Press Conference (Marvin Harrison Jr.)

Episode Transcript

(00:00):
Or right at the work. Hello, everybody, there's Robinson University of Missouri.
I just want to thank you,mister Bill Wilmant to your coach Gannon
for this amazing opportunity. I'm gladto be here with Marvin Harrison right next
to me. So peel great.I'm really excited and I'm excited for this
journey gru see fifteen here in town. Marvin, when did you know the

(00:38):
Cardinals were gonna select you? Didyou know before they called or was there
an agreement in place before? No, I did not know until I got
that phone call from the Arizona Cardinals. Marvin Richard signs Fox then welcome to
the valley. I know kind oftweeted to you, tweeted out to you
once you got drafted. What wasit like to get a message from the

(01:00):
franchise quarterback and what kind of thoughtshave you had about teaming up with this
guy in the near future. Yes, sir, it's great. You always
want to support and love from yourquarterback and the car is a great player.
Excited to play with him, andit's gonna be my job to make
his job easier. Darius Darren Urbanfrom Azycardinals Dot com I know that a

(01:21):
lot of players these days aren't stickingin one school, uh for a long
time, and you did it forfive years. I mean even Marvin did
it for three. Like what whatwent behind that? And why was it
meaningful for you to stay at oneschool? Yes? At Missouri, you
know, we had some tough seasons, but we were really built with an
edge energy, details, good inemotional consistency. And I just find myself

(01:42):
just trying to grow and get bettereach year and also as a team,
you know, win more games eachyear. And that was my that was
my home, I was my family. I was blessed to you know,
get two degrees as well off thefield, and I just love Missou two
degrees. Wow, Marvin, BobMcbob McMahon at Arizona Republic, congratulations,

(02:04):
Thank you to both of you.You're known as all business, and I
want to know how that's going toserve you well in this league from personal
standpoint, your brand, everything youdo in a daily preparation, there's a
lot that goes into being all business. Tell me what that is to you.
Yeah, I mean that's just beinga pro. It's kind of raised
and grew up to do and keepthe same mindset, same attitude that I've

(02:28):
had throughout my whole career. OnceI get here, continue to work hard,
be consistent and discipline, you know, and all that I do.
So I'm looking forward to putting thework. Hey Marvin, Josh Wayne ESPN.
What were the best pieces of adviceyour dad gave you about being an
NFL player? I mean, yeah, it takes a lot of work,
a lot of preparation. You know, from Monday to Saturday, it's all

(02:51):
work, and then Sunday should bethe easy part. I go out there
and have fun, ready to putthe work in. So starts with the
work first and then no, whenSunday comes, is Rieka benefits. Hey
Darius Howard, balls are from cardswire. I can't help but notice that
ring on your finger. Is thata cotton bowl ring? Yes, it
is the cotton bowler. You showedit to Marvin very quickly. No,

(03:14):
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 play? He didn't play,So you know we left out.
So, Hey, Marvin Paul KELBCCardinals broadcasting, do you believe that receivers

(03:35):
have to earn the trust for theirquarterback? And it's so what does that
usually require? Absolutely, you gotto earn the trust of the quarterback.
And I think it starts, youknow, every day in practice and being
consistent. Really, you can't justdo it one day. Can't you do
it for one week? It hasto be you know, done over and
over and over again. I thinkthat's how trust has earned. So no
matter where you get picked, whenyou're first receiver, it's round seven,

(03:57):
doesn't really matter, have to goand earn trust at a quarterback, your
coaches, your teammates. So italso in practice. What's going on,
guys? Good to see again,Tyler Drake, there's no sports systems for
Darius. What's the feeling of justbeing able to represent your school as that
first round pick and what kind ofimpact can that have for those guys fallowing
in your footsteps. Yeah, it'sawesome. I feel like I'm setting the
standard going forward. Best the namewas Zoo is known as Delon Zoo,

(04:21):
so I'm just added to the family. But now I feel like I'm setting
the standard for my younger teammates thatthis is attainable if you work really hard,
be consistent, and really get usyour strength coach. I feel like
every program is built off the strempcoach and that develops all the habits on
and off the field. Darius zachERSHMANEZI Cardinals dot Com right over here,

(04:42):
JJ mentioned that he loves the violencethat you play with. You mentioned the
different tendencies that you picked up.The emotional consistency is the great. How
do you balance that the violence withdiscipline on the field. Honestly, just
through preparation and practice. I'm abig guy. I'm a big believer in
inside hands, so that's why I'malways working my hand play and then I
lift weight, so you know that'sall connected. So I'm just trying to

(05:03):
be focused on my technique as muchas possible. Hey, Marvin over here,
David Brant with the Associated Press.You know a lot of rookies come
into the league and they get alittle bit of leeway. It's like,
oh, he's young, he needsto grow and stuff like that. But
obviously you're going to be expected tobe the guy here really quickly. How

(05:24):
do you deal with that pressure.How do you go about just so much
being expected of you so quickly?I mean, yeah, I have high
standards for myself, but I'm justgonna go in there and try to work,
you know, the best I can. I just want to help the
team win really, so without thatrole I play, you know, come
September, let me just do mybest do that role. This one's for
both of you, guys. Thefans want to know who you guys are

(05:46):
on the inside. I don't knowhow much you're willing to reveal to us
today. A lot would be nice. Could you tell us what you like
to do away from football, whatpisses you off about things, and you
know, what what makes you roll. I'm pretty simple, like you know,
be in my apartment, watch amovie. If I go out and

(06:09):
I go to a restaurant, getsome food. But other than that,
they do too much and then I'mpretty easy going, guys, so try
not to nothing bother me too much. Yeah, I said the same thing,
A real chill guy, just reallyobsessed with football. But outside of
football, like I said, Igot my two degrees. I got my
undergrad hospitality management and the minor andbusiness. I got my masters and positive

(06:30):
culture with 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

(06:53):
a great response about how your processand preparing for a game. Just kind
of wondering where your love for kindof the grind come from and your love
for that process comes from. Iwould say my junior year, because I
played little league ball off and on. But I got my junior year and
I was playing high school and mywhole goal is 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

(07:16):
like my advice and I can't letit go and just kind of finding ways
to always get better, you know. Luke Linting 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 and youwere able to be drafted by this organization,
and how surreal is it for youto be following your own father's footsteps

(07:38):
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 a bunch ofinterviews afterwards. So I don't think it's
hit both of us yet. Idon't know what's happened. I think,
you know, one of Michaels alwaysmake him proud, so I hope I
did that. Marvin, Bobrock,pH and X Sports. When do you

(07:59):
anticipate your first passes from Kyler Murray? I don't know. I don't know.
I guess we'll see and hopefully assoon as possible. Darius, you
mentioned philanthropy, and I know there'sbeen it's been talked about how you took
some of the NI nil money todo a get back to school for the
kids in Colombia. Where where didthat belief in doing those things come from?

(08:22):
I say my family, my brotherand my mom really instilled that into
me and to me at a youngage, just give back your blessings to
others. In my fifthyear at Missouis the best year of my life,
So why would I not share myblessings with others. So that's what really
motivated me to do that. Andnow being in NFL, you know,
my goals to do three events eachyear. I just give back because you
know, it's life outside of footballand bigger blessings out there. Marvin,

(08:46):
you obviously played with a number ofhighly drafted receivers at Ohio State. What
sort of feedback have you gotten aboutthe NFL from them? And you know
about making the transition in the leagueitself. Yeah, it's a long season.
I think going from in a twelvegame Ricord season you haven't college to
was it seventeen games now and yougot three preseason? I feel just the
biggest challenge the game stays the thingobviously the we're all skilled and very talented

(09:09):
athletes, so the mental part isprobably the biggest thing and the biggest change
from the college to pros. Marvin, what's your timeline for hiring an agent?
Right over here on the way partright, you haven't hired an agent?
Why is that? Is there atimeline to hiring one? And are
you gonna slign the NFLPA licensing.I think the taalle on this team is

(09:30):
really good too, and I thinkthat I can come in here and make
a big difference, you know,and we can win a lot of football
games. You know. So thatwas my That was part of my decision.
Your achilles coming night? How soughwas that? How long did it
taken? Where are you at now? I'm one hundred percent now And it

(09:50):
was like a walk in the park. It's like a sprayinged ankle. You
know. It was very easy,you know, because I had the knee.
The knee was pretty hard, youknow, and the Achilles was I
would say it's easy, you know, just because that's just my mentality,
and it was. It was prettyeasy to be. But you know,
I've had these injuries and it's beenstorm like the past two years, you

(10:13):
know, having have like good,great games, the next thing, you
know, hurt and then you know, so got got the injury prone out
there, you know. But Ithink the storm is over with, you
know, you know, and Ithink I'm I'm gonna gonna take off now,
you know, and there will beno setbacks and the injury prone thing

(10:35):
will be gone out of the windowagain. Yep, I'm sorry, You're
gonna be back. I am.I am excited. You know. He
does a lot of great things,and he's a great person, and we
have a great relationship. It's gonnabe it's gonna be a fun year.
We're gonna have a lot of fun. We're gonna do a lot of great
things. So I can't wait herewaiting. The injuries you've had, is

(10:58):
that just bad luck? Is thereanything you've been attributed to behind just this
fortun Yeah, it is unfortunate,you know, but God has a plan
always. You know, I don'tknow what the plan exactly is, you
know, I don't know, butwhatever plan it is, it's for me

(11:18):
to be here. You know,I had a great rookie year. I
didn't I didn't really have the volumeas other 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, God, lets
me show my talent shine a littlebit, like even when I had the

(11:41):
knee. So I had the knee, right, A lot of people don't
know 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 Ihave to get it cleaned up. I
didn't get hurt again. I couldhave played the whole year, but I

(12:03):
got it cleaned up so I canfeel like me. And so after I
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 want towin. But then come back the next

(12:26):
year hurt again like torn achilles.So two really unfortunate injuries. But that's
just God's plan, you know.And I think that the storm is now
over, you know, And Ido 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 say three. I couldcare less because I do. I

(12:48):
know this out there because as itshould be. It should be. I
got hurt two major injuries back,not back to back years, but you
know, so I haven't been onthe field as much as I should.
That's true, that is true.But it's not like I'm having these little
little dinky injuries and sitting out.It's something I can't control, literally,

(13:09):
So that's why I'm not bothered byit. Like, yeah, I am
injury polling, you could say that, you know, but I do think
that the Chargers are getting a guythat's gonna be healthy from now on.
You know, God will it,and it's gonna be great. And I
do think that it's gonna be It'sgonna be a great. However, many
years here, when you've been outthe field, you've been highly adopted five

(13:31):
pointy years for very average for yourcareer. Like knowing that when you're out
there or you're very adopted, howmuch confidence does that give you that really
all you need is is not whatyou need all the confidence in the world.
You know, the way I work, I wouldn't say just from the
numbers, but just the way Iwork, my work ethic, you know,
and my relationship with Jesus is like, I have the most confidence when

(13:54):
I step out there because I doknow, like if he grants me the
health, it's over with is Idon't think I would be you know,
I think it will be a greatyear or whatever a couple of years.
However, many years he grassed megreat health, you know. And I
think just the work ethic, myprayer and all that stuff, that's what
helped me have that confidence with thenumbers will be there and they might be

(14:16):
higher after this year, you knowwhat I'm saying. And it's crazy to
think about because I had six orsix yards per carry, you know.
So we'll see you're living forward tothe running behind this line that they put
together. Oh yeah, yeah,yeah. I played with Brandley, 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

(14:37):
think it's like I said earlier,it's a talented group. You know,
we just got to put it togetherwin some games, because that's what I
came here for. That's all year, or I wouldn't I wouldn't say part
of the recruitment. But like wheneverI decided I was gonna sign. It
was great to have him in theroom. What'ship? Yeah, we're great.
We're we have a great relationship.That's he's like my brother. So

(15:03):
I 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 whichit it'll be great because I feel like
I could do everything and when oneget tired, we can roll it in.
We keep rolling win some games.So when you the two of you

(15:24):
get going, well, how doyou think that's gonna look for? What
will like? What will be thatpartnership kind of back there? I know
that's a hard question. How doI think it? I think it'll look
beautiful. You know a lot ofpeople call it a passing league, but
I think you gotta run the ballto win the super Bowl. You know,
if you look at the teams whowin the Super Bowl, they can

(15:45):
run the ball, they can controlthe clock, and so if we're both
good, it'll look great, beautiful. How would you describe the Gregor running
the offense? Uh? I wouldI would describe it as, you know,
a great offense. I think hegives a quarter he's going to give
the quarterback a lot of options.He's going to give the running back a

(16:06):
lot of options. He's gonna givethe receiver a lot of options, you
know. And I think it'll beI think it's gonna be great. His
offense is going to be amazing.When we talked to him, you know,
I was like, why are youbeing able to build something give rushing
offenses throughout your career every way you'vebeen And you said that one part of
it is just you got a callplace. You got a call run place

(16:26):
as a running back. You know, how much confidence, how much excite
does it give you when you knowyou have to play caller that's gonna stick
with it and allow you and theoffensive line to get your resident gives me
a lot of excitement. You know. It's gonna be Like I said,
it's fun to play in his offense, you know. And I think he
does have some good things in thepast game too, But like you said,
he sticks with the run, andthat's that's the identity. You You

(16:49):
want an offense that has an identity, right, you won't be looking everywhere
else to find your your identity.You want to have it, and so
I think his offense has that andthe guys he built and puts in there,
it complements that identity. So Ithink it's gonna be great. You're
full go for training. Look,I ain't gonna answer any of the if

(17:12):
it's up to me. Yes,Look, because I had this problem like
three two years three years ago.I'm thinking I'm full go. I think
I'm ready to go, and thenext thing, you know, I'm on
pup, like, hey, looksome story above my prey pay grade.
So but I don't know. HopefullyI can start. I think I'm ready

(17:33):
to start, you know, atthe beginning of training camp. But that's
not up to me. As I'velearned, I'll tell you how I wouldn't
say that. I think I've beenI've been in some great organizations, and
I think this this organization is agreat organization, and the training staff is
great, and so they just wantwhat's best for me, you know,

(17:56):
and they're they're taking care of me, which that's what you want to organize
it. And so that's where thatcomes from, which I appreciate it,
Like I really appreciate that, youknow, because I'm the type of guy
like I work really hard. Somaybe sometime I'm blind to you know,
the danger of something, you know, so I appreciate it. But like
I said, if it's up tome, yeah, I'm out there.

(18:18):
But you never know, with anyfrustration for you during the heading into agency,
you know, dealing with with rehaband not you know, having on
a full season tape or production togo out, there was there any part
of that where you're like, gosh, you know, had hit the open
market with a different situation. Youknow, Nah, I like it.
I like, how would I saythis? I like it the hard way,

(18:45):
but not you know, I likeit 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 eight or Achilles, and
that was that was the Lord's plan. So it was beauty in that,

(19:07):
Like I was comfortable. I wascaught like there was multiple teams, you
know, I wasn't. It wasn'tlike I didn't have any other team.
But I was comfortable and sitting backand just that we wouldn't have had initially
at this time of the year,you know, last year, you know,
those those tougher conversations those ones wherewe might disagree, where we do
agree, where where he's got histwo cents on it, which is,

(19:27):
you know, always the best twocents I've heard. But me being who
I am, you know, I'mgonna throw my two cents in there,
you know. So that's just ait's been awesome, man. He's you
know, a resource for me,just a person that I can always bounce
my thoughts off of. And now, you know, just a year you
said, thirteen months. Now Ifeel more comfortable just you know, bringing
certain things that you know, younever you never want to come off too

(19:49):
Stan. But I'm a curious guy. I got a lot of questions.
I like, I like football alot, like to talk talk the games.
So you know, come to findout he's the exact same. So
we, uh, you know,we get along with well and and we're
gonna keep keep building that relationship.Sometimes in this league, playing you know,
eighteen games, they trying to makeit twenty. You know, it's
like it sound like a little alittle fever dream to be honest, But
but uh, if we can finda way to k you know, stay

(20:11):
up right out there and keep keepAaron on his feet, you know,
I'm I'm excited for that and uh, everything that comes with it. But
uh but yeah, like I said, man, that's it's it's harder said
than uh or harder done, andsaid, I guess you know, it's
one of those things. It's likethat's a lot of games, you know,
all of a sudden take a lotof hits. They take a lot
of hits where they're not looking,and it's just how can we keep him
healthy? Yeah? Yeah, areyou when do you think? I do
you ever see the room now positionsyou guys have made when more money,

(20:34):
healthy and everything, like, yeah, you know, I'm excited to see
it at at full health. Youknow, we've i haven't got to see
all the all the guys out thereat once. And and you know,
it's one of those positions where everyday is something might happen to nick up.
You know, it's just a atough position to stay out there at
all times. But I feel likewe got a great group and and the
number one thing is how can westay healthy? How can we you know,

(20:56):
I'll be out on the field,and I think having depth like this
and the group you have, it'sgonna help us. Having guys that can
do different things that can go catchball over the middle, all types of
things that it's gonna take some ofthe strain off off all of us.
You know. It's it's a goodgroup. So I'm excited to, uh,
you know, get out there.I feel like we haven't had the
whole whole thing together, but youknow, come season time, morol,
and it's gonna be exciting. Whatabout the guys in your old number?

(21:19):
Yeah, yeah, like a yeah, man, he's uh, it was
a brute. And I think it'slike you know how to write, like
when you use your right hand,you know how your handwriting should look.
What's about taking the reps to makesure matches? I guess you know,
so just taking the reps to getback to that. I think it's all
what it is. I mean obviously, like he's one of my biggest supporters,

(21:42):
you know, so obviously you knowhe's he's he's excited about the opportunity
for me, you know, soexcited about it. Help you, oh
a lot. He helped me alot, even from like the first guy
just trying to help me get usedto to write tackle. He got my

(22:03):
feet used to write tackle, Likemy first dad practice I'm like, dude,
I still feel he feel a littleoff. I don't feel as balanced
in my stands. And he showedme the small technique thing to do with
my feet, which I still doeven even though I left tackle just cause
part of my routine. That waspart of my process and getting in my
stands. So stuff like that thathe taught me from day one and obviously

(22:26):
in practice was fun. Just competewith him, you know, it's just
to meet at the back of thepocket and then to dap each other back
to every rep like that was compete, you know what I mean. So
that's my guy. And as muchas you loved him on shore the West
side, how bit or sweet isit as a certain matters because it would
happen to him. Yeah, that'sthe thing. That's not how it was
definitely how I n and and that'snot how I thought about the transition would

(22:48):
go. You know, I thoughtit would be you know, homesone timing
a cardinal his whole career, youknow, you know, even want to
p here forever, you know whatI mean when always talking about his plans,
So you know, you you wishtransitions like one of those fairy tale
like it's your time. But butagain either way, you know, we

(23:14):
talked about it. You know,that's that's the tow goes, you know,
but obviously you know he sees he'she's been one of my biggest supporters.
Again, I affect everybody leads intheir own way, you know,
not everybody's the guys coming around andthat's not everybody, right, Like I
felt for me, that's me specificallyon game day with the O line after

(23:38):
we do one on one like that'smy Like, well Hump did like like
that's my like big vocal time.I feel like I've talked to Hump about
this, you know, just recentlytalking about how what I want to do
for the room is I want tobring that Hump energy that he brought right
so last year. Of course sometraits been doing it for years, but

(24:02):
the year while I spent with him, he brought a lot of the energy
and excitement and the happiness in theroom was just his natural energy to where
I only had to focus on me, you know, I didn't have to
make sure other other guys are youknow, feel some type of way when
it came in here because Hump broughtthat. But out of Hump's not here,

(24:23):
but I saw what he did forthe room. I want to be
that guy to make sure everyone's ampedto go to practice, everybody's hype weren't
taken and field team one period.You know, it's a low day or
something. You know, it's ait's a day, but like, I
wanna make it feel like pre paristhe Tripper right now. I want to
bring that cause that's when me andHump did to each other. We will

(24:44):
hpe each other other dudes like dudeswere about to get walked through and we're
lit. So I want to dothat. I want to bring that energy.
I want to make bring more guys, you know, to do that.
You know, I wanted to dothat from day one, you know,
I kind of I wanted to dothat from day one, from just
talking to him, And obviously it'sthat time. I spend the off season

(25:04):
before OTA started just being in myself, just thinking about what the room needs,
you know, because I know Inew a new role as one of
the leaders you know on my offense, is that we need a guy like
that that's gonna make sure the oldline is picked up ready to go every

(25:26):
day. And it was held accountablelittle things that happened to practice. People
aren't saying anything. And how Imay lead maybe different than somebody else may
lead. You know. I liketo a practice at least like to leave
with positivity, you know what Imean. So, but he the energy
yet went beyond just the hyped upthe deal line and start too. So
that's kind of how I wanna besome goal mine literally my whole life.

(25:51):
I want to be a NFL teamcaptain, like specifically NFL. I wasn't
a captain of high school. Iwasn't a captain of college. But I
made a joke when I was inhigh schools there. I feel like I'm
not gonna be a captain til Iget to the NFL. Yeah, but
that would be awesome, you know, but you know, if it happens,
i'd be great. But not eitherway, I wanna assume a role

(26:15):
as a captain from the perspect ofthe guys on the team individual A word
to me and to get back tothat word, 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 firstday OTA's. It took training left and

(26:37):
right once the season ended, causeI didn't know what it was gonna be
true, So it took a lotof yeah reps just to get back to
feeling like myself for day one OTAsand then that whole first week. But
now like today specifically just changing somesmall things with my feet that I did
say talking about a line coach aboutsome things I can do with my feet

(26:59):
to get to the h to sellingit 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
even more excited tomorrow. Now I'mgetting my feedback than 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

(27:21):
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 the human
spect cause now connected the blind sidethat stuff that's de tackle role, you
know. So so yeah, Iwould say in terms of communication as far

(27:45):
as just even outside of the facilityand just stuff like that, like really
creating that. But tackle quarterback bondeven more off the field, I think
has been something that's even been cools. I got a text one day as
a hey, like you play left, and I was like, yeah,
you know, yeah, I've beentraining both. I've been training both.
You know. I asked after theseason. They're like, honestly, you

(28:08):
know, we'll talk to you.So play in the season and I just
gotta text me, like depending whathappens with the free agency then. So
I was like, you know what, I had a whole season right tackle.
So if I get the word,I'm going I'm standing right tackle.
I don't used to do what Idid before. I'm built on that bus.
I was like, I might asalmost trained the left tackle now as

(28:29):
if I'm going to be a lefttackle, and I'd rather do that than
training on the right time and getthe call, hey you're the left tackle.
I'm like, oh, I didn'teven switch on my feet yet,
you know what I mean. SoI'm like, let me just prepare in
advance. I was like, yeah, lets god, you know, I
think occasionally on third down there'd bea lot of twists. I would just
know like it's automatically coming. AndI think that was my mindset for like

(28:49):
the first half of the season,Like I didn't have to go to a
game and with surprise like oh mygosh, they did that. I kind
of figured like, okay, likethis is this is the type of rush
minute get like this is how thisguy usually rushes. But I get the
vibe, this is how the endslike the rush you know, tackles that
are you know, f first yearguys who got the premiere patch on.

(29:10):
I already knew what it was gonnabe, already knew of every stunt and
honestly just knowing that it's kind ofan advantage too. So you're not you're
not You're not who they brought thetwist of my side again, So it
was never an Aaron donaldick. Youknow they're coming out of minds, like
three plays in a row and twominute. I knew that that was gonna
way to happen. So out youknow what I mean, I'm watching more
than everybody else and he rarely.England goes out there on occasional third downs

(29:33):
on the D m I said,already, you know it's gonna be He's
gonna pick me, you know whatI mean. So fact fact, it's
kind of a it's also kind ofan advantage in a way, but it's
also exciting, like Okay, I'mgonna get the hardest look. You know
those are real, real reps,you know the bank. So really,
I I don't know, I reallydidn't kind of process that. I was

(29:55):
like, hey, when they tellme to let me know if i'm I'm
just gonna train it. I wastraining all left, so ta's. I
guess if I didn't hear anything aboutTa's, I would have came in like
so you know what I mean,Cause just like I'm cool training both content,
I would have been cool training bothcontinually. But I feel like anybody,
any position will be like okay,like you wanna as soon as possible

(30:19):
give your feet accountability at the time. Fustin what I uh, what'd you
seen the guy with cawbin all week? 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 savvy with his route running and
you know he's just he's just ahard worker. You know, you know
there's some plays where he knows he'snot getting the ball and he's still still

(30:40):
winning ro out. So you know, just to have that player, uh
A a player like that give thatmuch effort uh on the field every play,
it's really really good to see you. And I think it's you know,
really uh gonna rub up on theother guys too. I'm good,
I'm i'm'a getting another what's it likewe're eating with? Uh? Some of
the tight downs that you guys happened, arn there, No, I just
straight talking about the person til weavethat a lot of other guys have,

(31:02):
especially in that prip. Yeah,I mean we have a different uh uh
a lot of you know, differentguys in the tight end room. You
know. Darn Now he brings sidesto the room. Uh, Rodney Speed,
Uh Connor. He has a greatawareness in the field. Pat of
course he you know, he's agreat all a round tight end. And
then uh, you know, uhcrew, he's a he's a bat.

(31:22):
He's smart, he knows what he'sdoing. So, I mean just all
the guys in the room, youknow, they're smart and intensive and they've
i F I feel like they've jare justice to the offense. Well,
so, what's been like working withTom or from what's he from? Kind
of working with he wants? Yeah, I mean Toma's been great. Uh
just his a tis attention to detail, the way he comes you know,

(31:45):
in each and every day. Hecomes in as the same guy every day
and uh to be on side.And you know, I don't think I've
had to coach that detailed, butas Tom, you know, he's very
detailed in terms of you know,cracktics, refuse sending us uh the info
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 sets

(32:07):
him apart. And you know he'she pushed us to be hard I mean
our our indie periods or you knowconditions. So of course that's good for
us. But I mean he's beengreat so far. So excited to uh
you know allow that allow our relationshipto grow, and excited to work with
and it's what he's doing kind ofcompliment what you're doing individually, you know,
when you're away from the facility,working with you know, coaches one

(32:30):
on one anything like that. Hesaid, what is he what does he
do here that kind of compliments whatyou do away from the facility when you're
trying. I mean, I thinkhe does different stuff, so I think,
uh, that's a good thing aboutit. You know some stuff that
we do here. Oh sorry,uh, I don't you know, usually
do outside of the facility. Soit's good getting that different work in,

(32:50):
different drill work that I can youknow, implement into my you know,
off season program and stuff like that. So it's good that I'm learned this
stuff for sureficiency, especially the lastyear. What what did what? What
is uh? Artura Smith in theoffense talk about you about trying to make
make that incorporate that into being abig part of this all that. I
mean, yeah, uh, Ithink we have fast guys, guys that

(33:13):
can get down the field with speed, uh, Guys like Quez, Calvin,
Scottie, Van, you know,me and rest. You know,
we've we've had a lot of deepball success and a lot of explosive plays
in the past. So you knowthat's just uh, you know what,
Yeah, I guess how our offenseis built. To be honest with you,
but I mean our job is tocreate explosives and you know, push
the ball down the field, Soanytime we get those ops, we definitely

(33:35):
wanna capitalize on those. Are yourcoach resting any part of your mechanics and
any money plum that? I mean, yeah, Uh, I think there's
always room to improve, uh,mechanic wise and stuff like that. So
I think you know, Matt Baker, Uh he's a four quarterback assistant.
He you know, usually stays onme the most about it. So I
appreciate the fact that he does that. And uh usually you know, make
sure he doesn't make sure I justjust stay on top of it, you

(33:58):
know as a whole, and youknow, makes mechanics are always cleaned.
Can you talk about one particular elementthat they're stressing. It's it's different areas
to be honest, I don't thinkit's just one specific area, but it's
it's different areas, justin in youropinion. Was there something that you wanted
to work on, maybe get betterat when you got you at this point
of your career. I mean,like, like I said, there's you
know, no matter who you are, you know, there's always stuff to

(34:20):
get better at, always different areas. Nobody's perfect in one area, So
I think you can continue to provein all areas in my game, you
know me personally, So I'm justfocused on getting better. As you ever
heard when we talked at Russ yesterday, he said that rusted that he personally
felt kind of revived you being inanother step in his career. Is there
any of that sense of maybe rejuvenationor feeling revived? Obviously you haven't been

(34:40):
in the league for thirteen years,but is there a new energy that you
get being in a different organization,going through mini camp in a different way
for the first time. I thinkso, you know, just being around
a new team, uh an organizationthat's you know, just just with this
culture, you know, me beingin two different places, you just I
realize that, you know, youdon't get this culture everywhere. I think

(35:04):
Chicago, I think they are,you know, kind of changing the narrative
now, but I mean this hasjust been the culture here for so many
years to where I mean you cansee it. It's just the way that
you know, we attack each everyday and coach to you know, he
stays honest about it. So Ithink just having that and uh, you
know, reiterating that you know eachand every day, that keeps guys in

(35:25):
the closing, guys are ready tocompete each and every day. Is it
easy to step into an organization whenthere already is such a culture that's been
established for a long term to kindof know where you fit and know what's
expected most most definitely, I think, you know, especially as a leader,
as a player on the team,you just don't have to thank you

(35:47):
for checking out this content for postsat sports. If you watch this on
YouTube, please like the video.Yeah. I mean, I think,
uh, college football is different,and uh ideologies and understandings and have changed.
And I think that, you know, the portal is a variable,

(36:07):
and I would say that not himin particular, but I wouldn't say everyone
doesn't really know how to handle itproperly. You see it currently. I
mean, it's just it's a variablethat's new and how to handle it.
There's not a transcript on how tohandle that variable. So you just guys
just trying to do what they thinkis right. That's all they're really trying
to do. And I'm not sayingthat right or wrong. But he was

(36:28):
trying to do the same, andyou know, I think at the end
of the day he realized he madmade the wrong decision and we connected on
it. We talked about it,and you know, it was a great
opportunity to to write or wrong.And obviously we're very glad he's here.
I've always believed in him. Webelieve in him, and he believes in
himself, and that's part of thejust trying to understand what's my path,

(36:50):
right. So, uh, butyeah, it's been great. Steps have
been made. He's growing, buthe's nowhere near where he knows he's capable
of being. Really impress with Jeremiah. I love the way he lives.
I love the way he approaches things. I love the way the questions he
asks. I love the way hemakes mistakes and then correct mistakes. It's

(37:15):
very veteran, like, I mean, there's so much ball he has to
learn. Like he literally does thingsthat are good. I'm like, do
you know what that worked? Hegoes coach, I have no freaking idea,
So, like, I'm trying toteach him all of that why it
worked, so then you know,the consistency at which it works just goes
to the roof. And so butI'm very you know, excited and proud
of the conversations we're currently having andI'm excited in it for them to keep

(37:37):
going by what power for you?Working with I love working with Chip Chip
Is. I love talking Ball,I love the viewpoints, I love I
love the veteran that he has,you know, uh, and I love

(38:00):
now like I love all of it. I think that you know, early
on the biggest impact, you know, just you know, feeling perspective.
I think in the run game hasbeen awesome, you know, and then
you know, off of the rungame some of the actions or or relief
throws or all that kind of stuff. I love where it's at. I
love working with them, and Iwould say that I sleep a little better,

(38:34):
all right. Uh No, It'sit's really a great combo because,
like you know, we're obviously we'redoing a lot as a group. It's
not just Chip and I so butyou know, obviously Chip has an image
and a view on things that Inever had. So to have that experience
and have that viewpoint, I'm justtrying to absorb as much as I can,

(38:55):
but then also highlight some things thatwe've really done a good job of
and make sure though you know,nothing's really changing, we're just trying to
enhance. We're not changing we're enhancing, so where the things fit is perfect.
You know, I think, uh, you know the rest of the
dynamics of search Chip can talk about. But it's been it's been awesome,
so I'm excited about it. Youtalked to a mecha. You're talking about

(39:19):
moving from slot to the house side. You know how good he's been in
the spot. Is that a difficultmove for you guys, coaches to know
how good a guy is in onespot, 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 doing whatever youwant to get done. But I'd
say that it says more about theroom. I think it's it's the growth

(39:42):
of you know, Brandon and thegrowth grow of Bryson. That's really you
know, allowing my mind to say, hey, Mech, be prepared.
You're gonna move around a lot.You're gonna come out of that slot,
You're gonna be outside. We're goingto create mismatches out there. I mean,
his ability to move around is critical. But I would say between Mech,
in between Carnell Tast's ability to movearound a lot, it's gonna provide

(40:02):
a lot of flexibility for our roomand uh, and those top you know,
six seven guys that are really doinga good job right now this spring
for like a because yeah, there'sno time twe of those things are true
where you has balanced how much workdoes a need versus too much? Yeah,
heavy, heavy emphasis on what workhe needs, you know, versus
anything else. Uh, I relyon him. We have great dialogue back

(40:25):
and forth. It's a two wayto it's a two way conversation. And
frankly, there's gonna be times we'relike, hey, Max, what do
you wanna do today? You wannago outside and you gonn go inside?
And I don't care. So,uh, we're not there yet. We
will be there, but it's justmore about, you know, when the
room is ready to start mixing thingsup. Yeah, I would say there's

(40:58):
God. I mean, I makesure I bring guys that are able to
do all, but I have notasked them to yet. So the only
guys that in our room currently I'veasked to do that has been Mecca and
Carnell. And those are probably thetwo guys that I would, you know,
think heavily on doing moving around alot. I'm not putting that on
anybody else right now, not sayingthey can't, but at this point having

(41:19):
two guys being able to swing,you probably don't need much more than that.
I need guys being experts at whatthey're good at, so it it
helps the offense. Don't be greatat everything and be an expert at something
and we can use that to ourto our advantage. This year is different,
like maybe guys who were more situational. Aye, the room's always different,
frankly, I mean from twenty eighteenand then nineteen and through COVID and

(41:44):
and those guys, and and thenthe depth of those guys and then where
Mech and Marvin and those guys wereas freshmen 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 whatlevel yet. Last question, relationshipship between
the TV room from your west room, especially you know, back towards.
I'm curious, Yeah, TV hasa leader just like you you know,

(42:07):
played at Ohio Saxerience. I'm curiousabout how you've seen him kind of building
different backroom, especially umber recreatspecially kindof the effective your recruit that's kind of
be against he would probably know morefor that coving all the way through ten
years in this league, so I'mexcited to see what he's got. How

(42:28):
old did you know Sores and whenhe was assistant here and i'd gotten to
know him a lot better. What'sthe relationship? Maybe right now? I
know him pretty well. He wasalways uh, just a good dude around
the facility. He did our ballmeetings, so he's good in front of
a group. He's a good leader. He knows the scheme really well,

(42:50):
which is good. I was happyto see him promoted. Uh. He
called me in the off season.We talked. I just congratulated him,
and I think he's gonna bring somethingsimilar to what we had with the Miko.
It'll be good. Do you knowBrandon Stanley well at all? I
mean, obviously Joey played for him. I don't know too much about him.
I've obviously heard from my brother,but I don't even think i've said

(43:15):
high yet. I haven't ran intohim yet, but I'm sure i'll get
to know him. When you sayit looks similar to the Miko, the
energy or system maybe a little differentenergy, but I think just knowing the
system from the front to the backI think he knows how it ties in,
and he's been around with some reallygood coaches, so I think it'll

(43:38):
be pretty pretty seamless, and Ithink we'll be firing on all cylinders.
You're three months removed from the SuperBowl now, so how have you?
I guess digested it, and Iguess physically everything good to go. Yeah,
I feel really good. I thinkit's been one of my better off
seasons of just kind of it wasa long year, so I took it

(44:00):
and slow to get back into it. Not as young as I once was,
so I'm taking a little, uh, a little slower, but everything's
great. I'm feeling as good asI felt. I'm excited to actually get
some practice in. Last year waskind of tough, getting thrown in Week

(44:20):
one after I walked through, sothat was another reason I'm excited to be
here, is just to get practicinga little bit in season. Practice is
one thing, but actually being ableto work your stuff and not have a
game coming up is good. Withthe Super Bowl unfortunately, I know how
to bounce back from tough losses,so it was rough for a little bit,

(44:44):
but no, just annoying when peoplebring it up. Since the last
season. We've seen a rock onTV commercials and on the stage with Kluke
Coombs and throwing out the first pitchof the Giants game. But he seems
like a guy that's totally affected bycelebrity, which he has now. But
what have you noticed in his leadershipstyle and the way he carries himself any

(45:06):
difference at all. I think he'sdefinitely getting a little more vocal within the
building. And uh yeah, Imean I don't think he's ever going to
change. I don't think he's somebodythat's going to change even when he gets
paid next year. So he's he'sa man of faith and he kind of
reminds me of Scotti Scheffler, butexcept for just super humble and really good

(45:37):
kid. And yeah, he's definitelyfamous. I don't just from watching Armstead
get released obviously meant so much tothe defensive line into the team. I
mean, Colin John were pretty openthat they were willing to talk about trading

(45:58):
Deebo or are you as wow?Does that just another what's that feel like
in the locker room when those sortof jowls happen. I didn't even know
that happened, and I wasn't here, but you're talking about this offseason armsta
in alarm Er released, so that'scertainly one thing. Yeah, it's a

(46:21):
tough business, for sure. Youhave to have thick skin and I haven't
gone through that, but I thinkyou just have to understand that it is
a business and the team's going totry and get as good as it possibly
can with or without you, andyou have to look out for yourself.
That's why you go through holdouts anddo certain things that seem selfish in the

(46:45):
moment, but it is what itis, and when everything's settled, we're
gonna come together as a team andtry and go get one. And what's
the overall feeling around the group rightnow? Like, how much does it
feel like the excitement of the rampup to the season, even though it's
it feels good. It's been acouple of days for me, so I

(47:05):
like all the new guys. I'mgetting to know everybody, But I think
the past is in the past andwe're ready to go. Did you talk
to me? Can you talk tobe at all about handling the business part
of this? He's going through somethingsimilar. We chat a little bit,
but not too much about the details. I just told him to keep his
head up and try and stay positivethrough it all. You first impressions when

(47:29):
you heard about your schedule would bein that Aaron Rodgers' first up, It'll
be fun. Yeah, it's gonnabe gonna be a good one. Excuse
me kind of alluded to this,But the fact that last year you had
to have that hold out for savethat affected you somewhat early in the season.

(47:49):
If you hadn't had that experience,would you be here right now?
I mean, was that part ofthe motivation for being here early just to
have the opposite last year? Mightbe 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

(48:10):
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

(48:31):
specifically, so that's good. I'mnot it's not compromising my training at all.
And I get to meet all theguys. It's positives. Let him
down. Oh no, he's he'sthere. He's got a new regime over
there. First, I actually thoughtI was coming next week until recently,

(48:57):
so I was gonna have one moreweek at home. But we're both in
California. Share about reasons sent fromthe top, and it doesn't get mixed
up as it's moving down the ladder. It's boom. This is how we're

(49:19):
doing things, and everybody's following that. And I think it's impressive the details
that everybody have been on, hashas been on, the effort and just
the competitiveness that that's been going onover the last few weeks. Yeah,
it's it's it's been great. Howmuch do you appreciate that the stopping just

(49:39):
described the way Jim leads I shouldn'teat in the messaging doesn't eat mixed up?
You appreciate that so much? Imean, it's I guess it's easy
to appreciate when you kind of seeit working and you see guys improving,
getting better. I just think thedetails are really important. You can pretend

(50:05):
that leaving your shoes a mess oryour locker a mess isn't a big deal,
and what matters is playing football.But I think all those tiny details
and things kind of add up andleak into the important stuff, like what
you're doing on the field. Soif you can have your toe behind the
line, or have your locker andorder and all these things, they kind
of stack up into performing well andand playing well when things count. So

(50:31):
you know, I appreciate that.It's it also hasn't been a fight with
the guys in the locker room.They buy in, and you know,
it's a lot of young guys,and I think they're hungry to learn,
hungry to compete and win. Youknow, it's just an example, whether
it's we talked about first day youhave your shoe, if you could,

(50:53):
if you could spend the time onthese small things when nobody's watching. I
think, like I was saying,it seems like it might not out up
too much, but I think inthe long term it does, and it
leaks into other things, whether you'redoing your right assignment on the field,
being late to meetings or all thesethings. If you hold a standard and

(51:15):
you stay to that standard, Ithink it benefits you long term. It's
it been like working Ben Herbert,who has there been anything in his training
program we're working with you that youfeel will benefit you later. Yeah,
Yeah, definitely, he's been great. He's a no nonsense kind of guy,
but he's not an old school inthe sense that he's bringing his way

(51:38):
of doing things and that's the onlyway to do things. He understands that
guys have been in the in thebusiness for a long time, Khalil me
and we have a way of doingthings, and all he wants to do
is add to that and help youget better and perform the best you can.
He's he stresses it all the timethat he's a tool for us,

(51:58):
and you know, he's been He'sbeen great. The guys love him.
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 may
do on the side or whatever thatis. Yeah, I think we I
mean, we had a presentation todaywith all the certain measurables that are changing

(52:19):
and if you guys are in themeeting, you definitely see how beneficial he's
been to the team so far.So obviously, staying healthy is is a
huge factor to anybody's success. I'dsay it's plagued us a little bit for
a while. So yeah, Ithink he's he's definitely incredibly beneficial you like,

(52:42):
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. Unfortunatelythe year wasn't going great and it
just was unnecessary risk for I mean, my foot could have had some real

(53:06):
real issues if I came back tooearly. So yeah, it's been.
It's been. It's been a greatoff season. My foot's feeling great,
toes, good, hamstring, shod. I mean, there was a list
of things last year, my hand, so all those things are good.
Gut surgery on my finger, sothat's feeling good. Yeah, it's it's
nice to be feeling better going intoyear nine than you have since maybe five

(53:30):
six years ago, which I've said, I've said I've been feeling great last
couple of years. I'm telling youit's a real deal this time. But
obviously anything can happen. But Ijust feel it's fun feeling really confident in
your body and being able to perform. So I could just go out during
practice and you know, go ballsto the wall and do everything that I

(53:53):
feel like I need to to beable to prepare. It's fun. My
brother and whoever I trained with mytrainerer Todd back home, Uh, I
think they'd be really proud of howI've been working this offseason and it's just
exciting. Pointing was the injuries.I'm the Green Bay game, you kind

(54:15):
of yeah, it was a bitof a build up, a little bit
of an overreaction, but you know, it's just tough. It comes sometimes
like that, and I just feltfelt really defeated coming back, had a
broken hand. I'm like, oh, yeah, I get to play Boom
first series foot pops. Thought I'dhave to get surgery, and all these

(54:37):
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 groin surgery, so youknow, a lot of things build up.
Yeah, you don't get a breakif you're injured. Everybody wants to

(54:58):
go on fans very nice, butno, I just I'm grateful that I
feel this way. I'm still stillnicey Ripe twenty eight, so not too
old yet. But yeah, I'mjust excited. I can't remember what the
original question was at this point,something about my body, how close you

(55:27):
and Gift were, How frustrating wasit that you couldn't you know soon for
one of those last three games.It was frustrating, but I mean,
Gift was had my back the wholeway. I think for Gift, for
any but for the whole team,just to show what it means to me.
It would have been important for meto be out there, but I

(55:49):
literally couldn't. I tried to practice, injured my footworse the very first play
I was and in practice, sono chance that was happening unless I wanted
to throw my next season away aswell. But no, I'm just I'm
proud of him for what he didwith the team, how he handled it,
and I need to call him back. Actually sorry, give Yeah,

(56:13):
I'm happy he gets to stay closeby with the with the Rams, and
uh, I'm just proud of allwe accomplished here together over the years,
and and we'll be close for therest of our lives. Was the footage.
It was this guy blest foot sprang. Yeah, I sprained one area
of my foot. Then when Itried to return and I sprained another area.
Was able to avoid getting surgery,which is kind of the main goal.

(56:38):
But yeah, it was it wastough when it comes to the addition
of but dupree W. You feltlike he's kind of brought to the to
the room and could bring on thefield. Yeah, it's when I heard
we got my brother some I don'tknow, maybe my brother told me.
I'm like, really, we justgot Bud Like that's no, that's no

(56:58):
small pickup. He's uh a seriouslyelite pass rusher has had some trouble with
injuries as well, so I understandhow that is, but not only him
as a player, but as apersonality. I heard Khalil just saying he's
he's a fun guy. He's afunny guy, and to have that in
the room another vet is always agreat addition. But I'm just excited to

(57:21):
have him intulee and to be ableto rotate like that and not drop off
at all when we come off thefield is huge. And now too,
he's going into a second year.Just what do you what are you kind
of what are some of the maturity, maturity areas you see 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,

(57:45):
playbook wise, always doing his job, working hard, just refining his technique
and pass rush. I mean,we 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 Julie. I've loved him since
the first days he's walked into thefacility, and I know he's just gonna

(58:07):
continue to get better. You thinkof the addition of Joe Olt, Yeah,
yeah, I'm gonna need to beathim up a little bit in camp.
So he's so he's ready. Butno, I think anything to protect
our number ten is a good,good investment. So he seems like a
real solid dude. Haven't talked tohim too much. Great build, seems

(58:30):
like he has good hands, goodfeet, strong. We'll see. We'll
see in a few weeks when Ilay a helmet in his chin how he
holds up. But it'll I'll takeit easy on him. No, Rashon's
a beast, did you know,Coach Harbond before he came here, and

(58:50):
if he did, just what werethose first couple of conversations like that?
Yeah, probably have crossed paths withhim. Maybe maybe not. Actually I
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 championship, so I'd saythey probably have the bragging rights right now.

(59:15):
I'm like the guy talking about hisold high school. Oh I remember
we used to kicks. No,but no, yeah, no, the
rivalry is dead. I was justsaying this morning, you know, nine
years and kind of forget about that. I'm not a great alumni. Sorry,
sorry coached, But no, that'sgreat. That's what's great about the

(59:37):
NFL is you just have guys fromall backgrounds. You could hate their guts
one one year, and then youcome on the same team and your brothers
and you're all working towards one goaltogether. So our first talk together was
great. I just sat down withthem, went up into his office and
chopped it up about life mainly andhis opportunity here and how much it means

(59:58):
to him, and uh, yeah, I think he's a special guy.
I think he's uh, the wayhe conducts himself. He's an interesting cat
for sure, and I'm still stillfeeling him out. But one thing you
can't denies that he loves football andhis main goal is to win football games.
And that's what we need. Whenyou see him working out with you
guys and and pushing his lives anddoing all this stuff, just how interesting

(01:00:22):
is that to see? Yeah,I mean he was a he was a
great player himself, and I thinkhe's always been, you know, built
like that lack of a better term. But yeah, he's uh, he's
part of the guys. You know, he's not this guy outside looking in.
He he really, I mean hevoiced that to me, is that

(01:00:42):
his favorite part of all of itis being with the guys and and the
connections he makes. So Yeah,to to see a guy like that come
in and embrace it all and kindof be part of it himself is important.
Your initial impressions of coach Minterre inthe Defensive gaming er, Yeah,
it's funny you go from old gift, old gift to this little young guy

(01:01:05):
who's my age. I wouldn't wantto get thrown into a room with me
and Khalil if I was his age. But no, he's been great.
I love messing with him a littlebit. We a little sarcasm back and
forth. But no, he's great. He's uh, very talks very fast,
and I don't as you know,so sometimes I gotta be like,

(01:01:29):
slow down, coach, come on. But no, he's great. I'm
excited, you know, to getcloser as the years, As the year
goes on, and I think hehas he has a lot of passion for
the position, and all he wantsto do is learn and and help us
to improve. So I'm excited abouthim and I me and I do miss

(01:01:51):
Gift. Obviously, it was along time with him, but I am
excited to have a new face andkind of have that challenge for me with
Jesse's dad, since I know hecoached linebackers in Michigan. Wait, did
you ask about Jesse? Did youask about doing Okay, you asked about
Jesse. Oh my god, Iwas talking about freaking dying the whole time.

(01:02:12):
You guys are so confused. No, sorry, I thought we I
thought I was. I thought youmentioned coach Ronie. No, no,
coach Mentor has been great as well. Yeah, they've both been great.
Sorry, run that back. No, he's been good. Uh yeah,
very knowledgeable guy. Same thing.I'm excited to get to know him more

(01:02:36):
as the year goes on. Haveyou worked Have you worked much? Rick
Jesse? Yeah, h no,I have not. I don't know if
I've said one word to him,but more words to come down the road.
Like you said, you've been inyear since twenty sixteen. Just what
are some of this stuff? Youjustone on a ramble about the wrong guy

(01:03:04):
for fifteen minutes walking what Yeah,what the heck? Actually that's literally not
this person. Yeah, I figuredout. What's something that you you worked
unduring the off season, something toimprove your game or is there something that

(01:03:25):
you can Usually my answer is prettyconsistent that I just continue to try to
prepare myself physically, whether that's mysprint work or agility work and my lifting,
but yeah, just to get everythingfeeling great. I dealt with those

(01:03:45):
injuries, so I had to kindof ramp it up with my finger and
foot and all those things. Butnow I'm I'm full full speed out there,
and I'm just going to continue todo what I know, uh will
prepare me for the season. Andand uh, I know I'm gonna get
plenty of technique work and position workwhen I'm out here. So for now,

(01:04:08):
I'm gonna spend these five weeks reallygetting uh preparing my body's workouts competitive
again another your competitive all that stuff. 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 a it'sa silent competition between between each other,

(01:04:30):
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
every day out there, so there'sthere's no off days. Have you got
you and him talked to all ofthem out I mean, I need just
when you were having a contract thing, do you guys have to talk about

(01:04:54):
one anybody? Oh yeah, Imean it's it's a conversation, not a
not really really a serious conversation,but something that's come up before. But
yeah, I mean it would becool, it would be cool at some
point. I Uh. I alwaysthought of myself being somebody that will play

(01:05:15):
here and retire here, which Ithink not many people do. On one
team, and I think would bea cool thing to accomplish. But you
never know. I'm gonna worry aboutthis year. First, it's kind of
we're on a food story. Butso you guys have like the lowest or
second lowest food catch area in theNFLPA survey last year, and you better
moved to the facility. Like haveyou talk a lot about food and how

(01:05:40):
he did some time? Is itfine video? 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,
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. So Yeah, my weight'sgood. I've been eating a lot this

(01:06:04):
off season, so that's good.But yeah, I'm excited to maybe be
able to Sorry Christina, but maybeI won't need a cheft next year.
I'll have I'll have my going onsee how to see the best fit Christian

(01:06:25):
Chris. Here we go. Yeah, Dria, welcome to Seattle. Were
you looking for in free agency?I fight that's a loaded question for real,
for real? Uh, you knowin terms of no pay system,
teammates, environment, city, allthose kind of just like play into it.
Besides just the money thing. Iknow, financials always play a big

(01:06:47):
role and I kind of steer youinto the direction you want to go.
But everything kind of plays into it. And how much did you reach out
to Shelby Drew knowing some of theguys you knew that played here last year
to get a sense for what offeryou? I mean, not much right
now, I'll talk to I talkto Showby a little bit about it.
Mainly no one. Drew, Uhjust congratulated me, Bob. Did you

(01:07:15):
come together pretty quickly? I knowyou kind of came your agreement on that
first Monday, and everything with Seattlethat come together really faster. Now,
it was a long day. Seattlecame in almost out of nowhere. We
had like a good set of teamsthat we're talking to just trying to like
finalize what was going on, whatwas it the term is going to be?
You know, and Seattle came inhot. They showed a lot of

(01:07:36):
interest and uh, they kind ofjust motivated me to come here more and
more. And how similar will yourrole be, you know in terms of
playing what you did in Denver.I don't know that yet. I got
of just mentioned previously. I don'tknow my role. I don't know the
ins and out yet. Once we'llget no through the protocols and the nfl
p A, we'll we'll talk aboutno, the schemes and everything. Right.

(01:08:01):
Uh, so welcome. When youwere in Denver in the three four,
where did you find yourself most comfortableand most affective? I played a
lot of different positions in Denver.I mean earlier in my year, I
played zero, I played three,two one. I mean, I'm definitely
more comfortable in a shaded position,mainly being a three technique and five technique.
That's why I found myself to bemore comfortable whether I'm standing up or

(01:08:24):
I'm not, whether it's runner orpass. Uh, those seem to be
my best my best fits. Andwhat is your impression of Pete Carroll's defense
and whole environment? Uh? Fromafar, it seems like he he holds
in on a defense a lot.Uh. I can't really say too much
about that. Yeah, I don't. I know Pete Carroll very little.

(01:08:45):
So uh, I'm just trying tofigure out more. And I'll give you
a better answer later. What's thereputation around the league out of the Seahawks,
Uh, you know hard nos Hardhad type of team definitely on a
little more lack side as opposed tobeing stuck up for military style, and
which is definitely good because then theythis program is one a lot of football
games have been super successful for manyyears, as long as I've been alive,

(01:09:09):
as long as I've been watching football, and definitely this has been a
good program. And Pete Carroll hasbeen a hell of a coach for as
long as I remember, even backin his college of days. So I'm
looking forward to experiencing that. JanBoyle, Yeah, I know you said
you don't know yet. You knowwhat your role is gonna be, which
is what what kind of player areyou you? For fans who haven't watched

(01:09:29):
it time of Denver, what whatkind of player get? Definitely a high
motor definitely not a one trip ponany type of player. Uh. I
like to attack, you know,whether it's a first set or first through
through fourth down, I like toattack. I'm always trying to apply pressure.
I'm definitely just a high mortar guyin my opinion, Brady, are

(01:09:51):
the U Brady Henderson for n Niceto meet you, that's what. Yeah,
this is not a team that reallymakes picks splash signings in free agency.
Do you think going into it theSeattle would be in play. Uh
No, not at all. Uh. You just it's kind of like being
a cure at the County Store.You know, I've got a whole bunch
of different options coming at you,uh hearing, a whole bunch of different
crazy things, and uh, youknow, you only get to choose one.

(01:10:13):
And this is the place that thatwe both chose each other. And
I mean, I'm loving Seattle sofar. You know, I like these
colors for real. Real, Whatwhat did you got to do with Seattle
or see since you've been here?Not much? Uh, just kind of
just drive around the city exploring,uh, getting down to the market a
little bit. I want to geton the Ferris will do some more like
touristy type of things. You know, I'm new to the city and I

(01:10:34):
got a lot to learn about thecity. All right. Yeah, there's
been a lot of comparisons with youto Michael Bennett. I was wondering if
you know Michael Bennett at all,and you think those are accurate. I
know Michael berger Ben it like nothing. I know nothing about it but besides
his style of play, but I'mhonored to be considered in the same conversation

(01:10:55):
as him and uh style of play. You know, He's a Hall of
Fame type of deep lineman that I'veknown about since I was a kid.
I mean, last time he playedhere, I was in high school.
So you know, it's cool toit kind of came full circle a little
bit watching him on TV and nowI'm being kind of compared to him in
a way, you know. Imean, I'm not touching the surface of
Michael Bennett. You know, he'sa Hall of Famer and I'm not there
yet. So you know, Ijust got to keep doing my due diligence

(01:11:17):
to be a better player. CanHey Dreamont, welcome to Seattle. I
know you get to play several seasonsfor VIC Fangio and three four style defense
and Seattle's playing a similar system nowdating back to last year. As a
defensive lineman, what do you thinkis most important to be successful in that

(01:11:38):
system? Maybe fundamentals or just playingstyle to be successful. From what I
learned, being gap sound and beingpatient has always been the biggest thing,
and that's how we've been successful whenI was in Denver, just kind of
like relying on each other. Iknow that sounds kind of cliche, but
like there's kind of like the realmof being in the three four defense.
You gotta really really rely on theguys behind you and the guys on to

(01:12:00):
you to really make their do todo their job, to make your job
easier. Bob. Yeah, Uh, your yourhow State Playoffs said you didn't
start playing football till you were juniorin high school and largely played basketball.
So then that's what made you,I guess decided to go go play football.
Then? Was that art away frombasketball? No, No, I've

(01:12:23):
always loved football first. Uh,it was just kind of just playing it
out. You know. I lovethe who, but you know, football
was definitely about calling. Given Iwas a two hundred and sixty five pounds
power forward and I was like sixstreas and change, so you know,
I kind of told the route thatGod gave me. Know I'm not six
eight mosta. Yeah. Mm.We'll come to Seattle and you've been quoted

(01:12:47):
and you're looking at a couple ofart things that you wasn't Undergod player,
and can you just talk a littlebit about that that role that was some
of the Leuicids always kind of countedout more than just from a standpoint,
like I always get like over overshadowed, overlooked, whether it's a in something,

(01:13:08):
you know what I'm saying, Like, I feel like I do a
lot more than what can be sittingby the eyes of the inexperienced, you
know, Scout and I do alot of different, different dynamic things that
help make plays for others. Youknow, I'm definitely an active player.
I'm always doing something, whether inthe runner pass game, so you know,
I think that goes on others sometimesand I'm looking forward to putting people

(01:13:30):
on notice. Thanks, Brady.What uh, what do you like to
do outside of football, big gamer? I'm definitely I've been getting to a
lot of chests lately, so justto expand my brain. Uh. I
try to get into reading, butif it's not sports plated, I'm really
not interested in reading that. Whatdo you think some of that I'll be

(01:13:53):
able to bring out out of yourgames? You keep trying to, you
know, just being more explosive,probably more yards per catch with the space
that he's putting us into the moreyards, more yards I have to catch,
more exposed to pick, more exposedto plays for not just only me,
but she and Ak and tas them. So I'm excited to be able

(01:14:14):
to be in the system. Iassume you think you guys can be a
lot more exposive than you have inthe last couple of years. Oh yeah,
of course. It brings a lotof different things, you know what
I'm saying, the playbook, butjust accountability. I feel like that's gonna
lead us to success. They said, the language is a little a little
shorter it. Have you found thatthe language that you guys use. Is
it about the same or is it? It's kind of really it's a long,

(01:14:38):
long place, but it's more understandingfor sure. I feel like you
can get to that more understanding plays, and I feel like that's that's the
difference. Peter was saying the otherday, just kind of like coming into
this offense after like twenty years ofbreeze and just kind of how it was
just kind of built on top ofeach other and on top of each other.
It's like kind of a lot tokind of take in. Do you
do you find that way kind ofturn it down to something new starting of

(01:15:00):
like zero with everybody. It's justa little bit easier to kind of get
everybody on the same. Yeah,I feel like it's way easier. Like
you said, it was kind ofmore of a Drew Brees style, uh
the last playbook, so uh allcredit to them, though they built that
around him, around his players.But uh, like I said, it's
it's more. Uh. This playbookis more uh for uh matchups, and

(01:15:21):
uh, I feel like it's gonnabe better for us. How 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
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.

(01:15:43):
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
she and ati receiver, so uh, just building around that. Uh,
Like I say said, playing toour strengths and be able to capitalize off
that. Feel like it's gonna helpus a lot. But most of like

(01:16:04):
the up tempo asterisk and you know, getting a lot of plays in un
less time. Oh yeah, yeah, Yeah, that's definitely gonna play a
big difference. Like I said,coming from the West Coast, Uh,
they bringing that stand for an offensehere, So I'm excited to be able
to be a part of that.For you personally, what's what's the next
level look like for you? Whatdo you what are you trying to accomplish
this year? Just staying consistent,man, a couple of upside downs last

(01:16:27):
year, just building off that.It's always always gonna work on the physical
part, but being able to bounceback after a bad game the mental mental
aspect. Uh, just learning andlearning that last year and be able to
build on that this year is ahuge part. You know with Mike Gon,
do you take it upon yourself tokind of be that voice in the
room or to take a step forwardeven further? Uh, I mean it's

(01:16:51):
not really. I mean everybody kindof grown in the NFL, So it's
just on you to be able tohave that standard. Like I said,
I just try to do that leadby example. I'm not really outspoken,
but just lead by example, workinghard, trying to dominate every rep and
hopefully they follow after that. Yardsafter the catch? Is that you feel

(01:17:13):
like that's the strength of yours thatmaybe wasn't utilize. I don't know if
utilizes the right word, but youcould show more. Yeah, it's an
offense that is built around that,uh, just catching the ball in space,
catching the ball over the middle oreven on the outside, uh with
with space and separation. Feel likeit's built around having yards after catch.
So I'm definitely proud to be inthe system, like I said, and

(01:17:36):
I'm excited. But is that isthat a mindset too? Like being good
at yards after the catch? Like? Oh yeah, I mean of course.
I mean you don't want to gettackled by the first person. And
my mindset is trying to take everytake everything to the house, you know,
every touch. So I definitely gotto do that more and definitely try
to work on that in practice.Great dude, man, some something that

(01:18:01):
I definitely needed, some that herelates to me. Uh, just from
backgrounds and uh, He's a greatcoach, great leader, Uh, motivational
and uh, like I said,I'm excited to have him around and for
him to push me is everything thatI need. Sothing you're talking about,
like mentally bouncing back you know fromtough performances or whatever. Like, did

(01:18:23):
you try to find your resources gonnahelp you figure out how to do that?
Oh? Yeah, I mean it'solder guys that uh tell me that's
natural, just have bad games.But uh, just having the standard that
I have for myself and the expectationsI have for myself gets hard sometimes.
So just be able to be hardon yourself, but at the same time

(01:18:43):
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 lining production.Are you okay with those certain games where
the defense is so focused on youthat other guys have big games and you're
just running good jout? Yeah,I'd definitely be one dimensional football. You
need to be able to throw theball as much as run the ball.

(01:19:05):
You know. It's funny. Somepeople think I'm an area guy. Some
people think I'm a wing tea guy. 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'sthat's kind of what our game plan is
right now, right Austin wore apodcast. When you think about your first
evaluations of the quarterbacks and going throughthese fifteen practices at how do you want

(01:19:27):
to structure that? I know thatyou and Ryan have probably talked about that
a good amount, Like what's theright way to set up a spring position
battle? How many reps does everybodyneed? What's sort of your plan?
Just from a general perspective, Iguess yeah, you know, we're really
detailed in what practice looks like andhow that's going to operate. But I
also think you need to let theplayers go, you know, so I
don't think you need to to putshackles on them, so to speak,

(01:19:49):
and just keep them constrained. Ithink you got to let them go and
you got to let them operate.And we were rotating I think everybody on
every two snaps today just and thatwas just what we're gonna do on day
one. You know, we'll reassesssaid after we got through it, get
a chance to count up all thereps of how many plays, how many
plays each guy got, and didthey get more in seven on than they
did in eleven on? You know, and we'll go through that whole thing
and that'll be a constant flow interms of how we're doing it. But

(01:20:12):
I think the best way people learnis they learn by doing, you know.
So they've been great in the meetingrooms. They're sharp when you get
him on the board. They're reallygood when they're watching film. But you
got to go out and you gottaplay the game. And so the more
we can put them in those situationsto play the game, the better we'll
have an opportunity to evaluate them.Ship thinking of all of these things go

(01:20:33):
back so forward Ryan's day. Youmentioned since you've done him since she was
a kid, what were your firstimpressions back then, and that she could
come full circle to now, likehow do you how do you feel about
that? It's still the same wayhe you know, even since he was
playing the little league. He wasthe ultimate competitor, you know, and
he was always trying to find away to win. He was great at

(01:20:56):
a lot of sports, baseball,basketball, football, you know. I
got anputu need to recruit him,you know. So I coached him when
I was at New Hampshire. Irecruit him out of high school. We
all, and we grew up reallyclose to each other, so the same
elementary school, the same high school, same junior high, same college,
you know. So I've known himsince for for a really long time.
But that competitive fire burns deep withhim, and that's the one thing that
I've always admired with him. Andhe's got an amazing athletic brain in terms

(01:21:19):
of how to process things and howto how to put people in position to
make place. He's always been thatprototypical coach on the field, no matter
what sport he was playing. SoI knew he was destined to be a
coach, you know. And Iwas fortunate in my career as a head
coach to have him on my staffin a couple of places, so I
got a chance to see him workfirsthand, you know. I got to
see him work firsthand as a playerand then as a coach. So the

(01:21:41):
success he had is not is notsurprising to me. Is there where you
see whey the success is at?Yeah, I think we all do that.
I think we come from a uniqueplace in a really small hometown in
New Hampshire where we all take alot of pride to where we're from,
and when anybody's successful coming out ofthere, then you kind of take a
little pride that that's it's the upbringingthat we all had, you know,

(01:22:01):
in the UTH sports program that wegrew up in in in every aspect,
whether it was football, baseball,basketball, those coaches we had an amazing
impact on us and that's why weare where we are right now. Ryan
said, he doesn't think of itas you working under him, that's working
with him. Fact is he isthe head coach. He makes me call

(01:22:24):
him sir though he just said canyou do that? Day one and I
was like, all right, rightnow. But I mean he ultimately is
the decision maker. You've been ahead coach. How do you think that's
going to work. Do you thinkthere'll be any as close as you are,
any kind of awkward moments? Theright term, But when he's the

(01:22:45):
ultimate decider and you are working forhim, Yeah, I certainly understand my
role. I'm not Alhaic, likeI'm not I'm not in charge here.
Yeah. Some people get that reference. Other people don't get that reference,
But I'd certainly understand that, andI actually kind of relish it because I
really love the scheming part. Ilove the individual part. I love being

(01:23:06):
in the meeting room of the quarterbacksand trying to game plan. But everything
we do here is collaborative. Youknow. The one thing that really struck
me when I walked in this placeis there's an amazing coaching staff here.
You know, and if you geta chance to talk to Larry Johnson just
about football, or Tim Walton orJim Knowles or Brian Hartline or any of
these guys that are on the staffhere, it's it's a very collaborative effort.

(01:23:29):
I think everybody's on the same page. You know, it's not our
offense and their defense and it's OhioState, you know, it's it's Ohio
State versus the twelve opponents that we'regoing to play during the regular season and
then beyond. So it's it's reallycollaborative. And that's the thing I like,
just in the short time that I'vebeen here, is how collaborative everybody's
been. You know, we're alltrying to make each other better, and
we're all trying to develop this team. Touched on this when you said,

(01:23:51):
you know you like to do whatyou want to do and not My sense
is you, in your perfect world, you'd like the scribble plays on and
not deal with boosters? Do Ideal with all the stuff that coaches head
coaches have to deal with now?And how much of a factor was that
in this decision you can just dofootball now that that's not it? I
mean, I enjoy I mean,we've had some amazing I've had an opportunity

(01:24:15):
and everywhere I've been to meet someamazing people that are associated with the program.
And there's people that from my timeat New Hampshire or my time at
Oregon. I was just with PhilNight two weeks ago, you know,
I got an opportunity to spend sometime with him and his wife, Penny,
who are dear friends of mine thathave been great mentors to me in
my career. And there's a bunchof people that at UCLA, Terry Donnahue
Andrea Donna who were awesome to me. Angela Mazzoni is a great friend,

(01:24:36):
Casey Wasserman, Troy Aikman. Therewas a bunch of people at UCLA that
I really enjoyed, you know,being around and talking with so I think
sometimes everybody wants to make a narrativeof it's either this or that. It's
it's it's never that. It's neverjust all ball, it's never just all
recruiting, it's never just all boosters. It's it's a mixture of everything.
But I think the one thing thatas this position as a head coach kept

(01:24:59):
moving on is that if you lookat a lot of them, they all
become more CEOs. You know,I can't tell you how many coaches that
have called me since I made thisdecision that said I'm two years behind you,
brother, you know that are thinkingthe same exact way. And I
think it's all part of what wehave to do. I think we all
need to protect this game and promotethis game, and I think there are
some rules that we need to getstraightened out so that people understand where what
it's about, because the game isstill about the players, and I hope

(01:25:24):
that never gets discounted. You know, it's it's always been about the players,
and I think if we can keepthat at the forefront the people that
are making decisions on this. AndI think Jean Smith is one of the
best influences in in the NCAAA isto make sure we keep that the main
thing. The main thing needs tobe the student athletes. You know,
you're coming in at a time whereyou've been through some places where the expectations

(01:25:47):
are high, I understand, whichalso coming into a juncture where you know,
the three losses to Michigan, thenot making the playoff last year,
the urgency is pretty high here.I guess just sort of what did 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.

(01:26:09):
Yeah, I think the expectations canbe no higher 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 one
thing about Ryan that I know abouthim and has always been he's the ultimate
competitor. So he's got There's nowherethat has higher expectations of Ohio State than
Ryan does, nor the rest ofus that joined him in our part of

(01:26:30):
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.
I think that's a real thing thatwe have to do as coaches, is
to make sure that our players aren'tworried about what's going on in the future,
or or aren't worried about what's goingon in the past, or worry
about can they get a little bitbetter today, you know, and can

(01:26:50):
we make improvement? And I thinkthe one thing that I've seen here and
I've only been here for three weeks, but there's a consistency to the players
approach when they walk in this buildingevery day, which just it's unique.
It's not like that everywhere else.And it's one of the 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 thisprogram right now. But I think it

(01:27:10):
speaks a lot to the leadership.There's 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
line with that. It's never hitit over 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 acouple of weeks. But what does that
mean to you to kind of begetting that responsibility from him and he's calling

(01:27:32):
essentially the offense that you gave it. I guess it way. Yeah.
I still think the play calling partwill be a collaborative effort. And by
that I mean that if it's agood play, I called it, and
if it's a bad play, hecalled it. Because the great part is
an assistant coach, you can justpoint the finger a little bit and just
say, hey, you know,I wanted to do this, but he
trumped me. So we haven't actuallydiscussed game day yet. You know,

(01:27:55):
we'll see how that operates. Buteverywhere I've been it's been a collaborative effort.
And all of a sudden, someonethat's calling the plays isn't isn't like
pulls one out of left field thatyou hadn't practiced and hadn't been part of
your offense and said, hey,let's do this. You know, we're
not running the annexation of Puerto Rico. You know, we're not coming up
with something special, you know inthe middle of the fourth quarter that we
haven't done. But I think it'sthe key to really being successful on offense

(01:28:19):
is is how you game plan,how you put it all together, and
then how you practice and train forthat so that you get a chance to
execute it. Because the player's confidencescomes from their demonstrated ability that they've done
this so many times in practice thatwhen they get out on the field that
this is like that to them,you know. And it's not that they
do it so they do it right, it's they practice it so much so
that they can't do it wrong.So, you know, I think it's

(01:28:41):
that whole part of it that isreally the key to being a really good
game planning team, right Doug LaneReef Kingdom North Chip. When you had
that feeling when you were coaching inquarterbacks during Bold, 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

(01:29:02):
else is out there. No,I never thought about quitting anything. So
you know, I just is therean opportunity that I think I can that
fit, you know, 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

(01:29:26):
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,
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

(01:29:49):
you know. I love football andin the as long as I can be
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

(01:30:10):
my players personally. You know,I think in this day and age of
the internet where they read it somewhereelse and you have to text message,
and you know, that was alwaysimportant to me that I wanted to make
sure I talked to my players andexplain the reasons of what I was doing.
I wasn't leaving to take a headcoaching job somewhere else. I wasn't
thinking that the grass is greener atanother university. Was just in my personal
situation, this is what I wantedto do. I wanted to take an
opportunity to go be a position coachand coordinator, and that's how it fit.

(01:30:34):
You know. What I was happyis that I always thought to Sean
Foster, I think the world ofthem, and I think he's a special
you know, and the fact thatthat they were they gave him the opportunity
to take over there was you know, it worked out. I didn't have
any say in that decision. Youknow, I was gone. But I
always thought that Deshaun would be agreat head coach, and I'm really proud

(01:30:55):
of him and happy that that hegot the opportunity to take that job right
behind him or at your reputation isinnovator. Was part of the appeal of
this is that you get to getin the weeds a little bit. Uh
maybe not mad Sciences, maybe tootoo strong of a work because you're working
within the system. But was therean appeal of I get to get my
hands dirty here again and innovate andget back to that side of things.

(01:31:19):
It was, but it was reallymore important of who I get to work
with, you know, and soknowing you know, I've got I know
a lot of guys on the staffbesides Ryan also, so you know,
when I know what their mindset isand what their values are and how they
do things, and so I wantto be a part of that. But
there's a part of that. Yeah, how much of a teacher you get

(01:31:41):
labeled in an innovator. The teachingis a part of this. How much
of a teacher are you and howpatient are you? Yeah, I think
we're all teachers. I mean,education is the transportation of knowledge, you
know, So it really doesn't matterwhat 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 things iswhat resonates with them and how does that

(01:32:02):
come back to them. So,you know, a lot of our teaching
styles that we've learned is more thesocratic method of there's a lot of questions,
you know, and a lot ofcheck for understandings, just to kind
of find out where the players arecoming from, because it's what they know
that that's ultimately gonna win games,not what we know. You know that
we're not playing the games. We'renot stepping across those white lines, you
know. And your job as acoach is to create an environment where they

(01:32:23):
have an opportunity to be successful andthen get out of their way and let
them go do it. So Ithink the teaching aspect is huge, and
we continue to research, you know, some of the latest trends in teaching
to make sure that we are transportingthat knowledge to our players. The second
roll left Steve Hellwagen twenty four sevenSports. Yeah, coach, just creous.
You got five scholarship quarterbacks with differinglevels of experience from age and everything

(01:32:47):
else. Not to annoy him,but just want to ask specifically about Will
Howard coming in after starting part oftwo years at Kansas State. He just
seems to promote this idea is thathe's a football player, you know,
above all else. Just how impressedare you with his makeup, his experience,

(01:33:08):
what he's bringing to the table walkingin here right now? Yeah,
really impressed. You know, youdon't have to talk to Will for more
than five minutes to kind of knowwhere he's coming from. He's really focused.
You know, he knows he's gota short window left in his college
career, and it really wants tocapitalize on what that is. There's a
maturity to Will, you know.I really I've had experience, My experience

(01:33:30):
in this thing since the transfer portalopened in college football is some of the
best players I've had an opportunity tocoach. Ard transfers. Sometimes when you're
a true freshman and it's five yearsout, you know, it's like,
hey, I got a ton oftime, you know, And sometimes when
you're a transfer, is that I'vegot nine months, you know, So
there's a sense of urgency. Ithink when you're dealing with with transfers,
and I think Will has exuded thatsince he's been here. But the other

(01:33:51):
thing that I just in the shorttime that Will's been here is how quickly
he's fit in with the entire team, you know, and how much the
rest of the players respect him.You know, he was uh one of
the Gold Award winners for his workin the weight room in this offseason,
so that says a lot for himcoming in here as a in a short
time, being able to to wina weight room award, you know,
to start off. Do you guyshope to have the number one internally externally

(01:34:15):
at the end of spring or Iguess just let it play out? How
do you I? I think italways every time I've been involved in these,
I think when they're organic is whenit's the best. Uh. I
don't think you can anoint somebody orforce the issue because the players know.
The players would understand. They seeit every single day, you know,
and there's a team chemistry part ofthis thing too, So we're not gonna
force the issue a But I've alwaysseen it play itself out. So I've

(01:34:39):
been fortunate that there's always gonna besome quarterback battles. At at some point
in time at every school there's aquarterback battle, you know, and then
and really you you gotta let himplay it out on the field, and
that's where it has to that that'swhere it has to be decided. Just
a couple more Hey, welcome thanwe We're excited to have you here.
Thank you. I'm kind of totalk about the innovative part. Rind I

(01:35:00):
had said that that's something that he'salways loved but working with you and now
he wants you to bring that hereand how it fit with Ohio State.
Do you to the idea what that'sgoing to look like yet or is it
just way too up? I haveno idea, you know. I think
part of it is is you're tryingto put the players in position to make
play. So a lot of thatcomes from getting to understand the players and
what their skill sets are and howwe feature what their skill sets are,

(01:35:24):
you know, and the one thingafter day one, I can tell you
that there's a lot of skill setout there, you know. So that's
that's what gets you excited, youknow, That's what that's what you jump
out of bed in the morning andyou're excited to go to work because of
the talent that you get to workwith, But the one thing that's the
most impressive is the work ethic thatgoes along with that talent. You know,
it's not just empty talent. It'syou got some kids who want to

(01:35:45):
I mean all of them since I'vebeen here, want to work. So
that's what gets you excited. ButI think assessing what the skill set is
you know that we have available tous on the offensive side of the ball
is vitally important. And then ourjob is to put those guys in positions
to make place lots of pressure.I mean, you've experienced what it's like
to coach national championship, how overteams this program right now and moving into

(01:36:09):
a situation where you gotta win MMquick and now. So does that feel
like pressure here for you or isit a little bit of excitement or both?
Well, I've always subscribed to aspressure is what you feel when you
don't know what you're doing. Soif you don't wanna feel pressure, then
you should know what you're doing,So, you know, I think it's
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

(01:36:30):
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 mindset 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 cause we
get out on the field today andgot a chance to do some football.
And then the challenge is when weget back on the field on Thursday,

(01:36:53):
can we be a little bit betterthan we were on Tuesday. And if
we're doing that, then we keepstacking good days on top of good days,
and I think we'll be in goodspot for r and welcome, Thank
you. I'm gonna ask about thepros and cons of coaching from the box
and coaching from the field. It'sinteresting talk to some off some coordinators.
Tom Herman talked about it. Heswore he wanted to coach from the box.
Saw the game so much better,sterile environment, not all the chaos

(01:37:14):
on the field. Some coaches youtalk to, but like I want to
be on the field so I canlook at my guys in the in the
eye. Where are you at asa as a coordinator? Honestly, And
I've thought of this a lot.I thought of it a lot during COVID
because we had the empty stands,you know, so I had thought about
just walking up into the stands fora little bit because I had a better
advantage. I've always believed you cansee the game better from up above,
but I believe you can feel thegame better from the field. So if

(01:37:36):
there was any way we could geta zip wire where you could do both,
you know, coach called from thereand then zip down of the field
get a chance to talk to him, because it's a different deal when you're
talking to the quarterbacks on a phone, you know, than being able to
look in their eye and kind ofsee where they are with it, And
part of it is the field partof it. I remember when I coached
Ryan once we were playing Yukon andhe got hit hard going out of bounce

(01:37:59):
and he just walked by me andI was a play caller, and he
was like, run the next play, and I just kind of looked at
him. I saw the look inhis eyes because I don't think he could
have thrown it. You know,he was still trying to get his win
back. But you wouldn't know thatif you're up in the booth, you
know, and you call a passplay from up in the booth and you're
like, how come we can't completethat? Well, he just took a
shot going out of bound. Soit's that fine line that I don't have
an answer, you know. Ithink I think it's feel on the ground

(01:38:20):
and it's see from up above.Maybe in this day a technology, they'll
figure it out. But we'll seehow that that that operates, and whatever
Ryan feels is the best for theteam is what we're gonna do. So
your teams at the Oregon were obviouslyno. E. We're playing at this
assid pace and running a bunch ofplays for a minute and yep, maybe

(01:38:42):
not by a past pretty fast.What rule do you see tempo and having
an offense? And in the Statesin college football and has maybe changed.
I think the game is always evolving, you know. I think when I
left in two thousand and twelve togo to the National Football League, Oregon
was the only team that was playingreally really fast and had shiny helmets,
and when I came back in twentyseventeen, everybody had shiny helmets and everybody

(01:39:06):
was playing fast. So I thinkthe game is always going to go up
and down, and there's going tobe different cycles that it goes through.
I think tempo is part of anoffensive, but I don't think it's an
offense in itself. I think it'smore of like if you go to dinner,
it's a side order. You know, it's not the main course,
but it's it's always good to haveit. So I think there's times when
you'll use it, but you're you'renot going to use it extensively the entire

(01:39:30):
game, just like you're not goingto throw the ball every single snap in
the game. You're not going torun the ball every single snap in the
game. You know, there's there'snot a game of absolutes anymore. I
think the ability to be diverse andhave it as a tool in your two
box, so to speak, isreally how we would look at using it.
Here are now more familiar with itthan I think, So, you
know, I think when you firststarted going Temple, there were people in

(01:39:51):
the NCAA they want to outlaw it. They want to make an NCAA role
that you had, you couldn't doit, you know, And I'll give
coach shaping credit. I mean,I think obviously Nick was first one to
do it. He wanted out loud, and then all of a sudden he
adapted it and said, all right, we like this, you know,
so we'll keep it in. Butit's I think people have it doesn't matter
what you do. There's there's cyclesto this game, and then once people

(01:40:14):
catch on to that cycle, thenit moves. You know. It's no
different than for three defenses and threefour defenses. You know what is the
rage when the when the Giants wonthe Super Bowl, they were there were
three four defense and everybody, everybodysays, we have to do that.
What people didn't understand is they hadCarl Banks and Lawrence Taylor. It didn't
matter what defense they were running.I know, Gym's back there and Jim
played against the you know it wasthey could have been a four down defense

(01:40:35):
and those guys would have been greatplayers. But it's not the scheme.
I think that the coaches that doit the best way is they insert their
players and put them in the bestposition to make plays and now now will
Temple be part of it. It'llbe part of it, but it's certainly
not going to be the main course. Last question, Oh, thank you
very much, Jerry. Uh rememberone of There was a great moment there

(01:40:56):
when y'all were warming up, whenyou were you were talking with Tim Walton,
Caleb Day 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 in that field todayon both sides of the ball. 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

(01:41:18):
Caleb would be, could be andshould be. But I'm not the head
coach, so I always turned stretchas a as an offensive coordinator, I'm
always looking at the defensive players likeI could use him. Oh what could
I do if I had him?What could I do if I have him?
But I don't. I don't getto choose him anymore because I'm I'm

(01:41:39):
not. I don't have the pick. But I was just talking to him
about he's He's a great young man. And if you watch if you want
to watch a highlight tape watch hisOh you know, I understand I came
up a rough season, but Idon't think it's a step down of where
I can play. You know,I think when I'm at the top of
my game, I'm still a topfive player in my position. And you

(01:42:00):
know, I played a run inthe past and I bring leadership and you
know that's not anything I discome.Can you do you plan to be here
for many camp ram a storage inthe camp? Yeah? How difficult has
it been the last two weeks tonot be here? I mean you said
in your podcast the first time you'venever not been at OTA. Yeah,
it w It was difficult, Butlike you know, the thing I got

(01:42:20):
very frustrated with was just when peoplequestioned my communication with the team. You
know, I uh was communicating withguys left and right, and you know,
front office, coaches, teammates,and all I care about is how
I am with my teammates. Idon't want them to ever think I don't
care about them or how I'm notin it. And you know, you

(01:42:44):
can say whatever you want about me, but besides that, but I'll always
dedicate anything I can't do them,and I don't want that to every question.
Isaia said that it felt like sometimesyou were hold up somewhere watching film.
You texted, h you missed thisor you want that. Well,
like the first he was batting allup Russ's passes, so I had to
let him know. You know,uh, you gotta take advantage of that.

(01:43:05):
You gotta make sure guys are youknow, uh know that you you
still care and you still want tobe a part of this. Uh.
You know, just watching practice,there's a couple of things we're doing different,
whether I'm communicating with Dunbar or otherpeople. You know. So yeah,
so you're that You're also talking withhim and you you've given him pointeers

(01:43:26):
during the off season, just constantcommunication. How do you see him grow
as a person, you know,as far as how he's approaching things,
how he's getting ready for this seasonfrom his rookie Uh. You know,
I think the thing with Keanu ishe's more comfortable. You know, you
know it's not his first time aroundthe track. You know, it's actually
like he can you know, uhcatch his feet under him. You know.
I always think when you're in yourrookie season, you're going from bowl

(01:43:50):
game. I don't even know Wisconsinplaying a bowl game. Sorry Wisconsin,
I don't even know, but youknow, personally, I just think when
you go from bowl game to trainingfor the Combine to you know, rookie
mining camps, OTA's the you knowmini camp, I mean the training camp
the regular season, you really don'tget a time to really catch yourself.

(01:44:11):
You know, he understands the playbook. Now you can be more vocal,
you know, And I think whenmy absence, the other guys absence,
you know, you need guys likethat to step up and be ready for
those opportunities. What the server youhad, the same you had during the
season was a more thorough What wasjust tightened down everything, you know on
my left side because I was overcompensatinga little bit, but you know it

(01:44:34):
was it wasn't anything that lingers.You know, I'll say this, A
growing is not like an a clIt's not like anything's ever gonnaet 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

(01:44:56):
able to accomplish? Yourself usually termto bring guys like Russian think. You
know, I think they're all goodacquisitions, but you know, you never
want to be known as a paperchampion and so can't win the off season.
I think the work gets done outhere on the field, gets done
in the classroom. Wow, itgets done training, uh, you know,
and then you see where you're atin training camp and then you build

(01:45:18):
on that. You know, Ithink we got the right guys in the
building. It's just about putting acomplete name on the field camp. How
temper colleagues to separate the business partof the game in the actual football player.
H You know, you always wannayou always have to treat it like
a business because you know one dayit's gonna end. Uh. And that's

(01:45:43):
any job. Uh. It's notlike in college where you know you got
four years guaranteed. I don't know, well now you don't know whether an
il and know it's crap, butthe transfer portal portal. But you know
you have to you know, Istill have lover for the game, and
I still work my tail off andI still put everything into it and that's

(01:46:03):
not gonna change. But you haveto know, uh what you bring to
the team and what your what yourvalue is canon. Did it feel to
be out there with your teammates today? Emotionally great? You know, we
got a new uh, we gota new training staff and still learning the
the warm up a little different.Uh, but uh, you know I
loved it. Uh, you know, just getting after it, learning new

(01:46:27):
guys. Uh, going through thesame drills I've been doing by myself.
Uh. I actually like having morepeople around, cause like kind of go
start crazy crazy when it's just youand another guy. You're like, damn,
I gotta go back up for anotherrep already. And so you know,
it's nice to be up here andget a chance to, you know,
be with my guys. Cam.Were you confident? And Dele will

(01:46:48):
get done with your emotions? Oh, I'm gonna I'll try to remain pretty
neutral, cause you know, Idon't wanna, you know, be too
either way. All I know isI wanna be here. But we'll see
what happens. This was my lastyear here. I I I I've had

(01:47:09):
a great career here, but uh, I'll look forward to play next year.
Can you with that second surgery?You said it this ton was on
the left side. It was thefirst time around on the right side,
right side during the season, leftside, and that was just tightening down
my corner. My corma saw.It wasn't the same as my ad doctor.
You know, you can ask doctorBradley, uh, doctor doctor Zuckerbron

(01:47:31):
who uh did the surgery as well. You know, I if anything's gonna
help me and it'll make me alot stronger from hearing up. Did you
say 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 atrainer up north, uh shadow Cole Haley,

(01:47:51):
who's my guy, traded trained trained, Uh, Heath Miller, Brett
Keesel. The multitude guys that Iall respect and we've just been getting after
Kim is a very few guys historicallythirty five that you paid big contract that
you think that's held against you.I think there's not a lot of history

(01:48:12):
behind it. But you know,for me, I I look at as
I'm not looking to be like anybodyelse. You know, my game is
different from everybody else in this league. You know, I like to think,
you know, I can play therun in the past and then that's
where I'm different, you know,I remember last year, Mike t just
brought to my attention. You know, the thing that's really cool is you

(01:48:33):
watch powerlisters, and you know,my game's built on powering technique, and
those guys go into their forties andso you know, that's what kind of
research I'm doing behind the scenes.But you know, I I we'll see
what happens. There's there's not alot of history, but I'm here to

(01:48:53):
make history. And I'm here toyou know, and win another super Bowl
here and you know, have agreat season. Do you have a set
all over yourself or how many yearsyou wanna play in the NFL? Or
do you just take things year bythe year? You know it? It
was it was tough answering that questionright after the season. I will say
this, guys, I I can'tkeep answering that question right after the season.

(01:49:13):
That is not fair to the season, that's not fair to my family.
Uh you know, but in mymind, I got three years and
I wanna maximize them. I wannaplay at a high level and I wanna
go deep in the playoffs. Andyou know, we got a good team
and I'm gonna do my part tobe ready for all those situations you plan
on practicing when you reports to Latroveror is your possibility that you might pull

(01:49:36):
in and enforce negotiations. I Ihave not even thought that far. I've
taken a day by day. Uhyou know. Uh, I told my
agent and we talked about it.I mean we were cool coming out here.
You know, I'll be here formany you know, and then I'll
be there for training parent you know, I don't know what the work entails,

(01:49:57):
but when we get there, wwe'll cross that bridge. Why is
it or remain a stealer for thosethree years? You know, there was
a conversation between me Omar and Miket And there's certain guys that are one
helmet guys, you know, andI wanna be one of those one helmet

(01:50:17):
guys. And you know, there'sa there's a hunger and desire there.
But that doesn't mean just hanging itup and calling a career to me.
I think, you know, Igot more bullets to fire, and uh,
you know, I'm excited to dothat. What's the meanest one you
in? Russell? What did yourimpression of him? W What does he

(01:50:38):
do well that you're like, Okay, yeah, this is this is the
brother own take uncloses you born?You did close for Yeah, you committed
right up in the visit. Imean when you came down here, was
there a thought process that you couldcommit. Did you come down with an
open mind or did you kind ofhave a feeling that this was gonna be
the weekend of under Uh. Icame down with open one. I didn't
know about the maid really that andthen I got here, I felt the
UH family. I here with theprayer of the code. What was that

(01:51:01):
moment like for you talking to coachestelling me they're telling your family? Just
what was that like for you?But it was great? I have my
mom, my dad, all mymon's in the room or you know what
was that reaction? Well, everybodyalred real like from the great fun.
So what was coach after that?It was a time when you think of

(01:51:21):
like just to comment or the yeah, just an Ohio state back. You
know, whether it's physicality, likewhat are the first things that come to
mind when you think of they don'thigh shap or any back sweet of powers
on and tell you about it?Yeah? Is that something that I mean
you feel like you have to youknow we're going or is that something that
you're like, Yeah, that's thekind of back I am. I'm just

(01:51:42):
gonna be next to mine and whist. I think that's the top back I
am. But you go out andgroup, Yeah, well, what are
kind of a few of those thingsthat you're like, Yeah, I need
to work on and I go overthe course of the next few months,
or I'm just everything. Make sureI keep all the details. Will security.
You know what a coach I'll tellyou that he likes about your game?
Is it right between attack you speed? What is he like? He
said you like marrow fucking backfield?Man? Thinking like that, I'm gonna

(01:52:05):
what's kind of your main I meanobviously as an in state kid committed to
this class, what's your pitch nowto other recruits and being like, this
is why you should join the HioState st It's a real family. I'm
just furious. Yea, everybody getthem on, everybody talking to everybody know
each other. What'd you say onceyou get any trucks bringing I've always looked

(01:52:31):
up to Bill Jackson watching this film. Do you uh that's funny? Do
you think that your boy style canbear his permisical push back in and just
the way that he really hopes toget off and I think that you let
Yeah, I think I can.I think it's beedy in power. Yeah,
I think I believe. Who arethe main guys that you're you're talking

(01:52:54):
to right now to join the spot? I'm really talking to everybody, uh
listening? Wrote him in that altocommit, show any guys that you want
to join the class, anybody atthe top of your list? Not did
im sorry if you already asked this, but coming up here as a as
a recruit or as a commit,I'm sorry. What what did you want
to show today? What did youwant to get out of this experience?

(01:53:15):
It wasn't nothing to show, nothingto prove. I just wanted to do
some working with Glove. How didyou feel like that went? Obviously he's
still relatively new here, but heseems to bring up a little bit of
a different energy than than some ofthese camps in the past. I feel
like it went good. Anyway,Do you sense that energy? I mean,
when you're out with him, it'sI feel intense energy. He's different
than other guys though, right,I mean kind of how you would you

(01:53:36):
explain his coaching than some of theother running back coach you may have worked
with in the path. It's justintense sense, like go go go.
Did did you talk to talk onewhen he was an organ? I did?
Okay? So when when didn't he? Did the organ get him market
like Rufford around like half of theseason like not too far? Just okay?

(01:53:58):
Is it? I mean, isit was? He kind of the
same guy that he is now,just just in a new uniform. Basically.
Yeah. Then you guys obviously addedIsaiah 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 for being a clas through ornot things. So what do you like
about Isaiah? I don't know,you never met him, but you just

(01:54:21):
damn on the first when you committed. Who were some of the guys that
you starts from in particularly about afterthey come up? I'm not really a
couple of linebackers. Take me asI appreciate this. I mean, obviously

(01:54:48):
we've got a couple ye before youget here. I'm curious about how you
put so higher straight like how Imean it's pretty he started pretty good,
but I mean in terms of theguys. Don't you want to join?
How do you think you're uitar?Miss lunch Jestic Carton to mar hamper Its

(01:55:09):
lunch, your camp shirt, suthingthe great a great right sees What do
you want me out of a twelveback? Like a white? You're missing
a test specifically? What this iswhat we wanted? Count guard grade Rochester?

(01:55:58):
Thank you? Grow those music tocoach kind of very person once again
you're talking about Kelly about that don'tlike MS the first time I met him?

(01:56:21):
You know, we just find it. Yeah, what do you think
you can where you you know?Yeah? So like the lotions over against
what's been like for you just movingout to California being out of condent.
This is a little lots like helpme yea to listen, like a different

(01:56:49):
things what a statement here or whenyou were just a couple. Yeah,
it's definitely different. So it's livehere in a new generation of recruits where
I don't think anybody outside looking anyroad. The question is the strength of
your commitment, Like you're locked intothe last eight you send it over and
over, but you're making visits aroundthe country. You've seen other schools.

(01:57:12):
It's it's almost a totally different mindset. In nineteen that was like the first
year we were making a transition,and then you know, COVID hit,
and then you know, every yearit just seems like there's something else.
And I could come to the conclusionthat every year is going to be different
and we have to adapt. Butthere's certain things that we're not going to
change. There's certain values we're notgoing to change. It just you know,
you know, principles that have youknow, stood the test of time.

(01:57:34):
And I shared this with a groupbefore when I started doing some some
research as we were doing some someof our recruiting you know, introductions and
some of our you know, talksabout you know, the traditions of Ohio
State. We talked about how OhioStadium was built, you know, and
when you when you when you doyour research on that one hundred years ago,

(01:57:57):
you know, folks have the ideaof building a stadium over sixty thousand
people, and that's because of whatChick Carley was doing. And you know,
they had a wooden bleachers over hereand all these people started coming in
and the idea of bringing in astadium that of our sixty thousand people at
the time was like, this iscrazy, what is college football turning into?
And they instead of going to thestate or going to the school the
community, they went to the communityto raise the money they raised over at

(01:58:19):
the time over a million dollars.Well night, Fast forward one hundred years
and the conversation still might be likewhat is college football doing right? And
in this situation then il we hadto turn to the community for help,
and Bucky Nation showed up again ina big way. So, although the
landscape is changing, I don't knowif you know, one hundred years later,

(01:58:40):
if it's that much different. It'sjust in a different time, in
a different you know, set ofissues that we're working through. But I
think it's exciting. I think there'sa lot of positives to it. I
do. I think that we're takingthe next step with the revenue sharing to
try to institutionalize some of it wouldbe big for US ReBs. Yeah,

(01:59:03):
every years got question. It seemslike this year's team has fewer questions off
the line. Specifically, if youlook ahead and more than a month,
what are the real questions that youhave in your mind about position battles and
who's gonna I would say, onoffense, you know, we got to

(01:59:28):
square away the quarterback as you know, I feel like, you know,
the offensive line on the right side, we've got to solidify that. I
feel like we got to build,you know, enough depth at receiver that
we feel like we can put infive or six in the game and feel
good about it. On defense,I think we're still looking to figure out,

(01:59:49):
you know, who are going tobe the guys inside, you know,
the the third, the fourth,the fifth, defensive interier linement that
we're gonna put in the game.And then same thing just just I would
say depth, a little bit ofsafety, just to kind of see who
those next guys are. They're goingto step up and so we know it's
going to be a long year.We're going to need everybody and and so

(02:00:11):
in a lot of those areas,it's depth. Uh, special teams wise,
you know, punter is going tobe you know that that is significant.
You know, we just brought inNick and you know, so there'll
be a battle there. So I'dsay those are probably the areas we're focused
on the most. Ryan just tofall on the offensive line, there was
I think a school apology. Youguys might be looked for a transfer in

(02:00:32):
that post spring window. Did youguys do that? Did you guys not
find the guy or were you justconfident the guys you have, Just like
you know in January, if ifwe're going to bring somebody in, it
is to fill a hole. We'renot just going to bring somebody in to
bring somebody in. Like at allpositions, we'll always look to see what's
out there. We get evaluate someof the guys that were out there,

(02:00:56):
and you know, you know,we felt like coming out of it as
we evaluated, you know, therewas a couple of guys that you know,
we checked on, but but ultimatelylike based on where we were and
some of the young guys that arecoming up, you know, we felt
like we saw some progress in theoffensive line in the spring. So you
know, it wasn't there wasn't asmany folks in the portal, you know,
in after the spring. So welooked at it, we identified it,

(02:01:18):
We did our due diligence, butyou know we're gonna go with through.
We have now second round, BillAnders, right, you're it was
interesting that you have two of maybethe top five ors of guys in sport
and then a bunch of guys whohaven't plenty uh, maybe someone that I
don't my question, but did youconsider trying to add there understanding the probably

(02:01:39):
the difficult sell we have such tellinghow the brinks that you have these experiences,
like what were those conversations like andhow did you sett along being comfortable
with you know, Trey and well, like you said, you know,
I think we're we will get someexperience there with those two guys. And
then you know, we felt likecoming out of the spring that James and
Sam both did a nice job andyou know we're gonna have to play them

(02:02:00):
and they're gonna have to you know, take on a little bit of that
you know, we have you know, started having conversation with Caleb Downs.
I was part of the recruiting processof possibly you know, doing a little
bit of running back as well.It's something that he wanted to do.
So we've been having him in someof the meetings and some of the individual
drills as a possibility there if youknow, needed so down the road to

(02:02:20):
continue to build depth at that position. But you know, I think,
you know, we feel like youknow, 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,so that should take some carries away from
them. But to your point,you know, James and Sam are gonna

(02:02:43):
have to step up to the guysthat we can count on. Save that
for another day. Yeah, justfall up on it. Is he capable
of stepping in and being running back? I mean obviously says a lot.
We'll see, we'll see. Wetalked about in the recruiting process, you

(02:03:04):
know, the first time around,and more specifically in the second time around,
and so he's you know, he'sbeen around a little bit just to
get a feel for it. Wedid very little in the spring. We
did I think we pitched them anoption or something like that in the spring
just to kind of get them going. But we'll see, we'll see where
that goes. We don't have aspecific plan right now, but we do

(02:03:24):
want to introduce him to that justthe same thing like Lorenzo Styles has played
your see where he did that NotreDame. You know, he's out there
a little bit just kind of learning. It's healthy. You know, you're
seeing it from the other side ofthe ball. This time of the year,
you can get away with that alittle bit, a little bit in
the preseason. Where it goes,we'll see, but you just never know.
We're trying to put some contingency plansin place because it could be a

(02:03:44):
long season. Yeah. This ismy forty fourth year cover of House Stay.
I don't remember ever expectations like thisIn the summer. There were some
of them were almost as big.Sure do you sense that too? And
what's that pressure like as you're workingthrough a summer. Yeah, And people
have asked me that I go backto the expectations every year are the same.
I mean, it's just the truth. When opening press conference I said

(02:04:05):
you got to beat the team upnorth, and when every game after that,
that's just the expectations. And whenyou come up short, you know
you've got to figure out a wayto get those things fixed. I think
we have done that. But theexpectations are the same every year. Pressure
is the same every year. Ijust like the pressure when you've got a
really good team behind you. Sothat's what we've got right now, and
you know, we know it's goingto be a long season. We know
what we're working towards. But Iwill say this about this team, Well,

(02:04:28):
well we've been talented. That's there'sbeen times in the past we've been
talented. I don't know since I'vebeen here. If we've been this talented
and this experience together with guys thathave played a lot of football, fourth
and fifth year guys, and thatdoesn't matter, we'll go thank door step.
Maybe this is just talk because it'ssummer. Conviously, you can now

(02:04:48):
just have conversations. Maybe we're makinga big nothing long term situations. But
we've seen it around college football theleague, guys playing both sides of the
ball. I'm doing it quite wellright Travis un is doing college Caleb has
been apartment turns, so we seewhat he could do with the ball.
But there's also the standina aspect ofthat. I just get into a sixteen
game season, so I'm not sayingit'stenty forty snaps or something like that.

(02:05:10):
But what about his athleticism, whathe brings to the table, and let
you know that if you wanted toexplore it a real game, he could
last and still be an effective seetyYeah, yeah, we'd have to see
all that he did it in highschool. But we got some really good
running backs in a room. Soit's not something that we're planning on doing,
but uh, we all we aregonna, you know, work on
a little bit Caleb. Caleb enjoysthat part of it. We did agree

(02:05:32):
that that was something that we weregoing to look into. Where it goes,
I don't I don't really know rightnow, but I know that he
has the capability to do it.He has the athleticism and do it,
and you know, we'll kind ofsee where it goes, see see how
he does, and you know,maybe hand the ball Tom a little bit
of the preseason because again, it'sgoing to be a long season. We
have to make sure we have continuencyplans in place. But I know it's

(02:05:54):
something that he enjoys having the ballin his hand. So even during their
first time around the recruiting process,we talk about him coming in as a
as an offensive player. Ultimately wethink a ceiling is highest on defense.
But you know, but I alsoagree, I think that having you know,
guys go on the other side ofthe ball and just see it,
listen to meetings is really healthy forthe development. So we're gonna do that

(02:06:16):
regardless, your defensive recruiting right nowis maybe further a long it's been in
the years past, and I thinkwe passd difmous questions about it in the
past, But is this a productof seeing it over the last couple of
years and now it's not just tellingguys, hey, this might look like
this, they're seeing it in realtime. Yeah. You know, we
talked about it when Jim first camein, and I think Tim walls an

(02:06:39):
unbelievable job as well in the backend, and you know, Matt stepped
right in and James and Larry.I think they're all doing a great job.
But like you said, you know, it's one thing to talk about
it. That's theory. Testimony isthis, look at this is this is
what we're doing. And then Ithink you're seeing a lot of guys just
excited about playing in this defense.I think they see the capabilities and the
flexibility too. You know, rightnow, the way we play, excuse

(02:07:00):
me, the way we play rightnow is based on you know, we
have four really talented defensive linemen thatare really good, and we got a
lot of that to those positions,but there's also flexibility with some of the
things Gym's done in the past thatyou know, we're definitely looking at,
and some of the recruits that we'relooking at who brings some versatility pass rusher,
you know we have that jack positionand those type of things. So,
uh, that's exciting as well.And I think you're seeing a lot

(02:07:23):
of the recruits, you know,really get fired up when they get here.
People. Yeah, coach, Ithink your first couple years your identity
was was very bigger from an AWFUstandpoint and air it out type team.
Look at the key best talent andthe playmakers you have therese your identity changed.
I guess what do you think theidentity is of this twenty point fourth

(02:07:44):
Well, we'll see as we go, but you know, we know what
we need to do to play inthe big games. That's never changed.
And we have to be able tostop the run, run the football,
take care of the ball, andthere'll be opportunities to throw the ball that'll
that'll happen, But you know we'regonna have to do those things to win
close games and play situational football.But I think you know, you won't

(02:08:05):
really get a feel for what theidentity 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 could go. But you know, now that we're
playing in a playoff format, justlike a lot of those NFL teams sometimes,
you know, they don't really quiteunderstand their identity until they get about
halfway through the season. I don'tthink it'll take that long. But you
know, we're able to play somegames and kind of work through some things.

(02:08:26):
And I don't think our defense isgoing to change a bunch in terms
of what we did last year.I mean, it's a lot of the
same guys back. Could look alittle different on offense. Got time for
two more? Go to dougl Maries. Okay, right, you lose an
important recruiting staffer to promotion at Michiganjust this offseason. How do you react

(02:08:50):
something like that? Is something thatsomeone like that take information that that could
all Michigan. Yeah, all goodquestions, And you know, I just
I want to talk about the guysthat are here, you know, the
staff members that are here, thecoaches that are here, the players that

(02:09:11):
are here, the ones that areBuckeyes. Joe didgit with the scheduling change
that was announced yesterday. Come Togetherdidn't have anything to do with the expanded
the playoffs, may well beginning theseason a little 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,

(02:09:37):
we do have to look a littlebit different at our scheduling as we
move forward, based on the waythe format is at the end of the
season. That's quickly about the linebackersgot in here a little bit late.
How do you feel about your linebackers? Tody seems like he always ease the
betans is like he's lucking as astarter. CJ. When do you see
his role being Sonny? When yousee his role being gay and all this
guy? Yeah, good versatility.All those guys are vel Reese, Like

(02:09:58):
you said, c J, Gabe, Sonny, Cody. You know I'm
missing a couple, I'm sure,but like that was that the r Bell?
Yeah, I mean these guys arereally versatile guys. You can see
the length on them, and youknow they do a good job in terms
of like fitting the runs. Theyknow how to ship runs right, now,

(02:10:20):
so they know how things should operate, and I gotta spend time making
sure those other guys get ready andget caught up to speed in a timely
fashion. It's great. He's takinga great step forward them. Like I
said, he's the next guy upman. I mean he's been extremely you
know, important on the growth ofour secondary because now you know, we're

(02:10:43):
working him inside some Uh he's playedoutside at both corner spots. You know,
he got that it factor, youknow what I mean. So so
we look what he brings the energyto competitiveness. We got to build off
the last year uh and expand therole for him and to make sure he's
uh, he's ready to go.But he's been doing great. Uh.

(02:11:11):
We're just authentic really not giving alot of recruiting talk. It is what
it is. We try to shootstraight, honest communication, honest assessment,
the character, the value, thework at it, and the main things
the competition. You gotta compete.If you don't want to compete, it's
not gonna be the place for you, because that's the that's the thing that

(02:11:37):
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,Uh, you don't have to have the
the pig mentality of problem of instantgratification. You know, you can develop
and grow so and some time youmay be behind a guy that's a really

(02:12:03):
good player. Is nothing wrong withdeveloping and growing and playing when your time
is right, and if the timeis right right now as a freshman like
was Jermaine, did you play early? You know? So we try to
also sell that, you know,we care about them as people and try
to prepare you for life after football. So it's bigger than just football.
We're going to prepare you for life, whether it's the NFL or on with
a regular career in the workforce.We want you to prepare you as a

(02:12:26):
young man, and we try tosell that and preach that to the parents
to remain having that. In factthat you mentioned rolling all these different spots,
do you anticipate you know, therewasn't a lot of rotation among the
cornerbacks last year when everyone was healthy. Do you anticipate maybe rolling him through
the rest guys here with the longfirst season potentially. Yeah, we play
it by here, you know whatI mean, We see how it goes

(02:12:46):
by the time we get in thecamp. But you know, obviously he's
earning his stripes, so you knowwhat I mean, when you earn your
stripes, you know, the oddjob to create opportunities for you, you
know what i mean. We haveto see how it goes with all that
other stuff, you know, oncewe get closer to the season and we
get in the game plans. Buthe's doing a great job, and he's
he and he's taking a great stepforward way that you can the way you

(02:13:07):
kind of establish your right now,it seem like it's relationships and kind of
field their pond. And I'm curious, is that something that you came in
with the like a couple of yearsago with the intention of huan or is
it something that you're like has kindof been cultivated over the course of your
time as a position here. No, it's been there for a while.
I've been doing that for a longtime. It's all about relationship. If
you develop real relationship and you're authenticand your communication and you have honest feedback

(02:13:31):
and you have you know, directteaching the guys that have value and character
and they appreciate that stuff. Theyembrace that. So but they have to
know your care and you have toknow that it's real and they have to
know that you you're really concerned abouttheir well of being as a young man.
And when you get close to himand spend a lot of time with
them off the field, you couldcoach them hard and you can. You
can and you can. You cansay truthful things to them and then they'll

(02:13:52):
embrace it and you have real conversationbecause you know the only goal is to
help them get better as a youngman. As you a couple of years
ago, the receiver room is sofar ahead of the corner where you getting
kind of skewed that evaluation sometimes.How is that dynamic changed in these two
years after group has gotten older andyou can even more counting. Yeah,

(02:14:13):
it's done balanceduff a little bit.Now. That goes with great competition.
We have the uh we go againstthe best receivers in college football. So
that helps escalate your growth process becauseif you don't figure it out real fast,
you'll get embarrassed. So that competition, But what happened with that eye
guys, start competing, eye guysstart growing. Eye guys got better and
now is even up a little bit. So will you get really good work

(02:14:33):
at practice to day? You knowwhat I mean. So it's competitive,
it's fun. Those guys both onboth sides of the ball care about each
other, so it's great competition.And they're all real, real close,
so you know, I mean,it's that stuff that gets us better,
uh, that will prepare us forSaturday. That idea said my first day
of practice. Actually the receivers kindof got them because I didn't kind of

(02:14:56):
Oh no, it's just it's it'sgonna competitive. Man. They got the
best group in the country that you'regoing against every day, so you have
to bring it every day, youknow what I mean. So they we
got a great quarterback room. We'vegot a great receiver room. The running
backs are really good. So whenyou out there going against them, it's
deep, so you have to beready for it. And obviously, man,
we're seeing a lot of good stuffwith with with Day and coach Kelly

(02:15:18):
doing over there, and so itprepares you a lot and it helps us
grow that recruit. A wide receiverroom kind of like a part of your
recruits like these are the guys youget to play, yeah, always because
you know that's where you get betteriron shoppings iron So you know, you
get to see that every day atpractice. That helps you grow. It's

(02:15:41):
no better uh thing to go againstevery day than to see that on a
daily basis. 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 threeor four different guys in there. Obviously
Lorenzo's in there, Jermaine is inthere, Kuh Miles. We have we
have about four or five guys movingaround right now. We just try things

(02:16:03):
out in spring ball, see whatthe fit, you know, see what
things work together. So there's noprobably some more guys in there. You
know. We move it around totry to just get the right fit throughout
the end and see how it goesby the time we get ready to start
the season. He can run andhe's strong, you know, I mean,
he's fast, Uh, very seriousabout his business. Uh. He's
big, it's two hundred pounds.He can run. He's strong, he's

(02:16:24):
conscientious, you know what I mean. He's starting to grow and he's starting
to get get better with it.You know I mean, so we looked
for big things for him the spring. What do you want to see this
spring? Keep competing, you knowwhat I mean. Now he's made the
transition. Competing today you know whatI mean, you start going in that
transition is all just like him inJermaine last year. You throw them in
the fire. You let him go, you compete, you go. By

(02:16:45):
time we get out of the endof training camp, ye'll be them figure
it out. You have all that, but now you just throw it all
at them. Compete, continue togrow, continue to learn. He has
the skill set, he has thelength. Now you just got to put
it all together. And it takestime to do that and hopefully you see
how about time we get in thetraining camp. Seems like Midwich your springing
had a click for Jermaine last yearand you started to see him. I

(02:17:07):
could not be more happy to behere. I'm super happy to be here
at the Rout two as well orright at the work. Hello everybody,
Dari's Robinson, University of Missouri.I just want to thank mister Bill wilmant
To coach Gannon for this amazing opportunity. I'm glad to be here with Marvin
Harrison right next to me, SoI feel great. I'm really excited and

(02:17:28):
I'm excited for this journey. Seeyou fifteen here in town. Marvin,

(02:17:50):
When did you know the Cardinals weregonna select you? Did you know before
they called or was there an agreementin place before? No, I did
not know until I got that phonecall from the Arizona Cardinals. Marvin Richard
signs Fox then welcome to the valley. I know kind of tweeted to you,
tweeted out to you once you gotdrafted. What was it like to

(02:18:11):
get a message from the franchise quarterbackand what kind of thoughts have you had
about teaming up with this guy inthe near future. Y, yes,
sir, it's been great. Youalways want to support and love from your
quarterback and the cause a great player. I'm so excited to play with him,
and it's gonna be my job tomake his job easier. Darius Darren
Urban from Azycardinals dot Com. Iknow that a lot of players these days

(02:18:35):
aren't sticking in one school for along time, and you did it for
five years. I mean even Marvindid it for three. Like what went
behind that, and why was itmeaningful for you to stay at one school.
Yes, at Missouri, you know, we had some tough seasons,
but we were really built with anedge energy, details, goot in,
emotional consistency, and I just findmyself just trying to grow and get better

(02:18:56):
each year and also as a team, you know, win more games each
year. And that was my thatwas my home, that was my family.
I was blessed to, you know, get two degrees as well off
the field, and I just loveMISSOI two degrees. Wow, Marvin Bob
Mcbob McMahon at Arizona Republic, congratulations, Thank you to both of you.

(02:19:18):
You're known as all business, andI want to know how that's going to
serve you well in this league.From personal standpoint, your brand, everything
you do or a daily preparation.There's a lot that goes into being all
business. Tell me what that isto you. Yeah, I mean that's
just being a pro. It's kindof raised and grew up to do and

(02:19:39):
keep the same mindset, same attitudethat I've had throughout my whole career.
Once I get here, continue towork hard, be consistent and disciplined,
you know, and all that Ido. So I'm looking forward to putting
the work. He Marvin Josh WayneESPN. What were the best pieces of
advice your dad gave you about beingan NFL player? I mean, yeah,
it takes a lot of work,a lot of preparation. You know,

(02:20:00):
from Monday to Saturday, it's allwork. And then you know Sunday
should be the easy part. Igo out there and have fun, ready
to put the work in. SoI'm gonna starts with the work first and
then when Sunday comes, it's Riekabenefits. Hey, Darius Howard, balls
are from cards wire. I can'thelp but notice that ring on your finger.
Is that a cotton bowl ring?Yes, it is the cotton bowler.

(02:20:24):
You showed it to Marvin very quickly, No, I show. I
was telling Marma. You know hewas glad he didn't play. The whole
week leading up. You know,you see Ohio State. Everybody said,
okay, Marvin Harrison, and nowhe's is he gonna play? To go
play? He didn't play, soyou know we left out. So Hey,
Marvin Paul KELBC Cardinals Broadcasting, doyou believe that receivers have to earn

(02:20:48):
the trust for their quarterback and Ifso, what does that usually require?
Absolutely, you got to earn thetrust of the quarterback and then it starts,
you know, every day in practiceand being consistent, really and you
can't do it one day, canyou do it for one week? Has
to be done over and over andover again. I think that's how trust
has earned. So no matter whereyou get picked, your first receiver,

(02:21:09):
it's round seven, doesn't really matter, have to go and earn trust to
the quarterback, your coaches, yourteammates. So it all starts in practice.
What's going on, guys, Goodto see again, Tyler Drake,
there's no sports systems for Darius.What's the feeling of just being able to
represent your school as that first roundpick and what kind of impact can that
have for those guys following in yourfootsteps? Yeah, it's awesome. I

(02:21:30):
feel like I'm setting the standard goingforward. But that's the name was Zoo
is known as Delon Zoo, SoI'm just added to the family. But
now I feel like I'm setting thestandard for my younger teammates that this is
attainable if you work really hard,be consistent, and really good trust your
shrimp coach. I feel like everyprogram is built out the strimp coach and
develops all the habits on and offthe field. Darius zach Ershmanez Cardinals dot

(02:21:52):
Com right over here. JG mentionedthat he loves the violence that you play
with. You mentioned the different tendenciesthat you picked up. The most little
consistency is the great. How doyou balance that the violence with discipline on
the field? Honestly, just throughpreparation and practice. I'm a big guy.
I'm a big believer in inside hands, so that's why I'm always working
my hand placement and then I liftweight, so you know that's all connected.

(02:22:16):
So I'm just trying to be focusedon my technique as much as possible.
Hey, Marvin over here, DavidBrown with the Associated Press. You
know a lot of rookies come intothe league and they get a little bit
of leeway. It's like, oh, he's young, he needs to grow
and stuff like that. But obviouslyyou're gonna be expected to be the guy
here really quickly. How do youdeal with that pressure? How do you

(02:22:37):
go about just so much being expectedof you so quickly? I mean,
yeah, I have high standards formyself, but I'm just gonna go in
there and try to work, youknow, the best I can. I
just want to help the team winreally, so without that role I play,
you know, come September, letme just do my best do that
role. Now. This one's forboth of you, guys. The fans

(02:22:58):
want to know who you guys areon the inside. I don't know how
much you're willing to reveal to ustoday. A lot would be nice.
Can you tell us what you liketo do away from football, what pisses
you off about things, and youknow, what what makes you roll.
I'm pretty simple, like you know, be in my apartment, watch a

(02:23:20):
movie. If I go out andI go to a restaurant, get some
food. But other than that,they do too much. And then I'm
pretty easy going guys, so Itry not to nothing bother me too much.
Yeah, I said the same thing, A real chill guy, just
really obsessed with football. But outsideof football, like I said, I
got my two degrees. I gotmy undergrad hospitality management and the minor and

(02:23:41):
business. I got my masters andpositive culture with FLA leadership. So just
thinking about being well rounded, andthen I do philanthropy work. I start
my own nonprofit foundation. Darius RobinsonHelping Hands Foundation, but really just football
and then everything else. Honestly,congratulations, guys, Welcome to the Valley.
I'm Robbie Baker with Fox ten.Darius, this is for you.

(02:24:05):
After the draft last night, youhad a great response about how your process
and preparing for a game, justkind of wondering where your love for kind
of the grind comes from, andthen your love for that process comes from.
I would say my junior year,because I played little league ball off
and on. But I got myjunior year and I was playing high school
and my whole goal is just toearn a scholarship. But during that process,
I really fell in love with thegame, fell in love with working

(02:24:26):
out relationships with teammates, and nowit's kind of like my vice and I
can't let it go and just kindof finding ways to always get better,
you know. Luke Linting here withtwelve Sports, congrats to both of you.
Welcome to the Valley. This one'sfor you. Marvin. I'm curious
your thoughts or what was that conversationlike with your dad after your name was
called and you were able to bedrafted by this organization and how surreal is

(02:24:48):
it for you? To be followingon your own father's footsteps, but in
your own way. Yeah, Imean it was very brief. Actually,
just in the second graduations, Iwalk up to the stage and then I
had to do a bunch of interviewsafterwords. So I don't think it's hit
both of us yet. I doknow what's happened. I think, you
know, one of my goals alwaysmake him proud, So I hope I
did that. Marvin bo Brock pHand X Sports. When do you anticipate

(02:25:11):
catching your first passes from Kyler Murray? I don't know. I don't know.
I guess we'll see and hopefully assoon as possible. Darius, you
mentioned philanthropy, and I know there'sbeen it's been talked about how you took
some of the NI nil money todo a get back to school for the
kids in Colombia. Where where didthat belief in doing those things come from?

(02:25:35):
I say my family, my brotherand my mom really instilled that into
me and to me at a youngage. Just give back your blessings to
others. In my fifth year atMiazoo is the best year of my life,
so why would I not share myblessings with others? So that's what
really motivated me to do that.And now being in NFL, you know,
my goals to do three events eachyear and just give back because you
know, it's life outside of footballand bigger blessings out there. Marvin,

(02:25:58):
you obviously played with a number ofhighly drafted receivers at Ohio State. What
sort of feedback have you gotten aboutthe NFL from them? And you know
about making the transition in the leagueitself. Yeah, it's a long season,
I think going from the twelve gamerecord season you have in college to
was it seventeen games now? Andyou got three preseason? Actually, just
the biggest challenge the game stays thething obviously never We're all skilled and very

(02:26:22):
talented athletes, so the mental partis probably 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 theway part right you haven't hired an agent?
Why is that? Is there atimeline to hiring one? And are
you going to sign the NFLPA licensingagreement. I'll continue to talking to my
team. We do what's best forme. I'm moving forward. We just

(02:26:45):
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. Then can you
just kind of share a little bitabout you touched on it briefly here,
but just a little bit more aboutgrowing up with with your dad and you
know, the experiences you had inIndianapolis and games and so on and so
forth. Yeah, I mean,there's no better role model, coach,

(02:27:11):
mentor relationship. All the way throughcollege, we were captains together Ohio State,
so we shared a lot of weshared a lot of time there together.
And then before Pro day he cameup and we threw that night before
Pro Day and we've I mean,we've stayed in touch. I feel like
pretty well, he's just an awesomehuman and even a better teammates. If
I could ask you quickly, whatdid you make of what he was able

(02:27:33):
to do after you saw him thatyou played with him the year before and
he came on and did what hedid his rookie year. What did you
make of what he was able todo in his rookie season? Man,
I just to be honest with you, it was no surprise to me or
anybody in that Ohio State facility.It's just we knew how to do a
special and when he got the chance, got oup with the right people and

(02:27:54):
right coaching staff. The dudes unbelievable. Brian bear Field, Hey, Kay,
welcome to Houston. Brian Bearfield,big sarch media for everybody just called
me Sarage. As you could tellabout the hats. So, Kate,
don't want to take you back downmemory lane for just one second. I

(02:28:15):
just looked up some of your stats. So you were in high school.
You were running back one thousand andfour into seventy seven yards your senior year,
seventeen touchdowns, linebacker, one hundredand sixty three tackles, four intercessions.
You broke your high school scoring recordin basketball overall athlete. Even when
you got to Ohio State, youdidn't really you were like a hybrid.

(02:28:35):
They didn't really know where to putyou until you ended up at tight end.
So I say all that to askyou what the Houston Texans are getting
an athlete who's willing to play anywhereand everywhere they need them. Correct?
One hundred percent. Yeah, that'sone hundred percent, hundred percent correct,
no doubt about it. I'll dowhatever we got to do here to win
ball games. And I mean theygot awesome players of awesome coaching staff,

(02:28:56):
so just super super blessed. Howmuch did that how much does that background
help you or help you to getthrough you know, college and now I'll
get you to where you are today? I think every day I've been thrown
in a million different directions, poolin a million different directions, And to
be honest with you, I mean, nothing's ever gone like how it's supposed
to unpin the paper in my lifeand my coaching career, so I mean

(02:29:20):
my playing career, excuse me,And it's just I think I'm just I
feel like I'm battle tested and Ifeel like I'm ready to go. Thank
you? Yeah? Cool, cool, You're un mute any better? Katie

(02:29:43):
got me? Yeah, I gotyou now. Cole Thompson USA today Texans
Wire, Congratulations are getting drafted.I just heard you kind of mentioned a
little bit about coaching. You're talkingabout your coaching career, not your playing
career. Do you want to getinto coaching afterwards when you're done playing football?
No? No, I got it'sa lot of emotions going through my

(02:30:05):
body right now. So regardless,No, I'm not playing on getting coaching.
I'm playing on just playing as longas I can. Just a quick
follow up, and you look ata guy like Tamiko Ryans, who is
a former player that is very closeto the league, only has been out
for about seven years. What doesit mean to be playing for somebody who's
translated over to this new side ofthings but also understands what a player goes

(02:30:26):
through on the daily basis. Ithink that makes the biggest difference in the
world. And I think you cantell by the way the players respect him
and just how and the job he'sdone in the short time he's been there.
I mean, the dude's unbelievable.He seems an unbelievable person. I'm
just really really excited to be ableto plan er Nathan Cody You, heyk

(02:30:48):
Cody Davis from Sports Illustrated. Youand I met at the NFL COMBA.
By the way, Yeah, Iwould like to know, man, what
are what type of tidy are theHouston Texans getting. Man, I'll tell
you what they're getting. Just acomplete utility player. Basically, I'm gonna
do whatever you asked me to doat one hundred percent on everything I got

(02:31:11):
every single time, and just I'mgonna be the exact glue in the locker
room. I'm going to be adude people can come to when things go
wrong, and I'm so excited tohelp his team anyway I can. Kim.
Hey, Kate, it's Kim Davisfor Chalk Talk. Congratulations on getting
drafted by the Texans. Right.Kind of following up on what Cody just

(02:31:31):
ask you from your conation with CJ. I know he's spoken of how you
have the staff, but what doyou know about this just from what you've
seen this offense? And although you'reutility player, what excites you most about
it other than obviously playing with CJ. Man. I just think one.
I think Dalton Schultz is a greatplayer. I've watched a lot of his

(02:31:52):
film growing up and just even thelast couple of years, study a lot
of what he does, especially onthe Cowboys and now just to be able
to learn from a guy at andtake notes and tips how he handles life
and everything. It's gonna be awesomefor right now, in long term down
the road. And one QUI followup what do you know about the city
of Houston. Have you spending timehere? No? No, I trained

(02:32:13):
in Brisco, Dallas for a littlebit for a couple of months, and
then that was really about it.Other than that, I've never really been
to Houston. But I mean,I'm really excited to come. All right,
thank you that recording media, youtoo, Aaron, Hey, Kate.
When it comes to blocking, sometight ends embrace it. Some do

(02:32:37):
it because it's part of the job. What's your mentality for blocking? And
I have a follow up? Man, I love blocking. I do.
I'm gonna throw my face in thefire chance I can get. I might
not always be pretty, but Ipromise you're gonna get every ounce of power
I got. And the draft processas a proven guy, did you go

(02:32:58):
on a lot of visits did youwork out privately? We're someones that you
remember. And what kind of levelof activity did you have with Texan's Combine
meetings, et cetera. Yea,thank you. Yeah, we had.
We had a formal at the Combine. Uh And I've always, like I
said, always talked to CJ closely. Uh So, just having that and
then just throughout the prox we hada couple of zoom calls here and there

(02:33:22):
and other than that. I mean, I trained at State coach Mick and
coach at the trained coaches up therewith training a group of me, Tommy
Iickenberg, and Steel Chambers, myroommates that we lived with in the afternoon,
and that was really about it.We just trained and play ball at
that point. And the other teams, did you go on trips and things
like that? We took one localvisit to the Bengals. That was it.

(02:33:45):
We have time for a couple more. Go ahead, serge, uh
Kate, I know that you knowwe've asked you a lot of questions about
playing with CJ. But you've beenscouted as a tight end but could also
be flaxed out to the wide receiver, a position. Being at Ohio State
for as long as you were,what did you pick up from a lot
of those great Ohio State wide receiversthey came through the time you were there.

(02:34:07):
You just watch, I mean,you watch those guys go about how
they handle releases, how they handletheir feet atop than the routes and everything
like I mean, for me,I've never played it in my life.
So starting you were literally started fromsquare one, absolute square one, So
learning slowly with them and then Imean, this is a business and you
have to do what's best for hiscareer and his future as well. So

(02:34:31):
you know, obviously has familiarity withJoe Brady. He had one of his
best seasons with them, So youknow, I think he's gonna be a
big part of their offense and continueto grow as a receiver. You know,
it's a lost for Room because he'sa dynamic playmaker. He can play
inside and out and just his energy. Man, I think he really became
one of the favorite teammates on theteam because he kept things light, but
he also was a really hard workerand made plays when we need him to.

(02:34:56):
So on a personal standpoint, I'mdefinitely gonna you know, miss him
having him in the build and he'skind of like the guy you I get
to talk to and he's like mybest friend. But on the other hand,
I get to see him, youknow, continue to take steps in
his career. Uh, he's stillvery young, so he has a lot
of good football ahead of him,literally with offense and how be different for

(02:35:20):
the offense And yeah, yeah,we haven't honestly even started an install yet,
so i haven't even got a layof the land quite yet. I'll
probably take a look at just gotour I pass within the last few days,
so I'll try to take a sneakpeek at what we have looking for.
But you know, I know withhim talking to zach Ertz, he
does a great job of trying toget his playmakers involved, which I think

(02:35:41):
we have a really good group ofguys from the running backs to receivers and
some solid tight ends as well.So I'm just looking forward to see where
I fit into that. And youknow, I think with him, his
biggest things is making sure the playmakersare making plays and trying to fit the
scheme around that, which is alwaysgood to good to see. Two.

(02:36:05):
This is what offense? Yeah,yeah, it's definitely, you know,
an adjustment obviously when you're learning anew offense. And it's kind of the
same mentality I take into last yearin years past, where you kind of
just want to take a day oneapproach, kind of erase what you've learned

(02:36:26):
in the past. But at theend of the day, I think,
uh, you know, schemes inthe NFL are relatively similar. Is just
the names and the formations that maybe a little different. So just getting
used to the terminology and Cliff's offenseis just going to be something that's an
adjustment for all of us. Butthe good thing about it is I got
some good time on my hands toreally put some work in studying when I

(02:36:48):
leave this place, so I couldcome in here when we have walkthroughs and
when we start to put our helmetson, we can really hit the ground
running. So so far it's wehaven't learned anything yet, but my approach
is the same. Try to takegood notes in there, ask good questions,
and then study on my own atnight. I know you like to
go yeah, m yeah, Ithink I got some really good work down

(02:37:16):
in Florida. Is just working onmy footwork, just being better at the
top of my routes, sharper onmy speed cuts, dig routes, out
routes, and just being cleaner withmy footwork at the top of the routes.
I think, you know, witha little bit of zone covers that
we've seen in the past with someteams kind of running more too hot show,
you're gonna get a little bit moreof catch technique where guys are kind

(02:37:37):
of sitting at the top of yourroute. So I want to be better
at being efficient to getting out ofthose routes when a guy's kind of sitting
at my depth, whether it's afifteen yard comeback or a twelve yard curl
route, you know, being ableto get out efficiently so I can keep
creating keep the separation within my route. So obviously I'm always still working on

(02:37:58):
my ball skills and making sure I'mjust a lot of footballs in the off
season, but just really being betterat the top of the routes and you
know, sharper out of my cutsis something that I think I can improve
on. Good to see you too. You know, you're obviously of the
leaders of this team and team captain, and with so many new faces,
new players locker room, what isthe challenge you're going to have and the

(02:38:22):
other leaders in that locker room blendeverything together because there's so many new and
different personalities. Now, yeah,I think I think that's really started with
coach Quinn in the way he's reallyintegrated everybody over the first two days.
I think we haven't even got intox's and those quite yet. We've just
really beginning to know one another.Getting out there with Chad and the strength
coaches and getting some good workouts injust kind of creating a foster in an

(02:38:46):
environment where everybody's the same and continuingto have a competitive environment. I think
that brings out the best in oneanother. And obviously, you know,
you have guys like Zach Ertz who'splayed a lot of football and won a
championship, Marcus Mario to obviously BobbyWagner, who's a future Hall of Famer.
So you got some guys who havebeen brought in here who know what
it's supposed to look like at thislevel. And for myself, I just

(02:39:07):
want to continue to add uh myvalue and be even more vocal this year
than I have in the past,especially with possibly a new quarterback coming in.
I think that can really help ouroffense. Have you know, some
more unity with the guys who knowwhat it looks like, helping bringing those
guys, the younger guys along.I don't know, if you had a
chance to watch d conference, hedidn't want to use the word rebuild.

(02:39:31):
Yeah, changes going on with franchise, all the new changes and new coaching
staff, all the new players.Is there a certain word use everything?
Honestly, I just think of itas a as a new year. Just
talking to Sam Cosmy, Uh,we've been here for a few years,
so it's a lot of new faces. I think, you know, this

(02:39:54):
is probably the most I would sayturnover we've had in the last few years.
So there's guys coming from all alldifferent areas, walks of life,
and but I think the one thingis the same. They're all coming in
looking for an opportunity to compete,take another step in their careers, and
prove that they're one of the bestplayers at the position. And I think
coach Quinn has emphasized that we're gonnahave the opportunity to prove ourselves whether you're

(02:40:18):
a ten year vet or a secondyear player. You know, this is
a clean slate for everybody. SoI think it's just about getting on the
same page, enjoying coming in hereand working together and also just pushing each
other in these workouts, and thenwhen we start getting on the field,
uh, really get that competition going. Try to simulate as we go along
in this off season process of howthe games are going to be. Hey,

(02:40:46):
how are you doing. Good tosee you too, guys to Yeah,
I think Coach Quinn has really amassembled a very unique group of coaches.
There's multiple head coaches, there's multiplequarter uh coordinators that have come from

(02:41:11):
different places, and so you haveguys who have a lot of football experience,
some have played, some have coachedin big games, and then you
bring in, you know, thetalent that we have defensively and offensively,
and I just think you can feelthe unity and the sameness and the message
that he's trying to preach to ourteam, and it's we're gonna be tough
and we're going to be competitive,but we're also going to have fun.

(02:41:33):
And he, like I think hesaid in Your Guys' interview, he said
he likes to do you know,hardship with good people. So I think
that's fun. You know, aguy like me likes to put my nose
down and grind and work. SoI know him and I are going to
continue to hit it off, andyou know, it's just my job to
help bring other guys along with me. Thank you more to take your next

(02:42:01):
step as a vocal leader. Yeah, I think for me, I've grown
a lot in my vocal leadership.I think I try to always find the
balance of when to say something whennot to say something I think I never
want I've always wanted to be aperson when I say something that means something
like you don't want to be You'regiving all the motivational speeches, but you're

(02:42:24):
not backing up with your play,or you're you're talking so much you kind
of your message get drowned out.And so it's kind of continue to find
that balance of when to say thingsand when to kind of just take a
step back. But I think I'veI've gotten a really good feel of how
to do that. I think obviouslywith a new coaching staff, you just
try to understand what they how theywant things done, and you try to,
you know, bring what you dowell into that, and you also

(02:42:48):
try to encourage the guys who haven'ttaken those steps in their career to do
that as well. So I thinkfor me it's just really starting in my
position group. I think we havestill a very young group, kind of
inexperience for the most part, butI think we have a lot of talent
in there, and it's just myjob, in Bobby's job, and to
continue to bring that group along aswe go throughout this season. What is

(02:43:18):
I guess? Yeah, yeah,I hit it really hard this offseason,
so I kind of started training alittle bit after the Super Bowl, so
I got a good six to eightweeks into where I feel football ready right
now, which is great for mebecause you know, obviously we're probably having

(02:43:41):
a mini camp at the end ofthis month, so that'll be I'm already
in football shape. So that's that'sexciting to know that I'm ready to be
able to run routes and get goingwith our quarterbacks and get going with our
system. So you know, asthis off season goes on, I just
trusted plan that Chad and the guyshave here. I want to be here
for all the workouts and things likethat and be a part of the team
building and just continue to learn theplaybook as we start to install things,

(02:44:03):
and uh be at a point whereI could go out there and be confident
in my game what I've worked onthis offseason and and put that into how
that fits into this offense. SoI always try to pride myself on knowing
multiple positions just to have be flexiblefor the team and be flexible for myself,
so I'll be ready for whatever theywherever they put me. I'm surprised

(02:44:28):
you're going to have a new quarterbackthis year. Yeah, yeah, you
never well I don't say never,but it's it's always tough seeing like someone
you build a really good relationship withgo on and move on in their career,
and especially your quarterback, because asa receiver, you want to continue
to try to build that chemistry,you know what I mean. That was

(02:44:50):
only our first year playing with oneanother, and I feel like him and
I had our h We made somegreat plays and we had some you know,
room for growth, and I thinkthat comes within new quarterback receiver relationship
and so but to see him goin a situation where we have a chance
to compete and play under a reallygood quarterback in Geno, you know,
I think he'll he'll really like playingwith the receivers like uh, well throwing

(02:45:13):
the receivers like Locket and Jackson Smithand Jig. But in DK, you
know what I mean. So Ithink he's going in a situation where different
uh it's more mentally they any thingthough, like Lesside was always my best
side back in Carge, but sinceI got to always been playing right.
But you know, it's a it'sa good challenge for me and I can
show people I can as you playright and left. So it's a versatility

(02:45:37):
then, so I'm happy about it. There he moved around a lot throughout
your career that there's jumbo side tackle, I guess in the sense and playing
book the left on the right side. Do you think you kind of benefit
from focusing a little bit more onthe right center a little bit? But
you know, there's a new systemthat we have, Like I play my
mindset most in the right, butalso have my minds on the left too,

(02:45:58):
just in case something that's happening too, like you know what I mean,
like Coltland or you know Pete ofcourse, but I'm always gonna be
ready for life no matter what.How quickly have you felt like you picked
up this new system that you're workingin now? Oh it's a we actually
pick up picked up pretty well causeit's the same system that I'm used to
back in the off state. Causewe're more like spread kind of what I

(02:46:18):
say, So you know, it'spretty good. It's more of the like
the draft process off seasons. Alot of people outside the buildings or pagers
getting right tack. Yeah, alot of yeah, alright, now,
a lot of people in the buildingwere like we have the right time a
we people get motivated by that.You followed it like if you pen picture
do it though I don't I readinto it a little bit. But also
at the same time, like theynot here the words, but I don't

(02:46:41):
really care what they say. Iknow what I can do, and the
team know I what I can do. So they trusted me right now and
I'm not gonna live in right now. How hard or how easy is that
to compartmentalize that and use that asfuel going forward rather than to kind of
maritated it. Uh I j Ijust keep the seats and everybody knows that
one person I don't really care forhim at Also that's all good, but

(02:47:03):
it's all love. I love uhoutside of this, but you keep it
on me, keep it better,keep on these knights, doe what I
can do there. You've been aoutspoken about your supporter Zamier, and obviously
it's just a chance now to beatthe dog. Wait, what is it
about him that you bought in soearly? The reason why I bought some
earliest cause Uh, I was ata house they they always taught us.

(02:47:24):
Actually I go getting and that's sinceI got here. I'm'a always wanna go
get and I gotta picked late,and I always wanna prove people wrong.
You know, I think prove peoplepeople wrong all my life. I don
wanna keep doing that. What's gongdo? Which like it's more just like
we all put it in like theset you feel like a community this year
with nine eight difference nine they differencefrom my first year, in my second

(02:47:48):
year to now, Like now,my guy, I know I can play.
I know I can go against oneof the best Special Knights, anybody
else that we gonna play this year, and I know why I can do
so. All I gotta do nowas you meet my potential and should do
it and help everybody else out theteam as well. You've practiced a lot
against Malcolm and he's really come intohis own. What is it about Malcolm

(02:48:09):
that's helped him make that next step? There? Man, Malcolm, he's
quiet, he doesn't really say toomuch. He comes to the work every
day, do what he does,and he works hard. He doesn't flit
twice at anything. Yeah, he'llget mad over a co respose. At
the same time that like he hasa mentality of adult, like he's he
don't really care what y'all think oranybody else thinks for real, So it's
just like, alright, let's keepgoing. That's how everybody is on the

(02:48:31):
team. About ty raise Ki,you got that same mindset. He does
have the same mindset. A littlenervous, but uh nah, he nah.
He has definitely grown up a lotfrom his like first year here to
now, like he has his name, but he's he's growing up a lot

(02:48:52):
mentally too. Until you guys arereimagining the offensive line a little bit with
you out there right side, yeah, uh farm there next to you on
the one that you and the draftingthe guys a little line here. How
long exciting is that to be partof something that's that's kind of being you
know, having that trust but alsobeing reinvented a little bit that was vert,
you know, but me and doingthose like they gonna keep replacing those

(02:49:13):
of course, But all the sametime, we gotta keep going. You
know, you can swim and thinkabout what they did. All we gotta
do is staying about what what canwe do with you in fours? Well,
sorry, don't put a lot onthem the outside a little bit more.
How how long were you gotta workingtogether. So we working pretty well.
You know, you said for us, we had like a a little
rooking moment a little bit, butyou know, yeah, you know those

(02:49:37):
those tougher conversations, those ones wherewe might disagree, where we do agree,
where where he's got his two centson it, which is, you
know, always the best two centsI've heard. But me being who I
am, you know, I'm I'mI'm gonna throw my two cents in there,
you know. So that's just,uh, it's been awesome. Man.
We he's he's you know, aresource for me, just a person
that I can always bounce my thoughtsoff of. And now, you know,
just a year you said, thirteenmonths, now I feel more comfort

(02:50:00):
just you know, bringing certain thingsthat if you know, you never you
never wanna come off too strong.But I'm a curious guy. I got
a lot of questions. I like, I like football a lot. I
like to talk talk the games.So you know, come to find out,
he's the exact same. So we, uh, you know, we
get along well and and uh,we're gonna keep keep building that relationship.
Sometimes in this league, playing youknow, eighteen games, they tryna make
it twenty. You know, it'slike it sound like a little a little

(02:50:22):
fever dream to be honest, butbut uh, if we can find a
way to k you know, stayup right out there, keep keep Aaron
on his feet. You know,I'm I'm excited for that and uh everything
that comes with it. But uh, but yeah, like I said,
man, that's it's it's harder saidthan uh or harder done, and said,
I guess you know, it's oneof those things. It's like that's
a lot of games. You know, all of a sudden take a lot
of hits. They take a lotof hits where they're not looking, and

(02:50:43):
it's just how can we keep himhealthy? Yeah? Yeah, are you
when do you think? I doyou ever see the room now? Positions
you guys have, mean when moreMonty healthy and everything? Like, Yeah,
you know, I'm excited to seeit at at full health. You
know, we've i haven't got tosee all the all the guys out there
at once, and and you know, it's one of those positions where every
day is something might happen to Nickup. You know, it's just a
tough position to stay out there atall times. But I feel like we've

(02:51:05):
got a great group, and thenumber one thing is how can we stay
healthy? How can we you know, I'll be out on the field,
and I think having depth like thisand the group we have is gonna help
us. Having guys that can dodifferent things, that can go catch the
ball over the middle, all typesof things that it's gonna take some of
the strain off off all of us. You know. It's it's a good
group. So I'm excited to,uh, you know, get out there.
I feel like we haven't had thewhole whole thing together, but you

(02:51:30):
know, come season time, roleand it's gonna be exciting. What about
your old number? Yeah, yeah, like yeah, man, he's uh,
it was a brute and once hecatches that ball, I mean he's
got great instincts of where the defenseis. I think the talle on this
team is really good too, andI think that I can come in here
and make a big difference, youknow, when we can win a lot
of football games. You know.So that was my that was part of

(02:51:54):
my decision. Your acues so thathow long were you back now? I'm
one hundred percent now and it waslike a walk in the park. It's
like a sprained ankle. You know, it was very easy, you know,
because I had the knee. Theknee was pretty hard, you know,

(02:52:15):
and the Achilles was I would sayit's easy, you know, just
because that's just my mentality, andit was. It was pretty easy to
be. But you know, I'vehad these injuries and it's been storm like
the past two years, you know, having haveing like good, great games.
The next thing, you know,hurt and then you know, so
got got the injury prone out there, you know. But I think the

(02:52:39):
storm is over it, you know, you know, and I think I'm
I'm gonna gonna take off now,you know, and there will be no
setbacks and the injury prone thing willbe gone out of the window again.
Kill yeh, I'll say, yougonna be that I am. I am
excited. You know. He doesa lot of great things, and he's

(02:53:01):
a great person and we have agreat relationship. It's gonna be it's gonna
be a fun year. We're gonnahave a lot of fun. We're gonna
do a lot of great things.So I can't wait. Take here waiting.
The interest you've had is that justbad? Lucky? Is there anything
you've been attributed to beyond just misfortunately. Yeah, it's just unfortunate, you
know. But God has a planalways, you know. I don't know

(02:53:26):
what the plan exactly is, youknow, I don't know, but whatever
plan it is, it's for meto be here. You know. I
had a great rookie year. UhI didn't. I didn't really have the
volume as other people my rookie year, but I still had a great rookie
year. Six yards of carry,you know, things like that. I
think it was like nine touchdowns tenincluding the playoffs. And so there's always

(02:53:50):
been like, all right, guy, lets me show my talent shine a
little bit. Like even when Ihad the knee. So I had the
knee, right, A lot ofpeople don't know, like I didn't get
hurt again, and whenever I gotyou know, got cleaned up. So
I went down in twenty one,right, had the injury, the knee
injury, and then came back laterthe next year and I and I played

(02:54:11):
the first few games and it justfeel there was a lot of scars issue
in there. So I did getit cleaned up. I didn't get hurt
again. I could have played thewhole year, but I got it cleaned
up. So I can feel likeme. And so after I got that
cleaned up, the first two gamesback from the injury, I had over
one hundred and twenty yards rushing right, and then went on had great,

(02:54:31):
great ending of the year, youknow, one hundred total yards in the
playoff game we lost, which Ihate the most. Stays, don't marry
me. I don't want to win. But then come back the next year
hurt again like torn achilles. Sotwo really unfortunate injuries. But that's just
God's plan, you know. AndI think that the storm is now over,
you know, and I do thinkthat I'll be able to shine my

(02:54:52):
light to the whole world. Areyou concerned that you have that label of
you gainst say three, I couldcare less because I do. I do.
I notice out there because as asit should be, it should be.
I got hurt two major injuries backor not back to back years.
But you know, so I haven'tbeen on the field as much as I

(02:55:13):
should. That's true, that istrue. But it's not like I'm having
these little little dinky injuries and sittingout. It's something I can't control,
literally, So that's why I'm notbothered by it. Like, yeah,
I am injury Pollem you could saythat, you know, but I do
think that the Chargers are getting aguy that's gonna be healthy from now on,

(02:55:33):
you know, God willing, andit's gonna be great. And I
do think that it's gonna be It'sgonna be a great However, many years
here, when you've been on thefield, you've been highly adopted five pointy
years, but very average for yourcareer. Like knowing that when you're out
there you're very adopted, how muchconfidence does that give you? That really
all you needs is not need allthe confidence in the world. You know.

(02:55:58):
The way I work, I wouldn'tsay just from the numbers, but
just the way I work, mywork ethic, you know, and my
relationship with Jesus is like I havethe most confidence when I step out there
because I do know, like ifhe grants me the health, it's over
with. I don't think i'll beyou know, I think it will be
a great year or whatever a coupleof years. However, many years he

(02:56:20):
grants me great health, you know. And I think just the work ethic,
my prayer and all that stuff,that's what helped me have that confidence.
With the numbers, will be thereand they might be higher after this
year, you know what I'm saying. And it's crazy to think about because
I had six six yards per carry, you know, so we'll see you're

(02:56:41):
looking forward to running behind this lineput together? Oh yeah, yeah,
yeah. I played with Brandley,I played with him. You know,
I know the Slater, I knowall the I know all the guys you
know, and I'm excited. Ithink it's like I said earlier, it's
a talented group. You know,we just got to put it together win
some games, cause that's what Icame here for, or I wouldn't I

(02:57:03):
wouldn't say part of the recruiting,but like whenever I decided I was gonna
sign, it was great to havehim in the room. What's your relationship.
Yeah, we're great. We're wehave a great relationship. That's he's
like my brother. So I thinka company compliment each other very well.
You know, he can do alot of stuff too. You know,
we got a lot of people thinkhe's just power, power power, but

(02:57:24):
I think he has some other partsof his game two which it It'll be
great because I feel like I coulddo everything and when one get tired,
we can roll it in we keeprolling win some games. So when you
the two of you get going,well, how do you think that's gonna
look for? What would like?What will be that partnership that is back

(02:57:45):
there. I know that's a hardquestion. How do I think it?
I think it'll look beautiful. Youknow a lot of people call this a
passing league, but I think yougotta run the ball to win the Super
Bowl. You know, if youlook at the team to win the Super
well, they can run the ball, they can control the clock, and
so if we're both good, it'lllook great, beautiful. How would you

(02:58:07):
describe the Gregor running offense? Iwould I would describe it as, you
know, a great offense. Ithink he gives a quarter he's going to
give the quarterback a lot of options. He's gonna give the running back a
lot of options. He's gonna givethe receiver a lot of options, you
know, And I think it'll beI think it's gonna be great. His
offense is going to be amazing.When we talked to him a minute,

(02:58:28):
you know, I was like,why have you been able to build something
good rushing offenses throughout your career?Everywhere you've been and you said that one
part of it is just you gota call place, You got a call
run of place. As a runningback, you know how much confidence,
how much you sit it does itgive you? You know, you have
to play caller that's gonna stick withit and allow you and the offensive line
to get into as gives me alot of excitement. You know, it's

(02:58:52):
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 wantan offense that has an identity, right,
You won't be looking everywhere else tofind your your identity. You want
to have it. And so Ithink his offense has that and the guys

(02:59:13):
he builds and puts in there,it complements that identity. So I think
it's gonna be great. Your hundredpercent full go for training him. Look,
I ain't gonna answer any of thefour if it's up to me.
Yes, Look, because I hadthis problem like three two years three years

(02:59:33):
ago. I'm thinking I'm full go. I think I'm ready to go,
and the next thing, you know, I'm on pup, like, hey,
look some story above my prey paygrade. So but I don't know.
Hopefully I can start. I thinkI'm ready to start, you know,
at the beginning training camp, butthat's not up to me. As
I've learned, I tell you,I wouldn't say that. I think I've

(02:59:58):
been I've been in some great organizations, and I think this this organization is
a great organization, and the trainingstaff is great, and so they just
want what's best for me, youknow, and they're they're taking care of
me, which that's what you wantin an organization, and so that's where
that comes from, which I appreciateit. Like I really appreciate that,

(03:00:20):
you know, because I'm the typeof guy, like I work really hard,
so maybe sometime I'm blind to youknow, the danger of something,
you know, So I appreciate it. But like I said, if it's
up to me, yeah, I'mout there. But never know what any
frustration for you during the heading intofree agency, you know, dealing with
with rehab and not you know,having on a full season tape or production

(03:00:41):
author is or any part of thatwhere you're like, gosh, you know,
had hit the open market with adifferent situation. You know, Nah,
I like it. I like,how would I say this? I
like it the hard way, butnot you know, I like it the
hard way. I like it.I like trial and true relations. So

(03:01:09):
I mean the dice that I wasgiving the role was I was coming off
of Achilles, and that was thatwas the lowest plan. So it was
beauty in that, Like I wascomfortable. I was caught like there was
multiple teams, you know, Iwasn't. It wasn't like I didn't have
any other team. But I wascomfortable and sitting back and just enjoying the

(03:01:33):
process, letting myself get fully healed. So whenever that team, whoever I
would sign with, who now isthe Chargers, is going to get the
best me, you know. AndI think people all around the league know
that, like, Okay, thisguy, Okay, it's a high risk,
high reward type thing, right,not even a high risk hi low
rice because you it's a business,right, So I got her last year,

(03:01:56):
so not as much money needs tobe throwing there. But I think
everyone around them he knows that wheneverI am on the field, the numbers
don't lie, and so they knowthat. And a lot of teams were
like, all right, here youcan. We give you this, but
we want you to be healthy.So when I'm healthy, it's gonna be
great. This is the chance thatI've been giving here. I'm so grateful

(03:02:18):
and I know that's gonna be.They won't be they won't regret it.
Are you the type of person thatlikes the opportunity for me? You know?
So I'm excited about it. Oha lot. He helped me a
lot, even feel like the firstday, just trying to help me get
used to to write tackle. Hegot my feet used to write tackle like

(03:02:41):
my first dad practice. I'm like, dude, I still feel we feel
a little off. I don't feelbalanced to my stands. And he showed
me the small technique and to dowith my feet, which I still do
even even tho I left tackle justbecause it's part of my routine. That
was part of my process of gettingin my stands. So stuff like that
that he taught me from day one, and obviously in practice was fun.
Just compete with him, you know, it's just to meet at the back

(03:03:07):
of the pocket and to dap eachother back to every rep like that was
compete, you know what I mean. So that's my guy as much as
you love him on your the Westside, how bittersweet is it in a
certain matters because of what happened tohim. Yeah, that's the thing.
That's not how It's definitely how Iand how I thought about the transition would
go. You know, I thoughtit would be you know, homesome timing

(03:03:28):
and a cardinal his whole career.You know, you know, you wanted
to play here forever, you knowwhat I mean when I was talking about
his plans, so you know,you you wish transitions like one of those
fairy tale like it's your time.But but again, either way, you

(03:03:48):
know, we talked about it.You know that's that's the how it goes,
you know. But obviously you knowhe sees he's he's been one of
my biggest supporters. Again, Iaffect. Everybody leads in their own way,
you know, not everybody's the guyscoming around like and that's not everybody,

(03:04:09):
right like effect for me, that'sme specifically on game day with the
O line and after we do oneon one like that's my like, well
Hump did like that's my like bigvocal time. I feel like I've talked
to Hump about this, you know, just recently talking about how what I
want to do for the room was. I want to bring that Hump energy

(03:04:31):
that he brought right so last year. Of course some traits been doing it
for years, but the year whileI spent with him, he brought a
lot of the energy and excitement andthe happiness in the room was just his
natural energy to where I only hadto focus on me, you know,
I didn't have to make sure otherother guys are, you know, feel

(03:04:54):
some type of way when they camein here because Hump brought that. But
out of Hump's not here, butI saw what he did for the room.
I want to be that guy tomake sure everyone's amped to go to
practice, everybody's hype. Weren't takingthe field team on period. You know
it's a low day or something.You know, it's a it's a day.
But like I want to make youfeel like the parents a tripper right

(03:05:16):
now. I want to bring thatcause that's what we hoped to each other.
We will hype each other up.Dudes like dude about to get walked.
We're lit. So I want todo that. I want to bring
that energy. I want to makebring more guys you know, to do
that. You know, I wantedto do that from day one, you
know, I kind of I wantedto do that from day one from just

(03:05:37):
talking to him, And obviously it'sthat time. I spend the off season
before OTA started just being in myselfishthinking about what the room needs, you
know, because I know I knewa new role as one of the layers,
you know on the offense, isthat we need a guy like that
that's gonna make sure the old lineis picked up up ready to go.

(03:06:01):
Every day I was held accountable littlethings that happened to practice. People aren't
saying anything. And how I maylead maybe different than somebody else may lead.
You know, I like to apractice at least like the legal positivity,
you know what I mean. So, but he the energy yet went
beyond just the hyped up the dealI under start too. So that's kind
of how I wanna be. Sgoal of mine, literally my whole life.

(03:06:26):
I wanna be a NFL team captain, like specifically the NFL. I
wasn't a captain of high school.I wasn't a captain of college. But
I made a joke when I wasin high school. I was like that
I feel like I'm not gonna bea captain til I get to the NFL.
Yeah, but that would be awesome, you know, but you know,
if it happens, i'd be great. But not either way, I

(03:06:48):
wanna assume a role as a captainfrom the perspect of the guys on the
team vidual word today and to getback to that way. Yeah, I
mean, I can't say that thatI mean, I guess the biggest thing
is that I felt like it hasfelt like how you used to in the
past. But it didn't take justthe first day OTAs. It took training

(03:07:13):
left and right once the season endedbecause I didn't know what it was gonna
be sure, So it took alot of reps just to get back to
feeling like myself for day one OTAsand then that whole first week. But
now like today, specifically just changingsome small things with my feet that I
did today talking about a line coachabout some things I can do with my

(03:07:35):
feet to get to that to sellat that traditional angle that I love to
set on. Felt even I thoughtI felt, I thought I felt great
already. By mokat, I felteven better of it. So I'm even
more excited tomorrow. Now I'm gettingmy feedback to how I liked it the
right side and on the left side, so I'm excited to teach. I
mean, obviously, I feel likein the league, whether I left or

(03:07:56):
right, you're still going against premierguys. So obviously you have high expectations
for your left and your right tackle. But there's definitely uh like the the
level of energy and like the expectationsdefinitely take and the human spec cause now
conneted the black side, that's thethat's de tackle role, you know.

(03:08:16):
So so yeah, I would sayin terms of communication as far as just
even outside the facility and just stufflike that, like really creating that tackle
quarterback bond even more off the field, I think has been something that's even
been cool. It's I got atext one day as a head like you
play left, and I was like, yeah, you know, yeah,

(03:08:39):
I I've been training both. I'vebeen training both. You know, I
I aks after the season, They'relike, honestly, you know, we'll
talk to you STI play in theseason. And then I just got a
text me like, depending what happenswith with the free agency then, so
I was like, you know what, I had a whole season right tackle,
so if I get the word,I'm going I'm standing right tackle.
I just what I did before.I'm built on that bus. I was

(03:09:01):
like, I might as almost traineda left tackle now as if I'm gonna
be left tackle. And I'd ratherdo that than training on the right time
and get the call hey you're theleft tackle. I'm like, oh,
I didn't switch on my feet yet, you know what I mean. So
I'm like, let me just preparein advance. I was like, yeah,
this guy, you know, Ithink occasionally on third down there would
be a lot of twists. Iwould just know like it's a automatically coming.

(03:09:24):
And I think that was my mindsetfor like the first half of the
season, Like I didn't have togo into a game and with surprise like
oh my gosh, they did that. I kind of figured like, okay,
like this is this is the typeof rushman to get, 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,
first year guys who got the premierepatch on. I already knew what it

(03:09:46):
was gonna be already knew of everystunt and honestly just knowing that it's kind
of an advantage too. So you'renot you're not you're not old. They
brought the twisted my side again,it was never an Aaron don you know,
They're coming out the mines like threeplays and in two minute I do
that some way, you know whatI mean. So I'm watch him than
everybody else, and he rarely elandgoes out there occasional third downs on the

(03:10:09):
DM. He's gonna pick me,you know what I mean, So fact
fact it's kind of it's also kindof advantage in the way, but it's
also exciting, like, okay,here with the two guys, this talent
and this this background at the topof that group. How much of your
discussions with Brian do I guess theinterview process were about how you might approach
this and and and what do youthink is mean the the the key element.

(03:10:31):
You're getting the most out of thosebecause you got two guys. This
ain't my first rodio. No.I know a lot of people look at
say, well, this guy onlybeen on the field for three years westernn
Tucky and Oregon. Just because Ididn't have the title of a running back
coach. Where I was at theMemphis I never carried myself that way.

(03:10:52):
I was carrying myself as a runningback coach. I approach every day that
way. So at Memphis we hadDarren Henderson, Patrick Taylor, Tony Pollard,
Kenny game Well, Tonyo Gibson.I've seen talented backs, and I've
seen them be able to function withone another. So I hear that all
the time about Well, I thisain't my first rodeo. Same thing out

(03:11:13):
there in Oregon we had Buckerevern Norwichand George James. You go look at
they numbers. They all functioned welltogether. We learned how to p play
as one. So this ain't myfirst rodeo. So and plus I know
those two kids cause I recruited themwhen they was in high school. So
I'm up for the challenge and theresponsibility of it all right behind them,
Dan Hopeleven Warriors, Carlos Just whatis your kind of coaching philosophy? How

(03:11:35):
do you get the best out ofyour running backs? I get the best
out'em cause I love the young men. My main focus is to change the
the hearts and minds of'em andthey'll play for me. I had just
got through reading Coach Trestle's Winners Manual, and it's some day that I took
from that book. You have yourpurpose and you have your goals, alright.
My purpose is to serve and pourinto the young men. Now my

(03:11:58):
goals is a football coach. Allof them are take of themselves. So
that's one of the ways. I'mjust real relationship based in a very detailed
at this position. I know y'allheard me say before, and I'm gonna
keep saying. This is the worstcoach position in football. It's terrible.
Guys hire anybody to coach his positionand recruiters. CARLS. Locker is not
a recruiter. I'm an elite relationshipbuilder, but I coached this position.

(03:12:20):
I'm a ball coach, so that'swho I am. So I'm gonna pouring
to these kids. I think theykind of seeing it now and I jumped
in day one. I'm ready tocoach. I'm gonna prase soft thatched cookies.
Where did that phrase come from?Kind of what was the place?
Boy? Let me tell you aboutthat. Boy. I've been called everything
but the name the child of Godby the people at the other places I

(03:12:41):
left, so that I've been gettingPillsbury needs to give me a deal because
I've been getting I've been getting someDM and texts some of it. Some
of them have been so funny.The saftbatch could get. The thing came
from just having a frame of mind, a mental toughness. It had nothing
to do with guys getting in theportal and anything. Now most people say

(03:13:03):
I'm a salt beats cookie for leavingthere, but actually I'm not because it
takes great strength to make a decisionto leave a place. No, a
weak minded person wouldn't be able tomake the decisions that I make, So
it took great strength to do that. So I'm telling you, if I
literally in my dms, it's someit's some great comedians out here that have
been sending me like tons of cookiesand out like it's funny. Right behind

(03:13:26):
him, Tony Urban, how haveyou going about the assessment of the talent
in the room? Uh over thepast week or two? How much is
that on field? Off field?Like, what's the process of getting to
know who you have as players?Well? I broke down well, me
being a guy that loves the runningback position, and I already broke those
kids down cause I recruit them outof high school. You know, Cue

(03:13:48):
is from where I'm from, andMontgomery. I was one of the first
guys to offer him just watching him. Great contact, balance, creative runner,
great hands and trade. I recruitedthem out of Virginia exceptional short air,
your bursting quickness and things that I'mgonna help him get better on.
And then I recruited James Peoples outof t out of San Antonio, Texas.

(03:14:09):
I knew what he was gonna whathe was gonna be TC and Sam,
those two kids I'm getting to knowand I'm gonna help them improve the
game. But we got different runnersin there. I like to call myself,
I'm in love with this position,so I get to break down runners
and help their game. So talented, talented room, very talented. Uh

(03:14:31):
far back uh. Jeremy Birkingham PodcastCouch, How do you swear that that
I saw fast cookies are actually thebest cookies? The Philip Britton mix and
going those are way better than thecountry Chips are ways through gential Terman.
I mean, do you do youhave to first find a balance there or
somewhere well, for me. I'mactually not eating any cookies. Now,

(03:14:52):
I'm just saying I'm not eating anycookies this year. I gave it up
for a fast or no sweets forme for the whole year. That's something
I gave up. So they theterm the south bast cookie term. Look,
guys, I actually took that fromI represent the high school coaches of
Myth, Tennessee. I actually tookthat from a guy named coach Slocum.
He used to always say that southbast Cookie. I actually stole that from

(03:15:15):
him. I give him credit forit, and I tell him all the
time he said, you I shouldhave branded that, cause you done took
it and ran away with it.But that's just where that comes from.
That that now was standing as youget to Ohio, standing and start to
look around the country, heal,Oregon's a big place. That's a that's
a major job. R How howdo you think that aran you opposite get
logo under Ja Rana blocko. Whenyou get out out of living free and

(03:15:37):
trail, how does that change theway that you feel you're either received or
or does it add a different levelto it to just feeling like I could
go anywhere and get anybody in thecomtry 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 when I'm going to report for

(03:16:01):
me, I N I N Iknow 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 the people.
So whatever logo I have on,I'm still gonna be doing the same
thing. So this is a greatlogo, great logo, But I wear
another logo every day. It's acrossI see around my neck. I know

(03:16:22):
what I represent. So that's thegreatest logo I could ever wear. So
it don't matter what other logo Ihave on. I got that one on.
I'm going to any house and bea recruit. Uh uh deep rite
camera, Tick Robinson and the Athleticpro which you you mentioned the time at
Memphis and them it's for NFL ringbacks you mentioned there. Who you learned

(03:16:43):
from that time that you that youtake over to managing your world and kids?
What did I learned from them?I just building a just teaching the
kids. We live in such aselfish world now and I can tell kids
all the times, it's gotta bemuch more. The football. The all
gonna go flat one day. AsI always say, what being in that

(03:17:03):
room there at Memphis is, itwasn't four five teaching them how to be
abbout being one? I tell youthe man 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 whatI learned from being there in Memphis and

(03:17:24):
butt them in road. Cross hearted. Your career in the law enforcement kind
of influence you as a coach andkind of shape where you are. Oh
well, I just got through talkingto somebody about that today. When I
first got in this profession and Igot my own room in Western Tech,
I was aksed. No, howwas I was gonna be able to handle

(03:17:46):
m M my room? I said, Man, I had a part with
fifty one inmates. You talking aboutme having got six or seven guys?
Are you kidding me? I'm talkingabout me having to do traffic stop So
going on domestic you know violeence,cause s it's simple easy. No people
wonna know what you care. Alsoknow, you gotta have a certain demeaning
about yourself. So when I walkinto the room, it's the reason why

(03:18:09):
I go train every morning. Thisis when it's same thing when I was
a police officer. You look acertain way kind of deter people from doing
certain things. So it's reason whyI go 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 Ward Uh the podcast,
Uh, Carls, Welcome to Columbus. Uh. What would it mean

(03:18:31):
to I don't know, revolutionize theway running backs are coach? What what
does that take? I ain't youknow. I'm not gonna say revolutionized.
Said some good f It's some goodrunning back coaches out here. Everybody's different.
It's some great coaches out here.I just want to head guys who
say that on these jobs to notjust hire guys. Just know, all

(03:18:52):
coaches on your staff should be greatrecruiters, not just some running back coach.
We coach a position. We developedplayers as well. I just wanted
the coaches to realize, hey,you know what, let me look and
be thorough about this guy that I'mhiring for this job. Is he teaching
the position? Is he development theposition? Because you're not gonna hire anybody
just coach quarterbacks, are you.Well, shouldn't be like that for the

(03:19:13):
running back position either. And I'monly passionate about it cause I played it.
I love it, So it's theonly position I want to coach.
Could I coach the other positions?Yeah? I played dB in college too,
but I love the running back positionso and I just wanted to see
it coach well. Ten May podcasts. Yeah, a million questions. All
that's a couple of Number one,when you when you when your wife whatever?
You got the message stuff? Orare we moving again? What was

(03:19:35):
What was her reaction? Nah?She she's just now. Guy that give
us gave us a new assignment,she w It was never like we're moving
again. Let me tell you guyssomething I grew up. My mom was
in the military, so I livedeverywhere. I lived in Panama of South
America. I'm used to picking upand moving. I lived in Fort Riley,
Kansas, Montgomery's home. Meph's mysecond home, so I'm I'm used

(03:19:56):
to moving now. My wife wasdifferent for her, but she's this new
guy that gave us a new assignment, So it's time to go. What
did uh? What did coach theytell you when he heard you that he
wants out of you? That maybe different. It's not slaming somebody else,
But what did he say he wantedyou to bring to the running back
room. I think he did hisresearch on me. He said he wanted

(03:20:18):
the guy to to develop the position. And that's not taking a shot at
the coach that was here who I'mfriends with. Uh. He said they
want somebody to really get like ouredge guys that we picked up, and
I'm excited to work with them.Know much about how against Uh. I

(03:20:39):
think he's super skilled, Russia,a little good length, and he's more
athletic than I even realized. AndI think guys like him when they come
to our scheme are the best isbrought out of him. So I'm excited
to see what potential he has.He's year nine, so I feel like
he as a lineman, you cankeep improving all the way through ten years

(03:21:03):
in this league, So I'm excitedto see what he's got. How old
did you know Sores and when hewas assistant here? And have you gotten
to know him a lot at it. What's a relationship made right now?
I know him pretty well. Hewas always just a good dude around the
facility. He did our ball meetings, so he's good in front of a
group. He's a good leader.He knows the scheme really well, which

(03:21:28):
is good. I was happy tosee 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 whatwe had with the Miko's be good.
Do you know Brandon Stanley well atall? I mean, obviously Joey played
for him. I don't know toomuch about him. I've obviously heard from

(03:21:50):
my brother, but I don't eventhink i've said high yet. I haven't
ran into him yet, but I'msure i'll get to know him. When
you say it looks similar to Mikothe energy or system, maybe a little
different energy, but I think justknowing the system from the front to the
back, I think he knows howit ties in. And he's been around

(03:22:11):
with some really good coaches, soI think it'll be pretty pretty seamless,
and I think we'll be firing onall cylinders. You're three months removed from
the Super Bowl now, So justhow have you? I guess digested it
and I guess physically everything good togo. Yeah, I feel really good.
I think it's been one of mybetter off seasons of just kind of

(03:22:35):
It was a long year, soI took it nice and slow to get
back into it. Not as youngas I once was, so I'm taking
a little a little slower, buteverything's great. I'm feeling as good as
I felt. I'm excited to actuallyget some practice in. Last year was
kind of tough, getting thrown inWeek one after I walked through, so

(03:23:01):
that was another reason I'm excited tobe here is just to get practicing a
little bit in season. Practice isone thing, but actually being able to
work your stuff and not have agame coming up is good. With the
Super Bowl unfortunately, I know howto bounce back from tough losses, so
it was rough for a little bit, but not just annoying when people bring

(03:23:24):
it up. Since the last season, we've seen a Rock on TV commercials
and on the stage with Kluke Coombsand throwing out the first pitch in the
Giants game. But he seems likea 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 any differenceat all. I think he's definitely getting

(03:23:46):
a little more vocal within the building. And uh yeah, I mean I
don't think he's ever gonna change.I don'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 he kind of reminds me ofScotti Scheffler, but except for just super

(03:24:11):
humble and really good kid. Andyeah, he's definitely famous. I don't
just from watching you saw Armstead getreleased obviously meant so much to the defensive
line into the team. I mean, Colin John were pretty open that they

(03:24:33):
were willing to talk about trading Deeboor are you at raf? Does that
just another what's that feel like inthe locker room when those sort of joels
happened. I didn't even know thathappened and I wasn't here, but you're
talking about this Armstead well in alarmEric release, So that's certainly one thing.

(03:24:56):
Yeah, it's a tough business,for sure. You have to have
thick skin, and I haven't gonethrough that, but I think you just
have to understand that it is abusiness and the team's going to try and
get as good as it possibly canwith or without you, and you have
to look out for yourself. That'swhy you go through holdouts and do certain

(03:25:20):
things that seem selfish in the moment, but it is what it is,
and when everything's settled, we're gonnacome together as a team and try and
go get one Nick. What's theoverall feeling around the group right now?
Like, how much does it feellike the excitement of the ramp up to
the season, Even though it's early, it feels good. It's been a
couple of days for me, soI like all the new guys. I'm

(03:25:43):
getting to know everybody, but Ithink the past is in the past and
we're ready to go. Do youtalk to me? You talk to bea
all about handling the business part ofthis. He's going through something similar.
We chat a little bit, butnot too much about the details. I
just told him to keep his headup and try and stay positive through it

(03:26:05):
all. First impressions when you heardabout your schedule would be in that Aaron
Rodgers' first time. It'll be fun. Yeah, it's gonna be gonna be
a good one. Excuse me kindof alluded to this, But the fact
that last year you had to havethat holdout, you said that affected you
somewhat early in the season. Ifyou hadn't had that experience, would you

(03:26:28):
be here right now? I mean, was that part of the motivation for
being here early, just to havethe opposite when last year might be No,
I don't think that's one of thereasons. But I just talked to
Kyle and he kind of asked me. He kind of stated how he felt
about why it would be good forme to be here and asked if I

(03:26:50):
agreed. And I one hundred agree. So it's not like I'm missing too
much. I think I'm here.It's a little less workload than I'm doing
back home, so it's kind ofa good active recovery thing for me.
And I'm getting football stuff, footballworking specifically, so that's good. I'm

(03:27:11):
not it's not compromising my training atall, and I get to meet all
the guys. It's positives. Ohno, he's he's there. He's got
a new regime over there. Iactually thought I was coming next week until

(03:27:35):
recently, so I was going tohave one more week at home, but
we're both in California. As I'vecome in and thought we were going to
lose or have have a bad year, I felt like every year when I
tell you things are feeling good andI feel optimistic, it wasn't a lie.
But yeah, I think things areare definitely, like I said,
trending in the right direction. Everybody'son the details. I'm sure it's a

(03:27:58):
word that you've heard a million times, so yeah, I think it just
feels like it feels like coach isleading the team the way it should be
led. It has a feel ofbeing back in college, you know,
with with coach urban Meyer, andyou know the message is sent from the

(03:28:20):
top and it doesn't get mixed upas it's moving down the ladder. It's
boom. This is how we're doingthings, and everybody's following that. And
I think it's impressive the details thateverybody have been on, has has been
on the effort and just the competitivenessthat that's been going on over the last
few weeks. Yeah, it's it'sit's been great. How much do you

(03:28:43):
appreciate that the stop just described theway Jim leases I shouldn't eat in the
messaging doesn't eat mixed up. Mightappreciate that so much. I mean,
it's I guess it's easy to appreciatewhen you kind of see it working and
you see guys improving, getting better. I just think the details are really

(03:29:07):
important. You can pretend that leavingyour shoes a mess or your locker a
mess isn't a big deal, andwhat matters is playing football. But I
think all those tiny details and thingskind of add up and leak into the
important stuff, like what you're doingon the field. So if you can

(03:29:28):
have your toe behind the line,or have your locker and order and all
these things, they kind of stackup into performing well and playing well when
things count. So you know,I appreciate that. It also hasn't been
a fight with the guys in thelocker room. They buy in, and
you know, it's a lot ofyoung guys, and I think they're hungry

(03:29:48):
to learn, hungry to compete andwin. You know, it's just an
example, whether it's we talked aboutfirst day you have your shoe, if
you could, if you could spendthe time on these small things when nobody's
watching, I think, like Iwas saying, it seems like it might
not out up too much, butI think in the long term it does,

(03:30:09):
and it leaks into other things,whether you're doing your right assignment on
the field, being late to meetingsor all these things. If you hold
a standard and you stay to thatstandard, I think it benefits you long
term. It's been like Ben Herbert, who has there been anything in his

(03:30:31):
training program we're working with you thatyou feel will benefit you later. Yeah,
yeah, definitely. He's been great. He's a no nonsense kind of
guy, but he's not an oldschool in the sense that he's bringing his
way of doing things and that's theonly way to do things. He understands
that guys have been in the businessfor a long time, Khalil me and

(03:30:52):
we have a way of doing things, and all he wants to do is
add to that and help you getbetter and perform the best you can.
He stresses it all the time thathe's a tool for us, and you
know, he's been He's been great. The guys love him. The energy
brings is awesome, and I thinkthe stuff that we're doing in the weight
room is great, great addition tostuff that I may may do on the

(03:31:16):
side or whatever that is yeah,I think we. I mean, we
had a presentation today with all thecertain measurables that are changing, and if
you guys are in the meeting,you definitely see how beneficial he's been to
the team so far. So obviouslystaying healthy is is a huge factor to
anybody's success. I'd say it's plaguedus a little bit for a while.

(03:31:39):
So yeah, I think he's he'sdefinitely incredibly beneficial. What were you like
at the end of last season youmight have been able to Yeah, no,
I was not ready to go lastyear. No, tried practicing,
tried coming back, and uh itwas it was not good, but yeah,

(03:32:03):
it was Unfortunately, the year wasn'tgoing great and it just was unnecessary
risk for I mean, my footcould have had some real real issues if
I came back too early. Soyeah, it's been. It's been.
It's been a great off season.My foot's feeling great, toes good,
hamstrings good. I mean, therewas a list of things last year my

(03:32:24):
hand, so all those things aregood. Finger gut surgery on my finger,
So that's feeling good. Yeah,it's nice to be feeling better going
into your nine than you have sincemaybe five six, years ago, which
said I've said I've been feeling greatlast couple of years. I'm telling you
it's a real deal this time.But obviously anything can happen. But I

(03:32:46):
just feel it's fun feeling really confidentin your body and being able to perform.
So I could just go out duringpractice and you know, go balls
to the wall and do everything thatI feel like I need to to be
able to prepare. It's fun.My brother and whoever I trained with my

(03:33:07):
trainerer Todd back home, Uh,I think they'd be really proud of how
I've been working this offseason, andit's just exciting. Pointing was the injuries
on the Great Big Game? Youkind of yeah, it was a bit
of a build up, a littlebit of an overreaction, but you know,

(03:33:28):
it's just tough. It comes sometimeslike that, and I just felt
felt really uh defeated coming back.Had a broken hand. I'm like,
oh, yeah, I get toplay Boom first series foot pops. Thought
I'd have to get surgery and allthese thoughts flooded through my head. Broke
down a bit, and yeah,it just hurts. You know, you're
losing, you're getting injured. You'vefelt like you prepared really well in the

(03:33:52):
off season, and then the yearbefore you had growing surgery, so you
know, a lot of things buildup. Yeah, you don't get a
break if you're injured. Everybody wantsto go on. Fans are very nice.
But no, I just I'm gratefulthat I feel this way. I'm
still still nicey Ripe twenty eight,so not too old yet. But yeah,

(03:34:18):
I'm just excited. I can't rememberwhat the original question was. At
this point, you get something aboutmy body. How close you and Gift
were, How frustrating was it thatyou couldn't you know soon for one of

(03:34:39):
those last three games. It wasfrustrating, but I mean Gift was had
my back the whole way. Ithink for Gift, for any but for
the whole team, just to showwhat it means to me. It would
have been important for me to beout there, but I literally couldn't.
I tried to practice. Injured myfootworset the very first play I was and
in practice, so no chance thatwas happening unless I wanted to throw my

(03:35:05):
next season away as well. Butno, I'm just I'm proud of him
for what he did with the team, how he handled it, and I
need to call him back. Actually, sorry, I give Yeah, I'm
happy he gets to stay close bywith the with the rams and uh,
I'm just proud of all we accomplishedhere together over the years and and we'll

(03:35:26):
be close for the rest of ourlives. Was the foot injury. It
was this guy blest 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. Itwas tough when it comes to the addition

(03:35:48):
of what dupree what he felt likehe's kind of brought to the to the
room and could bring on the field. Yeah, it's when I heard we
got my brother some I don't know, maybe my brother told him like really,
we just got budd Like that's no, that's no small pickup. He's
a seriously elite pass rusher has hadsome trouble with injuries as well, so

(03:36:11):
I understand how that is, butnot only him as a player, but
as a personality. I heard Khaliljust saying he's he's a fun guy.
He's a funny guy, and tohave that in the room. Another vet
is always a great addition. ButI'm just excited to have him intulee and
to be able to rotate like thatand not drop off at all when we
come off the field is huge.And now too, he's going into a

(03:36:35):
second year. Just what do youwhat are you kind of What are some
of the maturity maturity areas you sayfrom him? You know, I'm gonna
say not much, and that's acompliment because he was already mature in those
areas. I mean, he's onit everything playbook wise, always doing his
job, working hard, just refininghis technique and pass rush. I mean

(03:36:58):
we don't have pads on right now, so the real work will begin,
you know, in six weeks now. So but yeah, I love Julie.
I've loved him since the first dayhe's walked into the facility, and
I know he's just gonna continue toget better. You think of the addition
of Joe Old, Yeah, yeah, I'm gonna need to beat him up

(03:37:18):
a little bit in camp. Sohe's so he's ready, But no,
I think anything to protect our numberten is a good, good investment.
So he seems like a real soliddude. Haven't talked to him too much.
Great build. Seems like he hasgood hands, good feet, strong.

(03:37:39):
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
on him, for Shawn's a beast. Did you know Coach Harbond before he
came here? And if he did, just what were those first couple of
conversations like that? Yeah, probablyhave cross paths with him. Maybe maybe

(03:38:03):
not. Actually I think what wasit his first year when I was a
junior, So he kicked his assas usual at Ohio State. No,
No, they just want a championship, so 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 tokicks. No, but no,

(03:38:28):
yeah, no, the rivalry isdead. I was just saying this morning,
you know, nine years and kindof forget about that. I'm not
a great alumni. Sorry, sorrycoach, But no, it's great.
That's what's great about the NFL isyou just have guys from all backgrounds.
You could hate their guts one year, and then you come on the same

(03:38:48):
team and your brothers and you're allworking towards one goal together. So our
first talk together was great. Ijust sat down with them, went up
into his office and chopped it upabout life mainly and his opportunity here and
how much it means to him.And uh, yeah, I think he's
a special guy. I think he'sthe way he conducts himself. He's an

(03:39:11):
interesting cat for sure, and I'mstill still feeling him out. But one
thing you can't denies that he lovesfootball and his main goal is to win
football games. So and that's whatwe need. When you see him working
out with you guys and and pushingslaves and doing all this stuff, just
how interesting is that to see?Yeah, I mean he was a he

(03:39:31):
was a great player himself, andI think he's always been you know,
built like that lack of a betterterm. But yeah, he's, uh,
he's part of the guys. Youknow, he's not this guy outside
looking in. He he really,I mean he voiced that to me,
is that his favorite part of allof it is being with the guys and
and the connections he makes. Soyeah, to to see a guy like

(03:39:54):
that come in and embrace it alland kind of be part of it himself
is important. Your initial impression isa quashment during the defensive skam. Yeah,
it's funny you go from old Gift, old Gift to this little young
guy who's my age. I wouldn'twant to get thrown into a room with
me and khalil IPOs his age.But no, he's been great. I

(03:40:20):
love messing with him a little bit. We little sarcasm back and forth.
But no, he's great. He'suh, 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'm excited,
you know, to get closer asthe years, as the year goes

(03:40:43):
on, and I think he hashe has a lot of passion for the
position and all he wants to dois learn and and help us to improve.
So I'm excited about him, AndI mean I do miss Gift obviously,
it was a long time with him, but I am excited to have
a new face and kind of havethat challenge for me. You worked much
with with Jesse's dad, since Iknow he coached linebackers in Michigan. Did

(03:41:09):
you ask about Jesse? Did youask about doing Okay, you asked about
Jesse? Oh my God, Iwas talking about freaking doing the whole time.
You guys are so confused. No, sorry, I thought I thought
I was. I thought you mentionedcoach Ronie. No, No, coach
Mentor has been great as well.Yeah, they've both been great. Sorry,

(03:41:33):
run that back. No, he'sbeen good. Uh yeah, very
knowledgeable guy. Same thing. I'mexcited to get to know him more as
the year goes on. Have youworked Have you worked much during the Yeah?
No, I have not. Idon't know if I've said one word
to him, but more words tocome down the road, like you said

(03:41:58):
you'd here since twenty sixteen. Justwhat are some of this stuff? You's
just someone on a ramble about thewrong guy for fifteen minutes walking what Yeah,
what the hecks? Actually that's literallynot the person. Yeah, I

(03:42:24):
figured out. What's something that youyou worked undering the off season? Something
impruger game or is there something thatyou can Usually my answer is pretty consistent
that I just continue to try toprepare myself physically, whether that's my sprint
work or agility work and my lifting. But yeah, just to get everything

(03:42:48):
feeling great. I had dealt withthose injuries, so I had to kind
of ramp it up with my fingerand foot and all those things. But
now I'm I'm full full speed outthere, and I'm just gonna continue to
do what I know will prepare mefor the season. And uh, I
know I'm gonna get plenty of techniquework and position work when I'm out here.

(03:43:13):
So for now, I'm gonna spendthese five weeks really getting uh preparing
my body's workouts competitive again, anotheryear of competitive and all that stuff.
Yeah. Yeah, it's usually toohot out there for much competition. We're
just trying to survive. So butyeah, it's always it's a it's a
silent competition between between each other.Be like Peeking's like what was his time?

(03:43:37):
Was his time? But uh no, yeah, it's always. You
can never have an off day whenwhen you're out there and he's he's warming
up like a beat, like afreaking robot every day out there, so
there's there's no off days. Andyou, you and him talked to all
and out. I mean I needto. When you were having a contract

(03:43:58):
there, you have guys have totalk about them. 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.
It would be cool at some point. I I always thought of myself being

(03:44:20):
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,
guys, it's kind of we're ona food story. But so you guys
have like the lowest or second lowestfood cceria in the NFLPA survey last year,

(03:44:41):
and better moved to the facility.Like if you talk a lot about
food and how he did sometimes,is it fine because you have you looking
forward to the food upgrades at all? Have you thought about it at all?
Yeah? No, it's Wolfgang Puckor whatever is the is the word?
Yeah, that's great. I've beenworking with my chef for seven years
now, so she's been great,so I've never really had to worry about

(03:45:05):
that too much. But yeah,my weight's good. I've been eating a
lot this offseason, so that's good. But yeah, I'm excited to maybe
be able to Sorry Christina, butmaybe I won't need a chef next year.
I'll have I'll have my I'll havemy Wolfgang Puck food and that'll be

(03:45:26):
good. So yeah, I'm excitedabout the move, found a new spot,
excited to kind of learn the areaand all that, even though I
won't ever leave my house. Younot need a lot of the facility.
Just che good at all. Eathere sometimes, you know, it's may
not be the best setup, butthey'll prepare your food. That's that's plenty

(03:45:48):
good. I'm a man airic hearactershout out. No, they work harder
than literally anybody in the entire facility, So they may not have the best
means there, but they they freakingworked their butts off and for this offense
after like twenty years of breeze andjust kind of how it was just kind
of built on top of each other, on top of each other, it's

(03:46:09):
like kind of a lot to kindof fake in do you do you find
that they kind of turn it downto something new, starting at 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. Like you said,
it was kind of more of aDrew Brees style. Uh. The last
playbook so all credit to them thoughthey built that around him, around his
players. But uh, like Isaid, it's it's more. Uh,

(03:46:31):
this playbook is more for uh matchups, and I feel like it's gonna be
better for us. How do youthink it's gonna really take advantage of just
gill sets? Uh, just buildingaround the strengths that I have. You
know what I'm saying, things thatI can do and things that she can
do, Uh, things that ourplayers can do. Is kind of focus

(03:46:52):
on what we can do and buildingon that. Uh. I feel like
it's playing to the players strengths.So I feel like it's gonna help us
a lot on the way this offensewill have a lot more speed. And
how has that transition being so far? I mean, like I said,
it's building around the players strengths.So of course we got speed with me
or she and ati receiver, Sojust building around that, like I said,

(03:47:13):
playing to our strengths and be ableto capitalize off that. Feel like
it's gonna help us a lot mostof like the up tempo aspect and you
know, getting a lot of playesin the less time. Oh yeah,
yeah, yeah, that's definitely gonnaplay a big difference. Like I said,
coming from the West coast, Uh, they bringing that stand for an
offense here. So I'm excited tobe able to be a part of that.
For you personally, what what's thenext level look like for you?

(03:47:35):
What do you what are you tryingto accompli this year? Just staying consistent,
man, a couple of upside downslast year, Just building off that.
It's always always gonna work on thephysical part, but being able to
bounce back after a bad game.The mental mental aspect. Uh, just
learning and learning that last year andbe able to build on that this year
is a huge part. You knowwith Mike, did you take upon yourself

(03:47:58):
to kind of be that voice inthe room or to take a step forward
even further? As I mean,it's not really I mean everybody kind of
grown in the NFL, So it'sjust on you to be able to have
that standard. Like I said,I just try to do that lead by
example. I'm not really outspoken,but just lead by example, working hard,

(03:48:22):
trying to dominate every rep and hopefullythey follow after that. That yards
after the catch is that you feellike that's the strength of yours that maybe
wasn't utilize. I don't know ifutilizes the right word, but you could
show more. Yeah, it's anoffense that is built around that, just
catching the ball in space, catchingthe ball over the middle or even on

(03:48:43):
the outside with space and separation.I feel like it's built around having yards
have to catch. So I'm definitelyproud to be in the system, like
I said, and I'm excited.But is that is that a mindset too,
like being good at yards after thecatch? Like oh yeah, I
mean of course, I mean youdon't want to get tackled by the first
person. And uh, my mindsetis trying to take every take everything to

(03:49:03):
the house, you know, everytouch. So uh, I definitely gotta
do that more and definitely try towork on that and practice. Keep a
great dude man, Uh some somethat I definitely needed something that he relates
to me. Uh just from backgroundsand uh he's a great coach, great
leader, Uh, motivational and uhlike I said, I'm excited to have

(03:49:26):
him around and for him to pushme is everything that I need. So
when you're talking about like mentally bouncingback, you know from tough performances or
whatever, like did you try tofund your resources gonna help you figure out
how to do that. Oh yeah, I mean it's older guys. Uh
uh tell me, Uh that's naturaljust have bad games. But uh,
just having the standard that I havefor myself and the expectations I have for

(03:49:50):
myself gets hard sometimes. So justbe able to, uh be hard on
yourself, but at the same timejust let it go and just bounce back
for the next game is something thatI learned last year. You one of
those guys that feels like you shouldalways have a certain level of production.
Are you okay with those certain gameswhere the defense is so focused on you

(03:50:11):
that other guys have big games andyou're just running good jobs. Yeah,
I definitely was. It was likethat early in my career, especially in
college, but I found out it'sjust about winning really. You know,
I understand I came up a roughseason, but I don't think it's a
step down of where I can play. You know, I think when I

(03:50:31):
was at the top of my game, I'm still, you know, top
five player in my position, andyou know, I played a run in
the past, and I bring leadership, and you know that's not anything I
discover. Can you planning to behere for Mini camp in the start of
treaming camp. How difficult has itbeen the last two weeks to not be
here? And you said in yourpodcast the first time you never not been

(03:50:54):
a ota. Yeah, it wasdifficult, But like you know, the
thing I got very frustrated with wasjust and people questioned my communication with the
team. You know, I uhwas communicating with guys left and right,
and you know, front office,coaches, teammates, And all I care
about is how I am with myteammates. I don't want them to ever

(03:51:16):
think I don't care about them orhow I'm not in it. And you
know, you can say whatever youwant about me. But besides that,
but I'll always dedicate anything I canto But and I don't want that to
every question. And they just saidthat it felt like sometimes you were holed
up somewhere watching film. You textyour say you missed this or you want
that. Well, like the firstday, he was batting all up Russ's

(03:51:37):
passes, so I had to lethim know, you know, I uh,
you gotta take advantage of that.You gotta make sure guys are you
know, UH know that you youstill care and you still wanna be a
part of this, you know,just watching practice. There's a couple of
little things we're doing different, whetherI'm communicating with Gunbar or other people.

(03:51:58):
You know, so for yours thatyou're also talking with him, and you
you've given him pointeers during the offseason, just a constant communication. How
do you see him grow as aperson, you know, as far as
how he's approaching things and how he'spaying ready for this season, promos his
rookie year. Uh, you know, I think the thing with Keanu is
he's more comfortable. You know.You know, it's not his first time

(03:52:18):
around the track. You know,it's actually like he can you know,
uh, catch his feet under him. You know, I always think when
you're in your rookie season, you'regoing from bowl game. I don't even
know Wisconsin playing in a bowl game. Sorry, Wisconsin, I don't even
know. But you know, personally, I just think when you go from
bowl game to training for the Combineto you know, rookie mining camps,

(03:52:41):
OTAs, the you know mini camp, I mean the training camp the regular
season, you really don't get atime to really catch yourself. You know,
he understands the playbook now, hecan be more vocal, you know,
And I think when my absence theother guy's absence. You know,
you need guys like that to stepup and be ready for those opportunities.
What do you take server you hadsaying you had during the season was the

(03:53:03):
more thorough What was just tightened downeverything? You know on my left side
because I was overcompensating a little bit, but you know it was there wasn't
anything that lingers. You know,I'll say this, A growing is not
like an a cl It's not likeanything's that we're gonna get afected again.
And you know, you know,I'm feeling good, able to do everything

(03:53:26):
squat and heavy with power and speed, so you know, it feels good
to get after again. What doyou think of what the team was able
to fee accomplishis off easily return ofbringing guys like Russian and things, you
know, I think they're all goodacquisitions. But you know, you never
want to be known as a paperchampion, so you can't win the off
season. I think the work getsdone out here on the field, gets

(03:53:48):
done in the classroom, it getsdone training, uh, you know,
and then you see where you're atin training camp, and then you build
on that. You know, Ithink we got the right guys in the
building. It's just about uh,putting a complete team on the field.
Cam How timperical is it to separatethe business part of the game in the
actual football player. Uh? Youknow you always wanna you always have to

(03:54:13):
treat it like a business because youknow one day it's gonna end. Uh.
And that's any job. Uh.It's not like in college where you
know you got four years guaranteed.I don't know, well now you you
don't even know what Nili know it'scrap, but the transfer portal portal.
But you know, you have toI still have love for this game,

(03:54:37):
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 what yourvalue is. Kam, You did it
feel to be out there with yourteammates today? Emotionally great? You know
we got a new uh, wegot a new training staff and still learning
the the warm up a little different, but U you know, I loved

(03:55:00):
it. Uh, you know,just getting after it, learning new guys,
going through the same drills I've beendoing by myself. I actually like
having more people around because, likekind of go stir crazy when it's just
you and another guy, You're like, damn, I gotta go back up
for another ref already. And soyou know, it's nice to be up
here and get a chance to youknow, be with my guys. Cam

(03:55:24):
were you confident and people will getdone with your emotional Oh, I'm gonna
we'll try to remain pretty neutral becauseyou know, I don't wanna be too
either way. All I know isI want to be here, but we'll
see what happens. This is mylast year here. I I I've had

(03:55:46):
a great career here, but I'lllook forward to play next year. With
that second surgery, you said ifthis time was on the left side,
was the first time around on theright side, right side during the season,
left side, and that was justtightening down my cornerback. Corma saw.
It wasn't the same as my addoctor. You know, you can
ask doctor Bradley, uh, doctordoctor Zuckerbron who uh did the surgery as

(03:56:11):
well. You know, I ifanything's gonna help me and it'll make me
a lot stronger from here on up. And you say you were training with
another guy, who have you kindof been Tyson oh. I've been training
with him for the last eight years. We've always trained together. We got
a trainer up north, UH shotout Cole Haley, who's my guy,
traded trained trained, UH, HeathMiller, Brett Keesel, the multitude of

(03:56:37):
guys that I all respect, andwe've just been getting after can. He's
very few guys historically thirty five thatpaid big contracts. You think that's held
against you. I think there's nota lot of history behind it. But
you know, for me, II look at as I'm not looking to
be like anybody else. You know, my game is different from everybody else

(03:56:58):
in this league. You know,I like to think, you know,
I can play the run in thepast, and then that's why I'm different,
you know. I remember last yearMike t just brought to my attention.
You know, the thing that's reallycool is you watch Powerlifters, and
you know, my game's build onpower and technique, and those guys go
into their forties and so you know, that's what kind of research I'm doing

(03:57:20):
behind the scenes. But you know, I I We'll see what happens.
There's not a lot of history,but I'm here to make history, and
I'm here to you know, winnanother super Bowl year and you know,
have a great season. Do youhave a set goal over yourself on how
many years you want to play inthe NFL? Or do you just take
things here by the year? Youknow, it was it was tough answering

(03:57:45):
that question right after the season.I will say this, guys, I
I can't keep answering that question rightafter the season. That is not fair
to the season, That's not fairto my family, you know. But
in my mind, I got threeyears and I want to maximize them.
I wanna play at a high level, and I wanna go deep in the
playoffs. And you know, wegot a good team, and I'm gonna

(03:58:07):
do my part to be ready forall those situations here. If you plan
on for after soon when you reportto Latrop, or is your possibility that
you might uh pull in and enforcenegotiations. I I have not even thought
that far. I'm taking a dayby day, uh you know uh uh.
I told my agent and we talkedabout it, and mean, we
were cool coming out here. Youknow, I'll be here for many you

(03:58:28):
know, and then I'll be therefor training pand you know, I don't
know what the work entails, butright when we get there, we'll we'll
cross that bridge. Why is itad for you or remain a stealer for
those three years? You know,there was a conversation between me Omar and
Mike t And there's certain guys thatare one helmet guys, you know,

(03:58:52):
and I wanna be one of thoseone helmet guys. And you know there's
a there's a hunger and desire there. But that doesn't mean just hanging it
up and calling her career to me. I think, you know, I
got more bullets to fire, anduh, you know I'm excited to do
that. One You and Russell Wilisare gonna be out there with Walter Man.

(03:59:15):
Uh what Walter Payton Man of theYear patch. So I saw Russ's
on social media, but I haven'thad a chance to see it. Uh.
I let that surprise happens when ithappens. But uh, you know,
it's it's cool to have another WalterPayton Man the Year winner. You
know, I think, Uh,it's an honor to be there and one
I'll say one thing, I won'tbe here. I'm just telling you guys,

(03:59:39):
So it's not a big deal.I won't be here because I have
to do a Walter Payton man yourthing on Thursday. So it's not like
I'm skipping, all right, Butuh, you know, it's an honor
to be with Russ and you know, you know, it's in honor of
doing things in the community and doinggreat work and cool thing is as much

(04:00:01):
as we get quarterbacks and going throughthese fifteen practices at how do you want
to structure that? I know thatyou and Ryan have probably talked about that
a good amount, Like what's theright way to set up a spring position
battle? How many reps does everybodyneed? What's sort of your plan?
Just from a general perspective, Iguess yeah, you know, we're really
detailed in what practice looks like andhow that's going to operate. But I

(04:00:24):
also think you need to let theplayers go, you know, So I
don't think you need to put shackleson them, so to speak, and
just keep them constrained. I thinkyou got to let them go and you
got to let them operate. Andwe were rotating I think everybody on every
two snaps today just and that wasjust what we're gonna do on day one.
You know, we'll reassess it afterwe got through it, get a
chance to count up all the repsof how many plays, how many plays
each guy got and did they getmore in seven on than they did in

(04:00:45):
eleven on? You know, Andwe'll go through that whole thing and that'll
be a constant flow in terms ofhow we're doing it. But I think
the best way people learn is theylearn by doing. You know. So
they've been great in the meeting rooms. They're sharp when you get them on
the board, they're really good whenthey're watching, But you got to go
out and you got to play thegame. And so the more that we
can put him in those situations toplay the game, the better we'll have
an opportunity to evaluate them. Uh, ships thinking of all of these things,

(04:01:13):
Uh, go back so forward withRyan Day. You mentioned since you've
done him since she was a kid, what were your first impressions back then?
And then she come full circle tonow, like, how do you
how do you feel about that?It's still the same way he you know,
even since he was playing Little league, he was the ultimate competitor,
you know, and he was alwaystrying to find a way to win.

(04:01:33):
He was great at a lot ofsports, baseball, basketball, football.
You know, I got an opportunityto recruit him, you know, so
I coached him when I was atNew Hampshire. I recruited him out of
high school. We all, andwe grew up really close to each other,
so same elementary school, same highschool, same junior high, same
college, you know. So I'veknown him since for for a really long
time. But that competitive fire burnsdeep with him, and that's the one

(04:01:54):
thing that I've always admired with him. And he's got an amazing athletic brain
in terms of how to process thingsand how to how to put people in
position to make place. He's alwaysbeen that prototypical coach on the field,
no matter what sport he was playing. So I knew he was destined to
be a coach, you know.And I was fortunate in my career as
a head coach to have him onmy staff in a couple of places,
so I got a chance to seehim work firsthand. You know. I

(04:02:16):
got to see him work firsthand asa player and then as a coach.
So the success he had is notis not surprising to me that there is
there where you see Hryan the successhad, Yeah, I think we all
do that. I think we comefrom a unique place and 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

(04:02:37):
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 were
had an amazing impact on us andthat's why we are where we are right
now. U Bill Rabinwick, ColumbusDispatch. Ryan said he doesn't think of
it as you working under him,it's working with him. Fact is he's

(04:03:00):
the head coach. He makes mecall him sir though he just said can
you do that? Day one andI was like, all right, right
now. But I mean he ultimatelyis the decision maker. You've been a
head coach, How do you thinkthat's going to work? Do you think
there'll be any as close as youare, any kind of awkward moments the

(04:03:24):
right term, But when he's theultimate decider and you are working for him,
Yeah, I certainly understand my role. I'm not Alhag like, I'm
not I'm not charge here. Yeah, some people get that reference. Other
people don't get that reference, butI'd certainly understand that, and I actually
kind of relish it because I reallylove the scheming part. I love the

(04:03:45):
individual part. I love being inthe meeting room of the quarterbacks and trying
to game plan. But everything wedo here is collaborative. You know.
The one thing that that really struckme when I walked in this place is
there's an amazing coaching staff here.You know, and if you get a
chance to talk to Larry Johnson justabout football, or Tim Walton or Jim
Knowles or Brian Hartline or any ofthese guys that are on the staff here,

(04:04:05):
it's it's a very collaborative effort.I think everybody's on the same page.
You know, it's not our offenseand their defense and otherwise it's it's
Ohio State. You know, it'sit's Ohio State versus the twelve opponents that
we're gonna play during the regular seasonand then beyond. So it's it's really
collaborative. And that's the thing Ilike, just in the short time that
I've been here, is how collaborative. Everybody's been you know, we're all

(04:04:26):
trying to make each other better andwe're all trying to develop this team.
Touched on this when you said,you know, you like to do what
you want to do and not Mysense is you, in your perfect world,
you'd like to scribble plays on anapkin and not deal with boosters,
do deal with all the stuff thatcoaches head coaches have to deal with.
Now, how much of a factorwas that in this decision? You can

(04:04:46):
just do football? No, that'snot it. I mean I enjoy I
mean we've had some amazing I've hadan opportunity and everywhere I've been to meet
some amazing people that are associated withthe program. And there's people that from
my I'm in New Hampshire or mytime at Oregon. I was just with
Phil Night two weeks ago, youknow, and got an opportunity to spend
some time with him and his wifePenny, who are dear friends of mine

(04:05:07):
that have been great mentors to mein my career. And there's a bunch
of people that a UCLA Terry donnaheAndrea Donna who were awesome to me.
Angela Mazzoni is a great friend,Casey Wassman, Troy Aikman. There was
a bunch of people at UCLA thatI really enjoyed, you know, being
around and talking with. So Ithink sometimes everybody wants to make a narrative
of it's either this or that.It's it's never that. It's never just

(04:05:28):
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
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

(04:05:48):
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 it's
always been about the players, andI think if we can keep that at
the forefront, the people that aremaking decisions on this, and I think

(04:06:09):
Jeane Smith is one of the bestinfluences in in the NCAAA is to make
sure we keep that the main thing, the main thing it needs to be
the student athletes. Do you knowyou're coming in at a time where you've
been through some places where the expectationsare high. I understand it's also coming
into a juncture where, you know, the three losses to Michigan, the

(04:06:33):
not making the playoff last year,the urgency is pretty high here. I
guess just sort of what perspective doyou have on kind of the stakes that
there are for Ryan this year andthe decision that then he makes to bring
you in to kind of help solvethat. Yeah, I think the expectations
can be no harder than they arein your own brain, you know.
And I think if you try toworry about what other people are thinking in

(04:06:54):
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 does, nor the rest of
us that joined him in our partof this and that are working with him.
So you know, I don't think. I think sometimes you can spend
too much time thinking about those things. You know. What you really have

(04:07:16):
to do is just as there's abig sign as you walk into this place,
it says when the moment, youknow, I think that's a real
thing that we have to do ascoaches, is to make sure that our
players aren't worried about what's going onin the future, or or aren't worried
about what's going on in the past, or worry about can they get a
little bit better today, you know, and can we make improvement? And
I think the one thing that I'veseen here and I've only been here for
three weeks, but there's a consistencyto the players approach when they walk in

(04:07:37):
this building every day, which isit's unique. It's not like that everywhere
else. And it's one of thethings that I remark to Mick when I
you know, he said, hey, what do you think, And I
was like, it's impressive. It'simpressive the culture of the players that are
in this program right now. ButI think it speaks a lot to the
leadership. There's a lot of olderplayers on this team, and they've set
the tone for the younger players,and I think the younger players have done
a great job of followship and gettingright in line with that over play calling

(04:08:01):
to someone before, what does itmean to you? I guess he technically
did it to Bill when he washere for a couple of weeks. But
what does that mean to you tokind of be getting that responsibility from him
and he's calling essentially the offense thatyou gave it? I guess in some
way. Yeah, I still thinkthe play calling part will be a collaborative
effort. And by that I meanthat if it's a good play, I
called it, and if it's abad play, he called it. Because

(04:08:24):
the great part is an assistant coach, you just hen point the finger a
little bit and just say, hey, you know, I wanted to do
this, but he trumped me.So we haven't actually discussed game day yet.
You know, we'll see how thatoperates. But everywhere I've been it's
been a collaborative effort, and allof a sudden, someone that's calling the
plays isn't isn't like pulls one outof left field that you hadn't practiced and

(04:08:45):
hadn't been part of your offense andsaid, hey, let's do this.
You know, we're not running theannexation of Puerto Rico. You know,
we're not coming up with something specialyou know in the middle of the fourth
quarter that we haven't done. ButI think it's the key to really being
successful on offense is is how yougame plan, how you put it all
together, and then how you practiceand train for that so that you get
a chance to execute it. Becausethe player's confidence comes become comes from their

(04:09:07):
demonstrated ability that they've done this somany times in practice that when they get
out on the field that this islike that to them, you know.
And it's not that they do itso they do it right, it's they
practice it so much so that theycan't do it wrong. So, you
know, I think it's that wholepart of it that is really the key
to being a really good game planningteam, right Doug Lane Reef Kings of
North Chip. When you had thatfeeling when you were coaching the quarterbacks during

(04:09:31):
Bold, did you consider at thatpoint maybe resigning as the head coach and
thinking like this is this is notwhere I am anymore. I'll leave and
then I'll look to see what elseis out there. N I never thought
about quitting anything, So, youknow, I just is there an opportunity
that I think I can that fit, you know, And I think that's

(04:09:52):
the you know, it's no differentthan when you're talking to a recruit about
them make a decision on where they'regoing to go to school. I think
that where they should go to schoolis where the best fit is for them.
So, you know, I justentertained some opportunities and I always felt
I felt like this was the bestfit. But I never thought about quitting
or not coaching. I'm gonna coach. I'm gonna coach, and then I'm
gonna die. But I mean,that's how I think I think about things.

(04:10:13):
Is I can't picture that. Iknow someone I was on the Nike
trip and they like, how muchlonger are you gonna go? When I
said I have to go another fifteentwenty years. I don't think about I
don't think about retirement. I don'tthink about any of those things. That's
just not kind of my mindset thatyou know. I love football and in
the as long as I can bepart of this game, then I'll be
part of this game. Just theway things worked out with your departure from

(04:10:37):
UCLA, is there anything that youwish you had done differently, or anything
you regret, or just that thecircumstances that presented themselves. Do you think
that you handled that departure the bestthat you could have? Yeah, I
mean I got an opportunity to tellmy players personally. You know, I
think in this day and age ofthe Internet, where they read it somewhere
else and you have to text message, and you know, that was always
important to me that I wanted tomake sure I talk to my players and

(04:10:58):
explain the reasons of what I wasdoing. I wasn't leaving to take a
head coaching job somewhere else. Iwasn't thinking that the grass is greener at
another university. Was just in mypersonal situation, this is what I wanted
to do. I wanted to takean opportunity to go be a position coach
and coordinator, and that's how itfit. You know. What I was
happy is that I always thought toSean Foster, I think the world of
them, and I think he's aspecial you know, And the fact that

(04:11:20):
that they were. They gave himthe opportunity to take over. There was
you know, it worked out.I didn't have any say in that decision,
you know, I was gone.But I always thought that that Shaun
would be a great head coach,and 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

(04:11:43):
you get to get in the weedsa little bit. Uh maybe not mad
scientists, maybe too too strong ofa work could you're working within the system.
But was there an appeal of Iget to get my hands dirty here
again and innovate and get back tothat side of things. It was,
But it was really more important ofwho I get to work with, you

(04:12:03):
know, and so knowing you know, I've got I know a lot of
guys on the staff besides Ryan also, so you know, when I know
what their mindset is and what theirvalues are and how they do things,
and so I want to be apart of that. But there's a part
of that. Yeah, how muchof a teacher you get labeled in the
Innovators The teachings are part of this. How much is how a teacher are

(04:12:26):
even how patient are you? Yeah, I think we're all teachers. I
mean, education is the transportation ofknowledge, you know, So it really
doesn't matter what the coach knows,it matters what the players understand, you
know. So you have to beable to make sure that while you're implementing
things is what resonates with them andhow does that come back to them.
So, you know a lot ofour teaching styles that we've learned is more

(04:12:46):
the socratic method of there's a lotof questions, you know, and a
lot of check for understandings, justto kind of find out where the players
are coming from, because it's whatthey know that's ultimately going to win games,
not what we know. You knowthat we're not playing the games,
we're not stepping across those white lines. You know. Your job as a
coach is to create an environment wherethey have an opportunity to be successful and
then get out of their way andlet them go do it. So I

(04:13:07):
think the teaching aspect is huge,and we continue to research, you know,
some of the latest trends in teachingto make sure that we are transporting
that knowledge to our players. Thesecond rolld left Steve Helwagg in twenty four
to seven Sports. Yeah, coach, just creious. You got five scholarship
quarterbacks with differing levels of experience fromage and everything else. Not to annoyed

(04:13:28):
him, but just want to askspecifically about Will Howard coming in after starting
part of two years at Kansas State. He just seems to promote this idea
that he's a football player, youknow above all else. Just how impressed
are you with his makeup, hisexperience, what he's bringing to the table
walking in here right now? Yeah, really impressed. You know, you

(04:13:50):
don't have to talk to Will formore than five minutes to kind of know
where he's coming from. He's reallyfocused. You know, he knows he's
got a short window left in hiscollege career and it really wants to capitalize
on what that is. There's amaturity 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 football isis some of the best players I've had

(04:14:13):
an opportunity to coach. Award transfers. 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, and sometimes when you're a transfer is
that I've got nine months, youknow. 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

(04:14:35):
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

(04:14:58):
I've been involved in these, Ithink when they're organic is when it's the
best that I don't think you cananoint somebody or force the issue because the
players know, the players would understand, 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 the issue. But I've always seen it play itself
out. So I've been fortunate thatthere's always gonna be some quarterback battles that

(04:15:20):
at some point in time at everyschool there's a quarterback battle, you know.
And then and really I feel likein the league, whether I left
or right, you're still going againstpremier guys. So obviously you have high
expectations for your left and right tackle, but there's definitely like the level of
energy and like the expectations definitely takeand a human spect because now cone the

(04:15:43):
blindside that stuff as the tackle roles, you know. So so yeah,
I would say in terms of communicationas far as just even outside of facilities
and stuff like that, and reallycreating that tackle quarterback bond even more off
the field, what I think hasbeen something that's even been cool years.
I got a text one day he'slike, hey, like you play left,

(04:16:07):
and I was like, yeah,you know, yeah, I've been
training both. I've been training both. You know. I asked after the
season. They're like, honestly,you know, we'll talk to you some
play in the season, And Ijust got a text. I like,
depending on what happens, but withthe free agency then, so I was
like, you know what, Ihad a whole season right tackle, So
if I get the word, I'mgoing I'm standing right tackle. I don't

(04:16:30):
need to do what I did before. I'm built on that bus. I
was like, I might as welltrained the left tackle now as if I'm
going to be left tackle, andI'd rather do that than training on right
tackle. Get the call, heyyou're the left tackle, I'm like,
oh, I didn't even switch onmy feet yet, you know what I
mean. So I'm like, letme just prepare in advance. I was
like, yeah, let's god.You know, I think occasionally i'm third

(04:16:52):
down, there would be a lotof twists. I would just know like
it's I'm antomatically coming. And Ithink that was my mindset for like the
first half of the season. Butlike I didn't have to go into a
game and with surprise like oh mygosh, they did that. I kind
of figured like, okay, likethis is this is the type of rush
minut again, this is how thisguy usually rushes. But I get the
vibe, this is how the endslike the rush. You know, tackles

(04:17:14):
that are you know, first yearguys who got the premiere patch On.
I already knew what it was gonnabe, already knew of every stunt,
and honestly just knowing that it's kindof an advantage too, So you're not
you're not you're not old. Theybrought the twisted my side again. It
was never Aaron Donald, Like,you know, they're coming up the mines
like three plays in the world twominutes. I knew that it was the
whin happen, So, you knowwhat I mean, I'm watching more than

(04:17:37):
everybody else, and he rarely Evelandgoes out there on occasional third downs on
the d N. I was alreadyknow it's gonna be. He's gonna pick
me, you know what I mean, So fact fact it's kind of a
It's also kind of an advantage ina way, but it's also exciting,
like, Okay, I'm gonna getthe hardest look. You know, those
are real, real reps, youknow the thing. So really, I

(04:18:00):
I'm not really to kind of processthat. I was like, hey,
when they tell me to let meknow about'em, I'm just gonna train
it. I was training all left, so ta's I guess if I didn't
hear anything about ta's I would havecame in like so you know what I
mean, cause just like I'm cooltraining both continuing, I would have been
cool trading both continually. But Istill know. But what's it been like

(04:18:22):
for you to see just the earlystages of how he challenges people, of
how they responded. I mean,yeah, I mean at the end of
the day, I think we're allgrown men in here, so you know
you should automatically, you know,take accountability for you know, everything you
do on the field, whether it'ssomething good, whether it's something bad.
And I think everybody's responded well tothat. So you know, I think

(04:18:42):
that does nothing, but you knowit makes everybody better allowed to your teammates,
to you know, put more trustin to whoever it is has taken
accountability at the timesten what I uh, what do you see the guy accounted
all week? Yeah? I meanhe's quick. You know, he can
create a lot of space and uhsmall spaces, so uh it's quick,
you know, uh savage with hisroute running, and you know he's just

(04:19:04):
he's just a hard worker. Youknow. You know there's some plays where
he knows he's not getting the balland he's still still winning the route.
So you know, just to havethat player, uh A a player like
that give that much effort uh onthe field every play, it's really really
good to see. And I thinkit's you know, really uh gonna rub
up on the other guys too.I'm good. I'm about the i'm'a getting
another. What's it like working withuh? Some of the tight ends that

(04:19:26):
you guys happened room there? Iknow after Smithy straight just talked about a
verstuntil we leave, a lot ofother guys have, especially in that grip.
Yeah, I mean we have adifferent uh uh, a lot of
you know, different guys in thetight end room. You know, Darnwey
brings sides to the room. Uh, Rodney Speed Connor, he has a
great awareness in the field. Patof course he you know, he's a
great all the round tight end.And then uh, you know, uh

(04:19:49):
crew, he's a he's a bat, he's smart, he knows what he's
doing. So, I mean,just all the guys in the room,
you know, they're smart and intensiveand they've i f I feel like they've
j a justice to the offense.Well, so, what's been like working
with Tom or from what's he cankind of work on what you want to.
Yeah, I mean Tala's been great. Uh just his a tis attention

(04:20:11):
to detail, the way he comes, you know in each and every day,
comes in as the same guy everyday. And Uh, to be
honest, I haven't you know,I don't think I've had to coach that
detailed as Tom. You know,he's very detailed into terms of you know,
practice, refe sending us, uhthe info, breaking down each and
every play and really just really justfocusing on the detail. To be honest

(04:20:33):
with you, I think, uh, that's the thing that sets him apart.
And you know he's he pushed usto be hard. I mean our
our indie periods are you know,conditioning, So of course that's good for
us. But I mean he's beengreat so far. So excited to uh
you know, allow that our allowour relationship to grow, and excited to
work with and here's what he's doing. Kind of compliment what you're doing individually,

(04:20:56):
you know, when you're away fromthe facility working with you know,
coaches one on one. I likethat he said, what does he what
does he do here? That kindof compliments what you do away from the
facility when you're trying. 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 ofthe facility. So it's good getting that

(04:21:18):
different work in, different drill workthat I can you know, implement into
my you know, off season programand stuff like that. So it's good
that I'm learned this stuff for sure. Deep all of efficiency numbersus any times
that especially the last year what whatwhat what is? Uh? Argur Smith
and the offense talked about you abouttrying to make make the incorporate that into
being a big part of this office. I mean yeah, uh, I

(04:21:41):
think we have fast guys, guysthat can get down the field with speed,
uh, Guys like Quez, Calvin, Scottie, Van, you know,
me and Rust. You know,we've we've had a lot of deep
off success and a lot of explosiveplays in the past. So you know
that's just uh you know what,Yeah, I guess how our offense is
built. To be honest with you, but I mean our job is to
create explosives and you know, pushthe ball down the field. So anytime

(04:22:03):
we get those ops, we definitelywanna capitalize on those. Oh you're coach,
just arresting any part of your mechanicsand anybody like that. I mean,
yeah, uh, I think there'salways room to improve, uh,
mechanic wise and stuff like that.So I think you know, Matt Baker,
uh, he's a court quarterback consistant. He you know, usually stays
on me the most about it.So I appreciate the fact that he does
that, and I usually you know, make sure he doesn't make sure I

(04:22:26):
just just stay on top of it, you know, as a whole,
and you know, make sure,uh, my mechanics are always clean.
Can you talk about one particular elementthat they're stressing. It's it's different areas.
To be honest, I don't thinkit's just one specific area, but
it's it's different areas, justin inyour opinion. Was there something that you
wanted to work on, maybe getbetter at when you got here at this
point of your career. I mean, like, like I said, there's
you know, no matter who youare, you know, there's always stuff

(04:22:48):
to get better at, always differentareas. Nobody's perfect in one area.
So I think you can continue toprove in all yours. In my game.
You know me personally, so I'mjust focused on getting better. You
should never really. When we talkedto Russ yesterday, he said that rested
that he personally felt kind of revivedat another step in his career. Is
there any of that sense of mayberejuvenation or feeling revived. Obviously you haven't

(04:23:10):
been in the league for thirteen years, but is there a new energy that
you get being in a different organization, going through mini camp in a different
way for the first time. Ithink so, you know, just being
around a new team, uh anorganization as players, but to stay on
day one that I think that ourscheme is gonna be this, this or
this, it's you know, that'sgonna be a work in progress as we

(04:23:30):
start to get familiar with what theplayer's skill sets are and then what we
can do. And it's always acombination of what you have upfront and then
what you have out back. AndI know we've got a couple of really
talented running backs behind him, soyou know it's something that we're gonna look
at. But I also know youcan't be one dimensional in football. You
need to be able to throw theball as much as run the wall.
You know, it's funny. Somepeople think I'm an area guy. Some
people think I'm a wing tea guy. Some people think I want to run

(04:23:52):
the ball every down. You know, we're gonna We're gonna do what's best
for a house state, and that'sthat's kind of what our game plan is
right now. Austin wore a podcast. When you think about your first evaluations
of the quarterbacks and going through thesefifteen practices at how do you want to
structure that? I know that youand Ryan have probably talked about that a
good amount, Like what's the rightway to set up a spring position battle?

(04:24:15):
How many reps does everybody need?What's sort of your plan? Just
from a general perspective, I guessyeah, you know, we're really detailed
in what practice looks like and howthat's going to operate. But I also
think you need to let the playersgo, you know, so I don't
think you need to put shackles onthem, so to speak, and just
keep them constrained. I think yougot to let them go and you got
to let them operate. And wewere rotating I think everybody on every two

(04:24:37):
snaps today just and that was justwhat we're going to do on day one.
You know, we'll reassess it afterwe got through it. Get a
chance to count up all the repsof how many plays, how many plays
each guy got and did they getmore in seven on than they did in
eleven on? You know, andwe'll go through that whole thing and that'll
be a constant flow in terms ofhow we're doing it. But I think
the best way people learn is theylearn by doing, you know. So
they've been great in the meeting rooms. They're sharp when you get him on

(04:25:00):
the board, they're really good whenthey're watching film. But you got to
go out and you got to playthe game. And so the more we
can put them in those situations toplay the game, the better we'll have
an opportunity to evaluate them to GermanBuckeye huddle, uh ships thinking all of
these things go back. So forwith Ryan's day, you mentioned since you've
noticed since she was a kid,what were your first impressions back then?

(04:25:23):
And then she come full circle tonow, like how do you how do
you feel about that? It's stillthe same way he you know, even
since he was playing little league,he was 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 recruited him out of high school

(04:25:45):
and we all and we grew upreally close to each other, so the
same elementary school, same high school, same junior high, same college,
you know. So I've known himsince for for a really long time.
But that competitive fire burns deep withhim, and that's the one thing that
I've always admired with him. Andhe's gotten amazing athletic brain in terms of
how to process things and how tohow to put people in position to make
place. He's always been that prototypicalcoach on the field, no matter what

(04:26:08):
sport he was playing. So Iknew he was destined to be a coach,
you know. And I was fortunatein my career as a head coach
to have him on my staff ina couple of places, so I got
a chance to see him work firsthand. You know. I got to see
him work firsthand as a player andthen as a coach. So the success
he had is not is not surprising. To me, is there for you
seeing Ryan the successes had. Yeah, I think we all do that.

(04:26:32):
I think we come from a uniqueplace in a really small hometown in New
Hampshire where we all take a lotof pride to 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 youth sports program that we grewup in in in every aspect, whether
it was football, baseball, basketball, those coaches we had an amazing impact

(04:26:52):
on us and that's why we arewhere we are right now. For grow
Bill Rabinwick's Columbus Dispatch, Ryan saidhe doesn't think of it as you working
under him, that's working with him. The fact is he is the head
coach off the quarter. He makesme call him sir though he just said
can you do that? They want? And I was like, all right
right now. But I mean heultimately is the decision maker. You've been

(04:27:18):
a head coach, how do youthink that's going to work? Do you
think there'll be any as close asyou are? Any kind of awkward moments
the right term, But when he'sthe ultimate decider and you are working for
him. Yeah, I certainly understandmy role. I'm not Alhag like I'm
not. I'm not in charge here. Yeah, some people get that reference.

(04:27:38):
Other people don't get that reference.But I'd certainly understand that, and
I actually kind of relish it becauseI really love the scheming part. I
love the individual part. I lovebeing in the meeting room of the quarterbacks
and trying to game plan. Buteverything we do here is collaborative. You
know. The one thing that reallystruck me when I walked in this place
is there's an amazing coaching stuff here, you know, and if you get

(04:28:00):
a chance to talk to Larry Johnsonjust about football, or Tim Walton or
Jim Knowles or Brian Hartline or anyof these guys that are on the staff
here, it's it's a very collaborativeeffort. I think everybody's on the same
page. You know, it's notour offense and their defense and otherwise it's
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

(04:28:22):
really collaborative. And that's the thingI like, just in the short time
that I've been here is how collaborativeeverybody's been. You know, we're all
trying to make each other better andwe're all trying to develop this team.
Touched on this, you said,you know you like to do what you
want to do and not My senseis you, in your perfect world,
you'd like to scribble plays on anatkin and not deal with boosters, do

(04:28:42):
deal with all the stuff that coaches, head coaches have to deal with.
Now, how much of a factorwas that in this decision? You can
just do football? No, that'snot it. I mean I enjoy I
mean we've had some amazing I've hadan opportunity and everywhere I've been to meet
some amazing people that are associated withthe program. And there's people that from
my time at New Hampshire or mytime at Oregon. I was just with

(04:29:04):
Phil Night two weeks ago, youknow, and got an opportunity to spend
some time with him and his wifePenny, who are dear friends of mine
that have been great mentors to mein my career. And there's a bunch
of people that and UCLA Terry Donahue, Andrea Donna who were awesome to me.
Angela Mazzoni is a great friend,Casey Wassman, Troy Aikman. There
was a bunch of people at UCLAthat I really enjoyed, you know,
being around and talking with. SoI think sometimes everybody wants to make a

(04:29:26):
narrative of it's either this or that. It's it's never that. It's never
just all ball, it's never justall recruiting. It's never just all boosters.
It's it's a mixture of everything.But I think the one thing that
as this position as a head coachkept moving on is that if you look
at a lot of them, theyall become more CEOs. You know.
I can't tell you how many coachesthat have called me since I made this

(04:29:48):
decision that said I'm two years behindyou, brother, You know that are
thinking the same exact way. AndI think it's all part of what we
have to do. I think weall need to protect this came and promote
this game, and I think thereare some rules that we need to get
straight and now 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

(04:30:10):
can keep that at the forefront thepeople that are making decisions on this,
and I think Jean 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.You know, you're coming in at a
time where you've been through some placeswhere the expectations are high. I understand
it's also coming into a juncture where, you know, the three losses to

(04:30:34):
Michigan, the not making the playofflast year, the urgency is pretty high
here. I guess just sort ofwhat perspective do you have on kind of
the stakes that there are for Ryanthis year and the decision that then he
makes to bring you in to kindof help solve that. Yeah, I
think the expectations can be no higherthan they are in your own brain,
you know. And I think ifyou try to worry about what other people

(04:30:56):
are thinking in their brains, you'regoing to get screwed up a little bit.
So, you know, I talkedearlier the one thing about Ryan that
I know about him and has alwaysbeen he's the ultimate competitor. So he's
got. There's nowhere that has higherexpectations of Ohio State than Ryan does or
the rest of us that joined himand are part of this and that are
working with him. So, youknow, I don't think. I think
sometimes you can spend too much timethinking about those things. You know,

(04:31:18):
what you really have to do isjust as there's a big sign as you
walk into this place, it sayswhen the moment, you know, I
think that's a real thing that wehave to do as coaches, is to
make sure that our players aren't worriedabout what's going on in the future,
or or aren't worried about what's goingon in the past, or worry about
can they get a little bit bettertoday, you know, and can we
make improvement? And I think theone thing that I've seen here and I've
only been here for three weeks,but there's a consistency to the players approach

(04:31:40):
when they walk in this building everyday, which is it's unique. It's
not like that everywhere else. Andit's one of the 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 thisprogram right now. But I think it
speaks a lot to the leadership.There's 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
line with that. He's never handedover a play calling to someone before.

(04:32:04):
What does it mean to you?I guess he technically did it to Bill
when he was here for a coupleof weeks. But what does that mean
to you to kind of be gettingthat responsibility from him and he's calling essentially
the offense that you gave it?I guess in some way. Yeah,
I still think the play calling partwill be a collaborative effort. And by
that I mean that if it's agood play, I called it, and
if it's a bad play, hecalled it. Because the great part is

(04:32:26):
an assistant coach, you just henpoint the finger a little bit and just
say, hey, you know,I wanted to do this, but he
trumped me. So we haven't actuallydiscussed game day yet. You know,
we'll see how that operates. Buteverywhere I've been it's been a collaborative effort.
And all of a sudden, someonethat's calling the plays isn't isn't like
pulls one out of left field thatyou hadn't practiced and hadn't been part of

(04:32:48):
your offense and said, hey,let's do this. You know, we're
not running the annexation of Puerto Rico. You know, we're not coming up
with something special, you know inthe middle of the fourth quarter that we
haven't done. But I think it'sthe key to really being successful on offense
is is how you game plan,how you put it all together, and
then how you practice and train forthat so that you get a chance to
execute it. Because the player's confidencescomes from their demonstrated ability that they've done

(04:33:11):
this so many times in practice thatwhen they get out on the field that
this is like that to them.You know, it's not that they do
it so they do it right,it's they practice it so much so that
they can't do it wrong. So, you know, I think it's that
whole part of it that is reallythe key to being a really good game
planning team. So I can rightDoug Lane Maurice Kings of North Chip,
when you had that feeling when youwere coaching the quarterbacks during bold that preparation.

(04:33:36):
Did you consider at that point mayberesigning as the head coach and thinking
like this is this is not whereI am anymore. I'll leave and then
I'll look to see what else isout there. No. I never thought
about quitting anything. So, youknow, I just is there an opportunity
that I think I can that fit, you know, And I think that's
the you know, it's no differentthan when you're talking to a recruit about

(04:33:57):
them make a decision on where they'regoing to go too. I think that
where they should go to school iswhere the best fit is for them.
So, you know, I justentertained some opportunities and I always felt I
felt like this was the best fit. But I never thought about quitting or
not coaching. I'm gonna coach.I'm gonna coach, and then I'm gonna
die. But I mean, that'show I think I think about things.
Is I can't picture that. Iknow someone I was on the Nike trip

(04:34:19):
and they like, how much longerare you gonna go? When I said
I have to go another fifteen twentyyears. I don't think about I don't
think about retirement. I don't thinkabout any of those things. That's just
not kind of my mindset that youknow, I love football and in the
as long as I can be partof this game, then I'll be part
of this game. You have,just the way things worked out with your
departure from UCLA. Is there anythingthat you wish you had done differently,

(04:34:42):
or anything you regret or just thatthe circumstances that presented themselves. Do you
think that you handled that departure thebest that you could have? Yeah?
I mean I got an opportunity totell my players personally. You know,
I think in this day and ageof the internet, where they read it
somewhere else and you have to textmessage them. You know, that was
always important to me that I wantedto make sure I talk to my players
and explain the reasons of what Iwas doing. I wasn't leaving to take

(04:35:03):
a head coaching job somewhere else.I wasn't thinking that the grass is greener
at another university. Was just inmy personal situation, this is what I
wanted to do. I wanted totake an opportunity to go be a position
coach and coordinator, and that's howit fit. You know, what I
was happy is that I always thoughtto Sean Foster, I think the world
of them, and I think he'sa special you know. And the fact
that that they were they gave himthe opportunity to take over there was you

(04:35:29):
know, it worked out. Ididn't have any say in that decision,
you know, I was gone.But I always thought that Deshaun would be
a great head coach, and I'mreally proud of him and happy that that
he got the opportunity to take thatjob. Right behind him, you have
your reputation as innovator. Was partof the appeal of this is that you
get to get in the weeds alittle bit. Uh maybe not mad scientists,

(04:35:51):
maybe too too strong of a word, because you're working within the system.
But was there an appeal of getto get my hands dirty here again
and innovation, to get back tothat side of things. It was,
But it was really more important ofwho I get to work with, you
know, and so knowing you know, I've got I know a lot of
guys on the staff besides Ryan also, so you know, when I know

(04:36:12):
what their mindset is and what theirvalues are and how they do things,
and so I want to be apart of that. But but there's a
part of that. Yeah, howmuch of a teacher you get labeled in
the innovators. The teaching is apart of this. How much is it
is how the teacher are even howpatient are Yeah, I think we're all
teachers. I mean, education isthe transportation of knowledge, you know.

(04:36:33):
So it really doesn't matter what thecoach knows. It matters what the players
understand, you know. So youhave to be able to make sure that
while you're implementing things is what resonateswith them and how does that come back
to them. So, you know, a lot of our teaching styles that
we've learned is more of the Socraticmethod of there's a lot of questions,
you know, and a lot ofcheck for understandings, just to kind of
find out where the players are comingfrom, because it's what they know that

(04:36:56):
that's ultimately gonna win games, notwhat we know. You know that we're
not playing the games. We're I'mstepping across those white lines, you know.
And your job as a coach isto create an environment where they have
an opportunity to be successful and thenget out of their way and let them
go do it. So I thinkthe teaching aspect is huge, and we
continue to research, you know,some of the latest trends in teaching to
make sure that we are transporting thatknowledge to our players. Yeah, coach,

(04:37:22):
just curious, You've got five scholarshipquarterbacks with differing levels of experience,
age and everything else. Not toannoy him, but just want to ask
specifically about Will Howard coming in afterstarting part of two years, that he
has a state. He just seemsto promote this idea that he's a football
player, you know above all else. Just how impressed are you with his

(04:37:48):
makeup, by his experience, whathe's bringing to the table walking in here
right now? Yeah, really impressed. You know that you don't have to
talk to Will for more than fiveminutes to kind of know where he's coming
from. He's really focus. Youknow, he knows he's got a short
window left in his college career andit really wants to capitalize on what that
is. There's a maturity to Will, you know. I really I've had

(04:38:10):
experience. My experience in this thingsince the transfer portal opened in college football
is some of the best players I'vehad an opportunity to coach. Award transfers.
Sometimes when you're a true freshman andit's five years out. You know,
it's like, hey, I gota ton of time, you know,
And sometimes when you're a transfer isthat I've got nine months, you
know. So there's a sense ofurgency I think when you're dealing with with
transfers, and I think Will hasexuded that since he's been here. But

(04:38:33):
the other thing that I just inthe short time that Will has been here
is how quickly he's fit in withthe entire team, you know, and
how much the rest of the playersrespect him. You know. He was
one of the Gold Award winners forhis work in the weight room in this
offseason, so that says a lotfor him coming in here as in a
short time being able to win aweight room award, you know, to
start off, to have the numberone internally externally the end of spring or

(04:38:59):
I guess I think it always everytime I've been involved in these, I
think when they're organic is when it'sthe best that I don't think you can
anoint somebody or force the issue becausethe players know, the players would understand.
They see it every single day,you know, And there's a team
chemistry part of this thing, too, So we're not going to force the
issue. But I've always seen itplay itself out. So I've been fortunate

(04:39:21):
that there's always going to be somequarterback battles that at some point in time
at every school there's a quarterback battle, you know, and then and really
you got to let them play itout on the field, and that's where
it has to That's that's where ithas to be decided. Hey, welcome
to you. We're excited to askyou here. I'm kind of to talk
about the innovative part. Ryan saidthat that's something that he's always loved about

(04:39:44):
working with you, and now hewants you to roup that here and how
it would fit with Ohio stake.Do you have any idea what that's going
to look like yet or is justway too I have no idea, you
know. 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 the one thing after day one,

(04:40:07):
I can tell you that there's alot of skill set out there, you
know. So that's that's what getsyou excited, you know, that's what
That's what you jump out of bedin the morning and you're excited to go
to work because of the talent thatyou get to work with. But the
one thing that's the most impressive isthe work ethic that goes along with that
talent. You know, it's notjust empty talent. It's You've got some
kids who want to I mean allof them since I've been here, want

(04:40:29):
to work. So that's what getsyou excited. But I think assessing what
the skill set is you know thatwe have available to us on the offensive
side of the ball is vitally important, and then our job is to put
those guys in positions to make place. You've made good lots of pressure.
I mean, you've experienced what it'slike to coach national championship, how other
teams this program right now and movinginto a situation where you got to win

(04:40:52):
Quicken now. So does that feellike pressure here for you or is it
a little bit of excitement or both? Well, I've always subscribed to as
pressure is what you when you don'tknow what you're doing. So if you
don't want to feel personally, youshould know what you're doing. So you
know, I think it's it's partof that, and I think part of
our job with our players in termsof the education process is getting them to
understand that too. Is that youknow, it's it's about your preparation,

(04:41:14):
It's about you and your development.It's not about that you can't be governed
by what other people say. It'sit's what's my mindset and how am I
intrinsically motivated? And then how doI really compete against myself on a daily
basis to get a little bit better. You know, we got a little
bit better today because we get outon the field today and got a chance
to do some football. And thenthe challenges when we get back on the
field on Thursday. Can we bea little bit better than we were on

(04:41:36):
Tuesday? And if we're doing that, then we keep stacking good days on
top of good days, and Ithink we'll be in good spot. Chip
and welcome, thank you. I'mgonna ask about the pros and cons of
coaching from the box and coaching fromthe field. It's interesting talk to some
offen some coordinators for Tom Herman talkingabout he swore he wanted to coach from
the box, saw the game somuch better sterile environment, not all the
chaos on the field. Some coachesyou talk to the like, I want

(04:41:57):
to be on the field so Ican look at my guys in there in
the eye. Where are you asa as a coordinator, honestly, And
I've thought of this a lot.I thought of it a lot during COVID
because we had the empty stands,you know, so I had thought about
just walking up into the stands fora little bit because I had a better
advantage. I've always believed you cansee the game better from up above,
but I believe you can feel thegame better from the field. So if

(04:42:18):
there was any way we could geta zip wire where you could do both,
you know, coach called from thereand then zip out of the field
get a chance to talk to him, because it's a different deal when you're
talking to the quarterbacks on a phone, you know, than being able to
look in their eye and kind ofsee where they are with it, And
part of it is the field partof it. I remember when I coached
Ryan once we were playing Yukon andhe got hit hard going out of bounce

(04:42:41):
and he just walked by me andI was a play caller and he was
like, run the next play,and I just kind of looked at him.
I saw the look in his eyesbecause I don't think he could have
thrown it. You know, hewas still trying to get his win back.
But you wouldn't know that if you'reup in the booth, you know,
and you call a pass play fromup in the booth and you're like,
how come we can't complete that?Well, he just took a shot
going out of bound. So it'sthat fine line that I don't have an
answer, you know. I thinkI think it's feel on the ground and

(04:43:03):
it's see from up above. Maybein this day a technology, they'll figure
it out. But we'll see howthat that that operates, and whatever Ryan
feels is the best for the teamis what we're gonna do. So could
you your teams at the Oregon wereobviously know ever playing at this ass pace
and run a bunch of plays perminute and yep, maybe not act by

(04:43:23):
a pass pretty fast? What ruledo you see tempo and having an offense
and in the States in college footballand has maybe changed? I think the
game is always evolving, you know. I think when I left in two
thousand and twelve to go to theNational Football League, Oregon was the only
team that was playing really really fastand had shiny helmets. And when I

(04:43:44):
came back in twenty seventeen, everybodyhad shiny helmets and everybody was playing fast.
So I think the game is alwaysgoing to go up and down,
and there's gonna be different cycles thatit goes through. I think tempo is
part of those two keys because Irecruited and when they was in high school.
So I'm up for the challenge andthe responsibility of it. Got right
behind it. Damn Hope Carlos,Just what is your kind of coaching philosophy?

(04:44:07):
How do you get the best outof your running backs? I get
the best out because I love theyoung men. My main focus is to
change the hearts and minds of themand they'll play for me. I had
just got through reading Coach Trestle's WinnersManual, and it's something that I took
from that book. You have yourpurpose and you have your goals, all
right. My purpose is to serveand pour into the young men. Now

(04:44:30):
my goals is a football coach.All of them are take care of themselves.
So that's one of the ways I'mjust real relationship base, and I'm
very detailed at this position. Iknow y'all heard me say it before,
and I'm gonna keep saying. Thisis the worst coach position in football.
It's terrible. Guys hire anybody tocoaches position and recruiters. CARLS Locker is
not a recruiter. I'm an eliterelationship builder. But I coached this position.

(04:44:52):
I'm a ball coach, so that'swho I am. So I'm gonna
pour into these kids. I thinkthey kind of seeing it now. And
I jumped in one. I'm readyto coach. And the phrase, you
know, soft thatched cookies. Wheredid that phrase come from? Kind of
always this one boy. Let metell you about that boy. I've been
called everything but the name the childof God by the people at the other

(04:45:14):
places I left. So that I'vebeen getting pills Pillsbury needs to give me
a deal because I've been getting I'vebeen getting some DM and textas down some
of it. Some of them havebeen so funny. The saftbatched cookie thing
came from just having a frame ofmind, a mental toughness. It had
nothing to do with guys getting inthe portal and anything. Now, most

(04:45:34):
people say, I'm a saltbatched cookiefor leaving there, But actually I'm not
because it takes great strength to makea decision to leave a place. No,
a weak minded person wouldn't be ableto make the decision I made,
So it took great strength to dothat. So I'm telling you if I
literally in my DMS, it's someit's some great comedians out here that have
been sending me like tons of cookies, and I'm like, it's funny.

(04:45:57):
Right behind him. How are yougoing about the assessment of the talent in
the room, uh in over thepast week or two? How much is
that on field off field? Like, what's the process of getting to know
who you have as players? Well, I broke down well me being a
guy that loves the running back position, and I already broke those kids down

(04:46:18):
cause I recruited him out of highschool. You know, Q is from
where I'm from in Montgomery. Iwas one of the first guys to offer
him just watching him great contact,balance, creative runner, great hands and
trey. I recruited him out ofVirginia exceptional short of your bursting quickness and
things that i'm'a help him get betteron and then I recruited James Peeples out

(04:46:41):
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. Uh, I'm in love
with this position. So I getto break down runners and help the game.
So talented, talented, room,very talented. Uh far back Uh.

(04:47:03):
Jeremy Birmingham Podcast Couch, how doyou swear that fact? The soft
past cookies is actually the best cookies. The philipurg Max and going those were
way better than the cunty chips andwhite things? Was a terman. I
mean, do you do? Youhave to first find a balance there or
somewhere. Well, for me,I'm actually not eating any cookies. Nah,
I'm just saying I'm not eating anycookies this year. I gave it

(04:47:26):
up for a fast or no sweetsfor me for the whole year. That
something I gave up. So theythe term the South bast cookie term.
Look, guys, I actually tookthat from I represent the high school coaches
of Myths, Tennessee. I actuallytook that for a guy named Coach Slocum.
He used to always say that softbast cookie. I actually stole that

(04:47:47):
from him. I give him creditfor it, and I tell him all
the time he said, you Ishould have branded that, cause you done
took it and ran away with it. But that's just where that comes from.
So that that now I was gettinginto. As you get to a
high thing, you start to lookaround the country at any organ's a big
place, that's a that's a majorjob. How do you think that argan
your opposite logo und ja ran blocko. When you get out out of the

(04:48:10):
free and trail, how does thatchange the way that you feel you're either
received or or does it add adifferent level to it to just feeling like
I could go anywhere and get anybodyin the mry And that's the sameest thing
for me. This is a greatplace. Oregon is a great place too.
But guess what whatever I put on, I know what I'm going to

(04:48:32):
represent for me. I n IN I know who who put me here.
I know I represented something higher,you know, Like I told you,
I know what my purpose is.My purpose is to poorting to people.
So whatever logo I have on,I'm still gonna be doing the same
thing. So this is a greatlogo. Great logo by well, another

(04:48:52):
logo. Every day it's across Isee around my neck. I know what
I represent. So that's the greatestlogo I could ever wear. So it
don't matter what other logo I haveon. I got that one though.
I'm been going to any house andbe a recruit. Uh uh deep right,
camera, Ti Robinson and the athleticfrom which you can you mentioned the
time in Memphis is nomis four NFLrunning backs? You mentioned there who you

(04:49:15):
learned from that time that we thenneed to take over to managing to grow
and kids? What did I learnfrom them? I just building a just
teaching the kids. We live insuch a selfish world though, and I
can tell the kids all the timesit's gotta be much more the football.
The ball gonna go flat one day. As I always say, what being
in that room there at Memphis isit wasn't four five? Teaching them how

(04:49:41):
to be a bo bout being one? I tell you them in all time,
it doesn't cost you anything to celebrateanother man's success. So teaching them
how to be one and then oncethey learned to be one, they function
and they feed off one another.So that's what I learned from being there
in Memphis, right in front ofAndy Bach, from let'em in the
road, cross hearted. Your careerin the law ENFORCEM kind of influenced you
as a coach kind of ship whereyou are. Oh well, I just

(04:50:04):
got through talking to somebody about thattoday. When I first got in this
profession and I got my own roomin Western Tech, I was aksed.
No, how was I was gonnabe able to handle m my room?
I said, Man, I hada part with fifty one inmates. You
talking about me having got six orseven guys? Are you kidding me?

(04:50:26):
I'm talking about me having to dotraffic stop? So going on domestic you
know vioence calls, it's simple easy. No people donna know what you care.
Also know you gotta have a certaindemeaning about yourself. So when I
walk into the room, it's thereason why I go train every morning.
This is when it's same thing whenI was a police officer. You look
a certain way kind of deter peoplefrom doing certain things. So the reason

(04:50:49):
why I go train every morning,i'm'a look just as good as my boys
look, so U it helped outa lot. In other words, uh
front road right Austin Word podcast,Carls. Welcome to Columbus. What would
it mean to I don't know,revolutionize the way running backs or coach?
What does that take? I ain'tI'm not gonna say revolution. I said

(04:51:12):
some good it's some good running backcoaches out here. Everybody's different. It's
some great coaches out here. Ijust want the head guys who say that
on these jobs to not just hireguys just you know, all coaches on
your staff should be great recruiters,not just some running back coach. We
coach a position, We developed playersas well. I just want the coaches

(04:51:33):
to realize, Hey, you knowwhat, let me look and be thorough
about this guy that I'm hiring forthis job. Is he teaching the position?
Is he development the position? Becauseyou're not gonna hire anybody just coach
quarterbacks, are you. Well,it shouldn't be like that for the running
back position either. And I'm onlypassionate about it because I played it.
I love it, so it's theonly position I want to coach. Could
I coach other positions? Yeah?I played dB in college too. But

(04:51:55):
I love the running back position soand I just want to see it.
Coach well a man podcasts. Yeah, a million questions. All that's a
couple of number one. When you, when you, when your wife whatever?
You got the message stuff? Arewe moving again? What was What
was her reaction? Nah, she'sjust new guy had given us, gave
us a new assignment. She wIt was never like we're moving again.

(04:52:15):
Let me tell you guys something Igrew up. My mom was in the
military, so I lived everywhere.I lived in Panama, South America.
I'm used to picking up and moving. I lived in Fort Riley, Kansas,
Montgomery's home if it was my secondhome. So I'm I'm used to
moving now. My wife it wasdifferent for her. But she's just new
guy that gave us a new assignment. So it's time to go. What

(04:52:36):
did uh? What did coach theytell you when he heard you that he
wants out of you. That maybe different. It's not slamming somebody else.
But what did he say he wantedyou to bring to the running back
room. I think he did hisresearch on me. He said he wanted
the guy to to develop the positionand that's not taking a shot at the
coach that was here who I'm friendswith, and he said, they want

(04:53:00):
somebody to really get the guys going. I can only be me. And
I told him that coach, I'mgonna be me every day now because see,
my mindset is when I step inthis building, I got one mindset
that's to do my job so wellthat the living, dead or unborn can
do it any better. So whenI leave it, that's when my mindset
is. Hopefully I'm here for along time, but only God knows that.

(04:53:23):
So but that's my mindset every daystep into the Wizard Hate So that's
my mindset. I'm gonna do myjob 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 that's newand how to handle it. There's not
a transcript on how to handle thatvariable. So you just guys just trying
to do what they think is right. That's all they're really trying to do.

(04:53:45):
And I'm not saying that right orwrong, but he was trying to
do the same, and uh,you know, I think at the end
of the day he realized man itmay make the wrong decision, and we
connected on it. We talked aboutit, and you know, it was
a great opportunity to to write orwrong. And Uh, obviously we're very
glad he's here. I've always believedin him. We believe in him,
and he believes in himself. Andthat's part of the just trying to understand

(04:54:07):
what's my path right. So uh, but yeah, it's been great,
stuffs have been made, he's growing, Uh, but he's nowhere near where
he knows he's capable of being,and he's just probably oppresive ceremiah h.
I love uh the way he lives. I love the way he approaches things.
I love the way the questions heasks. I love the way he

(04:54:30):
makes mistakes and then correct mistakes.Uh, 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
consistency at which it works just goesto the roof. And so but I'm

(04:54:51):
very you know, excited and proudof the conversations we're currently having, and
I'm exciting it for them to keepgoing by play power for you working with
you. I love working with Chip, Chip Is. I love talking ball,
I love the viewpoints, I loveI love the the veteran that he

(04:55:15):
has, you know, and uhI love Yeah, I like, I
love all of it. I thinkthat you know, early on the biggest
impact, you know, just youknow, feeling perspective. I think in
the run game has been awesome,you know, and then you know,
off of the run game, someof the actions or or relief throws or

(04:55:36):
all that kind of stuff. Ilove where it's at. I love working
with them, and I would saythat I sleep a little better, all
right. Uh No, It's it'sreally a great combo because, like you

(04:55:56):
know, we're obviously we're doing alot as group. It's not just Chip
and I so but you know,obviously Chip has an image and a view
on things that I never had.So to have that experience and to have
that viewpoint, I'm just trying toabsorb as much as I can, but
then also highlight some things that we'vereally done a good job of and make

(04:56:18):
sure those you know, nothing's reallychanging. We're just trying to enhance.
We're not changing, we're enhancing.So where the things fit is perfect.
You know. I think you knowthe rest of the dynamics and search chip
can talk about. But it's beenit's been awesome, so I'm excited about
it. We talked to a Meccawho just talking about moving from slot to
the house side. You know howgood he's been in the slot. Is

(04:56:41):
that a difficult move for you guysas coaches to know how good a guy
is in one spot but know thatmaybe for his long term future and the
no. I wouldn't say it's anythingon his future, because he's capable of
doing whatever you want to get done. But I'd say that it says more
about the room. I think it'sit's the growth of you know, Brandon

(04:57:03):
and the growth grow of Bryson.That's really, you know, allowing my
mind to say, hey, Mech, be prepared. You're gonna move around
a lot. You're gonna come outof that slot, You're gonna be outside.
We're gonna create mismatches out there.I mean, his ability to move
around is critical. But I wouldsay between Mech and between Carnell TAS's ability
to move around a lot. It'sgonna provide a lot of flexibility for our
room. And uh and those topyou know, six seven guys that are

(04:57:26):
really doing a good job right now. Progress look like this spring for Mecca
because there's no times that it's oneof those things are true when you has
balanced how much work does a needversus yea, yeah, heavy heavy emphasis
on what work he needs, youknow, versus anything else. Uh,
I rely on him. We havegreat dialogue back and forth. It's a
two way to it's a two wayconversation. And frankly, there's gonna be

(04:57:48):
times where like, hey, mechwhat do you wanna do today? You
wanna go outside? You gona goinside? And I don't care. So,
uh, we're not there yet.We will be there, but it's
just more about, you know,when the room is ready to start mixing
things up, I would say,there's got I mean, I make sure

(04:58:18):
I'm bringing guys that are able todo all, but I have not asked
them to yet. So the onlyguys that in our room currently I've asked
to do that has been Mecca andCarnell. And those are probably the two
guys that I would you know,think heavily on doing moving around a lot.
I'm not putting that on anybody elseright now, not saying they can't,
but at this point, having twoguys being able to swing, you

(04:58:38):
probably don't need much more than that. I need guys being experts at what
they're good at, so it ithelps the offense. Don't be great at
everything and be an expert at somethingand we can use that to our to
our advantage. This year is different, like maybe you guys who are more
situational. The room's always different,frankly, I mean from twenty eighteen and

(04:59:00):
then nineteen and through COVID and thoseguys, and then the depth of those
guys and then where Mec and Marvinand those guys were as freshman compared to
you know, It's just it's alwaysdifferent. And I expect this one to
be different again, athletic than Ieven realized. And I think guys like
him when they come to our schemeare the best is brought out of him.

(04:59:22):
So I'm excited to see what potentialhe has. He's year nine,
so I feel like you, asa d lineman, you can keep improving
all the way through ten years inthis league, so I'm excited to see
what he's got. How old didyou know Sores and when he was assistant
here, and I've gotten to knowhim a lot better. What's the relationship?
Maybe right now? I know himpretty well. He was always just

(04:59:47):
a good dude around the facility.He did our ball meetings, so he's
good in front of a group.He's a good leader. He knows the
scheme really well, which 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 somethingsimilar to what we had with the

(05:00:11):
Miko. It'll be good. Doyou know Brandon Stanley well at all?
I mean, obviously Joey playing forhim, I don't know too much about
him. I've obviously heard from mybrother, but I don't even think i've
said high yet. I haven't raninto him yet, but I'm sure i'll
get to know him. When yousay it looks similar to the Miko of
the energy or the system, maybea little different energy, but I think

(05:00:34):
just knowing the system from the frontto the back, I think he knows
how it ties in, and he'sbeen around with some really good coaches,
so I think it'll be pretty prettyseamless, and I think we'll be firing
on all cylinders. You're three monthsremoved from the Super Bowl now, so

(05:00:56):
how have you? I guess digestedit, and I guess physically everything good
to go. Yeah, I feelreally good. I think it's been one
of my better off seasons of justkind of it was a long year,
so I took it nice and slowto get back into it. Not as
young as I once was, soI'm taking a little, uh, a
little slower, but everything's great.I'm feeling as good as I felt.

(05:01:22):
I'm excited to actually get some practicein. Last year was kind of tough,
getting thrown in Week one after Iwalked through, so that was another
reason I'm excited to be here,is just to get practicing a little bit
in season. Practice is one thing, but actually being able to work your
stuff and not have a game comingup is good. With the Super Bowl

(05:01:48):
unfortunately, I know how to bounceback from tough losses, so it was
rough for a little bit. Butnow it's just annoying when people bring it
up. Since the last and we'veseen a rock on TV commercials and on
the stage with Luke Coombs and throwingout the first pitch in the Giants game.
But he seems like a guy that'stotally unaffected by celebrity, which he

(05:02:10):
has now. But what have younoticed in his leadership style and the way
he carries himself any difference at all. I think he's definitely getting a little
more vocal within the building. Anduh yeah, I mean I don't think
he's ever gonna change. I don'tthink he's somebody that's gonna change even when
he gets paid next year. Sohe's he's a man of faith and he

(05:02:33):
kind of reminds me of Scotti Scheffler, but except for just super humble and
really good kid. And yeah,he's definitely famous. I don't just from

(05:02:55):
watching Armstead get released obviously meant somuch to the defensive line into the team.
I mean, Colin John were prettyopen that they were willing to talk
about trading Deebo or are you atyourn? Does that just another what's that
feel like in the locker room whenthose sort of jowls happened. I didn't
even know that happened and I wasn'there, But you're talking about this offseason

(05:03:22):
armsta in alarm Er the least,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, butI think you just have to understand that
it is a business and the team'sgoing to try and get as good as

(05:03:44):
it possibly can with or without you, and you have to look out for
yourself. That's why you go throughholdouts and do certain things that seem selfish
in the moment, but it iswhat it is, and when everything's settled,
we're gonna come together a team andtry and go get one. What's
the overall feeling around the group rightnow, Like, how much does it

(05:04:04):
feel like the excitement of the rampup to the season. Even though it's
early, it feels good. It'sbeen a couple of days for me,
so I like all the new guys. I'm getting to know everybody. But
I think the past is in thepast and we're ready to go. Do
you talk to you talk to beat all about handling the business part of
this. He's going through something similar. We chat a little bit, but

(05:04:27):
not too much about the details.I just told him keep his head up
and try and stay positive through itall over your first impressions when you heard
what your schedule would be in thatAaron Rodgers' first off, it'll be fun.
Yeah, it's gonna be from yourperspective, how much did that factory

(05:04:48):
just knowing what he was doing andkind of maybe yeah, you know,
it did factor in a little bit, but it is it's a personal decision
and it was a quick process.Honestly it was. It was a week
week, two weeks, figured itout and moved on, And it's something
I really haven't thought of at allover the last few months. I've just

(05:05:11):
been trying to prepare and I'm feelingreally good, really good. Things are
going really great back home training.So you know, got that under got
it behind me and moved on.Does it since you've been here, does
it feel different? Yeah? Youknow, it's not like these last eight

(05:05:33):
years have come in and thought wewere going to lose or have a bad
year. I felt like every yearwhen I tell you things are feeling good
and I feel optimistic, it wasn'ta lie. But yeah, I think
things are are definitely, like Isaid, trending in the right direction.
Everybody's on the details. I'm sureit's a word that you've heard a million
times. So yeah, I thinkit just feels like it feels like coach

(05:06:00):
is leading the team the way itshould be led. It has a feel
of being back in college, youknow, with with coach irber Meyer,
and you know the message is sentfrom the top and it doesn't get mixed
up as it's moving down the ladder. It's boom, this is how we're
doing things, and everybody's following that, and I think it's impressive the details

(05:06:22):
that everybody has been on, hashas been on the effort, and just
the competitiveness that that's been going on.