Press Conference (Justin Fields)

Episode Transcript

(00:00):
Accountability at the time. What Iuh, what'd you seen the guy counted

(00:03):
law? Yeah, I mean he'squick. You know, he can create
a lot of space and uh smallspaces, so uh it's quick, you
know, uh savvy with his routerunning, and you know he's just he's
just a hard worker, you know. You know there's some plays where he
knows he's not getting the ball andhe's still still winning the route. So
you know, just to have thatplayer, uh A a player like that
give that much effort uh on thefield every play. It's really really good

(00:26):
to see you. And I thinkit's you know, really uh gonna rub
up on the other guys too.I'm good, I'm about to. I'm'a
get another. What's it like workingwith uh some of the tight ends that
you guys happened room there? Iknow, A just straight just talked about
the versatility that a lot of theguys have, especially in that grip.
Yeah, I mean we have adifferent uh uh a lot of you know,
different guys in the tight end room. You know, Darnell he brings

(00:47):
sides to the room. Uh,Rodney Speed, uh Connor, he has
a great awareness on the field.Pat of course he you know, he's
a great all the round sight end. And then uh, you know,
uh, crew, he's so he'sa back, he's smart, he knows
what he's doing. So I meanjust all the guys in the room,
you know, they're smart and attensiveand they f I F I feel like

(01:10):
they've j are justice to lay offense. Well, So, what's been like
working with Tom? Or from what'she been kind of work on what he
wants? Yeah, I mean Tom'sbeen great. Uh just his a tis
attention to detail, the way hecomes you know, in each and every
day. He comes in as thesame guy every day and uh, to
be honest, ibn'. You know, I don't think I've had to coach
that detailed, but as Tom,you know, he's very detailed in terms

(01:34):
of you know, practice ref yousending us, uh the info, breaking
down each and every play and reallyjust really just focused on the detail,
to be honest with you. Ithink, uh that's the thing that sets
him apart. And you know he'she pushed us to be hard. I
mean our our indie periods or youknow conditions, So of course that's good
for us. But I mean he'sbeen great so far. So excited to

(01:56):
uh, you know, allow thatour allow our relationship to grow and excited
to work. Is what he's doingkind of compliment what you're doing individually,
you know, when you're away fromthe facility, working with you know,
coaches one on one anything like that. You said, what is he what
does he do here? That kindof compliments what you do away from the
facility when you're training. I mean, I think he does different stuff.

(02:17):
So I think that's a good thingabout it. You know some stuff that
we do here. Oh sorry,I don't you know, usually do outside
of the facility. So it's goodgetting that different work in different drill work
that I can you know, implementinto my you know, off season program
and stuff like that. So it'sgood that I'm learned his stuff for sure.
Deep all efficiency time last year?What what what? What is our

(02:40):
smith in the offense talk about youabout trying to make make that incorporate that
into doing a big part of thisoffice. I mean yeah, uh,
I think we have fast guys,guys that can get down the field with
speed, Guys like Quiz Calvin,Scottie, Van you know me and rest.
You know, we've we've had alot of deep offs sas a lot
of explosive plays in the past,So you know that's just uh, you

(03:05):
know what, Yeah, I guesshow our offense is built. To be
honest with you, but I mean, our job is to create explosives and
you know, push the ball downthe field. So anytime we get those
ops, we definitely wanna capitalize onthose. Are your coach just inresting any
part of your mechanics and or anybodythat I mean, yeah, uh,
I think there's always room to improve, uh, mechanic wise and stuff like
that. So I think, youknow, Matt Baker, uh, he's

(03:25):
a poor quarterback assistant. He youknow, usually stays on me the most
about it. So I appreciate thefact that he does that, and I
usually, you know, make surehe doesn't make sure I just just stay
on top of it, you knowas a whole, and you know,
make sure, uh, my mechanicsare always clean. Can you talk about
one particular element that they're stressing.It's it's different areas, to be honest,

(03:45):
I don't think it's just one specificarea, but it's it's a different
areas. Justin in your opinion,was there something that you wanted to work
on maybe get better at when yougot here, at this point of your
career. I mean, like likeI said, there's you know, no
matter who you are, you know, there's always stuff to get better at,
always different areas. Nobody's perfect inone area. So I think you
can continue to prove in all mygame, you know me personally, So

(04:05):
I'm just focused on getting better everyhere. When we talked at Russ yesterday,
he said that rusted that he personallyfelt kind of revived, you know,
being in another stop in his career. Is there any of that sense
of maybe rejuvenation or feeling revived.Obviously you haven't been in the league for
thirteen years, but is there anew energy that you get being in a
different organization, going through mini campin a different way for the first time.

(04:28):
I think, so, you know, just being around a new team,
uh an organization that's you know,just just with this culture, you
know, me being in you know, two different places now, you just
I realize that, you know,you don't get this culture everywhere. I
think Chicago, I think they areyou know, kind of changing the narrative
now, but I mean this hasjust been the culture here for so many

(04:49):
years. To where. I mean, you can see it. It's just
the way that you know, weattack issue every day and coach to he
he stays honest about it. SoI think just having that and uh,
you know, reiterating that you knoweach and every day, that keeps guys
and it's those guys who are tocompete each and every day. Is it
easy to step into an organization whenthere already is such a culture that's been

(05:11):
established for a long term to kindof know where you fit and know what's
expected. Most definitely, I think, you know, especially as a leader,
as a player on the team,you just don't have Thank you for
checking out this content from posts atSports. If you watch this p on
YouTube, please like the video sizeleast. Yeah. I mean, I
think college football is different, anduh, ideologies and understandings and have changed.

(05:40):
And I think that you know,the portal is a variable. And
I would say that not him inparticular, but I wouldn't say everyone doesn't
really know how to handle it properly. You see it currently. I mean,
it's just it's a variable that's newand how to handle it. There's
not a transcript on how to handlethat variable. So you just guys just

(06:02):
trying to do what they think isright. That's all they're really trying to
do. And I'm not saying thatright or wrong, but he was trying
to do the same, and youknow, I think at the end of
the day he realized he man madethe wrong decision and we connected on it.
We talked about it, and youknow, it was a great opportunity
to to right or wrong. Andobviously we're very glad he's here. I've
always believed in him. We believein him, and he believes in himself

(06:26):
and that's part of the just tryingto understand what's my path right. So,
uh, but yeah, it's beengreat. Steps have been made.
He's growing, but he's nowhere nearwhere he knows he's capable of being.
He's just probably impressive Caremiah. Ilove the way he lives. I love
the way he approaches things. Ilove the way the questions he asks.

(06:48):
I love the way he makes mistakesand then correct mistakes. It's very veteran,
like, I mean, there's somuch ball he has to learn.
Like he literally does things that aregood and I'm like, do you know
what that worked? He goes coach, I have no freaking idea. So
like I'm trying to teach him allof that why it worked. So then
you know, the consistency at whichit works just goes to the roof.

(07:09):
And so but I'm very you know, excited and proud of the conversations we're
currently having, and I'm excited itfor them to keep going. Ryan,
what you like play power for youworking with you. I love working with
Chip Chip is. I love talkingball, I love the viewpoints I love

(07:32):
I love the veteran that he has, you know, uh and uh,
I love no, I like,I love all of it. I think
that you know, early on thebiggest impact, you know, just you
know, feeling perspective. I thinkin the run game has been awesome,
you know, and then you know, off of the run game some of

(07:53):
the actions or or relief throws orall that kind of stuff. I love
where it's at. I love workingwith them, and he's a great person
to be around. I would saythat I sleep a little better, all
right. Uh No, It's it'sreally a great combo because, like you

(08:18):
know, we're obviously we're doing alot as a group. It's not just
Chip and I. So but youknow, obviously Chip has an image and
a view on things that I neverhad. So to have that experience and
to have that viewpoint, I'm justtrying to absorb as much as i can,
but then also highlight some things thatwe've really done a good job of
and make sure those you know,nothing's really changing. We're just trying to

(08:39):
enhance. We're not changing, We'reenhancing. So where the things fit is
perfect. You know, I think, uh, you know, the rest
of the dynamics of search Chip cantalk about. But it's been it's been
awesome, so I'm excited about it. You talked to a mechan You're just
talking about moving from slot to theoutside. A good we've been in the

(09:00):
slot. Is that a difficult movefor you? Guys just coaches to know
how good a guy is in atone spot, but know that maybe for
his long term future and the no. I wouldn't say it's anything on his
future, because he's capable of doingwhatever you want to get done. But
I'd say that it says more aboutthe room. I think there's it's the
growth of you know, Brandon andthe growth grow of Bryson that's really you

(09:26):
know, allowing my mind to say, hey, mech be prepared. You're
gonna move around a lot. You'regonna come out of that slot, You're
gonna be outside. We're going tocreate mismatches out there. I mean,
his ability to move around is critical. But I would say between mech and
between Carnell Takes's ability to move arounda lot, it's going to provide a
lot of flexibility for our room anduh and those top you know, six

(09:46):
seven guys that are really doing agood job right now. Progress this spring
for MCCA because there's no time.It's one of those things I'm sure where
U has balanced how much the workdoes a need versus so much? Actually,
yeah, heavy, heavy emphasis onwhat work he needs, you know,
versus anything else. I rely onhim. We have great dialogue back
and forth. It's a way.It's a two way conversation. And frankly,

(10:09):
there's gonna be times we're like,hey, Meg, what do you
wanna do today? You wanna gooutside? You gonn go inside? And
I don't care. So we're notthere yet. We will be there,
but it's just more about, youknow, when the room is ready to
start mixing things up, I wouldsay, there's God. I mean,

(10:37):
I make sure I bring in guysthat are 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,
not saying they can't, but atthis point, having two guys be

(10:58):
able to swing, you probably don'tneed much more than that. I need
guys being experts at what they're goodat, so it it helps the offense.
Don't be great at everything and bean expert at something and we can
use that to our to our advantage. This year is different, like maybe
you guys who were more situational all. Yeah, the room's always different,
frankly, I mean from twenty eighteenand then nineteen and through COVID and and

(11:22):
those guys, and and then thedepth of those guys and then where Mec
and Marvin and those guys were asfreshmen compared to you know, It's just
it's always different, and uh,I expect this one to be different again,
I'm not sure at what level yet. Last question or your relationship between
the TV room and your weapons room, especially you know the back boys.
I'm curious see dB as a leaderjust like you, you know, played

(11:46):
at Ohio Times of Intel experience.I'm curious about how you've seen Tim kind
of build a different mart backroom,especially on a recree. Will the amount
of successful guys and maybe kind ofthe effective your recruit how that's kind of
been answers. He would probably knowmore for that coroving all the way through
ten years in this league, SoI'm excited to see what he's got.

(12:07):
How old did you know sores Sowhen he was assistant here and have you
gotten to know him a lot?That it? What's a relationship made right
now? I know him pretty well. He was always just a good dude
around the facility. He did ourball meetings, so he's good in front
of a group. He's a goodleader. He knows the scheme really well,

(12:28):
which is good. I was happyto see him promoted. He called
me in the off season, wetalked. I just congratulated him, and
I think he's gonna bring something similarto what we had with the Miko's good.
Do you know Brandon Stanley well atall? I mean Joe played for
him. I don't know too muchabout him. I've obviously heard from my

(12:50):
brother, but I don't even thinki've said high yet. I haven't ran
into him yet, but I'm surei'll get to know him. When you
say it looks similar to the Mikoor system, maybe a little different energy,
but I think just knowing the systemfrom the front to the back,

(13:11):
I think he knows how it tiesin. And he's been around with some
really good coaches, so I thinkit'll be pretty pretty seamless, and I
think we'll be firing on all cylinders. You're three months removed from the super
Bowl now, so just how haveyou? I guess digested it, and
I guess physically everything good to go. Yeah, I feel really good.

(13:33):
I think it's been one of mybetter off seasons of just kind of it
was a long year, so Itook it nice and slow to get back
into it. Not as young asI once was, so I'm taking a
little a little slower, but everything'sgreat. I'm feeling as good as I
felt. I'm excited to actually getsome practice in. Last year was kind

(13:56):
of tough, getting thrown in weekone after I walk through, so that
was Another reason I'm excited to behere is just to get practicing a little
bit in season. Practice is onething, but actually being able to work
your stuff and not have a gamecoming up is good. With the Super
Bowl unfortunately, I know how tobounce back from tough losses, so it

(14:22):
was rough for a little bit,but not just annoying when people bring it
up. Since the last season,we've seen a Rock on TV commercials and
on the stage with Kluke Coombs andthrowing out the first pitch in the Giants
game. But he seems like aguy that's totally unaffected by celebrity, which
he has now. But what haveyou noticed in his leadership style and the

(14:43):
way he carries himself any difference atall. I think he's definitely getting a
little more vocal within the building.And uh yeah, I mean I don't
think he's ever gonna change. Idon't think he's somebody that's gonna change even
when he gets paid next year.So he's he's a man of faith and

(15:03):
he kind of reminds me of ScottiScheffler, but except for just super humble
and really good kid. And yeah, he's definitely famous. I don't just

(15:24):
from watching you saw Armstead get releasedobviously meant so much to the defensive line
into the team. I mean,Colin John were pretty open that they were
willing to talk about trading Deebo orare you at draft? Does that just
another what's that feel like in thelocker room when those sort of joels happened.

(15:46):
I didn't even know that happened andI wasn't here, but you're talking
about this Armstead in alarm Er released, So that's certainly one thing. Yeah,
it's a tough business, for sure. You have to have thick skin
and I haven't gone through that,but I think you just have to understand

(16:11):
that it is a business and theteam's going to try and get as good
as it possibly can with or withoutyou, and you have to look out
for yourself. That's why you gothrough holdouts and do certain things that seem
selfish in the moment, but itis what it is, and when everything's
settled, we're gonna come together asa team and try and go get one.

(16:32):
Now, what's the overall feeling aroundthe group right now? Like,
how much does it feel like theexcitement of the ramp up to the season,
even though it's early. It feelsgood. It's been a couple of
days for me, so I likeall the new guys. I'm getting to
know everybody. But I think thepast is in the past and we're ready
to go. You talk to me, you talked to be all about handling
the business part of this. He'sgoing through something similar. We chat a

(16:56):
little bit, but not too muchabout the details. I just told him
to keep his head up and tryingto stay positive through it all. First
impressions when you heard about your schedulewould be in that Aaron Rodgers' first time
It'll be fun. Yeah, it'sgonna be gonna be a good one.

(17:18):
Excuse me kind of alluded to this. But the fact that last year you
had to have that hold out forsaid that affected you somewhat early in the
season. If you hadn't had thatexperience, would you be here right now?
I mean, was that part ofthe motivation for being here early,
just to have the opposite one lastyear might have been. No, I

(17:38):
don't think that's one of the reasons. But I just talked to Kyle and
he kind of asked me. Hekind of stated how he felt about why
it would be good for me tobe here and asked if I agreed,
and I one hundred agree. Soit's not like I'm missing too much.
I think I'm out here. It'sa little less workload than I'm doing back

(18:03):
home, so it's kind of agood active recovery thing for me. And
I'm getting football stuff, football workingspecifically, so that's good. I'm not
it's not compromising my training at all. And I get to meet all the
guys. It's positive news. Yourbrother let down, Oh no, he's

(18:26):
he's there. He's got a newregime over there. Did you first?
I actually thought I was coming nextweek until recently, so I was gonna
have one more week at home,but we're both in California. Anything you
could share about Conn's reasons, reasonsthat you agreed with here sent from the

(18:52):
top and it doesn't get mixed upas it's moving down the ladder. It's
boom. This is how we're doingthings, and everybody's following at and I
think it's impressive the details that everybodyhave been on, has has been on,
the effort and just the competitiveness thatthat's been going on over the last

(19:12):
few weeks. Yeah, it's it'sit's been great. How much do you
appreciate that the stopping is described withthe way jingle yes I shouldn't eat in
the messaging doesn't eat mixed up?Might appreciate that so much. I mean,
it's I guess it's easy to appreciatewhen you kind of see it working

(19:34):
and you see guys improving, gettingbetter. I just think the details are
really important. You can pretend thatleaving your shoes a mess or your locker
a mess isn't a big deal,and what matters is playing football. But
I think all those tiny details andthings kind of add up and leak into

(19:56):
the important stuff, like what you'redoing on the field. So if you
can have your toe behind the line, or have your locker and order and
all these things, they kind ofstack up into performing well and and playing
well when things count. So youknow, I appreciate that. It's it
also hasn't been a fight with theguys in the locker room. They buy

(20:18):
in, and you know, it'sa lot of young guys, and I
think they're hungry to learn, hungryto compete and win. You know,
it's just an example, whether it'swe talked about first day you have your
shoot, if you could if youcould spend the time on these small things
when nobody's watching. I think,like I was saying, it seems like
it might not add up too much, but I think in the long term

(20:41):
it does, and it leaks intoother things, whether you're doing your right
assignment on the field, being lateto meetings or all these things. If
you hold a standard and you stayto that standard, I think it benefits
you long term. Ben Herbert,has there been any anything in his training

(21:03):
program we're working with you that youfeel will benefit your Yeah, yeah,
definitely. He's been great. He'sa no nonsense kind of guy, but
he's not an old school in thesense that he's bringing his way of doing
things and that's the only way todo things. He understands that guys have
been in the in the business fora long time, Khalil me and we

(21:25):
have a way of doing things,and all he wants to do is add
to that and help you get betterand perform the best you can. He's
he stresses it all the time thathe's a tool for us, and you
know, he's been great. Theguys love him. The energy brings is
awesome, and I think the stuffthat we're doing in the weight room is
great, a great addition to stuffthat I may do on the side or

(21:49):
whatever that is. Yeah, Ithink we I mean, we had a
presentation today with all the certain measurablesthat are changing, and if you guys
are in the medi and you definitelysee how beneficial he's been to the team
so far. So obviously staying healthyis is a huge factor to anybody's success.
I'd say it's plagued us a littlebit for a while. So yeah,

(22:12):
I think he's he's definitely incredibly beneficial. You like fully fully covered.
I know at the end of lastseason you might have been able to play.
Yeah, No, I was notready to go last year. No,
tried practicing, tried coming back,and uh it was it was not

(22:33):
good, but yeah it was Unfortunatelythe year wasn't going great and it just
was unnecessary risk for I mean,my foot could have had some real real
issues if I came back too early. So yeah, it's been, it's
been. It's been a great offseason. My foot's feeling great, toes,
good, hamstring skid. I mean, there was a list of things

(22:56):
last year my hand, so allthose things are good. Finger, got
surgery on my finger. So that'sfeeling good. Yeah, it's it's nice
to be feeling better going into yournine than you have since maybe five six
years ago, which I've said,I've said I've been feeling great last couple
of years. I'm telling you it'sa real deal this time. But obviously

(23:18):
anything can happen. But I justfeel it's fun feeling really confident in your
body and being able to perform.So I could just go out during practice
and you know, go balls tothe wall and do everything that I feel
like I need to to be ableto prepare. It's fun. My brother
and whoever I trained with my trainerTodd back home, I think they'd be

(23:44):
really proud of how I've been workingthis offseason, and it's just exciting.
Obvious winning was the injuries. I'mat the Green Big Game. You kind
of yeah, it was a bitof a build up, a little bit
of an over action, but youknow, it's just tough. It comes
sometimes like that, and I justfelt felt really defeated coming back. Had

(24:08):
a broken hand. I'm like,oh, yeah, I get to play
Boom first series foot pops. ThoughtI'd have 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.

(24:33):
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 you had, butyeah, I'm just excited. I can't
remember what the original question was.At this point, you get something about

(25:00):
my body, How close you andGift were, How how frustrating was it
that you couldn't you know soon forone of those last three games. It
was frustrating, but I mean Giftwas had my back the whole way.
I think for Gift, for anybut for for the whole team, just

(25:22):
to show what it means to me. It would have been important for me
to be out there, but Iliterally could and I tried to practice.
Injured my footworse the very first playI was and in practice, so no
chance that was happening unless I wantedto throw my next season away as well.
But no, I'm just I'm proudof him for what he did with

(25:44):
the team, how he handled it, and I need to call him back.
Actually sorry, GIF. Yeah,I'm happy he gets to stay close
by with the with the Rams,and I'm just proud of all we accomplished
here together over the years and andwe'll be close for the rest of our
lives. Was the foot injury.It was this guy bst a foot sprain.

(26:06):
Yeah, I sprained one area ofmy foot. Then when I tried
to return, I sprained another area. Was able to avoid getting surgery,
which is kind of the main goal, but yeah, it was. It
was tough when it comes to theaddition of but Dupree, what you felt
like he's kind of brought to theto the room and could bring on the

(26:26):
field. Yeah, it's when Iheard we got my brother some I don't
know, maybe my brother told me. I'm like, really, we just
got Bud Like that's no, that'sno small pickup. He's a seriously elite
pass rusher. Has had some troublewith injuries as well, so I understand
how that is. But not onlyhim as a player, but as a

(26:48):
personality. I heard Khalil just sayinghe's he's a fun guy. He's a
funny guy, and and to havethat in the room another vet is always
a great addition. But I'm justexcited to him and Tuley and to be
able to rotate like that and notdrop off at all when we come off
the field is huge. And nowTooley's going into a second year. Just
what do you what are you kindof What are some of the maturity maturity

(27:11):
areas you've seen from him? Youknow, I'm gonna say not much,
and that's a compliment because he wasalready mature in those areas. I mean,
he's on it everything playbook wise,always doing his job, working hard,
just refining his technique and pass rush. I mean, we don't have

(27:32):
the pads on right now, sothe real work will will begin, you
know, in six weeks now.So but yeah, I love Tuli.
I've loved him since the first dayhe's he's walked into the facility and I
know he's just gonna continue to getbetter. What you think of the addition
of Joe Olt Yeah, yeah,I'm gonna need to beat him up a
little bit in camp. So he'sso he's ready. But no, I

(27:56):
think anything to protect or No.Ten is a good, good investment.
So he seems like a real soliddude. Haven't talked to him too much.
Great build, seems like he hasgood hands, good feet, strong.
We'll see. We'll see in afew weeks when I lay a helmet
in his chin, how he holdsup. But it'll I'll take it easy

(28:19):
on him. No, Rashon's abeast. Did you know Coach Harbond before
he came here? And if hedid, just what were those first couple
of conversations like that? Yeah,probably have crossed passed with him. Maybe
maybe not. Actually I think whatwas it his first year when I was

(28:41):
a junior? So he kicked hisass as usual at Ohio State. No,
No, they just want a championships. I'd say they probably have the
bragging rights right now. I'm likethe guy talking about his old high school.
Oh I remember we used to kickNo but no, yeah, no,

(29:03):
the rivalry is dead. I wasjust saying this morning, you know,
nine years and kind of forget aboutthat. I'm not a great alumni.
Sorry, sorry coach, But no, it's great. That's what's great
about the NFL is you just haveguys from all backgrounds. You could hate
their guts one one year, andthen you come on the same team and
your brothers and you're all working towardsone goal together. So our first talk

(29:27):
together was great. I just satdown with them, went up into his
office and chopped it up about lifemainly and his opportunity here and how much
it means to him. And yeah, I think he's a special guy.
I think he's the way he conductshimself. He's an interesting cat for sure.
And I'm still still feeling them out. But one thing you can't denies

(29:48):
that he loves football and his maingoal is to win football games. So
and that's what we need. Whenyou see him working out of you guys
and pushing slaves and doing all thisstuff, just how interesting is that.
Yeah, I mean he was ahe was a great player himself, and
I think he's always been, youknow, built like that lack of a

(30:11):
better term. But yeah, he's, uh, he's part of the guys.
You know, he's not this guyoutside looking in. He he really,
I mean he voiced that to me, is that his favorite part of
all of it is being with theguys. And and the connections he makes.
So Yeah, to to see aguy like that come in and embrace
it all and kind of be partof it himself is important. Your initial

(30:34):
impressions of Coachman during the defensive.Yeah, it's funny to go from old
gift, old gift to this littleyoung guy who's my age. I wouldn't
want to get thrown into a roomwith me, and Khalil was his age.
But no, he's been great.I love messing with him a little

(30:55):
bit. We little sarcasm back andforth. But no, he's great.
He's uh, he's very talks veryfast, and I don't as you know,
so sometimes I gotta be like,slow down, coach, come on.
But no, he's great. I'mexcited, you know, to get
closer as the years. As theyear goes on, and I think he

(31:18):
has he has a lot of passionfor the position and all he wants to
do is learn and and help usto improve. So I'm excited about him,
And I mean I do miss Giff. Obviously it was a long time
with him, but I am excitedto have a new face and kind of
have that challenge for me. Youwork much with with Jesse's dad, since

(31:40):
I know he coached linebackers in Michigan. Wait did you ask about Jesse?
Did you ask about doing? Okay, you asked about Jesse? Oh my
god, I was talking about freakingdoing the whole time. You guys are
so confused. No, sorry,I thought we were. I thought I
was. I thought you mentioned coachRonie. No, No, coach Mentor
has been great as well. Yeah, they've both been great. Sorry,

(32:06):
run that back. No, he'sbeen good. Uh yeah, very knowledgeable
guy. Same thing. I'm excitedto get to know him more as the
year goes on. Have you workedHave you worked much during Jesse? Yeah?
Uh no, I have not.I don't know if I've said one
word to him, but more wordsto come down the road. Like you

(32:31):
said, you've been in year sincetwenty sixteen. Just what are some of
this stuff? You just someone ona ramble about the wrong guy for fifteen
minutes walking What Yeah? What theheck? So actually that's literally not this

(32:52):
person. Yeah, yeah, Ifigured out something you worked under the off
season, something to improve your gameor is there something that you can Usually
my answer is pretty consistent that Ijust continue to try to prepare myself physically,

(33:15):
whether that's my sprint work or agilitywork and my lifting, but yeah,
just to get everything feeling great.I had dealt with those injuries,
so I had to kind of rampit up with my finger and foot and
all those things. But now I'mfull full speed out there, and I'm
just going to continue to do whatI know will prepare me for the season.

(33:37):
And I know I'm gonna get plentyof technique work and position work when
I'm out here. So for now, I'm going to spend these five weeks
really getting preparing my body's workouts.Competitive again, another year of competitive mis
with you and all that stuff.Yeah. Yeah, it's usually too hot

(33:59):
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's like what was his time? Was his time? But no,
yeah, it's always. You cannever have an off day when when you're
out there and he's he's warming uplike a beat, like a freaking robot

(34:21):
every day out there, so there'sthere's no off days. Yeah, have
you you and him talked at allabout I mean, I mean just also
when you were having a contract.Then you have guys have to talk about
that anybody. Oh yeah, Imean it's it's a conversation, not a
not really a serious conversation, butsomething that's come up before. But yeah,

(34:45):
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 manypeople do on one team, and I
think be a cool thing to accomplish. But you never know. I'm gonna
worry about this year. First,it's kind of we're doing a food story.

(35:08):
But so you guys have like thelowest or second lowest food cacheria in
the NFLPA serve last year, andyou better moved to the facility, like
you talk a lot about food andhow he did some time. Is it
fine you guys? 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

(35:31):
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 my I'll have my

(35:54):
going on. So you got tosound the best fit. Chris again,
Chris caps he here we go.Yeah, Drea, welcome to Seattle.
Like, what were you looking forin free agency? I felt that's a
loaded question for real, for real. Uh, you know, in terms

(36:15):
of no pay system, teammates,environment, city, all those kind of
just like play into it. Besidesjust uh, the money thing. I
know, financials always play a bigrole, and I kind of steer you
into the direction you want to go, but everything kind of plays into it.
And how much did you reach outto Shelby Drew, knowing some of

(36:36):
the guys you knew the plate inhere last year to get a sense for
what what Seattle might offer you?I mean, not much right now,
I'll talk to I'll talk to Shelbya little bit about it. Mainly no
one, Drew, Uh, justcongratulate me, Bob. Did you come
together pretty quickly? I know youkind of time your agreement on that first.

(37:00):
Everything that come together really faster.Now, it was a long day.
Seattle came in almost out of nowhere. We had like a good set
of teams that we're talking to,just trying to like finalize what was going
on, what was it the termis going to be, you know,
and Seattle came in hot. Theyshowed a lot of interest and uh,
they kind of motivating me to comehere more and more. And how similar

(37:21):
will your role be, you know, in terms of playing what you did
in Denver. I don't know thatyet. I got of just mentioned previously.
I don't know my role. Idon't know the ins and out yet.
Once we'll get no through the protocolsand the nfl PA, we'll we'll
talk about no, the schemes andeverything, right, so welcome. When

(37:42):
you were in Denver in the threefour, where did you find yourself most
comfortable and most effect And I playeda lot of different positions in Denver.
I mean earlier in my year,I played zero, I played three two
one. I mean I were definitelymore comfortable in a shaded position, mainly
being a three technique and fire technique. That's why I find myself to be
more comfortable whether I'm standing up orI'm not whether it's runner or pass.

(38:06):
Uh, they'll seem to be mybest my best fits. And what is
your impression of Pete Carroll's defense andwhole environment? Uh? From afar,
it seems like he he holds inon defense a lot. Uh. I
can't really say too much about that. Yeah, I don't. I know
Pete Carroll very little, so Uh, I'm just trying to figure out more
and I'll give you a better answerlater. What's the reputation around the league

(38:29):
out of the Seahawks? Uh,you know hard nos Hard had type of
team definitely on a little more lackside as opposed to being stuck up or
military style, and which is definitelygood because then they this program is won
a lot of football games have beensuper successful for many years, as long
as I've been alive and as longas I've been watching football, and definitely

(38:50):
this has been a good program.And Pete Carroll has been a hell of
a coach for as long as Iremember, even back in his college days.
So I'm looking forward to experiencing that. Ull. Well, yeah,
I know you said you don't knowyet. You know what your role is
going to be, but just whatwhat kind of player you who haven't watched
it time of Denver. What kindof player get? Definitely a high motor

(39:12):
definitely not a one trip pon anytype of player. I like to attack,
you know, whether it's a firstor first through fourth down, I
like to attack. I'm always tryingto apply pressure. I'm definitely just a
high mortar guy in my opinion.Brady either Brady Henderson from ESPN, Nice
to meet you. That's what.Yeah, this is not a team that

(39:35):
really makes big splash signings in freeagency. Did you think going into it
that Seattle would be in Uh No, not at all. You just it's
kind of like being a cure atthe county store. You know, I've
got a whole bunch of different optionscoming at you, hearing, a whole
bunch of different crazy things, anduh, you know, you only get
to choose one. And this isthe place that that we both chose each
other. And I mean, I'mloving Seattle so far. You know,

(39:58):
I like these colors for real,for real. What what did you got
to do with Seattle or see sinceyou've been here? Not much? Uh,
just kind of just drive around thecity, exploring, uh, getting
down to the market a little bit. I want to get on at the
Ferris will do some more like touristytype of things. You know, I'm
new to the city and I gota lot to learn about the city,
all right. Yeah, there's beena lot of comparisons with you to Michael

(40:21):
Bennett. I was wondering if youknow Michael Bennett at all and you think
those are accurate. Uh, Iknow Michael Berger, then it like nothing.
I know nothing about him but besideshis style of play. But I'm
honored to be considered in the sameconversation as him and uh style of play.
You know, He's a Hall ofFame type of deep lineman that I've
known about since I was a kid. I mean, last time he played
here, I was in high school. So you know, it's cool to

(40:44):
it kind of came full circle alittle bit watching him on TV and now
I'm being kind of compared to himin a way, you know. I
mean, I'm not touching the surfaceof Michael Bennett. You know, he's
a Hall of Famer and I'm notthere yet. So you know, I
just got to keep doing my duediligence to be a better player. Corvin
Hey Dreamont, Welcome to Seattle.I know you get to play several seasons

(41:05):
for Vic Fangio and three four styledefense and Seattle's playing a similar system.
Now, dating back to last yearas a defensive lineman, what do you
think is most important to be successfulin that system? Maybe fundamentals or just
playing style to be successful. Fromwhat I learned, being gap sound and
being patient has always been the biggestthing, and that's how we've been successful

(41:28):
when I was in Denver, justkind of like relying on each other.
I know that sounds kind of cliche, but like there's kind of like the
the realm of being in the threefour defense. You got to really really
rely on the guys behind you andthe guys on side of you to really
make their to do their job tomake your job easier. Bob, yeah,

(41:49):
dream Well, well, uh,you your house state playoffs, that
you didn't start playing football till youwere junior in high school and largely played
basketball till then. That's what madeyou, I guess, decided to go
go play football then? Was thatartist at all? No? No,
I've always loved football first. Uh, it was just kind of just playing
it out. You know, Ilove a hoop, but you know,
football was definitely about calling given Iwas a two hundred and sixty five pound

(42:12):
power forward and I was like semsixty threes and changed. So you know,
I kind of chose the route thatGod gave me. You know,
I'm not six eight. Yeah,well comes to Seattle and you've been quoted
looking at a couple of order thingsthat he wasn't undergo player And can you
just talk a little bit about that, uh, that role that we just

(42:36):
said, the Russ you know,always kind of counted out but us came
through. Can you elaborate more thanthat? Just from a standpoint like I
always get like over overshadowed, overlooked, whether it's uh in something you know
what I'm saying, Like, Ifeel like I do a lot more than
what can be uh sitting by thethe eyes of the inexperienced, you know,
Scout and I do a lot ofdifferent, different dynamic things that help

(42:59):
make place for others. You know, I'm definitely an active player. I'm
always doing something, whether in therunning pass game. So you know,
I think that goes on another sometimesand I'm looking forward to putting people on
notice. Thanks Brady, what uhwhat do you like to do outside of
football. Uh, big gamer.I'm definitely I've been getting to a lot

(43:20):
of chests lately, so uh,just to expand my brain. Uh,
I'll try to get into reading.But if it's not sports play that I'm
really not interested in reading that.Who do you think some of that I'll
be able to bring out of outof your games? You can keep trying
to you know, just being moreexplosive, probably more yards for catch with
the uh space that he's putting usinto. Uh, the more yards,

(43:43):
more yards I have to catch,more EXPOSI to pick more exposed to play
so for for not just only me, but she and uh ak and taste
them. So I'm excited to tobe able to be in the system.
I assume you you think you guyscan be a lot more explosive than than
you been in the last couple ofyears. Oh yeah, of course.
Uh brings to a lot of differentthings, you know what I'm saying the
playbook, but just accountability. Ifeel like that's gonna lead us to success.

(44:07):
They said the language is a littlea little shorter it Have you found
that the language that you guys use. Is it about the same or is
it it's kind of the same.Really it's a long long plays, but
it's more understanding for sure. Ifeel like you could get to that more
understanding plays and I feel like that'sthat's the difference. Hater was saying the

(44:27):
other day, just kind of likecoming into this offense after like twenty years
of Breeze and just kind of howit was just kind of built on top
of each other and on top ofeach other. It's like kind of a
lot to kind of take in.Do you do you find that they kind
of turn it down to something newstarting at like zero with everybody, it's
just a little bit easier to kindof get everybody on the same. Yeah,
I feel like it's way easier.Like you said, it was kind
of more of a Drew Brees stylethe last playbook, So all credit to

(44:51):
them though they built that around him, around his players. But like I
said, it's it's more h Thisplaybook is more for a match up,
and uh, I feel like it'sgonna be better for us or do you
think it's gonna really take advantage ofjust skill sets? Uh, just building
around the strengths that I have,You know what I'm saying, things that

(45:12):
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
way this offense will have a lotmore speed. And how has that transition
been so far? I mean,like I said, it's building around the
players strengths. So of course wegot speed uh uh with me or uh

(45:34):
she and ati receiver, so uh, just building around that. Uh.
Like I said, playing to ourstrengths and be able to capitalize off that.
Feel like it's gonna help us alot. But most of like the
up tempo astract and you know,getting a lot of plays in the less
time. Oh yeah, yeah,yeah, yeah, that's that's definitely gonna
play a big difference. Like Isaid, coming from the West Coast,
Uh, they bringing that stand foran offense here. So I'm excited to
be be able to be a partof that. For you, personally,

(45:57):
what's uh, what's the next levellook like for you? What do you
are you trying to accomplish this year? Just staying consistent? Man, A
couple of ups and downs, lastyear, just building off that. It's
always always gonna work on the physicalpart, but being able to bounce back
after a bad game the mental mentalaspect. H Just learning learned that last
year and be able to build onthat this year is a huge part.

(46:20):
You know with Mike Gon, doyou take it upon yourself to kind of
be that voice in the room orto take a step forward even further as
uh? I mean it's not really. I mean everybody's kind of grown in
the NFL, so it's just onyou to be able to have that standard.
Like I said, I just tryto do that lead by example.

(46:43):
I'm not really outspoken, but justlead by example, working hard, trying
to dominate every rep and hopefully theyfollow after that and that yards after the
catch? Is that you feel likethat's the strength of yours that maybe wasn't
utilize I don't know if utilizes theright word, but you could show more
in that kind of Yeah, it'soffense that UH is built around that.
Uh just catching the ball in space, catching the ball over the middle or

(47:07):
even on the outside, UH withwith space and separation. I feel like
it's built around having yards have tocatch. So I'm definitely proud to be
in the system, like I said, and I'm excited. But is that
is that a mindset too, likebeing good at yards after the catch?
Like Oh yeah, I mean ofcourse. I mean you don't want to
get tackled by the first person.And my mindset is trying to take every

(47:27):
take everything to the house, youknow, every touch. So I definitely
got to do that more and definitelytry to work on that in practice.
A great dude, man, Uh, some some that I definitely needed,
some that he relates to me.Uh, just from backgrounds and uh he's
a great coach, great leader,Uh, motivational and uh like I said,

(47:51):
I'm excited to have him around andfor him to push me is everything
that I need. So something you'retalking about like mentally bouncing back, you
know, from tough performances or whatever, Like, did you try to find
your resources gonna help you figure outhow to do that? Oh yeah,
I mean it's older guys. Uh, uh tell me that's natural. Just
have bad games. But uh,just having the standard that I have for

(48:13):
myself and the expectations I have formyself. It is hard sometimes, so
just be able to be hard onyourself. But at the same time,
just let it go and just bounceback for the next game is something that
I learned last year. You oneof those guys that feels like you should
always have a certain level of production. Are you okay with those certain games
where the defense is so focused onyou that other guys have big games and

(48:36):
you're just running good routs? Anduh yeah, I'd definitely be one dimensional
football. You need to be ableto throw the ball as much as run
the ball. You know, It'sfunny. Some people think I'm an area
guy. Some people think I'm awing tea guys. Some people think I
want to run the ball every down. You know, we're gonna We're gonna
do what's best for a house state, and that's that's kind of what our
game plan is right now. Austinwore a podcast. When you think about

(49:00):
your first evaluations of the quarterbacks andgoing through these fifteen practices at how do
you want to structure that? Iknow that you and Ryan have probably talked
about that a good amount, Likewhat's the right way to set up a
spring position battle? How many repsdoes everybody need? What's sort of your
plan? Just from a general perspective, I guess yeah, you know,
we're really detailed in what practice lookslike and how that's going to operate.

(49:22):
But I also think you need tolet the players go, you know,
So I don't think you need toto put shackles on them, so to
speak, and just keep them constrained. I think you got to let them
go and you got to let themoperate. And we were rotating I think
everybody on every two snaps today justand that was just what we're going to
do on day one. You know, we'll reassess it after we got through
it, get a chance to countup all the reps of how many plays,
how many plays each guy got,and did they get more in seven

(49:44):
on than they did in eleven on? You know, and we'll go through
that whole thing, and that'll bea constant flow in terms of how we're
doing it. But I think thebest way people learn is they learn by
doing, you know. So they'vebeen great in the meeting rooms. They're
sharp when you get them on theboard, they're really good when they're watching
film. But you gotta go outand you gotta play the game. And
so the more we can put himin those situations to play, the game,
the better we'll have an opportunity toevaluate them. Uh, ship,

(50:10):
thinking of all of these things,UH go back. So for with Ryan
Day, you mentioned since you've donehim since she was a kid, what
were your first impressions back then?And then she could come full circle to
now like how do you how doyou feel about that? It's still the
same way he you know, evensince he was playing the little league,
he was the ultimate competitor, youknow, and he was always trying to

(50:31):
find a way to win. Hewas great at a lot of sports,
baseball, basketball, football. Youknow. I got an opportunity to recruit
him, you know, so Icoached him when I was at New Hampshire.
I recruited him out of high school. We all, and we grew
up really close to each other,so the same elementary school, same high
school, same junior high, samecollege. You know. So I've known
him since for for a really longtime. But that competitive fire burns deep

(50:53):
with him, and that's the onething that I've always admired with him.
And he's got an amazing athletic brainin terms of how to process and how
to how to put people in positionto make place. He's always been that
prototypical coach on the field, nomatter what sport he was playing. So
I knew he was destined to bea coach, you know. And I
was fortunate in my career as ahead coach to have him on my staff

(51:13):
in a couple of places, soI got a chance to see him work
firsthand, you know, I gotto see him work firsthand as a player
and then as a coach. Sothe success he had is not is not
surprising to me. Is there whereyou seeing Wheyan the successes had. Yeah,
I think we all do that.I think we come from a unique
place and in a really small hometownin New Hampshire where we all take a

(51:34):
lot of pride to where we're fromand and when anybody's successful coming out of
there, then you kind of takea little pride that that's it's the upbringing
that we all had, you know, in the UTH sports program that we
grew up in in in every aspect, whether it was football, baseball,
basketball, those coaches we had anamazing impact on us and that's why we
are where we are right now.Bill Rabinwick Ryan said he doesn't think of

(51:57):
it as you working under him,it's working with him. The fact is
he's the head coach. He makesme call him sir though he just said
can you do that? Day oneand I was like, all right,
right now. But I mean,he ultimately is the decision maker. You've
been a head coach. How doyou think that's going to work? Do

(52:17):
you think there'll be any as closeas you are, any kind of awkward
moments? The right term, Butwhen he's the ultimate decider and you are
working for him, Yeah, Icertainly understand my role. I'm not Alhaic
like I'm not. I'm not incharge here. Yeah, some people get
that reference. Other people don't getthat reference. But I'd certainly understand that,

(52:39):
and I actually kind of relish itbecause I really love the scheming part.
I love the individual part. Ilove being in the meeting room of
the quarterbacks and trying to game plan. But everything we do here is collaborative.
You know. The one thing thatthat 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

(52:59):
two 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
and it's Ohio State. You know, it's it's Ohio State versus the twelve
opponents that we're gonna play during theregular season and then beyond. So it's

(53:20):
it's really collaborative. And that's thething I like, just in the short
time that I've been here, ishow collaborative everybody's been. You know,
we're all trying to make each otherbetter and we're all trying to develop this
team. Touched on this when yousaid, you know, you like to
do what you want to do andnot My sense is you, in your
perfect world, you'd like to scribbleplays on a napkin and not deal with
boosters, do deal with all thestuff that coaches head coaches have to deal

(53:44):
with. Now, how much ofa factor was that in this decision?
You can just do football? Nowthat that's not it? I mean,
I enjoy I mean, we've hadsome amazing I've had an opportunity and everywhere
I've been to meet some amazing peoplethat are associated with the program. And
there's people that from my time NewHampshire or my time at Oregon. I
was just with Phil Night two weeksago, you know, and got an
opportunity spend some time with him andhis wife Penny, who are dear friends

(54:07):
of mine that have been great mentorsto me in my career. And there's
a bunch of people that and UCLA, Terry Donnahue Andrea Donna who were awesome
to me. Angela Mazzoni is agreat friend, Casey Wassman, Troy Aikman.
There was a bunch of people atUCLA that I really enjoyed, you
know, being around and talking with. So I think sometimes everybody wants to
make a narrative of it's either thisor that. It's it's it's never that.

(54:27):
It's never just all ball, it'snever just all recruiting. It's never
just all boosters. It's it's amixture of everything. But I think the
one thing that as this position asa head coach kept moving on is that
if you look at a lot ofthem, they all become more CEOs.
You know, I can't tell youhow many coaches that have called me since
I made this decision that said I'mtwo years behind you, brother, you
know that are thinking the same exactway, and I think it's all part

(54:50):
of what we have to do.I think we all need to protect this
game and promote this game, andI think there are some rules that we
need to get straightened out so thatpeople understand 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 beenabout the players, and I think if
we can keep that at the forefrontthe people that are making decisions on this,
and I think Jean Smith is oneof the best influences in in the

(55:13):
NCAAA, is to make sure wekeep that the main thing, the main
thing it needs to be. Thestudent athletes com you know, you're coming
in at a time where you've beenthrough some places where the expectations are high,
I understand, which also coming intoa juncture where you know, the
three losses to Michigan, the notmaking the playoff last year, the urgency

(55:35):
is pretty high here. I guessjust sort of what the perspective do you
have on kind of the stakes thatthere are for Ryan this year and the
decision that then he makes to bringyou in to kind of help solve that.
Yeah, I think the expectations canbe no harder than they are in
your own brain, you know.And I think if you try to worry
about what other people are thinking intheir brains, you're going to get screwed
up a little bit. So,you know, I talked earlier. The

(55:58):
one thing about Ryan that I knowabout and has always been he's the ultimate
competitor. So he's got There's nowherethat has higher expectations of Ohio State than
Ryan does, nor the rest ofus that joined him in our part of
this and that are working with him. So you know, I don't think
I think sometimes you can spend toomuch time thinking about those things. You
know. What you really have todo is just as there's a big sign
as you walk into this place,it says when the moment, you know,

(56:20):
I think that's a real thing thatwe have to do as coaches,
is to make sure that our playersaren't worried about what's going on in the
future, or or aren't worried aboutwhat's going on in the past, or
worry about can they get a littlebit better today, you know, and
can we make improvement? And Ithink the one thing that I've seen here,
and I've only been here for threeweeks, but there's a consistency to
the players approach when they walk inthis building every day, which is it's
unique. It's not like that everywhereelse. And it's one of the things

(56:40):
that I remark to Mick when Iyou know, he said, Hey,
what do you think, And Iwas like, it's impressive. It's impressive
the culture of the players that arein this program right now. But I
think it speaks a lot to theleadership. There's a lot of older players
on this team, and they've setthe tone for the younger players, and
I think the younger players have donea great job of followship and getting right
in line with that over play callingto someone before, what does it mean

(57:02):
to you? I guess he technicallydid it to Bill when he was here
for a couple of weeks, Butwhat does that mean to you to kind
of be getting that responsibility from himand he's calling essentially the offense that you
gave it? I guess in someway. Yeah, I still think the
play calling part will be a collaborativeeffort, and by that I mean that
if it's a good play I calledit, and if it's a bad play,
he called it. Because the greatpart is an assistant coach, you

(57:24):
just point the finger a little bitand just say, hey, you know,
I wanted to do this, buthe trumped me. So we haven't
actually discussed game day yet. Youknow, we'll see how that operates.
But everywhere I've been it's been acollaborative effort, and all of a sudden,
someone that's calling the plays isn't isn'tlike pulls one out of left field
that you hadn't practiced and hadn't beenpart of your offense and said, hey,

(57:46):
let's do this. You know,we're not running the annexation of Puerto
Rico. You know, we're notcoming up with something special you know in
the middle of the fourth quarter thatwe haven't done. But I think it's
the key to really being successful onoffense is how you game plan, how
you put it all together, andthen how you practice and train for that
so that you get a chance toexecute it. Because the player's confidence comes
become comes from their demonstrated ability thatthey've done this so many times in practice

(58:09):
that when they get out on thefield that this is like that to them.
You know. And it's not thatthey do it so they do it
right. It's they practice it somuch so that they can't do it wrong.
So, you know, I thinkit's that whole part of it that
is really the key to being areally good game planning team, right,
Doug Lane Reef Kings of the NorthChip. When you had that feeling when

(58:30):
you were coaching the quarterbacks during Bold, did you consider at that point maybe
resigning as the head coach and thinkinglike this is this is not where I
am anymore. I'll leave and thenI'll look to see what else is out
there. N I never thought aboutquitting anything, So, you know,
I just is there an opportunity thatI think I can that fit, you

(58:51):
know, And I think that's theyou know, it's no different than when
you're talking to a recruit about themmake a decision on where they're going to
go to school. I think thatwhere they should go to school is where
the best fit is for them.So, you know, I just entertained
some opportunities and I always felt Ifelt like this was the best fit.
But I never thought about quitting ornot coaching. I'm gonna coach. I'm
gonna coach and then I'm gonna die. But I mean that's how I think

(59:13):
I think about things. Is Ican't picture that. I know someone I
was on the Nike trip and theylike, how much longer are you gonna
go? When I said I hadto go another fifteen twenty years. I
don't think about I don't think aboutretirement. I don't think about any of
those things. That's just not kindof my mindset that you know. I
love football and in the as longas I can be part of this game,
then I'll be part of this game. Just the way things worked out

(59:35):
with your departure from UCLA, isthere anything that you wish you had done
differently, or anything you regret,or just that the circumstances that presented themselves.
Do you think that you handled thatdeparture the best that you could have.
Yeah, I mean I got anopportunity to tell my players personally.
You know, I think in thisday and age of the Internet where they
read it somewhere else and you haveto text message, and you know,
that was always important to me thatI wanted to make sure I talk to

(59:57):
my players and explain the reasons ofwhat I was doing. I wasn't leaving
to take a head coaching job somewhereelse. I wasn't thinking that the grass
is greener at another university. Wasjust in my personal situation, this is
what I wanted to do. Iwanted to take an opportunity to go be
a position coach and coordinator, andthat's how it fit. You know.
What I was happy is that Ialways thought to Sean Foster, I think
the world of them, and Ithink he's a special you know, and

(01:00:20):
the fact that that they were theygave him the opportunity to take over there
was you know, it worked out. I didn't have any say in that
decision, you know, I wasgone, But I always thought that that
Shaun would be a great head coachand I'm really proud of him and happy
that that he got the opportunity totake that job right behind him. Actually
have your reputation as innovator. Waspart of the appeal of this is that

(01:00:44):
you get to get in the weedsa little bit. Uh maybe not mad
scientists, maybe too too strong ofa word, because you're working within the
system. But was there an appealof I get to get my hands dirty
here again and innovate and to getback to that side of things. It
was, but it was really moreimportant of who I get to work with,
you know, and so knowing youknow, I've got I know a

(01:01:07):
lot of guys on the staff besidesRyan also, so you know, when
I know what their mindset is andwhat their values are and how they do
things, and so I want tobe a part of that. But but
there's a part of that. Yeah, how much of a teacher you get
labeled in the innovators. The teachingsare part of this. How much is
how a teacher are even how patientare you? Yeah? I think we're

(01:01:27):
all teachers. I mean, educationis the transportation of knowledge, you know.
So it really doesn't matter what thecoach knows. It matters what the
players understand, you know. Soyou have to be able to make sure
that while you're implementing things is whatresonates with them and how does that come
back to them. So, youknow a lot of our teaching styles that
we've learned is more the socratic methodof there's a lot of questions, you
know, and a lot of checkfor understandings just to kind of find out

(01:01:51):
where the players are coming from,because it's what they know that that's ultimately
going to win games, not whatwe know. You know that we're not
playing the games. We're not steppingacross those white lines, you know.
And your job as a coach isto create an environment where they have an
opportunity to be successful and then getout of their way and let them go
do it. So I think theteaching aspect is huge, and we continue
to research, you know, someof the latest trends in teaching to make

(01:02:13):
sure that we are transporting that knowledgeto our players. The second rolld left
Steve Hellwaggan twenty four seven Sports.Yeah, coach, just curious you got
five scholarship quarterbacks with differing levels ofexperience from age and everything else. Not
to annoyed him, but just wantto ask specifically about Will Howard coming in
after starting part of two years atKUSA stage. He just seems to promote

(01:02:37):
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
that you don't have to talk toWill for more than five minutes to kind
of know where he's coming from.He's really focused. You know, he

(01:02:57):
knows he's got a short window inhis college career and it really wants to
capitalize on what that is. There'sa maturity to Will, you know.
I I I really I've had experience, My experience in in this thing since
the transfer portal opened in college footballis is some of the best players I've
had an opportunity to coach. Awardtransfers. Sometimes when you're a true freshman
and it's five years out, youknow, it's like, hey, I

(01:03:19):
got a ton of time, youknow. And sometimes when 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 dealingwith with transfers, and I think Will
has exuded that since he's been here. But the other thing that I just
in the short time that Will hasbeen here is how quickly he's fit in
with the entire team, you know, and how much the the rest of
the players respect him. You know, he was uh one of the Gold
Award winners for his work in theweight room in this offseason, So that

(01:03:43):
says a lot for him coming inhere as a in a short time,
being able to to win a weightroom award, you know, to start
off, you guys hope to havethe number one internally externally at the end
of spring or I guess just letit play out. I think it always
every time I've been in than these. I think when they're organic is when
it's the best that. I don'tthink you can anoint somebody or force the

(01:04:04):
issue because the players know the playerswould understand. They see it every single
day, you know, and there'sa team chemistry part of this thing too,
So we're not going to force theissue. But I've always seen it
play itself out. So I've beenfortunate that there's always gonna be some quarterback
battles that at some point in timeat every school there's a quarterback battle,
you know, and then and reallyyou got to let them play it out

(01:04:26):
on the field, and that's whereit has to That's that's where it has
to be decided. Just a couplemore age. Hey, welcomes than We
were excited to have you here.Thank you. I'm kind of to talk
about the innovative part. Ryan saidthat that's something that he's always loved but
working with you and now he wantsyou to bring that here and how it
would fit with Ohio State. Doyou have any idea what that's gonna look

(01:04:46):
like yet or is it just waytoo early? I have no idea.
Now. I think part of itis is you're trying to put the players
in position to make plays. Soa lot of that comes from getting to
understand the players and what their skillsets are and how we feature what their
skill sets are, you know,and and the the one thing after day
one, I can tell you thatthere there's a lot of skill set out

(01:05:06):
there, you know. So that'sthat's what gets you excited, you know,
That's what That's what you jump outof bed in the morning and you're
excited to go to work because ofthe talent that you get to work with.
But the one thing that's the mostimpressive is the work ethic that goes
along with that talent. You know, it's not just empty talent. It's
is you got some kids who wantto I mean all of them since I've
been here, want to work,So that that's what gets you excited.

(01:05:27):
But I think assessing what the skillset is you know that we have available
to us on the offensive side ofthe ball, is vitally important. And
then our job is to put thoseguys in positions to make place lots of
pressure. I mean, you've experiencedwhat it's like to coach national championship,
how over teams this program right nowand moving into a situation where you got

(01:05:48):
to win quick and now? Sodoes that feel like pressure here for you
or is it a little bit ofexcitement or both? Well, I've always
subscribed to as pressure is what youfeel when you don't know what you're doing.
So if you don't want to feelpersonal, then you should know what
you're doing. So, you know, I think it's it's part of that,
and I think part of our jobwith our players in terms of the
education process is getting them to understandthat too. Is that you know,

(01:06:10):
it's it's about your preparation, It'sabout you and your development. It's not
about that you can't be governed bywhat other people say. It's it's what's
my mindset and how am I intrinsicallymotivated? And then how do I really
compete against myself on a daily basisto get a little bit better? You
know, we got a little bitbetter today because we get out on the
field today and got a chance todo some football, and then the challenges
when we get back on the fieldon Thursday. Can we be a little

(01:06:31):
bit better than we were on Tuesday? And if we're doing that, then
we keep stacking good days on topof good days, and I think we'll
be in good spot and welcome.Thank you. I'm gonna ask about the
pros and cons of coaching from thebox and coaching from the field. It's
interesting to talk to some offen,some coordinators. Tom Herman talking about it,
he swore he wanted to coach fromthe box. Saw the game so
much better, sterile environment, notall the chaos on the field. Some

(01:06:53):
coaches you talk to the like,I want to be on the field so
I can look at my guys inthat in the eye. Where are you
at as a as a coordinator?Honestly, And I've thought of this a
lot. I thought of it alot during COVID because we had the empty
stands, you know, So Ihad thought about just walking up into the
stands for a little bit because Ihad a better advantage. I've always believed
you can see the game better fromup above, but I believe you can
feel the game better from the field. So if there was any way we

(01:07:15):
could get a zip wire where youcould do both, you know, coach
called from there and then zip outof the field get a chance to talk
to him. Because it's a differentdeal when you're talking to the quarterbacks on
a phone, you know, thanbeing able to look in their eye and
kind of see where they are withit. And part of it is the
field part of it. I rememberwhen I coached Ryan once. We were
playing Yukon and he got hit hardgoing out of bounds and he just walked

(01:07:38):
by me, and I was aplay caller, and he was like,
run the next play, and Ijust kind of looked at him. I
saw the look in his eyes becauseI don't think he could have thrown it.
You know, he was still tryingto get his win back. But
you wouldn't know that if you're upin the booth, you know, and
you call a pass play from upin the booth and you're like, how
come we can't complete that? Well, he just took a shot going out
of bound. So it's that fineline that I don't have an answer,
you know. I think I thinkit's feel on the ground and it's see

(01:08:00):
from up above. Maybe in thisday, a technology they'll figure it out.
But we'll see how that that thatoperates, and whatever Ryan feels is
the best for the team is whatwe're gonna do. So your teams at
Oregon were obviously no, we're playingthis assid pace and running a bunch of
plays per minute and yep, maybenot act by a past pretty fast.

(01:08:24):
What rule do you see tempo andhaving an offense? And in the States
in college football and has maybe changed. I think the game is always evolving,
you know. I think when Ileft in two thousand and twelve to
go to the National Football League,Oregon was the only team that was playing
really really fast and had shiny helmets. And when I came back in twenty
seventeen, everybody had shiny helmets andeverybody was playing fast. So I think

(01:08:46):
the game is always going to goup and down, and there's gonna be
different cycles that it goes through.I think tempo is part of an offensive,
but I don't think it's an offensein itself. I think it's more
of like if you go to dinner, it's a side order. You know,
it's not the main course, butit's it's always good to have it.
So I think there's times when you'lluse it, but you're you're not
going to use it extensively the entiregame. Just like you're not going to

(01:09:10):
throw the ball every single snap inthe game. You're not gonna run the
ball every single snap in the game. You know. There there's there's not
a game of absolutes anymore. Ithink that the ability to be diverse and
and have it as a tool inyour two box, so to speak,
uh is really how we would lookat using it. Here are now more
familiar with it then, I think. So, you know, I think
when you first started going tempo,there were people in the NCAA. They

(01:09:30):
want to outlaw it. They wantto make an NCAA role that you had
you couldn't do it, you know, And I'll I'll give coach Shaping credit.
I mean, I think obviously Nickwas the first one to do it.
He wanted it outlawed, and thenall of a sudden he adapted it
and said, all right, welike this, you know, so we'll
keep it in. But it's Ithink people have it doesn't matter what you
do. There's there's cycles to thisgame, and then once people catch on

(01:09:53):
to that cycle, then it movesyou know, it's no different than for
three defenses and three four defenses.You know what is the rage when the
when the Giants on the Super Bowl, they were there were three four defense
and everybody, everybody says, wehave to do that. What people didn't
understand is they had Carl Banks andLawrence Taylor. It didn't matter what defense
they were running. I know,Gym's back there and Jim played against the
you know it was they could havebeen a four down defense and those guys

(01:10:15):
would have been great players. Butit's not the scheme. I think that
the coaches that do it the bestway is they insert their players and put
them in the best position to makeplays. And now now will Temple be
part of it. It'll be partof it, but it's certainly not going
to be the main course. Lastquestion, Oh, thank you very much,
Jerry. Uh. Number one,there was a great moment there when
y'all were warming up, when youwere you were talking with Tim Walton and

(01:10:38):
Caleb Downs comes up and conversing andas you're in this kind of a two
part question, but number one,what was just your take on the talent
you saw on that field today onboth sides of the ball. Where where
would you rank it? Yeah,I'll rank it. I'll be very transparent.
As I was telling Tim and Calebwhat a great offensive player, I
thought Caleb would be, could beand should be. But I'm not the

(01:11:04):
head coach, so I always turnedstretch as a as an offensive coordinator,
I'm always looking at the defensive playerslike I could use him. Oh what
could I do if I had him? What could I do if I have
him? But I don't. Idon't get to choose him anymore because I'm
I'm not. I don't have thepick. But I was just talking to
him about it. He's He's agreat young man. And if you watch,
if you want to watch a highlighttype watches, you know, I

(01:11:27):
understand I came up a rough season, but I don't think it's a step
down of where I can play.You know, I think when I'm at
the top of my game, I'mstill, you know, top five player
in my position. And you know, I played a run in the past,
and I bring leadership and that's notanything I discome. You plan to
be here for Mini camp RAM thestart of training camp. Yeah, how

(01:11:49):
difficult has it been the last twoweeks to not be here. I mean,
you said in your roadcast the firsttime you'd never not been at Ota.
Yeah, it was difficult, butlike you know, the thing I
got very frustrated with was just whenpeople questioned my communication with the team.
You know, I uh was communicatingwith guys left and right, and you

(01:12:09):
know, front office, coaches,teammates, and all I care about is
how I am with my teammates.I don't want them to ever think I
don't care about them or how I'mnot in it. And you know,
you can say whatever you want aboutme, but besides that, but I'll
always dedicate anything I can't do themand I don't want that to every question.

(01:12:30):
And Jaya said that it felt likesometimes you were holed up somewhere watching
film, you text yours or youwant that. Well, like the first
day, he was batting all upRuss's passes, So I had to let
him know, you know, 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,

(01:12:51):
just watching practice, there's a coupleof little things we're doing different,
whether I'm communicating with Dunbar or otheryou know. Yeah, so you're that
you're also talking with him and youyou've given him the pointers during the off
season. Just constant communication. Howdo you see new Girl as a person,
you know, as far as howhe's approaching things, how he's getting

(01:13:11):
ready for this season from his rookieyear. Uh, you know, I
think the thing with Keanu is he'smore comfortable. You know. You know,
it's not his first time around thetrack. You know, it's actually
like he can you know, uh, catch his feet under him. You
know. I always think when you'rein your rookie season, you're going from
bowl game. I don't even knowWisconsin playing a bowl game. Sorry,
Wisconsin, I don't even know.But you know, personally, I just

(01:13:35):
think when you go from bowl gameto training for the Combine to you know,
rookie Minniicamp to OTA's the you knowmini camp, I mean the training
camp the regular season, you reallydon't get a time to really catch yourself.
You know, he understands the playbooknow, he can be more vocal,
you know, and I think whenmy absence, the other guy's absence,

(01:13:58):
you know, you need guys likethat to step up and be ready
for those opportunities you had. Sayingyou had during the season is a more
thorough What was just tightened down everything? You know on my left side because
I was overcompensating a little bit,but you know it was it wasn't anything
that lingers. You know, I'llsay this, A growing is not like

(01:14:19):
an a c L. It's notlike anything's ever going to get affected again.
And you know, you know,I'm feeling good, able to do
everything squat and heavy with power andspeed, so you know, it feels
good to get after again. Whatdo you think of what the team was
able to fee accomplish? You offeasily turn to bring guys like Russian and
things. You know, I thinkthey're all good acquisitions. But you know,

(01:14:42):
you never want to be known asa paper champion, so can't win
the off season. I think thework gets done out here on the field,
gets done in the classroom. Wow, it gets done training, uh,
you know, and then you seewhere you're at in training camp and
then you build on that. Youknow, think we got the right guys
in the building. It's just aboutputting a complete team on the field.

(01:15:05):
Cam how center call is it toseparate the business part of the game in
the actual football player in the U. Uh, you know, you always
wanna you always have to treat itlike a business because you know one day
it's gonna end. Uh and that'sbeen job. Uh. It's not like
in college where you know you gotfour years guaranteed. I don't know,

(01:15:28):
well now you don't know what niland a scrap but the transfer portal portal.
But you know, you have toI still have love for this game,
and I still work my tail offand I still put everything into it,
and that's not gonna change. Butyou have to know what you bring
to the team and what your whatyour value is. Cam. How did

(01:15:50):
it feel to be out there withyour teammates today? Emotionally great? You
know, we got a new uh, we got a new training staff and
still learning the the warm up different. But uh, you know I loved
it. Uh, you know,just getting after it, learning new guys,
going through the same drills I've beendoing by myself. I actually like

(01:16:10):
having more people around because like kindof go start crazy when it's just you
and another guy, You're like,damn, I gotta go back up for
another rep already. And so youknow, it's nice to be up here
and get a chance to, youknow, be with my guys. Cam.
Were you confident and be able toget done with your emotions? Oh,
I'm gonna we'll try to remain prettyneutral because you know, I don't

(01:16:34):
wanna, you know, be tooeither way. All I know is I
want to be here, but we'llsee what happens. Was my last year
here. I I've had a greatcareer here, but I'll look forward to
play next year. With that secondsurgery, you said it this time was
on the left side. It wasthe first time around on the right side,

(01:16:56):
right side during the season, leftside, and that was just tightening
down my corner. My corma saw. It wasn't the same as my ad
doctor. You know, you canask doctor Bradley, uh, doctor doctor
Zuckerbron who uh did the surgery aswell. You know, I if anything's
gonna help me and you'll make mea lot stronger from hearing up. Did

(01:17:18):
you think you were training with anotherguy who you have kind of been Tyson?
Oh? Uh, I've been trainingwith him for the last eight years.
We've always trained together. We gota trainer up north, uh shadowt
Cole Haley who's my guy, tradedtrained, trained, uh, Heath Miller,
Brett Keesel, the multitude of guysthat I all respect, and we've

(01:17:41):
just been getting after cans. Veryfew guys historically thirty five they get paid
big contractor do you think that's heldagainst you. I think there's not a
lot of history behind it. Butyou know, for me, I I
look as I'm not looking to belike anybody else. You know, my
game is different from everybody else inthis leagu you know, I like to
think, you know, I canplay the run in the past, and

(01:18:03):
then that's where I'm different. Youknow, I remember last year Mike t
just brought to my attention. Youknow the thing that's really cool is you
watch powerlifters, and you know,my game's built on powering technique and those
guys go into the forties and soyou know, that's what kind of research
I'm doing behind the scenes. Butyou know, I I we'll see what

(01:18:26):
happens. The it's there's not alot of history, but I'm here to
make history and I'm here to youknow, and win another Super bowar year
and you know, have a greatseason. Do you have a set goal
over yourself on how many years youwanna play in the NFL or do you
just take things year by the year? You know it? It was it
was tough answering that question right afterthe season. I will say this,

(01:18:48):
guys, I I can't keep answeringthat 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 and I wanna
maximize'em. I wanna play ata high level, and I wanna go
deep in the playoffs, and youknow, we got a good team,
and I'm gonna do my part tobe ready for all those situations. You

(01:19:11):
know, if you plan on practicesoon when you report to Latrobe, or
is your possibility that you might uhpulled in and they force the new issuess
I I have not even thought thatfar. I've taken a day by day.
Uh you know. Uh uh.I told my agent and we talked
about it. I mean, wewere cool coming out here. You know.
I'll be here for many you know, and then I'll be there for

(01:19:31):
training parent you know, I don'tknow what the work entails, but ky
when we get there, we'll we'llcross that bridge. Why is it a
dodge fore or remain a stealer forthose three years. You know, there
was a conversation between me Omar andMike t And there's certain guys that are

(01:19:53):
one helmet guys, you know,and I wanna be one of those one
helmet guys. And you know there'sthere's a hunger and desire there. But
that doesn't mean just hanging it upand calling a career. To me,
I think, you know, Igot more bullets to fire, and uh,
you know, I'm excited to dothat. What's the one? What

(01:20:15):
did your impression of him? Whatdoes he do well that you're like,
Okay, yeah, this is thisis the program I want to take.
Card closes you born, you keepthose card? Yeah? You committed right
after the visit. I mean whenyou came down here, was there a
thought process that you could commit.Did you come down with an open mind
or did you kind of have afeeling that this was gonna be the weekend
of your age. I came downwith open mine. I didn't know if
I was open made really and thenI got here, I felt the family,

(01:20:36):
I'm here with prayer. What wasthat moment like for you talking to
coaches telling me and compare and tella new family just what was that like
for you? But it was great? Uh, I have my mom,
my dad, or my husband inthe room every other night. What was
that reaction? Well, my everybodyalready really some company presentaate. So what

(01:20:57):
was coach lofter that he was atime when you think of like just to
comment or the yeah, just anOhio state back. You know, whether
it's physicality, like what are thefirst things that come to mind when you
think of they don't high state orany back, speed of power, bas
on and tight about it? Yeah, is that something that I mean you
feel like you have to you know, working or is that something that you're

(01:21:18):
like, yeah, that's the kindof back I am. I'm just gonna
be next to mine in a hives. I mean that's the top of back
I am. But you all getwell, what are kind of a few
of those things that you're like,yeah, I need to work on,
like go over the course of thenext few months of just everything, make
sure I keep all the details.Whis security what a coach I tell you
that he likes about your game?Is it right between the tackles, your

(01:21:39):
speed or what is he like hesaid you like, morow, fuck the
backfield, Dan, and then heliked that, I'm not try what's kind
of your main I mean obviously asan in state kid committed to this class.
What's your pitch now to other recruitsand be like, this is why
you should join Ohio Stations main class. It's a real family. I'm experious.
Yeah, everybody get them on,everybody tug me to. Everybody's always

(01:21:59):
other. What'd you say once youget in running backs? Bringing to as
well? I've always looked up toBill Jackson watching this film. Do you
uh that's funny? Do you thinkthat your boy style can wear his or
miss perspective in just the way thathe can really holy walk? And I

(01:22:24):
was thinking that you want to growinto I think I can. I think
disputed a power. Yeah, Ithink I can believe that. Remember,
who are the main guys that you'reyou're talking to right now to join the
sus I'm really talking to everybody,uh the listening him in that auto commits,
any guys that you want to jointhe class, anybody at the top
of your listeners not figure. I'msorry if you've already got asked this,

(01:22:46):
but coming up here as a asa recruit as a commitment. S here,
what what did you want to showtoday? What did you want to
get out of this experience? Itwasn't nothing to show nothing cool. I
just wanted to this one working.How did you feel like that? Why?
Obviously he's still relatively new here,but he seems to bring up a
little bit of a different energy thanthan some of these camps in the past.
I feel like it went good.Yeah, do you sense that energy?

(01:23:10):
I mean when you're out with him, it's feel he's different than other
guys though, right, I meankind of how you would you explain his
coaching than some of the other runningback coach you may have worked with in
the path. It's just intense,intense, like don't go go ye?
Did did you talk to to talkon when he was at Legan? I
did? Okay? So when whendidn't he didn't work and get him marked
Tom like Rufford around like after theseason like not so far? Act to

(01:23:35):
okay? Is it? I mean? Is it was? He kind of
the same guy that he is now, just just in a new uniform.
Basically. Yeah. Then you guysobviously added Isaiah to the class and there's
no secret they would like to addanother one. What are your thoughts on
being in a class with three differentrunning backs? Like that? I have
no problem being a class three Anotherwhat do you like about Isaiah? I

(01:23:57):
don't know, you don't him,but you just damn that the first when
you committed the were some of theguys that you start to some particularly about
after they come up not really acouple of linebackers take me on rest you
want to black that. I appreciatethis. I mean, obviously we got

(01:24:28):
a couple of before you did.Maar it. I'm curious about how you
get so higher? Straight? Thing? You pretty it's pretty you started pretty
good. But I mean in termsof the guys that you want to join,
how you're great? Right? Whatdo you want out of a quarterback

(01:24:55):
in your class? Like? Whatabsolute I want? Yeah, this is
just a characteristic great question. Rochester, Thank you, brothers, using coaster,

(01:25:39):
you're very much to Thank you verymuch, person, Thank you once
again, yours and talking to monstersand Kelly about that. What don't you
like not questions on my meadow though? We just find it really ud Yeah.

(01:26:03):
What do you think you can bringto the problem? You think you
know? We were? Yeah,well, so like make a lotta you
know, it's a lot of agass. What's been like when you're just moving
out to California, being out oftime to day that's a little honestly like
Coday love helping aus like different beingout of state recruits here dress when you

(01:26:30):
were just a Yeah, it's definitelydifferent. So it's live here year a
new generation of recruits where I don'tthink anybody outside looking at over the question
is the strength of your commitment,Like you're locked into the last night,
you said it over and over,but you're making visits around the country,
You've seen other schools. It's it'salmost a totally different mindset. In nineteen

(01:26:54):
that was like the first year wewere making a transition, and then you
know COVID hit and then you know, every year it just seems like there's
something else. And I couse cometo the conclusion that every year is going
to be different and we have toadapt. But there's certain things that we're
not going to change. There's certainvalues we're not going to change. It
just you know, you know,principles that have you know, stood the
test of time. And I sharedthis with a group before when I started

(01:27:16):
doing some some research as we weredoing some some of our recruiting, you
know, introductions and some of ouryou know, talks about you know,
the traditions of Ohio State. Wetalked about how Ohio Stadium was built,
you know, and when you whenyou when you do your research on that
one hundred years ago, you know, folks had the idea of building a

(01:27:38):
stadium over sixty thousand people, andthat's because of what Chick Harley was doing.
And you know, they had awooden bleachers over here and all these
people started coming in and the ideaof bringing in a stadium that of our
sixty thousand people at the time waslike, this is crazy. What is
college football turning into? And theyinstead of going to the state or going
to the school the community, theywent to the community to raise the money

(01:27:58):
they raised over at the time overa million dollars. Well night, fast
forward one hundred years and the conversationstill might be like, what is college
football doing right? And in thissituation then I l we had to turn
to the community for help, andBucky Nation showed up again in a big
way. So although the landscape ischanging, I don't know if you know
one hundred years later. If it'sthat much different, it's just in a

(01:28:20):
different time, in a different youknow, set 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. Ithink that we're taking the next step with
the revenue sharing to try to institutionalizesome of it, which would be big
for US Reids. Yeah, everyyears got question. It seems like this

(01:28:45):
year's team has fewer questions off theline regard specifically, if you look ahead
to really more than a month,what are the real questions that you have
in your mind? Uh position,I would say on offense, you know,

(01:29:05):
we got to square away the quarterbackas you know, I feel like,
you know, the offensive line onthe right side, we've got to
solidify that. I feel like wegot to build, you know, enough
depth at receiver that we feel likewe can put in five or six in
the game and feel good about it. On defense, I think we're still

(01:29:27):
looking to figure out, you know, who are going to be the guys
inside, you know, the thethird, the fourth, the fifth,
defensive interier, a linement 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
going to need everybody, and andso in a lot of those areas it's

(01:29:50):
depth, Uh, special teams wise. You know, punter is going to
be you know that that is significant. You know, we just brought in
Nick and you know, so there'llbe a battle there. So I'd say
those are probably the areas we're focusedon the most. Ryan just a fall
from the offensive line, there wasI think a school aplogy you guys might

(01:30:10):
be looked for a transfer in thatpost spring window. Did you guys do
that? Did you guys not findthe guy or were you just confident the
guys you have, Just like youknow in January, if if we're going
to bring somebody in, it isto fill a hole. We're not just
going to bring somebody in to bringsomebody in. Like at all positions,
we'll always look to see what's outthere. We did evaluate some of the

(01:30:32):
guys that were out there, andyou know, you know, we felt
like coming out of it as weevaluated it, you know, there was
a couple of guys that you know, we checked on, but but ultimately,
like based on where we were andsome of the young guys that are
coming up, you know, wefelt like we saw some progress in the
offensive line in the spring, soyou know, it wasn't there wasn't as
many folks in the portal, youknow, in after the spring. So

(01:30:56):
we looked at it, we identifiedit, We did our due diligence,
but you know, we're gonna gowith through what we have now. Second
round, Bill Anders, right,you're it was interesting that you have two
of maybe the top five ors ofguys in sport and then a bunch of
guys who haven't plenty uh maybe similarthat I don't my question, but did
you consider trying to add there?Understanding that probably the difficult sell. We

(01:31:18):
have such talent, how to bringsomebody of these experiences? Like what were
those conversations like and how did yousettle on being comfortable with you know,
Trey and 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

(01:31:39):
gonna have to you know, takeon a little bit of that. You
know, we have you know,started having conversations 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

(01:32:00):
build depth at that position. Butyou know, I think, you know,
we feel like, you know,if you have you know, four
strong running backs going into it,then you know that's gonna be that's gonna
be enough to carry 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

(01:32:21):
to step up to the guys thatwe can count on. Save that for
another day, Yeah, just fallup on it. Is he capable of
stepping in and being running back?Obviously, we'll see, we'll see.

(01:32:41):
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 did very little in the spring. We did I think we pitched them
an option or something like that inthe spring just to kind of get them
going. But you know, we'llsee, we'll see what that goes.
We don't have a specific plan rightnow, but we do want to introduce

(01:33:03):
him to that just the same thinglike Lorenzo Styles has played your seer where
he did that at Notre Dame.You know, he's out there a little
bit just kind of learning. It'shealthy. You know, you're seeing it
from the other side of the ball. This time of the year, you
can get away with that a littlebit, a little bit in the preseason.
Where it goes, we'll see,but you just never know. And
we're trying to put some contingency plansin place because it could be a long
season. Yeah, this is myforty fourth year cover of Hot to Day.

(01:33:26):
I don't remember ever expectations like thisIn the summer. There were some
of them were almost as big.Sure do you send that too? And
what is that pressure like as you'reworking through a summer? Yeah, and
people have ask me that. Igo back to the expectations every year are
the same. I mean, it'sjust the truth. When opening press conference,
I said, you got to beatthe team up North and whenevery game
after that. That's just the expectations. And when you come up short,

(01:33:47):
you know you've got to figure outa way to get those things fixed.
I think we have done that.But the expectations are the same every year.
Pressure is the same every year.I just like the pressure when you've
got a really good team behind you. So that's what we got right now.
And you know, we know it'sgoing to be a long season.
We know we're working towards. ButI will say this about this team,
Well, well we've been talented.That's there's been times in the past we've

(01:34:10):
been talented. I don't know sinceI've been here, if we've been this
talented and this experience together with guysthat have played a lot of football,
fourth and fifth year guys, andthat doesn't matter. We'll go ex door.
Stephen play since you brought it up. Maybe maybe this is his talk
because it's summer Timaus so you cannow just have conversations. Maybe we're making
a big out of nothing long termsituations. But we've seen it around college

(01:34:32):
football in the league, guys playingboth sides of the ball. I'm doing
it quite well right Travis Huner isdoing it out in Colorado, and Kayla
Dallas has been apartment turns, sowe see what he could do with the
ball. But there's also the staminaaspect of it. I just get into
a sixteen game season, so I'mnot saying it's any forty snaps or something
like that, But what about hisathleticism what he brings to the table,
and let you know that if youwanted to explore it a real game,

(01:34:55):
he could last and still be aneffective See. Yeah, you know,
we'd have to see all that hedid it in high school. But we
got some really good running backs ina room. So it's not something that
we're planning on 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 thatwas something that we were going to look
into. Where it goes, Idon't I don't really know right now,
but I know that he has thecapability to do it. He has the

(01:35:17):
athleticism and do it and you know, we'll kind of see where it goes,
see see how he does, andyou know, maybe hand the ball
Tom a little bit of the preseason, because again, it's going to be
a long season. We have tomake sure we have continuency plans in place.
But I know it's something that heenjoys having the ball in his hand.
So even during their first time aroundthe recruiting process, we even talked

(01:35:38):
about him coming in as a asan offensive player. Ultimately we think his
ceiling is highest on defense. Butyou know, but I also agree.
I think that having you know,guys going this side of the ball and
just see it, listen to meetingsis really healthy for the development. So
we're going to do that regardless.Defensive recruiting right now is maybe further long

(01:36:00):
it's been in the years past,and I think we asked diferous questions about
it in the past. But isthis a product of seeing it over the
last couple of years and now it'snot just telling you guys, hey,
this might look like this. They'reseeing it in real time. Yeah,
you know, we talked about itwhen Jim first came in, and I
think Tim Wallton's an unbelievable job aswell in the back end, and you
know, Matt stepped right in andJames and Larry. I think they're all

(01:36:21):
doing a great job. But likeyou said, you know, it's one
thing to talk about it that's theorytestimony is this, look at this is
this is what we're doing. Andthen I think you're seeing a lot of
guys just excited about playing in thisdefense and they see the capabilities and the
flexibility too. You know, rightnow the way we play, excuse me,
the way we play right now isbased on you know, we have

(01:36:42):
four really talented defensive linemen that arereally good, and we got a lot
of debt to those positions. Butthere's also flexibility with some of the things
Gym's done in the past that youknow, we're definitely looking at and some
of the recruits that we're looking atwho brings some versatility pass rusher, you
know, we have that jack positionand those type of things. So that's
exciting as well. And I thinkyou're seeing a lot of the recruits,
you know, really get fired upwhen they get here. People. Yeah,

(01:37:08):
coach, first years, your identitywas was very bigger from an alto
standpoint, and air it out.Team, look at the keep best talent
and the playmakers you have there.Hause your identity changed. I guess what
do you think the identity is ofthis 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

(01:37:30):
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
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

(01:37:54):
we're playing in a playoff format,just like a lot of those NFL teams
sometimes, you know, they don'treally quite understand their identity and they get
about halfway through the season. Idon't think I'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. Have you

(01:38:14):
got time for two more? Goto Doug Limerries. Okay, Right?
You lose an important recruiting staffer topromotion at Michigan, just the second time.
So much gone to Michigan this offseason. How do you react to something
like that? Is something that someonelike that would take information that was learned

(01:38:35):
here that could help the Michigan orburto highest stages. Reaction, Yeah,
all good questions, And you know, I just I want to talk about
the guys that are here, youknow, the staff members that are here,
the coaches that are here, theplayers that are here, the ones
that are Buckeyes, Joe, Jujit. With the scheduling change that was announced

(01:38:57):
yesterday, they come together. Anythingto do with the different yeah, you
know, I don't know all thatcame in came with it. I know
it got presented to me a whileback, and you know I was on
board with it. So yeah,I mean I think, you know,
we do have to look a littlebit different at our scheduling as we move

(01:39:18):
forward, based on the way theformat is at the end of the season.
That's quickly about the linebackers, gotin here a little bit late.
How do you feel about your linebackers? Cody seems like he always he's the
bestmans Like he's lucking as a starter, CJ. When do you see his
role being Sonny? When you seehis role being Gay and all this guys?
Yeah, good versatility all those guys, Rvel Reese, Like you said,

(01:39:38):
CJ, Gabe, Sonny, Cody. You know I'm missing a couple,
I'm sure, but like that wasthat, yeah, Rvel? Yeah,
I mean these guys are very versatileguys. You can see the length
on them, and you know theydo a good job in terms of like
fitting the runs. They can runsright now, so they know how things

(01:40:00):
should operate. And I gotta spendtime making sure those other guys get ready
and get caught up the speed ina timely fashion. It's great. Uh,
he's taking a great step forward thelike I said, he he's the
next guy up. Man. Imean he's been extremely you know, important
on the growth of our secondary becausenow you know we're working him inside some

(01:40:23):
Uh, he's played outside at bothcorner spots. You know he got that
it factor, you know what Imean. So so we look what he
brings the energy to competitiveness. Wegot to build off the last year uh
and expand the role for him andmake sure he's uh, he's ready to
go. But he's been doing great. What is your Uh. We're just

(01:40:50):
authentic, really not giving a lotof recruiting talk. It is what it
is. We try to shoot straight, honest communication, honest assessment, the
character, the value, the workat it, and the main things the
competition. You got to compete.If you don't want to compete, it's

(01:41:11):
not gonna be the place for you, because that's the that's the thing that
will get us where we need togo is competition in the room. And
those guys here love to compete.We sell that. We're looking for guys
who embrace that, who chairs beingin those spots. And you can take
time to grow. You know,you don't have to have the the pig
mentality of problem of instant gratification.You know you can develop and grow so

(01:41:38):
and sometimes you may be in behinda guy that's a really good player.
Is nothing wrong with developing and growingand playing when your time is right and
if the time is right right nowas a freshman, like what Jermaine,
did you play early? You know, So we try to also sell that,
you know, we care about themas people and try to prepare you
for life after football. So it'sbigger than just football. We're going to
prepare you for life, whether it'sthe n F fail or on with a

(01:42:00):
regular career in the workforce. Wewant you to prepare you as a young
man, and we try to sellthat and preach that to the parents to
remain having that in factor you mentionedand rolling all these different spots, do
you anticipate you know, there wasn'ta lot of rotation among the cornerbacks last
year when everyone was healthy, Anddo you anticipate maybe rolling him through the
rest guys here with the longerst seasonpotentially, Yeah, we play it by

(01:42:23):
here, you know what I mean. We see how it goes by the
time we get in the camp.But you know, obviously he's earning the
stripes, so you know what Imean. When you earn your stripes,
you know, O job to createopportunities for you, you know what I
mean. We have to see howit goes with all that other stuff.
You know, once we get closerto the season and we'll get into the
game plan stuff. But he's doinga great job, and he's he and
he's taking a great step forward,tim the way that you were, the

(01:42:45):
way he can kind of establish yourroom. Now it seems like it's been
the center pieces kind of relationships andkind of killing mind. And I'm curious,
is that something that you came inwith the like a couple of years
ago with the intention of doing oris it something that you're like has kind
of been cool to be to goover the course of your time physic No,
it's been there for a while.I've been doing that for a long
time. It's all about relationship.If you develop real relationship and your authentic

(01:43:06):
and your communication and you have honestfeedback and you have the you know,
direct teaching. The guys that havevalue and character and they appreciate that stuff,
they'll embrace that. So, butthey have to know your care and
you have to know that it's real, and they have to know that you
you're really concerned about their well ofbeing as a young man. And when
you get close to them and spenda lot of time with them off the

(01:43:27):
field, you could coach them hardand you can, you can and you
can. You can say truthful thingsto them and then they'll embrace it and
you can have real conversation because youknow the only goal is to help them
get better as a young man yearsago, the receiver room is so far
ahead of the more room. Getkind of skewed that evaluation sometimes do.
And how is that dynamic change inthese two Arsis group's gotten older and you

(01:43:49):
can more talent. Yeah, it'sdone balanceduff a little bit now, Uh,
that goes with great competition. Wehave the Uh we go against the
best receivers in college football. Sothat helps escalate your growth process because if
you don't figure it out real fast, you'll get embarrassed. So that competition.
But what happened with that, Eyeguys start competing, Eye guys start
growing. Eye guys got better andnow is even up a little bit.

(01:44:11):
So will you get really good workat practice to day? You know what
I mean? So it's competitive,it's fun. Those guys both on both
sides of the ball care about eachother, so it's great competition. And
they're all real real close, soyou know, I mean, it's that
stuff that gets us better, thatwill prepare us for Saturday, I said
my first day of practice. Actuallyreceivers kind of got them. Well,

(01:44:34):
no, it's just it's gonna competitive. Man. They got the best group
in the country that you're going againstevery day, so you have to bring
it every day, you know whatI mean. So they we got a
great quarterback room. We've got agreat receiver room. The running backs are
really good. So when you outthere going against them, it's deep,
so you have to be ready forit. And obviously, man, we're

(01:44:55):
seeing a lot of good stuff withDay and coach Kelly doing over there,
and so it prepares you a lotand it helps us grow that recruity or
wide receiver room kind of in itlike a part of your regree pits like
these are the guys you get toplay, yeah, always because you know
that's where you get better iron shoppingsiron So you know you get to see

(01:45:16):
that every day at practice. Thathelps you grow. It's no better uh
thing to go against every day thanto see that on a daily basis.
Beside looking at oh, we justmoving a lot of guys around. You
watch that practice. We have alot of guys in there right now.
You know we probably have three orfour different guys in there. Obviously,
Lorenzo's in there, Jermaine is inthere. K MOUs We we have we

(01:45:39):
have about four or five guys movingaround right now. We just try things
out in spring ball, see whatthe fit, you know, see what
things work together. So there's probablysome more guys in there, you know.
We move it around to try tojust get the right fit throughout the
end and see how it goes bythe time we get ready to start the
season. He can run an he'sstrong, you know I mean, he's
fast, Uh, very serious abouthis business. Uh. He's big,

(01:46:00):
it's two hundred pounds. He canrun, he's strong, he's conscientious,
you know what I mean. He'sstarting to grow and he's starting to get
get better with it, you knowwhat I mean. So we looked for
big things for him the spring.What do you want to see from this
spring? Keep competing, you knowwhat I mean. Now he's made the
transition. Competing today, you knowwhat I mean, Start going in that
transition is all just like him Jermaine. Last year. You throw him in

(01:46:20):
the fire, you let him go, you compete, you go. By
the time we get out of theend of training camp. Ye'll be them
figured it out. You have allthat, but now you just throw it
all at him. Compete, continueto grow, continue to learn. He
has the skill set, he hasthe length. 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 seems like Midwich

(01:46:40):
through spring and kind to click forJermaine last year and you start to see
him. It could not be morehacker to be here, super havy,
be here at DROT two as well, or right to work. Hello everybody
there is Robinson University of Missouri.I just want to thank mister Bill Wilmant
to your coach Gannon for this amazingopportunity. I'm glad to be here with

(01:47:01):
Marvin Harrison right next to me,So peel great. I'm really excited and
I'm excited for this journey. Seeyou fifteen here in town. Marvin,

(01:47:28):
when did you know the Cardinals weregoing to select you? Did you know
before they called or was there anagreement in place before? No, I
did not know until I got thephone call from the Arizona Cardinals. Marvin
Richard signs Fox ten Welcome to thevalley. I know kind of tweeted to
you, tweeted out to you onceyou got drafted. What was it like

(01:47:49):
to get a message from the franchisequarterback and what kind of thoughts have you
had about teaming up with this guyin the near future? He yess sirs
and great. You always want tosupport and love from your quarterback and the
co is a great player. Excitedto play with him, and it's gonna
be my job to make his jobeasier. Darius Darren Urban from Azycardinals dot

(01:48:10):
com. I know that a lotof players these days aren't sticking in one
school, uh for a long time, and you did it for five years.
I mean even Marvin did it forthree Like what what went behind that?
And why was it meaningful for youto stay at one school? Yes,
at Missouri, you know, wehad some tough seasons, but we
were really built with an edge energy, details, good in emotional consistency,

(01:48:32):
and I just find myself just tryingto grow and get better each year and
also as a team, you know, win more games each year. And
that was my that was my home, I was my family. I was
blessed to, you know, gettwo degrees as well off the field and
I just love missou two degrees.Wow, Marvin, Bob Mcbob McMahon and

(01:48:53):
Arizona Republic, congratulations. Thank youto both of you. You're known as
all business, and I want toknow how that that's going to serve you
well in this leg 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 that's just being a
pro. It's kind of raised andgrew up to do and keep the same

(01:49:17):
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. So I'mlooking forward to putting the work. Hey,
Marvin, Josh Wayne ESPN, whatwere 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. Know, from Monday

(01:49:40):
to Saturday, it's all work andthen Sunday should be the easy part.
I go out there and have fun, ready to put the work in.
So I'm gonna starts with the workfirst, and then when Sunday comes it
is Rieka benefits. Hey, DariusHoward Ballzer from cards Wire, I can't
help but notice that ring on yourfinger. Is that a cotton bowl ring?
Yes? It is the You showedit to Marvin very quickly. No,

(01:50:04):
I I was telling Marma. Youknow he was glad he didn't play.
The whole week leading up. Youknow, you see Ohio State.
Everybody said, okay, Marvin Harrison, and now he's is he gonna play?
To go play? He didn't play, so you know we left out.
So Hey, Marvin Paul KELBC CardinalsBroadcasting, do you believe that receivers

(01:50:26):
have to earn the trust for theirquarterback? And if so, what does
that usually require? Absolutely, yougot to earn the trust of the quarterback
and then it starts, you know, every day in practice and being consistent.
Really, you can't just do itone day, can't you do it
for one week? Has to bedone over and over and over again.
I think that's how trust is earned. So no matter where you get picked,
when you're first receivers round seven doesn'treally matter. Have to go and

(01:50:49):
earn trust for the quarterback, yourcoaches, your teammates, so it all
starts in practice. What's going on, guys. Good to see again,
Tyler Drake, there's no sports systemsfor Darius. What's the feeling of just
being able to represent your school asthat first round pick and what kind of
impact can that have for those guysfollowing in your footsteps. Yeah, it's
awesome. I feel like I'm settingthe standard going forward. But that's name

(01:51:11):
was Zoo is known as Dlon Zoo, so I'm just added to the family.
But now I feel like I'm settingthe standard for my younger teammates that
this is attainable if you work reallyhard, be consistent, and really get
trust your strength coach. I feellike every program is built off the stremp
coach and that develops all the habitson and off the field. Darius zach
Ershmanezcardinals dot Com. Right over here, JJ mentioned that he loves the violence

(01:51:34):
that you play with. You mentionedthe different tendencies that you picked up.
The emotional consistency is the great.How do you balance that the violence with
discipline on the field. Honestly,just through preparation and practice. I'm a
big guy. I'm a big believerin inside hands, So That's why I'm
always working my hand placement and thenI lift weight, so you know,
that's all connected. So I'm justtrying to be focused on my technique as

(01:51:57):
much as possible. Hey, Marvinover here, David Brant with the Associated
Press. You know a lot ofrookies come into the league and they get
a little bit of leeway. It'slike, oh, he's young, he
needs to grow and stuff like that. But obviously you're gonna be expected to
be the guy here really quickly.How do you deal with that pressure?
How do you go about just somuch being expected of you so quickly?

(01:52:19):
I mean, yeah, I havehigh standards for myself, but I'm just
gonna go in there and try towork, you know, the best I
can. I just want to helpthe team win really, so without that
role I play, you know,come September, let me just do my
best, you know, do thatrole. This one's for both of you
guys. The fans want to knowwho you guys are on the inside.

(01:52:40):
I don't know how much you're willingto reveal to us today. A lot
would be nice. Could you tellus what you like to do away from
football, What what pisses you off? About things and you know what what
makes you roll. I'm pretty simple. I like, you know, be
in my apartment, watch the movie. If I go out and I go

(01:53:00):
to a restaurant, get some food, but other than that, only do
too much. And then I'm prettyeasy going guys, so I try to
nothing bother me too much. Yeah, I said the same thing. A
real chill guy, just really obsessedwith football. But outside of football,
like I said, I got mytwo degrees. I got my undergrad hospitality
management and the minor and business.I got my master and Positive Culture with

(01:53:23):
m since FLA leadership. So justthinking about being well rounded. And then
I do philanthropy work. I startedmy own nonprofit foundation, Darius Robinson Helping
Hands Foundation. But really just footballand 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

(01:53:45):
a great response about how your processand preparing for a game. Just kind
of wondering where your love for kindof the grind comes from, and then
your love for that process comes from. I would say my junior year because
I played little league ball off andon. But I got my junior year
and I was playing high school andmy whole was just to earn a scholarship.
But during that process, I reallyfell in love with the game,
fell in love with working out relationshipswith teammates, and now it's kind of

(01:54:08):
like my advice and I can't letit go and just kind of finding ways
to always get better, you know. Luke g liitting here with twelve Sports,
Congrats to both of you walking intothe valley. This one's for you.
Marvin. I'm curious your thoughts orwhat was that conversation like with your
dad after your name was called andyou were able to be drafted by this
organization, and how surreal is itfor you to be following your own father's

(01:54:29):
footsteps but in your own way.Yeah, I mean it was very brief.
Actually, just in the second graduations, I walk up to the stage
and then I had to do abunch of interviews afterwards. So I don't
think it's hit both of us yet. I don't know what's happened. I
think, you know, one ofMichaels always make him proud, so I
hope I did that. Marvin boBrock pH and X Sports when do you

(01:54:49):
anticipate catching your first passes from KylerMurray? I don't know. I don't
know. I guess we'll see andhopefully as soon as possible. Darius philanthropy
and I know there's been it's beentalked about how you took some of the
NI nil money to do get backto school for the kids in Colombia.

(01:55:09):
Where where did that belief in doingthose things come from? I say my
family, my brother and my momreally instilled that into me and to me
at a young age. Just giveback your blessings to others. In my
fifth year at Miszoo 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

(01:55:30):
do three events each year. Ijust give back because you know, it's
life outside of football and bigger blessingsout there. Marvin, you obviously played
with a number of highly drafted receiversat Ohio State. What sort of feedback
have you gotten about the NFL fromthem? And you know by making the
transition in the league itself. Yeah, it's a long season. I think
going from in a twelve game recordseason you have in college to was it

(01:55:51):
seventeen games now? And you gotthree preseason? I think I feel like
just the biggest challenge the game statesthe thing obviously all skilled and very talented
athletes, So the mental part isprobably the biggest thing and the biggest change
from the college to pros. Marvin, what's your timeline for hiring an agent?
Right over here on a way farright, you haven't hired an agent?

(01:56:13):
Why is that? Is there atimeline to hiring one? And are
you going to slign the NFLPA licensingagreement. I'll continue to talking to my
team. We do what's best forme. I'm moving forward. We just
take it one day at a time. I just got drafted, so I'm
trying to enjoy the moment and behappy while I can at the moment.
Hey, Marvin, we'll say Romaro, Arizona Republic, Welcome. Man.
Can you just kind of share alittle bit about you touched on it briefly

(01:56:35):
here, but just a little bitmore about growing up with your dad and
you know, the experiences you hadin Indianapolis and games and so on and
so forth. Yeah, I mean, there's no better role model, coach
mentor that you can have hip.All the way through our college, we
were captains together Ohio State, sowe shared a lot of we shared a

(01:56:57):
lot of time there together. Andthen before pro day he came up and
we threw that night before Pro Dayand we've I mean, we've stayed in
touch. I feel like pretty wellhe's just some awesome human and even a
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?

(01:57:17):
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 just we knew
how to do a special and whenhe got the chance, got over with
the right people and the right coachingstaff. The dudes unbelievable. Brian Bearfield,

(01:57:42):
Hey, Kay, welcome to Houston. Brian Bearfield, Big sarch media
for everybody just called me serage asyou could tell by the hats. So
kay, I don't want to takeyou back down memory lane for just one
second. I just looked up someof your stats. So you were in
high school, you were running backone thousand and four and the seventy seven
yards you're seeing year, seventeen touchdowns, linebacker, one hundred and sixty three

(01:58:02):
tackles, four intersessions. You brokeyour high school scoring record in basketball overall
athlete. Even when you got toOhio State, you didn't really you were
like a hybrid. They didn't reallyknow where to put you until you ended
up at tight end. So Isay all that to ask you what the
Houston Texans are getting an athlete who'swilling to play anywhere and everywhere they need

(01:58:26):
them. Correct? One hundred percent. Yeah, that's one hundred percent,
one hundred percent correct, no doubtabout it. I'll do whatever we got
to do here to win ball games. And I mean they got awesome players,
awesome coaching staff. So just supersuper blessed here. How much did
that how much does that background helpyou or help you to get through you
know, college and now get youto where you are today? Uh?
I think every day I've been thrownin a million different directions, pulling in

(01:58:49):
a million different directions, and tobe honest with you, I mean,
nothing's ever gone like how it's supposedto on pin the paper in my life
and my coaching career, so Imean my playing career, excuse me.
And it's just I think I'm justI feel like I'm battle tested and i
feel like I'm ready to go.Thank you. Yeah cool, Cool,

(01:59:16):
You're unmute any better? Katie gotme? Yeah, I got you now.
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, not your playing career. Do you want to get into coaching
afterwards when you're done playing football?No, no, no, it's a

(01:59:42):
lot of emotions going through my bodyright now. So regardless, No,
I'm not playing on getting coaching.I'm playing on just playing as long as
I can. Just a quick followup, and you look at a guy
like Tamiko Ryans, who is aformer player that is very close to the
league, only has been out forabout seven years. What does it mean
to be playing for somebody who's translatedover to this new side of things but

(02:00:03):
also understands what a player goes throughon the daily basis. I think that
makes the biggest difference in the world. And I think you can tell by
the way the players respect him andjust how and the job he's done in
the short time he's been there.I mean, the dude's unbelievable. He
seems an unbelievable person. I'm justreally really excited to be able to plan
n Nathan cod You. Heyk CodyDavis from Sports Illustrated. You and I

(02:00:29):
met at the NFL COMBA. Bythe way, Yeah, I would like
to know, man, what arewhat type of tight end are the Houston
Texans getting. Man, I'll tellyou what they're getting. Just a complete
utility player. Basically, I'm gonnado whatever you ask me to do at
one hundred percent, one hundred everythingI got every single time, and just

(02:00:50):
I'm going to be the exact glovein the locker room. I'm going to
be a dude people can come towhen things go wrong. And I'm so
excited to help his team anyway Ican. Kim, Hey, Kate,
It's Kim Davis for Chalk Talk.Congratulations on getting drafted by the Texans.
Kind of following up on what Codyjust ask you from your conversation with CJ.

(02:01:15):
I know he's spoken of high youhave his staff, but what do
you know about this just from whatyou've seen this offense? And although you're
utility player, what excites you mostabout it other than obvigely playing with CJ.
Man. I just think one.I think Dalton Schultz is a great
player. I've watched a lot ofhis film growing up and just even the
last couple of years, study alot of what he does, especially was
on the Cowboys and now just tobe able to learn from a guy like

(02:01:38):
that and take notes and tips howhe handles his life and everything, it's
gonna be awesome for right now,in long term down the road. And
one quick follow up, what doyou know about the city of Houston?
Have you spend any time here?No? No. I trained in Brisco,
Dallas for a little bit for acouple of months, and then that
was really about it. Other thanthat, I've never really been to Hughes,

(02:02:00):
but I mean, I'm really excitedto come. All right, thank
you the recording media, you too, Aaron, Hey Kate. When it
comes to blocking, some tight endsembrace it. Some do it because it's
part of the job. What's yourmentality toward blocking? And I have a
follow up, Man, I loveblocking, Uh, I do. I'm

(02:02:24):
gonna throw my face in the firechance I can get. I might not
always be pretty, but I promiseyou're gonna get every ounce of power I
got. And the draft process asa proven guy, did you go on
a lot of visits? Did youwork out privately? We are someones that
you remember. And what kind oflevel of activity did you have with Texan's

(02:02:45):
combine meetings, et cetera? Yeah, thank you, Yeah, we had.
We had a formal at the combine. Uh. And I've always,
like I said, always talked toCJ closely, So just having that and
then just throughout the PROTX we hada couple zoom here and there and other
than that, I mean, Itrained the oh State coach Mick and coach
at the Train coaches up there withTrain, a group of me, Tommy

(02:03:08):
Iickenberg, and still Chambers, myroommates that we lived with in the afternoon,
and that was really about it.We just train and play ball at
that point and the other teams,did you go on trips and things like
that? We took one local visitto the Bengals. That was it.
We have time for a couple more. Go ahead, sarge, Oh Kate,

(02:03:29):
I know that. You know,we asked you a lot of questions
about playing with CJ. But you'vebeen scouted as a tight end but could
also be linked out to the widereceiver position. Being at Ohio State for
as long as you were, whatdid you pick up from a lot of
those great Ohio State wide receivers thatcame through the time you were there.
You just watched. I mean,you watch those guys go about how they
handle releases, how they handle theirfeet, atopping their routes and everything like

(02:03:53):
I mean, for me, I'venever played it in my life. So
starting you were literally started from scoreone slut square one. So learning slowly
with them, and then this isa business and you have to do what's
best for his career and his futureas well. So you know, obviously
he has familiarity with Joe Brady atone of his best seasons with them,

(02:04:13):
So you know, I think he'sgonna be a big part of their offense
and continue to grow as a receiver. You know, it's a lost for
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 and made plays whenwe need him to. So on a

(02:04:34):
personal standpoint, I'm definitely gonna youknow, miss him having him in the
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 mm hm, things may be different. Yeah,

(02:05:01):
yeah, we haven't honestly even startedan install yet, so I haven't even
got a lay of the land quiteyet. I'll probably take a look at
just got our I pass within thelast few days, so I'll try to
take a sneak peek at what wehave looking for. But you know,
I know with him talking to zachErtz, he does a great job of
trying to get his playmakers involved,which I think we have a really good
group of guys from the running backsto receivers and some solid tight ends as

(02:05:26):
well. So I'm just looking forwardto see where I fit into that,
and you know, I think withhim, his biggest things is making sure
the playmakers are making plays and tryingto fit the scheme around that, which
is always good to hear, goodto see too. This offense, yeah,

(02:05:49):
yeah, it's definitely, you know, an adjustment obviously when you're learning
a new offense. And it's kindof the same mentality I take into last
year in years past, where youkind of just want to take a day
one approach, kind of erase whatyou've learned in the past. But at
the end of the day, Ithink, you know, schemes in the

(02:06:10):
NFL are relatively similar. Is justthe names and the formations that may be
a little different. So just gettingused to the terminology and Cliff's offense is
just going to be something that's anadjustment for all of us. But the
good thing about it is I gotsome good time on my hands to really
put some work in studying when Ileave this place, so I could come
in here when we have walkthroughs andwhen we start to put our helmets on,

(02:06:31):
we can really hit the ground running. So so far it's we haven't
learned anything yet. But my approachis the same, try to take good
notes in there, ask good questions, and then study on my own at
night. You like to go tothe Yeah, yeah, I think I

(02:06:53):
got some really good work down inFlorida. Is just working on my footwork,
just being better at the top ofmy routes, sharper on my speed
cuts, dig routes, out routes, and just being cleaner with my footwork
at the top of the routes.I think, you know, with a
little bit of zone covers that we'veseen in the past with some teams kind
of running more too hot show,you're gonna get a little bit more of

(02:07:14):
catch technique where guys are kind ofsitting at the top of your route.
So I want to be better atbeing efficient to geting out of those routes
when the guy's kind of sitting atmy depth, whether it's a fifteen yard
comeback or a twelve yard curl route, you know, being able to get
out efficiently so I can keep createand keep the separation within my route.
So obviously I'm always still working onmy ball skills and making sure I'm just

(02:07:38):
catching a lot of footballs and theoff season, but just really being better
at the top of the routes andyou know, sharper out of my cuts
is something that I think I canimprove on. Good to see you too.
You know, you're obviously this teamand captain, and with so many
new faces, new players room,what is the challenge going to have because

(02:08:03):
there's so many Yeah, I thinkI think that's really started with coach Quinn
in the way he's really integrated everybodyover the first two days. I think
we haven't even gotten into x's andoo's quite yet. We've just really begin
to know one another. Getting outthere with Chad and the strength coaches and
getting some good workouts in just kindof creating a foster in an environment where

(02:08:24):
everybody's the same and continuing to havea competitive environment. I think that brings
out the best in one another.And obviously, you know, you have
guys like Zach Ertz who's played alot of football and won a championship,
Marcus Marriota obviously, Bobby Wagner who'sa future Hall of Famer. So you
got some guys who have been broughtin here who know what it's supposed to
look like at this level. Andfor myself, I just want to continue

(02:08:46):
to add uh my value and beeven more vocal this year than I have
in the past, especially with possiblya new quarterback coming in. I think
that can really help our offense.Have you know, some more unity with
the guys who know what it lookslike, helping bringing those guys, the
younger guys along. I don't know, if you had a chance to watch
Dan conference, he didn't want touse the word rebuild. Yeah, the

(02:09:11):
changes going on with this franchise,all the new changes and new coaching staff,
all the new players. Is therea certain word you use or how
do you view everything? Honestly,I just think of it as a as
a new year. Just talking toSam Cosmy, Uh, we've been here
for a few years, so it'sa lot of new faces. I think,

(02:09:31):
you know, this is probably themost I would say turnover we've had
in the last few years. Sothere's guys coming from all different areas,
walks of life, and but Ithink the one thing is the same.
They're all coming in looking for anopportunity to compete, take another step in
their careers, and prove that they'reone of the best players at the position.
And I think coach Quinn has emphasizedthat we're gonna have the opportunity to

(02:09:54):
prove ourselves. Whether you're a tenyear vet or a second year player.
You know, this is a cleanslate for everybody. So I think it's
just about getting on the same page, enjoying coming in here and working together,
and also just pushing each other inthese workouts, and then when we
start getting on the field, uh, really get that competition going. Try
to simulate as we go along inthis off season process of how the games

(02:10:18):
are going to be. Hey,how are you doing? Good to see
you too, And yeah, Ithink Coach Quinn has really assemble assembled a

(02:10:41):
very unique group of coaches. There'smultiple head coaches, there's multiple quarter uh
coordinators that come from different places,and so you have guys who have a
lot of football experience, some haveplayed, some have coached in big games,
and then you bring in, youknow, the the talent that we
have have defensively and offensively, andI just think you can feel the unity

(02:11:03):
and the sameness and the message thathe's trying to preach to our team,
and it's we're gonna be tough andwe're gonna be competitive, but we're also
gonna have fun. And he likeI think he said in Your Guys' interview,
he said he likes to do,you know, hardship with good people.
So I think that's fun. Youknow, a guy like me likes

(02:11:24):
to put my nose down and grindand work. So I know him and
I are going to continue to hitit off, and you know it's just
my job to help bring other guysalong with me. Thank you more your
next step as a vocal leader?Yeah, what does that mean to you?

(02:11:45):
I think for me, I've I'vegrown a lot in my vocal leadership.
I think I try to always findthe balance of when to say something,
when not to say something. Ithink I never want I've always wanted
to be a person when I saysomething that means something like you don't want
to be You're giving all the motivationalspeeches, but you're not backing up with
your play, or you're you're talkingso much you kind of your message is

(02:12:07):
drowned out. And so it's kindof continue to find that balance of when
to say things and when to kindof just take a step back. But
I think I've I've gotten a reallygood feel of how to do that.
I think obviously with a new coachingstaff. You just try to understand what
they how they want things done,and you try to, you know,
bring what you do well into thatand you also try to encourage the guys
who haven't taken those steps in theircareer to do that as well. So

(02:12:31):
I think for me, it's justreally starting in my position group. I
think we have, uh still avery young group, kind of inexperience for
the most part, but I thinkwe have a lot of talent in there,
and it's just my job, inBobby's job, and to continue to
bring that group along as we gothroughout this season. What is I guess?

(02:13:01):
Yeah, Yeah, I hit itreally hard this offseason, so I
kind of started training a little bitafter the Super Bowl, so I got
a good six to eight weeks intowhere I feel football ready right now,
which is great for me because youknow, obviously we're probably having a mini
camp at the end of this month, so that'll be I'm already in football

(02:13:22):
shape. So that's that's exciting toknow that I'm ready to be able to
run routes and get going with ourquarterbacks and get going with our system.
So you know, as this offseason goes on, I just trust to
plan that Chad and the guys havehere. I want to be here for
all the workouts and things like thatand be a part of the team building
and just continue to learn the playbookas we start to install things and be

(02:13:43):
at a point where I could goout there and be confident in my game
what I've worked on this offseason andand put that into how that fits into
this offense. So I always tryto pride myself on knowing multiple positions,
just to be flexible for the teamand be flexible for myself, so I'll
be ready for whatever they wherever theyput me. I'm sprised you're going to

(02:14:07):
have a new quarterback this year.Yeah, yeah, you never. Well,
I don't say never, but it'sit's always tough seeing like someone you
build a really good relationship with goon and move on in their career,
and especially your quarterback, because asa receiver, you want to continue to
try to build that chemistry, youknow what I mean. That was only

(02:14:30):
our first year playing with one another, and I feel like him and I
had our uh we made some greatplays and we had some you know,
room for growth, and I thinkthat comes with any new quarterback receiver relationship
and so, but to see himgo in a situation where have a chance
to compete and play under a reallygood quarterback in Geno, you know,
I think he'll he'll really like playingwith receivers like uh, well throwing the

(02:14:52):
receivers like Locket and and Jash andSmith and Jig but in d K,
you know what I mean. SoI think he's going in a situation where
I think different. Uh, it'smore mentally than anything though, Like last
side was always my uh best sideback in cars, but since I got
to the f I always been playingright. But you know, it's a
it's a good challenge for me andI can show people I can actually play

(02:15:15):
right and left. So it's aversatility thing. So I'm happy about it.
There. You moved around a lotthroughout your career where there's jumbo side
you'll tackle, I guess in thesentence and playing book and left on the
right side. Do you think youkind of benefit from focusing on a little
bit more on the right center?Uh, a little bit, But you
know there is a new system thatwe have, Like I be playing my
mindset most on the right, butalso have my mind's on the left too.

(02:15:35):
Just in case something does happening tolike you know what I mean,
like Coughtland or you know Pete ofcourse, but I'm always gonna be ready
for left no matter what. Howquickly have you felt like you picked up
this new system that you're working innow? Oh it's a we actually picked
up picked up pretty well cause it'sthe same system that I'm used to back
in the hot stae cause we morelike spread back at I say, so,

(02:15:58):
you know, it's pretty good.So it's not the like the draft
process off season. There's a lotof people outside the buildings or themagers get
the right tack. Yeah, alot of yeah really alright now, But
a lot of people in the buildingwere like, we have the right time
what we did. Get motivated bythat. You follow it like if you
had make you do it, thoughI don't I read into it a little
bit. But also the same time, like they not here of course,

(02:16:20):
but I don't really care what theysay. I know what I can do,
and the team know I what Ican do, so they trusting me
right now and I'm not gonna livein right down. How hard or how
easy is that to compartmentalize that anduse that as fuel going forward rather than
the kind of meritated it. Uh, I j I just keep the seats.
Everybody knows that one person I don'treally care for him at Also,
that's all good, but it's alllove. I love uh outside of this,

(02:16:43):
but you keep me, keep itbetter, keep on these nights,
doe what I can do there?You've been a outspoken about your supporter of
Zamir, and obviously it's just hischance now to beat the dog? Wait,
what is it about him that youbought in so early? The reason
why I buy it so early causeus I was at a house date.
They always taught us to actually liketo getting. And that's since I got

(02:17:07):
here. I'm'a always wanna go getand I gotta picked late. And I
always wanna prove people wrong. Youknow, I think people wrong all my
life. I wanna keep doing it. What's gong which like it's for just
like we all put it like theset you like a community this year that
nine eight difference nine they difference frommy first year, in my second year
to now like now, my guy, I know I can play. I

(02:17:30):
know I can go against one ofthe best special match anybody else that we
be going to play this year,and I know what I can do,
So all gotta do now is actuallymeet my potential and should do it and
help everybody else out the team aswell. You've practiced a lot against Malcolm
and he's really come into his own. What is it about Malcolm that's helped
him make that next step? There? Man, Malcolm, he's quiet,

(02:17:52):
He doesn't really say too much.He comes to the work every day,
do what he does, and heworks hard. He doesn't play twice at
anything. Yeah, he'll get madover a co respose. At the same
time that like he has a mentalityof adult like he's he don't really care
what y'all ain or anybody else thinksfor real. So it's just like alright,
just keep going. That's how everybodyis on the team about ty raising

(02:18:13):
too, you guys, that samemindset. He does have the same mindset.
We a little a little nervous,but uh nah, he nah.
He has definitely grown a lot fromthis like first year here to now,
like he has. But he's he'sgrowing up a lot mentally too. Until
you guys are reimagining the offensive linea little bit with you out there right

(02:18:35):
side, Yeah, uh arm therenext to you on the west side too,
and then drafting the guys on theline. Yeah, how long exciting
is that to be part of somethingthat's that's kind of being you know,
having that trust but also being reinventeda little bit. That's great, you
know, But me and doing thoselike they gonna keep replacing us, of
course, but all the same time, we gotta keep going. You know,
in came Schiel and think about whatthey did. All we gotta do

(02:18:56):
is staying about what what came todo with the letter. Sorry, lot
of'em outside. How long were youwork together? Working pretty well? You
know, you say, for therest we have like a a little rookie
moment a little bit. But youknow, yeah, you know those those
tougher conversations, those ones where wemight disagree when we do agree, where

(02:19:20):
where he's got his two cents onit, which is, you know,
always the best two cents I've heard. But me being who I am,
you know, I'm I'm I'm gonnathrow my two cents in there, you
know. So that's just uh,it's been awesome, man. We He's
he's a you know, a resourcefor me, 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 up.You know, you never you never wanna

(02:19:41):
come off too Stan, But I'ma curious guy. I got a lot
of questions. I like, Ilike football a lot. I like to
talk talk the games. So youknow, come to find out he's the
exact same. So we uh,you know, we get along well,
and and uh, we're gonna keepkeep building that relationship. Sometimes in this
league, playing you know, eighteengames, they tryna make a twenty.
You know that's like a sound likea little a little fever dream to be
honest. But but uh, ifwe can find a way to k you

(02:20:03):
know, stay up right out there, keep keep airing on his feet.
You know, I'm I'm excited forthat and uh everything that comes with it.
But uh but yeah, like Isaid, 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'slike that's a lot of games,
you know, all of a suddentake a lot of hits. They take
a lot of hits where they're notlooking, and it's just how can we
keep him healthy? Yeah? Yeah, are you what do you think?

(02:20:24):
I do you ever see the roomnow, positions you guys have made when
the money healthy and everything like,Yeah, you know, I'm excited to
see it at at full health.You know, we've I haven't got to
see all the all the guys outthere at once, and and you know,
it's one of those positions where everyday is something might happen to Nick
up. You know, it's justa a tough position to stay out there
at all times. But I feellike we got a great group and and

(02:20:46):
the number one thing is how canwe stay healthy? How can we you
know, I'll be out on thefield, and I think having depth like
this and the group we have isgonna help us. Having guys that can
do different things, that can gocatch ball over the middle, all types
of things that it's gonna take someof the strain off off all of us.
You know. It's it's a goodgroup. So I'm excited to,
uh, you know, get outthere. I feel like we haven't had
the whole whole thing together. Butyou know, come season time, Marol,

(02:21:09):
and it's gonna be exciting. Whatabout the god your whole number.
Yeah, yeah, yeah, man, he's uh, it was a brute
and then once he catches the ball, I mean he's he's got great instincts
of where the defense is. Ithink the talent on this team is really
good too, and I think thatI can come in here and make a
big difference, you know, andwe can win a lot of football games.

(02:21:30):
You know. So that was myThat was part of my decision.
Your achilles how sough was that I'mone hundred percent now and it was like
a walk in the park. It'slike a sprained ankle. You know.
It was very easy, you know, because I had the knee. The

(02:21:52):
knee was pretty hard, you know, and the Achilles was I would say
it's easy, you know, justbecause that's just my mentality, and it
was. It was pretty easy tobe But you know, I've had these
injuries and it's been storm like thepast two years, you know, having
haveing like good, great games.The next thing, you know, hurt

(02:22:13):
and then you know, so gotgot the injury prone out there, you
know. But I think the stormis over with, you know, you
know, and I think I'm 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. Yep, I'm sorry, You're gonna be back.

(02:22:35):
I am. I am excited.You know. He does a lot
of great things, and he's agreat person, and we have a great
relationship. It's gonna be it's gonnabe a fun year. We're gonna have
a lot of fun. We're gonnado a lot of great things. So
I can't wait, chack here waiting. The injuries you've had, is that
just bad luck? Is that anyIs there anything you've been attributed to behind

(02:22:56):
just misfortunate? Yeah, it's justunfortunate, you know. But God has
a plan 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
for me to be here. Youknow, I had a great rookie year.

(02:23:16):
I didn't really have the volume asother people my rookie year, but
I still had a great rookie year. Six yards of carry, you know,
things like that. I think itwas like nine touchdowns ten including the
playoffs. And so there's always beenlike, all right, guy, lets
me show my talent shine a littlebit, like even when I had the
knee. So I had the kneeright, A lot of people don't know,

(02:23:37):
like I didn't get hurt again.Whenever I got you know, got
cleaned up. So I went downin twenty one right, had the injury,
the knee injury, and then cameback later the next year, and
I played the first few games andit just feel there was a lot of
scars issue in there. So Ihad to get it cleaned up. I
didn't get hurt again. I couldhave played the whole year, but I
got it cleaned up so I canfeel like me. And so after I

(02:24:01):
got that cleaned up, the firsttwo games back from the injury, I
had over one hundred and twenty yardsrushing right, and then went on had
great, great ending of the year, you know, one hundred total yards
in the playoff game we lost,which I hate the most. Stays,
don't marry me. I don't wantto win. But then come back the
next year hurt again like torn achilles. So two really unfortunate injuries. But

(02:24:24):
that's just God's plan, you know. And I think that the storm is
now over, you know, AndI do think that I'll be able to
shine my light to the whole world. Are you concerned that you have that
label you can't stand too? Icould care less because I do. I
do. I know this out therebecause as it should be, it should

(02:24:45):
be. I got hurt two majorinjuries back, not back to back years.
But you know, so I haven'tbeen on the field as much as
I should. That's true, thatis true. But it's not like I'm
having these little little dinky injuries incity out It's something I can't control literally,
So that's why I'm not bothered byit. Like, yeah, I
am injury poe. You can saythat, you know, but I do

(02:25:07):
think that the Chargers are getting aguy that's gonna be healthy from knowing,
you know, God willing, andit's gonna be great. And I do
think that it's gonna be It's gonnabe a great. However, many years
here, when you've been on thefield, you've been highly adopted, five
pointy years for very average for yourcareer. Like knowing that when you're out

(02:25:28):
there you're very adopted, how muchconfidence does that give you that really all
you needs is not what you needall the confidence in the world, you
know, the way I work,I wouldn't say just from the numbers,
but just the way I work,my work ethic, you know, and
my relationship with Jesus is like Ihave the most confidence when I step out
there because I do know, likeif he grants me the health, it's

(02:25:52):
over with. I don't think Iwould be you know. I think it
will be a great year or whatever, a couple of years. However,
many years he grants me great health, you know. And I think just
the work ethic, my prayer andall that stuff, that's what helped me
have that confidence with the numbers willbe there, and they might be higher
after this year, you know whatI'm saying. And it's crazy to think

(02:26:13):
about because I I had six orsix yards per carry, you know.
So we'll see. You're looking forwardto the running behind this line that they
put together. Oh yeah, yeah, yeah. I played with Bradley.
I played with him, you know, I know 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 a talented group. You know.
We just got to put together winsome games because that's what I came

(02:26:35):
here for it, or I wouldn't. I wouldn't say part of the recruitment,
but like whenever I decided I wasgonna sign, it was great to
have him in the room. What'syour relationship? Yeah, we're great.
We're we have a great relationship.That's he's like my brother. So I

(02:26:56):
think compliment each other very well.You know, he can do a lot
of stuff too. You know,we got a lot of people think he's
just power, power, power,but I think he has some other parts
of his game two which it'll begreat because I feel like I could do
everything and when one get tired,we can roll it in. We keep
rolling win some games. So whenyou the two of you get going,

(02:27:18):
how do you think that's gonna lookfor? What? Like, what will
be that partnership kids back there?I know that's a hard question. How
do I think I think it'll lookbeautiful? You know a lot of people
call this a passing league, butI think you gotta run the ball to
win the super Bowl. You know, if you look at the teams who
win the Super Bowl, they canrun the ball, they can control the

(02:27:39):
clock, and so if we're bothgood, it'll look great, beautiful.
How would you describe the Gregor runningthe offense, I would I would describe
it as, you know, agreat offense. I think he gives a
quarter he's gonna give the quarterback alot of options. He's gonna get the
running back a lot of options.He's gonna give the receiver a lot of

(02:28:01):
options, you know. And Ithink it'll be I think it's gonna be
great. His offense is going tobe amazing. When we talked to him
a minute, you know, Iwas like, why you an you will
build something good rushing offenses throughout yourcareer every where you've been, and you
said that one part of it isjust you gotta call place. You got
a call run place as a runningback. You know, how much confidence,

(02:28:22):
how much second does it give you? You know, you have a
play caller that's gonna stick with itand allow you and the offensive linement to
get into red of gives me alot of excitement. You know. It's
gonna be Like I said, it'sfun to play at his offense, you
know. And I think he doeshave some good things in the past game
too, But like you said,he sticks with the run, and that's
that's the identity you You want anoffense that has an identity, right,

(02:28:45):
you won't be looking everywhere else tofind your your identity you want, you
want to have it, and soI think his offense has that, and
the guys he builds and puts inthere, it complements that identity. So
I think it's gonna be great.You'll be full go for training. That'sation.
Look, I ain't gonna answer anyof the four if it's up to

(02:29:07):
me. Yes, Look, becauseI had this problem like three two years
three years ago, I'm thinking I'mfull go. I think I'm ready to
go, and the next thing,you know, I'm on pup like,
hey, look some story above myprey pay grade. So but I don't
know. Hopefully I can start.I think I'm ready to start, you
know, at the beginning of trainingcamp. But that's not up to me.

(02:29:30):
As I've learned, I tell youhow you feel, I wouldn't say
that. I think I've been I'vebeen in some great organizations, and I
think this this organization is a greatorganization, and the training staff is great,
and so they just want what's bestfor me, you know, and
they're they're taking care of me,which that's what you want in an organization.

(02:29:54):
And so that's where that comes from, which I appreciate it, Like
I really appreciate that, you know, because I'm a type of guy,
like I work really hard, somaybe sometime I'm blind to you know,
the danger of something, you know, So I appreciate it. But like
I said, if it's up tomedia, I'm out there. But you
never know with any frustration for youduring the heading into free agency, you

(02:30:16):
know, dealing with with rehab andnot you know, having on a full
season tape or production to go outthere or any part of that where you're
like, God, I wish,you know, had hit the open market
with a different situation. You know. Nah, I like it. I
like, how would I say this? I like it the hard way?

(02:30:39):
But not, you know, Ilike it the hard way. I like
it. I like trial and tribulations. So I mean the dice that I
was given the role was I wascoming off of Achilles, and that was
that was the lowest plan. Soit was beauty and that like I was

(02:31:01):
comfortable. I was caught like therewas multiple teams, you know, I
wasn't. It wasn't like I didn'thave any other team. But I was
comfortable and sitting back and just enjoyingthe process, letting myself get fully healed.
So whenever that team, whoever Iwould sign with, who now is
the Chargers, is going to getthe best me, you know, And

(02:31:22):
I think people all around the leagueknow that, like, Okay, this
guy, Okay, it's a highrisk, high reward type thing, right,
not even a high risk, hilarrice, because you it's a business,
right, So I got hurt lastyear, so not as much money
needs to be throwing there. ButI think everyone around the league knows that
whenever I am on the field,the numbers don't lie, and so they
know that. And a lot ofteams were like, all right, here,

(02:31:45):
you can give you this, butwe want you to be healthy.
So when I'm healthy, it's gonnabe great. This is the chance that
I've been giving here. I'm sograteful and I know that's gonna be.
They won't be they won't regret it. Are you the type of person that
likes the opportunity for me? Youknow? So I'm excited about it.

(02:32:07):
Did he help you with oh alot? He helped me a lot,
even from like the first day,just trying to help me get used to
to write tackle. He got myfeet used to write tackle like my first
day practice, I'm like, dude, I still feel you feel a little
off. I don't feel as balancedto my stands. And he showed me
the small technique and to do withmy feet, which I still do even

(02:32:28):
even though I left tackle, justkept apart my routine. That was part
of my process of getting in mystands. So stuff like that that he
taught me from day one and obviouslyin practice was fun. Just compete with
him, you know, it's justto meet at the back of the pocket
and to dap each other back toevery rep like that was compete, you
know what I mean. So that'smy guy. As much as you love

(02:32:52):
him, I sure the West Sidehow bittersweet? Is it at a certain
matters because of what happened to him? Yeah, that's the thing that's not
I was definitely how I and howI thought about a transition will go.
You know, I thought it wouldbe you know, homesome timing, but
a cardinal his whole career, youknow, you know, even want to

(02:33:13):
play here forever, you know whatI mean when always talking about his plans,
so you know, you you wistransitions like one of those fairy tale
like it's your time now. Butbut again either way, you know,
we talked about it. You knowthat that's that's the tow goes, you
know, but obviously you know hesees he's he's been one of my biggest

(02:33:37):
supporters. Again, I affect everybodyleads in their own way, you know,
not everybody's the guys coming around like, that's not everybody, right,
Like I think for me, that'sme specifically on game day with the O
line after we do one on onelike that's my like Buhump did like like
that's my like big vocal time.I feel like I've talked to Hump about

(02:34:01):
this, you know, just recentlytalking about how what I want to do
for the room was I want tobring that Hump energy that he brought right
so last year. Of course sometraits been doing it for years, but
the year while I spent with him, he brought a lot of the energy
and the excitement and the happiness inthe room was just his natural energy to

(02:34:26):
where I only had to focus onme, you know, I didn't have
to make sure other other guys are, you know, feel some type of
way when they came in here becauseHump brought 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'sampt to go to practice, everybody's hype.
Weren't taking the field team one period. You know it's a low day

(02:34:50):
or something. You know, it'sa day, but like, I want
to make you feel like Paris theTripper right now. I want to bring
that because that's what me and Humpdid to each other. We will hype
each other up dudes like dudes aboutto get walked or lit. So I
wanna do that. I wanna bringthat energy. I wanna make bring more
guys, you know, to dothat. You know, yeah, I
wanted to do that from day one, you know, I kind of I

(02:35:11):
wanted to do that from day one, from just talking to him, and
obviously it's that time. I spendthe off season before OTA started just being
in myself, just thinking about whatthe room needs, you know, because
I know I knew a new roleas one of the leaders, you know

(02:35:31):
on the offense, is that weneed a guy like that that's gonna make
sure the old line is picked upready to go every day, and it
was held accountable little things are happenedto practice, people aren't saying anything,
and how I may lead maybe differentthan somebody else may lead. You know.
I like to a practice at leastlike to leave with positivity, you

(02:35:52):
know what I mean. So,but he the energy yet went beyond just
the hyped up the deal line andstarted too. So that's kind of how
I wanna be. S goal ofmine, literally my whole life. I
want to be NFL team captain,like specifically NFL. I wasn't a captain
of high school. I wasn't acaptain of college. But I made a

(02:36:13):
joke when I was in high school. It's like, did I feel like
I'm not gonna be a captain tilI get to the NFL. Yeah,
but that would be awesome, youknow, but you know, if it
happens, I'd be great. Butnot either way. I wanna assume a
role as a captain from the respectof the guys on the team indvidual word

(02:36:35):
today and to get back to thatworld. Yeah, I mean, I
can't say that. I mean,I guess the biggest thing is that I
felt like it has felt like howit you used to in the past,
but it didn't take just the firstto Olta's. It took training left and
right once the season ended, causeI didn't know what it was gonna be
sure, So it took a lotof yeah reps joke to give back to

(02:37:00):
feeling like myself for day one OTAsand then that whole first week. But
now like today, specifically just changingsome small things with my feet. I
did today talking about a line coachabout some things I can do with my
feet to get to the to sellingat the traditional angle that I love to
set on. Felt even I thoughtI felt, I thought I felt great
already, but my okay, Ifelt even better. Okay, so I'm

(02:37:24):
even more excited tomorrow. Now I'mgetting my feedback to how I liked it
the right side and on the leftside, So I'm excited to teach you.
I mean, obviously, I feellike in the league, whether I
left or right, you're still goingagainst premier guys. So obviously you have
high expectations for your left hand orright tackle. But there's definitely uh,
like the the level of energy andlike the expectations, definitely taking a human

(02:37:48):
spect cause now connected to blank side, that stuff that's de tackle roles,
you know. So so yeah,I would say in terms of communication as
far as even outside of facility andjust stuff like that, like really creating
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,

(02:38:13):
Hey, like you play left AndI was like, yeah, you know,
yeah, I've been training both.I've been training both. You know.
I asked after the season. They'relike, honestly, you know,
we'll talk to you. So playin the season and I just gotta text
me, like depending what happens withwith 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

(02:38:37):
don't ed to do what I didbefore. I'm built on that bus.
I was like, I might asalost trained the left tackle now as if
I'm gonna be left tackle, andI'd rather do that than training on the
right tackle. Get the pro Heyyou're the left tackle. I'm like,
oh, I didn't switch my feetyet, you know what I mean.
So I'm like, let me justprepare in advance. I was like,
yeah, Lesky, you know,I think occasionally on third down there would

(02:38:58):
be all of twist. I wasjust know like it's automatically coming. And
I fact, that was my mindsetfor like the first half of the season,
Like I didn't have to go intoa game and was surprise like,
oh my gosh, they did that. I kind of figured like, okay,
like this is this is the typeof rush minute gain, like this
is how this guy usually rushes.But I get the vibe, this is
how the ends like the rush youknow, tackles that are you know,

(02:39:22):
first year guys who got the premierepatch on. I already knew what it
was gonna be, already knew ofevery stunt and honestly just knowing that it's
kind of an advantage too. Soyou're not You're not You're not. Oh
they brought the twist of my sideagain. It was never an Aaron Donald
like you know, the coming outof minds, Like three plays in a
row and two minutes, I knewthat it was the way it happened.
So you know what I mean,I'm watching more than everybody else and he

(02:39:45):
rarely England goes out there on occasionalthird downs on the d end, and
I was like, are you knowit's gonna be he's gonna pick me,
you know what I mean? Sofact fact, it's kind of It's also
kind of an advantage in a way, but it's also exciting, like,
Okay, it two guys, thistalent, this background at the top of
that group. How much of yourdiscussions with Ryan, I guess the interview

(02:40:05):
process were about how you might approachthis and what do you think is mean?
The key element is getting the mostout of those because you got two
guys. This ain't my first rodeo, no. I know a lot of
people look at say, well,this guy only been on the field for
three years Westerton, Tucky and Oregon. Just because I didn't have the title

(02:40:28):
of a running back coach where Iwas at the Memphis, I never carried
myself that way. I was carryingmyself as a running back coach. I
approach every day that way. Soat Memphis we had Darren Henderson, Patrick
Taylor, Tony Poller, Kenny gameWell, Tonyo Gibson. I've seen talented
backs and I've seen them be ableto function with one another. So I
hear that all the time about well, I this ain't my first rodeo.

(02:40:50):
Same thing out there at Oregon,we Buck Grivery Norwich's and George James.
You go look at their numbers.They all functioned well together. We learned
how to play us one. Sothis ain't my first rodeo. So and
plus I know those two kids causeI have recruited on when they was in
high school. So I'm up forthe challenge and the responsibility of it.
Go right behind the damn hope,Carlos. Just what is your kind of

(02:41:13):
coaching philosophy? How do you getthe best out of your running backs?
I get the best outum, causeI love the young men. My main
focus is to change the hearts andminds of them and they'll play for me.
I had just got through reading CoachTrestle's Winners Manual and it's some day
that I took from that book.You have your purpose and you have your
goals, alright. My purpose isto serve and pour into the young men.

(02:41:35):
Now my goals is a football coach. All of them are take care
of themselves. So that's one ofthe ways. I'm just real relationship based
in a very detailed at this position. I I know y'all heard me say
it before, and I'm go'a keepsaying this is the worst coach position in
football. It's terrible. Guys hireanybody to coach his position and recruiters.
CARLS Locker is not a recruiter.I'm an elite relationship builder, but I

(02:41:58):
coached this position. I'm a batcoach, so that's who I am.
So I'm gonna pouring to these kids. I think they kind of seeing it
now and I jumped in day one. I'm ready to coach. I'm gonna
use the phrase, you know,soft batched cookies. Where did that phrase
come from? Kind of what wasplaying this one boy? Let me tell
you about that boy. I've beencalled everything but the name the child of
God by the people at the otherplaces I left. So that I've been

(02:42:20):
getting. Pillsbury needs to give mea deal because I've been getting I've been
getting some DM and textas and someof it, some of them have been
so funny. The saftbat's cookie thingcame from just having a frame of mind,
a mental toughness. It had nothingto do with guys getting in the
portal and anything. Now most peoplesay I'm a saftbat's cookie for leaving there,

(02:42:43):
but actuality, I'm not because ittakes great strength to make a decision
to leave a place. No,a weak minded person wouldn't be able to
make the decision I made, Soit took great strength to do that.
So I'm telling you, if Iliterally in my DMS, it's some it's
some great comedians out here that hadbeen sending me like tons of cookies out
like it's funny right behind him,Tony Urban, how are you going about

(02:43:07):
the assessment of the talent in theroom? Uh, over the past week
or two? How much is thaton field off field? Like, what's
the process of getting to know whoyou have as players? Well? I
broke down well me being a guythat loves the running back position, and
I already broke those kids down causeI recruited him out of high school.
You know, c is from whereI'm from, and Montgomery. I was

(02:43:30):
one of the first guys to offerhim just watching him great contact, balance,
creative runner, great hands and trey. I recruited him out of Virginia
exceptional short air, your bursting quicknessand things that I'm gonna help him get
better on. And then I recruitedJames Peeples out of t out of San
Antonio, Texas I knew what hewas gonna what he was gonna be.

(02:43:50):
TC and Sam, those two kids, I'm getting to know and I'm gonna
help them improve that game. Butwe got different runners in there. I
like to call myself. Uh,I'm in love with this position. So
I get the break down runners andhelp their game. So talented, talented
room, very talented. Uh farback, Uh, Jeremy Brookingham podcast couch,

(02:44:13):
how do you swear that fact?The South Bast cookies are actually the
best cookies to Philip Britton makes andboring. Those are way better than the
County chips are way through the galterman. I mean, do you do
you have to first find a balancethere or somewhere. Well, for me,
I'm actually not eating any cookies.Nah, I'm just saying I'm not
eating any cookies this year. Igave it up for a fast, So

(02:44:33):
no sweets for me for the wholeyear. That something I gave up.
So they the term the south Bastcookie term. Look, guys, I
actually took that from I represent thehigh school coaches of Meths, Tennessee.
I actually took that form. Uh. Guy named coach Slocum. He used
to always say that soft bast cookie. I actually stole that from him.

(02:44:54):
I give him credit for it,and I tell him all the time he
said you I should have branded that, cause you done took it and ran
away with it. But that's justwhere that comes from. So that that
now was standing as you get toa high stadium, start to look around
the country. Every Oregon's a bigplace. That's a that's a major job.
Really, how how do you thinkif ary your opposite of logo are
the jack run the blocko when youget out out of living pre and trail,

(02:45:16):
how does that change the way thatyou feel you're either received or or
does it add a different level toit to just feeling like I can go
anywhere and get anybody in the entry. And that's the sagest thing for me.
This is a great place. Oregonis a great place too. But
guess what, whatever I put on, I know what I'm going to represent

(02:45:39):
for me. I n I NI know who who put me here?
Uh? I know I represented somethinghigher, you know, Like I told
you, I know what my purposeis. My purpose is to poorting to
people. So whatever logo I haveon, I'm still gonna be doing the
same thing. So this is agreat logo. Great logo by well another
logo. Every day it's across Isee around my neck. I know what

(02:46:01):
I represent. So that's the greatestlogo I could ever wear. So it
don't matter what other logo I haveon. I got that one, though.
I'm going to any house and bea recruit. Uh uh deep right,
camera tiqu Robinson the athletic from whichyou you mentioned the time in Memphis
and them it's four NFL running backsyou mentioned there who you learned from that

(02:46:22):
time that we the take over tomanaging your world? And kid, what
did I learned from them? Ijust building a just teaching the kids.
We live in such a selfish worldthough, and I can tell the kids
all the times it's gotta be muchmore to football. The ball gonna go
flat one day, As I alwayssay, what being in that room there
at Memphis is it wasn't four fiveteaching them how to be a b by

(02:46:48):
being one? I tell you themin all time, it doesn't cost you
anything to celebrate another man's success.So teaching them how to be one,
and then once they learned to beone, they function and they feed off
one another. So that's what Ilearn from being there at Memphis and bach
let him in road Cross started yourcareer in law enforcement, kind of influence
you as a coach and kind ofshap where you are. Oh well,

(02:47:11):
I just got through talking to somebodyabout that today. When I first got
in this profession and I got myown room at Western Tech, I was
asked, No, how was Iwas gonna be able to handle m M
my room? I said, Man, I had a part with fifty one
inmates. You talking about me havinggot six or seven guys? Are you

(02:47:31):
kidding me? I'm talking about mehaving to do traffic stop. So going
on domestic you know, virus calls, it's simple easy. No people donna
know what you care. Also knowyou gotta have a certain demeaning about yourself.
So when I walk into a room. It's the reason why I go
train every morning. It was whenit's same thing when I was a police
officer. You look a certain waykind of deter people from doing certain things.

(02:47:56):
So that reason why I go trainevery morning. I'm go'a look just
as good as my boys look.So it helped out a lot. In
other words, from Earl Right AustinWard, the podcast, Carls, Welcome
to Columbus. What would it meanto I don't know, revolutionize the way
running backs or coach? What doesthat take? I ain't you know.

(02:48:18):
I'm not gonna say revolutioniz just somegood. It's some good running back coaches
out here. Everybody's different. It'ssome great coaches out here. I just
want the head guys who say thaton these jobs to not just hire guys.
As you know, all coaches onyour staff should be great recruiters,
not just some running back coach.We coach a position. We developed players
as well. I just want thecoaches to realize, hey, you know

(02:48:39):
what, let me look and bethorough about this guy that I'm hiring for
this job. Is he teaching theposition? Is he development the position?
Because you're not gonna hire anybody justcoach quarterbacks, are you. Well,
it shouldn't be like that for therunning back position either. And I'm only
passionate about it because I played it. I love it, so it's the
only position I want to coach.Could I coach other positions? Yeah,
I played in college too, butI love the running back position so and

(02:49:03):
I just wanted to see it coachwell. Ten May podcasts. Yeah,
a million questions. Oh that's acouple of number one, when you,
when you, when your wife?Whatever? You got the message stuff?
Or are we moving again? Whatwas What was her reaction? Nah?
She she's just new guy had giveus, gave us a new assignment.
She w it was never like we'removing again. Let me tell you guys
something I grew up. My momwas in the military, so I lived

(02:49:26):
everywhere. I lived in Panama,South America. I'm used to picking up
and moving. I lived in FortRoley, Kansas. Montgomery's home, Memph.
It's my second home, so I'mI'm used to moving now. My
wife it was different for her,But she's just knew guy that gave us
a new assignment. So it's timeto go. What did uh? What
did coach Day tell you when youheard you that he wants out of you?
That may be different. It's notslamming somebody else. But what did

(02:49:50):
he say he wanted you to bringto the running back room. I think
he did his research on me.He said he wanted the guy to to
develop the position. It's not takinga shot at the coach that was here
who I'm friends with. He said, they want somebody to really get.
I like our edge guys that wepicked up, and I'm excited to work

(02:50:11):
with him. You know much abouthow we played against him, leonor Floyd
and what's been kind of your earlierread on him. I think he's super
skilled, Russia a little good length, and he's more athletic than I even
realized. And I think guys likehim when they come to our scheme are
the best is brought out of him. So I'm excited to see what potential

(02:50:33):
he has. He's year nine,so I feel like you, as a
D lineman, you can keep improvingall the way through ten years in this
league. So I'm excited to seewhat he's got. How old did you
know Sores and when he was assistanthere? And have you gotten to know
him a lot better? What's therelationship made you right now? I know
him pretty well. He was alwaysjust a good dude around the facility.

(02:50:56):
He did our ball meetings, sohe's in front of a group, he's
a good leader. He knows thescheme really well, which is good.
I was happy to see him promoted. He called me in the off season,
we talked. I just congratulated him, and I think he's gonna bring
something similar to what we had withthe Miko. It'll be good. Do

(02:51:22):
you know Brandon Stanley well at all? I mean that was a joey platform.
Don't know too much about him.I've obviously heard from my brother,
but I don't even think i've saidhigh yet. I haven't ran into him
yet, but I'm sure i'll getto know him. When you say it
looks similar to the Miko of theenergy or the system, maybe a little
different energy, but I think justknowing the system from the front to the

(02:51:46):
back, I think he knows howit ties in, and he's been around
with some really good coaches, soI think it'll be pretty pretty seamless,
and I think will be fire andall cylinders. You're three months removed from
the super Bowl now, so justhow have you? I guess digested it,
and I guess physically everything good togo. Yeah, I feel really

(02:52:09):
good. I think it's been oneof my better off seasons of just kind
of it was a long year,so I took it nice and slow to
get back into it. Not asyoung as I once was, so I'm
taking a little a little slower,but everything's great. I'm feeling as good
as I felt. I'm excited toactually get some practice in. Last year

(02:52:33):
was kind of tough, getting thrownin Week one after I walked through,
so that was another reason I'm excitedto be here is just to get practicing
a little bit in season. Practiceis one thing, but actually being able
to work your stuff and not havea game coming up is good. With
the Super Bowl unfortunately, I knowhow to bounce back from tough losses,

(02:52:58):
so it was rough for a littlebit, but no, just annoying when
people bring it up. Since thelast season, we've seen a Rock on
TV commercials and on the stage withKluke Coombs and throwing out the first pitch
in the Giants game. But heseems like a guy that's totally unaffected by
celebrity, which he has now.But what have you noticed in his leadership

(02:53:20):
style and the way he carries himselfany difference at all. I think he's
definitely getting a little more vocal withinthe building, and uh yeah, I
mean I don't think he's ever gonnachange. I don't think he's somebody that's
gonna change even when he gets paidnext year. So he's he's a man
of faith and He kind of remindsme of Scotti Scheffler, but except for

(02:53:50):
just super humble and really good kid. And yeah, he's definitely famous.
It's famous suffer I don't just fromwatching Armstead get released obviously meant so much
to the defensive line into the team. I mean, Colin John were pretty

(02:54:11):
open that they were willing to talkabout trading Deebo or are you as you?
Does that? Just another what's thatfeel like in the locker room when
those sort of joels happened. Ididn't even know that happened and I wasn't
here, but you're talking about thisoffseason Armstead in alarm Er released, so

(02:54:33):
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
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,

(02:54:54):
and you have to look out foryourself. That's why you go through holdouts
and do certain things that seem selfishin the moment, but it is what
it is, and when everything's settled, we're gonna come together as a team
and try and go get one.Nick. What's the overall feeling around the
group right now, Like, howmuch does it feel like the excitement of
the ramp up to the season,Even though it's early, it feels good.

(02:55:18):
It's been a couple of days forme, so I like all the
new guys. I'm getting to knoweverybody, but I think the passes in
the past and we're ready to go. Do you talk to me? You
talked to beat all about handling thebusiness part of this. He's going through
something similar. We chat a littlebit, but not too much about the
details. I just told him tokeep his head up and try and stay

(02:55:41):
positive through it all. First impressionswhen you heard what your schedule would be
in that Aaron Rodgers' first time,it'll be fun. Yeah, it's gonna
be gonna be a good one.Use me kind of alluded to this for
the fact that last year you havethat hold out. You said that affected
you somewhat early in the season.If you hadn't had that experience, would

(02:56:07):
you be here right now? Imean, was that part of the motivation
for being here early just to havethe opposite No, I don't think that's
one of the reasons but I justtalked to Kyle and he kind of asked
me. He kind of stated howhe felt about why it would be good

(02:56:28):
for me to be here and askedif I agreed. And I agree.
So it's not like I'm missing toomuch. I think I'm out here.
It's a little less workload than I'mdoing back home, so it's kind 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 training at

(02:56:52):
all, and I get to meetall the guys. It's positive. How
did Joey kick the news? Ohno, he's he's there. He's got
a new regime over there. Iactually thought I was coming next week until

(02:57:13):
recently, so I was gonna haveone more week at home. But we're
both in California. I've come inand thought we were going to lose or
have have a bad year. Ifelt like every year when I tell you
things are feeling good and I feeloptimistic, it wasn't a lie. But
yeah, I think things are aredefinitely, like I said, trending in
the right direction. Everybody's on thedetails. I'm sure it's a word that

(02:57:37):
you've heard a million times, Soyeah, I think it just feels like
it feels like coach is leading theteam the way it should be led.
It has a feel of being backin college, you know, with with
coach Ierban Meyer, and you knowthe message is sent from the top and

(02:57:58):
it doesn't get mixed up as it'smoving down the ladder. It's boom,
this is how we're doing things,and everybody's following that. And I think
it's impressive the details that everybody havebeen on, has has been on the
effort and just the competitiveness that that'sbeen going on over the last few weeks.

(02:58:20):
Yeah, it's it's been great.How much do you appreciate that?
To stop and just described with theway Jim leads, Yes, we shouldn't
eat in the messaging, does theyeat mixed up? I appreciate that so
much. I mean, it's Iguess it's easy to appreciate when you kind
of see it working and you seeguys improving, getting better. I just

(02:58:45):
think the details are really important.You can pretend that leaving your shoes a
mess or your locker mess isn't abig deal and what matters is playing football.
But I think all those tiny detailsand things kind of add up and
leak into the important stuff like whatyou're doing on the field. So if
you can have your toe behind theline, or have your locker and order

(02:59:09):
and all these things, they kindof stack up into performing well and playing
well when things count. So youknow, I appreciate that. It's it
also hasn't been a fight with theguys in the locker room. They buy
in, and you know, it'sa lot of young guys, and I
think they're hungry to learn, hungryto compete and win. You know,

(02:59:33):
it's just an example, whether it'swe talked about the first day you have
your shoot, if you could,if you could spend the time on these
small things when nobody's watching. Ithink, like I was saying, it
seems like it might not add uptoo much, but I think in the
long term it does, and itleaks into other things, whether you're doing
your right assignment on the field,being late to meetings or all these things.

(02:59:58):
If you hold a standard and youstay to that standard, I think
it benefits you long term. It'sbeen like worm Ben Herbert, who has
there been anything in his training programwe're working with you that you feel will
benefit you later. Yeah, Yeah, definitely, he's he's been great.
He's a no nonsense kind of guy. But he's not an old school in

(03:00:20):
the sense that he's bringing his wayof doing things and that's the only way
to do things. He understands thatguys have been in the in the business
for a long time, Khalil meand we have a way of doing things,
and all he wants to do isadd to that and help you get
better and perform the best you can. He's a he stresses it all the
time that he's a tool for us, and you know, he's been he's

(03:00:43):
been great. The guys love him. The energy brings is awesome, and
I think the stuff that we're doingin the weight room is great, great
addition to stuff that I may maydo on the side or whatever that is.
Yeah, I think we I mean, we had a present tation today
with all the certain measurables that arechanging, and if you guys are in

(03:01:05):
the meeting, you definitely see howbeneficial he's been to the team so far.
So obviously, staying healthy is isa huge factor to anybody's success.
I'd say it's plagued us a littlebit for a while, So yeah,
I think he's he's definitely incredibly beneficial. When were you like fully re covered,

(03:01:26):
I know at the end of lastseason you might have been able to
Yeah, No, I was notready to go last year. No,
tried practicing, tried coming back,and uh it was it was not good.
But yeah, it was Unfortunately theyear wasn't going great and it just

(03:01:46):
was unnecessary risk for I mean,my foot could have had some real,
real issues if I came back tooearly. So yeah, it's been.
It's been. It's been a greatoff season. My foot's feeling great,
toes, good hand shod. Imean, there was a list of things
last year in my hand, soall those things are good. Finger cut
surgery on my finger, so that'sfeeling good. Yeah, it's nice to

(03:02:11):
be feeling better going into your ninethan you have since maybe five six years
ago, which I've said, I'vesaid I've been feeling great last couple of
years. I'm telling you it's areal deal this time. But obviously anything
can happen. But I just feelit's fun feeling really confident in your body
and being able to perform. SoI could just go out during practice and

(03:02:35):
you know, go balls to thewall and do everything that I feel like
I need to to be able toprepare. It's fun. My brother and
whoever I trained with my trainer Toddback home, I think they'd be really
proud of how I've been working thisoffseason and it's just exciting winning. Was

(03:02:56):
the injuries on the Gray Bay game, you kind of yeah, it was
a bit of a build up,a little bit of an overreaction, but
you know, it's just tough.It comes sometimes like that, and I
just felt felt really defeated coming back. Had a broken hand. I'm like,
oh, yeah, I get toplay Boom first series foot Pops.

(03:03:18):
Thought I'd have to get surgery,and all these thoughts flooded through my head.
Broke down a bit, and yeah, it just hurts. You know,
you're losing, you're getting injured.You've felt like you prepared really well
in the offseason, and then theyear before you had growing surgery, so
you know, a lot of thingsbuild up. Yeah, you don't get

(03:03:39):
a break if you're injured. Everybodywants to go on. Fans are very
nice, but no, I justI'm grateful that I feel this way.
I'm still still nice. Ripe twentyeight, so not too old yet.
But yeah, I'm just excited.I can't remember what the original question was

(03:04:01):
at this point, get something aboutmy body? How close you and Gift
were? How frustrating was it thathe couldn't you know for one of those
last three games? It was frustrating, But I mean, Gif was had

(03:04:22):
my back the whole way, Ithink for Gift, for any but for
for the whole team, just toshow what it means to me. It
would have been important for me tobe out there, but I literally couldn't.
I tried to practice, injured myfootworse the very first play I was
and in practice, So no chancethat was happening unless I wanted to throw

(03:04:43):
my next season away as well.But no, I'm just I'm proud of
him for what he did with theteam, how he handled it, and
I need to call him back.Actually sorry, Gif. Yeah, I'm
happy he gets to stay close bythe with the Rams and uh, I'm
just proud of all we accomplished heretogether over the years, and and we'll

(03:05:05):
be close for the rest of ourlives. It was the foot injury.
Was this guy goes a foot sprang? Yeah, I sprained one area of
my foot. Then when I triedto return, I sprained another area.
Was able to avoid getting surgery,which is kind of the main goal,
But yeah, it was it wastough, suh. When it comes to

(03:05:26):
the addition of but Dupree, whenhe felt like he's kind of brought to
the to the room and could bringon the field, Yeah, it's 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

(03:05:48):
some trouble with injuries as well,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 a fun guy. He's a funny guy and and have
that in the room. Another vetis always a great addition. But I'm
just excited to have him and Tuleyand to be able to rotate like that
and not drop off at all whenwe come off the field is huge.

(03:06:11):
And now Tooley's going into a secondyear. Just what do you what are
you kind of what are some ofthe maturity maturity areas you've said from him.
You know, I'm gonna say notmuch, and that's a compliment because
he was already mature in those areas. I mean, he's on it everything,
playbook wise, always doing his job, working hard, just refining his

(03:06:35):
technique and pass rush. I mean, we don't have the pads on right
now, so the real work willwill begin, you know, in six
weeks now. So, but yeah, I love Tuli. I've loved him
since the first day. He's he'sbalked in the facility and I know he's
just gonna continue to get better.What do you think of the addition of
Joe Old? Yeah, yeah,I'm gonna need to beat him up a

(03:06:58):
little bit in camp. So sohe's ready. But no, I think
anything to protect our number ten isa good, good investment. So he
seems like a real solid dude.Haven't talked to him too much. Great
build, seems like he has goodhands, good feet, strong. We'll

(03:07:18):
see. We'll see in a fewweeks when I lay a helmet in his
chin how he holds up. Butit'll I'll take it easy on him,
for Shaun's a beast. Did youknow coach Harbond before he came here?
And if you did just what werethose first couple of conversations like that?
Yeah, probably have crossed passed withhim. Maybe maybe not. Actually I

(03:07:45):
think what was it his first yearwhen I was a junior, So he
kicked his ass as usual at OhioState. No, no, they just
want a championships. I'd say theyprobably have the bragging rights right now.
I'm like the guy talking about hisold high school. Oh I remember we
used to kick No but no,yeah, no, the rivalry is dead.

(03:08:11):
I was just saying this morning,you know, nine years and kind
of forget about that. I'm nota great alumni. Sorry, sorry coached,
But no, it's great. That'swhat's great about the NFLS. You
just have guys from all backgrounds.You could hate their guts one one year,
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

(03:08:33):
just sat down with them, wentup into his office and chopped it up
about life mainly and his opportunity hereand how much it means to him.
And Yeah, I think he's aspecial guy. I think he's the way
he conducts himself. He's an interestingcat for sure, and I'm still still
feeling them out. But one thingyou can't denies that he loves football and

(03:08:56):
his main goal is to win footballgames, and that's what we need.
When you see him working out withyou guys and and pushing slaves and doing
all this stuff, just how interestingis that to see? Yeah, I
mean he was a he was agreat player himself, and I think he's
always been, you know, builtlike that, lack of a better term,

(03:09:16):
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,
to to see a guy like thatcome in and embrace it all and

(03:09:37):
kind of be part of it himselfis important. Your initial impressions of pushment
during the defensive schemes, 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 Khalil was his age. But no,

(03:09:58):
he's been great. I love myand with him a little bit.
We a little sarcasm back and forth. But no, he's great. He's
uh, he's very talks very fast, and I don't as you know,
so sometimes I gotta be like,slow down, coach, come on.
But no, he's great. I'mexcited, you know, to get closer

(03:10:20):
as the years, as the yeargoes on, and I think he has
he has a lot of passion forthe position, and all he wants to
do is learn and and help usto improve. So I'm excited about him
and me and I do miss Giff. Obviously, it was a long time
with him, but I am excitedto have a new face and kind of
have that challenge for me. Youworked much with with Jesse's dad, since

(03:10:45):
I know he coached Linebergers in Michigan. Wait did you ask about Jesse?
Did you ask about doing? Okay, you asked about Jesse. Oh my
god, I was talking about freakingdoing the whole time. You guys are
so confused. No, sorry,I thought we I thought I was.
I thought you mentioned coach Rony.No, no, coach Mentor has been

(03:11:05):
great as well. Yeah, they'veboth been great. Sorry, run that
back. No, he's been good. Uh yeah, very knowledgeable guy.
Same thing I'm excited to get toknow him more as the year goes on.
Have you worked, if you workedmuch, Rick jesse St, Yeah,

(03:11:28):
No I have not. I don'tknow if I've said one word to
him, but more words to comedown the road. Like you said,
you've been in years in twenty sixteen, Just where are some of this stuff?
You just someone on a ramble aboutthe wrong guy for fifteen minutes.

(03:11:50):
I love God? You walking?What? Yeah? What the heck?
Actually that's literally not the person.Yeah, I figured out like something that
you you worked undering the off season, something to improve your game or is
there something that you can Usually myanswer is pretty consistent that I just continue

(03:12:16):
to try to prepare myself physically,whether that's my sprint work or agility work
and my lifting, but yeah,just to get everything feeling great. I
dealt with those injuries, so Ihad to kind of ramp it up with
my finger and foot and all thosethings. But now I'm I'm full full

(03:12:37):
speed out there, and I'm justgoing to continue to do what I know
will prepare me for the season.And uh, I know I'm gonna get
plenty of technique work and position workwhen I'm out here. So for now,
I'm going to spend these five weeksreally getting uh preparing my body workouts

(03:12:58):
competitive again, another competitive all thatstuff. Yeah, yeah, it's usually
too hot out there for much competition. We're just trying to survive. So
but yeah, it's always it's ait's a silent competition between between each other,
be like peeking, He's like whatwas his time? Was his time?

(03:13:18):
But no, yeah, it's always. You can never have an off
day when when you're out there andhe's he's warming up like a beat,
like a freaking robot every day outthere, so there's no there's no off
days. Have you you and himtalked at all about I mean, I
mean this when you were having acontract thing. Do you have guys get
to talk about on anybody? Yeah, I mean it's it's a conversation,

(03:13:43):
not a not really a serious conversation, but something that's come up before.
But yeah, I mean it wouldbe cool, it would be cool at
some point. I I always thoughtof myself being somebody that will here and
retire here, which I think notmany people do on one team, and

(03:14:05):
I think would be a cool thingto accomplish. But you never know.
I'm gonna worry about this year.First, guys, it's kind of we're
going a food story. But soyou guys have like the lowest or second
lowest food cceria in the NFLPA serveylast year and better moved to the facility.
Like you talk a lot about foodand how you did some times.
Is it fine? Have you lookingforward to the food upgrades at all?

(03:14:28):
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
I've never really had to worry aboutthat too much. But yeah, my
weight's good. I've been eating alot this offseason, so that's good.

(03:14:50):
But yeah, I'm excited to maybebe able to Sorry Christina, but maybe
I won't need a chef next year. I'll have my I'll have my I'll
have my Wolfgang Puck food and that'llbe good. So yeah, I'm excited
about the move, found a newspot, Excited to kind of learn the
area and all that. Even thoughI won't ever leave my house, do

(03:15:18):
not do a lot of the facility. Just a chef was good at all?
We all eat here. Sometimes youknow, it's may not be the
best setup, but they'll prepare yourfood. That's that's plenty good. I'm
a man airic character shout out.No, they work harder than literally anybody
in the entire facility. So theymay not have the best means back there,

(03:15:39):
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, ontop of each other. It's like kind
of a lot to kind of takein. Do you do you find that
they kind of turn it down tosomething new. We're starting to like zero
with everybody. It's just a littlebit easier to kind of get everybody on
the same Yeah, I feel likeit's way easier. It's like he said,

(03:16:00):
it was kind of more of aDrew Brees style, uh the last
playbook, so uh all credit tothem though they built that around him,
around his players, but uh,like I said, it's it's more Uh
this playbook is more uh for uhmatchups, and uh, I feel like
it's gonna be better for us.How do you think it's gonna really take
advantage of your skill sets. Uh, just building around the strengths that I

(03:16:22):
have. You know what I'm saying, things that I can do and things
that she can do, uh,things that our players can't do. Is
kind of focus on what we cando and and building on that. Uh.
I feel like it's playing to theplayer strengths. So I feel like
it's gonna help us a lot aroundthe way this offense will have a lot
more speed. And how has thattransition been so far? I mean,

(03:16:43):
like I said, it's building aroundthe players strengths. So of course we
got speed uh uh with me oruh she and ati receiver, so uh,
just building around that. Uh.Like I said, playing to our
strengths and be able to capitalize offthat. Feel like it's gonna help us
a lot, well most of likeuh the up tempo astract and you know,
getting a lot of plays in lesstime. Oh yeah, yeah,
Yeah, that's definitely gonna play abig difference. Like I said, coming
from the West Coast, Uh,they bringing that stand for an offense here,

(03:17:07):
So I'm excited to be able tobe a part of that. For
you, personally, what what's thenext level look like for you? What
do you what are you trying toaccomplish this year? Just staying consistent.
Man, a couple of ups anddowns last year, just building off that.
It's always always gonna work on thephysical part, but being able to
bounce back after a bad game themental mental aspect. Uh, just learning

(03:17:30):
learning that last year and be ableto build on that this year is a
huge part. You know with MikeGon, do you take upon yourself to
kind of be that voice in theroom or to take a step forward even
further as Uh? I mean it'snot really. I mean everybody's kind of
grown in the NFL, so it'sjust on you to be able to have

(03:17:50):
that standard. Like I said,I just try to do that lead by
example. I'm not really outspoken,but just lead by example, where art
trying to dominate every rep and hopefullythey follow after that yards after the catch?
Is that you feel like that's thestrength of yours that maybe wasn't utilize.
I don't know if utilizes the rightword, but you could show more.

(03:18:13):
Yeah, it's an offense that isbuilt around that. Uh, just
catching the ball in space, catchingthe ball over the middle or even on
the outside. Uh, with withspace and separation, I feel like it's
built around having yards have to catch. So I'm definitely proud to be in
the system, like I said,and I'm excited. But is that is
that a mindset too, like beinggood at yards after the catch? Like

(03:18:35):
Oh yeah, I mean of course. I mean you don't want to get
tackled by the first person. Andmy mindset is trying to take every take
everything to the house, you know, every touch. So I definitely got
to do that more and definitely tryto work on that in practice. A
great dude man some some that Idefinitely needed. Some that he relates to

(03:18:56):
me. Uh, just from backgroundI was in. Uh he's a great
coach, great leader, Uh,motivational and uh like I said, I'm
excited to have him around and forhim to push me is everything that I
need. So when you're talking aboutlike mentally bouncing back, you know from
tough performances or whatever, like,did you try to fund your resources gonna
help you figure out how to dothat? Oh yeah, I mean it's

(03:19:20):
older guys. Uh, uh tellme that's natural. Just have bad games.
But uh, just having the standardthat I have for myself and the
expectations I have for myself gets hard. Sometimes, so just be able to
be hard on yourself, but atthe same time just let it go and
just bounce back for the next gameis something that I learned last year.

(03:19:41):
You're one of those guys that feelslike you should always have a certain level
production. Are you okay with thosecertain games where the defense is so focused
on you the other guys have biggames and you're just running good joubts And
uh yeah, I definitely was waslike that early in my career, especially
in college. But I found really, you know, I understand I came

(03:20:05):
up a rough season, but Idon't think it's a step down of where
I can play. You know,I think when I was at the top
of my game, I'm still,you know, top five player in my
position. And you know, Iplayed the run in the past and I
bring leadership and you know that's notanything I discover. Can you do you
plan to be here for many campram a storagere in the camp. Yeah.

(03:20:26):
How difficult has it been the lasttwo weeks to not be here?
I mean you said in your podcastthe first time you've never not been at
Yeah, it w it was difficult, But like you know, the thing
I got very frustrated with was justand people questioned my communication with the team.
You know, I uh was communicatingwith guys left and right, and

(03:20:46):
you know, front office, coaches, teammates, And all I care about
is how I am with my teammates. I don't want them to ever think
I don't care about them or howI'm not in it. And you know,
you can say whatever you want aboutme. But besides that, but
I always dedicate anything I can't butand I don't want that to every question.

(03:21:07):
Isaiya said that it felt like sometimesyou were hold up somewhere watching film.
You texted hy you missed this,or you want to be well.
Like the first day, he wasbatting all up Russ's passes, so I
had to let him know. Youknow, u uh, you gotta take
advantage of that. You gotta makesure guys are you know, uh know
that you you still care and youstill wanna be a part of this.

(03:21:28):
You know, just watching practice,there's a couple of things we're doing different,
whether I'm communicating with Gunbar or otherpeople, you know Soviet. Yeah,
so you're that you're also talking withhim and you you give him pointers
during the off season, just aconstant 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 is what he is.

(03:21:50):
Uh, you know. I thinkthe thing with Keanu is he's more comfortable,
you know, you know side hisfirst time around the track. You
know, it's actually like he canyou know, uh, catch his feet
under him. You know. Ialways think when you're in your rookie season,
you're going from bowl game. Idon't even know Wisconsin playing a bowl
game. Sorry, Wisconsin, Idon't even know. But you know,

(03:22:13):
personally, I just think when yougo from bowl game to training for the
combine to you know, rookie miningcamps, OTAs, the you know mini
camp, I mean the training campthe regular 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
absence the other guy's absence, youknow, you need guys like that to

(03:22:35):
step up and be ready for thoseopportunities. But do you take fur you
had the same you have during theseason, was the more thorough what was
just tightened down everything? You know, on my left side because I was
overcompensating a little bit, but youknow it was it wasn't anything that lingers.
You know, I'll say this,A growing is not like an a

(03:22:56):
cl It's not like anything that we'regonna get back it again. And you
know, you know, I'm feelinggood, able to do everything squat and
heavy with power and speed, soyou know, it feels good to get
after again. What do you thinkof what the team was able to feel
accomplishis offas you return to bringing guyslike Russian and things. You know,
I think they're all good acquisitions,but you know, you never want to

(03:23:20):
be known as a paper champion,so you can't win the off season.
I think the work gets done outhere on the field, gets done in
the classroom, It gets done training, you know, and then you see
where you're at in training camp,and then you build on that. You
know, I think we got theright guys in the building. It's just
about putting a complete team on thefield camp. How temper coll is it

(03:23:43):
to separate the business part of thegame in the actual football player? Uh,
you know, you always wanna youalways have to treat it like a
business because you know one day it'sgonna end. Uh, and that's been
job. Uh. It's not likein college where you know you got four

(03:24:03):
years guaranteed. I don't know,well now you don't even know what nil
and a scrap and the transfer portalportal. But you know, you have
to I still have love for thisgame, and I still work my tail
off and I still put everything intoit, and that's not gonna change.
But you have to know what youbring to the team and what your what

(03:24:26):
your value is. Yeah, weall did a feel to be out there
with your teammates today. Emotionally great. You know, we got a new
uh, we got a new trainingstaff and still learning the the warm up
a little different, but uh,you know I loved it. Uh,
you know, just getting after it, learning new guys, going through the
same drills I've been doing by myself. Uh. I actually like having more

(03:24:48):
people around, cause like kind ofgo stir crazy when it's just you and
another guy. You're like, damn, I gotta go back up for another
rep already. And so you knowit's nice to be peer and get a
chance to you know, be withmy guys. Cam were you confident?
And people will get done with youremotion. Oh, I'm gonna I'm we'll

(03:25:09):
try to remain pretty neutral, causeyou know, I don't wanna be too
either way. All I know isI wanna be here, but we'll see
what happens. Is my last yearhere, I I I I've had a
great career here, but uh,I'll look forward to play next year.
Can you with that second surgery yousaid if this time was on the left

(03:25:31):
side, it was the first timearound on the right side, right side
during the season, left side,and that was just tightening down my corner.
My corma saw. It wasn't thesame as my ad doctor. You
know, you can ask doctor Bradley, uh, doctor doctor Zuckerbron who uh
did the surgery as well. Youknow, I if anything's gonna help me

(03:25:52):
and it'll make me a lot strongerfrom here on up. And you said
you were training with another guy,who have you kind of been Tyson?
Oh? I've been training with himfor the last eight years. We've always
trained together. We got a trainerup north, uh shot out Cole Haley,
who's my guy traded trained trained,uh Heath Miller, Brett Keesel.

(03:26:13):
The multitude of guys that I allrespect, and we've just been getting after
Can. He's very few guys historicallythirty five that paid big contract and you
think that's held against you. Ithink there's not a lot of history behind
it. But you know, forme, I I look at as I'm
not looking to be like anybody else. You know, my game is different

(03:26:35):
from everybody else in this league.You know, I like to think,
you know, I can play therun in the past, and then that's
where I'm different. You know,I remember last year Mike t just brought
to my attention. You know,the thing that's really cool is you watch
powerlifters, and you know, mygame's built on power and technique, and
those guys go into their forties andso you know, that's what kind of

(03:26:58):
research I'm doing the high any scenes, but you know, I I we'll
see what happens. There's not alot of history, but I'm here to
make history and I'm here to youknow, win another super Bowl here and
you know, have a great season. Do you have a set goal for
yourself or how many years you wantto play in the NFL or do you

(03:27:18):
just take things here right here?You know, it was it was tough
answering that question right after the season. I will say this, guys,
I can't keep answering that question rightafter the season. That is not fair
to the season, That's not fairto my family. Uh you know.
But in my mind, I gotthree years and I want to maximize them.
I wanna play at a high level, and I wanna go deep in

(03:27:41):
the playoffs. And you know,we got a good team and I'm gonna
do my part to be ready forall those situations. Here. Have you
plan practicing when you report to latrobor is your possibility that you might pull
in and enforce negotiations. I havenot even thought that far. I've taken
a day by day. Uh youknow. Uh Uh. I told my
agent and we talked about it.I mean, uh, we were cool

(03:28:03):
coming out here. You know.I'll be here for many you know,
and then I'll be there for trainingpan. You know, I don't know
what the work entails, but okay, when we get there, will we'll
cross that bench. Why is ita dodge for you or remain a stealer
for those three years? You know? There was a conversation between me Omar

(03:28:26):
and Mike t And there's certain guysthat are one helmet guys, you know,
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 tome. I think, you know,
I got more bullets to fire anduh, you know I'm excited to do

(03:28:50):
that. What's the meaning yeast one? You and Russell Willis are gonna be
out there with Walter Man? Uhwhat WALTI Payton Man of the Year patch
though I saw Russ's on social media. Uh, but I haven't had a
chance to see it. I'll letthat surprise happens when it happens. But
you know, it's cool to haveanother Walter Payton Man the Year winner.
You know. I think it's anhonor to be there. And I'll say

(03:29:15):
one thing, I won't be here. I'm just telling you guys, So
it's not a big deal. Iwon't be here because I have to do
a Walter Payton Man of Yr thingon Thursday. So it's not like I'm
skipping, all right, But youknow, it's an honor to be with
Russ and you know, you know, it's in honor of doing things in
the community and doing great work.And you know, the cool thing is,

(03:29:39):
as much as we get quarterbacks andgoing through these fifteen practices, how
do you want to structure that.I know that you and Ryan have probably
talked about that a good amount,Like what's the right way to set up
a spring position battle? How manyreps does everybody need? What's sort of
your plan? Just from a generalperspective, I guess yeah, you know,
we're really detailed in what practice lookslike and how that's going to operate.

(03:30:01):
But I also think you need tolet the players go, you know,
so I don't think you need toput shackles on them, so to
speak, and just keep them constrained. I think you got to let them
go and you got to let themoperate. And we were rotating I think
everybody on every two snaps today justand that was just what we're gonna do
on day one. You know,we'll reassess it after we got through it.
Get a chance to count up allthe reps of how many plays,
how many plays each guy got,and did they get more in seven on

(03:30:22):
than they did in eleven on?You know, and we'll go through that
whole thing and that'll be a constantflow in 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 greatin the meeting rooms. They're sharp when
you get them on the board.They're really good when they're watching film.
But you got to go out andyou got to play the game. And
so the more we can put themin those situations to play the game,

(03:30:43):
the better we'll have an opportunity toevaluate them. Thinking all of these things
go back so forward with Ryan's day. You mentioned since you've done him since
he was a kid, what wereyour first impressions back then? Then she
could come full circle to now,like how do you how do you feel
about that? It's still the sameway he you know, even since he

(03:31:05):
was playing the Little league, hewas the ultimate competitor, you know,
and he was always trying to finda way to win. He was great
at a lot of sports, Baseball, basketball, football, you know.
I got an opportunity to recruit him, you know, so I coached him
when I was at New Hampshire.I recruit him out of high school.
We all and we grew up reallyclose to each other, so same elementary
school, same high school, samejunior high same college, you know.

(03:31:28):
So I've known him since for fora really long time. But that competitive
fire burns deep with him, andthat's the one thing that I've always admired
with him. And he's got anamazing athletic brain in terms of how to
process things and how to how toput people in position to make place.
He's always been that prototypical coach onthe field, no matter what sport he
was playing. So I knew hewas destined to be a coach, you
know. And I was fortunate inmy career as a head coach to have

(03:31:50):
him on my staff in a coupleof places, so I got a chance
to see him work firsthand, youknow. I got to see him work
firsthand as a player and then asa coach. So the success he had
is not is not surprising to me. Is there? Where do you see
Ryan the success at? Yeah?I think we all do that. I
think we come from a unique placeand in a really small hometown in New

(03:32:11):
Hampshire where we all take a lotof pride of where we're from and and
when anybody's successful coming out of there, then you kind of take a little
pride that that's it's the upbringing thatwe all had, you know, in
the U sports program that we grewup in in in every aspect, whether
it was football, baseball, basketball, those coaches were had an amazing impact
on us. And that's why weare where we are right now. Bill

(03:32:33):
Ryan said, he doesn't think ofit as you working under him, that's
working with him. Fact is he'sthe head coach. He makes me call
him sir though he just said canyou do that? Day one? And
I was like, alright, rightnow. But I mean, he ultimately
is the is the decision maker.You've been a head coach. How do

(03:32:56):
you think that's going to work.Do you think there'll be any as close
as you are, any kind ofupward moments the right term. But when
he's the ultimate decider and you areworking for him, Yeah, I certainly
understand my role. I'm not alhaag like I'm not I'm not in charge
here. Yeah. Some people getthat reference. Other people don't get that

(03:33:16):
reference. But I'd certainly understand that, and and I actually kind of relish
it because I really love the schemingpart. I love the individual part.
I love being in the meeting roomof the quarterbacks and trying to game plan.
But everything we do here is collaborative. You know. The one thing
that that really struck me when Iwalked in this place is there's an amazing
coaching staff here, you know.And if you get a chance to talk
to Larry Johnson just about football,or Tim Walton or Jim Knowles or Brian

(03:33:41):
Hartline or any of these guys thatare on the staff here, it's it's
a very collaborative effort. I thinkeverybody's on the same page. You know,
it's not our offense and their defense, and it's it's Ohio State.
You know, it's it's Ohio Stateversus the twelve opponents that we're going to
play during the regular season and thenbeyond. So it's it's really collaborate.
And that's the thing I like,just in the short time that I've been

(03:34:01):
here, is how collaborative everybody's been. You know, we're all trying to
make each other better and we're alltrying to develop this team. Touched on
this when you said, you know, you know, you like to do
what you want to do and notMy sense is you, in your perfect
world, you'd like to scribble playson a Napkin and not deal with boosters,
don't deal with all the stuff thatcoaches, head coaches have to deal

(03:34:22):
with now. And how much ofa factor was that in this decision you
can just do football. No,that's not it. I mean I enjoy
I mean we've had some amazing I'vehad an opportunity and everywhere I've been to
meet some amazing people that are associatedwith the program. And there's people that
from my time at New Hampshire ormy time at Oregon. I was just
with Phil Night two weeks ago,you know, and got an opportunity to

(03:34:43):
spend some time with him and hiswife Penny, who are dear friends of
mine that have been great mentors tome in my career. And there's a
bunch of people that a UCLA,Terry donnahe Andrea Donna who were awesome to
me. Angela Mazzoni is a greatfriend, Casey Wasserman, Troy Aikman.
There was a bunch of people atUCLA that I really enjoyed, you know,
being around and talking with. SoI think sometimes everybody wants to make
a narrative of it's either this orthat, it's it's it's never that it's

(03:35:05):
never just all ball, it's neverjust all recruiting, it's never just all
boosters. It's it's a mixture ofeverything. But I think the one thing
that as this position as a headcoach kept moving on is that if you
look at a lot of them,they all become more CEOs. You know,
I can't tell you how many coachesthat have called me since I made
this decision that said I'm two yearsbehind you, brother, you know that

(03:35:26):
are thinking the same exact way.And I think it's all part of what
we have to do. I thinkwe all need to protect this game and
promote this game, and I thinkthere are some rules that we need to
get straightened out so that people understandwhere what it's about, because the game
is still about the players, andI hope that never gets discounted. You
know. It's it's always been aboutthe players, and I think if we
can keep that at the forefront thepeople that are making decisions on this,

(03:35:48):
and I think Jeane Smith is oneof the best influences in in the NCAAA,
is to make sure we keep thatthe main thing. The main thing
needs to be the student athletes.Art Cleveland dot Com. You know,
You're coming in at a time whereyou've been through some places where the expectations
are high. I understand it's alsocoming into a juncture where, you know,

(03:36:09):
the three losses to Michigan, thenot making the playoff last year,
the urgency is pretty high here.I guess, just sort of what perspective
do you have on kind of thestakes that there are for Ryan this year
and the decision that then he makesto bring you in to kind of help
solve that. Yeah, I thinkthe expectations can be no higher than they
are in your own brain, youknow. And I think if you try

(03:36:31):
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
the ultimate competitor. So he's gotThere's nowhere that has higher expectations of Ohio
State than Ryan does, nor therest of us that joined him in are
part of this and that are workingwith him. So you know, I
don't think. I think sometimes youcan spend too much time thinking about those

(03:36:52):
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 a realthing that we have to do as coaches,
is to make sure that our playersaren't worried about what's going on in
the future, or or aren't worriedabout what's going on in the past,
or worry about can they get alittle bit better today, you know,
and can we make improvement? AndI think the one thing that I've seen
here and I've only been here forthree weeks, but there's a consistency to

(03:37:13):
the players approach when they walk inthis building every day, which is it's
unique. It's not like that everywhereelse. And it's one of the things
that I remarked to Mick when Iyou know, he said, Hey,
what do you think, And Iwas like, it's impressive. It's impressive
the culture of the players that arein this program right now. But I
think it speaks a lot to theleadership. There's a lot of older players
on this team and they've set thetone for the younger players, and I
think the younger players have done agreat job of followship and getting right in

(03:37:35):
line with that. It's never handedover a play calling to someone before,
what does it mean to you?I guess he technically did it to Bill
when he was here for a coupleweeks. But what does that mean to
you to kind of be getting thatresponsibility from him and he's calling essentially the
offense that you gave it. Iguess in some way. Yeah, I
still think the play calling part willbe a collaborative effort. And by that

(03:37:58):
I mean that if it's a goodplay, I called it, and if
it's a bad play, he calledit. Because the great part is an
assistant coach, you can just pointthe finger a little bit and just say,
hey, you know, I wantedto do this, but he trumped
me. So we haven't actually discussedgame day yet. You know, we'll
see how that operates. But everywhereI've been it's been a collaborative effort.

(03:38:18):
And all of a sudden, someonethat's calling the plays isn't isn't like pulls
one out of left field that youhadn't practiced and hadn't been part of your
offense and said, hey, let'sdo this. You know, we're not
running the annexation of Puerto Rico.You know, we're not coming up with
something special you know in the middleof the fourth quarter that we haven't done.
But I think it's the key toreally being successful on offense is is
how you game plan, how youput it all together, and then how

(03:38:39):
you practice and train for that sothat you get a chance to execute it.
Because the player's confidences comes from theirdemonstrated ability that they've done this so
many times in practice that when theyget 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 theypractice it so much so that they can't
do it wrong. So, youknow, I think it's that whole part
of it is really the key tobeing a really good game planning team,

(03:39:03):
right Doug Lane ma reithe Kings ofthe North Chip. When you had that
feeling when you were coaching the quarterbacksduring Bowl operation, did you consider at
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,

(03:39:24):
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
no different than when you're talking toa recruit about them make a decision on
where they're gonna go to school,think that where they should go to school
is where the best fit is forthem. So, you know, I
just entertained some opportunities and I alwaysfelt I felt like this was the best
fit. But I never thought aboutquitting or not coaching. I'm gonna coach.

(03:39:48):
I'm gonna coach, and then I'mgonna die. But I mean,
that's how I think I think aboutthings. Is I can't picture that.
I know someone I was on theNike trip and they are like, how
much longer are you gonna go?When I said I to go another fifteen
twenty years. I don't think aboutI don't think about retirement. I don't
think about any of those things.That's just not kind of my mindset that
you know. I love football andin the as long as I can be

(03:40:09):
part of this game, then I'llbe part of this game. Just the
way things worked out with your departurefrom UCLA, is there anything that you
wish you had done differently, oranything you regret, or just that the
circumstances that presented themselves. Do youthink that you handled that departure the best
that you could have. Yeah,I mean I got an opportunity to tell
my players personally. You know,I think in this day and age of

(03:40:30):
the Internet, where they read itsomewhere else and you have to text message,
and you know, that was alwaysimportant to me that I wanted to
make sure I talk to my playersand explain the reasons of what I was
doing. I wasn't leaving to takea head coaching job somewhere else. I
wasn't thinking that the grass is greenerat another university. Was just in my
personal situation, this is what Iwanted to do. I wanted to take
an opportunity to go be a positioncoach and coordinator, and that's how it

(03:40:52):
fit. You know. What Iwas happy is that I always thought to
Sean Foster, I think the worldof them and I think he's a special
you know, and the fact thatthat that they were they gave him the
opportunity to take over there was youknow, it worked out. I didn't
have any say in that decision,you know, I was gone, but
I always thought that that Shaun wouldbe a great head coach and I'm really
proud of him and happy that thathe got the opportunity to take that job

(03:41:16):
right behind him, you have,your reputation is innovator. Was part of
the appeal of this is that youget to get in the weeds a little
bit. Uh maybe not mad scientists, maybe too too strong of a work
because you're working within the system.But was there an appeal of I get
to get my hands dirty here againand innovate and get back to that side

(03:41:37):
of things. It was, butit was really more important of who I
get to work with, you know, and so knowing you know, I've
got I know a lot of guyson the staff besides Ryan also, so
you know, when I know whattheir mindset is and what their values are
and how they do things, andso I wanted to be a part of
that. But but there's a partof that. Yeah, how much of
a teacher you get, you getlabeled an innovator. The teachings are part

(03:42:01):
of this. How much is itis? Uh how a teacher are even
how patients are you? Yeah,I think we're all teachers. I mean
education is the transportation of knowledge,you know, So it really doesn't matter
what the coach knows. It matterswhat the players understand, you know,
So you have to be able tomake sure that while you're implementing things,
is is what resonates with them andand how does that come back to them.
So, you know, a lotof our teaching styles that we've learned

(03:42:24):
is more of the Socratic method ofthere's a lot of questions, you know,
and a lot of check for understandings, just to kind of find out
where the players are coming from,because it's what they know that that's ultimately
gonna win games, not what weknow. You know that we're not playing
the games. We're not stepping acrossthose white lines, you know. And
your job as a coach is tocreate an environment where they have an opportunity
to be successful and then get outof their way and let them go do
it. So I think the teachingaspect is huge, and we continue to

(03:42:48):
research, you know, some ofthe latest trends in teaching to to make
sure that we are transporting that knowledgeto our players. The second left Steve
Helwag twenty four seven Sports. Yeah, coach, uh, just curious.
You got five scholarship quarterbacks with differinglevels of experience, age and everything else.
Not to annoyed him, but justwant to ask specifically about Will Howard

(03:43:09):
coming in after starting part of twoyears at keys a stage. He just
seems to promote this idea that he'sa football player, you know above all
else. Just how impressed are youwith his makeup, his experience, what
he's bringing to the table walking inhere right now? Yeah? Really impressed.
You know, you don't have totalk to Will for more than five

(03:43:31):
minutes to kind of know where he'scoming from. He's really focused. You
know, he knows he's got ashort window left in his college career,
and it really wants to capitalize onwhat that is. There's a maturity to
Will, you know. I reallyI've had experience, My experience in this
thing since the transferportal opened in collegefootball is some of the best players I've

(03:43:52):
had an opportunity to coach. ArdTransfers Sometimes when you're a true freshman and
it's five years out, you know, it's like, hey, I got
a ton of time, you know. Sometimes when 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 withtransfers, and I think Will has exuded
that since he's been here. Butthe other thing that I just in the
short time that Will has been hereis how quickly he's fit in with the

(03:44:13):
entire team, you know, andhow much the the rest of the players
respect him. You know. Hewas uh one of the Gold Award winners
for his work in the weight roomin this offseason, so that says a
lot for him coming in here asa in a short time, being able
to to win a weight room award, you know, to start off,
You guys hope to have the numberone internally externally at the end of spring
or I guess just let it playout. I think it always every time

(03:44:37):
I've been involved in these, Ithink when they're organic is when it's the
best that. I don't think youcan anoint somebody or force the issue because
the players know, the players wouldunderstand. They see it every single day,
you know, and there's a teamchemistry part of this thing too,
So we're not going to force theissue. A But I've always seen it
play itself out. So I've beenfortunate that there's always gonna be some quarterback

(03:44:58):
battles that at some point in timeat every school, there's a quarterback battle,
you know, and then in reallyyeah, I feel like in the
league, whether I left or right, are still going against premier guys.
So obviously you have high expectations foryour left and right tackle, but there's
definitely like the the level of energyand like the expectations definitely taking the human

(03:45:20):
start because now conneted the blindside thatstuff, that's the tackle roles, you
know. So so yeah, Iwould say in terms of communication as far
as just even outside of facility andjust stuff like that, like really creating
that tackle quarterback bond even more offthe field, I think has been something
that's even been cool. I gota text one days ahead like you play

(03:45:46):
left, and I was like,yeah, you know, yeah, I've
been training both. I've been trainingboth. You know. I asked after
the season. They're like, honestly, you know, we'll talk to you
still play in the season. AndI just got a text and like,
depending on what happens, but thefree agent see then, so I was
like, you know what, Ihad a whole season right tackle. So
if I get the word, I'mgoing I'm standing right tackle. I don't

(03:46:09):
need to do what I did before. I'm thiled on that bus. I
was like, I might as alosttrained the left tackle now as if I'm
gonna be a left tackle, andI'd rather do that than training on right
time because the ko, hey you'rethe left tackle, I'm like, oh,
I didn't switch on my feet yet, you know what I mean.
So I'm like, let me justprepare in the advance. I was like,
yeah, let's guy. You know, I think occasionally i'm third down,

(03:46:31):
there would be a lot of twists. I would just know like it's
a automatically coming. And I thinkthat was my mindset for like the first
half of the season, like Ididn't have to go into a game and
with surprise like oh my gosh,they did that. I kind of figured
like, okay, like this isthis is the type of rushman again,
this is how this guy usually rushes. If I get the vibe, this
is how the ends like the rushyou know, tackles that are you know,

(03:46:52):
first year guys who got the premierpatch on. I already knew what
it was gonna be, already knewof every stunt and honestly, just knowing
that it's kind of an advantage too. So you're not you're not You're not
old. They brought the twist ofmy side again. It was never an
Aaron Donald. You know, they'recoming up with minds, like three plays
in a row in two minutes.I knew that that was gonna when it
happened. So, like, youknow what I mean, I'm watching more

(03:47:15):
than everybody else and he rarely Evelandgoes out there on occasional third down was
on the d end. I said, all, you know what it's gonna
be. He's gonna pick me,you know what I mean? So fact
fact, it's kind of it's alsokind of an advantage in a way,
but it's also exciting, like,Okay, I'm gonna get the hardest look,
you know. So those are real, real reps, you know the
thing. So really, I Ireally didn't kind of process that. I

(03:47:41):
was like, hey, when theytell me to let me know about I'm
just gonna train it. I wastraining all left to Ta's. I guess
if I didn't hear anything about Ta's, I would have came in like so,
you know what I mean, becausejust like I'm cool training both continue
I would have been cool training bothcontinually. But it's still not. But
what's it been like for you?Just seeing just the early stages of how

(03:48:03):
he challenges people, of how theyresponded. I mean, yeah, I
mean at the end of the day, I think we're all grown men in
here, so you know, youshould automatically, you know, take accountability
for you know, everything you doin the field, whether it's something good,
whether it's something bad. And Ithink everybody's responded well to that.
So you know, I think thatdoes nothing, but you know makes everybody
better allowed to your teammates, toyou know, put more trust in to

(03:48:26):
whoever it is has taken accountability atthe time. Osten what a uh what
do you see the guy Accountablaw?See, yeah, I mean he's quick.
You know, he can create alot of space and uh small spaces,
so uh it's quick, you know, uh savly with his route running,
and you know he's just he's justa hard worker. You know.
You know there's some plays where heknows he's not getting the ball and he's
still still winning or out. Soyou know, just to have that player,

(03:48:50):
uh a, a player like thatgive that much effort uh on the
field every play, it's really reallygood to see and I think it's you
know, really uh Benna real abouton the other guys too. I'm good.
How about the I'm geting mother.What's it like working with uh,
some of the tight ends that youguys have in the room there, I
know after Smithy straight just talked aboutthe versatility that a lot of other guys
have, especially in that grip.Yeah, I mean we have a different

(03:49:11):
uh uh, a lot of youknow, different guys in the tight end
room. You know, darnw hebrings sides to the room. Uh,
Rodney Speed, Uh, Connor hehas a great awareness in the field.
Pat of course he you know,he's a great all the round sight end.
And then uh, you know,uh crew, he's a he's a
bat. He's smart, he knowswhat he's doing. So, I mean,

(03:49:31):
just all the guys in the rooms, you know, they're smart and
intensive and they've i f I feellike they're j are justice to the offense.
Well, so's what's been like workingwith Tom or from what's he been
kind of working what you wants?Yeah, I mean Sala's been great.
Uh just his a tis attention todetail, the way he comes you know,

(03:49:52):
in each and every day. Hecomes in the same guy every day
and uh to be on side andyou know, I don't think of how
coach that detailed as Tom. Youknow, he's very detailed in terms of
you know, practice with you,sending us, uh the info, breaking
down each and every play and reallyjust really just focused on the details,
to be honest with you. Ithink, uh, that's the thing that

(03:50:15):
sets him apart. And you knowhe's he pushed us to be hard I
mean our our indie periods or youknow conditions. So of course that's good
for us. But I mean he'sbeen great so far. So excited to
uh, you know, allow thatallow our relationship to grow, and excited
to work with And here's what he'sdoing kind of compliment what you're doing individually,
you know, when you're away fromthe facility working with you know,

(03:50:37):
coaches one on one or anything likethat. He said, what is he
What does he do here that kindof compliments what you do away from the
facility when you're training. I mean, I think he does different stuff.
So I think, uh, that'sa good thing about it. You know
some stuff that we do here.Oh sorry, uh, I don't you
know usually do outside of the facility. So it's good getting that different work

(03:50:58):
in different drill work that I canyou know, implement into my you know,
off season program and stuff like that. So it's good that I'm learned
him stuff. For sure, youhave a deep all of efficiency numbersus any
times that was the last year?What what? What? What is uh
Artura Smith in the offense talk aboutyou about trying to make make that incorporate
that into being a big part ofthis officer. I mean yeah, Uh,

(03:51:18):
I think we have fast guys,guys that can get down the field
with speed, uh, guys likeQuez, Calvin, Scottie Van, you
know, me and rest. Youknow, we've we've had a lot of
deep all success and a lot ofexplosive plays in the past. So you
know that's just uh you know what, Yeah, I guess how our offense
is built, to be honest withyou, but I mean, our job
is to create explosives and you know, push the ball down the field.

(03:51:41):
So anytime we get those ops,we definitely wanna capitalize on those. Are
your coach arresting any part of yourmechanics and anyway Plum I mean yeah,
uh, I think there's always roomto improve, uh, mechanic wise and
stuff like that. So I think, you know, Matt Baker. Uh,
he's a or quarterback consistant. Heyou know, usually stays on me
the most about it. So ippreciatethe fact that he does that, and
I usually make sure he doesn't makesure. I just just stay on top

(03:52:05):
of it, you know as awhole, and you know, make sure
my mechanics are always cleaned. Canyou talk about one particular element if they're
stressing it's it's different areas. Tobe honest, I don't think it's just
one specific area, but it's it'sdifferent areas, justin in your opinion,
was there something that you wanted towork on, maybe get better at when
you got you at this point inyour career. I mean, like,
like I said, there's you know, no matter who you are, you

(03:52:26):
know there's always stuff to get betterat, always different areas. Nobody's perfect
in one area. So I thinkyou can continue to prove in all aired
in my game, you know mepersonally, So I'm just focused on getting
better because you never did. Whenwe talked to Russ yesterday, he said
that rusted that he personally felt kindof revived you being at another step in
his career. Is there any ofthat sense of maybe rejuvenation or feeling revived.

(03:52:48):
Obviously you haven't been in the leaguefor thirteen years, but is there
a new energy that you get beingin a different organization, going through mini
camp in a different way for thefirst time. I think so, you
know, just being around a newteam, uh an organization that's players.
But to stay on day one thatI think that our scheme is going to
be this, this or this,it's you know, that's going to be

(03:53:09):
a work in progress as we startto get familiar with what the player's skill
sets are and then what we cando. And it's always a combination of
what you have upfront and then whatyou have out back. And I know
we've got a couple of really talentedrunning backs behind them, so you know,
it's something that we're going to lookat. But I also know you
can't be one dimensional in football.You need to be able to throw the
ball as much as run the ball. You know, It's funny, some
people think I'm an area guy,some people think I'm a wing tea guy.

(03:53:30):
Some people think I want to runthe ball every down. You know,
we're gonna we're gonna do what's bestfor a house state, and that's
that's kind of what our game planis right now, right Austin were a
podcast. When you think about yourfirst evaluations of the quarterbacks and going through
these fifteen practices at how do youwant to structure that? I know that
you and Ryan have probably talked aboutthat a good amount, Like what's the
right way to set up a springposition battle? How many reps does everybody

(03:53:56):
need? What's sort of your plan? Just from a general perspective, I
guess yeah, you know, we'rereally detailed in what practice looks like and
how that's going to operate. ButI also think you need to let the
players go, you know, soI don't think you need to put shackles
on them, so to speak,and just keep them constrained. I think
you got to let them go andyou got to let them operate. And
we were rotating I think everybody onevery two snaps today just and that was

(03:54:18):
just what we're going to do onday one. You know, we'll reassess
it after we got through it,get a chance to count up all the
reps of how many plays, howmany plays each guy got, and did
they get more in seven on thanthey did in eleven on? You know,
and we'll go through that whole thing, and that'll be a constant flow
in terms of how we're doing it. But I think the best way people
learn is they learn by doing,you know. So they've been great in
the meeting rooms. They're sharp whenyou get them on the board, they're

(03:54:39):
really good when they're watching film.But you got to go out and you
got to 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. Thinking of all of thesethings go back so forth with Ryan Day.
You mentioned that you've noticed since shewas a kid, what were your

(03:55:01):
first impressions back then? And thenshe come full circle to now, like
how do you how do you feelabout that? It's still the same way
he you know, even since hewas playing 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,
football. You know. I gotan opportunity to recruit him, you
know, so I coached him whenI was at New Hampshire. I recruited

(03:55:22):
him out of high school and weall and we grew up really close to
each other. So same elementary school, same high school, same junior high,
same college. You know. SoI've known him since for for a
really long time. But that competitivefire burns deep with him, and that's
the one thing that I've always admiredwith him. And he's got an amazing
athletic brain in terms of how toprocess things and how to how to put

(03:55:43):
people in position to make place.He's always been that prototypical coach on the
field, no matter what sport hewas playing. So I knew he was
destined to be a coach, youknow. And I was fortunate in my
career as a head coach to havehim on my staff in a couple of
places, so I got a chanceto see him work firsthand, you know.
I got to see him work firsthandas a player and then as a
coach. So the success he hadis not is not surprising to me.

(03:56:05):
Is there where you seeing Ryan thesuccesses had? Yeah? I think we
all do that. I think wecome from a unique place in a really
small hometown in New Hampshire where weall take a lot of pride to where
we're from and and when anybody's successfulcoming out of there, then you kind
of take a little pride that that'sit's the upbringing that we all had,
you know, in the UTH sportsprogram that we grew up in in in
every aspect, whether it was football, baseball, basketball, those coaches we

(03:56:28):
had an amazing impact on us andthat's why we are where we are right
now. For Bill Rabinwick Columbus Dispatch, Ryan said, he doesn't think of
it as you working under him,it's working with him. Fact is he
is the head coach. Wait off, he makes me call him sir though
he just said can you do that? Day one? And I was like,

(03:56:50):
all right, right now. ButI mean he ultimately it is the
decision maker. You've been a headcoach, how do you think that's going
to do? You think there'll beany as close as you are, any
kind of upward numbers the right term. But when he's the ultimate decider and
you are working for him, Yeah, I certainly understand my role. I'm

(03:57:11):
not alhag like I'm not in chargehere. Yeah. Some people get that
reference. Other people don't get thatreverence. But I'd certainly understand that,
and I actually kind of relish itbecause I really love the scheming part.
I love the individual part. Ilove being in the meeting room of the
quarterbacks and trying to game plan.But everything we do here is collaborative.

(03:57:31):
You know. The one thing thatreally struck me when I walked in this
place is there's an amazing coaching staffhere, you know, and if you
get a chance to talk to LarryJohnson just about football, or Tim Walton
or Jim Knowles or Brian Hartline orany of these guys that are on the
staff here, it's it's a verycollaborative effort. I think everybody's on the
same page. You know. It'snot our offense and their defense and it's

(03:57:54):
Ohio State, you know, it'sit's Ohio State versus the twelve opponents that
we're going to play during the regularseason and then beyond. So it's it's
really collaborative. And that's the thingI like, just in the short time
that I've been here, is howcollaborative everybody's been. You know, we're
all trying to make each other betterand we're all trying to develop this team.
Touched on this, uh you said, you know, you like to
do what you want to do andnot My sense is you, in your

(03:58:18):
perfect world, you'd like to scribbleplays on an Atkin and not deal with
boosters, dot deal with all thestuff that coaches head coaches have to deal
with now. And how much ofa factor was that in this decision you
can just do football. No,that's not it. I mean I enjoy
I mean we've had some amazing I'vehad an opportunity and everywhere I've been to
meet some amazing people that are associatedwith the program. And there's people that

(03:58:41):
from my time at New Hampshire ormy time at Oregon. I was just
with Phil Night two weeks ago,you know, and got an opportunity to
spend some time with him and hiswife Penny, who are dear friends of
mine that have been great mentors tome in my career. And there's a
bunch of people that and UCLA,Terry donnahe Andrea Donna who were awesome to
me. Angela Mazzoni is a greatfriend, Casey Wasserman, Troy Aikman.
There was a bunch of people UCLAthat I really enjoyed, you know,

(03:59:01):
being around and talking with. SoI think sometimes everybody wants to make a
narrative of it's either this or that. It's never that, it's never just
all ball. It's never just allrecruiting, it's never just all boosters.
It's a mixture of everything. ButI think the one thing that as this
position as a head coach kept movingon is that if you look at a
lot of them, they all becomemore CEOs. You know, I can't

(03:59:22):
tell you how many coaches that havecalled me since I made this decision that
said I'm two years behind you,brother, You know that are thinking the
same exact way. And I thinkit's all part of what we have to
do. I think we all needto protect this game and promote this game,
and I think there are some rulesthat we need to get straightened out
so that people understand what it's about, because the game is still about the
players, and I hope that nevergets discounted. You know, It's always

(03:59:46):
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 inthe NCAAA, is to make sure we
keep that the main thing. Themain thing needs to be the student athletes
right behind. You know, you'recoming in at a time where you've been

(04:00:07):
through some places where the expectations arehigh. I understand it's also coming into
a juncture where, you know,the three losses to Michigan, the not
making the playoff last year, theurgency is pretty high here. I guess,
just sort of what perspective do youhave on kind of the stakes that
there are for Ryan this year andthe decision that then he makes to bring
you in to kind of help solvethat. Yeah, I think the expectations

(04:00:31):
can be no higher than they arein your own brain, you know.
And I think if you try toworry about what other people are thinking in
their brains, you're going to getscrewed up a little bit. So,
you know, I talked earlier theone thing about Ryan that I know about
him and has always been he's theultimate competitor. So he's got There's nowhere
that has higher expectations of Ohio Statethan Ryan has, nor the rest of
us that joined him and are apart of this and that are working with
him. So you know, Idon't think. I think sometimes you can

(04:00:54):
spend too much time thinking about thosethings. You know, what you really
have to do is just as there'sa big sign as you walk in this
place, that says when the moment, you know. I think that's a
real thing that we have to doas coaches, is to make sure that
our players aren't worried about what's goingon in the future, or or aren't
worried about what's going on in thepast, or worry about can they get
a little bit better today, youknow, and can we make improvement?
And I think the one thing thatI've seen here and I've only been here

(04:01:15):
for three weeks, but there's aconsistency to the players approach when they walk
in this building every day, whichis it's unique. It's not like that
everywhere else. And it's one ofthe things that I remarked to Mick when
I you know, he said,hey, what do you think? And
I was like, it's impressive.It's impressive the culture of the players that
are in this program right now.But I think it speaks a lot to
the leadership. There's there's a lotof older players on this team, and

(04:01:35):
they've set the tone for the youngerplayers, and I think the younger players
have done a great job of followshipand getting right in line with that.
He's never handed over a play callingto someone before. What does it mean
to you. I guess he technicallydid it to Bill when he was here
for a couple weeks. But whatdoes that mean to you to kind of
be getting that responsibility from him andhe's calling essentially the offense that you gave
him. I guess it so way. Yeah, I still think the play

(04:01:58):
calling part will be a collaborator effort. And by that I mean that if
it's a good play, I calledit, and if it's a bad play,
he called it. Because the greatpart is an assistant coach, you
can just a point the finger alittle bit and say, hey, you
know, I wanted to do this, but he trumped me. So we
haven't actually discussed game day yet.You know, we'll see how that operates.
But everywhere I've been it's been acollaborative effort. And all of a

(04:02:20):
sudden, someone that's calling the playsisn't isn't like pulls one out of left
field that you hadn't practiced and hadn'tbeen part of your offense and said,
hey, let's do this. Youknow, we're not running the annexation of
Puerto Rico. You know, we'renot coming up with something special. You
know, in the middle of thefourth quarter that we haven't done. But
I think it's the key to reallybeing successful on offense is is how you

(04:02:41):
game plan, how you put itall together, and then how you practice
and train for that so that youget a chance to execute it. Because
the player's confidence comes comes from theirdemonstrated ability that they've done this so many
times in practice that when they getout on the field that this is like
that to them. You know,it's not that they do it so they
do it right, it's they practiceit so much that they can't do it
wrong. So, you know,I think it's that whole part of it
that is really the key to beinga really good game planning team. R

(04:03:07):
Doug Lane ma Reice Kings of NorthChip. When you had that feeling when
you were coaching the quarterbacks during boldthat preparation, did you consider at that
point maybe resigning as the head coachand thinking like this is this is not
where I am anymore. I'll leaveand then I'll look to see what else
is out there. No, Inever thought about quitting anything, So,
you know, I just is therean opportunity that I think I can that

(04:03:31):
fit, you know, And Ithink that's the you know, It's no
different than when you're talking to arecruit about them make a decision on where
they're gonna go to school. Ithink that where they should go to school
is where the best fit is forthem. So, you know, I
just entertained some opportunities and I alwaysfelt I felt like this was the best
fit. But I never thought aboutquitting or not coaching. I'm gonna coach.
I'm gonna coach, and then I'mgonna die. But I mean,

(04:03:52):
that's how I think I think aboutthings. Is I can't picture that.
I know someone I was on theNike trip and they like, how much
longer you got to go? WhenI said I have to go another fifteen
twenty years. I don't think aboutI don't think about retirement. I don't
think about any of those things.That's just not kind of my mindset that
you know. I love football andin the as long as I can be
part of this game, then I'llbe part of this game. You have

(04:04:15):
just the way things worked out withyour departure from UCLA, is there anything
that you wish you had done differently, or anything you regret, or just
that the circumstances that presented themselves 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. You know, I think in this day and age
of the Internet, where they readit somewhere else and you have to text
message them. You know, thatwas always important to me that I wanted

(04:04:37):
to make sure I talk to myplayers and explain the reasons of what I
was doing. I wasn't leaving totake a head coaching job somewhere else.
I wasn't thinking that the grass isgreener at another university. Was just in
my personal situation, this is whatI wanted to do. I wanted to
take an opportunity to go be aposition coach and coordinator, and that's how
it fit. You know. WhatI was happy is that I always thought

(04:04:58):
to Sean Foster, I think theworld of and I think he's a special
you know, and the fact thatthat they were they gave him the opportunity
to take over there was you know, it worked out. I didn't have
any say in that decision, youknow, I was gone, but I
always thought that Deshaun would be agreat head coach and I'm really proud of
him. And happy that that hegot the opportunity to take that job right
behind him, you have your reputationas innovator. Was part of the appeal

(04:05:24):
of this is that you get toget in the weeds a little bit.
Uh maybe not mad scientists, maybetoo too strong of a work because you're
working within the system. But wasthere an appeal of I get to get
my hands dirty here again and innovateand to get back to that side of
things. It was, But itwas really more important of who I get
to work with, you know,and so knowing you know, I've got

(04:05:48):
I know a lot of guys onthe staff besides Ryan also, so you
know, when I know what theirmindset is and what their values are and
how they do things, and soI wanted to be a part of that.
But but there's a part of that. Yeah, Yeah, much of
a teacher you get labeled in theinnovators. The teachings are part of this.
How much is how a teacher areeven how patient are Yeah? I

(04:06:09):
think we're all teachers. I mean, education is the transportation of knowledge,
you know, So it really doesn'tmatter what the coach knows. It matters
what the players understand, you know. So you have to be able to
make sure that while you're implementing thingsis what resonates with them and how does
that come back to them. So, you know, a lot of our
teaching styles that we've learned is moreof the socratic method of there's a lot
of questions, you know, anda lot of check for understandings, just

(04:06:31):
to kind of find out where theplayers are coming from, because it's what
they know that that's ultimately going towin games, not what we know.
You know that we're not playing thegames. We're not stepping across those white
lines, you know, and yourjob as a coach is to create an
environment where they have an opportunity tobe successful and then get out of their
way and let them go do it. So I think the teaching aspect is
huge, and we continue to research, you know, some of the latest

(04:06:52):
trends in teaching to make sure thatwe are transporting that knowledge to our players.
Yeah, coach, just curious,you've got five scholarship quarterbacks with differing
levels of experience, age and everythingelse. Not to annoyed him, but
just want to ask specifically about WillHoward coming in after starting part of two

(04:07:13):
years at Kansas state. He justseems to promote this idea that he's a
football player, you know above allelse. Just how impressed are you with
his makeup, by his experience,what he's bringing to the table walking in
here right now? Yeah, reallyimpressed. You know, you don't have
to talk to Will for more thanfive minutes to kind of know where he's

(04:07:35):
coming from. He's really focused.You know, he knows he's got a
short window left in his college career, and it really wants to capitalize on
what that is. There's a maturityto Will, you know. I really
I've had experience, My experience inthis thing since the transfer portal opened in
college football is some of the bestparyers I've had an opportunity to coach ward

(04:07:56):
transfers. Sometimes when you're a truefreshman and it's five years out, you
know, it's like, hey,I got a ton of time, you
know. And sometimes when you're atransfer is that I've got nine months,
you know. So there's a senseof urgency I think when you're dealing with
with transfers, and I think Willhas exuded that since he's been here.
But the other thing that I justin the short time that Will's been here,
is how quickly he's fit in withthe entire team, you know,

(04:08:16):
and how much the rest of theplayers respect him. You know, he
was one of the Gold Award winnersfor his work in the weight room in
this offseason, so that says alot for him coming in here as a
in a short time, being ableto win a weight room award, you
know, to start off, tohave the number one internally externally into spring

(04:08:37):
or I guess just I think italways every time I've been involved in these,
I think when they're organic is whenit's the best. I don't think
you can anoint somebody or force theissue because the players know, the players
would understand. They see it everysingle day, you know, and there's
a team chemistry part of this thingtoo, So we're not going to force
the issue. But I've always seenit play itself out. So I've been

(04:08:58):
fortunate that there's always going to besome quarterback battles that at some point in
time at every school there's a quarterbackbattle, you know, and then and
really you got to let them playit out on the field, and that's
where it has to that's where ithas to be decided. Hey, welcome
and we were excited to have youhere. I'm kind of to talk about

(04:09:18):
the innovative part. Ryan said thatthat's something that he's always loved about working
with you, and now he wantsyou to bring that here and how it
would fit with Ohio stake. Doyou have any idea what that's going to
look like yet or is it justway too up? I have no idea,
you know. I think part ofit is is you're trying to put
the players in position to make plays. So a lot of that comes from
getting to understand the players and whattheir skill sets are and how we feature

(04:09:43):
what their skill sets are, youknow, and and the one thing after
day one, I can tell youthat there's a lot of skill set out
there, you know. So that'sthat's what gets you excited, you know,
That's what That's what you jump outof bed in the morning and you're
excited to go to work because ofthe talent that you get to work with.
But the one thing that's the mostimpressed is the work ethic that goes
along with that talent. You know, it's not just empty talent. It's

(04:10:03):
You've got some kids who want toI mean all of them. Since I've
been here, want to work,So that's what gets you excited. But
I think assessing what the skill setis you know that we have available to
us on the offensive side of theball is vitally important. And then our
job is to put those guys inpositions to make place. You've made places
good lots of pressure. I mean, you've experienced what it's like to coach

(04:10:24):
national championship, how of our teamsthis program right now and moving into a
situation where you got to win quickand now. So does that feel like
pressure here for you or is ita little bit of excitement or both?
Well, I've always subscribed to aspressure is what you feel when you don't
know what you're doing. So ifyou don't want to feel pressure, and
then you should know what you're doing, so you know, I think it's

(04:10:45):
it's part of that. And Ithink part of our job with our players
in terms of the education process isgetting them to understand that too. Is
that you know, it's it's aboutyour preparation, it's about you and your
development. It's not about that youcan't be governed by what other people say.
It's it's what's my mind and howam i intrinsically motivated, and then
how do I really compete against myselfon a daily basis to get a little
bit better. You know, wegot a little bit better today because we

(04:11:07):
get out on the field today andgot a chance to do some football.
And then the challenges when we getback on the field on Thursday. Can
we be a little bit better thanwe were on Tuesday? And if we're
doing that, then we keep stackinggood days on top of good days,
and I think we'll be in goodspot and welcome, Thank you. I'm
gonna ask about the pros and consof coaching from the box and coaching from
the field. It's interesting talk tosome offen some coordinators. Tom Herman talked

(04:11:28):
about he swore he wanted to coachfrom the box. Saw the game so
much better, sterile environment, notall the chaos on the field. Some
coaches you talk to the like,I want to be on the field so
I can look at my guys inthe in the eye. Where are you
at as a as a coordinator?Honestly, And I've thought of this a
lot. I thought of it alot during COVID because we had the empty
stands, you know, so Ihad thought about just walking up into the
stands for a little bit because Ihad a better advantage. I've always believed

(04:11:50):
you can see the game better fromup above, but I believe you can
feel the game better from the field. So if there was any way we
could get a zip wire do both, you know, coach called from there
and then zip out of the field, get a chance to talk to him,
because it's a different deal when you'retalking to the quarterbacks on a phone,
you know, than being able tolook in their eye and kind of
see where they are with it.And part of it is the field part

(04:12:13):
of it. I remember when Icoached Ryan once. We were playing Yukon
and he got hit hard going outof bounce and he just walked by me,
and I was a play caller,and he was like, run the
next play, and I just kindof looked at him. I saw the
look in his eyes because I don'tthink he could have thrown it. You
know, he was still trying toget his win back. But you wouldn't
know that if you're up in thebooth, you know, and you call
a pass play from up in thebooth and you're like, how come we

(04:12:33):
can't complete that? Well, hejust took a shot going out of bound.
So it's that fine line and Idon't have an answer, you know.
I think I think it's feel onthe ground and it's see from up
above. Maybe in this day atechnology they'll figure it out. But we'll
see how that that that operates,and whatever Ryan feels is the best for
the team is what we're gonna do. So your team's at the organ were

(04:12:56):
obviously no, we're playing this passpace and run a bunch of plays per
minute and yep, maybe not actby a passing pretty fast. What rule
do you see tempo and having anoffense in the States? Yea in college
football and has maybe changed. Ithink the game is always evolving, you
know. I think when I leftin two thousand and twelve to go to
the National Football League, Oregon wasthe only team that was playing really really

(04:13:20):
fast and had shiny helmets. Andwhen I came back in twenty seventeen,
everybody had shiny helmets and everybody wasplaying fast. So I think the game
is always gonna go up and down, and there's gonna be different cycles that
it goes through. I think tempois part of those two keys, cause
I recruited and when they was inhigh school. So I'm most of the
challenge and the responsibility of it rightbehind it. Damn hopeful eleven Warriors,

(04:13:43):
Carlos, Just what is your kindof coaching philosophy? How do you get
the best out of your running backs? I get the best out of them
because I love the My main focusis it changed the hearts and minds of
them, and they played for me. I had just got through reading Coach
treils Was and it's something that Itook from that book. You have your
purpose and you have your goals,all right. My purpose is to serve

(04:14:07):
and pourant to the young man.Now my goals is a football coach.
All of them are take care ofthemselves. So that's one of the ways.
I'm just real relationship based and I'mvery detailed at this position. I
know y'all heard me say before,and I'm gonna keep saying. This is
the worst coach position in football.It's terrible. Guys hire anybody to coach
his position and recruiters. Carls Lockeris not a recruiter. I'm an elite

(04:14:28):
relationship builder, but I coached thisposition. I'm a ball coach, so
that's who I am, so amapouring to these kids. I think they
kind of seeing it now, andI jumped in day one. I'm ready
to coach and phrase, you know, soft bat cookies. Where did that
phrase come from? Kind of alwaysthis one boy. Let me tell you
about that boy. I've been calledeverything but the name the child of God

(04:14:50):
by the people at the other placesI left, so that I been getting
pills Pillsbury needs to give me adeal because I've been getting I've been getting
some DM the Texas down something it. Some of them have been so funny.
The sawbat's cookie thing came from justhaving a frame of mind, a
mental toughness. It had nothing todo with guys getting in the portal and

(04:15:11):
anything. Now most people say I'ma saftbat's cookie for leaving there, but
actually I'm not because it takes greatstrength to make a decision to leave a
place. No, a weak mindedperson wouldn't be able to make the decision
I made, So it took greatstrength to do that. So I'm telling
you, if I literally in myDMS, it's some it's some great comedians

(04:15:31):
out here that have been sending melike tons of cookies and I'm like,
it's funny right behind him, Tony. How have you going about the assessment
of the talent in the room overthe past week or two? How much
is that unfield off field? Like, what's the process of getting to know
who you have as players? Well? I broke down well me being a

(04:15:52):
guy that loves the running back position, and I already broke those kids down
because I recruit them out of highschool. You know Q from where I'm
from and Montgomery. I was oneof the first guys to offer him just
watching him great contact, balance,creative runner, great hands and Trey.
I recruited him out of Virginia exceptionalshort air, your bursting quickness and things

(04:16:15):
that I'm gonna help him get betteron. And then I recruited James Peoples
out of t out of San Antonio, Texas. I knew what he was
gonna what he was gonna be TCand Sam. Those two kids I'm getting
to know and I'm gonna help themimprove the game. But we got different
runners in there. I like tocall myself, I'm in love with this
position, so I get the breakdown runners and help the game. So

(04:16:38):
talented talented room, very talented,Uh far back. Uh, Jeremy Birmingham
podcast Couch, how do you swearthat that saw Fast cookies is actually the
best cookies? To Philibert mix andor those are way better than the country
chips and white things with Terman,I mean, do you do you have
to first find a balance there orsomewhere. Well, for me, I'm

(04:17:00):
actually not eating any cookies now,I'm just saying I'm not eating any cookies
this year. I gave it upfor a fast or no sweets for me
for the whole year. That's somethingI gave up. So they the term
the south bast cookie term. Look, guys, I actually took that from
I represent the high school coaches ofMyth, Tennessee. I actually took that

(04:17:21):
from a guy named coach Slocum.He used to always say that south bast
cookie. I actually stole that fromhim. I give him credit for it,
and I tell him all the timehe said, you I should have
branded that, cause you done tookit and ran away with it. But
that's just where that comes from.That that I was standing. As you
get to Ohio standing, you startto look around the country at Oregon's a

(04:17:41):
big place. That's a that's amajor job. How how do you think
that aring your opposite of logo arethe Jazz brand blacko. When you get
out out of living free and trail, how does that change the way that
you feel you're either received or ordoes it add a different level to it
to just feeling like I can goanywhere and get anybody in the empty And

(04:18:02):
that's the sagest thing for me.This is a great place. Oregon is
a great place too. But guesswhat, whatever I put on, I
know what I'm going to represent forme. I N I N I know
who who put me here? Uh? I know I represented something higher,
you know, Like I told you, I know what my purpose is.
My purpose is to porting to people. So whatever logo I have on,

(04:18:26):
I'm still gonna be doing the samething. So this is a great logo,
great logo, but I well anotherlogo every day. It's across I
see around my neck. I knowwhat I represent. So that's the greatest
logo I could ever wear. Soit don'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 RiteCameratique Robinson and the Athletic So which you

(04:18:48):
you mentioned the time in Memphis andLemnis for NFL gorn Backs. You mentioned
there Who you learned from that timethat you that you can take over to
managing your group? What did Ilearn from them? Just building a just
teaching the kids. We live insuch a selfish world though, and I
could tell kids all the times,it's gotta be much more to football.

(04:19:10):
The ball gonna go flat one day. As I always say, what being
in that room there at Memphis,it it wasn't four five teaching them how
to be abbout being one? Itell you them in all time, it
doesn't cost you anything to celebrate anotherman's success. So teaching them how to
be one, and then once theylearned to be one, they function and
they feed off one another. Sothat's what I learned from being there in

(04:19:33):
Memphis and Bach from Letterman Road,cross Hearted. Your career in law enforcement
kind of influence you as a coachand kind of shape where you are.
Ah well, I just got throughtalking to somebody about that today. When
I first got in this profession andI got my own room in Western Tech,
I was aksed, No, howwas I was gonna be able to

(04:19:56):
handle'em m my room. Isaid, Man, I had a power
with fifty one inmates. You talkingabout me having got six or seven guys?
Are you kidding me? I'm talkingabout me having to do traffic stops.
So going on domestic no violeence calls, it's simple easy. No people
donna know what you care. Alsoknow you gotta have a certain demeaning about

(04:20:18):
yourself. So when I walk intothe room, it's the reason why I
go train every morning. This iswhen it's same thing when I was a
police officer. You look a certainway kind of deter people from doing certain
things. So it's reason why Igo train every morning. I'm'a look just
as good as my boys look.So uh it helped out a lot.
In other words, Uh from RolRight Austin more Uh the podcast, Uh,

(04:20:38):
Carls, Welcome to Columbus. H. What would it mean to I
don't know, revolutionize the way runningbacks or coach? What what does that
take? I ain't even I'm notgonna say revolutionized, just some good.
It's some good running back coaches outhere. Everybody's different. It's some great
coaches out here. I just wantto head guys who say that on these

(04:21:00):
jobs to not just hire guys.Just you know, all coaches on your
staff should be great recruiters, notjust a running back coach. We coach
a position. We developed players aswell. I just want the coaches to
realize, Hey, you know what, let me look and be thorough about
this guy that I'm hiring for thisjob. Is he teaching the position?
Is he developing the position? Becauseyou're not gonna hire anybody just coach quarterbacks,

(04:21:22):
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 cause I coach
the other positions. Yeah, Iplayed dB in college too, but I
love the running back position so andI just wanted to see it coach well.
Too many podcasts, Yeah, amillion questions. All that's a couple.
Number one when you when you whenyour wife whatever? You got the

(04:21:45):
message stuff? Or are we movingagain? What was what was her reaction?
Nah? She she's just now.Guy that give us gave us a
new assignment. Shit, w itwas never like we're moving again. Let
me tell you guys, something Igrew up. My mom was in the
military, so I lived everywhere orliving in Panama of South America. I'm
used to picking up and moving.I lived in Fort Riley, Kansas.
Montgomery's home ifs my second home,so I'm I'm used to moving now.

(04:22:07):
My wife it was different for her, but she's just knew guy that gave
us a new assignment. So it'stime to go. What did what did
coach they tell you when he heardyou that he wants out of you.
That may be different. It's notslaming somebody else, But what did he
say he wanted you to bring tothe running back room? I think he
did his research on me. Hesaid he wanted the guy to develop the

(04:22:30):
position. And that's not taking ashot at the coach that was here who
I'm friends with. He said,they didn't want somebody to really get the
guys going. I can only beme, and I told him that coach,
I'm gonna be me every day nowbecause see my mindset, this is
when I step in this building,I got one mindset that's to do my

(04:22:52):
job so well that the living deador unborn can do it any better.
So when I leave it, that'swhat my mindset is hopefully I'm here for
a long time. Well the Godknows that. So but that's my mindset
every day step into the hay Son, that's my mindset. I'm gonna do
my job so well that living.Everyone doesn't really know how to handle it
properly, you see it currently.I mean, it's just it's a variable

(04:23:14):
that's new and how to handle it. There's not a transcript on on how
to handle that variable. So youjust guys just trying to do what they
think is right. That's all they'rereally trying to do. And I'm not
saying that right or wrong, buthe was trying to do the same and
uh, you know, I thinkat the end of the day he realized
he made made the wrong decision andwe connected on it. We talked about
it, and you know, itwas a great opportunity to to to write

(04:23:37):
or wrong. And uh, obviouslywe're very glad he's here. I've always
believed in him. We believe inhim, and he believes in himself and
that's part of the just trying tounderstand what's my path right. So uh,
but yeah, it's been great stepshave been made. He's growing,
Uh, but he's nowhere near wherehe knows he's capable of being just prices
Camia. I love the way helives. I love the way he approaches

(04:24:03):
things. I love the way thequestions he asks. I love the way
he makes mistakes and then correct mistakes. It's very veteran, like, I
mean, there's so much ball hehas to learn, 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 why itworked, so then you know, the

(04:24:25):
consistency at which it works just goesto the roof. And so but I'm
very you know, excited and proudof the conversations we're currently having, and
I'm exciting it for them to keepgoing. By what power you work.
I love working with Chip chip Is. I love talking Ball, I love
the viewpoints I love I love theveteran that he has, you know,

(04:24:56):
and I love ye like, Ilove all of it. I think that
you know, early on the biggestimpact, you know, just you know,
feeling perspective. I think in therun game has been awesome, you
know, and then you know,off of the run game, some of
the actions or relief throws or allthat kind of stuff. I love where
it's at. I love working withthem, and I would say that I

(04:25:29):
sleep a little better, all right. No, it's it's really a great
combo because, like you know,we're obviously we're doing a lot as a
group. It's not just Chip andI so but you know, obviously Chip
has an image and a view onthings that I never had. So to
have that experience and to have thatviewpoint, I'm just trying to absorb as

(04:25:52):
much as i can, but thenalso highlight some things that we've really done
a good job of and make surethose you know, nothing's really changing.
We're just trying to enhance. We'renot angel were 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'mexcited about it. We talked to a

(04:26:15):
Mecca who're just talking about moving fromslot to the house side. You know
how good he's been in the slot. Is that a difficult move for you
guys as coaches to know how gooda guy is a one spot? But
know that maybe for his long termfuture and the no. I wouldn't say
it's anything on his future, becausehe's capable of doing whatever you want to
get done. But I'd say thatit says more about the room. I

(04:26:37):
think it's it's the growth of youknow, Brandon and the growth grow of
Bryson. That's really you know,allowing my mind to say, hey,
Mech, be prepared. You're gonnamove around a lot. You're gonna come
out of that slot, You're gonnabe outside. We're going to create mismatches
out there. I mean, hisability to move around is critical. But
I would say between Mech and betweenCarnell TAS's ability to move around a lot,

(04:27:00):
it's gonna provide a lot of flexibilityfor our room and uh and those
top you know, six seven guysthat are really doing a good job right
now. Progress look like this springfor Mecca because there's no times think it's
one of those things. I'm surewhen you have balanced how much worse does
a need versus too much? Yeah? Heavy, heavy emphasis on what work
he needs, you know versus anythingelse. Uh. I rely on him.

(04:27:22):
We have great dialogue back and forth. It's a two way to it's
a two way conversation, and frankly, there's would be times we're like,
hey, Mac, what do youwanna do today? You wanna go outside?
You gonna go inside? And Idon't care. So, uh,
we're not there yet. We willbe there, but it's just more about,
you know, when the room isready to start mixing things up.

(04:27:53):
I would say, there's God.I mean, I make sure I bring
in guys that are able to doall, but I haven't ask them to
yet. So the only guys thatin our room currently I've asked to do
that has been Mecca and Carnell,and those are probably the two guys that
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

(04:28:15):
at this point, having two guysbeing able to swing, you probably don't
need much more than that. Ineed guys being experts at what they're good
at, so it it helps theoffense. Don't be great at everything and
be an expert at something and wecan use that to our to our advantage.
This year is different, like maybeyou guys who were more situational.
The room's always different frankly, Imean from twenty eighteen and then nineteen and

(04:28:40):
through COVID and and those guys,and and then the depth of those guys,
and then where Meca and Marvin andthose guys were as freshmen compared to
you know, It's just it's alwaysdifferent, and uh, I expect this
one to be different again. AndI think guys like him, when they
come to our scheme are the bestis brought out of him. So I'm

(04:29:00):
excited to see what potential he has. He's year nine, so I feel
like you, as a D lineman, you can keep improving all the way
through ten years in this league.So I'm excited to see what he's got.
How old did you know Sorens whenhe was assistant here and you've gotten
to know him a lot that what'sa relationship made right now? I know

(04:29:22):
him pretty well. He was alwaysjust a good dude around the facility.
He did our ball meetings, sohe's good in front of a group.
He's a good leader. He knowsthe scheme really well, which is good.
I was happy to see him promoted. He called me in the offseason,
we talked. I just congratulated him, and I think he's gonna bring

(04:29:47):
something similar to what we had withthe Miko. It'll be good. Do
you know Brandon Stanley well at all? I mean, obviously Joe playing for
him, I don't know too muchabout him. I've obviously heard from my
brother, but I don't even thinki've said high yet. I haven't ran
into him yet, but I'm surei'll get to know him. When you
say it looks similar to Miko,the energy or the system maybe a little

(04:30:11):
different energy, but I think justknowing the system from the front to the
back, I think he knows howit ties in. And he's been around
with some really good coaches, soI think it'll be pretty pretty seamless,
and I think we'll be firing onall cylinders. You're three months removed from

(04:30:33):
the super Bowl now, so justhow have you? I guess digested it,
and I guess physically everything good togo. Yeah, I feel really
good. I think it's been oneof my better off seasons of just kind
of It was a long year,so I took it nice and slow to
get back into it. Not asyoung as I once was, so I'm
taking a little a little slower,But everything's great. I'm feeling as good

(04:30:59):
as I've felt. I'm excited toactually get some practice in. Last year
was kind of tough, getting thrownin Week one after I walked through,
so that was another reason I'm excitedto be here is just to get practicing
a little bit in season. Practiceis one thing, but actually being able
to work your stuff and not havea game coming up is good. With

(04:31:22):
the Super Bowl unfortunately, I knowhow to bounce back from tough losses,
so it was rough for a littlebit, but not just annoying when people
bring it up. Since the lastseason, we've seen a Rock on TV
commercials and on the stage with KlukeCoombs and throwing out the first pitch of

(04:31:44):
the Giants game. But he seemslike a guy that's totally unaffected by celebrity,
which he has now. But whathave you noticed in his leadership style
and the way he carries himself anydifference at all. I think he's definitely
getting a little more vocal within thebuilding, and uh yeah, I mean
I don't think he's ever gonna change. I don't think he's somebody that's gonna

(04:32:04):
change even when he gets paid nextyear. So he's he's a man of
faith and he kind of reminds meof Scotti Scheffler, but except for just
super humble and really good kid.And yeah, he's definitely famous. I

(04:32:32):
don't just from watching Armstead get releasedobviously meant so much to the defensive line
into the team. I mean,Colin John were pretty open that they were
willing to talk about trading Deebo orare you all? Does that just another
what's that feel like in the lockerroom when those sort of joels happened.

(04:32:53):
I didn't even know that happened andI wasn't here, but you're talking about
this offseason alarm sta in alarm Ericleast, So that's certainly one thing.
Yeah, it's a tough business,for sure. You have to have thick
skin, and I haven't gone throughthat, but I think you just have

(04:33:18):
to understand that it is a businessand the team's going to try and get
as good as it possibly can withor without you, and you have to
look out for yourself. That's whyyou go through holdouts and do certain things
that seem selfish in the moment,but it is what it is, and
when everything's settled, we're gonna cometogether as a team and try and go

(04:33:40):
get one. What's the overall feelingaround the group right now, Like,
how much does it feel like theexcitement of the ramp up to the season,
even though it's early, it feelsgood. It's been a couple of
days for me, so I likeall the new guys. I'm getting to
know everybody, but I think thepast is in the past and we're ready
to go to be talked to beall about handling the business part of this

(04:34:03):
through similar We chat a little bit, but not too much about the details.
I just told him keep his headup and try and stay positive through
it all. Over your first impressionswhen you heard what your schedule would be
in that Aaron Rodgers' first UF,it'll be fun. Yeah, it's gonna
be from your perspective, how muchdid that factory just knowing what he was

(04:34:27):
doing and kind of maybe, yeah, you know, it did factor in
a little bit, But it isit's a personal decision and it was a
quick process. Honestly, it was. It was a week week, two
weeks. Uh figured it out andmoved on. And it's something I really
haven't thought of at all over thelast few months. I've just been trying

(04:34:49):
to prepare and I'm feeling really good, really good. Things are going really
great back home training. So yougot that under got it behind me and
moved on. Since you've been here, does it feel different. Yeah,
you know, it's not like theselast eight years have come in and thought

(04:35:12):
we were going to lose or havehave a bad year. I felt like
every year when I tell you thingsare feeling good and I feel optimistic,
it wasn't a lie. But yeah, I think things are are definitely,
like I said, trending in theright direction. Everybody's on the details.
I'm sure it's a word that you'veheard a million times. So yeah,

(04:35:33):
I think it just feels like itfeels like coach is leading the team the
way it should be led. Ithas a feel of being back in college,
you know, with with coach ierbanMeyer, and you know the message
is sent from the top and itdoesn't get mixed up as it's moving down
the ladder. It's boom, thisis how we're doing things, and everybody's

(04:35:56):
following that, and I I thinkit's impressive the details that everybody have been
on, has has been on theeffort and just the competitiveness that that's been
going on over the last few weeks. Yeah, it's it's it's been great.
How much do you appreciate that thestops described with the way jingle yes

(04:36:19):
we shouldn't eat in the messaging?Does they mixed up? Might appreciate that
so much? I mean, it'sI guess it's easy to appreciate when you
kind of see it working and yousee guys improving, getting better. I
just think the details are really important. You can pretend that leaving your shoes

(04:36:42):
a mess or your locker a messisn't a big deal, and what matters
is playing football. But I thinkall those tiny details and things kind of
add up and leak into the importantstuff, like what you're doing on the
field. So if you can haveyour toe behind the lone, or have
your locker and order and all thesethings, they kind of stack up into

(04:37:03):
performing well and and playing well whenthings count. So you know, I
appreciate that. It's it also hasn'tbeen a fight with the guys in the
locker room. They buy in,and you know, it's a lot of
young guys, and I think they'rehungry to learn, hungry to compete and
win. You know, It's justan example whether it's we talked about first

(04:37:29):
day you have your shoot, ifyou could, if you could spend the
time on these small things when nobody'swatching. I think, like I was
saying, it seems like it mightnot add up too much, but I
think in the long term it does. And uh, it leaks into other
things, whether you're doing your rightassignment on the field, being late to
meetings or all these things. Ifyou hold a standard and you you stay

(04:37:53):
to that standard, I think itbenefits you long term. And anything in
his training program we're working with youthat you feel will benefit you later.
Yeah, Yeah, definitely. He'sbeen great. He's a no nonsense kind
of guy, but he's not anold school in the sense that he's bringing

(04:38:14):
his way of doing things and that'sthe only way to do things. He
understands that guys have been in thein the business for a long time,
Khalil me and we have a wayof doing things, and all he wants
to do is add to that andhelp you get better and perform the best
you can. He's he stresses itall the time that he's a tool for
us, and you know, he'sbeen great. The guys love him.

(04:38:37):
The energy brings is awesome, andI think the stuff that we're doing in
the weight room is great, agreat addition to stuff that I may do
on the side or whatever that is. Yeah, I think we I mean,
we had a presentation today with allthe certain measurables that are changing,
and if you guys are in themeeting, you definitely see how beneficial he

(04:39:00):
been to the team so far.So obviously, staying healthy is is a
huge factor to anybody's success. I'dsay it's plagued Dust a little bit for
a while. So yeah, Ithink he's He's definitely incredibly beneficial. When
were you fully fully recovered, Iknow at the end of the last season
you might have been able to Yeah, No, I was not ready to

(04:39:22):
go last year. No, triedpracticing, tried coming back, and uh
it was it was not good,but yeah it was Unfortunately the year wasn't
going great and it just was unnecessaryrisk for I mean, my foot could
have had some real real issues ifI came back too early. So yeah,

(04:39:45):
it's been. It's been. It'sbeen a great off season. My
foot's feeling great, toes, good, hamstring, skod I mean, there
was a list of things last year, my hand, so all those things
are good. Thing gout surgery onmy finger, so that's feeling good.
Yeah, it's it's nice to befeeling better going into your nine than you
have since maybe five six years ago, which I've said, I've said I've

(04:40:10):
been feeling great last couple of years. I'm telling you it's a real deal
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.

(04:40:33):
It's fun. My brother and whoeverI trained with my trainer Todd back home,
I think they'd be really proud ofhow I've been working this offseason,
and it's just exciting. Pointing wasthe injuries on the Great Big Game?
You kind of yeah, it wasa bit of a build up, a

(04:40:56):
little bit of an overreaction, butyou know, it's just tough. It
comes sometimes like that, and Ijust felt felt really defeated coming back,
had a broken hand. I'm like, oh, yeah, I get to
play Boom first series foot pops.Thought I'd have to get surgery, and
all these thoughts flooded through my head. Broke down a bit, and yeah,

(04:41:18):
it just hurts. You know,you're losing, you're getting injured.
You've felt like you prepared really wellin the offseason, and then the year
before you had growing surgery, soyou know, a lot of things build
up. Yeah, you don't geta break if you're injured. Everybody wants
to go on. Fans are verynice, but no, I just I'm

(04:41:41):
grateful that I feel this way.I'm still still nice. Ripe twenty eight,
so not too old yet, butyeah, I'm just excited. I
can't remember what the original question was. At this point, you get something
about my body, how close youand Gift were, How how frustrating was

(04:42:07):
it that he couldn't you know soonfor one of those last three games.
It was frustrating, but I meanGift was had my back the whole way.
I think for Gift, for anybut for for the whole team,
just to show what it means tome. It would have been important for
me to be out there, butI literally could and I tried to practice.
Injured my footworse the very first playI was and in practice, so

(04:42:32):
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, GIF.Yeah, I'm happy he gets to stay
close by with the with the Ramsand just proud of all we accomplished here

(04:42:56):
together over the years, and we'llbe close for the rest of our lives.
It was the foot injury. Wasthis guy does a foot sprang?
Yeah, I sprained one area ofmy foot. Then when I tried to
return, I sprained another area.Was able to avoid getting surgery, which
is kind of the main goal,But yeah, it was. It was
tough when it comes to the additionof but Dupree, when he felt like

(04:43:21):
he's kind of brought to the tothe room and could bring on the field.
Yeah, it's when I heard wegot my brother some I don't know,
maybe my brother told me. I'mlike, really, we just got
Bud Like, that's no, that'sno small pickup. He's a seriously elite
pass rusher has had some trouble withinjuries as well, so I understand how

(04:43:44):
that is, but not only himas a player, but as a personality.
I heard Khalil just saying he's he'sa fun guy. He's a funny
guy, and and to have thatin the room another vet is always a
great addition. But I'm just excitedto have him into Lee and to be
able to rotate like that and notdrop off at all when we come off
the field is huge. And nowtoo, he's going into a second year.

(04:44:06):
Just what do you what are youkind of what are some of the
maturity maturity areas you've said from him? You know, I'm gonna say not
much, And that's a compliment becausehe was already mature in those areas.
I mean, he's on it everythingplaybook wise, always doing his job,
working hard, just refining his techniqueand pass rush. I mean, we

(04:44:30):
don't have the pads on right now, so the real work will will begin,
you know, in six weeks now. So but yeah, I love
Tulie. I've loved him since thefirst days he's walked into the facility and
I know he's just gonna continue toget better. What do you think of
the addition of Joe Old? Yeah, yeah, I'm gonna need to beat
him up a little bit. Incamp, so he's so he's ready,

(04:44:52):
But no, I think anything toprotect our number ten is a good good
investments. So he seems like areal solid dude. Haven't talked to him
too much. Great build, seemslike he has good hands, good feet,
strong. We'll see. We'll seein a few weeks when I lay

(04:45:12):
a helmet in his chin, howhe holds up. But it'll I'll take
it easy on him. No,Rashon's a beast. Did you know Coach
Harbond before he came here? Andif he did, just what were those
first couple of conversations like that?Yeah, probably have crossed passed with him?

(04:45:33):
Maybe maybe not. Actually I thinkwhat was it his first year when
I was a junior? So hekicked his ass as usual at Ohio State.
No, no, they just wanta championships. I'd say they probably
have the bragging rights right now.I'm like the guy talking about his old
high school. Oh I remember weused to kick No but no, yeah,

(04:46:00):
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 coach, But no, it's great. That's
what's great about the nfls. Youjust have guys from all backgrounds. You
could hate their guts one year,and then you come on the same team

(04:46:21):
and your brothers and you're all workingtowards one goal together. So our first
talk together was great. I justsat down with him, went up into
his office and chopped it up aboutlife mainly and his opportunity here and how
much it means to him. AndYeah, I think he's a special guy.
I think he's the way he conductshimself. He's an interesting cat for

(04:46:42):
sure, and I'm still still feelingthem out. But one thing you can't
denies that he loves football and hismain goal is to win football games.
So and that's what we need.When you see him working out with you
guys and pushing slaves and doing allthis stuff, just how interesting is that
to see? Yeah, I meanhe was a he was a great player

(04:47:03):
himself, and I think he's alwaysbeen, you know, built like that
lack of a better term. Butyeah, he's, uh, he's part
of the guys. You know,he's not this guy outside looking in.
He he really, I mean hevoiced that to me, is that his
favorite part of all of it isbeing with the guys and and the connections
he makes. So Yeah, toto see a guy like that come in

(04:47:27):
and embrace it all and kind ofbe part of it himself is important.
Your initial impression is a preachment duringthe defensive game. Yeah, it's funny
to go from old gift, oldgift to this little young guy who's my
age. I wouldn't want to getthrown into a room with me and Khalil
was his age. But no,he's been great. I love messing with

(04:47:52):
him a little bit. We littlesarcasm back and forth, but no,
he's great. He's uh, verytalks very fast, and I don't as
you know, so sometimes I gottabe 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

(04:48:15):
think he has he has a lotof passion for the position and all he
wants to do is learn and andhelp us to improve. So I'm excited
about him and me and I domiss Giff. Obviously, it was a
long time with him, but Iam excited to have a new face and
kind of have that challenge for me. Worked much with with Jesse's dad,

(04:48:37):
since I know he coached line diversin Michigan. Wait, did you ask
about Jesse? Did you ask aboutdoing? Okay, you asked about Jesse.
Oh my god, I was talkingabout freaking doing the whole time.
You guys are so confused. No, sorry, I thought we were.
I thought I was. I thoughtyou mentioned coach Ronie. No, No,
coach Mentor has been great as well. Yeah, they've both been great.

(04:49:03):
Sorry, run that back. No, he's been good. Uh yeah,
very knowledgeable guy, same thing.I'm excited to get to know him
more as the year goes on.Have you worked Have you worked much during
the season Jesse? Yeah? Uhno, I have not. I don't
know if I've said one word tohim, but more words to come down

(04:49:26):
the road. Like you said,you've been in year since twenty sixteen.
Just where are some of this stuff? You someone on a ramble about the
wrong guy for fifteen minutes. Ilove God? You walking? What?

(04:49:47):
Yeah? What the heck? Soactually that's literally not the person. Yeah,
yeah, I figured out something thatyou you worked under him the off
season, something named Bruger Game oris it something that you can Usually my
answer is pretty consistent that I justcontinue to try to prepare myself physically,

(04:50:12):
whether that's my sprint work or agilitywork and my lifting, but yeah,
just to get everything feeling great.I dealt with those injuries, so I
had to kind of ramp it upwith my finger and foot and all those
things. But now I'm I'm fullfull speed out there, and I'm just
going to continue to do what Iknow will prepare me for the season.

(04:50:36):
And I know I'm gonna get plentyof technique work and position work when I'm
out here. So for now,I'm going to spend these five weeks really
getting preparing my body. There's workoutscompetitive again, another year competitive and all
that stuff. Yeah. Yeah,it's usually too hot out there for much

(04:50:57):
competition. We're just trying to sobut yeah, it's always it's a it's
a silent competition between between each other. Be like Peeking's like what was his
time? Was his time? Butuh 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,

(04:51:18):
so there's no there's no off days. Have you you and haven't talked at
all about I mean, I meanthis when you were having a contract thing.
Do you have a guy get somethingoff anybody? Yeah, I mean
it's it's a conversation, not anot really a serious conversation, but something
that's come up before. But yeah, I mean it would be cool.

(04:51:44):
It would be cool at some point. I I always thought of myself being
somebody that will play here and retirehere, which I think not many people
do on one team, and Ithink would be a cool thing to accomplish.
But you never know. I'm gonnaworry about this year. First,
it's kind of we're doing a foodstory. But so you guys have like

(04:52:07):
the lowest or second lowest food cacheriain the NFLPA survey last year, and
better moved to the facility. Likeyou talked a lot about food and how
you need some time. Is itfine because you have you looking forward to
the food upgrades at all? Haveyou thought about it at all? Yeah?
No, it's Wolfgang Puck or whateveris the is the word. Yeah,

(04:52:27):
that's great. I've been working withmy chef for seven years now,
so she's been great, So I'venever really had to worry about that too
much. But yeah, My weight'sgood. I've been eating a lot this
off season, so that's good.But yeah, I'm excited to maybe be
able to Sorry Christina, but maybeI won't need a chef next year.

(04:52:49):
I'll have my I'll have my U, I'll have my Wolfgang Puck food and
that'll be good. So yeah,I'm excited about the move, new spot,
excited to kind of learn the areaand all that, even though I
won't ever leave my house? Wereyou not? Are you not doing a

(04:53:11):
lot of the facility? Just allhere? Sometimes you know it's may not
be the best setup, but they'llprepare your food. That's that's plenty good.
I'm a man Eric character shout out. No, they work harder than
literally anybody in the entire facility,so they may not have the best means
back there, but they've I kindof steer you into the direction you want

(04:53:33):
to go. But everything kind ofplays into it. And how much did
you reach out to Shelby Drew knowingsome of the guys here last year,
for I mean, not much.Right now, I'll talk to talk to
Shelby a little bit about it.Mainly, no one, Drew just congratulate
me, Bob together pretty quickly.I know you kind of came year agreement

(04:54:03):
on that first Monday, and everythingwith Seattle that of come together really faster.
Now it was a long done.Seattle came in almost out of nowhere.
We had like a good set ofteams that we were talking to,
just trying to finalize what was goingon, what was it the term is
going to be? You know,and Seattle came in hot. They showed
a lot of interest and uh,they kind of motivated me to come here
more and more. And how similarwill your role be, you know in

(04:54:27):
terms of playing what you did inDenver. I don't know that yet.
I kind of just mentioned previously,I don't know my role. I don't
know the ins and out yet.Once we'll get no through the protocols and
the nfl PA, we'll we'll talkabout know the schemes and everything. Right,
So welcome. When you were inDenver in the three four, where

(04:54:48):
did you find yourself most comfortable andmost effective? And le I played a
lot of different positions in Denver.I mean earlier my year, I played
zero, I played three, twoone me I are definitely more comfortable in
a shaded position, mainly being athree technique and five technique. That's why
I find myself to be more comfortablewhether I'm standing up or I'm not,
whether it's runner or pass. Uh, those seem to be my best my

(04:55:12):
best fits. And what is yourimpression of Pete Carroll's defense and whole environment
from afar? It seems like heholds in on defense a lot. Uh.
I can't really say too much aboutthat. Yeah, I don't.
I know Pete Carroll very little,so uh, I'm just trying to figure
out more and I'll give you abetter answer later. What's the reputation around

(04:55:33):
the League of the Sea? Uh, you know hard nos Hard had type
of team definitely on a little morelack side as opposed to being stuck up
or military style, and which isdefinitely good because then this program is one
of a lot of football games havebeen super successful for many years, as
long as I've been alive, aslong as I've been watching football, and
definitely this has been a good program. And Pete Carroll has been a hell

(04:55:56):
of a coach for as long asI remember, get and back there's college
of days, So I'm looking forwardto experiencing that. John Boyle, Yeah,
I know you said, you don'tknow yet, you know what your
role is going to be? Justwhat what kind of player you fans who
haven't watched it, time of denor what kind of player get? Definitely
a high motor, definitely not aone trippon any type of player. I

(04:56:19):
like to attack, you know,whether it's a first or first through fourth
down, I like to attack.I'm always trying to apply pressure. I'm
definitely just a high mortar guy inmy opinion. Brady, are there,
Brady Henderson from ESPN, Nice tomeet you. Yeah, this is not

(04:56:40):
a team that really makes big splashsignings in free agency. Did you think
going into it then Seattle would bein play? Uh? No, not
at all. You just it's kindof like being a cure at the County
store. You know, I've gota whole bunch of different options coming at
you, hearing, a whole bunchof different crazy things, and uh,
you know, you only get tochoose one. And this is the place
that that we both chose each other. And I mean, I'm loving Seattle

(04:57:02):
so far, you know, Ilike these colors for real? What what
did you got to do with Seattleor see? Since you've been here,
not much Uh, just kind ofjust drive around the city exploring, uh,
getting down to the market a littlebit. I want to get down
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

(04:57:26):
to Michael Bennett. I was wonderingif you know Michael Bennett at all and
you think those are accurate. Iknow Michael Berger, then it like nothing.
I know nothing about it, butbesides his style of play, but
I'm honored to be considered in thesame conversation as him and uh style of
play. You know, He's aHall of Fame type of deep lineman that
I've known about since I was akid. I mean, last time he
played here, I was in highschool. So you know, it's cool

(04:57:47):
to it kind of came full circlea little bit watching him on TV and
now I'm being kind of compared tohim in a way, you know.
I mean I'm not touching the surfaceof Michael Bennett. You know, he's
a Hall of Famer and I'm notthere yet. So you know, I
just got to keep doing my duediligence to be a better player. Carn
Hey, Dreamont, welcome to Seattle. I know you get to play several

(04:58:10):
seasons for Vic Fangio and three fourstyle defense and Seattle's playing a similar system
now dating back to last year asa defensive lineman, what do you think
is most important to be successful inthat system? Maybe fundamentals or just playing
style to be successful. From whatI learned, being gap sound and being
patient has always been the biggest thing, and that's how we've been successful when

(04:58:33):
I was in Denver, just kindof like relying on each other. I
know that sounds kind of cliche,but like there's kind of like the realm
of being in the three four defense. You got to really really rely on
the guys behind you and the guyson the side of you to really make
their to do their job to makeyour job easier. Bob, yeah,
Dream Well, Uh you your statebious that you didn't start playing football till

(04:58:57):
you were junior in high school andlargely played back football to that that's what
made you, I guess decided togo play football then was away from basketball.
No, no, no, I'vealways loved football first. Uh,
it was just kind of just playingit out. You know, I love
a hoop, but you know,football was definitely my calling, given I
was a two hundred and sixty fivepound power forward and I was like sixty

(04:59:18):
trees and changed, so you know, I kind of chose the route that
God gave me. You know,I'm not six eight Lasdena. Yeah, welcomes