about,
you know, when the room isready to start mixing things up, I

(50:36):
would say, there's got I mean, I make sure I'm bringing guys that
are able to do all, butI have not asked them to yet.
So the only guys that in ourroom currently I have asked to do that
has been Mecca and Carnell, andthose are probably the two guys that I
would, you know, think heavilyon doing moving around a lot. I'm
not putting that on anybody else rightnow, not saying they can't, but
at this point, having two guysbeen able to swing, you probably don't

(50:59):
need my wuch more than that.I need guys being experts at what they're
good at. So it it helpsthe offense still be great at everything and
be an expert at something and wecan use that to our to our advantage.
This year is different, like maybeyou guys have more situation. The
room's always different. Frankly, Imean from twenty eighteen and then nineteen and

(51:21):
through COVID and and those guys,and and then the depth of those guys
and then where mec and Marvin andthose guys were as freshmen compared to you
know. It's just it's always different, and uh, I expect this one
to be different again, not sureat what level yet. Last question,
relationship between the TV room and yourWest room especially you know, I'm curious,

(51:43):
Yeah, deep as a leader justlike you, you know, played
at Ohio Intel experience, and I'mcurious about how you've seen Tim kind of
build a different mart Backs room,especially on the recruits, the amount of
successful guys and maybe kind of theeffective you're recruiting, how that's kind of
been hands He would probably know morefor that question than I would, but
I would say that, Yeah,we obviously feel right at the work.

(52:07):
Hello everybody, Darius Robinson, Universityof Missouri. I just want to thank
mister Bill Wilmant to your coach Gannonfor this amazing opportunity. I'm glad to
be here with Marvin Harrison right nextto me, So I feel great.
I'm really excited and I'm excited forthis journey. See fifteen here in town.

(52:42):
Marvin, when did you know theCardinals were going to select you?
Did you know before they called orwas there an agreement in place before.
No, I did not know untilI got that phone call from the Arizona
Cardinals. Marvin Richard signs Fox thenwelcome to the valley. I know kind
of tweeted to you, tweeted outto you once you got drafted. What

(53:04):
was it like to get a messagefrom the franchise quarterback and what kind of
thoughts have you had about teaming upwith this guy in the near future.
Yes, sir, it's been great. He always want to support and love
from your quarterback and Nika is agreat player, so excited to play with
him, and it's gonna be myjob to make his job easier. Darius
Darren Urban from Azycardinals dot com.I know that a lot of players these

(53:27):
days aren't sticking in one school fora long time, and you did it
for five years. I mean evenMarvin did it for three. Like what
went behind that and why was itmeaningful for you to stay at one school?
Yes, at Missouri, you know, we had some tough seasons,
but we were really built with anedge energy, details, good in emotional
consistency, and I just found myselfjust trying to grow and get better each

(53:49):
year and also as a team.You know, win more games each year.
And that was my that was myhome, that was my family.
I was blessed to, you know, get two degrees as well off the
field, and I just love missootwo degrees. Wow. Marvin Mbob McMahon
at Arizona Republic, congratulations, Thankyou to both of you. You're known

(54:10):
as all business, and I wantto know how that's going to serve you
well in this league from personal standpoint, your brand, everything you do in
a daily preparation, there's a lotthat goes into being all business. Tell
me what that is to you.Yeah, I mean it's just being a
pro. It's kined and raised andgrew up to do and keep the same

(54:31):
mindset, same attitude that I've hadthroughout my whole career. Once I get
here, continue to work hard,be consistent and discipline, you know,
and all that I do. SoI'm looking forward to put in the work.
Hey, Marvin, Josh Wayne ESPN. What were the best pieces of
advice your dad gave you about beingan NFL player? I mean, yeah,
it takes a lot of work,a lot of preparation. You know,

(54:52):
from Monday to Saturday, it's allwork and then Sunday should be the
easy part. I go out thereand have fun, put the work in.
So it starts with the work firstand then no one Sunday comes,
It's week the benefits. Hey,Darius Howard, balls are from cards Wire.
I can't help but notice that ringon your finger. Is that a
cotton bowl ring? Yes, itis the cotton bowler. You showed it

(55:17):
to Marvin very quickly. No,I I was telling Marma. You know
he was glad he didn't play.The whole week leading up. You know,
you see Ohio State. Everybody said, okay, Marvin Harrison, and
now is he gonna play? Togo play? He didn't play, so
you know we lucked out. Sohey, Marvin Paul KELVC Cardinals Broadcasting,

(55:37):
do you believe that receivers have toearn the trust of their quarterback? And
if so, what does that usuallyrequire? Absolutely, you got to earn
the trust of the quarterback. AndI think it starts, you know,
every day in practice and being consistent. Really and you can't just do it
one day, can't you do itfor one week? Has to be you
know, done over and over andover again. I think that's how trust

(55:58):
has earned. So no matter whatyou picks when you're first receiver Round seven
doesn't really matter to Coten Arned,trust the quarterback, your coaches, your
teammates, So it all starts inpractice. What's going on, guys.
Good to see again, Tyler Drake, there's a sports systems for Darius.
What's the feeling of just being ableto represent your school as that first round
pick and what kind of impact canthat have for those guys following in your

(56:21):
footsteps. Yeah, it's awesome.I feel like I'm setting the standard going
forward. Best The name was Zoois known as Delon Zoo, so I'm
just added to the family. Butnow I feel like I'm setting the standard
for my younger teammates that this isattainable if you work really hard, be
consistent, and really gets your strimpcoach. I feel like every program is
built out the Strimp coach and thatdevelops all the habits on and off the

(56:43):
field. Darius zach ERSHMANEZI Cardinals dotCom. Right over here, JG mentioned
that he loves the violence that youplay with. You mentioned the different tendencies
that you picked up. The emotionalconsistency is the great. How do you
balance that the violence with discipline onthe field, honestly, just through preparation
and practice. I'm a big guy. I'm a big believer in inside hands,
so that's why I'm always working myhand placement and then I lift weight,

(57:07):
so you know, that's all connected. So I'm just trying to be
focused on my technique as much aspossible. Hey, Marvin over here,
David Brown with the Associated Press.You know, a lot of rookies come
into the league and they get alittle bit of leeway. It's like,
oh, he's young, he needsto grow and stuff like that. But
obviously you're gonna be expected to bethe guy here really quickly. How do

(57:29):
you deal with that pressure? Howdo you go about just so much being
expected of you so quickly? Imean, yeah, I have high standards
for myself, but I'm just gonnago in there and try to work,
you know, the best I can. I just want to help the team
win really, so without that roleI play, you know, come September,
let me just do my best dothat role. Now, this one's
for both of you guys. Thefans want to know who you guys are

(57:52):
on the inside. I don't knowhow much you're wanting to reveal to us
today. A lot would be nice. Could you tell us what you like
to do away from football, whatpisses you off about things, and you
know what what makes you roll.I'm pretty simple, like you know,
be in my apartment, watch amovie. If I go out and I

(58:15):
go to a restaurant, get somefood. But other than that, they
do too much and then I'm prettyeasy going, guys, so try not
to nothing bother me too much.Yeah, I said the same thing.
A real chill guy, just reallyobsessed with football. But outside of football,
like I said, I got mytwo degrees. I got my undergrad
hospitality management and the minor and businessI got my masters and positive culture with

(58:37):
says FLA leadership. So just thinkingabout being well rounded. And then I
do philanthropy work. I start myown nonprofit foundation Darius Robinson Helping Hands Foundation.
But really just football and then everythingelse. Honestly, congratulations, guys,
welcome to the Valley. I'm RobbieBaker with Fox ten. Darius,
this is for you. After thedraft last night, you had a great

(58:59):
respect about how your process and preparingfor a game. Just kind of wondering
where your love for kind of thegrind comes from, and then your love
for that process comes from I wouldsay my junior year because I played litle
league ball off and on. ButI got my junior year and I was
playing high school and my whole goalis just to earn a scholarship for During
that process, I really fell inlove with the game, fell in love
with working out relationships with teammates.And now it's kind of like my advice

(59:22):
and I can't let it go andjust kind of finding ways to always get
better, you know. Luke glitting here with twelve Sports. Congrats both
of you walking to the valley.This one's for you, Marvin. I'm
curious your thoughts or what was thatconversation like with your dad after your name
was called and you were able tobe drafted by this organization, And how
surreal is it for you to befollowing on your own father's footsteps but in

(59:44):
your own way. Yeah, Imean it was very brief. Actually,
just in the second graduations, Iwalk up to the stage and then I
had to do a bunch of interviewsafterwards. So I don't think it's hit
both of us yet. I don'tknow what's happened. I think you know
one of Michaels always make him proud, So I hope I did that.
Marvin bo Brock, pH and XSports. When do you anticipate catching your

(01:00:05):
first passes from Kyler Murray? Idon't know. I don't know. I
guess we'll see, hopefully as soonas possible. Darius, you mentioned philanthropy,
and I know there's been it's beentalked about how you took some of
the NI nil money to do getback to school for the kids in Colombia.
Where where did that belief in doingthose things come from? I say

(01:00:28):
my family, my brother and mymom really instilled that into me. Inswer
me at a young age. Justgive back your blessings to others. In
my fifty on MISSOO 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

(01:00:52):
a number of highly drafted receivers atOhio State. What sort of feedback have
you gotten about the NFL from them? And you know about making the trans
position in the league itself. Yeah, it's a long season, I think
going from the twelve game record seasonyou have in college to was it seventeen
games now? And you got threepreseason? Actually just the biggest challenge.
The game stays the same, obviously, never're all skilled and very talented athletes,

(01:01:15):
So the mental part is probably thebiggest thing and the biggest change from
the college to pros Marvin, what'syour timeline for hiring an agent? Right
over here on the way part right, you haven't hired an agent? Why
is that? Is there a timelineto hiring one? And are you gonna
sign the nflpa Licensing? I thinkthe taalle on this team is really good
too, and I think that Ican come in here and make a big

(01:01:38):
difference, you know, when wecan win a lot of football games,
you know. So that was mythat was part of my decision. Your
achilles how sough? Was that?How long do you take? And where
are you back now? I'm onehundred percent now And it was like a
walk in the park. It's likea spraying name cool, you know,

(01:02:01):
it was very easy. You knowbecause I had the knee. The knee
was pretty hard, you know,and the Achilles was I would say it's
easy, you know, just becausethat's just my mentality, and it was.
It was pretty easy to be.But you know, I've had these
injuries and it's been storm like thepast two years, you know, having

(01:02:21):
have like good, great games.The next thing, you know, I
heard and then you know, sogot got the injury prone out there,
you know. But I think thestorm is over with, you know,
you know, and I think I'mgonna gonna take off now, you know,
and there will be no setbacks andthe injury prone thing will be gone
out of the window again. That'syep. I'll say that. I am.

(01:02:47):
I am excited. You know.He does a lot of great things,
and he's a great person and wehave a great relationship. It's gonna
be it's gonna be a fun year. We're gonna have a lot of fun.
We're gonna do a lot of greatthings. So I can't wait to
hear waiting the injuries you had?Is that just bad luck? Is there
anything you've been attributed to behind justmisfortunately? Yeah, it's just unfortunate,

(01:03:12):
you know, But God has aplan always. You know, I don't
know what the plan exactly is,you know, I don't know, but
whatever plan it is, it's forme to be here. You know.
I had a great rookie year.Uh I didn't. I didn't really have
the volume as other people my rookieyear, but I still had a great
rookie year. Six yards of carry, you know, things like that.

(01:03:36):
I think it was like nine touchdownsten including the playoffs. And so there's
always been like, all right,God, lets me show my talent shine
a little bit. Like even whenI had the knee. So I had
the knee, right, A lotof people don't know, like I didn't
get hurt again. Whenever I gotyou know, got cleaned up. So
I went down in twenty one,right, had the injury, the knee
injury, and then came back laterthe next year and I and I played

(01:04:00):
the first few games and it justfeel there was a lot of scars issue
in there. So I did getit cleaned up. I didn't get hurt
again. I could have played thewhole year, but I got it cleaned
up so I can feel like me. And so after I got that cleaned
up, the first two games backfrom the injury, I had over one
hundred and twenty yards rushing right andthen went on had great, great ending

(01:04:23):
of the year, you know,one hundred total yards in the playoff game
we lost, which I hate themost. Stats. Don't marry me.
I don't want to win. Butthen come back the next year hurt again
like torn achilles. So two reallyunfortunate injuries. But that's just God's plan,
you know. And I think thatthe storm is now over, you
know. And I do think thatI'll be able to shine my light to

(01:04:44):
the whole world. Are you concernedthat you have that label? You can't
say three, I could care lessbecause I do. I do. I
know thise out there because as asit should be, it should be.
I got hurt two major injuries backor not back to back years. But
you know, so I haven't beenon the field as much as I should.
That's true, that is true.But it's not like I'm having these

(01:05:09):
little little dinky injuries and sitting out. It's something I can't control, literally,
So that's why I'm not bothered byit. Like, yeah, I
am injury polling. You could saythat, you know, But I do
think that the Chargers are getting aguy that's gonna be healthy from now on,
you know, God willing, andit's gonna be great. And I
do think that it's gonna be It'sgonna be a great. However, many

(01:05:31):
years here, when you've been onthe field, you've been highly adopted five
point of years, but very averagefor your career. Like, knowing that
when you're out there you're very adopted, how much confidence does that give you
that really all you need is isnot what 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,

(01:05:54):
you know, and my relationship withJesus is like I have the most confidence
when stuff out there because I doknow, like if he grants me the
health it's over with. I don'tthink I would be you know, I
think it will be a great yearor whatever a couple of years. However,
many years he grants me great health, you know. And I think

(01:06:15):
just the work ethic, my prayerand 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
think about it because I had sixor six yards per carry, you know.
So we'll see you living forward tothe running behind this line put together.
Oh yeah, yeah, yeah.I played with Bradlee. I played

(01:06:39):
with him. You know, Iknow the Slater, I know all the
I know all the guys you know, and I'm excited. I think it's
like I said earlier, it's atalented group. You know. We just
got to put together win some gamesbecause that's what I came here for a
year. Or I wouldn't I wouldn'tsay part of the recruitment. But like
whenever I decided I was going tosign, it was great to have him
in the room. Yeah, we'regreat. We're we have a great relationship.

(01:07:03):
That's he's like my brother. SoI think accompany ch it compliment each
other very well. You know,he can do a lot of stuff too.
You know, we got like alot of people think he's just power
power power, but I think hehas some other parts of his game two
which it It'll be great cause Ifeel like I could do everything, and

(01:07:23):
when one get tired, we wecan roll it in. We keep rolling
win some games. So when youthe two of you get going, w
well, how how do you thinkthat's gonna look for? What? What
would like? What will be thatpartnership kids back there? I know that's
a hard question. How do Ithink it? I think it'll look beautiful.
You know a lot of people callit a passing league, but I

(01:07:45):
think you gotta run the ball towin the super Bowl. You know,
if you look at the the theteam to win the Super Bowl, they
can run the ball, they cancontrol the clock, and so if we're
both good, it'll look great,beautiful. How would you describe the Greg
running offense? I would I woulddescribe it as, you know, a
great offense. I think he givesa quarter he's going to give the quarterback

(01:08:09):
a lot of options. He's gonnagive the running back a lot of options.
He's gonna give the receiver a lotof options, you know, And
I think it'll be I think it'sgonna be great. His offense is going
to be amazing. When we talkedto him a minute, you know,
I was like, why are youman le build something good rushing offenses throughout
your career every where you've been,and you said that one part of it
is just you gotta call place.You got a call run place as a

(01:08:30):
running back. You know, howmuch confidence, how much site does it
give you when you know you haven'tplayed color. That's going to stick with
it and allow you and the offensiveline to get yours. Gives me a
lot of excitement. You know,it's gonna be Like I said, it's
fun to play at his offense,you know. And I think he does
have some good things in the pastgame too, But like you said,
he sticks with the run, andthat's that's the identity you You want an

(01:08:55):
offense that has an identity, right, You won't be looking everywhere else to
find your your identity. You wantto have it. And so I think
his offense has that, and theguys he builds and puts in there,
it complements that identity. So Ithink it's gonna be great. You'll full
go for training. Look, Iain't gonna answer any of the four if

(01:09:18):
it's up to me. Yes,Look, because I had this problem like
three two years three years ago,I'm thinking I'm full go. I think
I'm ready to go, and thenext thing you know, I'm on pup
like hey, look some story abovemy prey pay grade. So but I
don't know. Hopefully I can start. I think I'm ready to start,

(01:09:39):
you know, at the beginning trainingcamp, but that's not up to me.
As I've learned, I wouldn't saythat. I think I've been I've
been in some great organizations, andI think this this organization is a great
organization, and the training staff isgreat, and so they just want what's

(01:10:00):
best for me, you know,and they're they're taking care of me,
which that's what you want in anorganization. And so that's where that comes
from, which I appreciate it,Like I really appreciate that, you know,
because I'm the type of guy,like I work really hard, so
maybe sometime I'm blind to you know, the danger of something, you know,
So I appreciate it. But likeI said, if it's up to

(01:10:20):
me, yeah, I'm out there. But never know what any frustration for
you during the heading into agency,you know, dealing with with rehab and
not you know, having won afull season tape or production you 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?

(01:10:47):
I like it the hard way,but not you know, I like it
the hard way. I like it. I like trial and tribulations. So
I mean the dice that I wasgiving the role was I was coming off
of our Achilles and that was thatwas the Lord's plan. So it was

(01:11:11):
beauty in that, like I wascomfortable. I was caught like there was
multiple teams, you know, Iwasn't. It wasn't like I didn't have
any other team, but I wascomfortable and sitting back and just that we
wouldn't have had initially at this timeof the year, you know, last
year, you know, those thosetougher conversations, those ones where we might
disagree when we do agree, wherehe's got his two cents on it,

(01:11:32):
which is, you know, alwaysthe best two cents I've heard. But
me being who I am, youknow, I'm gonna throw my two cents
in there, you know. Sothat's just a It's been awesome, man.
He's you know, a resource forme, just a person that I
can always bounce my thoughts off of. And now, you know, just
a year you said, thirteen months, now I feel more comfortable just you
know, bringing certain things that youknow you never you never want to come

(01:11:55):
off too strong. But I'm acurious guy. I got a lot of
questions. I like, I likefootball, I like to talk and talk
the games. So you know,come to find out he's the exact same.
So we uh, you know,we get along well and and uh
we're gonna keep keep building that relationship. Sometimes in this league, playing you
know, eighteen games, they trynamake it twenty. You know, it's
like it sound like a little alittle fever dream to be honest, but
but uh, if we can finda way to k you know, stay

(01:12:16):
up right out there, keep keepairing on his feet. You know,
I'm I'm excited for that and uheverything that comes with it. But uh
but yeah, like I said,man, that's it's it's harder said than
uh or harder done. And said, I guess you know, it's one
of those things. It's like that'sa lot of games, you know,
all of a sudden, take alot of hits. They take a lot
of hits where they're not looking,and it's just how can we keep him
healthy? Yeah? Yeah, areyou when you think I do you ever

(01:12:36):
see your room now? Positions youguys have made when Monty healthy and everything
like, yeah, you know,I'm excited to see it at at full
health. You know, we've Ihaven't got to see all the all the
guys out there at once, andand you know, it's one of those
positions where every day is something mighthappen to nick up. You know,
it's just a a tough position tostay out there at all times. But
I feel like we got a greatgroup and and the number one thing is

(01:12:59):
how can we stay health? Howcan we you know, I'll be out
on the field, and I thinkhaving depth like this and the group we
have is gonna help us. Havingguys that can do different things, that
can go catch the ball over themiddle, all types of things that it's
gonna take some of the strain offoff all of us. You know.
It's it's a good group. SoI'm excited to, uh, you know,
get out there. I feel likewe haven't had the whole whole thing
together. But you know, comeseason time, morol, and it's gonna

(01:13:21):
be exciting. What about the guyis in your old number? Yeah,
yeah, Malka, Yeah, man, he's uh, it was a brute
And I think it's like you knowhow to write, like when you use
your right hand, you know howyour handwriting should look. What's about taking
the reps to make sure matches.I guess you know, so you're taking
the reps to get back to that. I think it's all what it is.

(01:13:45):
I mean, obviously, like he'sone of my biggest supporters, you
know, so obviously you know he'she's he's excited about the opportunity for me,
you know, so excited about it. Did he help you? Oh
a lot. He helped me alot, even fel like the first day,
just trying to help me get usedto to write tackle. He got

(01:14:08):
my feet used to write tackle.Like my first day practice, I'm like,
dude, I still feel you feela little off. I don't feel
as balanced to my stands. Andhe showed me the small technique and to
do with my feet, which Istill do even even though left tackle.
Just kept as part of my routine. That was part of my process and
getting to my stands. So stufflike that that he taught me from day

(01:14:30):
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
each other back to every rep likethat was compete you know what I mean.
So that's my guy, as muchas you love him on your the
West side. How bittersweet is itas a certain matters because it would happened
to him. Yeah, that's thething. That's not how it was definitely

(01:14:50):
how I n in and that's howI thought about the transition would go.
You know, I thought it wouldbe you know, Homeson timing a cardinal
whole career. You know, youknow you want to play here forever,
you know what I mean When Iwas talking about his plans, so you
know, you you wish transitions likeone of those fairy tale like it's your

(01:15:15):
time. But but again, eitherway, you know, we talked about
it. You know that's that's thehow goes, you know. But obviously
you know he sees he's he's beenone of my biggest supporters. Again,
I affect. Everybody leads in theirown way, you know, not everybody's
the guys coming around because like that'snot everybody, right, Like I felt

(01:15:40):
for me, that's me specifically ongame day with the O line after we
do one on one, like that'smy like well hump did, like that's
my like big vocal time. Ifeel like I've talked to Hump about this,
you know, just recently, talkingabout how what I want to do
for the room is I want tobring that Hump energy that he brought right

(01:16:02):
so last year. Of course,some traits been doing it for years,
but the year I spent with him, he brought a lot of the energy
and excitement and the happiness in theroom was just his natural energy to where
I only had to focus on me, you know, I didn't have to
make sure other other guys are,you know, feel some type of way

(01:16:25):
when they came in here because Humpbrought that. But out of Hump's not
here, but I saw what hedid for the room. I want to
be that guy to make sure everyone'samp to go to practice, everybody's hype.
Weren't taking and field team one period, you know it's a low day
or something. You know, it'sa it's a thing, but like I
want to make you feel like parisa tripper right now. I want to

(01:16:46):
bring that because that's when me andHump did each other. We will hype
each other up the dudes like dudesabout to get walked through lit So I
want to do that. I wantto bring that energy I want to make
bring more guys, you know,to do that. You know, yeah,
I wanted to do that from dayone, you know, I kind
of I wanted to do that fromday one, from just talking to him,

(01:17:08):
And obviously it's that time. Ispend the off season before OTA started
just being in myself, just thinkingabout what the room needs, you know,
because I know I new new roleas one of the leaders, you
know, on the offense, isthat we need a guy like that that's
gonna make sure the old line ispicked up ready to go. Every day

(01:17:31):
I was held accountable. Little thingsaren't happened to practice and people aren't saying
anything. And how I may leadmaybe different than somebody else may lead.
You know. I like to apractice at least like the legal positivity,
you know what I mean. So, but he the energy yet went beyond
just the hype up the deal lineand start too. So that's kind of
how I wanna be. Some goalof mine, literally my whole life.

(01:17:56):
I want to be a NFL teamcaptain, like specifically and fell I wasn't
a captain of high school, wasn'ta captain of college. But I made
a joke when I was in highschool. I was like, did I
feel like I'm not gonna be acaptain tikets that I felt, Yeah,
but that would be awesome, youknow, but you know, if it
happens, i'd be great. Butif not, either way, I wanna

(01:18:18):
assume a role as a captain fromthe respect of the guys on the team
they dividual word to me, andto get back to that way, Yeah,
I mean, I can't say that. 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.

(01:18:40):
It took training left and right oncethe season ended, cause I didn't know
what it was gonna be true,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 changed some small things

(01:19:00):
with my feet. I did saytalking about a line coach about some things
I can do with my feet toget to that to sell it the traditional
angle that I love to set on. Felt even I thought I felt I
thought I felt great already, butmokay, I felt even better of it.
So I'm even more excited tomorrow nowI'm getting my feedback than how I
liked it the right side and onthe left side, So I'm excited.

(01:19:21):
I mean, obviously, I feellike in the league, whether I left
or right, you're still going againstpremier guys. So obviously you have high
expectations for your left hand or righttackle. But there's definitely uh, like
the the level of energy and likethe expectations, definitely taking a human spect
cause now connected the blank side thatstuff, that's the tackle role, you

(01:19:45):
know. So so yeah, Iwould say in terms of communication as far
as just even outside of facilities andstuff like that, like really creating that
that tackle quarterback bond even more offthe field, I think has been something
that's even been cool. I gota text one day and I said,
hey, like you play left,And I was like, yeah, you

(01:20:08):
know, yeah, I've been trainingboth. I've been training both. You
know. I asked after the season. They're like, honestly, you know,
we'll talk to you, so playin the season. And I just
got a text me like, dependingon what happens with with the free agency
then, so I was like,you know what, I had a whole
season right tackle. So if Iget the word, I'm going I'm standing
right tackle. I don't do whatI did before. I'm built on that

(01:20:30):
bus. I was like, Imight as almost train the left tackle now
as if I'm gonna be left tackle. And I'd rather do that than training
on the right tackle. Get theko, hey you're the left tackle.
I'm like, oh, I didn'teven switch on my feet yet, you
know what I mean. So I'mlike, let me just prepare in advance.
I was like, yeah, let'sgod, you know, I think
occasionally i'm third down, there'd bea lot of twists. I would just

(01:20:51):
know like it's automatically coming. AndI think that was my mindset for like
the first half of the season.But like I didn't have to go into
a gaming with surprise. I waslike, oh my gosh, they did
that. I kind of figured like, okay, like this is this is
the type of rushman again, likethis is how this guy usually rushes.
But I get the vibe this ishow the end's like the rush. You
know, tackles that are you knowfirst year guys who got the premiere patch

(01:21:15):
on. I already knew what itwas gonna be already knew of every stunt
and honestly just knowing that it's kindof an advantage too. So you're not
you're not you're not old. Theybrought the twisted my side again. It
was never an Aaron Donald, likeyou know there coming out of minds,
like three plays in a row andtwo minutes. I knew that it was
going to happen. So, like, you know what I mean, I'm
watching more than everybody else, andhe rarely even goes out there on occasional

(01:21:38):
third downs on the d N.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 ofit's also kind of an advantage in a
way, but it's also exciting.I'm like, Okay, I'm gonna get
the hardest look, you know.So those are real, real reps,
you know the bang. So reallyI don't know. I really didn't kind

(01:21:59):
of process. I was like,hey, when they tell me to let
me know about I'm just gonna trainit. I was training all left sold
Ta's. I guess if I didn'thear anything about Ta's, I would have
came in like so you know whatI mean, cause just like I'm cool
training both continue. I would havebeen cool training both continually. But I
feel like anybody, any position willbe like okay, like you wanna as

(01:22:24):
soon as possible get your feet causeof accountability at the time, Dustin,
what if? Uh what'd you see? The guy counted all? Yeah,
I mean he's quick. You know, he can create a lot of space
and uh small spaces, so uhit's quick, you know, uh savvy
with its rout running and you knowhe's just he's just a hard worker.
You know. You know there's someplays where he knows he's not getting the

(01:22:44):
ball and he's still still winning theroute. 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 rup up on the other guys too.
I'm good. I'm bout to that. What's it like working with uh
some of the tight ends that youguys happened room there? I know after
Smithia straight just talking about how versatilitythat a lot of the guys have,

(01:23:06):
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, Darnell he brings side tothe room. Uh, Rodney Speed,
Uh, Connor he has a greatawareness in the field. Pat of course
he's you know, he's a greatall around tight end. And then uh,
you know, uh Crew, he'sa he's a bat, he's smart,

(01:23:28):
he knows what he's doing. So, I mean, just all the
guys in the room, what's youknow, they're smart and intensive and they've
i f I feel like they've ja justice to the offense. Well,
so it's what's been like working withTom or on what's he been like?
Kind of work on what you want? Yeah, I mean Tom's been great.
Uh just his at tis attention todetail, the way he comes you

(01:23:50):
know, in each and every day. He comes in as the same guy
every day and uh to be onside. And 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 review sending us uh the
info, breaking down each and everyplay and really just really just focused on
the details. To be honest withyou, I think, uh that's the

(01:24:12):
thing that sets him apart. Andyou know, he's he pushed us to
be hard, I mean our ourendie periods or you know, conditioning.
So of course that's good for us. But I mean he's been great so
far. So excited to uh youknow, allow that our allow our relationship
to grow, and excited to workfor the future. But is what he's
doing kind of compliment what you're doingindividually, you know, when you're away
from the facility, working with youknow, coaches, one on one anything

(01:24:35):
like that. He said, whatdoes he what does he do here?
That kind of compliments what you doaway from the facility when you're troubling.
I mean, I think he doesdifferent stuff. So I think, uh
that's a good thing about it.You know some stuff that we do here.
Oh sorry, Uh, I don'tyou know, usually do outside of
the facility. So it's good gettingthat different work in different drill work that

(01:24:56):
I can you know, implement intomy you know, off season programmers like
that. So it's good that I'mlearned this stuff. For sure. You're
really good deep all off efficiency usa time that was specially the last year.
What what what what is this?Uh? Our smith in the offense
talked about you about trying to makemake that incorporate that into being a big
part of this office. I meanyeah, uh, I think we have
fast guys, guys that can getdown the field with speed. Uh,

(01:25:18):
Guys like Quez, Calvin, Scottie, Van, you know, me and
Rust. You know, we've we'vehad a lot of deep all success and
a lot of explosive plays in thepast. So you know that's just uh,
you know what, Yeah, Iguess how our offense is built.
To be honest with you, butI mean, our job is to create
explosives and you know, push theball down the field. So anytime we

(01:25:39):
get those opts, we definitely wannacapitalize on those. Are you cossing any
part of your mechanics and anybody thatI 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
poor quarterback consistant. He you know, usually stays on me the most about
it. Okay, So I appreciatethe fact that he does that, and
I usually you know, make surehe doesn't make sure I just just stay

(01:26:02):
on top of it, you knowas a whole, and you know,
make sure my mechanics are always clean. Can you talk about one particularly all
if they're stressed. It's it's differentareas. 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 thatyou wanted to work on, maybe get
better at when you got here atthis point of your career. I mean,
like, like I said, there'syou know, no matter who you

(01:26:23):
are, you know there's always stuffto get better at, always different areas.
Nobody's perfect in one area, SoI think you can continue to prove
in all your my game, youknow me personally, So I'm just focused
on getting better. When we talkedat Russ yesterday, he said that Rust
said that he personally felt kind ofrevived and being at another step in his
career. Is there any of thatsense of maybe rejuvenation or feeling revived.

(01:26:45):
Obviously you haven't been in the leaguefor thirteen years, but is there a
new energy that you get being ina different organization, going through mini camp
in a different way for the firsttime. I think so, you know,
just being around in the team uhuh an organization that you know,
just just with this culture you knowme being in two different places now,
you just I realize that, youknow, you don't get this culture everywhere.

(01:27:09):
I think Chicago, I think theyare, you know, kind of
changing the narrative now, But Imean this has just been the culture here
for so many years to where Imean you can see it. It's just
the way that you know, weattack each every day and coach, you
know, he stays honest about it. So I think just having that and
uh, you know, reiterating thatyou know each and every day, that

(01:27:30):
keeps guys in the toos and guysare to compete each and every day.
Is it easy to step into anorganization when there already is such a culture
that's been established for a long termto kind of know where you fit and
know what's expected. Most most definitely, I think, you know, especially
as a leader, as a playeron the team, you just don't have
to thank you for checking out thiscontent posts at sports. If you watch

(01:27:55):
this and YouTube, please like thevideo. Yeah. I mean, I
think college football is different, andideologies and understandings and have changed. And
I think that you know, theportal is a variable. And I would
say that not him in particular,but I wouldn't say everyone doesn't really know

(01:28:16):
how to handle it properly. Yousee it currently. I mean, it's
just it's a variable that's new andhow to handle it. There's not a
transcript on on how to handle thatvariable. So you just guys just trying
to do what they think is right. That's all they're really trying to do.
And I'm not saying they're right orwrong. But he was trying to
do the same. And you know, I think at the end of the
day he realized he made made thewrong decision and we connected on it,

(01:28:41):
we talked about it, and youknow, it was a great opportunity to
to write or wrong. And Uh, obviously we're very glad he's here.
I've always believed in him. Webelieve in him, and he believes in
himself and that's part of the justtrying to understand what's my path, right.
So uh, but yeah, it'sbeen great. Steps have been made.
He's growing, but he's nowhere nearwhere he knows he's capable of being,

(01:29:03):
and he's just probably APPRISI Caeremiah.I love uh the way he lives,
I love the way he approaches things. I love the way the questions
he asks. I love the wayhe makes mistakes and then correct mistakes.
Uh, it's very veteran. Like, I mean, there's so much ball

(01:29:24):
he has to learn. Like heliterally does things that are good. I'm
like, do you know why thatworked? He goes, coach, I
have no freaking idea, So like, I'm trying to teach him all of
that why it worked, so thenyou know, the consistency at which it
works just goes through the roof.And so but I'm very you know,
excited and proud of the conversations we'recurrently having, and I'm exciting it for
them to keep going by what poweryou work. I love working with Chip

(01:29:48):
Chip Is. I love talking Ball, I love the viewpoints I love I
love the veteran that he has,you know, and I love Yeah,
I like, I love all ofit. I think that you know,

(01:30:09):
early on the biggest impact, youknow, just you know, feeling perspective.
I think in the run game hasbeen awesome, you know, and
then you know, off of therun game, some of the actions or
or relief throws or all that kindof stuff. I love where it's at.
I love working with them, andI would say that I sleep a

(01:30:38):
little better all right, Uh No, it's it's really a great combo because,
like you know, we're obviously we'redoing a lot as a group.
It's not just Chip and I sobut you know, obviously Chip has an
image and a view on things thatI never had, So to have that
experience and have that viewpoint, I'mjust trying to absorb as as much as

(01:31:00):
i can, but then also highlightsome things that we've really done a good
job of and make sure those youknow, nothing's really changing, We're just
trying to enhance. We're not changing, we're enhancing. So where the things
fit is perfect, you know,I think, uh, you know,
the rest of the dynamics and searchChip can talk about. But it's been
it's been awesome, so I'm excitedabout it. We talked to a mecca.

(01:31:23):
You're just talking about moving from slotto the house side. You know
how good he's been in the slot. Is that a difficult move for you
guys's coaches to know how good aguy is in one spot, but know
that maybe for his long term futureand the no, I wouldn't say it's
anything on his future because he's capableof doing whatever you want to get done.
But I'd say that it says moreabout the room. I think it's

(01:31:45):
it's the growth of you know,Brandon and the growth grow of Bryson.
That's really you know, allowing mymind 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 going to create mismatches out there.
I mean, his ability to movearound is critical. But I would
say between Mech and between Carnell TAS'sability to move around a lot, it's

(01:32:08):
gonna provide a lot of flexibility forour room. And uh and those top
you know, six seven guys thatare really doing a good job right now.
Progress looks like this spring for amecca because there's I think one of
those things I'm true when you guysbalance how much work does a need versus
yeah, heavy heavy emphasis on whatwork he needs, you know, versus
anything else. Uh, I relyon him. We have great dialogue back

(01:32:30):
and forth. It's a two wayto it's a two way conversation. And
frankly, there's gonna be times we'relike, hey, Mech, what do
you wanna do today? You wannago outside? You gon go inside and
I don't care. So, uh, we're not there yet. We will
be there, but it's just moreabout, you know, when the room
is ready to start mixing things up, I would say there's got I mean,

(01:33:03):
I make sure I'm bringing guys thatare able to do all, but
I have not asked them to yet. So the only guys that in our
room currently I've asked to do thathas been Mecca and Carnell, and those
are probably the two guys that Iwould, you know, think heavily on
doing moving around a lot. I'mnot putting that on anybody else right now.
I'm not saying they can't, butat this point, having two guys

(01:33:25):
being able to swing, you probablydon't need much more than that. I
need guys being experts at what they'regood at, so it it helps the
offense. Don't be great at everythingand be an expert at something and we
can use that to our advantage.This year is different, like maybe you
guys who were more situational. Theroom's always different, frankly, I mean
from twenty eighteen and then nineteen andthrough COVID and and those guys, and

(01:33:50):
and then the depth of those guysand then where Mech and Marvin and those
guys were as freshmen compared to youknow, It's just it's always different,
and uh, I expect just wantedto be different again, I'm not sure
at what level yet. Last question, the relationship between the TV room in
your west room, especially you know, the back and forwards. I'm curious.
Yeah, dB as a leader justlike you, you know, play

(01:34:13):
at Ohio schemes helps I'm curious abouthow you've seen him kind of build a
different mark back room, especially onthe recreas I mean seas and maybe the
effective your recruit that's kind of ahands to Yeah, he would probably know
more for that court all the waythrough ten years in this league. So
excited to see what he's got.How old did you know Sores and when

(01:34:34):
he was assistant here and you've gottento know him a lot that it's a
relationship. Maybe right now, Iknow him pretty well. He was always
just a good dude around the facility. He did our ball meetings, so
he's good in front of a group. He's a good leader. He knows

(01:34:55):
his scheme really well, which isgood. I was happy to see him
promoted. H He called me inthe offseason we talked. I just congratulated
him, and I think he's gonnabring something similar to what we had with
the Miko. It'll be good.Do you know Brandon Stanley well at all?
I mean, obviously Joey Platform don'tknow too much about him. I've

(01:35:15):
obviously heard from my brother, butI don't even think i've said high yet.
I haven't ran into him yet,but I'm sure i'll get to know
him. When you say it lookssimilar to to Miko, the energy or
the 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.

(01:35:39):
And he's been around with some reallygood coaches, so I think it'll
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

(01:36:00):
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
was, so I'm taking a littleuh 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 kind oftough, getting thrown in Week one after

(01:36:26):
I walked through, so that wasanother reason I'm excited to be here is
just to get practicing a little bitin season. Practice is one thing,
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 now

(01:36:49):
it's just annoying when people bring itup. Since the last season, we've
seen a rock on TV commercials.I don't the stage with Kluke Coombs and
throwing out the first pitch of theGiants game, but he seems like a
guy that's totally unaffected by celebrity,which he has now. But what have
you noticed in his leadership style andthe way he carries himself any difference at

(01:37:11):
all. I think he's definitely gettinga little more vocal within the building,
and uh yeah, I mean Idon't think he's ever gonna change. I
don't think he's somebody that's gonna changeeven when he gets paid next year,
so he's he's a man of faithand he kind of reminds me of Scotti
Scheffler, but except for just superhumble and really good kid. And yeah,

(01:37:44):
he's definitely famous. I don't justfrom watching Armstead get released obviously meant
so much to the defensive line intothe team. I mean, Colin John
were pretty open that they were willingto talk about trading deebo or are you
asund Does that just another what's thatfeel like in the locker room when those

(01:38:10):
sort of joels happen. I didn'teven know that happened and I wasn't here,
but you're talking about this offseason Alarmstall in Alarm Eric released, So
that's certainly one thing. Yeah,it's a tough business, for sure.
You have to have thick skin andI haven't gone through that, but I

(01:38:34):
think you just have to understand thatit is a business and the team's going
to try and get as good asit possibly can with or without you,
and you have to look out foryourself. That's why you go through holdouts
and do certain things that seem selfishin the moment, but it is what
it is, and when everything's settled. We're gonna come together as a team

(01:38:57):
and try and go get One's theoverall feeling around the group right now,
like, how much does it feellike the excitement of the ramp up to
the season. Even though it's early, it feels good. It's been a
couple of days for me, soI like all the new guys. I'm
getting to know everybody. But Ithink the past is in the past and
we're ready to go. Do youtalk to me? You talked to beat

(01:39:18):
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 to keep his headup and trying to stay positive through it
all. You first impressions when youheard what your schedule would be in that
Aaron Rodgers' first up, it'll befun. Yeah, it's gonna be gonna

(01:39:42):
be a good one. Excuse mekind of alluded to this. But the
fact that last year you had tohave that holdout you said that affected you
somewhat early in the season. Ifyou hadn't had that experience, would you
be here right now? I mean, was that part of the moment for
being here early? Just to havethe opposite. No, I don't think

(01:40:05):
that's one of the reasons. ButI just talked to Kyle and he kind
of asked me, uh, hekind of stated how he felt about why
it would be good for me tobe here and asked if I agreed.
And I agree. So it's notlike I'm missing too much. I think

(01:40:26):
I'm out here. It's a littleless workload than I'm doing back home,
so it's kind of a good activerecovery thing for me. And I'm getting
football stuff, football working specifically,so that's good. I'm not it's not
compromising my training at all, andI get to meet all the guys.
It's it's positive. Your brother lethim down. Oh no, he's he's

(01:40:54):
there. He's got a new regimeover there. First, I actually thought
I was coming next week until recently, so I was going to have one
more week at home. But we'reboth in California. You share about reason
reasons that you are sent from thetop, and it doesn't get mixed up

(01:41:21):
as it's moving down the ladder.It's boom. This is how we're doing
things, and everybody's following that,and I think it's impressive the details that
everybody have been on, has hasbeen on the effort and just the competitiveness
that that's been going on over thelast few weeks. Yeah, it's it's

(01:41:42):
it's been great. How much doyou appreciate that? To stop and just
described the way Jim, we shouldn'teat in the messaging doesn't eat mixed up.
I appreciate that so much. Imean, it's I guess it's easy
to appreciate when and you kind ofsee it working and you see guys improving,

(01:42:03):
getting better. I just think thedetails are really important. You can
pretend that leaving your shoes a messor your locker a mess isn't a big
deal, and what matters is playingfootball. But I think all those tiny
details and things kind of add upand leak into the important stuff, like

(01:42:25):
what you're doing on the field.So if you can have your toe behind
the line, or have your lockerand order and all these things, they
kind of stack up into performing welland playing well when things count. So
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

(01:42:45):
a lot of young guys, andI think they're hungry to learn, hungry
to compete and win. You know, it's just an example, whether it's
we talked about first day you haveyour shoe, if you could, if
you could spend the time on thesesmall things when nobody's watching. I think,
like I was saying, it seemslike it might not add up too

(01:43:06):
much, but I think in thelong term it does, and it leaks
into other things, whether you're doingyour right assignment on the field, being
late to meetings or all these things. If you hold a standard and you
stay to that standard, I thinkit benefits you long term. It's been
like work with Ben Harbert, whohas there been anything in his training program

(01:43:30):
or working with you that you feelwill benefit you later. Yeah, Yeah,
definitely. He's been great. He'sa no nonsense kind of guy,
but he's not an old school inthe sense that he's bringing his way of
doing things and that's the only wayto do things. He understands that guys
have been in the business for along time, Khalil me and we have

(01:43:51):
a way of doing things, andall he wants to do is add to
that and help you get better andperform the best you can. He's a
he stresses it all the time thathe's a tool for us, and you
know, he's been He's been great. The guys love him. The energy
brings is awesome, and I thinkthe stuff that we're doing in the weight

(01:44:12):
room is great, a great additionto stuff that I may may do on
the side or whatever that is.Yeah, I think we I mean,
we had a presentation today with allthe certain measurables that are changing, and
if you guys are in the meeting, you definitely see how beneficial he's been
to the team so far. Soobviously, staying healthy is is a huge

(01:44:33):
factor to anybody's success. I'd sayit's plagued us a little bit for a
while. So yeah, I thinkhe's He's definitely incredibly beneficial when you fully
recrvered, I know at the endof last season, you might have been
able to Yeah, No, Iwas not ready to go last year.

(01:44:53):
No, tried practicing, tried comingback, and uh it was it was
not good, but yeah, itwas. Unfortunately the year wasn't going great
and it just was unnecessary risk forI mean, my foot could have had
some real real issues if I cameback too early. So yeah, it's

(01:45:15):
been it's been. It's been agreat off season. My foot's feeling great,
toes good, hamstrings good. Imean, there was a list of
things last year in my hand,so all those things are good. Gout
surgery on my finger, so that'sfeeling good. Yeah, it's it's nice
to be feeling better going into yournine than you have since maybe five six

(01:45:35):
years ago, which I said,I've said I've been feeling great last couple
of years. I'm telling you it'sa real deal this time. But obviously
anything can happen. But I justfeel it's fun feeling really confident in your
body and being able to perform.So I could just go out during practice

(01:45:56):
and you know, go balls tothe wall and do everything that I feel
like I need to to be ableto prepare. It's fun. My brother
and whoever I trained with my trainerTodd back home, uh, I think
they'd be really proud of how I'vebeen working this offseason and it's just exciting.

(01:46:16):
Pointing was the injuries. I rememberthe Green Bay game. You kind
of yeah, it was a bitof 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 feltreally uh defeated coming back, had a
broken hand. I'm like, oh, yeah, I get to play boom

(01:46:39):
for a serious foot pops thought I'dhave to get surgery, and all these
thoughts flooded through my head. Brokedown a bit, and yeah, it
just hurts. You know, you'relosing, you're getting injured. You've felt
like you prepared really well in theoff season, and then the year before
you had growing surgery, so youknow, a lot of things build up.

(01:47:00):
Yeah, you don't get a breakif 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'mstill still nicey Ripe twenty eight, so
not too old yet, but yeah, I'm just excited. I can't remember

(01:47:20):
what the original question was. Atthis point, you get something about my
body, how close you and Giftwere. How frustrating was it that you
couldn't you know soon for one ofthose last three games. It was frustrating,

(01:47:41):
but I mean Gift was had myback the whole way. I think
for Gift, for any but forthe whole team, just to show what
it means to me, it wouldhave been important for me to be out
there, but I literally couldn't.I tried to practice, injured my footworset
the very first play I was andin practice, no chance that was happening

(01:48:02):
unless I wanted to throw my nextseason away as well. But no,
I'm just I'm proud of him forwhat he did with the team, how
he handled it, and I needto call him back. Actually sorry,
I give Yeah, I'm happy hegets to stay close by with the with
the Rams, and uh, justproud of all we accomplished here together over

(01:48:25):
the years and and we'll be closefor the rest of our lives. Was
the footage, It was this guysay, foot sprang. Yeah, I
sprained one area of my foot.Then when I tried to return and I
sprained another area. Was able toavoid getting surgery, which is kind of
the main goal, But yeah,it was. It was tough when it

(01:48:46):
comes to the addition of but dupreewhat he felt like he's kind of brought
to the to the room and couldbring on the heel. Yeah. When
I heard we got my brother someI don't know, maybe my brother told
me. I'm like, really,we just got bud Like that's no,
that's no small pickup. He's aseriously elite pass rusher has had some trouble

(01:49:10):
with injuries as well, so Iunderstand how that is, but not only
him as a player, but asa personality. I heard Khalil just saying
he's he's a fun guy. He'sa funny guy, and to have that
in the room another vet is alwaysa great addition. But I'm just excited
to have him and Tulle and tobe able to rotate like that and not
drop off at all when we comeoff the field is huge. And map

(01:49:32):
Tuley's going into a second year.Just what do you what are you kind
of what are some of the maturitymaturity areas you said from him? You
know, I'm gonna say not much, And that's a compliment because he was
already mature in those areas. Imean, he's on it everything playbook wise,
always doing his job, working hard, just refining his technique and pass

(01:49:57):
rush. I mean, we don'thave the pads on right now, so
the real work will begin, youknow, in six weeks now. So
but yeah, I love Tulie.I've loved him since the first day he's
walked into the facility, and Iknow he's just gonna continue to get better.
You think of the addition of JoeOld. Yeah, yeah, I'm
gonna need to beat him up alittle bit in camp. So he's so

(01:50:20):
he's ready, But no, Ithink anything to protect our number ten is
a good, good investment. Sohe seems like a real solid dude.
Haven't talked to him too much.Great build, seems like he has good
hands, good feet, strong,We'll see. We'll see in a few

(01:50:41):
weeks when I lay a helmet inhis chin, how he holds up.
But it'll I'll take it easy onhim for Shawn's beast. Did you know
coach Harbond before he came here?And if you did, just what were
those first couple of conversations like that? Yeah, I probably have crossed paths

(01:51:01):
with him. Maybe maybe not.Actually I think what was it his first
year when I was a junior,So he kicked his ass as usual Mitt
Ohio State. No, No,they just want a championship, so I'd
say they probably have the bragging rights. Right now. I'm like the guy
talking about his old high school.Oh, I remember we used to kicks.

(01:51:26):
No, but no, yeah,no, the rivalry is dead.
I was just saying this morning,you know, nine years and kind of
forget about that. I'm not 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.You could hate their guts one one year,

(01:51:46):
and then you come on the sameteam and your brothers and you're all
working towards one goal together. Soour first talk together was great. I
just sat down with them, wentup into his office and chopped it up
about life, main and his opportunityhere and how much it means to him
and h Yeah, I think he'sa special guy. I think he's uh,

(01:52:10):
the way he conducts himself. He'san interesting cat for sure, and
I'm still still feeling him out.But one thing you can't denies that he
loves football and his main goal isto win football games. And that's what
we need. When you see himworking out with you guys and and pushing
sleds and doing all this stuff,just how interesting is that to see?

(01:52:30):
Yeah, I mean he was ahe was a great player himself, and
I think he's always been you know, built like that lack of a better
term. But yeah, he's uh, he's part of the guys. You
know, he's not this guy outsidelooking in. He he really, I
mean he voiced that to me.Is that his favorite part of all of
it is being with the guys andand the connections he makes. So Yeah,

(01:52:53):
to to see a guy like thatcome in and embrace it all and
kind of be part of it himselfis important. Your initial impressions of Coachman
during the defensive gaining. Yeah,it's funny to go from old gift,
old gift to this little young guywho's my age. I wouldn't want to
get thrown into a room with meand Khalilipos his age. But no,

(01:53:18):
he's been great. I love messingwith him a little bit. We little
sarcasm back and forth. But no, he's great. He's uh, he's
very talks very fast, and Idon't as you know, so sometimes I
gotta be like slow down, coach, come on. But no, he's

(01:53:38):
great. I'm excited, you know, to get closer as the years.
As the year goes on, andI think he has he has a lot
of passion for the position, andall he wants to do is learn and
and help us to improve. SoI'm excited about him and me and I
do miss Gift. Obviously, itwas a long time with him, but

(01:53:58):
I am excited to have a newface and kind of have that challenge for
me. You worked much with withJesse's dad, since I know he coached
linebackers in Michigan. Did you askabout Jesse? Did you ask about doing
Okay, you asked about Jesse.Oh my god, I was talking about
freaking Dylan the whole time. Youguys are so confused. No, sorry,

(01:54:20):
I thought I thought I was.I thought you mentioned coach Ronie.
No, No, coach Mentor hasbeen great as well. Yeah, they've
both been great. Sorry, runthat back. No, he's been good.
Uh yeah, very knowledgeable guy.Same thing. I'm excited to get

(01:54:41):
to know him more as the yeargoes on. Have you worked Have you
worked much? Yeah? No,I have not. I don't know if
I've said one word to him,but more words to come down the road,
Like you said you years twenty sixteen. Just what are some of the
stuff you what's just one ramble aboutthe wrong guy for fifteen minutes walking?

(01:55:14):
What? Yeah? What the hecks? Actually that's literally not the person.
Yeah, yeah, I figured out. What's something 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

(01:55:40):
physically, whether that's my sprint workor agility work and my lifting, but
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 gonna continue to do whatI know will prepare me for the season.

(01:56:04):
And uh, I know I'm gonnaget plenty of technique work and position
work when I'm out here. Sofor now, I'm gonna spend these five
weeks really getting uh preparing my bodyworkouts competitive again, another year of competitivens
with you and all that stuff.Yeah. Yeah, it's usually too hot

(01:56:26):
out there for much competition. We'rejust trying to survive. So but yeah,
it's always it's a it's a silentcompetition between between each other. Be
like peeking, He's like what washis time? Was his time? But
U No, Yeah, it's alwaysyou can never have an off day when
when you're out there and he's he'swarming up like a beat, like a
freaking robot every day out there,so there's there's no off days. Have

(01:56:51):
you you and him talked at allabout, I mean, any of this
when you were having a contract indo you have guys have to talk about
one anyway? Yeah, I meanit's it's a conversation, not a not
really a serious conversation, but somethingthat's come up before. But yeah,

(01:57:12):
I mean it would be cool.It would be cool at some point.
I I always thought of myself beingsomebody that will play here and retire here,
which I think not many people doon one team, and I think
would be a cool thing to accomplish. But you never know. I'm gonna
worry about this year first. Sorry, it's kind of working a food story.

(01:57:34):
But so you guys have like thelowest or second lowest food cceria in
the NFLPA serve last year and bettermoved to the facility. Like have you
talked a lot about food and howyou did some times? Is it fine
because you have to have you lookingforward to the food upgrades at all?
Have you thought about it at all? Yeah? No, it's Wolfgang Puck
or whatever is the is the word. Yeah, that's great. I've been

(01:57:58):
working with my chef for seven yearsnow, so she's been great, so
I've never really had to worry aboutthat too much. But yeah, my
weight's good. I've been eating alot this off season, so that's good.
But yeah, I'm excited to maybebe able to Sorry Christina, but
maybe I won't need a chef nextyear. I'll have I'll have my going

(01:58:21):
on see how to see the bestfit Christian. Yeah, Dria, welcome
to Seattle. What are you lookingfor? And I flight, that's a
loaded question for real, for real. Uh, you know, in terms

(01:58:42):
of no pay system, teammates,environment, city, all those kind of
just like play into it. Besidesjust the money thing. I know,
financials always play a big role.And I kind of steered you into the
direction you want to go, buteverything kind of plays into it. And
how much did you reach out toShelby Drew, knowing some of the guys
sen you knew the play here lastyear to get a sense for what what

(01:59:04):
Seattle might offer you. I mean, not much right now, I'll talk
to I talk to Shelby a littlebit about it. Mainly no one,
Drew, Uh, just congratulate meA, did you come together pretty quickly?
I know you kind of came toyour agreement on that first Monday and

(01:59:27):
everything with Seattle, that all cometogether really faster. Now, it was
a long da. Seattle came inalmost out of nowhere. We had like
a uh a good set of teamsthat we were talking to, just trying
to find like finalize what was goingon, what was it the term's gonna
be, you know, and Seattlecame in hot. They they showed a
lot of interest, and uh,they kind of just motivated me to come
here more and more. And howsimilar will your role be, you know

(01:59:49):
in terms of playing from what youdid in Denver. I don't know that
yet. I kind of just mentionedpreviously. I don't know my role.
I don't know the ins and outyet. Uh. Once we'll get no
through the the protocols and PA,we'll we'll talk about no, the schemes
and everything. Right. Uh,so welcome. When you were in Denver

(02:00:10):
in the three four, where didyou find yourself most comfortable and most effective?
I played a lot of different positionsin Denver. I mean earlier in
my year, I played zero,I played three, two one. I
mean I'm definitely more comfortable in ashaded position, mainly being a three technique
and five technique. That's why Ifound myself to be more comfortable whether I'm
standing up or I'm not, whetherit's runner or pass, those seem to

(02:00:32):
be my best my best fits.And what is your impression of Pete Carroll's
defense and whole environment in Settle Uh? From afar, it seems like he
holds in on the defense a lot. Uh. I can't really say too
much about that. Yeah, Idon't. I know Pete Carroll very little,
so Uh, I'm just trying tofigure out more and I'll give you
a better answer later. What's thereputation around the league out of the Seahawks?

(02:00:57):
Uh, you know Hard nos Hardhad type of team definitely on a
little more lack side as opposed tobeing stuck up or military style, and
which is definitely good because then theythis program is one of a lot of
football games have been super successful formany years, as long as I've been
alive, as long as I've beenwatching football, and definitely this has been
a good program. And Pete Carrollhas been a hell of a coach for

(02:01:19):
as long as I remember, evenback in his college days. So I'm
looking forward to experiencing that. JanBoyle. Yeah, I know you said
you don't know yet. You knowwhat your role is going to be,
which is what what kind of playerare you who haven't watched a time of
Denver? What kind of player?Definitely a high motor Definitely not a one

(02:01:40):
trick pon any type of player.Uh. I like to attack, you
know, whether it's a first orfirst through fourth down, I like to
attack. I'm always trying to applypressure. I'm definitely just a high mortar
guy in my opinion. Brady,are there, Brady Henderson from ESPN,
Nice to meet you. That's whatyour Yeah, this is not a team

(02:02:01):
that really makes pig splash signings infree agency. Did you think going into
it that Seattle would be in play? Uh? No, not at all.
Uh. You just it's kind oflike being a cure at the County
store. You know, I'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

(02:02:24):
Seattle so far. You know,I like these colors for real, for
real. What what have you gotto do with Seattle or see since not
much? Uh, just kind ofjust drive around the city exploring, uh,
getting down to the market a littlebit. I want to get on
of the Ferris will do some morelike touristy type of things. You know,
I'm new to the city and Igot a lot to learn about the
city. All right. Yeah,there's been a lot of comparisons with you

(02:02:46):
to Michael Bennett. I was wonderingif you know Michael Bennett at all and
you think those are accurate. Iknow Michael Berr then 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 style of play. You know,
He's a Hall of Fame type ofdeep lineman that I've known about since
I was a kid. I mean, last time he played here, I
was in high school. So youknow, it's cool to it kind of

(02:03:11):
came full circle a little bit watchinghim on TV and now I'm being kind
of compared to him in the way, you know, I mean, I'm
not touching the surface of Michael Bennett. You know, he's a Hall of
Famer and I'm not there yet,so you know, I just got to
keep doing my due diligence to bea better player. Can hey Dreamont,
welcome to Seattle. I know youget to play several seasons for vig Fango

(02:03:32):
and the three four style defense,and 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
always been the biggest thing, andthat's how we've been successful when I was

(02:03:55):
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 gotta really really rely on the guys
behind you and the guys on theside of you to really make their to
do their job to make your jobeasier. Bob, Yeah, we uh.

(02:04:16):
Your yourhos State payoffs said you didn'tstart playing football till you were junior
in high school and largely played basketball, So then that's what made I guess
decided to go go play football thenwas away from basketball. No, no,
no, I've always loved football first. Uh, it was just kind
of just plan it out. Youknow, I love the who, but
you know, football was definitely aboutcalling. Given I was a two hundred

(02:04:36):
and sixty five pounds power forward andI was like six strees and change,
so you know, I kind ofchose the route that God gave me.
No, I'm not six eight.Yeah, we'll come to Seattle and you
couldn't quote it. And you're lookingat a couple of other things that he

(02:04:56):
was playing, and can you justtalk a little bit about that? Definite
always kind of counted out, Butcan you elaborate more than that? Just
from a standpoint, Like I alwaysget like over overshadowed, overlooked, whether
it's in something you know what I'msaying, Like, I feel like I
do a lot more than what canbe sitting by the eyes of the inexperienced,

(02:05:20):
you know, scout and I doa lot of just different dynamic things
that help make plays for others.You know, I'm definitely an active player.
I'm always doing something, whether inthe runner pass game, So you
know, I think that goes onothers sometimes and I'm looking forward to putting
people on notice. Thanks Brady.What uh what do you like to do

(02:05:41):
outside of football? Uh? Biggamer? I'm definitely I've been getting to
a lot of chests lately, sojust to expand my brain. Uh.
I try to get into reading,but if it's not as portulated, I'm
really not interested in reading that book. What do you think some of that
I'll be able to bring out ofyour games? You can keep trying to,
you know, just being more explosive. Probably more yards for catch with

(02:06:04):
the space that he's putting us into. The more yards, more yards have
to catch, more exposive pit,more exposive plays for for not just only
me, but she and Ak andtaste them. So I'm excited to be
able to be in the system.I assume you think you guys can be
a lot more explosive than than youhave in the last couple of years.

(02:06:25):
Oh yeah, of course. Itbrings a lot of different things, you
know what I'm saying, the playbook, but just accountability. Uh, I
feel like that's gonna lead us tosuccess. They said the language is a
little a little shorter it Have youfound that the language that you guys,
use is it about the same oris it a kind of really it's a
long, long place, but it'smore understanding for sure. I feel like

(02:06:46):
you can get to that more understandingplays and uh, I feel like that's
that's the difference. Peter was sayingthe other day, just kind of like
coming into this offense after like twentyyears of breeze and just kind of how
it was just kind of built ontop of each other, around on top
of each other is like kind ofa lot to kind of take in.
Do you do you find that theykind of turn it down to something new,
starting to like zero with everybody.It's just a little bit easier to

(02:07:08):
kind of get everybody on the same. Yeah, I feel like it's way
easier. Like you said, itwas kind of more of a Drew Brees
style, uh the last playbook,so uh all credit to them though they
built that around him, around hisplayers, But uh, like I said,
it's it's more. Uh this playbookis more uh for uh matchups and
uh, I feel like it's gonnabe better for us. How do you

(02:07:30):
think it's gonna really take advantage ofyour skill sets? Uh? Just building
around the strengths that I have.You know what I'm saying, things that
I can do and things that shecan do, uh, things that our
players can do. Is kind offocus on what we can do and and
building on that. Uh. Ifeel like it's playing to the player strengths.
So I feel like it's gonna helpus a lot has been around the

(02:07:50):
way this offense will have a lotmore speed. And how has that transition
event so far? I mean,like I said, it's building around the
players strengths. So of course wegot speed with me or she and ati
receiver, So just building around that, Like I said, playing to our
strengths and be able to capitalize offthat. Feel like it's gonna help us
a lot most of like the uptempo aspect and getting a lot of plays

(02:08:11):
in less time. Oh yeah yeah, yeah, that's definitely gonna play a
big difference. Like I said,coming from the West Coast, Uh,
they bringing that stand for an offensehere, So I'm excited to be able
to be a part of that.For you personally, what what's the next
level look like for you? Whatdo you what are you trying to accomplish
this year? Just staying consistent,man, A couple of upside downs last

(02:08:31):
year. Just building off that.Uh, it's always always gonna work on
the physical part, but being ableto bounce back after a bad game the
mental mental aspect. Uh, justlearning and learning that last year and be
able to build on that this yearis a huge part. You know,
with Mike go on, did youtake it upon yourself to kind of be
that voice in the room or totake a step forward even further as Uh,

(02:08:56):
I mean it's not really. Imean everybody kind of grown in the
NFL, so it's just on youto be able to have that standard.
Like I said, I just tryto do that. Lead by example.
I'm not really outspoken, but justlead by example, working hard, trying
to dominate every rep and hopefully theyfollow after that. The touch is that

(02:09:18):
you feel like that's the strength ofyours that maybe wasn't utilize. I don't
know if utilizes the right word,but you could show more. Yeah,
it's an offense that is built aroundthat. Uh, just catching the ball
in space, catching the ball overthe middle or even on the outside,
Uh, with space and separation.I feel like it's built around having yards

(02:09:39):
have to catch. So I'm definitelyproud to be in the system, like
I said, and I'm excited.But is that is that a mindset too?
Like being good at yards after thecatch? Like Oh yeah, I
mean of course. I mean youdon't want to get tackled by the first
person. And my mindset is tryingto take every take everything to the house,
you know, every touch. SoI definitely got to do that more
and definitely try and work on thatin practice. Keep thee great dude man,

(02:10:05):
Uh some some that I definitely needed. Something that he relates to me.
Uh, just from backgrounds and uhhe's a great coach, great leader,
Uh, motivational and uh. LikeI said, I'm excited to have
him around and for him to pushme is everything that I need. So
you're talking about like mentally bouncing back, you know, from tough performances or

(02:10:26):
whatever, Like, did you tryto find your resources gonna help you figure
out how to do that? Ohyeah, I mean it's older guys.
Uh uh tell me, Uh that'snatural. Just have bad games, but
uh, just having the standard thatI have for myself and the expectations I
have for myself gets hard sometimes.So just be able to be hard on
yourself, but at the same time, just let it go and just bounce

(02:10:50):
back for the next game is somethingthat I learned last year. You one
of those guys that feels like youshould always have a certain level production.
Are you okay with those certain gameswhere the defense is so focused on you
that other guys have big games andyou're just running good routes. Yeah,
I'd definitely be one dimensional. Infootball. You need to be able to
throw the ball as much as runthe ball. You know, It's funny.

(02:11:11):
Some people think I'm an area guy, some people think I'm a wing
tea guy. Some people think Iwant to run the ball every down.
You know, we're gonna We're gonnado what's best for a house state,
and that's that's kind of what ourgame plan is right now, right Austin
were a podcast. When you thinkabout your first evaluations of the quarterbacks and
going through these fifteen practices, howdo you want to structure that? I

(02:11:33):
know that you and Ryan have probablytalked about that a good amount. Like
what's the right way to set upa spring position battle? How many reps
does everybody need? What's sort ofyour plan just from a general perspective,
I guess yeah, you know,we're really detailed in what practice looks like
and how that's going to operate.But I also think you need to let
the players go, you know,So I don't think you need to to

(02:11:54):
put shackles on them, so tospeak, and just keep them constrained.
I think you got to let themgo and you got to let them operate.
And we were road and I thinkeverybody on every two snaps today just
and that was just what we're gonnado on day one. You know.
We'll reassess it after we got throughit, get a chance to count up
all the reps of how many plays, how many plays each guy got,
and did they get more in sevenon than they did in eleven on,
you know, and we'll go throughthat whole thing, and that'll be a

(02:12:15):
constant flow in terms of how we'redoing it. But I think the best
way people learn is they learn bydoing, you know. So they've been
great in the meeting rooms, they'resharp when you get them on the board,
they're really good when they're watching film. But you gotta go out and
you gotta play the game. Andso the more we can put them in
those situations to play the game,the better we'll have an opportunity to evaluate
them ship thinking. All of thesethings go back. So forwar with Ryan

(02:12:41):
Day, you mentioned since you've noticedsince she was a kid, what were
your first impressions back then that youcome full circle to now, like,
how do you how do you feelabout that? It's still the same way,
you know, even since he wasplaying little league, he was the
ultimate competitor, you know, andhe was always trying to find a way
to win. He was great ata lot of sports, baseball, basketball,

(02:13:03):
football. You know. I gotan opportunity to recruit him, you
know, so I coached him whenI was at New Hampshire. I recruited
him out of high school and weall and we grew up really close to
each other, so the same elementaryschool, same high school, same junior
high, same college. You know. So I've known him since for for
a really long time. But thatcompetitive fire burns deep with him. And
that's the one thing that I've alwaysadmired with him. And he's got an
amazing athletic brain in terms of howto process things and how to how to

(02:13:26):
put people in position to make place. He's always been that prototypical coach on
the field, no matter what sporthe was playing, so I knew he
was destined to be a coach,you know. And I was fortunate in
my career as a head coach tohave him on my staff at a couple
of places, so I got achance to see him work firsthand, you
know. I got to see himwork firsthand as a player and then as
a coach. So the success hehad is not is not surprising to me

(02:13:48):
that hard there is there for youseeing Ryan the successes had. Yeah,
I think we all do that.I think we come from a unique place
in a really small hometown in NewHampshire where we all take a lot of
pride to where we're from and andwhen anybody's successful coming out of there,
then you kind of take a littlepride that that's it's the upbringing that we
all had, you know, inthe UTH sports program that we grew up

(02:14:09):
in in in every aspect, whetherit was football, baseball, basketball,
those coaches we had an amazing impacton us, and that's why we are
where we are right now. Ryansaid, he doesn't think of it as
you working under him, it's workingwith him. Fact is he is the
head coach. He makes me callhim sir, though he just said can

(02:14:33):
you do that? Day one?And I was like, all right,
right now. But I mean heultimately is it is the decision maker.
You've been a head coach. Howdo you think that's going to work.
Do you think there'll be any asclose as you are, any kind of
awkward moments the right term, Butwhen he's the ultimate decider and you are

(02:14:54):
working for him, Yeah, Icertainly understand my role. I'm not Alhaic,
like I'm not I'm not Jo Hardhere. Yeah, some people get
that reference. Other people don't getthat reference. 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. I love being in the meeting room
of the quarterbacks and trying to gameplan. But everything we do here is

(02:15:16):
collaborative. You know. The onething that really struck me when I walked
in this place is there's an amazingcoaching staff here, you know, And
if you get a chance to talkto Larry Johnson just about football, or
Tim Walton or Jim Knowles or BrianHartline or any of these guys that are
on the staff here, it's it'sa very collaborative effort. I think everybody's
on the same page. You know, it's not our offense and their defense,

(02:15:39):
and it's it's Ohio State. Youknow, it's it's Ohio State versus
the twelve opponents that we're going toplay during the regular season and then beyond.
So it's it's really collaborative. Andthat's the thing I like, just
in the short time that I've beenhere, is how collaborative everybody's been.
You know, we're all trying tomake each other better and we're all trying
to develop this team. Touched onthis when you said, you know,
you like do what you want todo and not My sense is you,

(02:16:03):
in your perfect world, you'd liketo scribble plays on a napkin and not
deal with boosters, don't deal withall the stuff that coaches, head coaches
have to deal with. Now,how much of a factor was that in
this decision? You can just dofootball? No, that's not it.
I mean, I enjoy I mean, we'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

(02:16:26):
at Oregon. I was just withPhil Night two weeks ago, you know,
I got an opportunity to spend sometime with him and his wife,
Penny, who are dear friends ofmine that that have been great mentors to
me in my career. And there'sa bunch of people that at UCLA,
Terry Donahue and Andrea Donna who wereawesome to me. Angela Mazzoni is a
great friend, Casey Wasserman, TroyAikman. There was a bunch of people
at UCLA that I really enjoyed,you know, being around and talking with.

(02:16:48):
So I think sometimes everybody wants tomake a narrative of it's either this
or that. It's it's it's neverthat. It's never just all ball,
it's never just all recruiting, it'snever just all boosters. It's it's a
mixture of everything. But I thinkthe one thing that as this position as
a head coach kept moving on isthat if you look at a lot of
them, they all become more CEOs. You know, I can't tell you

(02:17:09):
how many coaches that have called mesince I made this decision that said I'm
two years behind you. Brother,You know that are thinking the same exact
way, and I think it's allpart of what we have to do.
I think we all need to protectthis game and promote this game, and
I think there are some rules thatwe need to get straightened out so that
people understand where what it's about,because the game is still about the players,
and I hope that never gets discounted. You know, it's it's always

(02:17:31):
been about the players, and Ithink if we can keep that at the
forefront the people that are making decisionson this, and I think Jean Smith
is one of the best influences inin the NCAAA, is to make sure
we keep that the main thing.The main thing needs to be the student
athletes. You know, you're comingin at a time where you've been through

(02:17:52):
some places where the expectations are high. I understand it's also coming into a
juncture where, you know, thethree losses to Michigan not making the playoff
last year, the urgency is prettyhigh here. I guess just sort of
what perspective do you have on kindof the stakes that there are for Ryan
this year and the decision that thenhe makes to bring you in to kind

(02:18:13):
of help solve that yeah, Ithink the expectations can be no higher than
they are in your own brain,you know. And I think if you
try to worry about what other peopleare thinking in their brains, you're going
to get screwed up a little bit. So, you know, I talked
earlier the one thing about Ryan thatI know 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

(02:18:35):
our part of this and that areworking with him. So you know,
I don't think. I think sometimesyou can spend too much time thinking about
those things. You know. Whatyou really have to do is just as
there's a big sign as you walkinto this place, it says when the
moment, you know, I thinkthat's a real thing that we have to
do as coaches, is to makesure that our players aren't worried about what's
going on in the future, oror aren't worried about what's going on in
the past, or worry about canthey get a little bit better today,

(02:18:56):
you know, and can we makeimprovement? And I think the one thing
that I've seen here and been therefor three weeks, but there's a consistency
to the players approach when they walkin this building every day, which is
it's unique. It's not like thateverywhere else. And it's one of the
things that I remarked to Mick whenI you know, he said, Hey,
what do you think? And Iwas like, it's impressive. It's
impressive the culture of the players thatare in this program right now. But
I think it speaks a lot tothe leadership. There's there's a lot of

(02:19:18):
older players on this team, andthey've set the tone for the younger players,
and I think the younger players havedone a great job of followship and
getting right in line with that.It never had it over play calling to
someone before. What does it meanto you? I guess he technically did
it to Bill when he was herefor a couple weeks, But what does
that mean to you to kind ofbe getting that responsibility from him and he's
calling essentially the offense that you gaveit. I guess in some way.

(02:19:41):
Yeah, I still think the playcalling part will be a collaborative effort,
and by that I mean that ifit's a good play, I called it,
and if it's a bad play hecalled it. Because the great part
is an assistant coach, you canjust hen point the finger a little bit
and say, hey, you know, I wanted to do this, but
he trumped me. So we haven'tactually discussed game day yet. You know,
we'll see how that operates. Buteverywhere I've been it's been a collaborative

(02:20:05):
effort, and all of a sudden, someone that's calling the plays isn't isn't
like pulls one out of left fieldthat 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 you know inthe middle of the fourth quarter that we
haven't done. But I think it'sthe key to really being successful on offense

(02:20:26):
is is how you game plan,how you put it all together, and
then how you practice and train forthat so that you get a chance to
execute it. Because the player's confidencescomes from their demonstrated ability that they've done
this so many times in practice thatwhen they get out on the field that
this is like that to them.You know, it's not that they do
it so they do it right.It's they practice it so much so that
they can't do it wrong. So, you know, I think it's that
whole part of it that is reallythe key to being a really good game

(02:20:50):
planning team. Second right, DougLane, ma Ree Kingdom North Chip.
When you had that feeling when youwere coaching the quarterbacks during Bowl Operation,
did you consider at that point mayberesigning as the head coach and thinking like
this is this is not where Iam anymore. I'll leave and then I'll
look to see what else is outthere. No. I never thought about
quitting anything. So, you know, I just is there an opportunity that

(02:21:15):
I think I can that fit,you know, And I think that's the
you know, it's no different thanwhen you're talking to a recruit about them
make a decision on where they're goingto go to school. I think that
where they should go to school iswhere the best fit is for them.
So, you know, I justentertained some opportunities and I always felt I
felt like this was the best fit. But I never thought about quitting or
not coaching. I'm gonna coach.I'm gonna coach, and then I'm gonna

(02:21:37):
die but I mean that's how Ithink I think about things. Is I
can't picture that. I know someoneI was on the Nike trip and they
like, how much longer are yougonna go? When I said, I
I like to go another fifteen twentyyears. I don't think about I don't
think about retirement. I don't thinkabout any of those things. That's just
not kind of my mindset that youknow. I love football and in the
as long as I can be partof this game, then I'll be part

(02:21:58):
of this game. You just theway things worked out with your departure from
UCLA. Is there anything that youwish you had done differently, or anything
you regret, or just that thecircumstances that presented themselves. Do you think
that you handled that departure the bestthat you could have? Yeah, I
mean I got an opportunity to tellmy players personally. You know, I
think in this day and age ofthe Internet where they read it somewhere else

(02:22:20):
and you have to text message him, you know, that was always important
to me that I wanted to makesure I talk to my players and explain
the reasons of what I was doing. I wasn't leaving to take a head
coaching job somewhere else. I wasn'tthinking that the grass is greener at another
university. Was just in my personalsituation, this is what I wanted to
do. I wanted to take anopportunity to go be a position coach and
coordinator, and that's how it fit. You know. What I was happy

(02:22:41):
is that I always thought to SeanFoster, I think the world of them,
and I think he's a special youknow. And the fact that that
they were they gave him the opportunityto take over there was you know,
it worked out. I didn't haveany say in that decision, you know,
I was gone, But I alwaysthought that de Shaun would be a
great head coach and I'm really proudof them and happy that that he got
the opportunity to take that job rightbehind it actually have your reputation is innovator.

(02:23:07):
Was part of the appeal of thisis that you get to get in
the weeds a little bit. Uhmaybe not mad scientists, maybe too too
strong of a work because you're workingwithin the system. But was there an
appeal of you get to get myhands dirty here again and innovate and get
back to that side of things.It was, but it was really more
important of who I get to workwith, you know, and so knowing

(02:23:31):
you know, I've got I knowa lot of guys on the staff besides
Ryan also, so you know,when I know what their mindset is and
what their values are and how theydo things, and so I want to
be a part of that. Butbut there's a part of that. Yeah,
how much of a teacher you getlabeled with the innovator. The teaching
is a part of this. Howmuch is it is How a teacher are

(02:23:52):
you and how patient are you?Yeah, I think we're all teachers.
I mean, education is the transportationof knowledge, you know, So it
really doesn't matter what the coach knows. It matters what players understand, you
know. So you have to beable to make sure that while you're implementing
things is what resonates with them andhow does that come back to them.
So, you know, a lotof our teaching styles that we've learned is
more of the Socratic method of there'sa lot of questions, you know,

(02:24:15):
and a lot of check for understandingsjust to kind of find out where the
players are coming from, because it'swhat they know that that's ultimately gonna win
games, not what we know.You know that we're not playing the games.
We're not stepping across those white lines, you know. And your job
as a coach is to create anenvironment where they have an opportunity to be
successful and then get out of theirway and let them go do it.
So I think the teaching aspect ishuge, and we continue to research,

(02:24:37):
you know, some of the latesttrends in teaching to make sure that we
are transporting that knowledge to our players. The second roll left Steve Hellwagen twenty
four seven Sports. Yeah, coach, just curious you got five scholarship quarterbacks
with differing levels of experience, ageand everything else. Not to annoy him,
but just want to ask specifically aboutWill Howard coming in after starting part

(02:24:58):
of two. You he has astage. 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
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

(02:25:20):
know where he's coming from. He'sreally focused, you know, he knows
he's got a short window left inhis college career, and it really wants
to capitalize on what that is.There's a maturity to Will, you know.
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 ward transfers. Sometimes whenyou're a true freshman and it's five years

(02:25:45):
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
that Will's been here is how quicklyhe'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

(02:26:07):
in the weight room in this offseason, So that says a lot for him
coming in here as a in ashort time, being able to to win
a weight room award, you know. To start off, do you guys
hope to have the number one internallyexternally at the end of spring, or
I guess just let it play out, how do you I? I think
it always every time I've been involvedin these, I think when they're organic

(02:26:28):
is when it's the best. Uh. I don't think you can anoint somebody
or force the issue because the playersknow the players would understand. They see
it every single day, you know, and there's a team chemistry part of
this thing too, So we're notgonna force the issue a but I've always
seen it play itself out. SoI've been fortunate that there's always gonna be
some quarterback battles at at some pointin time at every school there's a quarterback

(02:26:50):
battle, you know, and thenand really you you gotta let him play
it out on the field, andthat's where it has to that that's where
it has to be decided. Justa couple welcomes than we we're excited to
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.

(02:27:11):
Do you have any idea what that'sgoing to look like yet or is
it just way too early. Ihave no idea, you know. I
I think part of it is isyou're trying to put the players in position
to make plays. So a lotof that comes from getting to understand the
players and what their skill sets areand how we feature what their skill sets
are, you know, and andthe the one thing after day one,
I can tell you that there there'sa lot of skill set out there,

(02:27:35):
you know. So that's that's whatgets you excited, you know, That's
what That's what you jump out ofbed in the morning and you're excited to
go to work because of the talentthat you get to work with. But
the one thing that's the most impressiveis the work ethic that goes along with
that talent. You know, it'snot just empty talent. It's is you
got some kids who want to Imean all of them since I've been here,
want to work, So that that'swhat gets you excited. But I
think assessing what the skill set isyou know that we have available to us

(02:27:58):
on the offensive side of the ball, is vitally important. And then our
job is to put those guys inpositions to make place lots of pressure.
I mean, you've experienced what it'slike to coach national championship, call over
teams this program right now and movinginto a situation where you got to win
quickn out. So does that feellike pressure here for you or is it

(02:28:18):
a little bit of excitement or books? Well, I've always subscribed to as
pressure is what you feel when youdon't know what you're doing. So if
you don't want to feel pressure,then you should know what you're doing.
So, you know, I thinkit's it's part of that, and I
think part of our job with ourplayers in terms of the education process is
getting them to understand that too.Is that you know, it's it's about
your preparation, It's about you andyour development. It's not about that you

(02:28:41):
can't be governed by what other peoplesay. It's it's what's my mindset and
how am I intrinsically motivated and thenhow do I really compete against myself on
a daily basis to get a littlebit better. You know, we got
a little bit better today because weget out on the field today and got
a chance to do some football.And then the challenge is when we get
back on the field on Thursday.Can we be a little bit better than
we were on Tuesday? And ifwe're doing that, then we keep stacking

(02:29:01):
good days on top of good days, and I think we'll be in good
spot. Welcome, Thank you.I'm gonna ask about the pros and cons
of coaching from the box and coachingfrom the field. It's interesting talk to
some off some coordinators and over TomHerman talked about he swore he wanted to
coach from the box. Saw thegame so much better, sterile environment,
not all the chaos on the field. Some coaches you talk to the like,
I want to be on the fieldso I can look at my guys

(02:29:22):
in the in the eye. Whereare you at as a as a coordinator?
Honestly, And I've thought of thisa lot. I thought of it
a lot during COVID because we hadthe empty stands, you know, So
I had thought about just walking upinto the stands for a little bit because
I had a better advantage. I'vealways believed you can see the game better
from up above, but I believeyou can feel the game better from the
field. So if there was anyway we could get a zip wire where

(02:29:43):
you could do both you know,coach called from there and then zip down
of the field get a chance totalk to him, because it's a different
deal when you're talking to the quarterbackson a phone, you know, than
being able to look in their eyeand kind of see where they are with
it. And part of it isthe field part of it. I remember
when I coach Ryan once we wereplaying Yukon and he got hit hard going
out of bounce and he just walkedby me and I was a play caller,

(02:30:05):
and he was like, run thenext play, and I just kind
of looked at him. I sawthe look in his eyes because I don't
think he could have thrown it.You know, he was still trying to
get his win back. But youwouldn't know that if you're up in the
booth, you know, and youcall a pass play from up in the
booth and you're like, how comewe can't complete that? Well, he
just took a shot going out ofbounds. So it's that fine line that
I don't have an answer, youknow. I think I think it's feel

(02:30:26):
on the ground and it's see fromup above. Maybe in this day a
technology, they'll figure it out.But we'll see how that that that operates,
and whatever Ryan feels is the bestfor the team is what we're gonna
do. So your teams at theOregon we're obviously, you know, we're
playing at this ass pace and runninga bunch of plays for a minute,
and yep, maybe not by passpretty fast. What role do you see

(02:30:52):
tempo and having an offense and inthe station in college football and has maybe
changed? I think the game isalways evolving, you know. I think
when I left in two thousand andtwelve to go to the National Football League,
Oregon was the only team that wasplaying really really fast and had shiny
helmets. And when I came backin twenty seventeen, everybody had shiny helmets
and everybody was playing fast. SoI think the game is always going to

(02:31:15):
go up and down, and there'sgoing to be different cycles that it goes
through. I think tempo is partof an offense, but I don't think
it's an offense in itself. Ithink it's more of like if you go
to dinner, it's a side order. You know, it's not the main
course, but it's it's always goodto have it. So I think there's
times when you'll use it, butyou're you're not going to use it extensively
the entire game. Just like you'renot going to throw the ball every single

(02:31:37):
snap in the game. You're notgoing to run the ball every single snap
in the game. You know,there's not a game of absolutes anymore.
I think the ability to be diverseand have it as a tool in your
two box, so to speak,is really how we would look at using
it here. Because evens are nowwere familiar with it then I think so,
you know, I think when youfirst started going tempo, there were
people in the NCAA they want tooutlaw, they want to make an NCAA

(02:31:58):
role. Yeah, you couldn't doit, you know, and I'll I'll
give coach Shaping credit. I mean, I think obviously Nick was the first
one to do it. He wantedit out loud, and then all of
a sudden he adapted it and said, all right, we like this,
you know, so we'll keep itin. But it's I think people have
it doesn't matter what you do.There's there's cycles to this game, and
then once people catch on to thatcycle, then it moves. You know.

(02:32:20):
It's no different than for three defensesand three four defenses. You know
what is the rage when the whenthe Giants won the Super Bowl, they
were there were three four defense andeverybody, everybody says we have to do
that. Well, people didn't understandis they had Carl Banks and Lawrence Taylor.
It didn't matter what defense they wererunning. I know, Gym's back
there and Jim played against the youknow it was they could have been a
four down defense and those guys wouldhave been great players. But it's not

(02:32:43):
the scheme. I think that thecoaches that do it the best way is
they insert their players and put themin the best position to make plays.
And now now will Temple be partof it. It'll be part of it,
but it's certainly not going to bethe main course. Last question,
Oh, thank you very much,Jerry. Number one, there was a
great moment there when y'all were warmingup, when you were you were talking
with Tim Walton and Caleb Downs comesup and conversing and as you're in this

(02:33:09):
kind of a two part question,but number one, what was just your
take on the talent you saw onthat field today on both sides of the
ball. Where where would you rankit? Yeah, I'll rank it.
I'll be very transparent. As Iwas telling Tim and Caleb what a great
offensive player I thought Caleb would be, could be and should be. But

(02:33:31):
I'm not the head coach, soI always turned stretch as a as an
offensive coordinator, I'm always looking atthe defensive players, like I could use
him. Oh what could I doif I had him? What could I
do if I have him? ButI don't. I don't get to choose
him anymore because I'm I'm not.I don't have the pick. But I
was just talking to him about he'sHe's a great young man and if you
watch, if you want to watcha highlight tape, watch his hot You

(02:33:52):
know, I understand I came offa rough season, but I don't think
it's a step down of where Ican play. You know, I think
when I was at the top ofmy game, I'm still, you know,
top five player in my position.And you know I played the run
in the past and I bring leadershipand you know that's not anything I discover.

(02:34:13):
Can you do you plan to behere for mini camp and in a
shortagere in the camp? Yeah?How difficult has it been the last two
weeks to not be in here?I mean you said in your podcast,
the first time you've never not beenat OTA. Yeah, it w It
was difficult, but like you know, the thing I got very frustrated with
was just and people questioned my communicationwith the team. You know, I
uh was communicating with guys left andright, and you know, front office,

(02:34:37):
coaches, teammates, and all Icare about is how I am with
my teammates. I don't want themto ever think I don't care about them
or how I'm not in it.And you know, you can say whatever
you want about me, but besidesthat, but I always dedicate anything I
can to them, and I don'twant that to every question. Isaiah said

(02:34:58):
that it felt like some of theas you were hold up somewhere watching film,
you texted, well, like thefirst day he was batting all up
Russ's passes, so I had tolet him know. You know, uh,
you gotta take advantage of that.You gotta make sure guys are you
know, uh know that you youstill care and you still wanna be a
part of this. You know,just watching practice, there's a couple of

(02:35:20):
things we're doing different, whether I'mcommunicating with dumbbar or other people. You
know, so you're that you're alsotalking with him and you you've given him
pointers during the off season, justconstant communication. How do you see him
grow as a person, you know, as far as how he's approaching things
and how he's getting ready for thisseason promos his rookie year. Uh,

(02:35:41):
you know, I think the thingwith Keanu is he's more comfortable. You
know, you know it since hisfirst time around the track. You know,
it's actually like he can you know, uh, catch his feet under
him. You know. I alwaysthink when you're in your rookie season,
you're going from bowl game. Idon't even know Wisconsin played in a bowl
game. Sorry, Wisconsin, don'teven know. But you know, personally,

(02:36:01):
I just think when you go frombowl game to training for the Combine
to you know, rookie mining camps, OTAs, the you know mini camp,
I mean the training camp, theregular season, you really don't get
a time to really catch yourself.You know, he understands the playbook now,
he can be more vocal, youknow, And I think when my

(02:36:22):
absence, the other guy's absence,you know, you need guys like that
to step up and be ready forthose opportunities. What you had saying you
had during the season was a morethorough what was just tightening down everything,
you know on my left side becauseI was overcompensating a little bit, But
you know it was it wasn't anythingthat lingers. You know, I'll say

(02:36:45):
this, A growing is not likean a c L. It's not like
anything's that we're gonna get afected again. And you know, you know,
I'm feeling good, able to doeverything squat and heavy with power and speed,
so you know, it feels goodto get out period. What do
you think of what the team isable to accomplish your SFAs in terms of
bring guys like Russian and things.You know, I think they're all good

(02:37:07):
acquisitions, but you know, younever want to be known as a paper
champion and so can't win the offseason. I think the work gets done
out here on the field, getsdone in the classroom, it gets done
training, uh, you know,and then you see where you're at in
training camp and then you build onthat. You know, I think we
got the right guys in the building. It's just about putting a complete team

(02:37:31):
on the field camp. How tempercub is it to separate the business part
of the game in the actual footballplayer. Uh, you know, you
always wanna you always have to treatit like a business because you know one
day it's gonna end. Uh.And that's any job. Uh. It's
not like in college, where youknow you got four years guaranteed. I

(02:37:54):
don't know, well now you don'tknow what an ILI know it's crap,
but in the transfer portal portal,But you know, you have to I
still have love for this game,and I still work my tail off,
and I still put everything into it, and that's not gonna change. But
you have to know what you bringto the team and what your what your

(02:38:16):
value is. Everyone did a feelto be out there with your teammates today.
Emotionally great. You know, wegot a new uh, we got
a new training staff and still learningthe the warm up a little different,
but uh, you know I lovedit. Uh, you know, just
getting after it, learning new guys, going through the same drills I've been
doing by myself. I actually likehaving more people around because like kind of

(02:38:39):
go stir crazy when it's just youand another guy. You're like, damn,
I gotta go back up for anotherrep already. And so you know,
it's nice to be up here.And get a chance to, you
know, be with my guys.Cam Were you confident and deal? Will
get done with your emotion? Oh, I'm gonna we'll try to remain pretty

(02:39:00):
neutral because you know, I don'twanna be too either way. All I
know is I wanna be here,but we'll see what happens. Is my
last year here, I I II've had a great career here, but
uh, I'll look forward to playnext year. Can you with that second
surgery? You said it this timewas on the left side. It was

(02:39:20):
the first time around on the rightside, right side during the season,
left side, and that was justtightening down my corner. My corma saw.
It wasn't the same as my addoctor. You know, you can
ask doctor Bradley, Uh, doctordoctor Zuckerbron who uh did the surgery as
well. You know, I ifanything's gonna help me and it'll make me

(02:39:43):
a lot stronger from hearing up.And you said you were training with another
guy. Who have you kind ofbeen Tyson? Oh? I've been training
with him for the last eight years. We've always trained together. We got
a trainer up north, uh shotout Cole Haley, who's my guy traded
trained, trained, uh Heath Miller, Brett Keesel, the multitude of the

(02:40:05):
guys that all respect and we've justbeen getting after can the very few guys
historically thirty five that get paid bigcontracts. You think that's held against you.
I think there's not a lot ofhistory behind it. But you know,
for me, I I look atas I'm not looking to be like
anybody else. You know, mygame is different from everybody else in this

(02:40:26):
league. You know, I liketo think, you know, I can
play the run in the past,and then that's where I'm different. You
know. I remember last year Miket just brought to my attention. You
know, the thing that's really coolis you watch powerlifters, and you know,
my game's built on powering technique,and those guys go into their forties
and so you know, that's whatkind of research I'm doing behind the scenes.

(02:40:50):
But you know, I I we'llsee what happens, but it's there's
not a lot of history. ButI'm here to make history and I'm here
to you know, win another SuperBowl year and you know, have a
great season. Do you have aset goal over yourself or how many years
do you want to play in theNFL, or do you just take things
here right yere? You know itwas it was tough answering that question right

(02:41:13):
after the season. I will saythis, guys, I I can't keep
answering that question right after the season. That is not fair to the season,
That's not fair to my family.Uh you know. But in my
mind, I got three years andI wanna maximize them. I wanna play
at a high level, and Iwanna go deep in the playoffs. And
you know, we got a goodteam and I'm gonna do my part to

(02:41:35):
be ready for all those situations here. If you plan on practicing when you
report to latrob or is your possibilitythat you might fold in? And as
I I have not even thought thatfar. I've taken a day by day.
Uh you know. Uh. Itold my agent and we talked about
it. I mean, we werecool coming out here. You know.
I'll be here for many you know, and then I'll be there for training

(02:41:58):
Pam. You know, I don'tknow what the work entails, but when
we get there, we'll we'll crossthat bridge or remain a stealer for those
three years. You know. Therewas a conversation between me, Omar and
Mike t And there's certain guys thatare one helmet guys, you know,

(02:42:22):
and I wanna be one of thoseone helmet guys. And you know,
there's a there's a hunger and desirethere. But that doesn't mean just hanging
it up and calling a career.To me, I think, you know,
I got more bullets to fire anduh, you know, I'm excited
to do that. What's the meaninglast one you in? What did your
impression of him? What? Whatdoes he do well that you're like,

(02:42:43):
Okay, yeah, this is thisis the program. I want to take
a closed borg you close horn?Yeah, you committed right after your music.
I mean when you came down here, was there a thought process that
you could commit. Did you comedown with an open mind or did it
kind of have a feeling that thiswas gonna be the weekend of you hanger?
Uh? I came down with openand I didn't know about the motion
made really And then I got here, I heard the family are with prayer.

(02:43:07):
What was that moment like for you? Talking to coaches telling me they're
telling your family? Just what wasthat like for you? So it was
great? I have a mom,my dad, or my brothers in the
room, the area and what wasthat reaction? Well, my everybody already
know except for thin I don't pay. So what was coach last that when
you think of like just a commentor the yeah, just an Ohio state

(02:43:31):
back. You know, whether it'sphysicality, like what are the first things
that come to mind when you thinkof they don't have a share or any
back speed of powers on and tityabout it? Yeah? Yeah? Is
that something that I mean you feellike you have to you know we're going
or is that something that you're like, Yeah, that's the kind of back
I am. I'm just gonna benext to mine and whist. I think
that's the tip of back I am. But you all, yeah, well,
what are kind of a few ofthose things that you're like, yeah,

(02:43:52):
I need to work on like goover the course of the next few
months. I'm just everything. Makesure I keep all the details. Last,
Superio, what a coach I tellyou that he likes about your game?
Does it you murder between the tackles, your speed or what is he
like? He said, you liketomorrow up the backfield game and he liked
that. I'm not a t what'skind of your main I mean obviously as

(02:44:13):
an in state kid committed to thisclass. What's your pitch now to other
recruits and being like, this iswhy you should join Ohio States twenty twenty.
It's a real family. I'm experienced. Yeah, everybody give them everybody
talking to everybody to each other.What'd you say once you get any teach
you? How many bring up toyou as well? I've always looked up

(02:44:37):
to BoJack and watching this film,do you uh that's funny? Do you
think that your boy style Kamra,his fors back isn't just the way that
he really is closed the ball field? Yeah? I think that you want
rosa, Yeah, I think Ican. I think the speed of power
to Yeah, I think. Ikin. Who are the main guys that

(02:44:58):
you're you're talking to right now tojoin this spot? I'm really talking to
everybody to the listening room and thatauto commits. Any guys that you want
to join the class? Anybody atthe top of your list. Not I'm
sorry if you already asked this,but coming up here as a as a
recruit, as a commitment here,what what did you want to show today?
What did you want to get outof this experience? It wasn't nothing

(02:45:22):
to show, nothing to prove.I just want to take this one working
with his life. How did youfeel like that went? Obviously he's still
relatively new here, but he seemsto bring it a little bit of a
different energy than than some of thesecamps in the past. I feel like
it really good. Yeah do yousense that energy? I mean when you're
out with him, it's yeah,I feel is intense anything. He's different
than other guys though, right,I mean kind of how would you explain

(02:45:43):
his coaching than some of the otherrunning back coach you've may have worked with
in the path. There's intense itssense, like go go go ye?
Did did you talk to coach lackone when you even that organ? I
did? Okay? So when whendidn't he didn't organ and get a marketmer
like Rufford around like half of theseason like nut facts Okay? So I

(02:46:03):
mean is it was? He kindof the same guy that he is now,
so just just in a new uniformbasic Yeah? Okay. Then you
guys obviously added Isaiah to the class, and there's no secret they would like
to add another one. What areyour thoughts on being in a class with
three different running backs? Like that. I have no problem get with the
class three. What do you likeabout Isaiah? I don't know, you've

(02:46:26):
never met him. Just damn onthe person when you committed. Who were
some of the guys that they shouldto hear from any of them in particularly
about after they go up. I'mnot really a couple of linebackers take me
on his back, appreciate. Imean, obviously got a couple year before

(02:46:56):
you did hear it. I'm curiousabout how you pitch a higher straight then,
and it's pretty you started to playit pretty bad. But I mean
in terms of the guys, don'tyou want to join? You'resting, missing
the testing, turning to tampering usyour camp shirt A break right says,

(02:47:20):
look, what do you want meout of a quarterback in your class?
Like a white? You're missing atthe specifically, Yeah, this is what
I want to test. You're expectgreat host or what think you grow the

(02:48:03):
visit jokes or just very very personthank you once again. You're we're talking
about uh Kelly about like I'm hard. It's the first time I met him.

(02:48:26):
Know, we just find at uhyeah, what do you think we
can work to them? You knowwe were Yeah, uh so like lots
and too against what's been like whenyou're just moving up to California being out
of contherday, Oh, it's beena little honestly, like help you just

(02:48:54):
like different being what they pre hereor when you were different. Yeah,
it's it's definitely different. So Iwas applying here the rest of the years
and a new generation of recruits whereI don't think anybody outside looking you know,
of the question is the strength ofyour commitment, Like you're locked into
the Ohio state and you send itover and over, but you're making visits

(02:49:16):
around the country, You've seen otherschools. It's it's almost it's totally different
mindset. In nineteen that was likethe first year we were making a transition,
and then you know, COVID hitand then you know, every year
it just seems like there's something else. And I could come to the conclusion
that every year is going to bedifferent and we have to adapt. But
there's certain things that we're not goingto change. There's certain values we're not
going to change. It's just youknow, you know, principles that have

(02:49:39):
you know, stood the test oftime. And I shared this with with
a group before when I started doingsome some research as we were doing some
some of our recruiting, you know, introductions and some of our you know,
talks about you know, the traditionsof Ohio State. We talked about
how Ohio Stadium was built, youknow, and when you when you when
you do your research on that onehundred years ago, you know, folks

(02:50:03):
had the idea of building a stadiumover sixty thousand people, and that's because
of what Chick Carley was doing.And you know, they had a wooden
bleachers over here and all these peoplestarted coming in and the idea of bringing
in a stadium that of w 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

(02:50:26):
dollars. Well, I fast forwardon a hundred years and the conversation still
might be like what is college footballdoing right? And in this situation then
il we had to turn to thecommunity for help. And Bucky Nation showed
up again in a big way.So although the landscape is changing, I
don't know if you know, onehundred years later. If it's that much
different, it's just in a differenttime and a different you know, set

(02:50:50):
of issues that we're working through.But I think it's exciting. I think
there's a lot of positives to it. I do. I think that we're
taking the next step with the revenuesharing to try to institutionalize some of it,
which would be big for US minutes. Yeah, every year's got question.

(02:51:11):
It seems like this year's team hasfewer questions off the line as specifically,
if you look ahead to level ina month, what are the real
questions that you have in your mindabout position battles? And I would say
on offense, you know, wegot to square away the quarterback as you

(02:51:33):
know, I feel like, youknow, the offensive line on the right
side, we got to solidify that. I feel like we got to build,
you know, enough depth at receiverthat we feel like we can put
in five or six in the gameand feel good about it. On defense,
I think we're still looking to figureout, you know, who are

(02:51:56):
going to be the guys inside,you know, the third, the for
the fifth defensive interior alignment that we'regonna put in the game. And then
same thing just just I would saydepth, a little bit of safety,
just to kind of see who thosenext guys are. They're going to step
up, and so we know it'sgoing to be a long year. We're
gonna need everybody, and and soin a lot of those areas it is

(02:52:16):
depth. Special teams wise. Youknow, punter is going to be you
know that that is significant. Youknow, we just brought in Nick and
you know, so there'll be abattle there. So I'd say those are
probably the areas we're focused on themost Ryan just to fall on the offensive
line, there was I think aschoolopology guy might be looked for a transfer

(02:52:37):
in that post spring window. Didyou guys do that? Did you guys
not find the guy or were youjust confident the guys you have, Just
like you know in January, ifif we're going to bring somebody in,
it is to fill a hole.We're not just going to bring somebody in
to bring somebody in. Like inall positions, we'll always look to see
what's out there. We did avalue some of the guys that were out

(02:53:01):
there, and you know, youknow, we felt like coming out of
it as we evaluated it, youknow, there was a couple of guys
that you know, we checked on, but but ultimately, like based on
where we were and some of theyoung guys that are coming up, you
know, we felt like we sawsome progress in the offensive line in the
spring. So you know, itwasn't there wasn't as many folks in the
portal, you know, in afterthe spring. So we looked at it,

(02:53:24):
we identified it, We did ourdue diligence, but you know,
we're gonna go through what we havenow second round. Billis right, you're
bet it was interesting that you havetwo of maybe the top five ors of
guys in Sport and then a bunchof guys who haven't plenty uh maybe someone
that I know w question, butdid you consider trying to add there understanding
that probably the difficult to sell wecan have such talent on top the brings

(02:53:46):
over you of these experiences, likewhat were those conversations like and how did
you settle on being comfortable with youknow, Trey and Quin and the young
house. Well, like you said, you know, I think we're we
will get some experience there with thosetwo guys, and then you know,
we felt like coming out of thespring that James and Sam. Both did
a nice job and you know we'regonna have to play them and they're gonna
have to you know, take ona little bit of that. You know,

(02:54:09):
we have you know, started havingconversations with Caleb Downs. I was
part of the recruiting process of possiblyyou know, doing a little bit of
running back as well. It's somethingthat he wanted to do. So we've
been having him in some of themeetings and some of the individual drills as
a possibility there if you know,needed so down the road to continue to
build depth at that position. Butyou know, I think, you know,

(02:54:31):
we feel like, you know,if you have you know, four
strong running backs going into it,then you know that's gonna be that's gonna
be enough to carry the season.I do think that the quarterbacks will run
the ball more this season, sothat should take some carries away from them.
But to your point, you know, James and Sam are gonna have
to step up to the guys thatwe can count on. Save that for

(02:54:56):
another day. Yeah, just ishe ca of stepping in and being running
back obviously? Yeah, says alot. We'll see, We'll see.
We talked about in the recruiting process, you know, the first time around
and more specifically in the second timearound, and so he's you know,
he's been around a little bit justto get a feel for it. We

(02:55:16):
did very little in the spring.We did I think we pitched them an
option or something like that in thespring just to kind of get them going.
But yeah, we'll see, we'llsee where that goes. We don't
have a specific plan right now,but we do want to introduce him to
that just the same thing like LorenzoStyles has played Recier where he did that
Notre Dame. You know, he'sout there a little bit, just kind

(02:55:37):
of learning. It's healthy. Youknow, you're seeing it from the other
side of the ball. This timeof the year, you can get away
with that a little bit, alittle bit in the preseason. Where it
goes, we'll see, but youjust never know. And we're trying to
put some contingency plans in place becauseit could be a long season. Yeah,
this is my forty first year coveringof Hot Stay. I don't remember
ever expectations like this In the summer. There were some of them were almost
as big, Sure do you sendthat too? And what's that pressure like

(02:56:01):
as you're working through a summer.Yeah, people have asked me that I
go back to the expectations every yearare the same. I mean, it's
just the truth. When opening pressconference, I said, you got to
beat the team up north, andwhen every game after that, that's just
the expectations. And when you comeup short, you know you got to
figure out a way to get thosethings fixed. I think we have done
that. But the expectations are thesame every year. Pressure is the same

(02:56:22):
every year. I just like thepressure when you've got a really good team
behind you. So that's what wegot right now. And you know,
we know it's going to be along season. We know what we're working
towards. But I will say thisabout this team, Well, we've been
talented. That's there's been times inthe past we've been talented. I don't
know since I've been here, ifwe've been this talented and this experience together
with guys that have played a lotof football, fourth and fifth year guys,

(02:56:45):
and that doesn't matter. We'll gothank X door step. Maybe this
is just talk because it's summer cobviouslyyou can just have a conversations. Maybe
we're making a big long term situitions, but We've seen it around college football
league guys playing both sides of theball and doing it quite well. Right,
Travias sunder is doing it in Coloradoand Caleb jos has been apartment so

(02:57:07):
we see what he could do withthe ball. But there's also the stamina
aspect of that was getting too asixteen game season. So I'm not saying
it's any forty snaps or something likethat, But what about his athleticism what
he brings to the table and letyou know that if you wanted to explore
it in a real game, hecould last and still be an effective scene.
Yeah. Yeah, we'd have tosee all that he did it in

(02:57:28):
high school. But we got somereally good running backs in a room.
So it's not something that we're planningon doing, but uh, we all
we are gonna, you know,work on a little bit. Caleb.
Caleb enjoys that part of it.We did agree that that was something that
we were gonna look and do.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 seesee how he does, and you know,

(02:57:50):
maybe hand the ball Tom a littlebit in the preseason, because again,
it's going to be a long season. We have to make sure we
have continuency plans in place. ButI know it's something that he enjoys having
the ball in his hand. Soeven during their first time around the recruiting
process, we even't talked about himcoming in as a as an offensive player.
Ultimately, we think a ceiling ishighest on defense. But you know,

(02:58:13):
but I also agree. I thinkthat having you know, guys go
on the other side of the balland just see it, listen to meetings
is really healthy for their development.So we're gonna do that regardless. Your
defensive recruiting right now is maybe furtheralong it's been in the years past,
and I think we passed numerous questionsabout it in the past. But is
this a product of seeing it overthe last couple of years and now it's

(02:58:35):
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 Ithink Tim Walls an unbelievable job as well
in the back end and you know, Matt stepped right in and James and
Larry. I think they're all doinga great job. But like you said,
you know, it's one thing totalk about it. That's theory testimony
is just look at this is thisis what we're doing. And then I

(02:58:56):
think you're seeing a lot of guysjust excited about playing in this defense and
they see the capabilities and the flexibilitytoo. You know, right now,
you know the way we play,excuse me, the way we play right
now is based on you know,we have four really talented defensive linemen that
are really good, and we gota lot of that to those positions.
But there's also flexibility with some ofthe things Gym's done in the past that

(02:59:18):
you know, we're definitely looking atand some of the recruits that we're looking
at who brings some versatility pass rusher, you know, we have that jack
position and those type of things.So, uh, that's exciting as well.
And I think you're seeing a lotof the recruits, you know,
really get fired up when they gethere. People. Yeah, coach,
I think your first couple years youridentity was was very very from an AWFU

(02:59:39):
standpoint and air and out type teamlook at the deep as of talent and
the playmakers you have there. Hasyour identity changed? I guess what do
you think the identity is of thispoint point four? Well, we'll see
as we go. But you know, we know what we need to do
to play in the big games.That's never changed. And we have to
be able to stop the run,run the football, take care of the
ball, and there'll be opportunities tothrow the ball that'll that'll happen, but

(03:00:03):
you know we're gonna have to,you know, do those things to win
close games and play situational football.But I think, you know, you
won't really get a feel for whatthe identity of the team is until we
get into probably the beginning of October, you know, and I think we
all have ideas of what it couldgo. But you know, now that
we're playing in a playoff format,just like a lot of those NFL teams

(03:00:24):
sometimes, you know, they don'treally quite understand their identity until they get
about halfway through the season. Idon't think it'll take that long. But
you know, we're able to playsome games and kind of work through some
things, and I don't think ourdefense is going to change a bunch in
terms of what we did last year. I mean, it's a lot of
the same guys back. Could looka little different on offense. Got time
for two more go to Doug Limers. Okay, right, you lose an

(03:00:46):
important recruiting staff or to promotion atMichigan just offseason. How do you react
something like that? Is something thatsomeone like that would take information that was
art here that could all the Michiganor Stages reaction. Yeah, all good

(03:01:07):
questions, and you know, Ijust I want to talk about the guys
that are here, you know,the staff members that are here, the
coaches that are here, the playersthat are here, the ones that are
Buckeyes. Joe jug With the schedulingchange that was announced yesterday, did they
come together? Didn't have anything todo with the expanded the playoffs? Maybe

(03:01:30):
think beginning of the season a littledifferent. Yeah, you know, I
don't know all that came in camewith that. I know it got presented
to me a while back, andyou know I was on board with it.
So yeah, I mean I think, you know, we do have
to look a little bit different atour scheduling as we move forward, based
on the way the format is atthe end of the season. That's quickly
about the linebackers, got in herea little bit late. How do you

(03:01:52):
feel about your linebackers? Cody seemslike he always sees the betman Ross like
he's walking as a starter. CJ. When do you see his role being
Sonny when you see the yeah,good versatility all those guys, rvel Reese,
Like you said, CJ, Gabe, Sonny, Cody. You know
I'm missing a couple, I'm sure, but like that was that y R

(03:02:15):
Bell? Yeah, I mean theseguys are really versatile guys. You can
see the length on them, andyou know they do a good job in
terms of like fitting the runs.They can gonna know how the ship runs
right now, so they know howthings should operate. And I gotta spend
time making sure those other guys getready and get caught up to speed in
a timely fashion. It's great.He's taking a great step forward. Like

(03:02:37):
I said, he's the next guyup man. I mean, he's been
extremely you know, important on thegrowth of our secondary because now you know
we're working them inside some uh he'splayed outside 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 gotta build off the

(03:03:01):
the last year uh and expand therole for him and make sure he's uh,
he he's ready to go. Buthe's been doing great. It's what
is your uh. We just authenticreally not giving a lot of recruiting talk.
It is what it is. Wetry to shoot straight, honest communication,

(03:03:28):
honest assessment, the character, thevalue, the work at it,
and the main things the competition.You gotta compete. If you don't wanna
compete, it's not gonna be theplace for you, because that's the that's
the thing that will get us wherewe need to go is competition in the
room. And those guys here loveto compete. We sell that. Were

(03:03:48):
looking for guys who embrace that,who chairs being in those spots. And
you can take time to grow,you know, uh, you don't have
to have the uh the pig mentalityof problem of of instant gratification. You
know, you can develop and growso and sometimes you may be behind a
guy that's a really good player.There is nothing wrong with developing and growing

(03:04:09):
and playing when your time is right, and if the time is right right
now, as a freshman like,well, Jermaine, did you play early?
You know, so we try toalso sell that, you know,
we care about them as people andtry to prepare you for life after football.
So it's bigger than just football.We're going to prepare you for life,
whether it's the NFL or on witha regular career in the workforce.

(03:04:30):
We want you to prepare you asa young man, and we try to
sell that and preach that to theparents to remain having that in fact that
you mentioned rolling all these different spots, do you anticipate you know, there
wasn't a lot of rotation among thecornerbacks last year, what everyone was healthy.
Do you anticipate maybe rolling him throughthe rest guys here with the longerst
season potentially, Yeah, we playit by here, you know what I

(03:04:50):
mean. We see how it goesby the time we get into the camp.
But you know, obviously he's earningthe stripes, so you know what
I mean, when you earn thestripes, you know, the odd job
to create opportunities for you, youknow what I mean, We have this,
see how it goes with all thatother stuff. You know, once
we get closer to the season andwe're getting the game plan stuff. But
he's doing a great job and he'she and he's taking a great step forward
that you were the way you kindof established room. Now it seems like

(03:05:13):
it's like the centerpieces of relationships andkind of fueld their mind. And I'm
curious, is that something that youcame in with the like a couple of
years ago with the intention of flingor is it something that you're like,
it's kind of been cool to beto go over the course of your time
as position here. No, it'sbeen there for a while. I've been
doing that for a long time.It's all about relationship. If you develop
real relationship and you're authentic and yourcommunication and you have honest feedback and you

(03:05:37):
have you know, direct teaching.The guys that have value and character and
they appreciate that stuff, they embracethat. So but they have to know
your care and you have to knowthat it's real and they have to know
that you you're really concerned about thatwhere of being as a young man,
and when you get close to himand spend a lot of time with them
off the field, you could coachthem hard and you can. You can
and you can you can say truthfulthings to them and then they'll embrace it

(03:05:58):
and you can have real conversation becauseyou know the only goal is to help
them get better as a young man. A couple years ago, the receiver
room is so far ahead of thecorner where you get to kind of skew
that evaluation sometimes do. And how'sthat dynamic changed in these two years after
group's gotten older and you've had moretalent. Yeah, it's done balanced uff

(03:06:20):
a little bit. Now. Thatgoes with great competition. We have the
uh we go against the best receiversin college football. So that helps escalate
your growth process because if you don'tfigure it out real fast, you'll get
embarrassed. So that competition. Butwhat happened with that, Eye guys start
competing, Eye guys start growing.Eye guys got better and now is even
up a little bit. So willyou get really good work at practice to
day? You know what I mean? So it's competitive, it's fun.

(03:06:43):
Those guys both on both sides ofall care about each other, so it's
great competition. And they're all realreal close, so you know what I
mean. It's that stuff that getsus better. Uh, that will prepare
us for Saturday. Idea said myfirst day of practice, actually, receivers
kind of got them. It's anykind of a good wake up. Oh
No, it's just it's it's gonnacompetitive. Man. They got the best

(03:07:05):
group in the country that you're goingagainst every day, so you have to
bring it every day, you knowwhat I mean. So they they we
got a great quarterback room. We'vegot a great receiver room. The running
backs are really good. So whenyou out there going against them, it's
deep, so you have to beready for it. And obviously, man,
we're seeing a lot of good stuffwith with with Day and coach Kelly
doing over there, and so itprepares you a lot and it helps us

(03:07:28):
grow that recruiting a wide receiver roomkind of like a part of your regree
pitch, Like these are the guysyou get to play. Yeah, all
of that because you know that's whereyou get better iron shoppings iron So you
know you get to see that everyday at practice. That helps you grow.
It's no better, uh thing togo against every day than to see

(03:07:50):
that on a daily basis. Oh, we just moving a lot of guys
around. You watch that practice.We have a lot of guys in there
right now. You know, weprobably have three or four different guys in
there. Obviously Little Lorenzo's in there, Jermaine is in there. K House
we have we have about four orfive guys moving around right now. We
just try things out in spring ball, see where the fit, you know,

(03:08:11):
see what things work together. Sothere's going probably some more guys in
there, you know. We moveit around to try to just get the
right fit throughout the end and seehow it goes by the time we get
ready to start the season. Hecan run and he's strong, you know
what I mean. He's fast,Uh, very serious about his business.
Uh, he's big, it's twohundred pounds. He can run, he's
strong, he's conscientious, you know. I mean, he's starting to grow

(03:08:31):
and he's starting to get get betterwith it, you know I mean,
so we looked for big things forhim the spring. What do you want
to see this spring? Keep competing, you know what I mean. Now
he's made the transition. Competing today, you know what I mean, start
going in that transition is all justlike that in Jermaine last year. You
throw them in the fire, youlet them go, you compete, you
go by the time we get outof the end of training camp, it'll

(03:08:52):
be them figure it out. Youhave all that, but now you just
throw it all at them. Compete, continue to grow, continue to learn.
He has the skill set, hehas the left Now you just got
to put it all together and ittakes time to do that, and hopefully
you see that by the time weget in the training camp. It seems
like midway through springing had a clickfor Jermain last year and you start to
see him. It could not bemore hackered to be here, super hacked

(03:09:16):
to be here at TAR two aswell, or right at the work.
Hello everybody, Dari's Robinson University ofMissouri. I just want to thank mister
Bill will Moant to your coach Gannonfor this amazing opportunity. I'm glad to
be here with Marvin Harrison right nextto me, so I feel great.
I'm really excited and I'm excited forthis journey. See you fifteen here in

(03:09:54):
town. Marvin. When did youknow the Cardinals were gonna select you?
Did you know before they called orit was you're an agreement in place before?
No, I did not know untilI got the phone call from the
Arizona Cardinals Marvin Richard signs Foxten,Welcome to the valley. I know kind
of tweeted to you, tweeted outto you once you got drafted. What

(03:10:16):
was it like to get a messagefrom the franchise quarterback and what kind of
thoughts have you had about teaming upwith this guy in the near future.
Hey, yes, sir, it'sbeen great. You always want to support
and love from your quarterback and tocause a great player super excited to play
with him, and it's gonna bemy job to make his job easier.
Darius Darren Urban from Azycardinals dot Com. I know that a lot of players

(03:10:39):
these days aren't sticking in one schoolfor a long time, and you did
it for five years. I meaneven Marvin did it for three. Like
what went behind that and why wasit meaningful for you to stay at one
school? Yes, at Missouri,you know, we had some tough seasons,
but we were really built with anedge energy, details, good in
emotional consistency, and I just findmyself just trying to grow and get better

(03:11:01):
each year and also as a team, you know, win more games each
year. And that was my thatwas my home. That was my family.
I was blessed to you know,get two degrees as well off the
field, and I just love missoutwo degrees. Wow, Marvin Bob Mcbob
McMahon at Arizona Republic, congratulations,Thank you to both of you. You're

(03:11:24):
known as all business, and Iwant to know how that's going to serve
you well in this league from personalstandpoint, your brand, everything you do
in a daily preparation, there's alot that goes into being all business.
Tell me what that is to you. Yeah, that's just being a pro.
It's kind of and raised and grewup to do and keep the same

(03:11:45):
mindset, same attitude that I've hadthroughout my whole career. Once I get
here, continue to work hard,be consistent and disciplined, you know,
and all that I do. SoI'm looking forward to put in the work
here. Marvin Josh Wayne ESPN.What were the best pieces of advice your
dad gave you about being an NFLplayer? I mean, yeah, it
takes a lot of work, alot of preparation. You know, from

(03:12:05):
Monday to Saturday, it's all work, and then Sunday should be the easy
part. I go out there andhave fun, ready to put the work
in. So it starts with thework first, and then no, when
Sunday comes is week the benefits.Hey, Darius Howard, balls are from
cards wire. I can't help butnotice that ring on your finger. Is
that a cotton bowl ring? Yes, it is the cotton bowler. You

(03:12:30):
showed it to Marvin very quickly.No, I just show I was telling
Marma. You know he was gladhe didn't play. The whole week leading
up. You know, you seeOhio State. Everybody said, okay,
Marvin Harrison and now he's gonna play, to go play. He didn't play,
so you know we lucked out.So hey, Marvin Paul KELVC Cardinals
Broadcasting. Do you believe that receivershave to earn the trust of their quarterback?

(03:12:54):
And it's so what does that usuallyrequire? Absolutely? You gotta earn
the trust the quarterback and think itstarts every day in practice and being consistent.
Really, and you can't just doit one day, can't you do
it for one week? Has tobe you know, done over and over
and over again. I think that'show trust has earned. So no matter
where you get picked, you're firstreceivers. Round seven doesn't really matter have

(03:13:16):
to go and earn trust the quarterback, your coaches, your teammates, so
it all starts in practice. What'sgoing on, guys, Good to see
again, Tyler Drake, there's noa sports systems for Darius. What's the
feeling of just being able to representyour school as that first round pick and
what kind of impact can that havefor those guys falling in your footsteps.
Yeah, it's awesome. I feellike I'm setting the standard going forward.

(03:13:37):
But that's the name was Zoo isknown as Delon Zoo, so I'm just
added to the family. But nowI feel like I'm setting the standard for
my younger teammates that this is attainableif you work really hard, be consistent,
and really good trust your shrimp coach. I feel like every program is
built out the strimp coach and thatdevelops all the habits on and off the
field. Darius Zachersmanezcardinals dot Com.Right over here, JG mentioned that he

(03:14:01):
loves the violence that you play with. You mentioned the different tendencies that you
picked up. The emotional consistency isthe grit. 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 handplacement and then I lift weight, so
you know, that's all connected.So I'm just trying to be focused on

(03:14:22):
my technique as much as possible.Hey, Marvin over here, David Brown
with the Associated Press. You know, a lot of rookies come into the
league and they get a little bitof leeway. It's like, oh,
he's young, he needs to growand stuff like that. But obviously you're
going to be expected to be theguy here really quickly. How do you
deal with that pressure? How doyou go about just so much being expected

(03:14:46):
of you so quickly? I mean, yeah, I have high standards for
myself, but I'm just gonna goin there and try to work, you
know, the best I can.I just want to help the team win
really, so without a role Iplay, you know, come September,
do their role. This one's forboth of you guys. The fans want
to know who you guys are onthe inside. I don't know how much

(03:15:07):
you're willing to reveal to us today. A lot would be nice. Can
you tell us what you like todo away from football. What pisses you
off about things, and you knowwhat what makes you roll. I'm pretty
simple, like you know, bein my apartment, watch the movie.
If I go out and I goto a restaurant, get some food.

(03:15:28):
But other than that, they dotoo much. And then I'm pretty easygoing
guys, so try not to nothingbother me too much. Yeah, I
said the same thing, A realchill guy, just really obsessed with football.
But outside of football, like Isaid, I got my two degrees.
I got my undergrad hospitality management andthe minor and business. I got
my masters and Positive Culture with msFLA leadership. So just thinking about being

(03:15:52):
well rounded. And then I dophilanthropy work. I started my own nonprofit
foundation, Darius Robinson Helping Hands Foundation. But really just football and then everything
else. Honestly, congratulations, guys, Welcome to the valley. I'm Robbie
Baker with Fox ten. Darius.This is for you. After the draft
last night, you had a greatresponse about how your process and preparing for

(03:16:13):
a game. Just kind of wonderingwhere your love for kind of the grind
comes from and your love for thatprocess comes from. I would say my
junior year because I played little leagueball off and on, but I got
my junior year and I was playinghigh school and my whole goal is just
to earn a scholarship. But duringthat process, I really fell in love
with the game, fell in lovewith working out relationships with teammates, and
now it's kind of like my viceand I can't let it go and just

(03:16:37):
kind of finding ways to always getbetter, you know. Luke liitting here
with twelve Sports. Congrats both ofyou, Welcome to the valley. This
one's for you. Marvin. I'mcurious your thoughts or what was that conversation
like with your dad after your namewas called and you were able to be
drafted by this organization, and howsurreal is it for you to be following
your own father's footsteps but in yourown way. Yeah, I mean it

(03:16:58):
was very brief. They just inthe second graduations. I walk up to
the stage and then I had todo a bunch of interviews afterwards. So
I don't think it's hit both ofus yet. I know what's happened,
and I think, you know,one of my goals always make him proud,
So I hope I did that.Marvin bo Brock, pH and X
Sports. When do you anticipate catchingyour first passes from Kyler Murray? I

(03:17:20):
don't know. I don't know.I guess we'll see and hopefully as soon
as possible. Darius, you mentionedphilanthropy, and I know there's been it's
been talked about how you took someof the NI nil money to do a
get back to school for the kidsin Colombia. Where where did that belief
in doing those things come from?I say my family, my brother and

(03:17:41):
my mom really instilled that into mein tower me at a young age.
Just give back your blessings to others. In my fifth year at MISSOU is
the best year of my life,So why would I not share my blessings
with others. So that's what reallymotivated me to do that. And now
being in NFL, you know,my goals to do three events each year
and just give back because you know, life outside of football and bigger blessings

(03:18:01):
out there. Marvin, you obviouslyplayed with a number of highly drafted receivers
at Ohio State. What sort offeedback have you gotten about the NFL from
them? An you know about makingthe transition in the league itself. Yeah,
it's a long season. I thinkgoing from in a twelve game record
season you have in college to wasit seventeen games now and you got three
preseason, I feelly just the biggestchallenge the game stays the thing obviously neverre

(03:18:26):
all skilled and very talented athletes,So the mental part is probably the biggest
thing and the biggest change from thecollege to pros. Marvin, what's your
timeline for hiring an agent? Rightover here on the way far right,
you haven't hired an agent. Whyis that? Is there a timeline to
hiring one? And are you goingto sign the NFLPA licensing agreement. I'll
continue to talking to my team.We do what's best for me moving forward.

(03:18:50):
We just take it one day ata time. I just got drafted,
so I'm trying to enjoy the momentand be happy while I can at
the moment. Hey, Marvin,I'll say, Romaro, Arizona Republic,
Welcome. Then can you just kindof share a little bit about you touch
on it briefly here, but justa little bit more about growing up with
with your dad and you know,the experiences you had in Indianapolis and games
and so on and so forth.Yeah, I mean there's no better role

(03:19:13):
model, coach, mentor relationship.All the way through college, we were
captains together Ohio State, so weshared 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 stayed in touch.
I feel like pretty well, he'sjust an awesome human and even a

(03:19:33):
better teammates. If I could askyou quickly, what did you make of
what he was able to do afteryou saw 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. It's just we knew

(03:19:54):
how to do a special and whenhe got the chance, got over with
the right people and right coaching.That for the dudes, unbelievable. Brian
Bearfield, Hey, Kay, welcometo Houston. Brian Bearfield, big sarch
media. Everybody just called me sarageas you could tell by the hats.

(03:20:15):
So, Kate, I don't wantto take you back down memory lane for
just one second. I just lookedup some of your status. So you
were in high school, you wererunning back one thousand and four into seventy
seven yards. Your senior year,seventeen touchdowns, linebacker, one hundred and
sixty three tackles, four intercessions.You broke your high school scoring record in
basketball overall athlete. Even when yougot to Ohio State, you didn't really

(03:20:39):
you were like a hybrid. Theydidn't really know where to put you until
you ended up at tight end.So I say all that to ask you
what the Houston Texans are getting anathlete who's willing to play anywhere and everywhere
they need them. Correct, onehundred percent. Yeah, that's one hundred
percent, hundred percent correct, nodoubt about it. I'll do whatever we
gotta do here win ball games.And I mean they got awesome players,

(03:21:01):
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 I'll get youto where you are today. 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 tounpin the paper in my life and my

(03:21:24):
coaching career, so I mean myplaying career, excuse me. And it's
just I think I'm just I feellike I'm battle tested and i feel like
I'm ready to go. Thank you. Yeah? Cool, Cool, You're
on mute any better? Katie gotme? Yeah, I got you now.

(03:21:50):
Cole Thompson USA today Texans Wire,Congratulations are getting drafted. I just
heard you kind of mentioned a littlebit about coaching. You're talking about your
coaching career now your playing career.Do you want to get into coaching afterwards
when you're done playing football? No, No, it's a lot of emotions
going through my body right now.So regardless, No, I'm not playing

(03:22:13):
on getting coaching. I'm playing onjust playing as long as I can.
Just a quick follow up, andyou look at a guy like Tamiko Ryans,
who is a former player that isvery close to the league, only
has been out for about seven years. What does it mean to be playing
for somebody who's translated over to thisnew side of things but also understands what
a player goes through. On thedaily basis. I think that makes the

(03:22:35):
biggest difference in the world. AndI think you can tell by the way
the players respect him and just howand 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 reallyreally excited to be able to plan er
Nathan Cody. Heyk Cody Davis fromSports Illustrated. You and I met at

(03:22:56):
the NFL COMBA by the way,Yeah, and would like to know,
man, what are what type oftight end are the Houston Texans getting?
Man, I'll tell you what they'regetting. Just a complete utility player.
Basically, I'm gonna do whatever youasked me to do at one hundred percent,
uh one hundred everything I got everysingle time, and just I'm going

(03:23:18):
to be the exact glue in thelocker room. I'm going to be a
dude people can come to when thingsgo wrong. And I'm so excited to
help his team anyway I can.Kim, Hey, Kate, It's Kim
Davis with Chalk Talk. Congratulations ongetting drafted by the Texans. Kind of
following up on what Cody just toask you from your compation with CJ.

(03:23:41):
I know he's spoken of how youhave the staff, but what do you
know about this just from what you'veseen this offense? And although you're your
utility player, what excites you mostabout it other than obviously playing with CJ?
Now, I just think one.I think Dalton Schultz is a great
player. I've uh watched a lotof his film growing up and just even
like couple years study a lot ofwhat he does, especially was on the

(03:24:01):
Cowboys and now just to be ableto learn from a guy like that and
take notes and tips how he handleshis life and everything, it's gonna be
awesome for right now, in longterm down the road. And one quick
follow up, what do you knowabout the city of Houston? Have you
spending time here? No? No. I trained in Brisco, Dallas for
a little bit for a couple ofmonths, and then that was really about

(03:24:24):
it. Other than that, I'venever really been to Houston, But I
mean, I'm really excited to come. All right, Thank you the media,
you too, Aaron, Hey,Kate. When it comes to blocking,
some tight ends embrace it, somedo it because it's part of the
job. What's your mentality for blocking, and I have a follow up.

(03:24:48):
Man, I love blocking. Ido. I'm gonna throw my face in
the fire chance I can get.I might always be pretty, but I
promise you're gonna get every ounce ofpower I got. And the draft process
as a proven guy, did yougo on a lot of visits? Did
you work out privately? We're someonesthat you remember, And what kind of

(03:25:09):
level of activity did you have withTexans Combine meetings, et cetera. Yeah,
thank yeah, we had. Wehad a formal at the combine.
Uh And I've always, like Isaid, I always talked to CJ closely.
Uh So, just having that andthen just throughout the prot we had
a couple of zoom calls here andthere, and other than that, I
mean I trained at State Coach Mickand coach at the trained coach is up

(03:25:33):
there with train a group of me, Tommy Iickenberg, and Steel Chambers,
my roommates that we lived with inthe afternoon, and that was really about
it. We just trained and playball at that point and the other teams.
Did you go on trips things likethat? 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,

(03:25:56):
we asked you a lot of questionsabout playing with CJ. But you've
been scouted as a tight end butcan also be fixed 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 handle releases, how they handle their

(03:26:18):
feet a top and the routes andeverything like I mean, for me,
I've never played it in my life. So starting you literally started from square
one, absolute square one. Solearning slowly with them, and then I
mean, this is a business andyou have to do what's best for his
career and his future as well.So you know, obviously has familiarity with
Joe Brady. He had one ofhis best season with them, so you

(03:26:41):
know, I think he's going tobe a big part of their offense and
continue to grow as a receiver.You know, it's a lost for our
room because he's a dynamic playmaker.He can play inside and out and just
his energy. Man, I thinkhe really became one of the favorite teammates
on the team because he kept thingslight. But he also was a really
hard worker and made plays when weneed him to. So on a personal
standpoint, I'm definitely gonna, youknow, miss him having him in the

(03:27:05):
building, and he's kind of likethe guy you I get to talk to
and he's like my best friend.But on the other hand, I get
to see him, you know,continue to take steps in his career.
Uh, he's still very young,so he has a lot of good football
ahead of him. Literally king Buryhis offense and how be different for the

(03:27:26):
offense. Yeah. Yeah, wehaven't honestly even started an install yet,
so I haven't even got a layof the land quite yet. I'll probably
take a look at just got ourI pass within the last few days,
so I'll try to take a sneakpeek at what we have looking for.
But you know, I know withhim talking to zach Ertz, he does
a great job of trying to gethis playmakers involved, which I think we

(03:27:46):
have a really good group of guysfrom the running backs to receivers and some
solid tight ends as well. SoI'm just looking forward to see where I
fit into that, and you know, I think with him, his biggest
things is making sure the playmakers aremaking plays and trying to fit the scheme
around that, which is always goodto hear, good to see. Two,

(03:28:09):
this is what your offense? Yeah, yeah, it's definitely, you
know, an adjustment obviously when you'relearning a new offense. And it's kind
of the same mentality I take intolast year in years past, where you
kind of just want to take aday one approach, kind of erase what

(03:28:31):
you've learned in the past. Butat the end of the day, I
think, uh, 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 terminology andCliff's offense is just going to be something
that's an 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

(03:28:52):
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 grond and running. So sofar it's we haven't learned anything yet.
But my approach is the saying,try to take good notes in there,
ask good questions, and then studyon my own at night to the focus.

(03:29:13):
Yeah h yeah, I think Igot some really good work down in
Florida. Is just working on myfootwork, just being better at the top
of my routes, sharper on myspeed cuts, dig routes, out routes,
and just being cleaner with my footworkat the top of the routes.

(03:29:33):
I think, you know, witha little bit of zone covers that we've
seen in the past with some teamskind of running more too hot show,
you're gonna get a little bit moreof catch technique where guys are kind of
sitting at the top of your route. So I want to be better at
being efficient to getting out of thoseroutes when a guy's kind of sitting at
my depth, whether it's a fifteenyard comeback or a twelve yard curl route,

(03:29:54):
you know, being able to getout efficiently so I can keep creating
keep the separate within my route.So obviously I'm always still working on my
ball skills and making sure I'm justcatching a lot of footballs in the off
season, but just really being betterat the top of the routes and you
know, sharper out of my cutsis something and I think I can improve
on. Good to see you too. You know, you're obviously one of

(03:30:18):
the leaders of this team and teamcaptain, and with so many new faces,
new players, locker room, whatis the challenge you're going to have
and the other leaders in that lockerroom blend everything together because there's so many
new and different personalities. Now,yeah, I think I think that's really
started with coach Quinn in the wayhe's really integrated everybody over the first two

(03:30:39):
days. I think we haven't evengotten into x's and oo's quite yet.
We've just really beginning to know oneanother, getting out there with Chad and
the strength coaches and getting some goodworkouts in just kind of creating a foster
in an environment where everybody's the sameand continuing to have a competitive environment.
I think that brings out the bestin one another. And I've violy you

(03:31:00):
know, you have guys like ZachErtz who's played a lot of football and
won a championship, Marcus Mariota obviously, Bobby Wagner who's a future Hall of
Famer. So you got some guyswho have been brought in here who know
what it's supposed to look like atthis level. And for myself, I
just want to continue to add uhmy value and be even more vocal this
year than I have in the past, especially with possibly a new quarterback coming
in. I think that can reallyhelp our offense. Have you know,

(03:31:24):
some more unity with the guys whoknow what it looks like, helping bringing
those guys, the younger guys along. I don't know, if you had
a chance to watch conference, hedidn't want to use the word rebuild.
Yeah, changes going on with franchise, all the new changes, new coaching
staff, all the new players.Is there a certain word use everything?

(03:31:50):
Honestly, I just think of itas a as a new year. Just
talking to Sam cosmy, uh,we've been here for a few years,
so it's a lot of new faces. I think, you know, this
is probably the most I would sayturnover we've had in the last few years.
So there's guys coming from all differentareas, walks of life, and
but I think the one thing isthe same. They're all coming in looking
for an opportunity to compete, takeanother step in their careers and prove that

(03:32:15):
they're one of the best players atthe position. And I think Coach Quinn
has emphasized that we're gonna have theopportunity to prove ourselves. Whether you're a
ten year vet or a second yearplayer. You know, this is a
clean slate for everybody. So Ithink it's just about getting on the same
page, enjoying coming in here andworking together, and also just pushing each

(03:32:35):
other in these workouts, and thenwhen we start getting on the field,
really get that competition going. Tryto simulate as we go along in this
all season process of how the gamesare going to be. Hey, how
are you doing. Good to seeyou too, Yeah, yeah. I

(03:33:05):
think Coach Quinn has really assemble assembleda very unique group of coaches. There's
multiple head coaches, there's multiple quarteruh coordinators that have come from different places,
and so you have guys who havea lot of football experience, some
have played, some have coached inbig games. And then you bring in,
you know, the the talent thatwe have defensively and offensively, and

(03:33:28):
I just think you can feel theunity and the sameness in in the message
that he's trying to preach to ourteam, and it's We're gonna be tough
and we're going to be competitive,but we're also going to have fun.
And he like I think he saidin Your Guys' Interview, he said he
likes to do, you know,hardship with good people. So I think
that's fun. You know, aguy like me likes to put my nose

(03:33:52):
down and grind and work. SoI know him and I are going to
continue to hit it off. Andyou know it's just my job to help
bring other guys along with me.Thank you more. What does it look
like to your next step as avocal leader? Yeah, you're thinking what
does that mean to you? Ithink for me, I I've grown a

(03:34:13):
lot in my vocal leadership. Ithink I try to always find the balance
of when to say something, whennot to say something. I think I
never want I've always wanted to bea person when I say something that means
something like you don't want to beYou're giving all the motivational speeches, but
you're not backing up with your play, or you're you're talking so much you
kind of your message is drowned out. And so it's kind of continued to

(03:34:35):
find that balance of when to saythings and when to kind of just take
a step back. But I thinkI've I've gotten a really good feel of
how to do that. I thinkobviously with a new coaching staff, you
just try to understand what they howthey want things done, and you try
to, you know, bring whatyou do well into that, and you
also try to encourage the guys whohaven't taken those steps in their career to

(03:34:56):
do that as well. So Ithink for me, it's just really starting
in my position group, I thinkwe have, uh 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

(03:35:16):
season. What is I guess,Yeah, approach. Yeah, I hit
it really hard this offseason, SoI kind of started training a little bit

(03:35:37):
after the Super Bowl, so Igot a good six to eight weeks into
where I feel football ready right now, which is great for me because you
know, obviously we're probably having amini camp at the end of this month,
so that'll be I'm already in footballshape. So that's that's exciting to
know that I'm ready to be ableto run routes and get going with our
quarterbacks and get going with our system. So you know, as this off

(03:35:58):
season goes on, I just trustto play that add and the guys have
here. I want to be herefor all the workouts and things like that
and be a part of the teambuilding and just continue to learn the playbook
as we start to install things,and uh be at a point where I
could go out there and be confidentin my game what I've worked on this
offseason and and put that into howthat fits into this offense. So I

(03:36:18):
always try to pride myself on knowingmultiple positions, just to have be flexible
for the team and be flexible formyself so I'll be ready for whatever they
wherever they put me. I'm surprisedthat you're going to have a new quarterback
this year. Yeah, yeah,you never well I don't say never,

(03:36:43):
but it's it's always tough seeing likesome of you build a really good relationship
with go on and move on intheir career, and especially your quarterback,
because as a receiver, you wantto continue to try to build that chemistry,
you know what I mean. Thatwas only our first year playing with
one another, and I feel likehim and I had our uh we made
some great plays and we had someyou know, room for growth, and
I think that comes with any newquarterback receiver relationship and so but to see

(03:37:09):
him go in a situation where havea chance to compete and play under a
really good quarterback in Geno, youknow, I think he'll he'll really like
playing with receivers like uh, wellthrowing the receivers like Locket and Jason Smith
and Jig but in d K,you know what I mean. So I
think he's going in a situation wheredifferent it's more mentally they any thing though,
like lesside was always my best sideback in college, but since I

(03:37:33):
got to always been playing right.But you know, it's a it's a
good challenge for me and I canshow people I can as you play right
hand left, So it's a versatilitythen, so I'm happy about it.
There. You moved around a lotthroughout your career that there's jumbo side tackle,
I guess, and the says andplaying both the left on the right
side, do you think you kindof benefit from focusing a little bit more

(03:37:54):
on the right center a little bit? But you know, there's a new
system that we have like have funmindset most in the right, but also
have my mind's on the level too, just in case something does happening to
like you know what I mean,like Coltland or you know, Pete,
of course, but I'm always gonnabe ready for love no matter what.
How quickly have you felt like youpicked up this new system that you're working

(03:38:15):
in now? It was we actuallypre picked up pretty well cause it's the
same system that I'm used to backin the hot see, cause we're more
like spread back at how I say, so you know, it's pretty good.
One of those like the draft processoff seasons. A lot of people
outside the buildings, pagers get theright tack, a lot of yeah,
alright now, A lot of peoplein the building were like we have a

(03:38:35):
right time. A lot of peopleget motivated by that. You followed it,
like have you Padna, You're doingit? Though I don't. I
read into it a little bit.But also the same time, like they
not here of course, but Idon't really care what they say. I
know what I can do, andthe team know I what I can do,
so they trusted me right now,and I'm not gonna live in right
now? How hard or how easyis that to compartmentalize that and use that

(03:38:58):
as fuels going forward rather than thatthe kind of marity it uh, I
j I just keep the seats andeverybody knows that one person I don't really
care for him at Also it's allgood, but it's all love. I
love uh outside of this, butyou keep doing me keep it better,
keep on these knights, doe whatI can do there? You've been a
outspoken about your supporter Zamir, andobviously it's just his chance now to be

(03:39:20):
the dog. Wait, what isit about him that you bought in so
early? The reason why I boughtit so early cause us I was at
a house they they always taught us. Thanktually I joke get it. And
ever since I got here, I'malways wanna go get and I gotta picked
late. And I always wanna provepeople wrong. You know, I think
prove people wrong all my life.I don't wanna keep doing that, That's

(03:39:43):
all I guess. More just likewe all putaying like set you feel like
the community years uh nine day differencenine they difference from my first year and
my second year to now, likenow I'm my guy. I know I
can play. I know I cango against one of the best Special Knights
anybody else that we want to playthis year, and I know what I

(03:40:03):
can do. So all I gottado now is actually meet my potential and
should do it and help everybody elseout on the team as well. You've
practiced a lot against Malcolm and he'sreally come into his own real What is
it about Malcolm that's helped him makethat next step? There? Man,
Malcolm, he's quiet, he doesn'treally say too much. He comes in
to work every day, do whathe does, and he works hard.

(03:40:24):
He doesn't flick twice at anything.Yeah, he'll get mad over a couple
rest pause. At the same timethat like he has a mentality of adult
like he's he don't really care whaty'all think or anybody else thinks for real,
So it's just like, alright,let's keep going. That's how everybody
is on the team about Tyraise.You got that same mindset. He does
have the same mindset. A littlenervous, but uh nah, he nah.

(03:40:48):
He has definitely grown up a lotfrom his like first year here until
now, like he has, buthe's he's growing up a lot mentally too,
until you guys are reimagine the offensiveline a little bit with you out
there right side you u farm therenext to y'all the on the outside too,
and then drafting the guys on theline here. How long exciting is
that to be part of something that'sthat's kind of being you know, having

(03:41:09):
that trust but also being reinvented alittle bit. That's great, you know,
But me and doing those like theygonna keep a placing us, of
course, but all the same time, we gotta keep going, you know,
became street and think about what theydid. All we gotta do is
saying about what what can we dowith you better? In four terms?
Well? Sorry, he don't puta lot on the outside a little bit

(03:41:30):
more. How how long were youever working together? Working pretty well?
You know you said for us,we had like a a little rooking moment
a little bit, but you know, yeah, you know those those tougher
conversations, those ones where we mightdisagree where we do agree, where where
he's got his two cents on it, which is, you know, always
the best two cents I've heard.But me being who I am, you
know, I'm I'm I'm gonna throwmy two cents in there, you know.

(03:41:54):
So that's just uh, it's beenawesome. Man. We he's he's
you know, a resource for me, just a person that I can always
bounce my thoughts off of. Andnow, you know, just a year
you said, thirteen months. NowI feel more comfortable just you know,
bringing certain things that if you know, you never you never wanna come off
too strong. But I'm a curiousguy. I got a lot of questions.
I like, I like football alot. I like to talk and
talk the games. So you know, come to find out he's the exact

(03:42:16):
same. So we uh, youknow, we get along well and and
uh, we're gonna keep keep buildingthat relationship. Sometimes in this league,
playing you know, eighteen games,they tryna make it twenty. You know,
that's like it sound like a littlea little fever dream to be honest,
but but uh, if we canfind a way to k you know,
stay up right out there, keepkeep Aaron on his feet. You
know, I'm I'm excited for thatand uh everything that comes with it.
But uh but yeah, like Isaid, man, that's it's it's harder

(03:42:39):
said than uh or harder done.And said, I guess you know,
it's one of those things. It'slike that's a lot of games, you
know, all of a sudden takea lot of hits. They take a
lot of hits where they're not looking, and it's just how can we keep
him healthy? Yeah? Yeah,are you when do you think I get
you're a receiver room now? Positionsand you guys have made when Montay 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

(03:43:01):
all the guys out there at once, and and you know, it's one
of those positions where every day issomething might happen to nick up. You
know, it's just a tough positionto stay out there at all times.
But I feel like we got agreat group and the number one thing is
how can we stay healthy? Howcan we you know, I'll be out
on the field, and I thinkhaving depth like this and the group we
have is gonna help us. Havingguys that can do different things, that

(03:43:22):
can go catch the ball over themiddle, all types of things that it's
gonna take some of the strain offoff all of us. You know,
It's it's a good group. SoI'm excited to uh, you know,
get out there. I feel likewe haven't had the whole whole thing together,
but you know, come season time, a role and it's gonna be
exciting. What about the guy yourwhole number? Yeah, yeah, like
yeah, man, he's uh,it was a brute and once he catches

(03:43:43):
that ball, I mean he's he'sgot great instinctive where the defense is going.
I think the talle on this teamis really good too, and I
think that I can come in hereand make a big difference, you know,
when we can win a lot offootball games. You know. So
that was my That was part ofmy and your achilles point nine? How

(03:44:03):
sough was that? How long?Take? Where are you at now?
I'm one hundred percent now? Andit was like a walk in the park.
It's like a sprained ankle. Youknow. It was very easy,
you know, because I had theknee. The knee was pretty hard,
you know, and the Achilles wasI would say it's easy, you know,

(03:44:24):
just because that's just my mentality,and it was. It was pretty
easy to be But you know,I've had these injuries and it's been storm
like the past two years, youknow, having haveing like good, great
games. The next thing, youknow, hurt and then you know,
so got got the injury prone outthere, you know. But I think

(03:44:45):
the storm is over it, youknow, you know, and I think
I'm gonna gonna take off now,you know, and there will be no
setbacks and the injury prone thing willbe gone out of the window again.
Yeah, I'm sorry, You're gonnabe back. I am. I am
excited. You know. He doesa lot of great things, and he's

(03:45:07):
a great person, and we havea great relationship. It's gonna be it's
gonna be a fun year. We'regonna have a lot of fun. We're
gonna do a lot of great things. So I can't wait to here waiting
the interest you've had Is that justbad luck? Is every Is there anything
you've can attribute to beyond just misfortunately? Yeah, it's just unfortunate, you
know. But God has a planalways, you know. I don't know

(03:45:31):
what the plan exactly is, youknow, I don't know, but whatever
plan it is, it's for meto be here. You know. I
had a great rookie year. UhI didn't. I didn't really have the
volume as other people my rookie year, but I still had a great rookie
year. Six yards of carry,you know things like that. I think
it was like nine touchdowns ten includingthe playoffs. And so there's always been

(03:45:56):
like, all right, guy,lets me show my talent shine a little
bit. Like even when I hadthe knee. So I had the knee,
right, A lot of people don'tknow, like I didn't get hurt
again whenever I got you know,got cleaned up. So I went down
in twenty one, right, hadthe injury, the knee injury, and
then came back later the next yearand I played the first few games and

(03:46:16):
it just fel there was a lotof scars issue in there. So I
did to get it cleaned up.I didn't get hurt again. I could
have played the whole year, butI got it cleaned up so I can
feel like me. And so afterI got that cleaned up, the first
two games back from the injury,I had over one hundred and twenty yards
rushing right, and then went onhad great, great ending of the year,

(03:46:37):
you know, one hundred total yardsin the playoff game we lost,
which I hate the most. Stats. Don't marry me. I want to
win. But then come back thenext year hurt again. Like torn Achilles,
So two really unfortunate injuries. Butthat's just God's plan, you know.
And I think that the storm isnow over, you know. And
I do think that I'll be ableto shine my light to the whole world.

(03:47:00):
Are you concerned that you have thatlabel you can't stand and free?
I could care less, because Ido. I do. I know this
out there because as as it shouldbe, it should be. I got
hurt two major injuries back or notback to back years. But you know,
so I haven't been on the fieldas much as I should. That's
true, that is true. Butit's not like I'm having these little little

(03:47:24):
dinky injuries and sitting out. It'ssomething I can't control, literally, So
that's why I'm not bothered by it. Like, yeah, I am injury
polling. You could say that,you know, But I do think that
the Chargers are getting a guy that'sgonna be healthy from now on, you
know, God will it, andit's gonna be great. And I do
think that it's gonna be It's gonnabe a great. However, many years

(03:47:46):
here, when you've been on thefield, you've been highly adopted five years,
but very average for your career likeknowing that when you're out there or
you're very adopted, how much confidencedoes that get you? That really all
you need is all the confidence inthe world, you know, the way
I work. I wouldn't say justfrom the numbers, but just the way

(03:48:07):
I work, my work ethic,you know, and my relationship with Jesus
is like I have the most confidencewhen I step out there because I do
know, like if he grants methe health, it's over with. I
don't think I would be you know, I think it will be a great
year or whatever, a couple ofyears. However many years he grants me

(03:48:28):
great health, you know. AndI think just the work ethic, my
prayer and all that stuff, that'swhat helped me have that confidence. With
the numbers will be there and theymight be higher after this year, you
know what I'm saying. And it'scrazy to think about because I had six
or six yards per carry, youknow. So we'll see you're looking forward
to running behind this line they puttogether. Oh yeah, yeah, yeah.

(03:48:50):
I played with Bradley. I playedwith him, you know, I
know the Slater, I know allthe I know all the guys, you
know, and I'm excited. Ithink it's like I said earlier, it's
a talented group. You know,we just got to put together win some
games. Cause that's why I camehere for. That's it all part of
a year, or I wouldn't.I wouldn't say part of the recruitming.
But like whenever I decided I wasgonna sign, it was great to have

(03:49:13):
him in the room. What's yourrelationship, Yeah, we're great. We're
we have a great relationship. That'she's like my brother. So I think
a company ch compliment each other verywell. You know, he can do
a lot of stuff too. Youknow, we got like a lot of
people think he's just power power power, but I think he has some other
part of his game two which itit'll be great cause I feel like I

(03:49:35):
could do everything and when one gettired, we we can roll it in.
We keep rolling win some games.So when you the two of you
get going, well, how doyou think that's gonna look for? What
will like? What will be thatpartnership kind of back there? I know
that's a hard question. How doI think it? I think it'll look

(03:49:56):
beautiful. You know a lot ofpeople call it a passing league, but
but I think you got to runthe ball to win the super Bowl.
You know, if you look atthe team to win the Super Bowl,
they can run the ball, theycan control the clock. And so if
we're both good, it will lookgreat, beautiful. How would you describe
the Gregor running offense? I wouldI would describe it as, you know,

(03:50:18):
a great offense. I think hegives a quarter he's gonna give the
quarterback a lot of options. He'sgonna give the running back a lot of
options. He's gonna give the receivera lot of options, you know,
and I think it'll be I thinkit's gonna be great. His offense is
going to be amazing. When wetalked to him a bit, you know,
I was like, why are youben La built something good rushing offenses
throughout your career everywhere you've been,And you said that one part of it

(03:50:41):
is just you got a call place. You got a call run place as
a running back. You know,how much confidence, how much excite does
it give you when you know youhave to play caller that's gonna stick with
it and allow you and the offensiveclient to give you a resident gives me
a lot of excitement. You know, it's gonna be. Like I said,
it's fun to play in his offense, you know, and I think

(03:51:01):
he does have some good things inthe past game too, But like you
said, he sticks with the run, and that's that's the identity. You
You want an offense that has anidentity, right, you won't be looking
everywhere else to find your your identity. You want to have it. And
so I think his offense has thatand the guys he builds and puts in
there, it complements that identity.So I think it's gonna be great.

(03:51:26):
You're full go for training. Look, I ain't gonna answer any of the
if it's up to me. Yes, Look, because I had this problem
like three two years three years ago, I'm thinking I'm full go. I
think I'm ready to go, andthe next thing, you know, I'm
on pup like, hey, looksome story above my prey pay grade.

(03:51:48):
So but I don't know. HopefullyI can start. I think I'm ready
to start, you know, atthe beginning of training camp. But that's
not up to me. As I'velearned, I wouldn't say that. I
think I've been I've been in somegreat organizations, and I think this gr
this organization is a great organization,and the training staff is great, and

(03:52:11):
so they just want what's best forme, you know, and they're l
they're taking care of me, whichthat's what you want in an organization,
and so that's where that comes from, which I appreciate it, Like I
really appreciate that, you know,because I'm the type of guy like I
work really hard, so maybe sometimeI'm blind to you know, the danger
of something, you know, SoI I appreciate it. But like I

(03:52:35):
said, if it's up to me, yeah, I'm out there. But
you never know what any frustration foryou during the heading into free agency,
you know, dealing with with rehaband not you know, having won a
full season tape or or production togo out there. Is there any part
of that where you're like, gosh, you know, have hit the open
market with a different situation. Youknow. Nah, I like it.

(03:52:56):
I like, how would I saythis? I like it the hard way,
but not, you know, Ilike it the hard way. I
like it. I like trial andtrue relations. So I mean the dice
that I was giving the role wasI was coming off of Achilles, and

(03:53:22):
that was that was the lowest plan. So it was beauty in that like
I was comfortable. I was caughtlike there was multiple teams, you know,
I wasn't. It wasn't like Ididn't have any other team. But
I was comfortable and sitting back andjust enjoying the process, letting myself get
fully healed. So whenever that team, whoever I would sign with, who

(03:53:43):
now is the Chargers, is goingto get the best met you know.
And I think people all around theleague know that, like, Okay,
this guy, Okay, it's ahigh risk, high reward type thing,
right, not even a high riskfor low rice because you it's a bus
is right. So I got herlast year, so not as much money
needs to be thrown in there.But I think everyone around the league knows

(03:54:05):
that whenever I am on the field, the numbers don't lie, and so
they know that. And a lotof teams were like, all right,
here, you can. We giveyou this, but we want you to
be healthy. So when I'm healthy, it's gonna be great. This is
the chance that I've been giving here. I'm so grateful and I know that's
gonna be. They won't be Theywon't regret it. Are you the type

(03:54:28):
of person that likes the opportunity forme, you know, so I'm excited
about it. Oh a lot.He helped me a lot, even feel
like the first day, just tryingto help me get used to to write
tackle. He got my feet usedto write tackle like my first at practice.
I'm like, dude, I stillfeel you feel a little off.

(03:54:50):
I feels balanced to my stands,and he showed me the small technique and
to do with my feet, whichI still do even even I left.
Tackle just keeps his partner of teamsof my process and getting to my stand
So stuff like that that he taughtme from day one, and obviously in
practice was fun. Just compete withhim, you know. It's just to

(03:55:11):
meet at the back of the pocketand to dap each other back toever you
rep like that was competing, youknow what I mean. So that's my
guy. As much as you loveme on your the West side, how
bittersweet is as a certain matters becauseit happened to him, Yeah, that's
the thing. That's not how It'sdefinitely how I and how I thought about
the transition will go. You know, I thought it would be you know,

(03:55:33):
my homesoone timing a cardinal his wholecareer. You know, you know,
you want to play here forever,you know what I mean when I
was talking about his plans, soyou know you you wish transitions like one
of those fairy tale like to yourtime. But but again, either way,

(03:55:54):
you know, we talked about it. You know, that's that's the
how it goes, you know.But obviously you know he sees he's he's
been one of my biggest supporters.Again, I affect that everybody leads in
their own way, you know,not everybody's the guys coming around, cause
like and that's not everybody, rightLike I felt for me, that's me

(03:56:16):
specifically on game day with the Oline and after we do one on one
like that's my like, well,Hump did like that's my like big vocal
time. I feel like I've talkedto Hump about this, you know,
just recently talking about how what Iwant to do for the room is I
want to bring that Hump energy thathe brought right so last year. Of

(03:56:41):
course, some traits been doing itfor years, but the year I spent
with him, he brought a lotof the energy and excitement and the happiness
in the room was just his naturalenergy to where I only had to focus
on me. You know, Ididn't have to make sure other other guys
are you know, feel some typeof way when they came in here because

(03:57:03):
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 amp to go to practice,everybody's hype. Weren't taking and field team
one period. You know it's alow day or something. You know,
it's a it's a day, butlike I wanna make you feel like your
parents a trip right now. Iwant to bring that cause that's what we

(03:57:24):
and Hump did with each other.Weeople, hype each other out, dude
joint, dudes about to get walkedthrough. We're lit. So I want
to do that. I want tobring that energy. I want to make
bring more guys. You want todo that, you know, Yeah,
I wanted to do that from dayone, you know, I kind of
I wanted to do that from dayone, from just talking to him,
and obviously it's that time. Ispend the off season before OTA started just

(03:57:50):
being in myselfish thinking about what theroom needs, you know, because I
know I knew a new role asone of the leaders you know on the
office, is that we need aguy like that that's gonna make sure the
old line is picked up ready togo. Every day I was held accountable.
Little things aren't happened to practice.People aren't saying anything. And how

(03:58:11):
I may lead maybe different than somebodyelse may lead. You know. I
like to a practice at least liketo leave with positivity, you know what
I mean. So, but hethe energy yet went beyond just the hype
up the deal line and stuff too. So that's kind of how I wanna
be some goal mine literally my wholelife. I wanna be a NFL team

(03:58:33):
captain, like specifically the NFL.I wasn't a captain of high school.
I wasn't a captain of college.But I made a joke when I was
in high school. It's like there, I feel like I'm not gonna be
a captain to like get to theNFL. Yeah, but that would be
awesome, you know, but youknow, if it happens, i'd be
great. But not either way,I wanna assume a role as a captain

(03:58:58):
from the perspect to the guys onthe team, the vidual work to me
and to get back to that way. Yeah, I mean, I can't
say that. I mean, Iguess the biggest thing is that I felt
like it has felt like how ityou used to in the past. But
it didn't take just the first dayOTAs. It took training left and right

(03:59:18):
once the season ended, cause Ididn't know what it was gonna be true,
So it took a lot of yeahreps just to get back to feeling
like myself for day one OTAs andthen that whole first week. But now
like today, specifically just changing somesmall things with my feet. I did
day talking about a line coach aboutsome things I can do with my feet

(03:59:39):
to get to that to sell atthat traditional angle that I loved to set
on. Felt even I thought Ifelt, I thought I felt great already.
By mokat, I felt even better. Okay, so I'm even more
excited tomorrow. And now I'm gettingmy feedback and how I liked it the
right side and on the left side, So I'm excited. I mean,
obviously, I feel like in theleague, whether I left or right,

(04:00:01):
you're still going against premier guys,so obviously you have high expectations for your
left and or right tackle. Butthere's definitely uh, like the the level
of energy and like the expectations.Definitely taking the human spect cause now conned
the blindside, that's the that's thetackle roles, you know. So so

(04:00:24):
yeah, I would say in termsof communication as far as just even outside
of facilities, just stuff like that, like really creating that tackle quarterback bond
even more off the field, Ithink has been something that's even been cool.
It's I got a text one dayand it's like, hey, like
you play left And I was like, yeah, you know, yeah,
I've been training both. I've beentraining both. You know. I I

(04:00:46):
aksed after the season. They're like, honestly, you know, we'll talk
to you still play in the season. And I just got a text and
like, depending on what happens.But with the free agency then, so
I was like, you know what, I had a whole season right tackle.
So if I get the word,I'm going I'm standing right tackle.
I don't just to do what Idid before. I'm built on that bus.

(04:01:07):
I was like, I might aswells trained the left tackle now as
if I'm gonna be a left tackle, And I'd rather do that than training
on the right time and get thecall, hey you're the left tackle.
I'm like, oh, I didn'teven switch on my feet yet, you
know what I mean. So I'mlike, let me just prepare in advance.
I was like, yeah, thisguy, you know, I think
occasionally i'm third down, there wouldbe a lot of twists. I would
just know like it's automatically coming.And I think that was my mindset for

(04:01:31):
like the first half of the season, like I didn't have to go into
a gaming with surprise like oh mygosh, they did that. I kind
of figured like, okay, likethis is this is the type of rushman
again, like this is how thisguy usually rushes. But I get the
vibe, this is how the endslike the rush you know, tackles that
are you know, first year guyswho got the premiere patch on. I

(04:01:52):
already knew what it was gonna be, already knew of every stunt and honestly
just knowing that it's kind of anadvantage too, So you're not you're not
you're not old. They brought twisted. It was never an Aaron Donald coming
up to mind. Like three playsin the world in two minutes, I
knew that it was a wint youknow what I mean. I'm watching more
than everybody else, and he rarelygoes out there on occasional third downs on

(04:02:13):
the DM. He's gonna pick me, you know what I mean. So
in fact fact, it's kind ofit's also kind of advantage in the way,
but it's also excited, like,Okay, here with the two guys
of this talent and this this backgroundat the top of that group. How
much of your discussions with Ryan Iguess the interview process were about how you

(04:02:33):
might approach this and and and whatdo you think is mean the key element?
You're getting the most out of thosebecause you got two guys. This
ain't my first roudio, No.I know a lot of people look at
say, well, this guy onlybeen on the field for three years Western
Tucky and Oregon. Just because Ididn't have the title of a running back

(04:02:54):
coach where I was at the Memphis, I never carried myself that way.
I was carrying myself as a runningcoach. I approach every day that way.
So at Memphis we had Darren Henderson, Patrick Taylor, Tony Poller,
Kenny game Weell, Tonyo Gibson.I've seen talented backs and I've seen them
be able to function with one another. So I hear that all the time

(04:03:15):
about Well, I this ain't myfirst rodeo. Same thing out there at
Oregon. We Buckevern Norwich and GeorgeJames. You go look at their numbers.
They all functioned well together. Welearned how to play as one.
So this ain't my first rodeo.So and plus I know those two kids
cause I recruited them when they wasin high school. So I'm up for
the challenge and the responsibility of it. Got right behind it. Dan Hope

(04:03:37):
Carlos, just what is your kindof coaching philosophy? How do you get
the best out of your running backs? I get the best outum, because
I love the young men. Mymain focus is to change the hearts and
minds of them, and they'll playfor me. I had just got through
reading Coach Trestle's Winners Manual, andit's somethingay that I took from that book.
You have your purpose and you haveyour goals, all right. My

(04:04:00):
purpose is to serve and pour intothe young men. Now, my goals
as a football coach, all ofthem are take care of themselves. So
that's one of the ways I'm justreal relationship base and I'm very detailed at
this position. I know y'all heardme say before, and I'm gonna keep
saying. This is the worst coachposition in football. It's terrible. Guys
hire anybody to coach his position andrecruiters. CARLS. Locker is not a

(04:04:22):
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 coachthe phrase another soft batch cookies. Where
did that phrase come from? Kindof always but this boy, let me
tell you about that boy. I'vebeen called everything but the name for child

(04:04:43):
of God by the people at theother places I left. So that I
been getting. Pillsbury needs to giveme a deal because I've been getting I
been getting some DM the texts,some of them have been so funny.
The Salt Beatch could get think thingcame from just having a frame of mind,
a mental toughness. It had nothingto do with guys getting in the

(04:05:05):
portal and anything. Now most peoplesay I'm a salt Beats cookie for leaving
there, But actually I'm not becauseit takes great strength to make a decision
to leave a place. No,a weak minded person wouldn't be able to
make the decisions I make, Soit took great strength to do that.
So I'm telling you I by literallyin my DMS. It's some it's some
great comedians out here that have beensending me like tons of cookies and out

(04:05:28):
like it's funny. Right behind him, Tony, how have you got about
the assessment of the talent in theroom over the past week or two?
How much is that on field offfield? Like, what's the process of
getting to know who you have asplayers? Well? I broke down well
me being a guy that loves therunning back position, and I already broke

(04:05:50):
those kids down because I recruit themout of high school. You know,
ce is from where I'm from inMontgomery. I was one of the first
guys to offer him just watching himgreat contact, balance, creative runner,
great hands and trey. I recruitedhim out of Virginia exceptional short air,
your bursting quickness and things that I'mgonna help him get better on. And

(04:06:11):
then I recruited James Peoples out oft out of San Antonio, Texas.
I knew what he was gonna whathe was gonna be. TC and Sam,
those two kids, I'm getting toknow and I'm gonna help them improve
the game. But we got differentrunners in there. I like to call
myself, I'm in love with thisposition. So I get to break down

(04:06:31):
runners and help their game. Sotalented, talented, room, very talented.
Uh far back uh. Jeremy BirminghamPodcast Couch. How do you swear
that that saw fast trookies are actuallythe best cookies to Philip Britton mix and
or those are way better than theCounty chips are white things with terrify?
I mean, do you do?You have to first find a balance there
or someone. Well, for me, I'm actually not eating any cookies now,

(04:06:56):
I'm just saying I'm not eating anycookies this year. I gave it
up for a fast or no sweetsfor me for the whole year. That's
something I gave up. So theythe term the South bast cookie term.
Look, guys, I actually tookthat from I represent the high school coaches
of Myths, Tennessee. I actuallytook that from a guy that coach Slocum.

(04:07:18):
He used to always say that Southbast Cookie actually stole that from him.
I give him credit for it,and I tell him all the time
he said, you I should havebranded that, cause you done took it
and ran away with it. Butthat's just where that comes from. So
that that now was standing as youget to Ohio stand and you start to
look around the country at me,Oregon's a big place. That's a a
a major job with How how doyou think that where you opposite logo are

(04:07:41):
the Jeff Brandon blocko When you getout out of the little free and Trail,
how does that change the way thatyou feel you're either received or or
does it at a different level toto just feeling like I could go anywhere
and get anybody in the country.And that's the changest thing for me.
This is a great place. Oregonwas great too. But guess what whatever

(04:08:03):
I put on, I know whatI'm going to represent for me. I
n I N I know who whoput me here? Uh? I know
I represented something higher, you know, Like I told you, I know
what my purpose is. My purposeis to poorting the people. So whatever
logo I have on, I'm stillgonna be doing the same thing. So
this is a great logo, greatlogo, but I well another logo every

(04:08:26):
day. It's across I see aroundmy neck. I know what I represent.
So that's the greatest logo I couldever wear. So it doesn't matter
what other logo I have on.I got that one on. I'm going
to any house and be a recruit. Uh uh deep rite camera Tick Robinson
the athletic pro which you you mentionedthe time at Memphis and memis for NFL
running backs you mentioned there. Whoyou learn from that time that you that

(04:08:50):
you can take over to manage youto grow up and kid? What did
I learn from them? Just buildinga just teaching the kids. We live
in such a self a world enoughand I can tell kids all the times
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,
it wasn't four five. Teaching themhow to be about being one? I

(04:09:16):
tell you them in all time,it doesn't cost you anything to celebrate another
man's success. So teaching them howto be one, and then once they
learned to be one, they functionand they feed off one another. So
that's what I learned from being thereat Memphis in Road. Crostard of your
career in law enforcement kind of influencedyou as a coach and kind of shape
where you are. Oh well,I just got through talking to somebody about

(04:09:39):
that today. When I first gotin this profession and I got my own
room in Western Tech, I wasasked, No, how was I was
gonna be able to handle them myroom? I said, Man, I
had a part with fifty one inmates. You talking about me having got six
or seven guys? Are you kiddingme? I'm talking about me having to

(04:10:00):
do traffic stops or going on domesticno violence calls. It's simple easy.
You know people don't know what youcare. Also know, you gotta have
a certain demeaning about yourself. Sowhen I walk into a room, it's
the reason why I go train everymorning. This is one of It's the
same thing when I was a policeofficer. You look a certain way kind
of deter people from doing certain things. So the reason why I go train

(04:10:22):
every morning, I'm gonna look justas good as my boys look. So
U it helped out a lot.In other words, uh from Rol Right
Austin more the podcast Carls welcome toColumbus. What would it mean to,
I don't know, revolutionize the wayrunning backs are coach? What does that
take? I ain't you know.I'm not gonna say revolutionized, just some

(04:10:46):
good. It's some good running backcoaches out here. Everybody's different, it's
some great coaches out here. Ijust want to head guys who say that
on these jobs to not just hireguys. Just know, all coaches on
your steffs should be greats. Notjust a running back coach. We coach
a position, We developed players aswell. I just wanted the coaches to
realize, Hey, you know what, let me look and be thorough about

(04:11:09):
this guy that I'm hiring for thejob. Is he teaching the position?
Is he development the position? Becauseyou're not gonna hire anybody just coach quarterbacks,
are you. Well, it shouldn'tbe like that for the running back
position either. And I'm only passionateabout it cause I played it. I
love it, So it's the onlyposition I want to coach. Could I
coach the other positions? Yeah?I played dB in college too, but
I love the running back position,so I just wanted to see it coach

(04:11:31):
well May podcasts, Yeah, amillion questions. All that's a couple number
one, when you when you whenyour wife whatever? You got the message
stuff? Or are we moving again? What was What was her reaction?
Nah? She she just now guythat give us gave us a new assignment.
Sit. It was never like we'removing again. Let me tell you
guys something I grew up. Mymom was in the military, so I

(04:11:52):
lived everywhere. I lived in Panamaof South America. I'm used to picking
up and moving. I lived inFort Rodley, Kansas, Montgum his home
if it was my second home,so I'm I'm used to moving now.
My wife it was different for her, but she's this new guy that gave
us a new assignment, So it'stime to go. What did uh?
What did coach they tell you whenhe heard you that he wants out of

(04:12:13):
you. That may be different.It's not slamming somebody else, But what
did he say he wanted you tobring to the running back room. I
think he did his research on me. He said he wanted the guy to
to develop the position. And that'snot taking a shot at the coach that
was here who I'm friends with.And he said, they want somebody to

(04:12:33):
really get guys that we picked up, and I'm excited to work with them.
You know much about how Uh.I think he's super skilled, Russier,
a little good length, and he'smore athletic than I even realized.
And I think guys like him whenthey come to our scheme are the best

(04:12:56):
is brought out of him. SoI'm excited to see what potential he has.
He's year nine, so I feellike you as a d lineman,
you can keep improving all the waythrough ten years in this league. So
I'm excited to see what he's got. How old did you know sores of
when he was assistant here and I'vegotten to know him a lot that it's

(04:13:16):
a relationship made right now. Iknow him pretty well. He was always
just a good dude 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 isgood. I was happy to see him
promoted. He called me in theoffseason, we talked. I just congratulated

(04:13:39):
him, and I think he's gonnabring something similar to what we had with
the Miko's be good. Do youknow Brandon Stanley well at all. 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 yet. I haven't ran intohim, but I'm sure i'll get to

(04:14:01):
know him. When you say itlooks similar to Miko of 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

(04:14:22):
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

(04:14:43):
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've felt. I'm excited to actually get some
practice in. Last year was kindof tough, getting thrown in week one

(04:15:03):
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 to work yourstuff and not have a game coming
up is good. With the SuperBowl unfortunately, I know how to bounce

(04:15:24):
back from tough losses, so itwas rough for a little bit, but
now it's just annoying when people bringit up. Since AE last season,
we've seen a Rock on TV commercialsand on the stage with Kluke Coombs and
throwing out the first pitch of theGiants game. But he seems like a
guy that's totally unaffected by celebrity,which he has now. But what have

(04:15:46):
you noticed in his leadership style andthe way he carries himself any difference at
all. I think he's definitely gettinga little more vocal within the building,
and uh yeah, I mean Idon't think he's going to change. I
don't think he's somebody that's going tochange even when he gets paid next year.
So he's he's a man of faithand he kind of reminds me of

(04:16:08):
Scotti Scheffler, but except for justsuper humble and really good kid and Yeah,
he's definitely famous. I don't justfrom watching he saw Armstead get released

(04:16:33):
obviously meant so much to the defensiveline into the team. I mean,
Colin John were pretty open that theywere willing to talk about trading deebo or
are you at draft? Does thatjust another what's that feel like in the
locker room when those sort of joelshappened. I didn't even know that happened
and I wasn't here, but you'retalking about this offseason Armstead in alarm Eric

(04:16:59):
Relic, 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
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

(04:17:25):
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 Nick. What's the overall feeling
around the group right now, Like, how much does it feel like the
excitement of the ramp up to theseason. Even though it's early, it
feels good. It's been a coupleof days for me, so I like

(04:17:48):
all the new guys. I'm gettingto know everybody. But I think the
past is in the past and we'reready to go. Do you talk to
you talk to beaight all about handlingthe business part of this or something similar.
We chat a little bit, butnot too much about the details.
I just told him to keep hishead up and try and stay positive through

(04:18:10):
it all. First impressions when youheard what your schedule would be in that
Aaron Rodgers' first up, it'll befun. Yeah, it's gonna be gonna
be a good one. Nick excuseme, kind of alluded to this for
the fact that last year you hadto have that holdout percent that affected you
somewhat early in the season. Ifyou hadn't had that experience, would you

(04:18:34):
be here right now? I mean, was that part of the motivation for
being here early, just to havethe opposite when last year might think?
No, I don't think that's oneof the reasons. But I just talked
to Kyle and he kind of askedme. He kind of stated how he
felt about why it would be goodfor me to be here and asked if

(04:18:56):
I agreed, and I one didagree. 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
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

(04:19:21):
meet all the guys. It's positive. Oh no, he's he's there.
He's got a new regime over there. First, I actually thought I was
coming next week until recently, soI was gonna have one more week at

(04:19:41):
home. But we're both in California. As I've come in and thought we
were going to lose or have 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, like I
said, trending in the right direction. Everybody's on the details. I'm sure

(04:20:03):
it's a word that you've heard amillion times. So yeah, I think
it just feels like it feels likecoach is leading the team the way it
should be led. It has afeel of being back in college, you
know, with with coach urban Meyer, and you know, the message is

(04:20:23):
sent from the top and it doesn'tget mixed up as it's moving down the
ladder. It's boom. This ishow we're doing things, and everybody's following
that, and I think it's impressivethe details that everybody have been on,
has has been on the effort andjust the competitiveness that that's been going on

(04:20:45):
over the last few weeks. Yeah, it's it's it's been great. How
much do you appreciate that the stopjust described the way generally I shouldn't eat
in the messaging doesn't eat mixed up. I appreciate that so much. I
mean, it's I guess it's easyto appreciate when you kind of see it

(04:21:07):
working and you see guys improving,getting better. I just think the details
are really important. You can pretendthat leaving your shoes a mess or your
locker a mess isn't a big deal, and what matters is playing football.
But I think all those tiny detailsand things kind of add up and leak

(04:21:27):
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 kind ofstack up into performing well and playing well
when things count, So you know, I appreciate that. It also hasn't

(04:21:48):
been a fight with the guys inthe locker room. They buy in,
and you know, it's a lotof young guys, and I think they're
hungry to learn, hungry to compete. And when you know, it's just
an example, whether it's we talkedabout first day, have you if you
could, if you could spend thetime on these small things when nobody's watching.
I think, like I was saying, it seems like it might not

(04:22:11):
out up too much, but Ithink in the long term it does,
and uh, it leaks into otherthings, whether you're doing your right assignment
on the field, being late tomeetings or all these things. If you
hold a standard and you stay tothat standard, I think it benefits you
long term. It's been like BenHerbert, who has there been any anything

(04:22:36):
in his training program or working withyou that you feel will benefit you later?
Yeah, Yeah, definitely, He'sbeen great. He's a no nonsense
kind of guy, but he's notan old school in the sense that he's
bringing his way of doing things andthat's the only way to do things.
He understands that guys have been inthe in the business for a long time,

(04:22:56):
Khalil me and we have a wayof doing things, and all you
want to do is add to thatand help you get better and perform the
best you can. He's he stressesit 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 isawesome, and I think the stuff that
we're doing in the weight room isgreat, a great addition to stuff that

(04:23:19):
I may may do on the sideor whatever that is. Yeah, I
think we I mean, we hada presentation today with all the certain measurables
that are changing, and if youguys are in the meeting, you definitely
see how beneficial he's been to theteam so far. So obviously, staying
healthy is is a huge factor toanybody's success. I'd say it's plagued us

(04:23:42):
a little bit for a while.So yeah, I think he's he's definitely
incredibly beneficial. You like, Iknow the end of last season, you
might have been able to play.Yeah, No, I was not ready
to go last year. No,tried practicing, tried coming back, and

(04:24:03):
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
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, hamstrings good. I mean,

(04:24:26):
there was a list of things lastyear my hand, so all those things
are good. Finger gout surgery onmy finger, so that's feeling good.
Yeah, it's it's nice to befeeling better going into year nine than you
have since maybe five six years ago, which I've said, I've said I've
been feeling great last couple of years. I'm telling you it's a real deal

(04:24:48):
this time. But obviously anything canhappen. But I just feel it's fun
feeling really confident in your body andbeing able to perform. So I could
just go out during practice and youknow, go balls to the wall and
do everything that I feel like Ineed to to be able to prepare.
It's fun. My brother and whoeverI trained with my trainer Todd back home.

(04:25:14):
Uh, I think they'd be reallyproud of how I've been working this
offseason, and it's just exciting.The pointing was the injuries. I remember
that the Green Bay game. Youkind of yeah, it was a bit
of a build up, a littlebit of an overreaction, but you know,
it's just tough. It comes sometimeslike that, and I just felt

(04:25:37):
felt really uh defeated coming back,had a broken hand. I'm like,
oh, yeah, I get toplay boom for a serious foot pops thought
I'd have to get surgery, andall these thoughts flooded through my head.
Broke down a bit, and yeah, it just hurts. You know,
you're losing, you're getting injured.You've felt like you prepared really well in

(04:25:57):
the off season, and then they'rebefore you had groin surgery, so you
know, a lot of things buildup. Yeah, you don't get a
break if you're injured. Everybody wantsto go on. Fans are very nice,
but no, I just I'm gratefulthat I feel this way. I'm

(04:26:17):
still still nicey Ripe twenty eight,so not too old yet, but yeah,
I'm just excited. I can't rememberwhat the original question was at this
point. My body how close youand Gift were How frustrated was it that

(04:26:41):
you couldn't you know soon for oneof those last three games. It was
frustrating, But I mean, Giftwas had my back the whole way,
I think for Gift, for anybut for the whole team, just to
show what it means to me.It would have been important for me to
be out there, but I Iliterally could and I tried to practice,

(04:27:02):
injured my foot worse 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
back. Actually sorry, I giveYeah, I'm happy he gets to stay

(04:27:25):
close by with the with the Rams, and uh, just proud of all
we accomplished here together over the yearsand and we'll be close for the rest
of our lives. Was the footwas the gust a foot sprang? Yeah,
I sprained one area of my foot. Then when I tried to return
and I sprained another area. Wasable to avoid getting surgery, which is

(04:27:47):
kind of the main goal, Butyeah, it was. It was tough
when it comes to the addition ofbut dupree when he felt like he's kind
of brought to the to the roomand could bring on the field. Yeah,
it's when I heard we got mybrother some I don't know, maybe
my brother told me. I'm like, really, we just got budded Like
that's no, that's no small pickup. He's a seriously elite pass rusher.

(04:28:14):
Has had some trouble with injuries aswell, so I understand how that is,
but not only him as a player, but as a personality. I
heard Khalil just saying he's he's afun guy. He's a funny guy and
and to have that in the roomanother vet is always a great addition.
But I'm just excited to have himand Tuley and to be able to rotate
like that and not drop off atall when we come off the field is

(04:28:37):
huge. And Map two, he'sgoing into a second year. Just what
do you what are you kind ofWhat are some of the maturity maturity areas
you see from him? You know, I'm gonna say not much, And
that's a compliment because he was alreadymature in those areas. I mean,
he's on it everything playbook wise,always doing his job, working hard,

(04:29:00):
just refining his technique and pass rush. I mean, we don't have the
pads on right now, so thereal work will begin, you know,
in six weeks now. So,but yeah, I love Tulie. I've
loved him since the first days he'swalked into the facility, and I know
he's just gonna continue to get better. You think of the addition of Joe

(04:29:21):
Old, Yeah, yeah, I'mgonna need to beat him up a little
bit in camp. So he's sohe's ready. But no, I think
anything to protect our number ten isa good, good investment. So he
seems like a real solid dude.Haven't talked to him too much. Great
build, seems like he has goodhands, good feet, strong, We'll

(04:29:45):
see. We'll see in a fewweeks when I lay a helmet in his
chin, how he holds up.But it'll I'll take it easy on him.
Rashawn's a beast. Did you knowcoach Arba before he came here?
And if he did, just whatwere those first couple of conversations like that?
Yeah, probably have cross paths withhim. Maybe maybe not. Actually,

(04:30:11):
I think what was it his firstyear when I was a junior,
So he kicked his ass as usualMit Ohio State. No, No,
they just want a championship, soI'd say they probably have the bragging rights
right now. I'm like the guytalking about his old high school. Oh
I remember, Yeah, we usedto kickers. No but no, yeah,

(04:30:34):
no, the rivalry is dead.I was just saying this morning,
you know, nine years and kindof forget about that. I'm not a
great alumni. Sorry, sorry,coached, But no, that's great.
That's what's great about the NFL isyou just have guys from all backgrounds.
You could hate their guts one oneyear, and then you come on the
same team and your brothers and you'reall working towards one goal together. So

(04:31:00):
first talk together was great. Ijust sat down with him, went up
into his office and chopped it upabout life mainly and his opportunity here and
how much it means to him,and uh, yeah, I think he's
a special guy. I think he'suh the way he conducts himself. He's
an interesting cat for sure, andI'm still still feeling him out. But
one thing you can't denies that heloves football and his main goal is to

(04:31:25):
win football games, and that's whatwe need. When you see him working
out with you guys and and pushinghis 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 lack of a betterterm. But yeah, he's uh,

(04:31:45):
he's part of the guys. Youknow, he's not this guy outside
looking in. He he really,I mean he voiced that to me,
is that his favorite part of allof it is being with the guys and
and the connections he makes. SoYeah, to see a guy like that
come in and embrace it all andkind of be part of it himself is
important. Your initial impressions of Coachmanduring the defensive gaming, Yeah, it's

(04:32:11):
funny to go from old gift,old gift to this little young guy who's
my age. I wouldn't want toget thrown into a room with me and
Khalilipos his age. But no,he's been great. I love messing with
him a little bit. We littlesarcasm back and forth, but no,
he's great. He's uh, he'svery talks very fast, and I don't

(04:32:37):
as you know, so sometimes Igot to be like slow down, coach.
Come on, but no, he'sgreat. I'm excited, you know,
to get closer as the years,as the year goes on, and
I think he has He has alot of passion for the position and all
he wants to do is learn andand help us to improve. So I'm

(04:32:57):
excited about him. And uh,I mean, I do miss s Giff
Obviously, it was a long timewith him, but I am excited to
have a new face and kind ofhave that challenge for me. You worked
much with with Jesse's dad, sinceI know he coached linebackers in Michigan.
Did you ask about Jesse? Didyou ask about doing? Okay, you

(04:33:18):
asked about Jesse. Oh my god, I was talking about freaking doing the
whole time. You guys are soconfused. No, sorry, I thought
were I thought I was. Ithought you mentioned coach Ronie. No,
No, coach Mentor has been greatas well. Yeah, they've both been
great. Sorry, run that back. No, he's been good. H

(04:33:41):
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?
Yeah? No, I have not. I don't know if I've said
one word to him, but morewords to come down the road. Like

(04:34:03):
you said, you've been in yearsin twenty sixteen, just what are some
of this stuff? You just mbleabout the wrong guy for fifteen minutes you
walk in what Yeah, what theheck's like? Actually that's literally not the

(04:34:25):
person. Yeah, yeah, Ifigured out. What's 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
to prepare myself physically, whether that'smy sprint work or agility work and my

(04:34:49):
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 and foot and all those things. But now I'm I'm full full speed
out there, and I'm just goingto continue to do what I know will
prepare me for the season. Anduh, I know I'm gonna get plenty

(04:35:14):
of technique work and position work whenI'm out here, So for now,
I'm going to spend these five weeksreally getting uh preparing my body workouts competitive
again, another year of competitive it'swith you and all that stuff. Yeah,
yeah, it's usually too hot outthere for much competition. We're just
trying to survive. So but yeah, it's always. It's a it's a

(04:35:37):
silent competition between between each other,be like peeking, He's like what was
his time? Was his time?But no, yeah, it's always.
You can never have an off daywhen when you're out there and he's he's
warming up like a beat, likea freaking robot every day out there,
so there's there's no off days.Have you you and him talked at all

(04:36:00):
about I mean, I mean thisalso when you were having a contract thing.
Do you guys have to talk aboutone about it? Oh? Yeah,
I mean it's it's a conversation,not not really a serious conversation,
but something that's come up before.But yeah, I mean it would be
cool, It would be cool atsome point. I uh. I always

(04:36:22):
thought of myself being somebody that willplay here and retire here, which I
think not many people do on oneteam, and I think would be a
cool thing to accomplish. But younever know. I'm gonna worry about this
year first. Sorry, it's kindof working a food story. But so
you guys have like the lowest orsecond lowest food Cutch Area in the NFLPA

(04:36:45):
servely last year and let it moveto the new facility. Like, have
you talked a lot about food andhow you did some time? Is it
fine? You? Are you lookingforward to the food upgrades at all?
Have you thought about it at all? Yeah? No, it's Wolfgang Puck
or whatever is the is the word? Yeah, that's great. I've been
working with my chef for seven yearsnow, so she's been great, so

(04:37:08):
I've never really had to worry aboutthat too much. But yeah, my
weight's good. I've been eating alot this off season, so that's good.
But yeah, I'm excited to maybebe able to Sorry Christina, but
maybe I won't need a chef nextyear. I'll have I'll have my I'll
have my Wolfgang Puck food and that'llbe good. So yeah, I'm excited

(04:37:33):
about the move, found a newspot, Excited to kind of learn the
area and all that, even thoughI won't ever leave my house. Were
not Do you not need a lotof episody? Just chef was good at
all. We'll eat here sometimes,you know, it's may not be the
best setup, but they'll prepare yourfood. That's that's plenty good, my

(04:37:56):
man, Eric hector shout out,No, they work harder than literally anybody
in the entire facility. So theymay not have the best means back there,
but they've they freaking worked their buttsoff, and to this offense after
like twenty years of Breeze and justkind of it was just kind of built
on top of each other and ontop of each other, is like kind
of a lot to kind of takein. Do you do you find that

(04:38:18):
they kind of turn it down tosomething new, starting to like zero with
everybody. It's just a little biteasier to kind of get everybody on the
same Yeah, I feel like it'sway easier. Like you said, it
was kind of more of a DrewBrees style the last playbook, So all
credit to him though they built thataround him, around his players, But
like I said, it is morethis playbook is more for matchups, and

(04:38:41):
I feel like it's gonna be betterfor us or do you think it's gonna
really take advantage of his skill sets? Uh? Just building around the strengths
that I have. You know whatI'm saying, things that I can do
and things that she can do,things that our players can do. Is
kind of focus on what we cando and building on that. Uh,
I feel like it's playing to theplayer strengths, So I feel like it's

(04:39:03):
gonna help us a lot has beenaround the way this offense will have a
lot more speed. And how hasthat transition event so far? I mean,
like I said, it's building aroundthe player strengths. So of course
we got speed, uh with meor she and ati receiver. So uh,
just building around that, Like Isaid, playing to our strengths and
be able to capitalize off that.Feel like it's gonna help us a lot
most of like the up tempo astractand you know, getting a lot of

(04:39:26):
plays in unless time. Oh yeah, yeah, yeah, that's definitely gonna
play a big difference. Like Isaid, coming from the West Coast,
Uh, they bringing that stand foran offense here, So I'm excited to
be able to be a part ofthat. For you personally, what what's
what's the max level look like?For you? What do you What are
you trying to accomplish this year?Uh? Just staying consistent, man,
a couple of upside downs last year, just building off that. Uh,

(04:39:48):
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
and learning that last year and beable to build on that this year.
It is a huge part. Youknow with Mike Gon, do you take
it upon yourself to kind of bethat voice in the room or to take
a step forward even further as Imean, it's not really I mean everybody

(04:40:12):
kind of grown in the NFL,so it's just on you to be able
to have that standard. Like Isaid, I just try to do that
lead by example. I'm not reallyoutspoken, but just lead by example,
working hard, trying to dominate everyrep and hopefully they follow after that.
That yards after the catch? Isthat you feel like that's the strength of

(04:40:33):
yours that maybe wasn't utilize. Idon't know if utilizes the right word,
but you could show more. Yeah, it's offense that is built around that,
just catching the ball in space,catching the ball over the middle or
even on the outside with space andseparation. Feel like it's built around having
yards have to catch. So I'mdefinitely proud to be in the system,

(04:40:56):
like I said, and I'm excited. But is that is that a mindset
too? Like being the guards afterthe catch? Like? Oh yeah,
I mean of course. I meanyou don't want to get tackled by the
first person. And my mindset istrying to take every take everything to the
house, you know, every touch. So uh, I definitely got to
do that more and definitely try andwork on that and practice. Keeps a

(04:41:18):
great dude man. Uh some somethat I definitely needed, some that he
relates to me. Uh, justfrom backgrounds and uh he's a great coach,
great leader, Uh, motivational anduh. Like I said, I'm
excited to have him around and forhim to push me is everything that I
need. So something you're talking aboutlike mentally bouncing back, you know,

(04:41:40):
from tough performances or whatever, like, did you like try to find your
resources going to help you figure outhow to do that? Oh? Yeah,
I mean it's older guys that uhtell me that's natural, just have
bad games. But uh, justhaving the standard that I have for myself
and the expectations I have for myselfgets hard sometimes. So just being able
to be hard on yourself but atthe same time just let it go and

(04:42:03):
just bounce back for the next game. Something that I learned last year.
You one of those guys that feelslike you should always have a certain level
of production. Are you okay withthose certain games where the defense is so
focused on you that other guys havebig games and you were just running good
routs and the Uh, yeah,I definitely was. It was like that
early in my career, especially incollege. But I found out it's just

(04:42:27):
about winning really. You know,I understand I came up a rough season,
but I don't think it's a stepdown of where I can play.
You know, I think when Iwas at the top of my game,
I'm still you know, top fiveplayer in my position. And you know,
I played a run in the pastand I bring leadership and that's not

(04:42:48):
anything I discover. Can you planto be here for Mini camp? Ram
started training camp? Yeah? Howdifficult has it been the last two weeks
to not be here? I meanyou said in your mind past the first
time, you can 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

(04:43:11):
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't do them,

(04:43:32):
and I don't want that to everyquestion. And they just said that it
felt like sometimes you were holed upsomewhere watching film. You text, your
missed this, or you want that. Well, like the first day,
he was batting all up Russ's passes, so I had to let him know,
you know, I, uh,you gotta take advantage of that.
You gotta make sure guys are youknow, uh know that you you still
care and you still wanna be apart of this. Uh, you know,

(04:43:56):
just watching practice, there's a coupleof little things we're doing different,
whether I'm communicating with Dunbar or otherpeople, you know, so be yeah,
so you're that You're also talking withhim and you you giving him the
points during the off season, justconstant communication. How do you see new
gro as a person, you know, as far as how he's approaching things,
how he's getting ready for this seasonfrom his rookie year. Uh,

(04:44:18):
you know, I think the thingwith Keanu is he's more comfortable, you
know. You know it since hisfirst time around the track. You know,
it's actually like he can you know, uh, catch his feet under
him. You know, I alwaysthink when you're in your rookie season,
you're going from bowl game. Idon't even know Wisconsin playing a bowl game.
Sorry Wisconsin, I don't even know. But you know, personally,

(04:44:40):
I just think when you go frombowl game to training for the combine to
you know, rookie minnicamp to OTA'sthe you know mini camp, I mean
the training camp the regular season,you really don't get a time to really
catch yourself. You know, heunderstands the playbook. Now he can be
more vocal, you know, andI think when my apps sense the other

(04:45:00):
guys asence, you know, youneed guys like that to step up and
be ready for those opportunities. Serveryou had, say you had during the
season was a more thorough What wasjust tightened down everything, you know on
my left side because I was overcompensatinga little bit, but you know it
was it wasn't anything that lingers.You know, I'll say this, A

(04:45:22):
growing is not like an a cL. It's not like anything's ever going
to get affected again and you know, you know, I'm feeling good,
able to do everything squat and heavywith power and speed, so you know,
it feels good to get after again. What do you think of what
the team was able to fee accomplishYours off usually termed to bring guys like
Russian and things. You know,I think they're all good acquisitions. But

(04:45:45):
you know, you never want tobe known as a paper champion, so
you can't win the off season.I think the work gets done out here
on the field, gets done inthe classroom. Wow, it gets done
training, uh, you know,and then you see where you're at in
training camp, and then you buildon that. You know, I think
we got the right guys in thebuilding. It's just about putting a complete

(04:46:07):
team on the field. Cam howtimperical is to separate the business part of
the game in the actual football playerin the U. Uh. You know,
you always wanna you always have totreat it like a business because you
know one day it's gonna end.Uh and that's been job. Uh.
It's not like in college where youknow you got four years guaranteed. I

(04:46:32):
don't know, well, now youyou don't know what nil A long scrap
but in the transfer portal portal.But you know, you have to I
still have love for this game,and I still work my tail off and
I still put everything into it,and that's not gonna change. But you
have to know what you bring tothe team and what your what your value

(04:46:53):
is. Cam, you did itfeel to 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

(04:47:15):
around, cause like kind of gostart crazy, cra crazy when it's just
you and another guy, You're like, damn, I gotta go back up
for another rep already. And soyou know, it's nice to be up
here and get a chance to,you know, be with my guys.
Cam. Were you confident and beable to get done with your emotions?
Oh, I'm gonna I'll try toremain pretty neutral, cause you know,

(04:47:38):
I don't wanna you know, betoo either way. All I know is
I wanna be there. But we'llsee what happens. Cause my last year
here, I I I I've hada great career here, but uh,
I'll look forward to play next year. With that second surgery, you said
it this time was on the leftside. It was the first time around

(04:47:59):
on the right right side during theseason, left side, and that was
just tightening down my corner, mycorn. My saw. It wasn't the
same as my ad. Doctor.You know, you can ask doctor Bradley,
uh, doctor doctor Zuckerbron who uhdid the surgery as well. You
know, I if anything's gonna helpme and it'll make me a lot stronger

(04:48:22):
for hearing up. Did you sayyou were training with another guy? Who
have you kind of been Tyson?Oh? I've been training with him for
the last eight years. We've alwaystrained together. We got a trainer up
north, uh shadow Cole Haley,who's my guy, traded trained trained,
uh, Heath Miller, Brett Keesel, the multitude of guys that I all

(04:48:42):
respect, and we've just been gettingafter canvas. Very few guys historically thirty
five to be paid big contractor.Do you think that's held against you.
I think there's not a lot ofhistory behind it. But you know,
for me, I I look atas I'm not looking at you like anybody
else. You know, my gameis different from everybody else in this league.

(04:49:03):
You know, I like to think, you know, I can play
the run in the past, andthen that's where I'm different. You know.
I remember last year Mike t justbrought to my attention. You know,
the thing that's really cool is youwatch powerlisters, and you know,
my game's built on powering technique andthose guys go into the forties and so

(04:49:23):
you know, that's what kind ofresearch I'm doing behind the scenes. But
you know, I I we'll seewhat happens. Then there's not a lot
of history. But I'm here tomake history. And I'm here to you
know, and win another Super Bowlyear and you know, have a great
season. Do you have a setgoal over yourself on how many years you
wanna play in the NFL? Ordo you just take things year by the

(04:49:45):
year. You know it? Itwas it was tough answering that question right
after the season. I will saythis, guys, I I can't keep
answering that question right after the season. That is not fair to the season,
that's not fair to my family.Uh. You know, but in
my mind, I got three yearsand I wanna maximize'em. I wanna
play at a high level, andI wanna go deep in the playoffs.

(04:50:08):
And you know, we got agood team, and I'm gonna do my
part to be ready for all thosesituations here. If you plan on practice
when you report to Latrobe, oris your possibility that you might pulled in
and you force issuations? I Ihave not even thought that far. I'm
taken a day by day uh youknow uh uh. I told my agent
and we talked about it, andwe we were cool coming out here.

(04:50:32):
You know, I'll be here formany you know, and then I'll be
the fortraining parent. You know.I don't know what the work entails,
but right when we get there,we'll we'll cross that bridge. Why is
it or remain a stealer for thosethree years? You know, there was
a conversation between me Omar and Miket And there's certain guys that are one

(04:50:56):
helmet guys, you know, andI want to be one of those one
helmet guys. And you know,there's a there's a hunger and desire there.
But that doesn't mean just hanging itup and calling a career to me,
I think, you know, Igot more bullets to fire, and
uh, you know, I'm excitedto do that last one. You and

(04:51:18):
Russell Wilson are gonna be out therewith Walter manon uh what Walter Payton Man
of the Year patter. So Isaw Russ's on social media, but I
haven't had a chance to see it. Uh. I'll let that surprise happens
when it happens. But uh,you know, it's it's cool to have
another Walter Payton Man the Year winner. You know, I think, uh,
it's an honor to be there.And one I'll say one thing,

(04:51:41):
I won't be here. I'm justtelling you guys. So it's not a
big deal. I won't be herebecause I have to do a Walter Payton
Man Year thing on Thursday. Soit's not like I'm skipping, all right,
But uh, you know, it'san honor to be with Russ and
you know, you know, it'sin honor of doing things in the community

(04:52:02):
and doing great work. And youknow, the cool thing is as much
as we get 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 from a general perspective, Iguess yeah, you know, we're really

(04:52:25):
detailed in what practice looks like andhow that's going to operate. But I
also think you need to let theplayers go, you know, So I
don't think you need to to putshackles 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 and thatwas just what we're going to do on
day one. You know, we'llreassess it after we got through it,

(04:52:45):
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 him on the board. They'rereally good when they're watching film. But
you gotta go out and you gottaplay the game. And so the more

(04:53:07):
we can put him in those situationsto play the game, the better we'll
have an opportunity to evaluate them.Uh, ships thinking all of these things,
UH go back. So for withRyan Day, you mentioned since you've
known him since she was a kid, what were your first impressions back then?
And then she could come full circleto now, like how do you

(04:53:30):
how do you feel about that?It's still the same way he you know,
even since he was playing little league, he was the ultimate competitor,
you know, and he was alwaystrying to find a way to win.
He was great at a lot ofsports, Baseball, basketball, football.
You know. I got an opportunityto recruit him, you know, so
I coached him when I was atNew Hampshire. I recruited him out of
high school. We all, andwe grew up really close to each other,
so the same elementary school, samehigh school, same junior high,

(04:53:53):
same college. You know. SoI've known him since for for a really
long time. But that competitive fireburns deep with him. And that's the
one thing that I've always admired withhim, and he's got an amazing athletic
brain in terms of how to processthings and how to how to put people
in position to make place. He'salways been that prototypical coach on the field,
no matter what sport he was playing. So I knew he was destined

(04:54:14):
to be a coach, you know. And I was fortunate in my career
as a head coach to have himon my staff in a couple of places,
so I got a chance to seehim work firsthand, you know.
I got to see him work firsthandas a player and then as a coach.
So the success he had is notis not surprising to me that hard
there is there for you seeing whereI and the successes had. Yeah,
I think we all do that.I think we come from a unique place

(04:54:36):
in a really small hometown in NewHampshire where we all take a lot of
pride to where we're from, andwhen anybody's successful coming out of there,
then you kind of take a littlepride. That's it's the upbringing that we
all had, you know, inthe UTH sports program that we grew up
in in in every aspect, whetherit was football, baseball, basketball,
those coaches we had an amazing impacton us and that's why we are where
we are right now. Bil Verbinwick, Columbus dispatched. Ryan said, he

(04:55:02):
doesn't think of it as you workingunder him, that's working with him.
The fact is he is the headcoach. He makes me call him sir
though he just said can you dothat? Day one? And I was
like, all right, right now. But I mean, he ultimately is
the decision maker. You've been ahead coach. How do you think that's

(04:55:22):
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 Alhaic, Like I'm notI'm not in charge here. Yeah,
some people get that reference. Otherpeople don't get that reference. But

(04:55:44):
I'd certainly understand that and and Iactually kind of relish it because I really
love the scheming part. I lovethe individual part. I love being in
the meeting room of the quarterbacks andtrying to game plan. But everything we
do here is collaborative. You know. The one thing that that really struck
me when I walked in this place. Is there's an amazing coaching staff here,
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

(04:56:08):
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, andit's it's Ohio State. You know,
it's it's Ohio State versus the twelveopponents that we're gonna play during the regular
season and then beyond. So it'sit's really collaborative. And that's the thing
I like, just in the shorttime that I've been here, is how

(04:56:29):
collaborative everybody's been. You know,we're all trying to make each other better
and we're all trying to develop thisteam. Touched on this when you said,
you know, you'd like to dowhat you want to do and not
My sense is you, in yourperfect world, you'd like to scribble plays
on an atkin and not deal withboosters, do deal with all the stuff
that coaches. Head coaches have todeal with. Now, how much of

(04:56:51):
a factor was that in this decisionyou can just do football. No,
that's not it. I mean Ienjoy I mean we've had some amazing I've
had an opportunity to where I've beento meet some amazing people that are associated
with the program. And there's peoplethat from my time at New Hampshire or
my time at Oregon. I wasjust with Phil Night two weeks ago,
you know, I got an opportunityto spend some time with him and his
wife Penny, who are dear friendsof mine that have been great mentors to

(04:57:14):
me in my career. And there'sa bunch of people that a Ucla Terry
Donahue, Andrea Donna who were awesometo me. Angela Mazzoni is a great
friend, Casey Wassman, Troy Yikman. There was a bunch of people at
UCLA that I really enjoyed, youknow, being around and talking with.
So I think sometimes everybody wants tomake a narrative of it's either this or
that. It's never that. It'snever just all ball, it's never just
all recruiting, it's never just allboosters. It's a mixture of everything.

(04:57:37):
But I think the one thing thatas this position as a head coach kept
moving on is that if you lookat a lot of them, they all
become more CEOs. You know,I can't tell you how many coaches that
have called me since I made thisdecision that said I'm two years behind you,
brother, you know that are thinkingthe same exact way. And I
think it's all part of what wehave to do. I think we all
need to protect this game and promotethis game, and I think there are

(04:57:59):
some rules that we need to getstraightened out so that people understand where what
it's about. Because the game isstill about the players, and I hope
that never gets discounted. You know, it's it's always been about the players,
and I think if we can keepthat at the forefront the people that
are 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

(04:58:21):
main thing. The main thing needsto be the student athletes. You know,
you're coming in at a time whereyou've been through some places where the
expectations are high. I understand it'salso coming into a juncture where you know,
the three losses to Michigan and thenot making the playoff last year.
The urgency is pretty high here.I guess just sort of what the perspective

(04:58:44):
do you have on kind of thestakes that there are for Ryan this year
and the decision that then he makesto bring you in to kind of help
solve that. Yeah, I thinkthe expectations can be no harder than they
are in your own brain, youknow. And I think if you try
to worry about what other people arethinking in their brains, you're going to
get screwed up a little bit.So, you know, I talked earlier
the one thing about Ryan that Iknow about him and has always been he's

(04:59:07):
the ultimate competitor. So he's gotThere's nowhere that has higher expectations of Ohio
State than Ryan does, nor therest of us that joined him in our
part of this and that are workingwith him. So you know, I
don't think. I think sometimes youcan spend too much time thinking about those
things. You know, what youreally have to do is just as there's
a big sign as you walk intothis place, it says when the moment,
you know, I think that's areal thing that we have to do
as coaches, is to make surethat our players aren't worried about what's going

(04:59:30):
on in the future, or oraren't worried about what's going on in the
past, or worry about can theyget a little bit better today, you
know, and can we make improvement? And I think the one thing that
I've seen here, and I've onlybeen here for three weeks, but there's
a consistency to the players approach whenthey walk in this building every day,
which is it's unique. It's notlike that everywhere else. And it's one
of the things that I remark toMick when I you know, he said,
Hey, what do you think?And I was like, it's impressive.

(04:59:51):
It's impressive the culture of the playersthat are in this program right now.
But I think it speaks a lotto the leadership. There's there's a
lot of older players on this team, and they've set the tone for the
younger players, and I think theyounger players have done a great job of
followship and getting right in line withthat never hit it over play calling to
someone before. What does it meanto you? I guess he technically did
it to Bill when he was herefor a completes but what does that mean

(05:00:12):
to you to kind of be gettingthat responsibility from him, and he's calling
essentially the offense that you gave him, I guess in some way. Yeah,
I still think the play calling 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 can justhen point the finger a little bit and

(05:00:33):
just say, hey, you know, I wanted to do this, but
he trumped me. So we haven'tactually discussed game day yet. You know,
we'll see how that operates. Buteverywhere I've been it's been a collaborative
effort. And all of a sudden, someone that's calling the plays isn't isn't
like pulls one out of left fieldthat 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

(05:00:56):
up with something special you know inthe middle of the fourth order that we
haven't done. But I think it'sthe key to really being successful on offense
is is how you game plan,how you put it all together, and
then how you practice and train forthat so that you get a chance to
execute it because the player's confidence comesbecome comes from their demonstrated ability that they've
done this so many times in practicethat when they get out on the field

(05:01:17):
that this is like that to them, you know. And it's not that
they do it so they do itright, it's they practice it so much
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 Laneree Kingdom North Ship. When you had
that feeling when you were coaching thequarterbacks during BOWLD, did you consider at

(05:01:38):
that point maybe resigning as the headcoach and thinking like this is this is
not where I am anymore. I'llleave and then I'll look to see what
else is out there. No,I never thought about quitting anything, So,
you know, I just is therean opportunity that I think I can
that fit, you know, AndI think that's the you know, it's

(05:01:59):
no different thing when you're talking toa recruit about them make a decision on
where they're going to go to school. I think that where they should go
to school is where the best fitis for them. So you know,
I just entertained some opportunities and Ialways felt I felt like this was the
best fit. But I never thoughtabout quitting or not coaching. I'm gonna
coach. I'm gonna coach, andthen I'm gonna die. But I mean,
that's how I think I think aboutthings. Is I can't picture that.

(05:02:21):
I know someone I was on theNike trip and they are like,
how much longer are you gonna go? When I said I have to go
another fifteen twenty years. I don'tthink about I don't think about retirement.
I don't think about any of thosethings. That's just not kind of my
mindset that you know, I lovefootball in the as long as I can
be part of this game, thenI'll be part of this game. Just
the way things worked out with yourdeparture from UCLA, is there anything that

(05:02:44):
you wish you had done differently,or anything you regret, or just that
the circumstances that presented themselves. Doyou think that you handled that departure the
best that you could have? Yeah, I mean I got an opportunity to
tell my players personally