Press Conference (Ryan Day)

Episode Transcript

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

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

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

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

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

(01:49):
job. Don't they just what Igotta do, must take care of person,
score, don't just come in toomuch job. That's perfect mantal God,
bless you. I appreciate you,my man. Awesome watch you today.
Thank you so much. JJ Smith. You have to adapt, but
there's certain things that we're not goingto change. There's certain values we're not

(02:09):
going to change. It Just youknow, you know, principles that have
you know, stood the test oftime. And I shared this with a
group before when I started doing somesome research. As we were doing some
some of our recruiting you know,introductions and some of our you know talks
about you know, the traditions ofOhio State. We talked about how Ohio

(02:30):
Stadium was built, you know,and when you when you when you do
your research on that one hundred yearsago, you know, folks have the
idea of building a stadium over sixtythousand people, and that's because of what
Chick Carley was doing. And youknow, they had a wooden bleachers over
here, and all these people startedcoming in and the idea of bringing in
a stadium that of our sixty thousandpeople at the time was like, this

(02:52):
is crazy. What is college footballturning into? And they instead of going
to the state or going to theschool the community, they went to the
community to raise the money they raisedover at the time over a million dollars.
Well night, fast forward one hundredyears and the conversation still might be
like, what is college football doingright? And in this situation, then
I l we had to turn tothe community for help and Bucky Nation showed

(03:14):
up again in a big way.So although the landscape is changing, I
don't know, if you know,one hundred years later, if it's that
much different. It's just in adifferent time, in a different you know,
set of issues that we're working through. But I think it's exciting.
I think there's a lot of positivesto it. I do. I think

(03:35):
that we're taking the next step withthe revenue sharing to try to institutionalize some
of it, which would be bigfor US bills. Yeah, every year's
question. It seems like this year'steam has your questions off the line ares
specifically, if you look ahead toreal than a month, what are the

(04:00):
questions that you have about position?I would say on offense, you know,
we've got to square away the quarterback, as you know, I feel
like, you know, the offensiveline on the right side, we got
to solidify that. I feel likewe got to build, you know,
enough depth at receiver that we feellike we can put in five or six

(04:24):
in the game and feel good aboutit. On defense, I think we're
still looking to figure out, youknow, who are going to be the
guys inside, you know, thethird, the fourth, the fifth,
defensive interier, alignment that we're goingto put in the game. And then
same thing just just I would saydepth, a little bit of safety,
just to kind of see who thosenext guys are. They're going to step

(04:46):
up, and so we know it'sgoing to be a long year. We're
going to need everybody and and soin a lot of those areas it's depth,
Uh, special teams wise. Youknow, punter is going to be
you know that that is significant.You know, we just brought in Nick
and you know, so there'll bea battle there. So i'd say those
are probably the areas we're focused onthe most. Right just to fall on

(05:09):
the offensive line, there was Ithink a school alog you guys might be
looked for a transfer in that postspring window. Did you guys do that?
Did you guys not find the guyor were you just confident the guys
you had, Just like you knowin January, if if we're going to
bring somebody in, it is tofill a hole. We're not just going
to bring somebody in to bring somebodyin. Like at all positions, we'll

(05:30):
always look to see what's out there. We did evaluate some of the guys
that were out there, and youknow, you know, we felt like
coming out of it. As weevaluated it. You know, there was
a couple of guys that you know, we checked on, but but ultimately
like based on where we were andsome of the young guys that are coming
up, you know, we feltlike we saw some progress in the offensive
line in the spring. So youknow, it wasn't there wasn't as many

(05:53):
folks in the portal, you know, in after the spring. So we
looked at it, we identified it. We did due diligence, but you
know, we're gonna go with throughwe have now second round. Bill landis
right, you're it was interesting thatyou have two of maybe the top five
ers or guys in sport and thena bunch of guys who have plenty uh

(06:14):
maybe similar that I know my question, but did you consider trying to add
there? Understanding the probably the difficultto sell. We can have such talent,
how to bring somebody of these experiences? Like what were those conversations like
and how did you sett al onbeing comfortable with you know, Trey and
quin Well, Like you said,you know, I think we're we will
get some experience there with those twoguys, and then you know, we

(06:34):
felt like coming out of the springthat James and Sam both did a nice
job and you know we're gonna haveto play them and they're gonna have to
you know, take on a littlebit of that. You know, we
have you know, started having conversationswith Caleb Downs. I was part of
the recruiting process of possibly you know, doing a little bit of running back
as well. It's something that hewanted to do. So we've been having

(06:56):
him in some of the meetings andsome of the individual drills as a possibility
there if you know, needed sodown the road to continue to build depth
at that position. But you know, I think, you know, we
feel like, you know, ifyou have you know, four strong running
backs going into it, then youknow that's gonna be that's gonna be enough
to carry the season. I dothink that the quarterbacks will run the ball

(07:17):
more this season, so that shouldtake some carries away from them. But
to your point, you know,James and Sam are gonna have to step
up to the guys that we cancount on. Save that for another day,
Yeah, just fall up on it. Is he capable of stepping in
and being running back? Obviously,we'll see, we'll see. We talked

(07:43):
about in the recruiting process, youknow, the first time around and more
specifically in the second time around,and so he's you know, he's been
around a little bit just to geta feel for it. We did very
little in the spring. We didI think we pitched them an option or
something like that in the spring justto kind of get them going. But
we'll see where that goes. Wedon't have a specific plan right now,
but we do want to introduce himto that just the same thing like Lorenzo

(08:07):
Styles has played yourcier where he didthat at Notre Dame. You know,
he's out there a little bit,just kind of learning. It's healthy.
You know, you're seeing it fromthe other side of the ball. This
time of year, you can getaway with that a little bit, a
little bit in the preseason. Whereit goes, we'll see, but you
just never know. And we're tryingto put some contingency plans in place because
it could be a long season.Yeah, this is my forty first year
covering of house to day. Idon't remember ever expectations like this In the

(08:31):
summer. There were some of themwere almost as big. Sure do you
sense that too? And what isthat pressure like as you're working through a
summer. Yeah, and people haveasked me that I go back to the
expectations every year are the same.I mean, it's just the truth.
When opening press conference I said yougot to beat the team up north,
and when every game after that,that's just the expectations. And when you
come up short, you know you'vegot to figure out a way to get
those things fixed. I think wehave done that. But the expectations are

(08:54):
the same every year. Pressure isthe same every year. I just like
the pressure when you got a reallygood team behind you. So that's what
we've got right now. And youknow, we know it's going to be
a long season. We know we'reworking towards. But I will say this
about this team, Well, we'vebeen talented. That's there's been times in
the past we've been talented. Idon't know since I've been here, if
we've been this talented and this experiencetogether with guys that have played a lot

(09:16):
of football, fourth and fifth yearguys, and that doesn't matter. We'll
go Thanks Extor, Stephen play sinceyou brought it up. Maybe this is
his tops because it's summer Conmas,so you can now just have a conversations.
Maybe we're making a big deal outof nothing long term situation, but
we've seen it around college football league, guys playing both sides of the ball,

(09:37):
and I'm doing it quite well rightTravis Suner is doing it out in
Colorado, and Kaylyn Jas has beendepartment turns. So we see what he
could do with the ball. Butthere's also the stamina aspect of that's getting
into a sixteen game season. SoI'm not saying it's gonna be forty snaps
or something like that. But whatabout his athleticism what he brings to the
table, and let you know thatif you wanted to explore it in a
real game, he could last andstill be an effective safety. Yeah,

(10:00):
you know, we'd have to seeall that he did it in high school.
But we got some really good runningbacks in a room. So it's
not something that we're planning on doing, but uh, we all we are
gonna, you know, work ona little bit. Caleb. Caleb enjoys
that part of it. We didagree that that was something that we were
going to look into. Where itgoes, I don't I don't really know
right now, but I know thathe has the capability to do it.
He has the athleticism and do it, and you know, we'll kind of

(10:22):
see where it goes, see seehow he does, and you know,
maybe hand the ball Tom a littlebit in the preseason, because again it's
going to be a long season.We have to make sure we have continuoency
plans in place. But I knowit's something that he enjoys having the ball
in his hand. So even duringtheir first time around the recruiting process,
we've talked about him coming in asa as an offensive player. Ultimately we

(10:43):
think his ceiling is highest on defense. But you know, but I also
agree. I think that having youknow, guys going in this side of
the ball and just see it,listen to meetings is really healthy for the
development. So we're going to dothat regardless. Your defensive recruiting right now
is maybe further long it's been inthe years past, and I think we

(11:05):
passed numous questions about it in thepast. But is this a product of
seeing it over the last couple ofyears and now it's not just telling guys,
hey, this might look like this, they're seeing it in real time.
Yeah, you know, we talkedabout it when Jim first came in
and I think Tim Wallons is anunbelievable job as well in the back end,
and you know, Matt stepped rightin and James and Larry. I
think they're all doing a great job. But like you said, you know,

(11:26):
it's one thing to talk about it. That's theory testimony is just look
at this is this is what we'redoing. And then I think you're seeing
a lot of guys just excited aboutplaying in this defense and they see the
capabilities and the flexibility too. Youknow, right now, the way we
play, excuse me, the waywe play right now is based on you
know, we have four really talenteddefensive linemen that are really good, and

(11:48):
we got a lot of that tothose positions. But there's also flexibility with
some of the things Gym's done inthe past that you know, we're definitely
looking at and some of the recruitsthat we're looking at who brings some versatility,
pass rusher, you know, wehave that jack position and those type
of things. So that's exciting aswell. And I think you're seeing a
lot of the recruits, you know, really get fired up when they get
here. People. Yeah, coach, I think the first couple years your

(12:11):
identity was was very very from anawful standpoint and air and out type team.
Well, I look at the keybest of talent and the play makers
you have there, has your identitychange? I guess what do you think
the identity is of this point pointfour? We'll see as we go,
But you know, we know whatwe need to do to play in the
big games. That's never changed.And we have to be able to stop

(12:31):
the run, run the football,take care of the ball, and there'll
be opportunities to throw the ball that'llthat'll happen, but you know we're gonna
have to, you know, dothose things to win close games and play
situational football. But I think,you know, you won't really get a
feel for what the identity of theteam is until we get into probably the
beginning of October, you know,and I think we all have ideas of

(12:52):
what it could go. But youknow, now that we're playing in a
playoff format, just like a lotof those NFL teams sometimes, you know,
they don't really quite understand their identityuntil the get about halfway through the
season. I don't think it'll takethat long. But you know, we're
able to play some games and kindof work through some things. And I
don't think our defense is going tochange a bunch in terms of what we
did last year. I mean,it's a lot of the same guys back

(13:13):
could look a little different on offense. Have you got time for two more?
Go to Doug Limmers? Okay?Right? You lose an important recruiting
staffer to promotion at Michigan just thesecond time, so Mu's gone to Michigan
this offseason. How do you reactto something like that? Is something that

(13:35):
someone like that would take information thatwas learned here that could help Michigan or
burt O high stages which reaction?Yeah, all good questions, and you
know, I just I want totalk about the guys that are here,
you know, the staff members thatare here, the coaches that are here,
the players that are here, theones that are Buckeyes. Joe didgon

(13:56):
with the scheduling change that was announcedyesterday. Didn't have anything to do with
the attle different. Yeah, youknow, I don't know all that came
in came with it. I knowit got presented to me a while back,
and you know I was on boardwith it. So yeah, I

(14:16):
mean I think, you know,we do have to look a little bit
different at our scheduling as we moveforward based on the way the format is
at the end of the season.That's quickly about the linebackers, got in
here a little bit late. Howdo you feel about your linebackers? Cody
seems like he always the ross,like he's lacking as a starter, CJ.
When do you see his role beingSonny? When do you see his
role being Gay and all this guys? Yeah, good versatility. All those

(14:37):
guys are vel Reese. Like yousaid, CJ, Gabe, Sonny,
Cody. You know, I'm missinga couple, I'm sure, but like
that was that y R bel Yeah, I mean these guys are very versatile
guys. You can see the lengthon them, and you know, they
do a good job in terms oflike fitting the runs they could. They

(14:58):
have enough you know, the coveringzone. But they'll also blitz and that's
something that we wanted to really workon this offseason is getting better at blitzing,
you know, and hopefully we caneven take the next step in the
preseason. But all playmakers, Ithink when you when you see us,
you know, in the length thatwe have there, we look a little
bit different than than in the past, and and that's exciting. You know

(15:18):
when you when you tie that inwith our front four in the back end,
you know it's important to make surethat the linebackers is the one they're
the glue. Cody's had an unbelievableoff season. He leads to he leads
the pack with that group. Butyou're seeing a lot of those guys come
on. Right. You talked aboutthis defense being similar to last year.
You could be very good as abase you can be more aggressive. How

(15:41):
do you envision envision the aggression?And I believe in this team. Okay,
maybe this isn't truant. They finishedsecond for the first time around that
truth, no comment. But obviouslywhen they were recruiting, you're still back
a couple of years ago. JimNols was in here, a lot of

(16:02):
defensive staff was in the year theymaybe it was more telling me what it
could look like. And now Iguess seeing what's looked like over the last
two years as that making matters.Where they would tell you to get back
there with pisif that's definitely true.Uh, they played great defense last year
and just seeing how watching the filmand seeing how they progress and seeing how
their defense played last year definitely helpedme make a more sound decision and having

(16:23):
more facts about what I would begetting into. And they told you like
what's the goose safeties about? Takethe maybe see yet or more so the
adjuster than the bandit. But atthe end of the day, I mean,
I I just wanna play where Ican get on the field to plays
this. This defense looked like whatthey were pitching you on as the group

(16:44):
is it lived lived up to whatthey were trying to tell you. What
was gonna looked like, Yeah,it definitely has. Do you ever get
next to you what THO with withgame round? The different, very genuine
person. He he always keeps itstraight with you. Everything that he says,
he has come to fluition, soI can't knock him on anything.

(17:07):
He's uh very close to my popstoo. They grew up together. So
just knowing that relationship with him andour relationship together is I tr I trusted
him BOTHO you sort of campaign intoyour friend cons uh next year or was
that something that you wanted to keepdoing? What did you like doing right
now? I did like doing thatat Alabama. But at the end of
the day, that's the coach's decision, so I can't really uh speak on

(17:27):
that right now? What are yourback? Great guy, very int uh
intelligent. A lot to learn fromhim, he knows this defense very well.
Just being able to learn from himand see how he sees the game.
Will I think that'll very progress myuh my development. Guys, would

(17:48):
you like to stuff with the matter? But if you're those last teams or
I would had he started your fatheragaship you like in the outd that yous
at to back and field. Maybeyou're talking about the best detaility maybe becoming,
but you wafers you that last daya youth glad when you get brought
in and how would you any getGuys if you si? Hey, how

(18:10):
you doing? Though? Uh,you're good, I've been good. It
was There was definitely some back andforth. There was a lot to think
about, a lot to process betweenme and my family, so it wasn't
really much to say to the mediaor anything. But at the end of
the day, I made the decisionand I'm here, so I'm glad to
be here. Pretty as you press? How did you how do you do

(18:37):
at all? Ready? How canyou character play that? I think the
development from when I was a kid. I've been training with my dad and
my brother since I was four orfive years old. So I don't wanna
say I was built for this,but I mean, at the end of
the day, I've been doing thissince I was a kid, so there's
barely been no change. What didd it stands up right now? Do

(18:59):
you look back up about Nix?Safety? What? What? What made
him special? Very disciplined person?He was committed every single day to being
his best self, and not manypeople can actually say that and be truthful
with that. He was the sameperson every single day, and he taught
me a lot about commitment, aboutbeing disciplined, consistency, everything that goes

(19:21):
with that and being great. Ifeel like that's what he embodies with that
in mind. W What is itabout safety defas that excites set? What?
You know? What I mean?Everybody makes a a a pig,
it's somewhere in their lives or whatway off there you big fans? What
what is it about playing defense thatdecise shoot? I feel like it's being

(19:44):
a part of a a bunch ofmoving parts that have to work together.
The offense has to do their ownthing, but the defense everybody has their
own responsibility, and when everybody cando their own responsibility, everybody's gonna make
plays and everybody's gonna be able tosucceed. So I just feel like being
a part of that and trying tohelp myself and help my team be better.
In terms of that, that's athat's a big thing for me.

(20:06):
We'red in what what did you getthe sacred about that? Asthmat you?
Obviously it's time to keep persist,good roos, p the teams. What
what do you give party? Whyyou would in terms of that cap of
Dolge a lot about how to seethe game pre snap and during the play,
A lot about going into the gamein terms of how you watch film,
how you study, what things tosee from the other team, everything

(20:30):
like that. That's that's what heteaches. Okay with that? What's things
out? What does it know himright now? I mean he used to
come off through us. It's avery intelligent gap. What what's the impression
who played on you? Uh?Very intelligent for sure. He sees a
lot and he has an answer foreverything in terms of what teams can bring
him. So I just feel likehim the different ways that he plays defenses

(20:53):
that will allow me to develop indifferent ways. Pet of a we very
instinctual player, very athletic, beingable to make plays all over the field,
being able to see plays before theyhappen. What if you were happy
for so too? What was thatyou did? You know? I just

(21:15):
played about you always go How muchyear is it to understand a lot of
leason? You page into a gameand you play a post anything? Last
time some people ty you team.I think I understand it more. I
mean, I definitely can't understand itfrom a uh Ohio State perspective cause I
haven't played and then I haven't beenthrough that, so I can't really speak

(21:37):
on how they feel. But I'mdefinitely hungry to be missing myself. Do
you feel there's you believe in?Why? Any type? What is it
about it? You know? Imean when you played for the Nix,
say with the greatest of been argueswith about that? Now a type of
teams of them put that face toyou. You what is what is it
about? When you'd like to goto you about like the first time around
youth and then the second time didn'tyou they come back into your problem for

(22:00):
us today? And what was itabout getting next. He was the same
person. He was, uh,very genuine when I was getting recruited in
high school, and he was verygenuine when I talked to him two weeks
ago. So just being able tounderstand that he's about the people that he
works with, and he's very hebelieves in the people that he's around,

(22:22):
and he believes in the people thathe believes in. So just knowing that
and knowing what he stands for thatmeans a lot. But during oh,
I know everything used him in thefasts, going how what was that like
for your ages kids? Going tomake this way recruiting on steroids. I'd

(22:44):
say I got like a hundred andtwo calls in one day, so just
uh, well not in one day, probably seven or eight hours. But
just being able to minimize what mymind was going through that was a that
was a big thing for me.And being able to make a sound decision

(23:04):
off of what I knew. Hassthat define brand? How you botless about
what the kind of stud about physicwhat I thought make it suffer pretty much.
You have to go silent. Youhave to be able to control your
circle in terms of getting your opinionsfrom people. That you trust in,

(23:29):
people that you know you can counton. So that was the biggest thing
for me, just being able tounderstand what the people around me were thinking
and how I wanted to go aboutit. Right to Nan, at the

(23:49):
end of the day, I loveplaying football and that's what I'm here to
do. I'm not here to makemoney or do anything like that. I
know there's a lot of opportunities herein terms of the city of Columbus,
but at the end of the day, I'm here to help this team win
football games, and I'm here todo my best and try to develop if
you will too. Uh I Iplayed in cold throughout my life, so

(24:17):
it's not I mean, Georgia's different, but I mean I have had some
cold experiences, so that's not areally a big thing for me. Tale
of transport, how much would youtalk to the Georgia the WHI stace you
to put with what your role dite? What you're talking about public polt cause
I discussed okay, I wanna geta public person to do this was that

(24:37):
it was discussed, but it wasn't. It's not something that was a deal
work or anything for me. SoI wasn't that wasn't the biggest, the
biggest yes or no for me?And what you wield with the expectations for
the wire State, the same expectationsthat I've had my whole life, the
same expectations that we had at Bamato win games and dominate every game and

(25:03):
go win a championship. When youwere a gere, what a lot of
mons, good ones and uh yousaw the culture they ever solved the opera.
You think you're for a couple ofeach if there are similar reasons approach
to how they go about and trythe way a nationalship did. He had
about this program just in a coupleof teachers that we were just going about
for the travels to Chamus. Theleadership. It's all about the work,
It's all about the process. It'sall about doing everything daily to push yourself

(25:30):
to be where we need to beat the end of the at the end
of the rise. How could theprogram? Pretty often? Uh, I
would say the day of or daylike before the decision, it was m
pretty much just sitting on FaceTime withhim and my uncle, uh, just
talking about what was gonna go intothe decision and seeing their input on what

(25:53):
they had to say about things youmean, Well, I'm a I would
say I'm a pretty respectful person andI respect the people that reached out to
me, even if I really wasn'ttrying to look at their school. So
I'd probably say, like eighty of'em you have to come to go on
before the tide to get what youmight want together just because of a people

(26:15):
having enough on how the going outwith you. I feel like you have
to have some sort of idea,But people have an idea where they're gonna
go during recruitment too, So Iwouldn't say it's that big of a difference,
but you definitely have to have amore of a singular mindset on a
few places like what I wait foryou mind very calm, very I like

(26:47):
to chill out. Not not alot to do, just uh, hang
out with my people and hang outwith my friends, hang out with my
family, just be around people.Let me make funey you make fun people?
How much do that to what youmbutu? It was Uh, it
was a highlight for me for sure, just being uh being named that and

(27:10):
going in a relationship with Shawn AlexanderHe's a great person and learning about him.
It was it was definitely an honorfor me. You are I feel
like more than just Late Than theSunday. You can compliment each other.
A lot of people in the secondarycan work together to be cohesive and be

(27:32):
uh a brotherhood. So but LateThan and Sunny they welcome me and I
appreciate them for that. So Ithink us working together we can we can
do some real damage. If there'sa game, there's a game where that
you have them going to that asswho am that's like Pascal grade for that
year? Which game would you playsto? If Hill just likes to take
them? I would say as acollective the whole season. You can see

(27:56):
the growth. You can see thegrowth from the beginning of season to the
end. But I would say inMississippi State or Texas, A and M
would probably be the best to Okay, what are you before with ths to
this? But that's particular. Oh, I can't say that that's that's for

(28:21):
God to decide. I can't reallysay that it is it Twitter? Is
it a thunder? Recruited as ahigh school or referd on recruiter. Definitely
as a high school not as rushed. I would say that pud like about
the instep or anything to be madrself like that mechical aspect of what I'm

(28:42):
about, I would say I'm eliteat that. Being able to watch film
and determine what are the keys tolook at each pay play. Being able
to determine which guys I need tochange up my techniques for uh. Being
able to determine what I'm looking atin terms of before the play and what

(29:03):
my teammates need to look at beforethe play. I would say I'm I'm
elade at that in being able tomake those differences each week are a big
thing for me. They look prementioned for the movies. What you what
strength and conditions find here the speakerthat makes play randier. Uh, there's

(29:27):
a lot of similarities. Uh.Coach Blue runs a great program and I
love everything that he did for methere. And those guys UH that worked
there, like coach you get youJ So I'm appreciative of how they worked
and they did great things there.Coach Mick does a great job here.
So I can't really say one's betterthan the other. But Coach MC he's

(29:48):
he's a very intense person. Whatare you as wumpasmart? I know what
you what do your wumpus parts asOh, I love the city. I
love being around here. Uh Ilove the feel of the town. So
just being a part of it isit's a great thing for me. I

(30:11):
expect us to be one of thebest. I expect us to excel and
be better than they were last year. I expect us to be elite.
How much do you pick your firstfour? Excuse me, God is not
what will give you bad having kids. I mean, I saw it,

(30:34):
but honestly, it was about memaking my own decision. Uh, me
making the decision that was best formyself. So I mean, like,
if you're going against TIG League,you're going against high, You're going against
you know, with Hero and andk Mack and these guys. Now we're
getting really good gradable reps that way. Off season he had a great he

(30:56):
had a great off season. Uhjust all started the weight room with Mick.
I mean, his his weights up, He's thick. He's always been
an explosive guy, but playing witha little bit of power. You know
behind that, he's learning to dothat, you know, in the natural
maturation for all those guys. Youtalk for him, you talk, I
mean just his class alone. Imean, you're talking him, you're talking
George, you're talking Tiger, Likethose guys are going into year three,

(31:19):
that's when you really start to figureit out your body, the speed of
the game, the technique, thefundamentals. And he's done a good job
of adapting and really growing himself onthe pace that you need to for a
young guy. That's you know,coming out of the fire a little bit.
Last year he talked about like beingat a better weight now, and
it's a better weight, it's realweight close to three hundreds, Like being

(31:40):
faster and more confident. Is thatwhere for a center like was last year
kind of trial by fire for him? Is it just like how is that
process? But not playing at allhis first year starting mitche it's for whether
it's Carson Hensman or you know,Johnny Jones, like you get thrust into
real reps and the full speed,it's faster than you've ever And so now

(32:00):
he has that book of work toothat he can look back on where the
understanding of the game, the understandingof the speed of the game, the
intensity. You know, I've saida thousand times that he doesn't get incrementally
faster or stronger the game mentally slowsdown for him, so he can use
his skill set that way. Sowhat is that we're talking about. It's
his weight, that's his strength becausethose numbers are going up, so he

(32:21):
can play with more pillar strength,he can play more contact, he can
play more comfortable. Even though hisforty time didn't go from a five to
zero to a four to eight,made himself in that he just jumped right
in. Unbelievable job both ways ofhim just coming in with shelving the ego
that he had he really had noneand walking in saying, I'm walking into

(32:45):
a room as we told him whenwe recruit him, like you're coming into
a room a bunch of good dudes, and then our good dudes are good
dudes. He came in and therewas no it's like you're here, here's
how we do, here's how weoperate, and let's go. And so
that learning curve for all those whetherit's a high school mid year guy or
a veteran mediar guy that transfers in, there's a learning curve there, just
you know, circling back to whatwe had natural maturation a little bit because

(33:06):
he's been through a little bit ofspring ball he's been through a little bit
of camps, so you're still learningnew terminology, you're learning a new skill
set. But he just dove rightin and wanted to be a sponge and
wanted to learn it. He's doinga good job and he's improving every day,
you know. So that's what's makingthe battle and the competition all these
graded snaps really, you know goodfor us is because they all have that
mindset. So from SETH awesome,the unit in the group awesome because there

(33:30):
was no combativeness to it. Itwas let's get in, let's go,
and let's compete and then let theguys win. Set uh, just learning
the same deal all young guys youcome in, you got to learn how
to play in friction. So havingyou know, three tech, having a
two I, having those guys likeright in front of it, that every

(33:50):
time you take one of those repsand you're out of your base or you're
in your base, you feel thegood, you feel the bad. So
being more consistent that way, youknow, you can't make moves or ship
guys if they're not mentally there.And so for him, he's got a
pretty good football FQ. So he'scontinued he's growing every day. He's working
and he's getting beat every day too, and he's learning from those you know,
So in the springtime, you know, we have saying in our room

(34:10):
where like in the spring it's yesand it's no, and I know it's
K and o W why didn't therep work? What happened? And how
do I make sure I don't repeatthe same mistake? And so whether he's
coming in and watching the tape onhis own and then come up with questions,
he's grabbing me and watching tape withme, or we're coming doing stuff
as a unit, he's learning sothat the same deal of the game can
slow down and he gets more comfortablethere in friction. So I mean he's

(34:31):
his weights up, his strengths up. He's spending off season with Mick.
You know, there's a lot ofdevelopment that still has to be had.
Obviously not a finished product, butbeing able mentally for a guy to handle
that, you know, helps alot. Similar to Luke a leaner guy.

(34:58):
Did you tell him that he paidyou to say that? That might
be the first time you ever heardthat in his life. No, now,
you know, like Luke Carson,whoever, it may be that that
jump of eighteen to nineteen and nineteento twenty year old kid. That plays

(35:19):
a lot into it too. Beingin a full year with Mick. I
mean all those guys you come inat midyear, like your Devo and Dion
and Ian Moore. Right now you'rekeeping your head above water. That's your
whole first year. Now you canactually get and we can sit. So
when you sit and talk about ajam combo or a lock or whatever the
call may be to Luke, heregisters that and not like something new,

(35:40):
because then there's paralysis by analysis.So I think the mental part, on
top of another year natural maturity ofgetting bigger and stronger, that's always gonna
help. You're not gonna guys here, they're not gonna regress. It's gonna
keep adding progress. And how fastcan we get that Going's what we're working
on every day with him. Rogersaid that he would had been ball guard
to this point. Coach Days mentionedit several times that like, Josh could

(36:01):
play guard too, and you guysare trying to work through that fire he's
I mean Josh could play all five. I mean he snapped the ball in
high school. You know, Joshhad a great off season. But for
you when you're going through a springand it's fact finding an experimentation, how
much do you want to put themin different spots or not, because you

(36:22):
also have an eye on August totry and settle on a five man rotations,
you have to get a really goodgradable set so that everybody has numbers
of you know, just like wesaid before, how many times have we
done a run blocking or pass blockingin this situation so that that all evens
out. So that's it's not experimentation, it's just making sure that you get

(36:42):
a good book of work to lookat and grade that. So as we
you know, work guys around theplatoons and go just to make sure that
everybody gets good gradable reps. Sowe can sit back by the end of
spring and say, all right,this is you're comparing apples to apples and
oranges oranges and not you know,apples oranges, because it's completely different that
way. So that's kind of thoughtbehind that. As you're going through the
spring. A couple of years ago, I would have told you office laughed,

(37:09):
you know, but then I said, you know, it's college football,
so who knows, right, Yeah, I mean he just added to
another piece of just good people here. I mean, you're still you're coming
to work here with guys every day. You know, with the kids,
we talk about a ton, butthen for us as coaches and the staff.
So adding just another good dude that'sin the room. Obviously as he

(37:35):
says something, and you know,he might speak in old terms or terms
that we had, you know,maybe be a little bit of a Rosetta
stone, like no, no,this is this. He's like, yeah,
that's right, because that's that happensto all coaches. That happened to
me when we got here. First. I was at with the coach day
sometime with Ryan's like, you know, what do we call this? Because
he was in a system like thatbefore. He said, oh this is
this now? So I think justthe you know, uh translation of the
Rosetta stone there help. But justoverall standpoint of adding a great guy,

(38:00):
that's a great coach that's been around, that's he's going to supplement the room.
And every time you add something newto the room, then that makes
the room better, it makes youindividually better. Oh look how he does
that. Maybe I could do that. Maybe I can bring that to my
meeting room. Maybe I can bringthat to communication to the staff or to
the kids or whatever it is,because he's he's done it for a long
time, and he's done a highlevel for a long time. So it's

(38:22):
good to add that guy to usand then continues us the rest of the
staff for me and Brian and Keyand and and everybody just learning and growing
with that kind of specifically just Imean, does he from a talent standpoint,
does he see things sometimes others don'tsee? I mean, does he?
I mean you mean, what doeshe kind of bring from the chalkboard
aspect of things? Well, Imean what you're saying, So what does

(38:45):
he see? It's good to havefresh eyes come in that. Maybe you
know you're getting a routine and youget in a rhythm and then all of
a sudden running game football. Youknow. He's one of those guys I
think goes into the category it's forgottena lot of foot more football than some
people have learned in their life.But no, his he I believe he
coached every position on the field,both sides of Balter's whole career. So

(39:07):
as he looks up and he writeswhen he's talking about well, this will
linebacker is going to do that.Then he might have coached that at Columbia,
right, or this is what thethree texts going to read on the
down block of a tackle because he'scoached the offensive line and he's been coordinator
for a long time. So justa really good vision of big picture understanding
and you know, the next stepand not just being right now. Yeah,

(39:30):
if he had a theme or whateverthis spring, because obvious this seems
kind of like a how to makeit or breaking time for him, but
the time to step up and stepin. His point was nobody cares.
Nobody cares what you know, whatstruggles you have or whatever. You got
to go to a field to getthe job done. I mean it's if
you don't anything different about Tiger,you get what do you see about Tiger?

(39:51):
Yeah, he's competing his butt off. I mean he's kind of living
that way. You know. That'swhy we have that the red line over
there when you cross the line.You know, Coach State talks about that
here like it's it's the game doesn'tcare you're off the field. You got
to come out and step out anddo your job. It doesn't care about
anything off the field, right,that can sound really negative and harsh,
but then it also if you justspin your tone like isn't it beautiful that

(40:15):
the game doesn't care. It doesn'tcare that your skin color, your socioeconomic
background, where you've come from.If you just want to do it the
right way in the fifty three anda third, the game will love you
back, you know. And soI think it's the approach mentally that guys
take that way. So yeah,for tegra he's he's taking that approach like
he wants to come in and bea guy. So he's fighting and clawing

(40:35):
and scratching every day. So whenhe makes a mistake, he's trying to
correct it. When he does it, well, he's trying to enhance it.
And that's what competitive people do andthat's what he showed up to do.
So I's that's good that he saidthat on the field been like as
a center and is that difficult whenyou're coming in to a new offensive line
to have that or is there somethingmade about the center position if you've been

(40:57):
experienced at it like he has,where you kind of have that guess command
on the field over with any office, sorry to say it over and start
over again. You're saying the comfortof center with who now set? Okay,
Yeah, I'm saying, like,how has his Higgs command of the
field been and hasn't been difficult?I guess to adjust for him if he's
to have a certain level of onfield command, you know at that center

(41:17):
position. Yeah, I mean it'son command. It is just great communication
getting everybody on the same page.Yes, having a bunch of banked reps
helps. But then when you docome into a new offense, Uh,
just like we talked, you knowwith Chip a little bit earlier. You
know, he might have called ityellow and we call it green or something.
But when it came to a howto study was that you know,

(41:37):
the expectation is, yeah, I'mgonna have that pull on leads. And
I think that's just gotten better nowgoing a few to a three where you
can really look at it and say, we have veteran players who understand the
beasts to understand the position, plusthe great athlete. What do you like
about sunning it back? You know, it's a it's a change for Sonny

(42:01):
because he's playing in the box,you know, from a low position instead
of dropping in, so things happena lot faster, but you know,
he he's reacted superbly. I meanhe's uh, he's a guy who's got
football intelligence. He understands the scheme, played a lot of positions. I

(42:22):
think he's gonna be great because oneof the biggest parts of being a linebacker
is you have to know every allthe pieces around you so that you can
play fast and uh, Sonny's showinga lot of that in the first two
days. Spade, Yeah, Ifeel it's it's permanent, but you know,

(42:46):
in terms of face and and nickelpackaging, you know it's permanent.
But there may be other things wherehe'll still have more pisity. You know,
there's gonna be packaging. Who kidsmove to find back at this stove?
Is that virgin? If it wasjust for mentally to listen to a
pretty five pounds now or give himto de ponies and who's your pony around

(43:09):
the steed? Iman's thanks, Yeah, a little bit of both. I
mean, anytime you make a move, you wanted to be right for the
player and for the d you know, the defense and the team, and
I think that fit up naturally.You know, Sonny. Sonny had to
uh fight to stay lean as aDV and now he now you know,
he gets to eat, you know, and and and uh and but I

(43:31):
think it worked out for both ofus. Did that idea just kind of
start well, you know when youwhen you when I first met him,
or when I first got here,you know, I think that was everybody
talks about, you know, she's gonna be a linebacker, He's gonna
be a linebacker. But I reallywanted to see him at safety first.

(43:55):
That's what he wanted to do.That's what I wanted to see. You
know, I felt long term andmy vision for him that playing safety early
in his career was going to givehim a better perspective of the defense.
You know, had Malcolm Rodriguez whowas with the Lions at Oklahoma State.

(44:16):
Now he's about half a sunny size, but he started as a safety and
when he became a linebacker, heunderstood things a lot better. So my
vision for Sonny was to, youknow, start him out of safety and
then eventually move him down. Howwas CJ. Hicks doing? And CJ
and and Sonny competing for the samespot generally speaking, Yeah, I mean,

(44:37):
you know, part of the timethey are you know, part of
the time, we'll have all threeof them on the field with coach,
so there's balance there and that they'recompeting, and they also could be in
the same package. But CJ's gota great attitude. You know, I've
always felt that CJ has a lotof pressure on him, you know,

(44:59):
being from a but he's coachable,and he understands growth and our plans for
him, and he's got a greatattitude and gay powers. Where's he at
entering his third year, probably andit didn't you didn't see it because he
didn't play a lot in the games, But in our opinion game, you
know, the second half of theseason, what we see in practices,

(45:22):
it's probably one of the most completeguys he really was. So he made
a huge jump second half of theseason in terms of what he was doing
in practice and when he got intothe game, a huge jump, you
know. So I feel like heis a guy that is going to compete.
He's a guy that's gonna be ready. You know. I feel like

(45:44):
he's made too manus improvements and wecan start to count on him. Are
you looking at CJ just to willright now? Or is he a guy
that's moving around to CJ's moving aroundtoo, you know, so you know,
you get into a three linebacker pack, is you know, Sonny and
Cody and c J. You're you'repretty good right but now, but you

(46:06):
can't just have one yay, Soyou know Sonny's not there at the SAM.
Then CJ's got to know how toplay it too, you know,
so that you could the gave inand Mike and Cody can play well,
you know, and you still havea great lineup. So you always have
to plan for you know, okay, we'll start out this way, but
who's who's in next? So CJhas to know both positions too. Yeah?

(46:29):
Are are y'all still a four twofive defense? How would you?
I mean? Yeah, we're stillfortune five? Yeah, no, absolutely
absolutely, We're still forty five,but multiple multiple deployments at times, you
know, we can be four three. But you still got Sonny right,

(46:51):
so now you got yeah, yougot Sonny at a SAM backer who's who's
has experienced playing safety, you knowwhat I mean? So that that that
really creates more multiplicity. How doesit help you do your job now that
you have a full time linebacker's coachand Jake? Yeah, it's uh,
you know, just having James initiallylast year was a big bonus because of

(47:14):
his experience and and the way heworks with the players. He's a lot
nicer to them than I am.You know, the last year it was
good cop, bad cop. Youknow, now the bad cops left the
room. So I'm sure the playerslove it. You know, the season.
I think the defense, if youlook at the defense linecause you'll settled.
What in the secondary good feel settled? I think outside looking at backstop,

(47:38):
what what's there? You know?The baby's a question on top CONTI
arguitial that have the right guys tomake sure that this stuff week starts.
Yeah, really confident. I thinkadding Sunning it into that makes a guy
who's got a lot of experience,a lot of playing time. You know,

(47:58):
that really was bolster that position inthat room. So I'm confident in
what we have there. Cody Simon, you know, is a guy who
we think is gonna be great,and he's bearing a leader or the defense,
so I think it'll be a strength. You know. Yeah. R
Vel. You know, we kindof experimented with r Vel at the the

(48:22):
end last year a little bit,and uh, you know, I keep
getting asked you know, can hebe a linebacker? Can he be a
linebacker? And I think he's gonnabe a great linebacker. You know,
he just needs growth and learning.So I would like to just continue to

(48:42):
grow off r Vel mentally in footballintelligence, you know, at the linebacker
position. So will there be arole for him this year? I don't
know, because he is so athletic. You know, he's a guy you
kind of look at and say,I can do different things with you know,
when we get to the season.You know, that's a guy you
can always create something for that doesn'tinvolve as much thinking, you know,

(49:05):
So he could just go but outhere. I want to keep growing him
as a linebascker because his time willcome. As the jacket, yeah,
I mean it's it's it's always there, you know. I'd like to get
it in this spring. You know, we didn't used it, dabbled in
at year one, didn't use itlast year. It's always in our package,

(49:29):
you know, so at some pointwe'd like to get to it just
to kind of keep it fresh.Jamie, look like registerials. What do
you like about the size board?Yeah, he's got great speed, you
know, good size. It's justthat he looks like a nickel. You
know, his skills are his skillsare like a nickel. So you know

(49:54):
he's still learning. But you sawJordan make just cement tremendous progress with that
last year, so we gotta wegotta bring Lorenzo on that team. So
you kind of came out there withMike and yeah, Hero really flashed last

(50:16):
year at times when you go backand watch the film. So, uh,
the fact that we play a lotof Russman, I mean, that's
a that's a guy who's who usedto have a good thing for us because
he's gonna be uh, he's gonnabe next man there, you know.
And you know with a guy likeHero, he starts to really come along.

(50:38):
You know, you start to lookat some you know, double egle
type of packaging. You know.My thoughts are you know, with the
with Jack and j T. Youknow that at some point I want to
train them as outside linebackers. Youknow, so if you got Hero League

(51:00):
and tie and you get to youcan get to more of you know,
uh, you know, five fiveguys, five d linemen in the game.
You know, with training guys likeJack and and j T and Kiyata,
you know, you know, it'sjust kind of in my thoughts like
if we're strong inside those those guyscan become more multiple, you know,

(51:24):
and I think it's techniques and thingsthat they can use when they get to
the next level. So that's kindof been my thoughts too. Should on
that a little bit. You're sayingJack and j T possibly with that outside
linebacker concept, what exactly would that? Well, you know, you're always
looking to get the best eleven onthe fields, right, so when when
you look at a twelve personnel set, you say, okay, I got

(51:50):
you know, Sonny, Cody andc J with with before down you know,
you know, could we have anothercomponent with you know, Jack and
j T and and three tackles andCody and Sonny or Cody and c J.
You know, I think you knowwho's gonna be Who's gonna be the
best eleven you know against bigger sets? Could it possibly be hero, you

(52:15):
know, versus having a third linebacker? Could it be three tackles? You
know, that's in my thoughts.We haven't installed that yet, but but
I I'd like to get to thatjust to see and like I said,
I feel like with those guys,uh, the more they know of how
to really be an outside linebacker better. It's gonna help them when they get

(52:40):
to the next the next level.So it's something I'd like to do for
them to Yeah, I expect.I mean Lathan was making very good progress.
You know, always loved the wayhe played, his attitude of physicality

(53:05):
first year. You know, hehad some eye violations. You know,
he was he was improving on thatuntil he got hurt. So you know,
he goes down. I'd say theresponsibility is, you know, first
and foremost to uh lead by example. I could sit there and I can
say all the things that I wantto say, talk up a storm.

(53:29):
At the end of the day,you gotta just you gotta work the work
you got to go to du triposaldo. But I think that's gonna ultimately
lead guys in the right direction.And so that's just the thing that I
can kind of take it on.The most is just lead by Exama.
Yet Okay, well the quick looka flying standpoint to me like he had
a good year last year. Imean me, you know what I mean,

(53:49):
if we if he looked back atthe opposite how far have you come
in that round? Yeah, I'vecame along with It's it's a very say
I'd argue to say tight end isprobably the most it's developmental position on the
field that takes a long time toget around to. It takes a lot
of work. I think it's afull process. It's not something that it's
a winner turnaround for a six monthturnaround. You come in, you're trying

(54:12):
to catch it on the fly,and something that takes a lot of time
and attention. I'm just thankful foryou know, my great, great coaching
staff and the great unit around me, guys you back then starting off with
you know Rock, from those guysto Kaid, I think there's been a
great example for the way they're supposedto attack blocking and being tight end here
at Ohio State. And I've beenjust you know, thankful to be able
to have that example fail the way. What are you wait now? Forty

(54:34):
where what's for? What's it beenlike? You have to win? Yeah?
Well, what's been great? He'sbeen good? Then somebody that's came
in humble and just ready to work. That's that's been like the only words
that I have from not not aminute of just like many words. But
he's here, here, here,to work and he's done just that,
and I'm just we're glad to haveyou learned a lot at start walking just

(54:57):
kind of like, I know,you guys work on storry, so you
admit poor guy anything, but alsothat's what he used to know. You
guys learn. It's a little bit. Guys make a little bit of walking.
Yeah, I think essentially that's thethat's the culture of our room is
when we come off the ball violent, we're still looking to swing as hard
as we can. We'll clean upthe details out. So that's kind of
our mindset going into it. Anduh, yeah, you're you're blocking.

(55:20):
How hard does it though, liketo know that you used to be a
receiver so your in reality like youknow you're us block you gonna do it?
Like how hard is it to kindof change the word? Does that
mean you want to? I knowyou guys don't pay attens for like outside
noise, but also block people say, gee, Scott catch really pretty good
from walking too. Yeah, I'dsay it starts off with like you kind

(55:44):
of got to it starts off withtuning out with the outside noise and what
and what other people have to sayabout it, And it's really grew up
a mindset. I kind of lookat it as it's like a drop in
the bucket. You know, ifI got a big bucket, there's no
one thing I'm gonna do to tomake this bucket full. It's it's a
daily thing where I put one dropperof the day, and you look back
over a year, two years,three years, you look back and be
like, man, I've gotten alot better. And so, like I

(56:05):
said, I'm just very thankful forthe unit, the guys that I had
around. You pushed me very hard, but I'm just thankful. You mentioned
that you big hard attendants. Whatwas the most challenging part that you to
me? Fell the thing is towhat I said, Yeah, I'd say
it's definitely the size component. Youknow, you can't you got to be
someone that's you know one. Yougot to be big, you gotta be
strong, you gotta be fast.It's a lot of jobs that you got

(56:27):
to do. It's a very askingjob. You need to balk the big
on some of the biggest guys inthe field, but also run routes off
some of the smallest guys in thefield themselves. I think just thankful just
to be out here. And doexactly that. What was it like to
get that shot the other day fromthe pro scouts? You know, just
run routes, catch balls, Ohyeah, show off. Yeah. No,
it was a good opportunity. Ithink some of the big you know,

(56:49):
reasoning behind it was just kind ofgiving those guys out there that we're
at O. Theyve be limited numbers, so just get out there and give
those guys that were either but theyneed the opportunity to get to go out
there in front of scouts. Ithink that's a it's a pretty good deal.
Your take on the quarterbacks to thispoint, the quarterback battle is going
on? What what what's spending Yourtake on will for example, get to
know him? Yeah? And thenuh and of course David, I think
the mindset that we embody around hereis ironing, shoppening iron and so that's

(57:13):
kind of like it's not just youknow, one room, it's from top
to bottom thought this whole team,no matter what position you are, we're
here to work and I think we'reall here to make each other better,
whether it's in a cornerback room andtighten room, were running back room offense
versus defense. Coach first coach doesn'tmatter. We're all just you know,
iron and shopping iron. Especially thistime of year in spring ball. We're
not doing too much game planning fornext week, which we're really just spending

(57:34):
this time to get better and hidjust build a good foundation for ourselves,
something to work on moving forward.If you've seen will Will Howard fitting in
more and more, is the practiceshave gone on, you know, getting
to know everybody and all that kindI mean, I know we's been beenner
for a while up. Yeah,No, I think I think that time.
I think as times goes, nomatter where you are, you start
to adapt and you start to getused to the what we got going on
here. And so it's good tohave Thanks you you came in. What's

(58:08):
it been like me? Yeah,polutions, Yeah, cod Well, I'd
say when it comes to that,I think it's all the glory to the
Lord. And I decided to givemy life completely to the Lord a little
over a year ago, and thatkind of really changed my outlook on the
way that I approach in football.It's no longer something that I idolize.

(58:28):
It's just something that I do.And I think from the time of my
life where I stopped you know,compartmentalizing who God was in my life.
God wasn't just something that I doon Sundays or something that I do in
a Bible study. It was something. It went from what I do to
who I am. And so nowI embody that is who I am.
And so some of the fruits ofthe spirit is peace, patience, and
kindness, and so those are thekind of the things that I've started to
do embody on this on this journey. I think it's easy to kind of

(58:50):
compartmentalize football away from faith, butultimately it's all one. It's all one.
So it's given me a spirit ofpatience, peace, and and enjoy
with the guys around me. Andso I'm just I'm thankful. I'm just
I'm thankful to be here. ButI just being quite honest, I just
I know for a fact, Iwouldn't be where I'm at right now.
And I know on the outside lookingin, you know ask like, you
know, where are you right now? But I wouldn't be where I'm at,

(59:15):
you know, right now if itwasn't for my you know, relationship
with the Lord untually came into mylife and you know, changed around for
the better. Gee, what didyou see from Bennett Christian last year?
How did you go about suspension?And how aready working about who got Yeah,
I think he did a great job. A lot of perseverance. I
think that's no matter who you are. When you kind of hear news like
that that are gonna be out fora year, that's hard no matter where

(59:36):
you are. One thing, I'mreally proud of him because he you know,
he came up and he came toshow up every single day and he
got better. He got better.The easy thing to do in that kind
of situation is to throw in thetowel and be like, man, you
know, you know, forget this, or you know, I'll get better
next year. But I saw thedrive at him. One thing I seen
out of him. Every day heshowed up, he got better, And
I'm proud of Bennett. I'm proudof this unit. You know, just

(59:57):
latch question team like you're saying youdon't work. I mean, yeah,
I don't know. I don't reallyknow how to answer that question. Because
if you go from one unit toanother unit, the moment you trade units,
you're no longer in the unit youwere initially in, So you're you're
now a tight end. And soI mean to answer that question, I

(01:00:21):
think the time that I went fromin the receiver that approaches things. I
love the way the questions he asks. I love the way he makes mistakes
and then correct mistakes. Uh.It's very veteran, like I mean,
there's so much ball he has tolearn, Like he literally does things that
are good. I'm like, doyou know what that worked? He goes
coach, I have no freaking idea, So like I'm trying to teach him

(01:00:43):
all of that why it worked,so then you know, the consistency at
which it works just goes to theroof. And so but I'm very you
know, excited and proud of theconversations we're currently having, and I'm excited
it for them to keep going.For you work and what you tell him.
I love working with Chip Chip is. I love the talking ball,

(01:01:05):
I love the viewpoints. I loveI love the veteran that he has,
you know, uh and uh,I love Yeah, like I all love
all of it. I think thatyou know, early on the biggest impact,
you know, just you know,feeling perspective. I think in the

(01:01:27):
run game has been awesome, youknow, and then you know, off
of the run game, some ofthe actions or or relief throws or all
that kind of stuff. I lovewhere it's at. I love working with
them, and I would say thata little better all right. Uh No,

(01:01:52):
it's it's really a great combo becauselike you know, we're obviously we're
doing a lot as a group.It's not just so, but you know,
obviously Chip has an image and aview on things that I never had.
So to have that experience and havethat viewpoint, I'm just trying to
absorb as much as i can,but then also highlight some things that we've

(01:02:15):
really done a good job of andmake sure those 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 thedynamics and search Chip can talk about.
But it's been it's been awesome,so I'm excited about it. We
talked to a ME guy who's talkingabout moving from slot to the house side.

(01:02:37):
You know how good he's been inthe shot. Is that a difficult
move for you guys as coaches toknow how good a guy is in at
one spot, but know that maybefor his long term future and the no.
I wouldn't say it's anything on hisfuture, because he's capable of doing
whatever you want to get done.But I'd say that it says more about
the room. I think it's it'sthe growth of you know, Brandon and

(01:03:01):
the gross grow of Bryson. That'sreally you know, allowing my mind to
say, hey, Mech, beprepared. You're gonna move around a lot.
You're gonna come out of that slot, You're gonna be outside. We're
gonna create mismatches out there. Imean, his ability to move around is
critical. But I would say betweenMech and between Carnell TAS's ability to move
around a lot, it's gonna providea lot of flexibility for our room.

(01:03:22):
And uh and those top you know, six seven guys that are really doing
a good job right now. Progresslook like this spring formica because there's no
time to think. It's one ofthose things I'm sure where U has balanced
how much the worst business need versusmuch Yeah, heavy heavy emphasis on what
work he needs, you know,versus anything else. Uh. I rely
on him. We have great dialogueback and forth. It's a two way

(01:03:44):
to it's a two way conversation,and uh, frankly, there's gonna be
times we're 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

(01:04:15):
I bring in guys that are ableto do all, but I have not
asked them to yet. So theonly guys that in our room currently I've
asked to do that has been Meccaand Carnell, and those are probably the
two guys that I would, youknow, think heavily on doing moving around
a lot. I'm not putting thaton anybody else right now. I'm not
saying they can't. But at thispoint, having two guys be able to

(01:04:36):
swing, you probably don't need muchmore than that. I need guys being
experts at what they're good at,so it it helps the offense. Don't
be great at everything and be anexpert at something and we can use that
to our to our advantage. Thisyear is different, like maybe you guys
have more situational the room's always different, Frankly, I mean from twenty eighteen

(01:04:59):
and then nine Team and through COVIDand and those guys, and and then
the depth of those guys and thenwhere Mec and Marvin and those guys were
as freshman compared. You know,It's just it's always different, and uh,
I expect this one to be differentagain, I'm not sure at what
level yet. Last question, right, relationship between the TV room and your
bad especially you know, backwards.I'm curious, Yeah, dB as a

(01:05:23):
leader just like you, you know, played at Ohio sas Intel experience,
I'm curious about how you've seen Timkind of build a different matter backs room,
especially on the recruits, probably nota successful guys and maybe kind of
the effective your recruit How how that'skind of been canced. Yeah, he
would probably know more for that questionthan I would, but I would say
that, Yeah, we obviously feelHello everybody, Darius Robinson, University of

(01:05:47):
Missouri. I just want to thankmister Bill Willmant to your coach Gannon for
this amazing opportunity. I'm glad tobe here with Marvin Harrison right next to
me, so, uh feel great. I'm really excited and excited for this
journey. Great, see you fifteenhere in town. Marvin, when did

(01:06:20):
you know the Cardinals were going toselect you? Did you know before they
called or was there an agreement inplace before? No, I did not
know until I got that phone callfrom 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 get

(01:06:44):
a message from the franchise quarterback andwhat kind of thoughts have you had about
teaming up with this guy in thenear future. Ye, yes, sirs
and great. He always wants tosupport and love from your quarterback and the
cause a great player. I'm soexcited to play with him, and it's
gonna be my job to make hisjob easier. Darius Darren Urban from Azycardinals
dot Com. I know that alot of players these days aren't sticking in

(01:07:06):
one school, uh for a longtime, And you did it for five
years. I mean even Marvin didit for three Like, what what went
behind that? And why was itmeaningful for you to stay at one school?
Yes? At Missouri, you knowwe had some tough seasons, but
we were really built with an edgeenergy, details, good in emotional consistency,
and I just found myself just tryingto grow and get better each year

(01:07:29):
and also as a team, youknow, win more games each year.
And that was my that was myhome, I was my family. I
was blessed to you know, gettwo degrees as well off the field,
and I just love missou two degrees. Wow, Marvin, Bob Mcbob McMahon
and Arizona Republic, congratulations. Thankyou to both of you. You're known

(01:07:49):
as all business, and I wantto know how that's going to serve you
well in this league. From personalstandpoint, your brand, everything you do,
or a daily preparation, there's alot that goes into being all business.
Tell me what that is to you. Yeah, I mean that's just
being a pro. It's called andraised and grew up to do and keep

(01:08:11):
the same mindset, same attitude thatI've had throughout my whole career. Once
I get here, continue to workhard, be consistent and discipline you know,
and all that I do. SoI'm looking forward to putting the work.
Hey, Marvin, Josh Wayne ESPN, what were the best pieces of
advice your dad gave you about beingan NFL player. I mean, yeah,
it takes a lot of work,a lot of preparation. You know,

(01:08:31):
from Monday to Saturday, it's allwork. And then Sunday should be
the easy part. I go outthere and have fun, ready to put
the work in. So I'm gonnastarts with the work first, and then
when Sunday comes is reek the benefits. Hey, Darius Howard Ballzer from cards
Wire, I can't help but noticethat ring on your finger. Is that
a cotton bowl ring? Yes,it is the cotton bowler. You showed

(01:08:57):
it Tomorrowvin very quickly. No,I'll tell ma. You know he was
glad he did play. The wholeweek leading up. You know, you
see Ohio State. Everybody said,okay, Marvin Harrison, and now is
he gonna plays? To go play? He didn't play, so you know
we lucked out. So Hey,Marvin Paul KELVC Cardinals Broadcasting, do you

(01:09:17):
believe that receivers have to earn thetrust for their quarterback? And if so,
what does that usually require? Absolutely, you got to earn the trust
the quarterback and think it starts,you know, every day in practice and
being consistent really, and you can'tjust do it one day, can't you
do it for one week? Hasto be done over and over and over
again. I think that's how trusthas earned. So no matter where you

(01:09:38):
get picked, when you're first receiver, it's round seven, doesn't really matter.
Have to go and earn trust tothe quarterback, your coaches, your
teammates. So it all starts inpractice. What's going on, guys,
Good to see again, Tyler Drake, there's no sports systems for Darius.
What's the feeling of just being ableto represent your school as that first round
pick and what kind of impact canthat have for those guys falling in your

(01:10:00):
footsteps? Yeah, it's awesome.I feel like I'm setting the standard going
forward. But that's the name wasZoo is known as Delon Zoo, so
I'm just added to the family.But now I feel like I'm setting the
standard for my younger teammates that thisis attainable if you work really hard,
be consistent, and really get trustyour strength coach. I feel like every
program is built off the stremp coachand that develops all the habits on and

(01:10:21):
off the field. Darius Zach ErshmaneziCardinals dot Com. Right over here,
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

(01:10:41):
inside hands, so that's why I'malways working my hand placement and then I
lift weight, so you know that'sall connected. So I'm just trying to
be focused on my technique as muchas possible. Hey, Marvin over here,
David Brown with the Associated Press.You know, a lot of rookies
coming to the league and they geta little bit of leeway. It's like,
oh, he's young, he needsto grow and stuff like that.

(01:11:02):
But obviously you're gonna be expected tobe the guy here really quickly. How
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,

(01:11:23):
come September, let me do mybest, you know, do that role.
This one's for both of you,guys. The fans want to know
who you guys are on the inside. I don't know how much you're willing
to reveal to us today. Alot would be nice. Could you tell
us what you like to do awayfrom football, what pisses you off about

(01:11:44):
things, and you know, whatmakes you roll. I'm pretty simple.
I like, you know, bein my apartment, watch some movie.
If I go out and I goto a restaurant, get some food.
But other than that, they dotoo much and then I'm pretty easy going
guys, so nothing bothered me toomuch. Yeah, I'd say the same
thing. A real chill guy,just really obsessed with football. But outside

(01:12:06):
of football, like I said,I got my two degrees. I got
my undergrad hospitality management and the minorand business. I got my master and
Positive Culture with m since FLA leadership. So just thinking about being well rounded.
And then I do philanthropy work.I started my own nonprofit foundation,
Darius Robinson Helping Hands Foundation. Butreally just football and then everything else.

(01:12:28):
Honestly, congratulations, guys, Welcometo the Valley. I'm Robbie Baker with
Fox ten. Darius, this isfor you. After the draft last night,
you had a great response about howyour process and preparing for a game,
just kind of wondering where your lovefor kind of the grind comes from,
and then your love for that processcomes from. I would say my
junior year, because I played littleleague ball off and on. But I

(01:12:48):
got my junior year and I wasplaying high school and my whole goal is
just to earn a scholarship. Butduring that process, I really fell in
love with the game, fell inlove with working out relationships with team mates,
and now it's kind of like myadvice and I can't let it go
and just kind of finding ways toalways get better, you know. Luke
Linting here with twelve Sports, congratsto both of you walking to the valley.

(01:13:10):
This one's for you, Marvin.I'm curious your thoughts or what was
that conversation like with your dad afteryour name was called and you were able
to be drafted by this organization andhow surreal is it for you to be
following your own father's footsteps but inyour own way. Yeah, I mean
it was very brief, actually,just in the second graduations, I walk
up to the stage and then Ihad to do a bunch of interviews afterwords.

(01:13:30):
So I don't think it has hitboth of us yet. I don't
know what's happened. I think,you know, one of Michaels always make
him proud, so I hope Idid that. Marvin, Bobrock, pH
and X Sports. When do youanticipate catching your first passes from Kyler Murray?
I don't know. I don't know. I guess we'll see and hopefully
as soon as possible. Darius,you mentioned philanthropy, and I know there's

(01:13:54):
been it's been talked about how youtook some of the NI nil money to
do a get back to school forthe kids in Colombia. Where did that
belief in doing those things come from? I say my family, my brother
and my mom really instilled that endof me and to me at a young
age, just give back your blessingsto others. In my fifth year at
Missou is the best year in mylife, so why would I not share

(01:14:16):
my blessings with others. So that'swhat really motivated me to do that.
And now being in the NFL,you know, my goals to do three
events each year. I just giveback because you know, it's life outside
of football and bigger blessings out there. Marvin, you obviously played with a
number of highly drafted receivers at OhioState. What sort of feedback if you've
gotten about the NFL from them?An you know, a boy making the

(01:14:38):
transition in the league itself. Yeah, it's a long season, I think
going from in a twelve game recordseason you have in college to was it
seventeen games now and you got threepreseason? I think I feel like just
the biggest challenge the game states thething obviously that we're all skilled and very
talented athletes, so the mental partis probably the biggest thing and the biggest
change from the college to pros.What's your timeline for hiring an agent?

(01:15:01):
Right over here on the way farright, you haven't hired an agent?
Why is that? Is there atimeline to hiring one? And are you
gonna slign the NFLPA Licensing? Ithink the taalle on this team is really
good too, and I think thatI can come in here and make a
big difference, you know, andwe can win a lot of football games,
you know. So that was myThat was part of my decision.

(01:15:25):
Your achilles coding nine. How toughwas that? How long did it take?
And where are you at now?I'm one hundred percent now, And
it was like a walk in thepark. It's like a sprained ankle.
You know. It was very easy, you know, because I had the
knee. The knee was pretty hard, you know, and the Achilles was

(01:15:47):
I would say it's easy, youknow, 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 beenstormed like the past two years, you
know, having have like good,great games. The next thing you heard
and then you know, so gotgot the injury prone out there, you
know. But I think the stormis over with, you know, you

(01:16:12):
know, and I think I'm I'mgonna gonna take off now, you know,
and there will be no setbacks andthe injury prone thing will be gone
out of the window again. Yep, I'm sorry, You're gonna be back.
I am. I am excited.You know. He does a lot
of great things, and he's agreat person and we have a great relationship.

(01:16:34):
It's gonna be it's gonna be afun year. We're gonna have a
lot of fun. We're gonna doa lot of great things. So I
can't wait, chick waiting. Theinjuries you've had, does that just bad
luck? Is every Is there anythingyou've been attributed to beyond just misfortunate?
Yeah, it's just unfortunate, youknow. But God has a plan always,
you know, I don't know whatthe plan exactly is, you know,

(01:16:58):
I don't know, but but whateverplan it is, it's for me
to be here. You know,I had a great rookie year. I
didn't really have the volume as otherpeople my rookie year, but I still
had a great rookie year. Sixyards of carry, you know, things
like that. I think it waslike nine touchdowns ten including the playoffs.
And so there's always been like,all right, guy, let me show

(01:17:23):
my talent shine a little bit.Like even when I had the knee.
So I had the knee, right, A lot of people don't know,
like I didn't get hurt again wheneverI got you know, got cleaned up.
So I went down in twenty one, right, had the injury,
the knee injury, and then cameback later the next year and I played
the first few games and it justfeel there was a lot of scars issue

(01:17:43):
in there, so I had toget it cleaned up. I didn't get
hurt again. I could have playedthe whole 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 rightand then on had great, great ending
of the year, you know,one hundred total yards in the playoff game

(01:18:04):
we lost, which I hate themost. Stays, don't marry me.
I want to win. But thencome back the next year hurt again like
torn achilles. So two really unfortunateinjuries. But that's just God's plan,
you know. And I think thatthe storm is now over, you know,
And I do think that I'll beable to shine my light to the
whole world. Are you concerned thatyou have that label of your game stand

(01:18:28):
three? I could care less becauseI do. I do. I know
this out there because as as itshould be, it should be. I
got hurt two major injuries back ornot 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, So

(01:18:54):
that's why I'm not bothered by it. Like, yeah, I am injury
polling, you can say that,you know, but I do think that
the Chargers are getting a guy that'sgoing to be healthy from now on,
you know, God willing, andit's gonna be great. And I do
think that it's gonna be It's gonnabe a great However, many years here,
when you've been on the field,you've been highly un adopted five point

(01:19:15):
of years for 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 need is is not what youneed all the confidence in the world,
you know. The way I work, I wouldn't say just from the numbers,
but just the way I work mywork ethic, you know, and
my relationship with Jesus is like Ihave the most confidence when I step out

(01:19:39):
there because I do know, likeif he grants me the health, it's
over with is I don't think Iwould be you know, I think it
will be a great year or whatever. A couple of years. However,
many years he grants me great health, you know, and I think just
the work ethic, my prayer andall that stuff, that's what helped me
have that confidence with the numbers willbe there and they they might be higher

(01:20:01):
after this year, you know whatI'm saying. And it's crazy to think
about cause I had six or sixyards per carry, you know. So
we'll see. You're looking forward tothe running behind this line as 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 youknow, and I'm excited. I think

(01:20:21):
it's like I said earlier, it'sa talented group. You know. We
just got to put together win somegames. Cause that's what I came here
for. That's all year. OrI wouldn't I wouldn't say part of the
recruitment. But like whenever I decidedI was gonna sign, it was great
to have him in the room.What's your relationship, Yeah, we're great.
We're we have a great relationship.That's he's like my brother. So

(01:20:46):
I think a compliment each other verywell. You know, he can do
a lot of stuff too. Youknow, got like a lot of people
think he's just power power power,but I think he has some other parts
of his game two which it it'llbe great because I feel like I could
do everything, and when one gettired, we can roll it in.
We keep rolling win some games.So when you the two of you get

(01:21:08):
going, how do you think that'sgonna look for? What? Like?
What will be that partnership kind ofback there? I know that's a hard
question. How do I think Ithink it'll look beautiful. You know a
lot of people call this a passingleague, but I think you gotta run
the ball to win the super Bowl. You know, if you look at
the teams who win the Super Bowl, they can run the ball, they

(01:21:30):
can control the clock. And soif we're both good, it'll look great,
beautiful. How would you describe therecord running the offense? I would
I would describe it as, youknow, a great offense. I think
he gives a quarter he's gonna givethe quarterback a lot of options. He's
gonna give the running back a lotof options. He's gonna give the receiver

(01:21:51):
a lot of options, you know, and I think it'll be I think
it's gonna be great. His offenseis gonna be amazing. When we talked
to him a minute, you know, I was like, why will build
something good rushing offenses throughout your careerevery way you've been and you said that
one part of it is just yougotta call place. You got a call
run place as a running back.You know, how much confidence, how

(01:22:13):
much excited does it give you whenyou know you have a play caller that's
gonna stick with it and allow youand the offensive 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 inhis offense, you know. And I
think he does have some good thingsin the past game too, But like
you said, he sticks with therun, and that's that's the identity you

(01:22:33):
You want an offense that has anidentity, right, You won't be looking
everywhere else to find your your identity. You want to have it. And
so I think his offense has thatand the guys he builds and puts in
there, it complements that identity.So I think it's gonna be great.
You mentioned your a hundred percent now, so you'll be full go for portraying

(01:22:54):
him. That'sation. Look, Iain't gonna answer any of the fool if
it's up to me. Yes,yeah, Look, because I had this
problem like three two years three yearsago, 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 pay
grade. So but I don't know, hopefully I can start. I think

(01:23:16):
I'm ready to start, you know, at the beginning of training camp.
But that's not up to me.As I've learned, I'll tell you how
you're feeling. I wouldn't say that. I think I've been I've been in
some great organizations, and I thinkthis this organization is a great organization,
and the training staff is great,and so they just want what's best for

(01:23:39):
me, you know, and they'rethey're taking care of me, which that's
what you want in an organization.And so that's where that comes from.
Which I appreciate it, Like Ireally appreciate that, you know, because
I'm the type of guy, likeI work really hard, so maybe sometime
I'm blind to you know, thedanger of something, you know, So
I appreciate it. But like Isaid, it because up to me,

(01:24:00):
yeah, I'm out there, butnever know with any frustration for you during
the heading into free agency, youknow, dealing with with rehab and not
you know, having won a fullseason tape or production to go out.
There was there 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

(01:24:27):
like it the hard way, butnot, you know, I like it
the hard way. I like it. I like trial and tribulations. So
I mean the dice that I wasgiven the role was I was coming off
of Achilles, and that was thatwas the lowest plan. So it was

(01:24:49):
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 Iwas comfortable and sitting back and just I
think it's like you know how towrite, like when you use your right
hand, you know how your handwritingshould look. It's about taking the reps

(01:25:11):
to make sure matches, I guess, you know, so just taking the
reps to get back to that.I think it is all what it is
I mean obviously, like he's oneof my biggest supporters, you know,
so obviously you know he's he's he'sexcited about the opportunity for me, you
know, so I'm excited about it. Oh a lot. He helped me

(01:25:35):
a lot, even from like thefirst day, just trying to help me
get used to to write tackle.He got my feet used to write tackle,
like my first dad practice. I'mlike, dude, I still feel
you feel a little off. Idon't feel balanced in my stands. And
he showed me the small technique andto do with my feet, which I
still do even even I left tacklejust because part of my routine, that

(01:25:57):
was part of my process and gettingthe stands up. 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 of
the pocket and to dap each otherback whever you reap. Like that was
compete, you know what I mean. So that's my guy. As much
as you love him once your theWest side, how bittersweet is it in

(01:26:19):
a certain matters because it would happenedto him. Yeah, that's the thing.
That's not how it's definitely how Iand and that's how I thought about
the transition would go. You know, I thought it would be you know,
homeson timing and a cardinal his wholecareer. You know, you know,
you want to play here forever,you know what I mean. While

(01:26:40):
I was talking about his plans,so you know, you win, you
wish transitions like one of those fairytale like it's your time. But but
again either way, you know,we talked about it. You know,
that's that's the how it goes,you know, but obviously you know he
sees he's he's been one of mybiggest supporters. Again, I affect everybody

(01:27:04):
leads in their own way, youknow, not everybody's the guys coming around
scuse like and that's not everybody rightlike effect for me, that's me specifically
on game day with the old lineand after we do one on one like
that's my like, well Hump didlike like that's my like big vocal time.

(01:27:24):
I feel like I've talked to Humpabout this, you know, just
recently talking about how what I wannado for the room. Was I wanna
bring that Hump energy that he broughtright so last year, of course,
some traits were doing for years,but the year when I spent on him,
he brought a lot of the energyand excitement and the happiness in the

(01:27:47):
room was just his natural energy towhere I only had to focus on me.
You know, I didn't have tomake sure other other guys are,
you know, feel some type ofway when they came in here because Hump
brought that. But out of Hump'snot here, but I saw what he
did for the room. I wantto be that guy to make sure everyone's

(01:28:08):
amp to go to practice, everybody'shype. Weren't taking and field team one
period. You know it's a lowday or something. You know, it's
a it's a day. But likeI want to make you feel like your
parents the tripper right now. Iwant to bring that cause that's what we
Hump did to each other. Wewill hype each other other dude dudes about
to get walked through and we're lit. So I want to do that.
I want to bring that energy.I want to make bring more guys,

(01:28:30):
you know, to do that.You know, I wanted to do that
from day one, you know,I kind of I wanted to do that
from day one, from just talkingto him and obviously it's that time.
I spend the off season before OTAstarted just being in myselfish thinking about what
the room needs, you know,because I know I a new role as

(01:28:55):
one of the leaders, you know, on the offense, is that we
need the guy like that is gonnamake sure the old line is picked up
ready to go. Every day.I was held accountable little things that happened
to practice. People aren't saying anything. And how I may lead maybe different
than somebody else may lead. Youknow, I like to a practice at

(01:29:15):
least like the legal positivity, youknow what I mean. So, but
he the energy yet went beyond justthe old hype up the deal. I
n to start too. So that'skind of how I wanna be s goal
mine literally my whole life. Iwanna be a NFL team captain, like
specifically the NFL. I wasn't acaptain of high school. I wasn't a

(01:29:35):
captain of college. But I madea joke when I was in high school.
It's like that, I feel likeI'm not gonna be a captain til
I get to the NFL. Yeah, but that would be awesome, you
know, but you know, ifit happens, I'd be great. But
not either way. I wanna assumea role as a captain from the respect

(01:29:57):
of the guys on the team,a visual words, and to get back
to that way. Yeah, Imean, I can't say that. I
mean, I guess the biggest thingis that I felt like it has felt
like how it you used to inthe past. But it didn't take just
the first day OTAs. It tooktraining left and right once the season ended,
cause I didn't know what what itwas gonna be sure, so it

(01:30:19):
took a lot of yeah, myreps just to get back to feeling like
myself for day one OTAs and thenthat whole first week. But now like
today, specifically just changing some smallthings with my feet that good today talking
about a line coach about some thingsI can do with my feet to get
to that to sell at that traditionalangle that I loved to set on.

(01:30:43):
Felt even I thought I felt,I thought I felt great already, my
mom cat, I felt even backup it. So I'm even more excited
tomorrow. Now I'm getting my feedbackto how I liked it the right side
and I'm on the left side,so I'm excited to teach. I mean,
obviously I feel like in the league, whether I left or right,
you're still going against premier guys.So obviously you have high expectations for your

(01:31:04):
left and your right tackle. Butthere's definitely uh like the the level of
energy and like the expectations, definitelytaking the human spect cause now connected the
black side, that's the that's thetackle roles, you know. So so
yeah, I would say in termsof communication as far as just even outside

(01:31:25):
the facility and just stuff like that, like really creating that that tackle quarterback
bond even more off the field,I think has been something that's even been
cool. I got a text oneday as a head like you play left,
and I was like, yeah,you know, yeah, I've been
training both. I've been training both. You know. I I aks after
the season. They're like, honestly, you know, we'll talk to you

(01:31:47):
still play in the season. AndI just got a text me like depending
what happens with with the free agencythen, So I was like, you
know what, I had a wholeseason right tackle. So if I get
the word, I'm going I'm standingright tackle. I don't used to do
what I did before. I'm builton that bus. I was like,
I might as wells trained the lefttackle now as if I'm gonna be left

(01:32:08):
tackle, and I'd rather do thatthan training on the right time and get
the call heir, you're the lefttackle. I'm like, ooh, I
didn't switch on my feet yet,you know what I mean. So I'm
like, let me just prepare inadvance. I was like, yeah,
this guy, you know, Ithink occasionally on third down there would be
a lot of twists. I wouldjust know like it's automatically coming. And
I think that was my mindset forlike the first half of the season,

(01:32:30):
Like I didn't have to go toa game and with surprise like oh my
gosh, they did that. Ikind of figured like, okay, like
this is this is the type ofrush meant it get like this is how
this guy usually rushes. But Iget the vibe this is how the ends
like the rush, you know,tackles that are you know, first year
guys who got the premiere patch on. I already knew what it was gonna
be, already knew of every stuntand honestly just knowing that it's kind of

(01:32:54):
an advantage too. So you're notyou're not you're not old. They brought
the twist on my side. Again, it was never air gone, you
know, coming out of minds,Like three plays in a row in two
minutes. I knew that that wasthe way to happen. So, like,
you know what I mean, I'mwatching more than everybody else, and
he rarely even goes out there onoccasional third downs on the d M.
I was like, you know,it's gonna be he's gonna pick me,

(01:33:15):
you know what I mean, Sofact fact, it's kind of it's also
kind of advantage in a way,but it's also exciting, like, Okay,
I'm gonna get the hardest look.You know, those are real,
real reps, you know the thing. So really, I don't know.
I really didn't kind of process that. I was like, hey, when
they tell me to let me know, but I'm just gonna train it.

(01:33:38):
I was training all left to Ta's. I guess if I didn't hear anything
about T's, I would have camein like so you know what I mean,
because just like I'm cool training bothcontinue I would have been cool training
both continually. But I feel likeanybody, any position will be like okay,
like you want to as soon aspossible get your feet kind of accountability

(01:34:00):
at the time. What if uhwhat have you seen the guy with the
count of law Sea, Yeah,I mean he's quick. You know,
he can create a lot of spaceand uh small spaces, so uh he's
quick, you know, uh savvywith his route running, and you know,
he's just he's just a hard worker. You know. You know there's
some plays where he knows he's notgetting the ball and he's still still winning
the route. So you know,just to have that player, uh a

(01:34:21):
a player like that give that mucheffort uh on the field every play,
it's really really good to see.And I think it's you know, really
uh gonna rub up on the otherguys too. I'm good. I'm about
the i'm'a get your mother. What'sit like working with uh some of the
tight ends that you guys happened roomthere, I know after Smithia straight just
talking about that persatility that a lotof other guys have, especially in that

(01:34:41):
grip. Yeah, I mean wehave a different uh uh a lot of
you know, different guys in thetight end room. You know, darn
now. He brings sides to theroom. Uh Rodney speed, uh Connor.
He has a great awareness in thefield. Pat of course he you
know, he's a great all roundtight end and then uh, you know,
uh crew he's so if he's abat, he's smart. He knows
what he's doing. So, Imean, just all the guys in the

(01:35:03):
room, you know, they're smartand attensive and they've i f I feel
like they've j are justice to theoffense. Well, so, what's been
like working with Tom or on?What's he been kind of working with he
wants? Yeah, I mean Tom'sbeen great. Uh just his a tis
attention to detail, the way hecomes you know, in each and every

(01:35:25):
day. He comes in as thesame guy every day, and Uh,
to be honest, I haven't youknow, I don't think I've had to
coach that detailed. But as Tom, you know, he's very detailed in
terms of you know, practice reviewsending us, uh the info, breaking
down each and every play and reallyjust really just focusing on the detail,
to be honest with you, Ithink, uh, that's the thing that

(01:35:45):
sets him apart. And you knowhe's he pushed us to be hard.
I mean, our our indie periodsare you know, conditions, So of
course that's good for us. ButI mean he's been great, So far
so excited to uh you know,allow that our allow our relationship to grow,
and excited to work with and iswhat he's doing kind of compliment what
you're doing individually, you know,when you're away from the facility, working

(01:36:06):
with you know, coaches one onone anything like that. You said,
what is he what does he dohere? That kind of compliments what you
do away from the facility when you'retraining around. I mean I think he
does different stuff. So I thinkthat's a good thing about it. You
know, some stuff that we dohere. Oh sorry, I don't you
know, usually do outside of thefacility. So it's good getting that different

(01:36:29):
work in, different drill work thatI can you know, implement into my
you know, off season program andstuff like that. So it's good that
I'm learned this stuff for sure,deep all of efficiency versus next time that
specially the last year. What whatwhat is Art Smith in the offense talk
about you about trying to make theincorporate that into being a big part of
this office. I mean, yeah, uh, I think we have fast

(01:36:50):
guys, guys that can get downthe field with speed, Guys like Quiz
Calvin, Scottie Van you know,me and rust. You know, we've
we've had a lot of deep bukss. That's a lot of explosive plays
in the past. So you know, that's just uh, you know what,
I guess how our offense is built. To be honest with you,
but I mean, our job isto create explosives and you know, push

(01:37:11):
the ball down the field. Soanytime we get those ops, we definitely
wanna capitalize on those. Are yourcoach just arresting any part of your mechanics
and anybody like 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 doesthat, and I usually, you know,

(01:37:32):
make sure he doesn't make sure Ijust just stay on top of it,
you know, as a whole,and you know, make sure my
mechanics are always clean. Can youtalk about one particular element that they're stressing.
It's it's different areas, to behonest, I don't think it's just
one specific area, but it's it'sa different area justin in your opinion.
Was there something that you wanted towork on, maybe get better at when
you got here at this point inyour career. I mean, like,

(01:37:54):
like I said, there's you know, no matter who you are, you
know, there's always stuff to getbetter at, always different areas. Nobody's
perfect in one area. So Ithink you can continue to prove in all
your my game, you know mepersonally, So I'm just focused on getting
better each Ever, when we talkedat Russ yesterday, he said that rusted
that he personally felt kind of revived, you know, being in another staff

(01:38:15):
in his career. Is there anyof that sense of maybe rejuvenation or feeling
revived? Obviously you haven't been inthe league for thirteen years, but is
there a new energy that you getbeing in a different organization, going through
mini camp in a different way forthe first time. I think, so,
you know, just being around anew team, uh uh an organization
that's you know, just just withthis culture, you know, me being

(01:38:36):
in you know, two different placesnow, you just I realize that,
you know, you don't get thisculture everywhere. I think Chicago, I
think they are you know, kindof changing the narrative now. But I
mean this has just been the culturehere for so many years to where I
mean, you can see it.It's just the way that you know,
we attack each he every day andcoach to you know, he stays honest

(01:38:57):
about it. So I think justhaving that and you know, reiterating that,
you know each and every day,that keeps guiding exposing guys are ready
to compete each and every day.Is it easy to step into an organization
when there already is such a culturethat's been established for a long term to
kind of know where you fit andknow what's expected. Most definitely, I
think, you know, especially asa leader, as a player on the

(01:39:19):
team, you just don't have Thankyou for checking out this content from posts
at Sports. If you watch thispo on YouTube, please like the video
size. Yeah. I mean,I think college football is different and ideologies
and understandings and have changed. AndI think that you know, the portal

(01:39:44):
is a variable, And I wouldsay that not him in particular, but
I wouldn't say everyone doesn't really knowhow to handle it properly. You see
it currently. I mean, it'sjust it's a variable that's new and how
to handle it. There's not atranscript on on how to handle that variable.
So you just guys just trying todo what they think is right.
That's all they're really trying to do. And I'm not saying that right or

(01:40:05):
wrong, but he was trying todo the same, and you know,
I think at the end of theday he realized he made made the wrong
decision and we connected on it.We talked about it, and you know,
it was a great opportunity to toright or wrong. And obviously we're
very glad he's here. I've alwaysbelieved in him. We believe in him,
and he believes in himself and that'spart of the just trying to understand

(01:40:28):
what's my path, right. Souh, but yeah, it's been great.
Steps have been made. He's growing, but he's nowhere near where he
knows he's capable of being just problya priceless Ceremiah. I love the way
he lives. I love the wayhe approaches things. I love the way
the questions he asks. I lovethe way he makes mistakes and then correct

(01:40:51):
mistakes. It's very veteran, likeI mean, there's so much ball he
has to learn. Like he literallydoes things that are good and I'm like,
do you know what that worked,he goes coach, I have no
freaking idea, So like I'm tryingto teach him all of that why it
worked, so then you know,the consistency at which it works just goes
to the roof. And so butI'm very you know, excited and proud

(01:41:13):
of the conversations we're currently having,and I'm excited it for them to keep
going by what power for you workingwith tell? I love working with Chip,
Chip is. I love talking ball, I love the viewpoints, I
love I love the veteran that hehas, you know, uh and uh,

(01:41:38):
I love Yeah, I like,I love all of it. I
think that you know, early onthe biggest impact, you know, just
you know, feeling perspective. Ithink in the run game has been awesome,
you know, and then you know, off of the run game some
of the actions or or relief throwsor all that kind of stuff. I
love where it's at. I loveworking with them, and he's a great

(01:42:00):
person to be around. I wouldsay that I sleep a little better,
all right. Uh No, It'sit's really a great combo because like you
know, we're obviously we're doing alot as a group. It's not just
Chip and I so but you know, obviously Chip has an image and a

(01:42:26):
view on things that I never had. So to have that experience and to
have that viewpoint, I'm just tryingto absorb as much as i can,
but then also highlight some things thatwe've really done a good job of and
make sure those you know, nothing'sreally 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

(01:42:49):
the dynamics of search Chip can talkabout. But it's been it's been awesome,
so I'm excited about it. Wetalked to him that gud just talking
about moving from slot town house sidea good new thing in the slot.
Is that a difficult move for youguys to coaches, to know how good
a guy is in one spot butknow that maybe for his long term future
and the no, I wouldn't sayit's anything on his future, because he's

(01:43:15):
capable of doing whatever you want toget done. But I'd say that it
says more about the room. Ithink it's it's the growth of you know,
Brandon and the growth grow of Brysonthat'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 Takes's ability

(01:43:40):
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
really doing a good job right now. Progress look like this spring Formica and
because yeah, there's no time tothink. It's one of those things I'm
true where U has balanced how muchwork does a need versus much Yeah,
heavy, heavy emphasis on what workhe needs, you know, versus anything

(01:44:00):
else. I rely on him.We have great dialogue back and forth.
It's a way. It's a twoway conversation. And frankly, there's gonna
be times we're like, hey,Meg, what do you wanna do today?
You wanna go outside? You gonnago inside? And I don't care.
So we're not there yet. Wewill be there, but it's just
more about, you know, whenthe room is ready to start mixing things
up. I would say, there'sGod I mean, I make sure I

(01:44:38):
bring in 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 onanybody else right now, not saying they
can't, but at this point,having two guys being able to swing,

(01:44:59):
you probably don't need much more thanthat. I need guys being experts at
what they're good at, so itit helps the offense. Don't be great
at everything and be an expert atsomething and we can use that to our
to our advantage. This year isdifferent, like maybe you guys who were
more situation a little bit. Yeah, the room's always different, frankly,
I mean from twenty eighteen and thennineteen and through COVID and and those guys,

(01:45:24):
and and then the depth of thoseguys and then where Mec and Marvin
and those guys were as freshmen comparedto you know, it's just it's always
different, and uh, I expectthis one to be different. Again,
I'm not sure, at what levelyet? Last question or in your relationship
between the TV room and your lastroom, especially you know the back of
the boards. I'm curious a DVDas a leader just like you, you

(01:45:45):
know, played at Ohio Seas ofIntel Expunity. I'm curious about how you've
seen Tim kind of build a differentmart backs in, especially on a recruit
and troll the amount successful guys andmaybe kind of the effective you're recruiting,
how that's kind of enhanced. Hewould probably know more for that coving all
the way through ten years in thisleague. So I'm excited to see what

(01:46:05):
he's got. How old did youknow Sores? So when he was assistant
here and I had gotten to knowhim a lot better, what's the relationship
made me right now? I knowhim pretty well. He was always just
a good dude around the facility.He did our ball meetings, so he's
good in front of a group.He's a good leader. He knows the

(01:46:28):
scheme really well, which is good. I was happy to see him promoted.
He called me in the off season, we talked. I just congratulated
him, and I think he's gonnabring something similar to what we had with
the Miko it'd be good. Doyou know Brandon Staley well at all?
I mean, obviously Joey play forhim. I don't know too much about
him. I've obviously heard from mybrother, but I don't even think i've

(01:46:53):
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 Miko or System,
maybe a little different energy, butI think just knowing the system from
the front to the back, Ithink he knows how it ties in,
and he's been around with some reallygood coaches, so I think it'll be

(01:47:17):
pretty pretty seamless, and I thinkwe'll be firing on all cylinders. You're
three months removed from the super Bowlnow, so how have you? I
guess digested it, and I guessphysically everything good to go. Yeah,
I feel really good. I thinkit's been one of my better off seasons
of just kind of It was along year, so I took it nice

(01:47:38):
and slow to get back into it. Not as young as I once was,
so I'm taking a little a littleslower, but everything's great. I'm
feeling as good as I felt.I'm excited to actually get some practice in
last year was kind of tough gettingthrown in week one after I walk through,

(01:48:00):
so that was another reason I'm excitedto 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 nothave a game coming up is good.
With the Super Bowl unfortunately, Iknow how to bounce back from tough losses,

(01:48:20):
so it was rough for a littlebit, but no, just annoying
when people bring it up. Sincethe last season, we've seen a Rock
on TV commercials and on the stagewith Kluke Coombs and throwing out the first
pitch in the Giants game. Buthe seems like a guy that's totally unaffected
by celebrity, which he has now. But what have you noticed in his

(01:48:42):
leadership style and the way he carrieshimself any difference at all. I think
he's definitely getting a little more vocalwithin the building, and uh yeah,
I mean I don't think he's evergonna change. I don't think he's somebody
that's gonna change even when he getspaid next year. So he's he's a
man of faith and he kind ofreminds me of Scotti Scheffler, but except

(01:49:06):
for just super humble and really goodkid, and yeah he's definitely famous.
I don't just from watching Armstead getreleased obviously meant so much to the defensive

(01:49:30):
line into the team. I mean, Colin John were pretty open that they
were willing to talk about trading Deeboor are you at does that just another
what's that feel like in the lockerroom when those sort of joels happened.
I didn't even know that happened andI wasn't here, but you're talking about

(01:49:51):
this Armstead in alarm Eric release,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

(01:50:12):
it is a business and the team'sgoing to try and get as good as
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 as a teamand try and go get one Nick,

(01:50:32):
what's the overall feeling around the groupright now, Like, how much
does it feel like the excitement ofthe ramp up to the season. Even
though it's early, it feels good. It's been a couple of days for
me, so I like all thenew guys. I'm getting to know everybody.
But I think the passes in thepast and we're ready to go.
Do you talk to you talked tobeat all about handling the business part of

(01:50:54):
this, and 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. First impressions when you
heard about your schedule would be inthat Aaron Rodgers' first time It'll be fun.
Yeah, it's gonna be gonna bea good one. Excuse me kind

(01:51:18):
of alluded to this for the factthat last year you had to have that
holdout. You said that affected yousomewhat early in the season. If you
hadn't had that experience, would yoube here right now? I mean,
was that part of the motivation forbeing here early? Just to have the
opposite might be No, I don'tthink that's one of the reasons. But

(01:51:43):
I just talked to Kyle and hekind of asked me. He kind of
stated how he felt about why itwould be good for me to be here
and asked if I agreed, andI one d agree. So it's not
like I'm missing too much. Ithink I'm out here. It's a little
less workload than I'm doing back home, so it's kind of a good active

(01:52:04):
recovery thing for me. And I'mgetting football stuff, football working specifically,
so that's good. I'm not it'snot compromising my training at all, and
I get to meet all the guys. It's it's positive news. Your brother

(01:52:25):
let oh, no, he's he'sthere. He's got a new regime over
there. Did you first? Iactually thought I was coming next week until
recently, so I was gonna haveone more week at home, but we're
both in California. You could likeshare about cons reason reasons that you've agreed

(01:52:46):
with tent from the top, andit 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 at and I think it'simpressive the details that everybody have been on,
has has been on, the effortand just the competitiveness that that's been

(01:53:12):
going on over the last few weeks. Yeah, it's it's it's been great.
How much do you appreciate that thestops described with the way Jim leyes
we shouldn't eat in the messaging,do they mix stuff? Might appreciate that
so much. I mean, it'sI guess it's easy to appreciate when you

(01:53:33):
kind of see it working and yousee guys improving, getting better. I
just think the details are really important. You can pretend that leaving your shoes
a mess or your locker mess isn'ta big deal, and what matters is
playing football. But I think allthose tiny details and things kind of add

(01:53:54):
up and leak into the important stuff, like what you're doing on the field.
So if you can have your toebehind the line, or have your
locker and order and all these things, they kind of stack up into performing
well and and playing well when thingscount. So you know, I appreciate
that. It's it also hasn't beena fight with the guys in the locker

(01:54:16):
room. They buy in, andyou know, it's a lot of young
guys, and I think they're hungryto learn, hungry to compete and win.
You know, it's just an example. Whether it's we talked about first
day, you have your shoot ifyou could, if you could spend the
time on these small things when nobody'swatching. I think, like I was

(01:54:38):
saying, it seems like it mightnot add up too much, but I
think in the long term it does, and it leaks into other things,
whether you're doing your right assignment onthe field, being late to meetings or
all these things. If you holda standard and you you stay to that
standard, I think it benefits youlong term. With Ben Herbert, has

(01:55:00):
there been anything in his training programwe're working with you that you feel will
benefit you later? Yeah, Yeah, definitely. He's he's been great.
He's a no nonsense kind of guy. But he's not an old school in
the sense that he's bringing his wayof doing things and that's the only way
to do things. He understands thatguys have been in the in the business

(01:55:23):
for a long time, Khalil meand we have a way of doing things,
and all he wants to do isadd to that and help you get
better and perform the best he can. He's he stresses it all the time
that he's a tool for us,and you know, he's he's been great.
The guys love him. The energybrings is awesome, and I think

(01:55:43):
the stuff that we're doing in theweight room is great, great addition to
stuff that I may may do onthe side or whatever that is. Yeah,
I think we I mean, wehad a presentation today with all the
certain measurables that are changing and ifyou guys are in the meat and you
definitely see how beneficial he's been tothe team so far. So obviously,

(01:56:04):
staying healthy is is a huge factorto anybody's success. I'd say it's plagued
us a little bit for a while. So yeah, I think he's he's
definitely incredibly beneficial. When were youfully, I know, at the end
of last season you might have beenable to Yeah, No, I was

(01:56:25):
not ready to go last year.No, tried practicing, tried coming back,
and uh it was it was notgood, but yeah it was Unfortunately
the year wasn't going great and itjust was unnecessary risk for I mean,
my foot could have had some realreal issues if I came back too early.

(01:56:47):
So yeah, it's been, it'sbeen. It's been a great off
season. My foot's feeling great,toes, good hamstring shot. I mean,
there was a list of things lastyear my hand, so all those
things are good. Finger got surgeryon my finger, so that's feeling good.
Yeah, it's it's nice to befeeling better going into your nine than
you have since maybe five six yearsago, which I've said, I've said

(01:57:12):
I've been feeling great the last coupleof years. I'm telling you it's a
real deal this time. But obviouslyanything can happen. But I just feel
it's fun feeling really confident in yourbody and being able to perform. So
I could just go out during practiceand you know, go balls to the
wall and do everything that I feellike I need to to be able to

(01:57:33):
prepare. It's fun. My brotherand whoever I trained with my trainer Todd
back home, I think they'd bereally proud of how I've been working this
offseason, and it's just exciting.Pointing was the injuries, I'm the grea

(01:57:53):
big game you kind of you.I'm yeah, it was a bit of
a build up, a little bitof an over action, but you know,
it's just tough. It comes sometimeslike that, and I just felt
felt really defeated coming back. Hada broken hand. I'm like, oh,
yeah, I get to play boomfirst series foot pops. Thought I'd

(01:58:14):
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
offseason, and then the year beforeyou had growing surgery, so you know,
a lot of things build up.Yeah, you don't get a break
if you're injured. Everybody wants togo on. Fans are very nice,

(01:58:39):
but no, I just I'm gratefulthat I feel this way. I'm still
still nice. Ripe twenty eight,so not too old yet, but yeah,
I'm just excited. I can't rememberwhat the original question was at this
point, get something about my body. How close you and Gift were,

(01:59:06):
How how frustrating was it that youcouldn't you know soon for one of those
last three games. It was frustrating, but I mean Gift was had my
back the whole way. I thinkfor Gift, for any but for for
the whole team, just to showwhat it means to me. It would
have been important for me to beout there, but I literally could and

(01:59:28):
I tried to practice. Injured myfootworse the very first play I was and
in practice, so no, chancethat was happening unless I wanted to throw
my next season away as well.But no, I'm just I'm proud of
him for what he did with theteam, how he handled it, and
I need to call him back.Actually sorry, GIF. Yeah, I'm

(01:59:51):
happy he gets to stay close bywith the with the Rams, and I'm
just proud of all we accomplished heretogether over the years and and we'll be
close for the rest of our lives. It was the foot injury. It
was this guy a foot sprang.Yeah, I sprained one area of my
foot. Then when I tried toreturn, I sprained another area. Was

(02:00:12):
able to avoid getting surgery, whichis kind of the main goal, but
yeah, it was. It wastough when it comes to the addition of
but Dupree when he felt like he'skind of brought to the to the room
and could bring on the heel.Yeah, when I heard we got my
brother some I don't know, maybemy brother told me. I'm like,

(02:00:33):
really, we just got Bud Likethat's no, that's no small pickup.
He's a seriously elite pass rusher hashad some trouble with injuries as well,
so I understand how that is.But not only him as a player,
but as a personality. I heardKhalil just saying he's he's a fun guy.
He's a funny guy, and andto have that in the room another

(02:00:55):
vet is always a great addition.But I'm just excited of him and Tuley
and to be able to rotate likethat and not drop off at all when
we come off the field is huge. And now Tuley's going into a second
year. Just what do you whatare you kind of What are some of
the maturity maturity areas you see fromhim? You know, I'm gonna say

(02:01:15):
not much, And that's a complimentbecause he was already mature in those areas.
I mean, he's on it everythingplaybook wise, always doing his job,
working hard, just refining his techniqueand pass rush. I mean,
we don't have the pads on rightnow, so the real work will will
begin, you know, in sixweeks now. So but yeah, I

(02:01:40):
love Tuli. I've loved him sincethe first day he's he's walked into the
facility and I know he's just gonnacontinue to get better. What you think
of the addition of Joe Alt,Yeah, yeah, I'm gonna need to
beat him up a little bit.In camp, so he's so he's ready.
But no, I think anything toprotect or no ten is a good,

(02:02:01):
good investment. So he seems likea real solid dude. Haven't talked
to him too much. Great build, seems like he has good hands,
good feet, strong. We'll see. We'll see in a few weeks when
I lay a helmet in his chin, how he holds up. But it'll
I'll take it easy on him.Rashaun's a beast. Did you know Coach

(02:02:27):
Harbond before he came here? Andif he did, just what were those
first couple of conversations like that?Yeah? I probably have crossed paths with
him. Maybe maybe not. ActuallyI think what was it his first year
when I was a junior? Sohe kicked his ass as usual at Ohio
State. No, no, theyjust want a championships. I'd say they

(02:02:51):
probably have the bragging rights right now. I'm like the guy talking about his
old high school. Oh I rememberwe used to kick No but no,
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.

(02:03:15):
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
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

(02:03:35):
how much it means to him.And yeah, I think he's a special
guy. I think he's the wayhe conducts himself. He's an interesting cat
for sure. And I'm still stillfeeling them out. But one thing you
can't denies that he loves football andhis main goal is to win football games.
So and that's what we need.You see him working out with you

(02:03:56):
guys and pushing slaves and doing allthis stuff. Just how interesting is that?
Yeah, I mean he was ahe was a great player himself,
and I think he's always been,you know, built like that lack of
a better term. But yeah,he's, uh, he's part of the
guys. You know, he's notthis guy outside looking in. He he

(02:04:17):
really, I mean he voiced thatto me, is that his favorite part
of all of it is being withthe guys and and the connections he makes.
So Yeah, to to see aguy like that come in and embrace
it all and kind of be partof it himself is important. Your initial
impressions of Pashment during the defensive Sam, Yeah, it's funny to go from

(02:04:40):
old gift, old gift to thislittle young guy who's my age. I
wouldn't want to get thrown into aroom with me and Khalil I was his
age. But no, he's beengreat. I love messing with him a
little bit. We little sarcasm backand forth, but no, he's great.
He's u uh very talks very fast, and I don't as you know,

(02:05:05):
so sometimes I gotta be like,slow down, coach, come on.
But no, he's great. I'mexcited, you know, to get
closer as the years. As theyear goes on, and I think he
has he has a lot of passionfor the position, and all he wants
to do is learn and and helpus to improve. So I'm excited about

(02:05:26):
him and me and I do missGiff. Obviously, it was a long
time with him, but I amexcited to have a new face and kind
of have that challenge for me.You worked much with with Jesse's dad,
since I know he coached linebackers inMichigan. Did you ask about Jesse?
Did you ask about doing? Okay, you asked about Jesse. Oh my

(02:05:47):
god, I was talking about freakingdoing the whole time. You guys are
so confused. No, sorry,I thought were I thought I was.
I thought you mentioned coach Ronie.No, No, coach Mentor has been
great as well. Yeah, they'veboth been great. Sorry, run that
back. No, he's been good. Uh yeah, very knowledgeable guy.

(02:06:13):
Same thing. I'm excited to getto know him more as the year goes
on. Have you worked Have youworked much during Jesse? Yeah? Uh
no, I have not. Idon't know if I've said one word to
him, but more words to comedown the road. Like you said,
you've been in year since twenty sixteen. Just what are some of this stuff?

(02:06:35):
You just someone on a ramble aboutthe wrong guy for fifteen minutes walking
What Yeah? What the heck?So actually that's literally not this person.
Yeah, I figured out. Now, you you worked under the off season

(02:07:01):
something to improve your game or isthere something that you can Usually my answer
is pretty consistent that I just continueto try to prepare myself physically, whether
that's my sprint work or agility workand my lifting, but yeah, just
to get everything feeling great. Idealt with those injuries, so I had

(02:07:25):
to kind of ramp it up withmy finger and foot and all those things.
But now I'm I'm full full speedout there, and I'm just going
to continue to do what I knowwill prepare me for the season. And
I know I'm gonna get plenty oftechnique work and position work when I'm out

(02:07:45):
here. So for now, I'mgoing to spend these five weeks really getting
preparing my body. There's workouts,competitor again another year competitive and all that
stuff. Yeah. Yeah, it'susually too hot out there for much competition.
We're just trying to survive. Sobut yeah, it's always it's a
it's a silent competition between between eachother, be like Peeking's like what was

(02:08:11):
his time? Was his time?But no, yeah, it's always.
You can never have an off daywhen when you're out there and he's he's
warming up like a beat, likea freaking robot every day out there,
so there's no there's no off days. Yeah, have you you and haven't
talked at all about I mean,I mean this when you were having a
contract game. You guys have totalk about on anybody. Oh yeah,

(02:08:33):
I mean it's it's a conversation,not a not really a serious conversation,
but something that's come up before.But yeah, I mean it would be
cool. It would be cool atsome point. I I always thought of
myself being somebody that will play hereand retire here, which I think not

(02:08:56):
many people do on one team,and I think be a cool thing to
accomplish. But you never know.I'm gonna worry about this year. First,
guys, it's kind of we're goinga food story. But so you
guys have like the lowest or secondlowest food catch area in the NFLPA serbye
last year and you better moved tothe facility. Like have you talked a
lot about food and how you didsome time? Is it fine because you

(02:09:20):
have you looking forward to the foodupgrades at all? Have you thought about
it at all? Yeah? No, it's Wolfgang Puck or whatever is the
is the word. Yeah, that'sgreat. I've been working with my chef
for seven years now, so she'sbeen great, So I've never really had
to worry about that too much.But yeah, my weight's good. I've

(02:09:41):
been eating a lot of this offseason, so that's good. But yeah,
I'm excited to maybe be able toSorry Christina, but maybe I won't need
a chef next year. I'll havemy I'll have my going on. So
you got to think the best fit, Christy, Chris caps here we go.

(02:10:05):
Yeah, Drea, and welcome toSeattle. Thank What are you looking
for in free agency? I feellike that's a loaded question for real,
for real. Uh, you know, in terms of no pay system,
teammates, environment, city, allthose kind of just like play into it.
Besides just uh, the money thing. I know, financials always play

(02:10:26):
a big role, and I kindof steer you into the direction you want
to go. But everything kind ofplays into it. And how much did
you reach out to Shelby Drew,knowing some of the guys you knew that
played here last year to get asense for what what Seattle might offer you?
I mean, not much. Rightnow, I'll talk to I'll talk
to Shelby a little bit about it. Mainly no one, Drew. Uh,

(02:10:46):
just congratulate me, Bob. Didyou come together pretty quickly? I
know you kind of a ten yearagreement on that first that come together really
faster. Now, it was along day. Seattle came in almost out
of nowhere. We had like agood set of teams that we were talking

(02:11:07):
to, just trying to find likefinalize what was going on. What was
it the term is going to be? You know, and Seattle came in
hot. They showed a lot ofinterest and uh they kind of motivating me
become here more and more. Andhow similar will your role be, you
know in terms of playing what youdid in Denver. I don't know that
yet. I kind of just mentionedpreviously. I don't know my role.

(02:11:28):
I don't know the ins and outyet. Once we'll get no through the
protocols and the nfl PA, we'llwe'll talk about know the schemes and everything.
Right. Uh so welcome. Whenyou were in Denver in the three
four, where did you find yourselfmost comfortable and most effective and role?

(02:11:48):
I played a lot of different positionsin Denver. I mean earlier my year
I played zero, I played three, two one. I mean I definitely
more comfortable in a shaded position,mainly being a three technique and fire technique.
That's why I find myself to bemore comfortable whether I'm standing up or
I'm not whether it's runner or pass. Uh, they'll seem to be my
best my best fits. And whatis your impression of Pete Carroll's defense and

(02:12:13):
whole environment? Uh? From afar, it seems like he h 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,
so uh, I'm just trying tofigure out more and I'll give you a
better answer later. What's the reputationaround the league out of the Seahawks?
Uh, you know hard nos Hardhad type of team definitely on a little

(02:12:35):
more lack side as opposed to beingstuck up or military style, and which
is definitely good because then they thisprogram is one a lot of football games
have been super successful for many years, as long as I've been alive,
as long as I've been watching football, and definitely this has been a good
program. And Pete Carroll has beena hell of a coach for as long
as I remember, even back inhis college of days. So I'm looking

(02:12:56):
forward to experiencing that. Shall whileYeah, I know you said you don't
know yet, you know what yourrole is going to be, which is
what what kind of player you fanswho haven't watched it ton of Denver,
what kind of player get? Definitelya high motor, definitely not a one
trippon any type of player. Ilike to attack, you know, whether

(02:13:16):
it's a first or first through fourthdown, I like to attack. I'm
always trying to apply pressure. I'mdefinitely just a high mortar guy in my
opinion. Brady, are there,Brady Henderson for ESPN. Nice to meet
you. Yeah, this is nota team that really makes big splash signings

(02:13:37):
in free agency. Did you thinkgoing into it that Seattle would be in
play? Uh? No, notat all. You just it's kind of
like being a cure at the countystore. You know, I've got a
whole bunch of different options coming atyou. Uh hearing, a whole bunch
of different crazy things, and uh, you know, you only get to
choose one. And this is theplace that that we both chose each other.
And I mean, I'm loving Seattleso far. You know, I

(02:13:58):
like these colors for real, forreal? What what did you got to
do with Seattle or see since you'vebeen here? Not much? Uh,
just kind of just drive around thecity exploring, Uh, getting down to
the market a little bit. Iwant to get on the Ferris will do
some more like touristy type of things. You know, I'm new to the
city and I got a lot tolearn about the city. All right.
Yeah, there's been a lot ofcomparisons with you to Michael Bennett. I

(02:14:22):
was wondering if you know Michael Bennettat all and you think accurate. Uh.
I know, Michael berger Ben itlike nothing. I know nothing about
it but besides his style of play, But I'm honored to be considered in
the same conversation as him and uhstyle of play. You know, He's
a Hall of Fame type of deeplineman that I've known about since I was
a kid. I mean, lasttime he played here, I was in
high school. So you know,it's cool to it kind of came full

(02:14:45):
circle a little bit watching him onTV and now I'm being kind of compared
to him in a way, youknow. I mean, I'm not touching
the surface of Michael Bennett. Youknow, he's a Hall of Famer and
I'm not there yet. So youknow, I just got to keep doing
my due diligence to be a betterplayer. Corn Hey Dreamont welcome to Seattle.
I know you get to play severalseasons for Vic Fangio and three four

(02:15:07):
style defense, and Seattle's playing asimilar system. Now, dating back to
last year as a defensive lineman,what do you think is most important to
be successful in that system? Maybefundamentals or just playing style to be successful.
From what I learned, being gapsound and being patient has always been
the biggest thing, and that's howwe've been successful when I was in Denver,

(02:15:28):
just kind of like relying on eachother. I know that sounds kind
of cliche, but like there's kindof like the the realm of being in
the three four defense. You gotto really really rely on the guys behind
you and the guys on the sideof you to really make their to do
their job to make your job easier. Bob, yeah, dream Well,

(02:15:48):
Uh, you your house state fioffsthat you didn't start playing football till you
were junior in high school and largelyplayed basketball. So then that's what maybe
I guess decided to go go playfootball then? Was that artist? No,
No, I've always loved football first. Uh, it was just kind
of just plan it out. Youknow, I love a hoop, but
you know, football was definitely aboutcalling given I was a two hundred and

(02:16:11):
sixty five pound power forward and Iwas like sixtres and changed, So you
know, I kind of chose theroute that God gave me. Know I'm
not six eight. Yeah, we'llcome to Seattle and you can quoted a
couple of articles that he was playerand can you just talk a little bit

(02:16:33):
about that. Uh, definite thatsome of the music you know, always
kind of counted out, but uscame through. Can you elaborate more than
that? Just from a standpoint likeI always get like over overshadowed, overlooked,
whether it's uh in something, youknow what I'm saying, Like,
I feel like I do a lotmore than what can be uh seen by
the the eyes of the inexperienced,you know, Scout and I do a

(02:16:56):
lot of different, different dynamic thingsthat help make place for others. You
know, I'm definitely an active player. I'm always doing something, whether in
the runner pass game, so youknow, I think that goes on another
sometimes and I'm looking forward to puttingpeople on notice. Thanks Brady, what,
uh what do you like to dooutside of football? Uh? Big

(02:17:16):
gamer, I'm definitely I've been gettingto a lot of chests lately, so
uh, just to expand my brain. Uh, I'll try to get into
reading. But if it's not sportsplay that I'm really not interested in reading
that. Who do you think someof that I'll be able to bring out
of out of your game as youkeep trying to you know, just being
more explosive, probably more yards forcatch with the uh space that he's putting

(02:17:41):
us into. Uh, the moreyards, more yards have to catch,
more explosive, pick, more exposedto play. So for for not just
only me, but she and uhak and taste them. So I'm excited
to to be able to be inthe system. I assume you you think
you guys can be a lot moreexplosive than than you in the last couple
of years. Oh yeah, ofcourse. Uh brings to a lot of

(02:18:01):
different things, you know what I'msaying, the playbook, but just accountability.
I feel like that's gonna lead usto success. They said the language
is a little a little shorter itHave you found that the language that you
guys use. Is it about thesame or is it at it's kind of
the same. Really, it's along long plays but it's more understanding for
sure. I feel like you couldget to that more understanding plays and I

(02:18:24):
feel like that's that's the difference haterwas saying the other day, just kind
of like coming into this offense,I feel like twenty years of breeze and
just kind of how it was justkind of built on top of each other,
on top of each other. It'slike kind of a lot to kind
of take in. Do you doyou find that way kind of turn it
down to something new, starting tolike zero with everybody. It's just a
little bit easier to kind of geteverybody on the same Yeah, I feel
like it's way easier. Like yousaid, it was kind of more of

(02:18:46):
a Drew Brees style the last playbook, So all credit to them though they
built that around him, around hisplayers. But like I said, it's
it's more. Uh, this playbookis more for a match ups and uh,
I feel like it's gonna be betterfor us or do you think it's
gonna really take advantage of just skillsets? Uh, just building around the

(02:19:07):
strengths that I have. You knowwhat I'm saying, things that I can
do and things that she can do. Uh, things that our players can
do is kind of focus on whatwe can do and and building on that.
Uh. I feel like it's playingto the player strengths. So I
feel like it's gonna help us alot has been around the way this offense
will have a lot more speed.And how has that transition been so far?

(02:19:28):
I mean, like I said,it's building around the players strengths.
So of course we got speed,uh with me or uh she and ati
receiver, so uh, just buildingaround that. Uh. Like I said,
playing to our strengths and be ableto capitalize off that. Feel like
it's gonna help us a lot mostof like the up tempo astrict and you
know, getting a lot of playsin less time. Oh yeah, yeah,
yeah, yeah, that's that's definitelygonna play a big difference. Like

(02:19:48):
I said, coming from the WestCoast, Uh, they bringing that stand
for an offense here. So I'mexcited to be be able to be a
part of that. For you personally, what's uh, what's the max level
look like for you? What doyou are you trying to accomplish this year?
Just staying consistent, man, acouple of ups and downs last year,
just building off that. It's alwaysyou always gonna work on the physical

(02:20:09):
part, but being able to bounceback after bag game the mental mental aspect.
H just learning learned that last yearand be able to build on that
this year is a huge part.You know with Mike Gon, do you
take it upon yourself to kind ofbe that voice in the room or to
take a step forward even further asuh? I mean it's not really.

(02:20:31):
I mean everybody's kind of grown inthe NFL, so it's just 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, tryingto dominate every rep and hopefully they follow
out of that yards after the touch. Is that you feel like that's the

(02:20:52):
strength of yours that maybe wasn't utilizeI don't know if utilizes the right word,
but you could show more in thatkind of Yeah, it's offense that
UH is built around that. Uhjust catching the ball in space, catching
the ball over the middle or evenon the outside, UH with with space
and separation, feel like it's builtaround having yards have to catch. So

(02:21:13):
I'm definitely proud to be in thesystem, like I said, and I'm
excited but is that is that amindset too, like being good at yards
after the catch, Like, ohyeah, I mean, of course.
I mean you don't want to gettackled by the first person. And my
mindset is trying to take every takeeverything to the house, you know,
every touch. So I definitely gotto do that more and definitely try to
work on that in practice. Keepa great dude man. Uh some some

(02:21:39):
that I definitely needed, some thathe relates to me. Uh, just
from backgrounds, and uh he's agreat coach, great leader, Uh,
motivational and uh. Like I said, I'm excited to have him around and
for him to push me is everythingthat I need. So something you're talking
about like mentally bouncing back, youknow from tough performances or whatever, Like

(02:22:01):
did you try to fund your resources? Gonna help you figure out how to
do that? Oh yeah, Imean it's older guys. Uh uh tell
me that's natural. Just have badgames, but uh, just having the
standard that I have for myself andthe expectations I have for myself gets hard
sometimes. So just be able tobe hard on yourself but at the same
time just let it go and justbounce back for the next game. Is

(02:22:24):
something that I learned last year.You're one of those guys that feels like
you should always have a certain levelof production. Are you okay with those
certain games where the defense is sofocused on you the other guys have big
games and where you're just running goodrouts and the Uh yeah, I'd definitely
be one dimensional in football. Youneed to be able to throw the ball
as much as run the ball.You know, It's funny. Some people

(02:22:46):
think I'm an area guy. Somepeople think I'm a wing tea guy.
Some people think I want to runthe ball every down. You know,
we're gonna We're gonna do what's bestfor all house state, and that's that's
kind of what our game plan isright now, right Austin wore a podcast.
When you think about your first evaluationsof the quarterbacks and going through these
fifteen practices at how do you wantto structure that? I know that you

(02:23:07):
and Ryan have probably talked about thata good amount. Like what's the right
way to set up a spring positionbattle? How many reps does everybody need?
What's sort of your plan just froma general perspective, I guess yeah,
you know, we're really detailed inwhat practice looks like and how that's
going to operate. But I alsothink you need to let the players go,
you know, So I don't thinkyou need to to put shackles on

(02:23:28):
them, so to speak, andjust keep them constrained. I think you
got to let them go and yougot to let them operate. And we
were rotating I think everybody on everytwo snaps today just and that was just
what we're going to do on dayone. You know. We'll reassess it
after we got through it. Geta chance to count up all the reps
of how many plays, how manyplays each guy got, and did they
get more in seven on than theydid in eleven on? You know,
and we'll go through that whole thingand that'll be a constant flow in terms

(02:23:48):
of how we're doing it. ButI think the best way people learn is
they learn by doing, you know. So they've been great in the meeting
rooms. They're sharp when you getthem on the board, they're really good
when they're watching film. But yougotta go out. You gotta play the
game. And so the more thatwe can put him in those situations to
play the game, the better we'llhave an opportunity to evaluate them, Uh,

(02:24:09):
ships thinking all of these things,Uh go back. So for with
Ryan Day, you mentioned since you'vedone him since she was a kid,
what were your first impressions back then, and that she could come full circle
to now, like how do youhow do you feel about that? It's
still the same way he you know, even since he was playing the little
league, he was the ultimate competitor, you know, and he was always

(02:24:31):
trying to find a way to win. He was great at a lot of
sports, Baseball, basketball, football. You know. I got an opportunity
to recruit him, you know,so I coached him when I was at
New Hampshire. I recruit him outof high school. We all and we
grew up really close to each other, so the same elementary school, same
high school, same junior high,same college. You know. So I've
known him since for for a reallylong time. But that competitive fire burns

(02:24:52):
deep with him. And that's theone thing that I've always admired with him.
And he's got an amazing athletic brainin terms of how to process and
how to how to put people inposition to make place. He's always been
that prototypical coach on the field,no matter what sport. He was playing,
so I knew he was destined tobe a coach, you know.
And I was fortunate in my careeras a head coach to have him on

(02:25:13):
my staff in a 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 and then as a coach. So the success he had is not
is not surprising to me. Thereis there where you see Ryan the successes
had. Yeah, I think weall do that. I think we come
from a unique place in a reallysmall hometown in New Hampshire where we all
take a lot of pride to wherewe're from and and when anybody's successful coming

(02:25:37):
out of there, then you kindof take a little pride that that's it's
the upbringing that we all had,you know, in the UTH sports program
that we grew up in in inevery aspect, whether it was football,
baseball, basketball, those coaches wehad an amazing impact on us and that's
why we are where we are rightnow. Bill Rabinwick, Ryan said he
doesn't think of it as you workingunder him, as working with him.

(02:26:00):
The fact is he's the head coach. He makes me call him sir,
though he just said can you dothat? Day one? And I was
like, all right, right now. But I mean, he ultimately is
the decision maker. You've been ahead coach. How do you think that's
going to work. Do you thinkthere'll be any as close as you are,

(02:26:20):
any kind of awkward moments the rightterm, But when he's the ultimate
decider and you are working for him, Yeah, I certainly understand my role.
I'm not Alhaic, like I'm notI'm not in charge here. Yeah,
some people get that reference. Otherpeople don't get that reference. But
I'd certainly understand that, and Iactually kind of relish it because I really

(02:26:43):
love the scheming part. I lovethe individual part. I love being in
the meeting room of the quarterbacks andtrying to game plan. But everything we
do here is collaborative. You know. The one thing that that really struck
me when I walked in this placeis there's an amazing coaching staff here,
you know, and if you geta chance to talk to Larry Johnson just
about football, or him Walton orJim Knowles or Brian Hartline or any of

(02:27:03):
these guys that are on the staffhere, it's it's a very collaborative effort.
I think everybody's on the same page. You know, it's not our
offense and their defense, and it'sit's Ohio State. You know, it's
it's Ohio State versus the twelve opponentsthat we're gonna play during the regular season
and then beyond. So it's it'sreally collaborative. And that's the thing I
like, just in the short timethat I've been here, is how collaborative

(02:27:24):
everybody's been. You know, we'reall trying to make each other better and
we're all trying to develop this team. Touched on this when you said,
you know, you know you liketo do what you want to do and
not My sense is you, inyour perfect world, you'd like to scribble
plays on a nat can and notdeal with boosters, do deal with all
the stuff that coaches, head coacheshave to deal with. Now, how

(02:27:45):
much of a factor was that inthis decision? You can just do football?
No, that's not it. Imean, I enjoy I mean we've
had some amazing I've had an opportunityand everywhere I've been to meet some amazing
people that are associated with the program. And there's people that from my time
New Hampshire or my time at Oregon. I was just with Phil Knight two
weeks ago, you know, andgot an opportunity to spend some time with
him and his wife, Penny,who are dear friends of mine that have

(02:28:07):
been great mentors to me in mycareer. And there's a bunch of people
that and UCLA, Terry Donnahue AndreaDonna who were awesome to me. Angela
Mazzoni is a great friend, CaseyWassman, Troy Ayikman. There was a
bunch of people at UCLA that Ireally enjoyed, you know, being around
and talking with. So I thinksometimes everybody wants to make a narrative of
it's either this or that. It'sit's never that. It's never just all

(02:28:28):
ball, it's never just all recruiting, it's never just all boosters. It's
a mixture of everything. But Ithink the one thing that as this position
as a head coach kept moving onis that if you look at a lot
of them, they all become moreCEOs. You know. I can't tell
you how many coaches that have calledme since I made this decision that said
I'm two years behind you, brother, you know, that are thinking the

(02:28:48):
same exact way and I think it'sall part of what we have to do.
I think we all need to protectthis 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 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 are makingdecisions on this, and I think Jeane

(02:29:11):
Smith is one of the best influencesin in the NCAAA, is to make
sure we keep that the main thing, the main thing it needs to be.
The student athletes com you know,you're coming in at a time where
you've been through some places where theexpectations are high. I understand you're also
coming into a juncture where, youknow, the three losses to Michigan and

(02:29:31):
the not making the playoff last year, the urgency is pretty high here.
I guess just sort of what perspectivedo you have on kind of the stakes
that there are for Ryan this yearand the decision that then he makes to
bring you in to kind of helpsolve that. Yeah, I think the
expectations can be no harder than theyare in your own brain, you know.
And I think if you try toworry about what other people are thinking

(02:29:54):
in their brains, you're gonna getscrewed up a little bit. So,
you know, I talked earlier theone thing about Ryan that I know about
and has always been he's the ultimatecompetitor. So he's got There's nowhere that
has higher expectations of Ohio State thanRyan does, nor the rest of us
that joined him in our part ofthis 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 to

(02:30:16):
do is just as there's a bigsign as you walk into this place,
it says when the moment, youknow, I think that's a real thing
that we have to do as coaches, is to make sure that our players
aren't worried about what's going on inthe 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've seenhere, and I've only been here for
three weeks, but there's a consistencyto the players approach when they walk in

(02:30:37):
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

(02:31:00):
to someone before, what does itmean to you? I guess he technically
did it to Bill when he washere for a couple of weeks, But
what does that mean to you tokind of be getting that responsibility from him
and he's calling essentially the offense thatyou gave him. I guess in some
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

(02:31:24):
The great part is an assistant coach, you can 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 seehow that operates. But everywhere I've been
it's been a collaborative effort, andall of a sudden, someone that's calling
the plays isn't isn't like pulls oneout of left field that you hadn't practiced

(02:31:45):
and hadn't been part of your offenseand said, hey, let's do this.
You know, we're not running theannexation of Puerto Rico. You know,
we're not coming up with something special, you know in the middle of
the fourth quarter that we haven't done. But I think it's the key to
really being successful on offense is howyou game plan, how you put it
all together, and then how youpractice and train for that so that you
get a chance to execute it.Because the player's confidence comes become comes from

(02:32:07):
their demonstrated ability that they've done thisso many times in practice that when they
get out on the field that thisis like that to them, you know,
and it's not that they do itso they do it right. It's
they practice it so much so thatthey can't do it wrong. So,
you know, I think it's thatwhole part of it that is really the
key to being a really good gameplanning team. Doug Lane Maithe, King
of North Chip. When you hadthat feeling when you were coaching the quarterbacks

(02:32:31):
during Bold Operation, did you considerat that point maybe resigning as the head
coach and thinking like this is thisis not where I am anymore. I'll
leave and then I'll look to seewhat else is out there. No.
I never thought about quitting anything.So, you know, I just is
there an opportunity that I think Ican that fit, you know, And
I think that's the you know,it's no different than when you're talking to

(02:32:54):
a recruit about them make a decisionon where they're going to go to school.
I think that where they should goto school is where the best fit
is for them. So, youknow, I just entertained some opportunities and
I always felt I felt like thiswas 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. Imean, that's how I think I think
about things is I can't picture that. I know someone I was on the

(02:33:16):
Nike trip and they like, howmuch longer are you gonna go? When
I said I could 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
UCLA, is there anything that youwish you had done differently, or anything

(02:33:39):
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 him. You know, that was always important
to me that I wanted to makesure I talk to my players and explain
the reasons of what I was doing. I wasn't leaving to take a head

(02:34:01):
coaching job somewhere else. I wasn'tthinking that the grass is greener at another
university. Was just in my personalsituation, this is what I wanted to
do. I wanted to take anopportunity to go be a position coach and
coordinator, and that's how it fit. You know. What I was happy
is that I always thought to SeanFoster, I think the world of them,
and I think he's a special youknow. And the fact that that
they were they gave him the opportunityto take over there was you know,

(02:34:26):
it worked out. I didn't haveany say in that decision, you know,
I was gone, But I alwaysthought that that Shaun would be a
great head coach and I'm really proudof him and happy that that he got
the opportunity to take that job.Right behind him, you have your reputation
as innovator. Was part of theappeal of this is that you get to
get in the weeds a little bit. Uh maybe not mad scientists, maybe

(02:34:48):
too too strong of a work couldyou're working within the system. But was
there an appeal of I get toget my hands dirty here again and innovate
and get back to that side ofthings. It was, but it was
really more important of who I getto work with, you know, and
so knowing you know, I've gotI know a lot of guys on the
staff besides Ryan also, so youknow, when I know what their mindset

(02:35:11):
is and what their values are andhow they do things, and so I
want to be a part of that. But but there's a part of that.
Yeah, how much of a teacheryou get labeled with the innovators.
The teachings are part of this.How much is it is how a teacher
are and how patient are you?Yeah, I think we're all teachers.
I mean, education is the transportationof knowledge, you know, So it
really doesn't matter what the coach knows. It matters what the players understand,

(02:35:33):
you know. So you have tobe able to make sure that while you're
implementing things is what resonates with themand how does that come back to them.
So, you know, a lotof our teaching styles that we've learned
is more of the Socratic method ofthere's a lot of questions, you know,
and a lot of check for understandingsjust to kind of find out where
the players are coming from, becauseit's what they know that that's ultimately going

(02:35:54):
to win games, not what weknow. You know that we're not playing
the games. We're not stepping acrossthose white lines, you know, and
you're job as a coach is tocreate an environment where they have an opportunity
to be successful and then get outof their way and let them go do
it. So I think the teachingaspect is huge, and we continue to
research, you know, some ofthe latest trends in teaching to make sure
that we are transporting that knowledge toour players. The second roll left Steve

(02:36:16):
Helwagan, twenty four seven Sports.Yeah, coach, just curious, you
got five scholarship quarterbacks with differing levelsof experience from age and everything else.
Not to annoyed him, but justwant to ask specifically about Will Howard coming
in after starting part of two yearsat Kidsas State. He just seems to

(02:36:37):
promote this idea that he's a footballplayer, you know above all else.
Just how impressed are you with hismakeup, his experience, what he's bringing
to the table walking in here rightnow? Yeah? Really impressed. You
know that you don't have to talkto Will for more than five minutes to
kind of know where he's coming from. He's really focused, you know,
he knows he's got a short windowin his college career, and it really

(02:37:01):
wants to capitalize on what that is. There's a maturity to Will, you
know. I I I really I'vehad experience, my experience in in this
thing since the transfer portal opened incollege football is is some of the best
players I've had 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 gotnine months, you know. So there's

(02:37:24):
a sense of urgency I think whenyou're dealing with with transfers, and I
think Will has exuded that since he'sbeen here. But the other thing that
I just in the short time thatWill has been here is how quickly he's
fit in with the entire team,you know, and how much the the
rest of the players respect him.You know. He was uh one of
the gold Award winners for his workin the weight room in this offseason,
So that says a lot for himcoming in here as a in a short

(02:37:46):
time, being able to to wina weight room award, you know,
to start off, you guys hopeto have the number one internally externally at
the end of spring or I guessjust let it play out. I think
it always every time I've been inthan these. I think when they're organic
is when it's the best that.I don't think you can anoint somebody or
force the issue because the players know, the players would understand. They see

(02:38:07):
it every single day, you know, and there's a team chemistry part of
this thing too, So we're notgonna force the issue. But I've always
seen it play itself out. SoI've been fortunate that there's always gonna be
some quarterback battles that at some pointin time at every school there's a quarterback
battle, you know, and thenand really you gotta let them play it
out on the field, and that'swhere it has to That's that's where it
has to be decided. Hey,welcome than you. We're excited to have

(02:38:35):
you here. Thank you. I'mkind of to talk about the innovative part.
Ryan said that that's something that he'salways loved, but working with you
and now he wants you to bringthat here and how to fit with Ohio
State. Do you have any ideawhat that's gonna look like yet or is
it just way too early. Ihave no idea, you know. I
I think part of it is isyou're trying to put the players in position
to make plays. So a lotof that comes from getting to understand the

(02:38:58):
players and what their skill sets areand how we feature what their skill sets
are, you know, and andthe one thing after day one, I
can tell you that there's a lotof skill set out there, you know.
So that's that's what gets you excited, you know, That's what That's
what you jump out of bed inthe morning and you're excited to go to
work because of the talent that youget to work with. But the one
thing that's the most impressive is thework ethic that goes along with that talent.

(02:39:20):
You know, it's not just emptytalent. It's you got some kids
who want to I mean all ofthem since I've been here, want to
work. So that 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 vitallyimportant. And then our job is to
put those guys in positions to makeplace lots of pressure. I mean,

(02:39:41):
you've experienced what it's like to coachnational championship caliber teams this program right now
and moving into a situation where yougot to win quick and now. So
does that feel like pressure here foryou or is it a little bit of
excitement or both? Well, I'vealways subscribed to as pressure is what you
feel when you don't know what you'redoing. So if you don't want to
feel personal, then you should knowwhat you're doing. So, you know,

(02:40:03):
I think it's it's part of that, and I think part of our
job with our players in terms ofthe education process is getting them to understand
that too. Is that you know, it's it's about your preparation, It's
about you and your development. It'snot about that you can't be governed by
what other people say. It's it'swhat's my mindset and how am I intrinsically
motivated? And then how do Ireally compete against myself on a daily basis
to get a little bit better.You know, we got a little bit

(02:40:24):
better today because we get out onthe field today and got a chance to
do some football. And then thechallenges when we get back on the field
on Thursday, can we be alittle bit better than we were on Tuesday.
And if we're doing that, thenwe keep stacking good days on top
of good days, and I thinkwe'll be in good spot and welcome.
Thank you. I'm gonna ask aboutthe pros and cons of coaching from the
box and coaching from the field.It's interesting talk to some of some coordinators.

(02:40:46):
Tom Herman talking about he swore hewanted to coach from the box,
saw the game so much better,sterile environment, not all the chaos on
the field. Some coaches you talkto the like, I want to be
on the field so I can lookat my guys in that in the eye.
Where are you as a as acoordinator? Honestly, And I've thought
of this a lot. I thoughtof it a lot during COVID because we
had the empty stands, you know, so I had thought about just walking

(02:41:07):
up into the stands for a littlebit because I had a better vantage.
I've always believed you can see thegame better from up above, but I
believe you can feel the game betterfrom the field. So if there was
any way we could get a zipwire where you could do both, you
know, coach called from there andthen 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 of seewhere they are with it. And part

(02:41:30):
of it is the field part ofit. I remember when I coached Ryan
once. We were playing Yukon andhe got hit hard going out of bounds
and he just walked by me,and I was a play caller, and
he was like, run the nextplay, and I just kind of looked
at him. I saw the lookin his eyes because I don't think he
could have thrown it, you know, he was still trying to get his
win back. But you wouldn't knowthat if you're up in the booth,
you know, and you call apass play from up in the booth and
you're like, how come we can'tcomplete that? Well, he just took

(02:41:52):
a shot going out of bound.So it's that fine line and I don't
have an answer, you know.I think. I think it's feel on
the ground and it's see from upabove. Maybe in this day a technology,
they'll figure it out, but we'llsee how that that that operates.
And whatever Ryan feels is the bestfor the team is what we're gonna do
so your teams at the Oregon wereobviously Now we're playing at this pass pace

(02:42:18):
and running a bunch of plays perminute and yep, maybe not act by
as fast, so pretty fast.What role do you see tempo and having
an offense and in the state yeain 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.

(02:42:41):
And when I came back in twentyseventeen, everybody had shiny helmets and
everybody was playing fast. So Ithink the game is always going to go
up and down, and there's gonnabe 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

(02:43:03):
you'll use it, but you're you'renot going to use it extensively the entire
game, just like you're not goingto throw the ball every single snap in
the game. You're not gonna runthe ball every single snap in the game.
You know, there there's there's nota game of absolutes anymore. I
think the ability to be diverse andand have it as a tool in your
two box, so to speak,uh is really how we would look at

(02:43:24):
using it here because there now workfamiliar with it. Then I think so,
you know, I think when youfirst started going Temple, there were
people in the NCAA. They wantto outlaw it. They want to make
an NCAA role that you had.You couldn't do it, you know,
and I'll I'll give coach Shaping credit. I mean, I think obviously Nick
was the first one to do it. He wanted it outlaud and then all
of a sudden he adapted it andsaid, all right, we like this,
you know, so we'll keep itin. But it's I think people

(02:43:46):
have it doesn't matter what you do. There's there's cycles to this game,
and then once people catch on tothat cycle, then it moves. You
know, It's no different than forthree defenses and three four defenses. You
know, what is the rage?When the when the Giants on the Super
Bowl. They were there were threefour defense and everybody, everybody says we
have to do that. What peopledidn't understand is they had Carl Banks and

(02:44:07):
Lawrence Taylor. It didn't matter whatdefense they were running. I know,
Gym's back there and Jim played againstthe you know it was. They could
have been a four down defense andthose guys would have been great players.
But it's not the scheme. Ithink that the coaches that do it the
best way is they insert their playersand put them in the best position to
make plays. And now, nowwill Temple be part of it, It'll
be part of it, but it'scertainly not going to be the main course.

(02:44:28):
Last question, Oh, thank youvery much, Jerry. Uh.
Number one, there was a greatmoment there when y'all were warming up,
when you were you were talking withTim Walton and Caleb Downs comes up and
conversing and as you're in this kindof a two part question, but number
one, what was just your takeon the talent you saw on that field
today on both sides of the ball. Where where would you rank it?

(02:44:50):
Yeah, I'll rank it. I'llbe very transparent. As I was telling
Tim and Caleb. What a greatoffensive player. I thought Caleb would be,
could be and should be. ButI'm not the head coach, so
I always turned stretch as a asan offensive coordinator, I'm always looking at
the defensive players, like I coulduse him. Oh what could I do

(02:45:13):
if I had him? What couldI do if I have him? But
I don't. I don't get tochoose him anymore because I'm I'm not.
I don't have the pick. ButI was just talking to him about it.
He's He's a great young man.And if you watch, if you
want to watch a highlight tape watches, 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, youknow, top five player in my position.

(02:45:37):
And you know, I played arun in the past and I bring
leadership and that's not anything I discover. Can you plan to be here for
Mini camp ram the start of trainingcamp? Yeah? How difficult has it
been the last two weeks to notbe here? I mean you said in
your podcast the first time you nevernot been in Ota. Yeah, it
was difficult, but like you know, the thing I got very frustrated with

(02:46:01):
was just and people questioned my communicationwith the team. You know, I
uh was communicating with guys left andright, and you know, front office,
coaches, teammates, and all Icare about is how I am with
my teammates. I don't want themto ever think I don't care about them
or how I'm not in it.And you know, you can say whatever

(02:46:22):
you want about me, but besidesthat, but I'll always dedicate anything I
can't do them, and I don'twant that to every question. And they
just said that it felt like sometimesyou were holed up somewhere watching film,
you text your you missed this,or you want to be well. Like
the first day, he was battingall up Russ's passes, so I had
to let him know. You know, uh, you gotta take advantage of

(02:46:45):
that. You gotta make sure guysare you know, uh know that you
you still care and you still wantto be a part of this. You
know, just watching practice, there'sa couple of things we're doing different,
whether I'm communicating with Gunbar or otheryou know, yeah, so you're that
you're also talking with him, andyou you give him a points during the

(02:47:05):
off season, just a constant communication. How do you see new gro as
a person, you know, asfar as how he's approaching things, how
he's getting ready for this season fromhis rookie year. Uh. You know,
I think the thing with Keanu ishe's more comfortable, you know.
You know, it's not his firsttime around the track. You know,
it's actually like he can you know, uh, catch his feet under him.
You know. I always think whenyou're in your rookie season, you're

(02:47:28):
going from bowl game. I don'teven know Wisconsin playing a bowl game.
Sorry Wisconsin, I don't even know. But you know, personally, I
just think when you go from bowlgame to training for the combine to you
know, rookie minicamps. OTA's theyou know mini camp, I mean the
training camp the regular season, youreally don't get a time to really catch
yourself. You know, he understandsthe playbook now, he can be more

(02:47:52):
vocal, you know. And Ithink when my absence the other guy's absence,
you know, you need guys likethat to step up and be ready
for those opportunities you had. Thesaying you had during the season was a
more thorough What was just tightened downeverything, you know, on my left
side because I was overcompensating a littlebit. But you know it was it

(02:48:15):
wasn't anything that lingers. You know, I'll say this, A growing is
not like an a cl It's notlike anything's that we gonna ge 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

(02:48:35):
able to feel acomplish as off easilyturned to bring guys like Russian and things.
You know, I think they're allgood acquisitions. But you know,
you never want to be known asa paper champion, so you can't win
the off season. I think thework gets done out here on the field,
gets done in the classroom, Wow, it gets done training, uh,
you know, and then you seewhere you're at in training camp,

(02:48:56):
and then you build on that.You know, think we got the right
guys in the building. It's justabout putting a complete team on the field.
Cam how center call is it toseparate the business part of the game
in the actual football player. Uh, you know, you always wanna you
always have to treat it like abusiness because you know one day it's gonna

(02:49:20):
end. Uh, And that's anyjob. Uh, It's not like in
college where you know you got fouryears guaranteed. I don't know, well
now you don't even know what anil all. It's crap and the transfer
portal portal. But you know,you have to I still have love for
this game, and I still workmy tail off and I still put everything

(02:49:41):
into it, and that's not gonnachange. But you have to know what
you bring to the team and whatyour what your value is. Camon,
did it feel to be out therewith your teammates today? Emotionally great?
You know, we got a newuh, we got a new training staff
and still learning the the warm updifferent. But uh, you know I

(02:50:01):
loved it, Uh, you know, just getting after it, learning new
guys, going through the same drillsI've been doing 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 rep already. And soyou know, it's nice to be up

(02:50:22):
here and get a chance to youknow, be with my guys. Cam
were you confident and people will getdone with your emotions. Oh, I'm
gonna we'll try to remain pretty neutralbecause you know, I don't wanna be
too either way. All I knowis I want to be here, but

(02:50:43):
we'll see what happens. This ismy last year here. I I've had
a great career here, but I'lllook forward to play next year. Can
you with that second surgery you saidit this time was on the left side.
It was the first time around onthe right side, right side during
the season, left side, andthat was just tightening down my corner.
My corma saw. It wasn't thesame as my ad doctor. You know,

(02:51:07):
you can ask doctor Bradley, Uh, doctor doctor Zuckerbron who uh did
the surgery as well. You know, I if anything's gonna help me and
it'll make me a lot stronger forhearing up. Can you say you were
training with another guy? Who haveyou have kind of been Tyson? Oh?
Uh, I've been training with himfor the last eight years. We've
always trained together. We got atrainer up north, uh shadowt Cole Haley.

(02:51:31):
He's my guy, traded trained traineduh Heath Miller, Brett Hezel.
The multitude of guys that I allrespect and we've just been getting after it.
Cans very few guys historically thirty fivethat you paid big contract that you
think that's held against you. Ithink there's not a lot of history behind
it. But you know, forme, I I look at as I'm

(02:51:54):
not looking to be like anybody else. You know, my game is different
from everybody else in this leagu youknow, I like to think, you
know, I can play the runin the past, and then that's where
I'm different. You know, Iremember last year Mike t just brought to
my attention. You know, thething that's really cool is you watch Powerlifters,
and you know, my game's builton powering technique and those guys go

(02:52:18):
into the forties and so you know, that's what kind of research I'm doing
behind the scenes. But you know, I I We'll see what happens.
I it's there's not a lot ofhistory, but I'm here to make history
and I'm here to you know,winn another super Bow year and you know,
have a great season. Do youhave a set goal over yourself on

(02:52:39):
how many years you wanna play inthe NFL? Or do you just take
things year by the year, Youknow, it. It was. It
was tough answering that question right afterthe season. I will say this,
guys, I I can't keep answeringthat question right after the season. That
is not fair to the season,That's not fair to my family. Uh
you know. But in my mind, I got three years and I wanna

(02:53:00):
maximize'em. I wanna play ata high level, and I wanna go
deep in the playoffs. And youknow, we got a good team,
and I'm gonna do my part tobe ready for all those situations here.
If you plan on Praca, seewhen you report to with trop or is
your possibility that you might pulled inand any force new issuations. I I
have not even thought that far.I've taken a day by day. Uh

(02:53:20):
you know. Uh uh. Itold my agent and we talked about it.
I mean, we were cool comingout here. You know, I'll
be here for many you know,and then I'll be there for training gand
you know, I don't know whatthe work entails, but ky, when
we get there, we'll we'll crossthat bridge. Why is it a dog
for you or remain a stealer forthose three years? You know? There

(02:53:46):
was a conversation between me Omar andMike t And there's certain guys that are
one helmet guys, you know,and I wanna be one of those one
helmet guys. And you know,there's there's a hunger and desire there.
But that doesn't mean just hanging itup and calling a career. To me,
I think, uh, you know, I got more bullets to fire,

(02:54:11):
and uh, you know, I'mexcited to do that. What's the
meaning last one? And what didyour impression of him? What does he
do well that you're like, Okay, yeah, this is this the program
I want to tack on. Hecoaches you born, you get those corner,
Yeah, you can get it rightafter the visit. I mean when
you came down here, was therea thought process that you could commit.
Did you come down with an openmind or did you kind of have a
feeling that this was gonna be theweekend of your name. I came down

(02:54:31):
with open mine. I didn't knowabout them mad and real now and then
I got here. I felt thefamily having her with the players and coaching.
What was that moment like for youtalking to coaches telling me to comare
telling your family? Just what wasthat like for you? But it was
great, Uh, I have mymom, my dad, all my brother's
in the room there you what wasthat reaction? Well, my everybody already

(02:54:54):
really except from the from then withtime. So what was coach last night?
He was t when you think oflike just to comment or the yeah,
just an Ohio state back. Youknow, whether it's physicality, like
what are the first things that cometo mind when you think of they don't
high share or any now sweet ofpower us on and tiny about it?
Yeah, there is that something thatI mean you feel like you have to

(02:55:16):
you know we're going to or isthat something that you're like, Yeah,
that's the kind of back I am. I'm just gonna be next to mine
in their lives. I think that'sthe cow back I am. But you
call the group get well, whatare kind of a few of those things
that you're like, yeah, Ineed to work on like over the course
of the next few months or justeverything. Make sure I keep all the
details. Last Superio, what acoach I tell you that he likes about
your game? Is it art?Betwere of the tackles you speed? Well?

(02:55:39):
What is he like? Right?He said? He like marrow fucking
backfield? Damn? He like that. I don't know what's kind of your
main I mean, obviously as anin state kid committed to this class.
What's your pitch now to other recruitsand be like, this is why you
should join Ohio States twenty twenty class. It's a real family. I'mosphere.
Yeah, everybody get them all,everybody tucked into, everybody know each other.

(02:56:00):
What'd you say once you gave inbringing Well, I've always looked up
to Bill Jackson watching this film.You, Uh, that's funny. Do
you think that your boy style canhere his for mis perspective in just the

(02:56:20):
way that he really is totally atfield? Yeah? I think that you
want to grow into me. Ithink I can. I think be the
card. Yeah, I think Ifeel Who are the main guys that you're
you're talking to right now to jointhe stat I'm really talking to everybody,
uh, to the listening room andthat auto commits. Any guys that you

(02:56:41):
want to join the class? Anybodyat the top of your listeners not I'm
sorry if you've already asked this,but coming up here as a as a
recruit, as a commitment s here, what what did you want to show
today? What did you want toget out of this experience. It wasn't
nothing to show, nothing to prove. I just wanted to do some working
love. How did you feel likethat way? Obviously he's still relatively new

(02:57:01):
here, but he seems to bringup a little bit of a different energy
than than some of these camps inthe past. I feel like the one
good. Yeah. Do you sensethat energy? I mean when you're out
with him, it's I feel intenseenergy. He's different than other guys though,
right, I mean kind of howyou would you explain his coaching than
some of the other running back coachyou've made have worked with him the path,
It's just intense sense, like gogo go. Did you talk to

(02:57:24):
talk one when he was at Organ? I did? Okay? So when
when didn't he didn't Organ? Andgetting market like Rufford around like after the
season, like not so far afterokay? So I mean is it was
he kind of the same guy thathe is now, so just just in
a new uniform basically. Yeah.Then you guys obviously added Isaiah to the

(02:57:46):
class, and there's no secret theywould like to add another one. What
are your thoughts on being in aclass with three different running backs like that?
I have no problem being in theclas Thad. Another things, what
do you like about Isaiah? Idon't know, you don't him because you
just damn that the person when youcommitted. Who were some of the guys
that we started from the particularly afterthe consent. I'm not really a couple

(02:58:11):
of linebackers taking on these pubs.You want to blacks appreciate this. I
mean, obviously we got a couplehere before you did, hear it.
I'm curious about how you put sohigher state. How do you mean it's

(02:58:33):
pretty you started pretty good, ButI mean in terms of the guys,
don't you want to join? Howdo you pick? You're sure? Great?
Right? What do you want outof a twelve back in your class?

(02:58:56):
Like what I want? Yeah?This is ways? What's your Rochester?

(02:59:37):
Thank you girls, visit tots verymuch, kind of toes. Thank
you very per se did Thank youonce again, your miss Mary. You
talk to Moss and tell you aboutthat what you do not imm on my

(03:00:00):
meadow though. We just find itreally good. Yeah, what do you
think we can ring into the top? Maybe you know we were Yeah,
so like you, A lots ofsable is a lot of analysis what's been
like for you just moving up toCalifornia, being out of the count of
Dent it's a little obviously like condlove help me adjust? Yeahs like different

(03:00:28):
being an out of state recruit hereversus when you were just a couple.
Yeah, it's definitely different. Sojust flying here. Question here a new
generation of recruits where I don't thinkanybody outside looking in the room. The
question is the strength of your commitment. Like you're locked into a lit of
state and you send it over andover, but you're making visits around the
country, You've seen other schools.It's it's almost a totally different mindset.

(03:00:52):
In nineteen that was like the firstyear we were making a transition, and
then you know, COVID hit,and then you know, every year it
just seems like there's something else.And I could come to the conclusion that
every year is going to be differentand we have to adapt. But there's
certain things that we're not going tochange. There's certain values we're not going
to change. It just you know, you know, principles that have you
know, stood the test of time. And I shared this with a group

(03:01:16):
before when I started doing some research. As we were doing some some of
our recruiting you know, introductions andsome of our you know, talks about
you know, the traditions of OhioState. We talked about how Ohio Stadium
was built, you know, andwhen you when you when you do your
research on that one hundred years ago, you know, folks had the idea

(03:01:37):
of building a stadium over sixty thousandpeople, and that's because of what Chick
Carley was doing. And you know, they had a wooden bleachers over here
and all these people started coming inand the idea of bringing in a stadium
that of our sixty thousand people atthe time was like, this is crazy.
What is college football turning into?And they instead of going to the
state or going to the school thecommunity, they went to the community to
raise the money they raised over atthe time over a million dollars. Well

(03:02:01):
night, Fast forward one hundred yearsand the conversation still might be like what
is college football doing right? Andin this situation then I l we had
to turn to the community for help, and Bucky Nation showed up again in
a big way. So although thelandscape is changing, I don't know if
you know, one hundred years later, if it's that much different it's just
in a different time, in adifferent you know, set of issues that

(03:02:24):
we're working through. But I thinkit's exciting. I think there's a lot
of positives to it. I do. I think that we're taking the next
step with the revenue sharing to tryto institutionalize some of it, which would
be big for US REI minutes.Yeah. Every years question, it seems
like this year's team has your questionsoff the line, specifically, if you

(03:02:52):
look ahead to rely more than amonth, what are the real questions that
you have in your mind? Uhposition, I would say on offense,
you know, we've got to squareaway the quarterback as you know, I
feel like, you know, theoffensive line on the right side, we

(03:03:13):
got to solidify that. I feellike we got to build, you know,
enough depth at receiver that we feellike we can put in five or
six in the game and feel goodabout it. On defense, I think
we're still looking to figure out,you know, who are going to be
the guys inside, you know,the third, the fourth, the fifth
defensive interier, a linement that we'regoing to put in the game. And

(03:03:37):
then same thing just just I wouldsay depth, a little bit of safety
just to kind of see who thosenext guys are. They're going to step
up, and so we know it'sgoing to be a long year. We're
going to need everybody, and andso in a lot of those areas,
it's depth special teams wise. Youknow, Punter is going to be you
know that that is significant. Youknow, we just brought in Nick and

(03:03:58):
you know, so there'll be abattle there. So I'd say those are
probably the areas we're focused on themost. Right just to fall from the
offensive line, there was I thinka school aplogy you guys might be looked
for a transfer in that post springwindow. Did you guys do that?
Did you guys not find the guyor were you just confident the guys you
had, Just like you know inJanuary, if if we're going to bring

(03:04:22):
somebody in, it is to filla hole. We're not just going to
bring somebody in to bring somebody in. Like at all positions, we'll always
look to see what's out there.We did evaluate some of the guys that
were out there, and you know, you know, we felt like coming
out of it as we evaluated it, you know, there was a couple
of guys that you know we checkedon. But but ultimately, like based

(03:04:43):
on where we were and some ofthe young guys that are coming up,
you know, we felt like wesaw some progress in the offensive line in
the spring, so you know,it wasn't there wasn't as many folks in
the portal, you know, inafter the spring. So we looked at
it, we identified it, wedid our due diligence, but you know
we're gonna go with through. Wehave now second round, Bill manas right,
you're Becker. It was interesting thatyou have two of maybe the top

(03:05:07):
five ors of guys in Sport andthen a bunch of guys who haven't plenty
uh maybe similar that I don't wantquestion, but did you consider trying to
add there? Understanding that probably thetyfficult to sell we can have such talent
on the top of the brink,somebody had these experiences, like what were
those conversations like, and how didyou sett along being comfortable with you know,
Trey and and well, like yousaid, you know, I think

(03:05:28):
we're we will get some experience therewith those two guys, and then you
know, we felt like coming outof the spring that James and Sam both
did a nice job, and youknow, we're gonna have to play them,
and they're gonna have to you know, take on a little bit of
that. You know, we haveyou know, started having conversations with Caleb
Bowns. I was part of therecruiting process of possibly you know, doing

(03:05:50):
a little bit of running back aswell. It's something that he wanted to
do. So we've been having himin some of the meetings and some of
the individual drills as a possibility thereif you know, needed so down the
road to continue to build depth atthat position. But you know, I
think, you know, we feellike, you know, if you have
you know, four strong running backsgoing into it, then you know that's

(03:06:11):
gonna be that's gonna be enough tocarry the season. I do think that
the quarterbacks will run the ball morethis season, so that should take some
carries away from them. But toyour point, you know, James and
Sam are gonna have to step upto the guys that we can count on.
Save that for another day, Yeah, just fall up on it.
Is he capable of stepping in andbeing running back? Obviously, we'll see,

(03:06:39):
we'll see. We talked about inthe recruiting process, you know,
the first time around, and morespecifically in the second time around, and
so he's you know, he's beenaround a little bit just to get a
feel for it. We did verylittle in the spring. We did I
think we pitched them an option orsomething like that in the spring just to
kind of get them going. Butyeah, we'll see, we'll see what

(03:07:00):
that goes. We don't have aspecific plan right now, but we do
want to introduce him to that justthe same thing like Lorenzo Styles has played
your seer or he did that NotreDame. You know, he's out there
a little bit, just kind oflearning. It's healthy. You know,
you're seeing it from the other sideof the ball. This time of the
year, you can get away withthat a little bit, a little bit
in the preseason. Where it goes, we'll see, but you just never

(03:07:20):
know. And we're trying to putsome contingency plans in place because it could
be a long season. Yeah,this is my forty first year cover of
House to Day. I don't rememberever expectations like this. In the summer,
there were something were almost as big, sure do you send that too?
And what is that pressure like asyou're working through a summer? Yeah,
and people ask me that I goback to the expectations every year are

(03:07:41):
the same. I mean, it'sjust the truth. When opening press conference
they said you got to beat theteam up North and whenevery 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 got right now. And

(03:08:01):
you know, we know it's goingto be a long season. We know
we're working towards. But I willsay this about this team, Well,
well we've been talented. That's there'sbeen times in the past we've been talented.
I don't know since I've been here, if we've been this talented and
this experience together with guys that haveplayed a lot of football, fourth and
fifth year guys, and that doesn'tmatter. We'll go extor, Stephen,

(03:08:22):
since you brought it up, maybethis is just talks because it's summer Conmas,
so you can now just have aconversations. Maybe we're making a big
deal out of nothing long term situations, but We've seen it around college football
league guys playing both sides of theball and doing it quite well. Right
Travis Huner is doing it out inColorado and Kaylen Dallas has been apartment turns,
so we see what he could dowith the ball. But there's also

(03:08:43):
the stamina aspect of that just gettinginto the sixteen game season. So I'm
not saying it's many forty snaps orsomething like that, but what about his
athleticism what he brings to the tableand let you know that if you wanted
to explore it a real game,he could last and still be an effective
See. Yeah, yeah, we'dhave to see all that. He did
it in high school. But wegot some really good running backs in a
room. So it's not something thatwe're planning on doing, but uh we

(03:09:07):
are. We are going to,you know, work on it a little
bit. Caleb. Caleb enjoys thatpart of it. We did agree that
that was something that we were goingto 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. Hehas the athleticism and do it, and
you know, we'll kind of seewhere it goes see see how he does,
and you know, maybe hand theball Tom a little bit of the
preseason, because again, it's goingto be a long season. We have

(03:09:30):
to make sure we have continuency plansin place. But I know it's something
that he enjoys having the ball inhis hand. So even during their first
time around the recruiting process, weeven talked about him coming in as a
as an offensive player. Ultimately wethink his ceiling is highest on defense.
But you know, but I alsoagree. I think that having you know,
guys going in this side of theball and just see it, listen

(03:09:52):
to meetings is really healthy for thedevelopment. So we're going to do that
regardless. Defensive recruiting right now ismaybe further long, and it's been in
the years past, and I thinkwe passed differous 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 tellingyou guys, hey, this what might
look like this, they're seeing itin real time. Yeah, you know,

(03:10:13):
we talked about it when Jim firstcame in, and I think Tim
Walls an unbelievable job as well inthe back end 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 is this, look at this is this is what
we're doing. And then I thinkyou're seeing a lot of guys just excited
about playing in this defense and theysee the capabilities and the flexibility too.

(03:10:37):
You know, right now the waywe play, excuse me, the way
we play right now is based onyou know, we have four really talented
defensive linemen that are really good,and we got a lot of depth to
those positions. But there's also flexibilitywith some of the things Gym's done in
the past that you know, we'redefinitely looking at and some of the recruits
that we're looking at who brings someversatility, pass rusher, you know,
we have that jack position and thosetype of things. So that's exact as

(03:11:00):
well. And I think you're seeinga lot of the recruits, you know,
really get fired up when they gethere. People. Yeah, coach,
first couple years, your identity waswas very very from an AWFU standpoint
and air it out type team.I look at the keep best talent and
the playmakers you have there, hasyour identity change? I guess what do
you think the identity is of thistwenty point four Well, we'll see as

(03:11:22):
we go, but you know,we know what we need to do to
play in the big games. That'snever changed. And we have to be
able to stop the run, runthe football, take care of the ball,
and there'll be opportunities to throw theball. That'll happen, but you
know we're gonna have to, youknow, do those things to win close
games and and play situational football.But I think, you know, you

(03:11:45):
won't really get a feel for whatthe identity of the team is until we
get into probably the beginning of October, you know, and I think we
all have ideas of what it couldgo. But you know, now that
we're playing in a playoff format,just like a lot of those NFL teams
sometimes, you know, they don'treally quite understand their identity and they get
about halfway through the season. Idon't think I'll take that long. But
you know, we're able to playsome games and kind of work through some

(03:12:05):
things, and I don't think ourdefense is going to change a bunch in
terms of what we did last year. I mean, it's a lot of
the same guys back. Could looka little different on offense. Have you
got time for two more? Goto Doug Limerris. Okay, right,
you lose an important recruiting staffer topromotion at Michigan just the second time.

(03:12:26):
So much gone to Michigan this offseason. How do you react to something like
that? Is something that someone likethat would take information that was learned here
that could help Michigan or Burt Ohiostages reaction. Yeah, all good questions,
and you know, I just Iwant to talk about the guys that
are here, you know, thestaff members that are here, the coaches

(03:12:48):
that are here, the players thatare here, the ones that are Buckeyes.
Joe, didjit with the scheduling changethat was announced yesterday? Did they
come together anything to do with thesea little different? Yeah, you know,
I don't know all that came incame with it. I know it

(03:13:09):
got presented to me a while back, and you know I was on board
with it. So yeah, Imean, I think, you know,
we do have to look a littlebit different at our scheduling as we move
forward, based on the way theformat is at the end of the season.
That's quickly about the linebackers. Gotin here a little bit late.
How do you feel about your linebackers? Cody seems like he always he's the
betans, like he's lucking as astarter, CJ. When do you see

(03:13:31):
his role being Sonny? When yousee his role being gay and all this
guy? Yeah, good versatility allthose guys, Rvel Reese, Like you
said, CJ, Gabe, Sonny, Cody. You know I'm missing a
couple, I'm sure, but likethat was that, yeah, Rvel?
Yeah, I mean these guys arereally versatile guys. You can see the
length on them, and you knowthey do a good job in terms of

(03:13:54):
like fitting the runs they can rightnow, so they know how things should
operate. And I gotta spend timemaking sure those other guys get ready and
get caught up the speed in atimely fashion. It's great. Uh,
he's taking a great step forward thelike I said, he's the next guy
up. Man. I mean he'sbeen extremely you know, important on the

(03:14:18):
growth of our secondary because now youknow we're working him inside some Uh,
he's played outside at both corner spots. You know, he got that it
factor. You know what I mean, so, so we look what he
brings, the energy to competitiveness.We got to build off the last year
uh and expand the role for himand make sure he's uh, he's ready

(03:14:39):
to go. But he's been doinggreat. What is your Uh, We're
just authentic, really not giving alot of recruiting talk. It is what
it is. We try to shootstraight, honest communication, honest assessment,

(03:15:03):
the character, the value, thework at it, and the main things
the competition. You got to compete. If you don't want to compete,
it's not gonna be the place foryou, because that's the that's the thing
that will get us where we needto go is competition in the room.
And those guys here love to compete. We sell that. We're looking for
guys who embrace that, who chairsbeing in those spots. And you can

(03:15:26):
take time to grow. You know, you don't have to have the the
big mentality of problem of instant gratification. You know you can develop and grow
so and sometimes you may be behinda guy that's a really good player.
Is nothing wrong with developing and growingand playing when your time is right,
and if the time is right rightnow as a freshman like well, Jermaine,

(03:15:48):
did you play early? You know, so we try to also sell
that, you know, we careabout them as people and try to prepare
you for life after football. Soit's bigger than just football. We're going
to prepare you for life, whetherit's the n F fail or on with
a regular career in the workforce.We want you to prepare you as a
young man, and we try tosell that and preach that to the parents
to remain having that in factor youmentioned and rolling all these different spots,

(03:16:11):
do you anticipate you know, therewasn't a lot of rotation among the cornerbacks
last year when everyone was healthy.And do you anticipate maybe rolling him 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
by the time we get in thecamp. But you know, obviously he's
earning his stripes, so you know, I mean, when you earn your
stripes, you know, the odjob to create opportunities for you, you
know what I mean. We haveto see how it goes with all that

(03:16:33):
other stuff. You know, oncewe get closer to the season and we'll
get into game plan stuff. Buthe's doing a great job and he's he
and he's taking a great step forward. Tim is the way that you can
build the room. Were the wayyou can kind of establish your room.
Now it seems like it's been likethe centerpiece of relationships and kind of build
your mind. And I'm curious,is that something that you came in here

(03:16:54):
with the like a couple of yearsago with the intention of fuing or is
it something that you're like, it'skind of been cool to be to go
over the course of your times.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 yourauthentic and your communication and you have honest
feedback and you have you know,direct teaching, the guys that have value

(03:17:15):
and character and they appreciate that stuff, they'll embrace that. So, but
they have to know your care andyou have to know that it's real,
and they have to know that youyou're really concerned about their well being as
a young man. And when youget close to them and spend a lot
of time with them off the field, you can coach them hard and you
can you can and you can youcan say truthful things to them and then
they'll embrace it and you have realconversation because you know the only goal is

(03:17:35):
to help them get better as ayoung man years ago, the receiver room
is so far ahead of the corner. Get kind of skew that evaluation sis
doing? How is that dynamic changein these two yr seis group's gotten older
and you need more talent? Yeah, it's done balanced up a little bit.
Now. That goes with great competition. We have the uh we go

(03:17:56):
against the best receivers in college football. So that helps escalate your growth process
because if you don't figure it outreal fast, you'll get embarrassed. So
that competition. But what happened withthat, eye guys start competing, Eye
guys start growing. Eye guys gotbetter, and now is even up a
little bit. So will you getreally good work at practice to day?
You know what I mean? Soit's competitive, it's fun. Those guys

(03:18:16):
both on both sides of all careabout each other. So it's great competition.
And they're all real, real close, so you know what I mean.
It's that stuff that gets us better, that will prepare us for Saturday.
Said my first day of practice.Actually the receivers kind of got them.
Well, no, it's just it'sgonna competitive. Man. They got

(03:18:39):
the best group in the country thatyou're going against every day, so you
have to bring it every day,you know what I mean. So they
we got a great quarterback room.We've got a great receiver room. The
running backs are really good. Sowhen you out there going against them,
it's deep, so you have tobe ready for it. And obviously,
man, we're seeing a lot ofgood stuff with with with Day and coach
Kelly doing over there, and soit prepares you a lot and it helps

(03:19:01):
us grow wide receiver room kind oflike a part of your regree picks like
these are the guys you get toplay again, Yeah, always, because
you know that's where you get betteriron shoppings iron So you know, you
get to see that every day practicethat helps you grow. It's no better
uh thing to go against every daythan to see that on a daily basis.

(03:19:26):
Aside looking at oh, we justmoving a lot of guys around.
You watch that practice. We havea lot of guys in there right now.
You know, we probably have threeor four different guys in there.
Obviously, Lorenzo's in there. Jermaine'sin there. Kus. We we have
we have about four or five guysmoving around right now. We just try
things out in spring ball, seewhat the fit, you know, see
what things work together. So there'sno probably some more guys in there,

(03:19:48):
you know. We moving around andtry 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 anhe'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
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 thespring. What do you want to see

(03:20:11):
this spring? Keep competing, youknow what I mean. Now he's made
the transition. Competing today, youknow, I mean, you start going
in that transition is all just likehim Jermaine. Last year. You throw
him in the fire, you lethim go, you compete, you go.
By the time we get out ofthe end of training camp, ye'll
be them figured it out. Youhave all that, but now you just
throw it all at him, compete, continue to grow, continue to learn.

(03:20:31):
He has the skill set, hehas the length. Now you just
got to put it all together,and it takes time to do that,
and hopefully you see that by thetime we get in the training camp.
Seems like midway through spring and hadto click for Jermaine last year and he
started to see him. You couldntbe more happer to be here. Super
had be here at the O twoas well or right to work. Hello,

(03:20:54):
everybody, there's Robinson, University ofMissouri. I just want to thank
mister Bill Wilmant to your coach Gannonfor this amazing opportunity. I'm glad to
be here with Marvin Harrison right nextto me, so I peel great.
I'm really excited and I'm excited forthis journey. See you fifteen here in

(03:21:26):
town. Marvin, When did youknow the Cardinals were gonna select you?
Did you know before they called orwas there an agreement in place before?
No, I did not know untilI got that phone call from the Arizona
Cardinals. Marvin Richard signs Fox thenwelcome to the valley. I know kind

(03:21:46):
of tweeted to you, tweeted outto you once you got drafted. What
was it like to get a messagefrom the franchise quarterback and what kind of
thoughts have you had about teaming upwith this guy in the near future?
Y yess serious and great. Youalways want to support and love from your
quarterback and the co is a greatplayer, so excited to play with him,
and it's gonna be my job tomake his job easier. Darius Darren

(03:22:07):
Urban from Ezycardinals dot com. Iknow that, uh, a lot of
players these days aren't sticking in oneschool uh for a long time. And
you did it for five years.I mean even Marvin did it for three
Like what what went behind that?And why was it meaningful for you to
stay at one school? Yes,at Missouri, you know, we had
some tough seasons, but we werereally built with an edge energy, details

(03:22:31):
good in emotional consistency, and Ijust found myself just trying to grow and
get better each year and also asa team, you know, win more
games each year. And that wasmy that was my home, I was
my family. I was blessed toyou know, get two degrees as well
off the field, and I justlove missou two degrees. Wow, Marvin
Bob Mcbob McMahon at Arizona Republic.Congratulations. Thank you to both of you.

(03:22:56):
You're known as all business, andI want to know how that it's
going to serve you well in thisleg from personal standpoint, your brand,
everything you do in a daily preparation, there's a lot that goes into being
all business. Tell me what thatis to you. Yeah, I mean
that's just being a pro. It'skind of raised and grew up to do
and keep the same mindset, sameattitude that I've had throughout my whole career.

(03:23:20):
Once I get here, continue towork hard, be consistent and discipline
you know, and all that Ido. So I'm looking forward to putting
the work. Hey 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,
from Monday to Saturday, it's allwork and then Sunday should be the

(03:23:43):
easy part. I go out thereand have fun, ready to put the
work in. So starts with thework first and then no when Sunday comes
as Rieka benefits. Hey, DariusHoward Ballzer from cards wire. I can't
help but notice that ring on yourfinger. Is that a cotton bowl ring?
Yes? It is the You showedit to Marvin very quickly. No,

(03:24:05):
I was telling Marma. You knowhe was glad he didn't play.
The whole week leading up. Youknow, you see Ohio State, everybody
said, okay, Marvin Harrison andnow he's is he gonna players to go
play? He didn't play, soyou know we lucked out. So hey,
Marvin Paul KELVC Cardinals Broadcasting, doyou believe that receivers have to earn

(03:24:26):
the trust of their quarterback? Andif so, what does that usually require?
Absolutely, you got to earn thetrust of the quarterback. And think
it starts, you know, everyday in practice and being consistent. Really
and you can't just do it oneday, can't you do it for one
week? Has to be you know, done over and over and over again.
I think that's how trust has earned. So no matter where you get
picked when you're first receivers, roundseven doesn't really matter. Have to go

(03:24:50):
and earn trust for the quarterback,your coaches, your teammates. So it
all starts in practice. What's goingon, guys? Good to see again
Tyler Drake, there's no sports systemsfor Darius. What's the feeling of just
being able to represent your school asthat first round pick and what kind of
impact can that have for those guysfollowing in your footsteps. Yeah, it's
awesome. I feel like I'm settingthe standard going forward. But that's the

(03:25:11):
name of Zoo is known as DlonZoo, so I'm just added to the
family. But now I feel likeI'm setting the standard for my younger teammates
that this is attainable if you workreally hard, be consistent, and really
get trust your strength coach. Ifeel like every program is built off the
stremp coach and that develops all thehabits on and off the field. Darius
zach ERSHMANEZI Cardinals dot Com. Rightover here, JJ mentioned that he loves

(03:25:33):
the violence that you play with.You mentioned the different tendencies that you picked
up. The emotional consistency is thegreat. How do you balance that the
violence with discipline on the field.Honestly, just through preparation and practice.
I'm a big guy. I'm abig believer in inside hands, so that's
why I'm always working my hand placementand then I lift weight, so you
know that's all connected. So I'mjust trying to be focused on my technique

(03:25:56):
as much as possible. Hey,Marvin over here, David Brant with the
Associated Press. You know a lotof rookies come into the league and they
get a little bit of leeway.It's like, oh, he's young,
he needs to grow and stuff likethat. But obviously you're gonna be expected
to be the guy here really quickly. How do you deal with that pressure?
How do you go about just somuch being expected of you so quickly?

(03:26:20):
I mean, yeah, I havehigh standards for myself, but I'm
just gonna go in there and trywork, you know, the best I
can. I just want to helpthe team win really so without a role
I play, you know, comeSeptember when you're doing best, no do
that role. This one's for bothof you guys. The fans want to
know who you guys are on theinside. I don't know how much you're
willing to reveal to us today.A lot would be nice. Could you

(03:26:45):
tell us what you like to doaway from football, What what pisses you
off about things, and you know, what what makes you roll. I'm
pretty simple, like you know,be in my apartment. Watch the movie.
If I go out and I goto a restaurant, get some food,
but other than that, they dotoo much. And then I'm pretty
easy going guys, so try notto nothing bother me too much. Yeah,

(03:27:09):
I say the same thing. Areal chill guy, just really obsessed
with football. But outside of football, like I said, I got my
two degrees. I got my undergradhospitality management and the minor and business got
my master and positive culture within FLAleadership. So just thinking about being well
rounded. And then I do philanthropywork. I started my own nonprofit foundation,

(03:27:30):
Darius Robinson Helping Hands Foundation, Butreally just football and then everything else.
Honestly, congratulations, guys, Welcometo the Valley. I'm Robbie Baker
with Fox ten. Darius. Thisis for you. After the draft last
night, you had a great responseabout how your process and preparing for a
game, just kind of wondering whereyour love for kind of the grind comes
from, and then your love forthat process comes from. I would say

(03:27:54):
my junior year, because I playedlittle league ball off and on. But
I got my junior year and Iwas playing high school and my whole was
just to earn a scholarship for Duringthat process, I really fell in love
with the game, fell in lovewith working out relationships with teammates, and
now it's kind of like my adviceand I can't let it go and just
kind of finding ways to always getbetter, you know. Luke g litting

(03:28:15):
here with twelve Sports, Congrats bothof you walking into the valley. This
one's for you. Marvin. I'mcurious your thoughts or what was that conversation
like with your dad after your namewas called and you were able to be
drafted by this organization, and howsurreal is it for you to be following
on your own father's footsteps but inyour own way. Yeah, I mean
it was very brief. Actually,just in the second graduations, I walk
up to the stage and then Ihad to do a bunch of interviews afterwards.

(03:28:37):
So I don't think it's hit bothof us yet. I don't know
what's happened. I think, youknow, one of Michaels always make him
proud, so I hope I didthat. Marvin bo Brock pH and X
Sports. When do you anticipate catchingyour first passes from Kyler Murray? I
don't know. I don't know.I guess we'll see and hopefully as soon
as possible. Jarious philanthropy, andI know there's been it's been talked about

(03:29:03):
how you took some of the NInil money to do a get back to
school for the kids in Colombia.Where where did that belief in doing those
things come from? I say myfamily, my brother and my mom really
instilled that into me and to meat a young age. Just give back
your blessings to others. In myfifth year at Missou is the best year
of my life, So why wouldI not share my blessings with others.

(03:29:24):
So that's what really motivated me todo that. And now being in the
NFL, you know, my goalsto do three events each year. I
just give back because you know,it's life outside of football and bigger blessings
out there. Marvin, you obviouslyplayed with a number of highly drafted receivers
at Ohio State. What sort offeedback have you gotten about the NFL from
them? And you know, aboy making the transition in the league itself.

(03:29:46):
Yeah, it's a long season,I think going from in a twelve
game record season you have in collegeto was it seventeen games now and you
got three preseason. I feel likejust the biggest challenge the game stays the
thing obviously all skilled and very talentedathletes, so the mental part is probably
the biggest thing and the biggest changefrom the college to pros. Marvin,

(03:30:07):
what's your timeline for hiring an agent? Right over here on the way far
right, you haven't hired an agent? Why is that? Is there a
timeline to hiring one? And areyou going to sign the NFLPA licensing agreement.
I'll continue talking to my team.We do what's best for me.
I'm moving forward. We just takeit one day at a time. I
just got drafted, so I'm tryingto enjoy the moment and be happy while

(03:30:28):
I can at the moment. Hey, Marvin, we'll say romo, Arizona
Republic, Welcome. Man. Canyou just kind of share a little bit
about you touched on it briefly here, but just a little bit more about
growing up with your dad and youknow, the experiences you had in Indianapolis
and games and so on and soforth. Yeah, I mean, there's
no better role model, coach,mentor that you can have hip. All

(03:30:50):
the way through our college we werecaptains together Ohio State. So we shared
a lot of we shared a lotof time there together. And then before
Pro day he came up and wethrew that night before Pro Day, and
we've I mean we've played in touch. I feel like pretty well, he's
just an awesome human and even abetter teammates. If I could ask you
quickly, what did you make ofwhat he was able to do after you

(03:31:13):
saw him and you played with himthe year before and he came on and
did what he did his rookie year. What did you make of what he
was able to do in his rookieseason? Man, I just to be
honest with you, it was nosurprise to me or anybody in that Ohio
State facility. Just we knew howto do a special and when he got
the chance, he got up withthe right people and the right coaching staff.

(03:31:33):
The dudes unbelievable. Brian Bearfield,Hey, Kay, welcome to Houston.
Brian Bearfield, big sarch media foreverybody just called me storage as you
could tell by the hats. Sokay, I don't want to take you
back down memory lane for just onesecond. I just looked up some of

(03:31:54):
your stats, so you were inhigh school, you were running back one
thousand and four and the seventy sevenyards you're seeing year, seventeen touchdowns,
linebacker, one hundred and sixty threetackles, four intersessions. You broke your
high school scoring record in basketball overallathlete. Even when you got to Ohio
State, you didn't really you werelike a hybrid. They didn't really know

(03:32:15):
where to put you until you endedup at tight end. So I say
all that to ask you what theHouston Texans are getting an athlete who's willing
to play anywhere and everywhere they needthem. Correct? One hundred percent.
Yeah, that's one hundred percent,one hundred percent correct, no doubt about
it. I'll do whatever we gotto do here to win ball games.
And I mean they got awesome players, awesome coaching staff, so just super

(03:32:37):
super blessed here. How much didthat How much does that background help you
or help you to get through youknow, college and now get you to
where you are today? Uh?I think every day I've been thrown in
a million different directions, pull ina million different directions, and to be
honest with you, I mean nothing'sever gone like how it's supposed to.
On pin the paper in my lifeand my coaching career, so I mean

(03:32:58):
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, cool, You're un mute any better?

(03:33:22):
Katie got me? Yeah, Igot you now. Cole Thompson USA
Today Texans Wire, Congratulations are gettingdrafted. I just heard you kind of
mentioned a little bit about coaching.You're talking about your coaching career, not
your playing career. Do you wantto get into coaching afterwards when you're done
playing football? No? No,no, It's a lot of emotions going

(03:33:43):
through my body right now. Soregardless, No, I'm not playing on
getting coaching. I'm playing on justplaying as long as I can. Just
a quick follow up, and youlook at a guy like Tamiko Ryans,
who is a former player that isvery close to the league, only has
been out for about seven years.What does it mean to be playing for
somebody who's translated over to this newside of things but also understands what a

(03:34:05):
player goes through on the daily basis. I think that makes the biggest difference
in the world. And I thinkyou can tell by the way the players
respect him and just how and thejob he's done in the short time he's
been there. I mean, thedude's unbelievable. He seems an unbelievable person.
I'm just really really excited to beable to plan Underneathan cod You.

(03:34:26):
Heyk Cody Davis from Sports Illustrated.You and I met at the NFL COMBA.
By the way, Yeah, Iwould like to know, man,
what are what type of tid endare the Houston Texans getting. Man,
I'll tell you what they're getting.Just a complete utility player. Basically,
I'm gonna do whatever you ask meto do at one hundred percent one dred

(03:34:48):
everything I got every single time,and just I'm going to be the exact
glove in the locker room. I'mgoing to be a dude people can come
to when things go wrong, andI'm so excited to help his team anyway
I can. Kim, Hey,Kate, it's Kim Davis with Chalk Talk.
Congratulations on getting drafted by the Texans. Kind of following up on what

(03:35:09):
Cody just ask you from your compationwith c J. I know he's spoken
high. You have the staff,but what do you know about this just
from what you've seen this offense?And although you're utility player, what excites
you most about it other than obvioslyplaying with CJ. Man, I just
think one. I think Dalton Schultzis a great player. I've watched a

(03:35:31):
lot of his film growing up andjust even the last couple of years,
study a lot of what he does, especially he was on the Cowboys and
now. Just to be able tolearn from a guy like that and take
notes and tips how he handles lifeand everything, it's gonna be awesome for
right now, in long term downthe road. And one quick follow up,
what do you know about the cityof Houston. Have you spend any
time here? No? No.I trained in Briscoe, Dallas for a

(03:35:54):
little bit for a couple of months, and then that was really about it.
Other than that, I've never reallybeen to Hughes, But I mean,
I'm really excited to come. Allright, thank you the recording media,
you too, Aaron, Hey,Kate. When it comes to blocking,
some tight ends embrace it. Somedo it because it's part of the

(03:36:18):
job. What's your mentality for blocking? And I have a follow up,
man, I love blocking, hI do. I'm gonna throw my face
in the fire chance I can get. I might not always be pretty,
but I promise you're gonna get everyounce of power I got. And the
draft process as a proven guy,did you go on a lot of visits?

(03:36:39):
Did you work out privately? Weare someones that you remember. And
what kind of level of activity didyou have with Texan's Combine meetings, et
cetera? Yeah, thank you,Yeah, we had. We had a
formal at the Combine and I've always, like I said, always talked to
CJ closely, so just having thatand then just throughout the PROTX we had
a couple zoom here and there,and other than that, I mean,

(03:37:01):
I trained the Ohio state coach Mickand coach at the trained coaches up there
with training, a group of me, Tommy Iikenberg and Still Chambers, my
roommates that we lived with in theafternoon, and that was really about it.
We just trained and play ball atthat point and the other teams.
Did you go on trips and thingslike that? We took one local visit
to the Bengals. That was it. We have time for a couple more.

(03:37:24):
Go ahead, sarge, oh Kate, I know that. You know,
we've asked you a lot of questionsabout playing with CJ. But you've
been scouted as a tight end,but can also be linked out to the
wide receiver position. Being at OhioState for as long as you were,
what did you pick up from alot of those great Ohio State wide receivers
they came through the time you werethere. You just watched. I mean,

(03:37:48):
you watch those guys go about howthey handle releases, how they handle
their feet, the top and theroutes and everything like I mean, for
me, I've never played it inmy life. So starting you were literally
started from score one slue square one. So learning slowly with them, and
then this is a business and youhave to do what's best for his career
and his future as well. Soyou know, obviously has familiarity with Joe

(03:38:11):
Brady had one of his best seasonswith them, So you know, I
think he's gonna be a big partof their offense and continue to grow as
a receiver. You know, it'sa lost for Room because he's a dynamic
playmaker. He can play inside andout and just his energy. Man,
I think he really became one ofthe favorite teammates on the team because he
kept things light, but he alsowas a really hard worker and and uh

(03:38:33):
made plays when we need him to. So on a personal standpoint, I'm
definitely gonna you know, miss himhaving him in the building, and he's
kind of like the guy you Iget to talk to and he's like my
best friend. But on the otherhand, I get to see him,
you know, continue to take stepsin his career. Uh, he's still
very young, so he has alot of good football ahead of him.

(03:38:54):
Literally might be different. Yeah,Yeah, we haven't honestly even started install
yet, so I haven't even gota lay of the land quite yet.
I'll probably take a look at justgot our I pass within the last few
days, so I'll try to takea sneak peek at what we have looking

(03:39:15):
for. But you know, Iknow with him talking to zach Ertz,
he does a great job of tryingto get his playmakers involved, which I
think we have a really good groupof guys 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. Andyou know, I think with him,
his biggest things is making sure theplaymakers are making plays and trying to fit
the scheme around that, which isalways good to hear, good to see

(03:39:41):
too. This 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

(03:40:01):
just want to take a day oneapproach, kind of erase what you've learned
in the past. But at theend of the day, I think,
you know, schemes in the NFLare relatively similar. Is just the names
and the formations that may be alittle different. So just getting used to
the terminology and Cliff's offense is justgoing to be something that's an adjustment for
all of us. But the goodthing about it is I got some good

(03:40:24):
time on my hands to really putsome work in studying when I leave this
place, so I could come inhere when we have walkthroughs and when we
start to put our helmets on,we can really hit the ground running.
So so far it's we haven't learnedanything yet. But my approach is the
saying, try to take good notesin there, ask good questions, and
then study on my own at night. You to the Yeah, yeah,

(03:40:52):
I think I got some really goodwork down in Florida. Is just working
on my footwork, just being betterat the top of my routes, sharper
on my speed cuts, dig routes, out routes, and just being cleaner
with my footwork at the top ofthe routes. I think, you know,
with a little bit of zone coversthat we've seen in the past,
with some teams kind of running moretoo hot show, you're gonna get a

(03:41:13):
little bit more of catch technique whereguys are kind of sitting at the top
of your route. So I wantto be better at being efficient to get
out of those routes when the guy'skind of sitting at my deth whether it's
a fifteen yard comeback or a twelveyard curl route, you know, being
able to get out efficiently so Ican keep create and keep the separation within

(03:41:33):
my route. So obviously I'm alwaysstill working on my ball skills and making
sure I'm just catching a lot offootballs in the off season, but just
really being better at the top ofthe routes and you know, sharper out
of my cuts is something that Ithink I can improve on. Good to
see you too. You know,you're obviously this team and with so many

(03:41:56):
new faces, new players, whatis the challenge to have Yeah, because
there's so many personalities. 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 oo's quite yet. We've just

(03:42:16):
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
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 Mariota obviously, BobbyWagner, who's a future Hall of Famer.

(03:42:41):
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
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,
And I think that can really helpour offense, Have you know,
some more unity with the guys whoknow what it looks like helping bringing those
guys, the younger guys along.I don't know, if you had a

(03:43:05):
chance to watch Dan opening press conference, he didn't want to use the word
rebuild. Yeah, the changes goingon with this franchise, all the new
changes and new coaching staff, allthe new players. Is there a certain
word you use or how do youview everything? Honestly, I just think
of it as a as a newyear. Just talking to Sam Cosmy,

(03:43:28):
Uh, we've been here for afew years, so it's a lot of
new faces. I think, youknow, this is probably the most I
would say turnover we've had in thelast few years. So there's guys coming
from all different areas, walks oflife, and but I think the one
thing is the same. They're allcoming in looking for an opportunity to compete,
take another step in their careers,and prove that they're one of the
best players at the position. AndI think coach Quinn has emphasized that we're

(03:43:52):
going to have the opportunity to proveourselves. Whether you're a ten year vet
or a second year player, youknow, this is a clean slate for
everybody. So I think it's justabout getting on the same page, enjoying
coming in here and working together,and also just pushing each other in these
workouts, and then when we startgetting on the field, uh, really

(03:44:13):
get that competition going. Try tosimulate as we go along in this off
season process of how the games aregoing to be. Hey, how are
you doing? Good to see youtoo, And yeah, I think coach

(03:44:39):
Quinn has really assemble assembled a veryunique group of coaches. There's multiple head
coaches, there's multiple quarter uh coordinatorsthat have come from different places, and
so you have guys who have alot of football experience, some have played,
some have coached in big games,and then you bring in, you
know, the the talent that wehave have defensively and offensively. And I

(03:45:01):
just think you can feel the unityand the sameness in the message that he's
trying to preach to our team,and it's we're gonna be tough and we're
gonna be competitive, but we're alsogonna have fun. And he, like
I think he said in Your Guys'interview, he said he likes to do
you know, hardship with good people. So I think that's fun. You

(03:45:22):
know, a guy like me likesto put my nose down and grind and
work. So I know him andI are going to continue to hit it
off, and you know it's justmy job to help bring other guys along
with me. Thank you more yournext step as a vocal leader? Yeah,

(03:45:43):
what is that mean to you?I think for me, I've I've
grown a lot in my vocal leadership. I think I try to always find
the balance of when to say something, when not to say something. I
think I never want I've always wantedto be a person when I say something
that means something like you don't wantto be You're giving all the motivational speeches,
but you're not backing up with yourplay, or you're you're talking so

(03:46:05):
much you kind of your message getsdrowned out. And so it's kind of
continue to find that balance of whento say things and when to kind of
just take a step back. ButI think I've I've gotten a really good
feel of how to do that.I think obviously with a new coaching staff,
you just try to understand what theyhow they want things done, and
you try to, you know,bring what you do well into that,

(03:46:26):
and you also try to encourage theguys who haven't taken those steps in their
career to do that as well.So I think for me, it's just
really starting in my position group.I think we have, uh still a
very young group, kind of inexperiencefor the most part, but I think
we have a lot of talent inthere, and it's just my job,
in Bobby's job, and to continueto bring that group along as we go

(03:46:50):
throughout this season. What is Iguess, Yeah, approach. Yeah,
I hit it really hard this offseason. So I kind of started training a
little bit after the Super Bowl,so I got a good six to eight

(03:47:13):
weeks into where I feel football readyright now, which is great for me
because you know, obviously we're probablyhaving a mini camp at the end of
this month, so that'll be I'malready in football shape. So that's that's
exciting to know that I'm ready tobe able to run routes and get going
with our quarterbacks and get going withour system. So you know, as
this off season goes on, Ijust trust the plan that Chad and the
guys have here. I want tobe here for all the workouts and things

(03:47:37):
like that. And be a partof the team building and just continue to
learn the playbook as we start toinstall things and be at a point where
I could go out there and beconfident in my game what I've worked on
this off season and and put thatinto how that fits into this offense.
So I always try to pride myselfon knowing multiple positions, just to be
flexible for the team and be flexiblefor myself so I'll be ready for whatever

(03:48:01):
they wherever they put me. I'msurprised you're going to have a new quarterback
this year? Yeah, yeah,you never well, I'm gonna say never,
But it's it's always tough seeing likesomeone you build a really good relationship

(03:48:22):
with go on and move on intheir career, and especially your quarterback,
because as a receiver, you wantto continue to try to build that chemistry,
you know what I mean. Thatwas only our first year playing with
one another, and I feel likehim and I had our h We made
some great plays and we had someyou know, room for growth, and
I think that comes with any newquarterback receiver relationship and so but to see
him go in a situation where havea chance to compete and play under a

(03:48:46):
really good quarterback in Geno. Youknow, I think he'll he'll really like
playing with receivers like uh, wellthrowing the receivers like Locket and and Jash
and Smith and Jig. But ind K, you know what I mean.
So I think he's going in asituation where a thing different. Uh
it's more mentally than anything though,Like last side was always my uh best
side back in Carge, but sinceI got to I've always been playing right.

(03:49:09):
But you know, it's a it'sa good challenge for me and I
can show people I can actually playright and left. So it's a versatility
thing. So I'm happy about it. There. You moved around a lot
throughout your career that there's jumbo sideyou'll tackle, I guess in the sentence
and playing about the left on theright side, do you think you kind
of benefit from focusing a little bitmore on the right center, Uh,
a little bit, But you know, there's new system that we have.

(03:49:31):
I I've been playing my mindset moston the right, but also have my
mind set and left too, justin case something does happening to like you
know what I mean, like Coltlandor you know Pete of course, but
I'm always gonna be ready for theleft no matter what. How quickly have
you felt like you picked up thisnew system that you're working in there?
Oh it's ah, we actually prettyup picked up pretty well cause it's the

(03:49:52):
same system that I'm used to backin the hot stae cause we was more
like spread back at hot State,So you know, it's pretty good.
It's one of those like the draftprocess off seasons. A lot of people
outside the buildings are readers get theright time? Yeah, a lot of
al right now, But a lotof people in the building were like,
we have the right time, whatdo we get do? Get motivated by
that? You follow it like ifyou can't make you do it? Though

(03:50:13):
I don't, I read into ita little bit. But also the same
time, like they not here ofcourse, but I don't really care what
they say. I know what Ican do, and the team know what
I can do, so they trustingme right now and I'm not gonna live
him right down. How hard orhow easy is that to compartmentalize that and
use that as fuel going forward ratherthan the kind of merity of it,

(03:50:35):
uh I j I just keep receives. Everybody knows that one person. I
don't really care for him at Also, it's all good, but it's all
love out of uh outside of this. But you keep doing it, keep
it better, keep on these nuts. See what I can do there.
You've been a outspoken about your supportof Zami, and obviously it's just his
chance now to beat the dog.Wait, what is it about him that

(03:50:56):
you bought in so early? Thereason why I bought it so early cause
us I was at a house statethey always taught us to actually like to
go get it, and that 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 peoplewrong all my life. I don't wanna
keep doing that. What's wrong doingwhich I guess boors like you all put

(03:51:20):
itting like the set, you know, like a community year, nine day
difference, nine day difference from myfirst year in my second year. So
now like now I'm my al Iknow I can play. I know I
can go against one of the bestspecial Atlans anybody else that we want to
play this year, and I knowwhat I can do. So all gotta
do now is ast meet my potentialand should do it and help everybody else

(03:51:41):
out the team as well. You'vepracticed a lot against Malcolm and he's really
come into his own. What isit about Malcolm that's helped him make that
next step? There? Man,Malcolm, He's quiet, he doesn't really
say too much. He comes tothe work every day, do what he
does, and he works hard.He doesn't plait twice at anything. Yeah,
he'll get mad over a co respose. At the same time that like

(03:52:01):
he has a mentality of at all, Like he's he don't really care what
y'all think or anybody else thinks.Real, So it's just like alright,
just keep going. That's how everybodyis on the team. How about Tyraisk,
you guys that same mindset. Hedoes have the same mindset a little
a little nervous, but uh nahnah. He has definitely grown up a

(03:52:22):
lot from his like first year hereuntil now. Like he has name,
but he's he's growing up a lotmentally too. Until you guys are reimagining
the offensive line a little bit withyear out there the right side, yuh
uh farm there next to you onthe on the ost side too, and
then drafting the guys on the lineup. Heah, how long exciting is
that to be part of something that'sthat's kind of being you know, having

(03:52:43):
that trust but also being reinvented alittle bit. That's great, you know,
but me and doing those like theygonna keep replacing us, of course,
but all the same time, wegotta keep going. You know,
we cames really think about what theydid. All we gotta do is staying
about what what can we do withyou? Better? Sorry, don't put
a lot of those outside. Howlong were you work? You uh be

(03:53:05):
working pretty well, you know,you say. The rest we have like
a a little rooky moment a littlebit, but you know, yeah,
you know those those tougher conversations,those ones where we might disagree when we
do agree, where where he's gothis two cents on it, which is,
you know, always the best twocents I've heard. But me being
who I am, you know,I'm I'm I'm gonna throw my two cents

(03:53:26):
in there, you know. Sothat's just uh, it's been awesome,
man. We he's he's you know, a resource for me, just a
person that I can always bounce mythoughts off of. And now, you
know, just a year you said, thirteen months now, I feel more
comfortable just you know, bringing certainthings up. You know, you never
you never wanna come off too strong. But I'm a curious guy. I
got a lot of questions. Ilike, I like football lot. I
like to talk and talk the games. So you know, come to find

(03:53:48):
out he's the exact same. Sowe, uh, you know, we
get along well, and you knowwe're gonna keep keep building that relationship.
Sometimes in this league, playing youknow, eighteen games, they tryna make
a twenty. You know that's likea sound like a little a little fever
dream to be honest, But butuh, if we can find a way
to k you know, stay upright out there, keep keep airing on
his feet. You know, I'mI'm excited for that and uh everything that

(03:54:09):
comes with it. But uh butyeah, like I said, man,
that's it's it's harder said than uhor harder done. And said, I
guess you know, it's one ofthose things. It's like that's a lot
of games, you know, allof a sudden, take a lot of
hits. They take a lot ofhits where they're not looking, and it's
just how can we keep him healthy? Yeah? Yeah, are you when
you think, I get your receiperroom now, positions you guys have made
when one healthy, get everything,like, yeah, you know, I'm

(03:54:30):
excited to see it at at fullhealth. You know, we've I haven't
got to see all the all theguys out there at once. And and
you know, it's one of thosepositions where every day is something might happen
to nick up. You know,it's just a a tough position to stay
out there at all times. ButI feel like we got a great group
and and the number one thing ishow can we stay healthy? How can
we you know, I'll be outon the field, and I think having
depth like this and the group wehave is gonna help us. Having guys

(03:54:54):
that can do different things, thatcan go catch ball over the middle,
all types of things that it's gonnatake some of the strain off off all
of us. You know, it'sit's a good group. So I'm excited
to, uh, you know,get out there. I feel like we
haven't had the whole whole thing together, but you know, come season time,
morol, and it's gonna be exciting. What about the gods your whole
number? Yeah, yeah, yeah, man, He's uh. It was

(03:55:16):
a brute and then once he catchesthe ball, I mean, he's got
great instincts of where the defense is. I think the talent on this team
is really good too, and Ithink that I can come in here and
make a big difference, you know, and we can win a lot of
football games. You know. Sothat was my That was part of my
decision. Your how sough was thatI'm one hundred percent now and it was

(03:55:43):
like a walk in the park.It's like a sprained 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 pretty easyto be But you know, I've had
these injuries and it's been stormed likethe past two years, you know,

(03:56:07):
having haveing like good, great games. The next thing, you know,
hurt and then you know, sogot got the injury prone out there,
you know. But I think thestorm is over with, you know,
you know, and I think I'mI'm gonna gonna take off now, you
know, and there will be nosetbacks and the injury prone thing will be

(03:56:28):
gone out of the window again.Yep, I'm sorry, gonna be back.
I am. I am excited.You know, he does a lot
of great things, and he's agreat person, and we have a great
relationship. It's gonna be it's gonnabe a fun year. We're gonna have
a lot of fun. We're gonnado a lot of great things. So
I can't wait, take here waiting. The injuries you've had, is that

(03:56:52):
just bad luck? Is every Isthere anything you've been attributed to beyond just
misfortunate? Yeah, it's just unfortunate, you know, but God has a
plan always. You know, Idon't know what the plan exactly is,
you know, I don't know,but whatever plan it is, it's for
me to be here. You know, I had a great rookie year.

(03:57:16):
I didn't really have the volume asother people my rookie year, but I
still had a great rookie year.Six yards of carry, you know,
things like that. I think itwas like nine touchdowns ten including the playoffs.
And so there's always been like,all right, guy, lets me
show my talent shine a little bit, like even when I had the knee.
So I had the knee, right, A lot of people don't know,

(03:57:37):
like I didn't get hurt again.Whenever I got you know, got
cleaned up. So I went downin twenty one right, had the injury,
the knee injury, and then cameback later the next year, and
I played the first few games andit just feel there was a lot of
scars issue in there. So Ihad to get it cleaned up. I
didn't get hurt again. I couldhave played the whole year, but I
got it cleaned up so I canfeel like me. And so after I

(03:58:01):
got that cleaned up, the firsttwo games back from the injury, I
had over one hundred and twenty yardsrushing right, and then went on had
great, great ending of the year, you know, one hundred total yards
in the playoff game we lost,which I hate the most. Stays,
don't marry me. I don't wantto win. But then come back the
next year hurt again like torn achilles. So two really unfortunate injuries. But

(03:58:24):
that's just God's plan, you know. And I think that the storm is
now over, you know, AndI do think that I'll be able to
shine my light to the whole world. Are you concerned that you have that
label? You can't stay too?I could care less because I do.
I know this out there because asit should be, it should be.

(03:58:45):
I got hurt two major injuries back, not back to back years, but
you know, so I haven't beenon the field as much as I should.
That's true, that is true.But it's not like I'm having these
little little dinky injuries and city out. It's something I can't control literally,
So that's why I'm not bothered byit. Like, yeah, I am
injury polle, you could say that, you know, but I do think

(03:59:07):
that the Chargers are getting a guythat's gonna be healthy from now on,
you know, God willing, andit's gonna be great. And I do
think that it's gonna be It's gonnabe a great. However, many years
here, when you've been on thefield, you've been highly adopted, five
point of years, been very averagefor your career. Like knowing that when

(03:59:28):
you're out there you're very adopted,how much confidence does that give you?
That really all you needs is notall the confidence in the world. You
know, the way I work,I wouldn't say just from the numbers,
but just the way I work mywork ethic, you know, and my
relationship with Jesus is like I havethe most confidence when I step out there

(03:59:48):
because I do know, like,if he grants me the health, it's
over with. I don't think i'llbe you know. I think it will
be a great year or whatever,a couple of years, however many years
he grants me great health, youknow. And I think just the work
ethic, my prayer and all thatstuff, that's what helped me have that
confidence with the numbers will be there, and they might be higher after this

(04:00:11):
year, you know what I'm saying. And it's crazy to think about it
because I I had six or sixyards per carry, you know. So
we'll see you looking forward to runningbehind this line that they put together.
Oh yeah, yeah, yeah.I played with Bradley. I played with
him, you know, I knowthe Slater, I know all the I
know all the guys, you know, and I'm excited. I think it's

(04:00:31):
like I said earlier, it's atalented group. You know. We just
got to put together win some games. Cause that's what I came here for
a year, or I wouldn't,I wouldn't say part of the recruitment,
but like whenever I decided I wasgonna sign, it was great to have
him in the rooms. Yeah,we're great. We're we have a great
relationship. That's he's like my brother. So I think a compliment each other

(04:00:58):
very well. You know, hecan do a lot of stuff too.
You know, we got a lotof people think he's just power, power,
power, But I think he hassome other parts of his game two
which it'll be great because I feellike I could do everything and when one
get tired, we can roll itin. We keep rolling win some games.
So when you the two of youget going, well, how do
you think that's gonna look for?What would like? What will be that

(04:01:22):
partnership kind of back there? Iknow that's a hard question. How do
I think? I think it'll lookbeautiful. You know a lot of people
call it a passing league, butI think you got to run the ball
to win the super Bowl. Youknow, if you look at the team
to win the super Bowl, theycan run the ball, they can control
the clock, and so if we'reboth good, it'll look great, beautiful.

(04:01:45):
How would you describe the Gregor runningthe offense? I would I would
describe it as, you know,a great offense. I think he gives
a quarter he's going to give thequarterback a lot of options. He's gonna
give the running back a lot ofoptions. He's gonna give the receiver a
lot of options, you know,And I think it'll be I think it's
gonna be great. His offense isgoing to be amazing. When we talked

(04:02:07):
to him a minute, you know, I was like, why are you
man will build something? Give rushingoffenses throughout your career ever been? And
you said that one part of itis just you gotta call place. You
got a call run place as arunning back. You know, how much
confidence, how much second does itgive you? You know, you have
to play caller that's gonna stick withit and allow you and the offensive line
to get rid of the gives mea lot of excitement. You know.

(04:02:31):
It's gonna be. Like I said, it's fun to play at his offense,
you know. And I think hedoes have some good things in the
past game too, But like yousaid, 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,
you want to have it, andso I think his offense has that

(04:02:52):
and the guys he builds and putsin there. It complements that identity.
So I think it's gonna be greatnow, so you'll be full go for
training. That's Look, I ain'tgonna answer any of the four if it's
up to me. Yes, Look, because I had this problem like three
two years three years ago, I'mthinking I'm full go. I think I'm

(04:03:15):
ready to go, and the nextthing, you know, I'm on pup
like hey, look some story abovemy prey pay grade. So but I
don't know. Hopefully I can start. I think I'm ready to start,
you know, at the beginning trainingcamp. But that's not up to me.
As I've learned, I tell you, I wouldn't say that. I

(04:03:37):
think I've been I've been in somegreat organizations, and I think this this
organization is a great organization, andthe training staff is great, and so
they just want what's best for me, you know, and they're they're taking
care of me, which that's whatyou want in an organization. And so
that's where that comes from, whichI appreciate it, Like I really appreciate

(04:03:58):
that, you know, because I'ma type of guy, like I worked
really hard. So maybe sometime I'mblind to you know the danger of something,
you know, so I appreciate it. But like I said, if
it's up to me, yeah,I'm out there. But you never know
with any frustration for you during theheading into agency, you know, dealing
with with rehab and not you know, having on a full season tape or

(04:04:20):
production to go out, there wasthere any part of that where you were
like, gosh, you know,had hit the open market with a different
situation. You know. Nah,I like it. I like, how
would I say this? I likeit the hard way, but not,
you know, I like it thehard way. I like it. I

(04:04:43):
like trial and true relations. SoI mean the dice that I was given
the role was I was coming offof Achilles, and that was that was
the lowest plan. So it wasbeauty and that like I was comfortable.
I was caught like there was multipleteams, you know, I wasn't.

(04:05:05):
It wasn't like I didn't have anyother team. But I was comfortable and
sitting back and just enjoying the process, letting myself get fully healed. So
whenever that team, whoever I wouldsign with, who now is the Chargers,
is going to get the best me, you know, And I think
people all around the league know that, like, Okay, this guy,
Okay, it's a high risk,high reward type thing, right, not

(04:05:30):
even a high risk, hilar rice, because you it's a business, right,
So I got hurt last year,so not as much money needs to
be throwing there. But I thinkeveryone around the league knows that whenever I
am on the field, the numbersdon't lie. And so they know that,
And a lot of teams were like, all right, here, you
can give you this, but wewant you to be healthy. So when

(04:05:50):
I'm healthy, it's gonna be great. This is the chance that I've been
giving here. I'm so grateful andI know that's gonna be. They won't
be They won't regret it. Areyou the type of person that likes the
opportunity for me? You know?So I'm excited about it. Did he
help you with oh a lot.He helped me a lot, even form

(04:06:11):
like the first day, just tryingto help me get used to to write
tackle. He got my feet usedto write tackle. Like my first day
practice, I'm like, dude,I still feel he feel a little off.
I don't feel as balanced in mystands. And he showed me the
small technique and to do with myfeet, which I still do even even
though I left tackle. Just keepsus part of my routine. That was

(04:06:33):
part of my process of getting inmy stands. So stuff like that that
he taught me from day one andobviously in practice was fun. Just compete
with him, you know, it'sjust to meet at the back of the
pocket and to dap each other backto every rep like that was compete,
you know what I mean. Sothat's my guy. As much as you
love him on your the west side, how bittersweet is it as a certain

(04:06:56):
matters because it would happened to him? Yeah, that's the thing that's not
I was definitely how I and howI thought about the transition will go.
You know, I thought it wouldbe you know, on homesoon timing and
a cardinal his whole career. Youknow, you know, you want to
play here forever, you know whatI mean. When I was talking about
his plans, so you know,you wis transitions like one of those fair

(04:07:22):
intale like it's your time. Butbut again, either way, you know,
we talked about it. You know, that's that's the how goes,
you know, But obviously you knowhe sees he's He's been one of my
biggest supporters. Again, I affecteverybody leads in their own way, you

(04:07:43):
know, not everybody's the guys comingaround like and that's not everybody, right
Like I felt for me, that'sme specifically on game day with the O
line after we do one on onelike, that's my like Bhump did like,
that's my like big vocal time.But I feel like I've talked to
Hump about this, you know,just recently talking about how what I want

(04:08:07):
to do for the room is Iwant to bring that Hump energy that he
brought right so last year, ofcourse some traits we're doing it for years,
but the year while I spent withhim, he brought a lot of
the energy and excitement and the happinessin the room was just his natural energy
to where I only had to focuson me, you know, I didn't

(04:08:30):
have to make sure other other guysare, you know, feel some type
of way when they came in herebecause Hump brought that. But out of
Hump's not here, but I sawwhat he did for a room. I
want to be that guy to makesure one's amp to go to practice,
everybody's hype were taking and field teamon period. You know it's a low
day or something. You know,it's a it's a day, but like

(04:08:52):
I want to make you feel likeyour pre parent's the tripper right now.
I want to bring that because that'swhat we hump did to each other.
People hype each other up. Dudeslike dudes about to get walked. We're
lit. So I wanna do that. I wanna bring that energy. I
wanna make bring more guys. Youwant to do that, you know,
yeah, I wanted to do thatfrom day one, you know, I
kind of I wanted to do thatfrom day one, from just talking to

(04:09:16):
him, and obviously it's that time. I spend the off season before OTA
started just being in myself, justthinking about what the room needs, you
know, because I know I knewa new role as one of the leaders,
you know on my offense, isthat we need a guy like that
that's gonna make sure the old lineis picked up, ready to go every

(04:09:39):
day and was held accountable. Littlethings aren't 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 to leave with
positivity you know what I mean.So, but he the energy had went
beyond just the hyped up the dealline and start too. So that's kind

(04:10:00):
of how I wanna be, sgoal mine literally my whole life. I
wanna be a NFL team captain,like specifically the NFL. I wasn't a
captain of high school. I wasn'ta captain of college. But I made
a joke when I was in highschool. It's like, did I feel
like I'm not gonna be a captaintil I get to the NFL. Yeah,

(04:10:20):
but that would be awesome, youknow, but you know, if
it happens, i'd be great.But not either way. I wanna assume
a role as a captain from therespect of the guys on the team,
the visual award today and to getback to that way. Yeah, I
mean, I can't say that.I mean, I guess the biggest thing

(04:10:41):
is that I felt like it hasfelt like how it you used to in
the past. But it didn't takejust the first the oltas it took training
left and right once the season ended, cause I didn't know what it was
gonna be true. So it tooka lot of yeah reps joke to get
back to feeling like myself for dayone OTAs and then that whole first week,

(04:11:05):
but now like today specifically just changingsome small things with my feet that
I did today talking about oline coachabout some things I can do with my
fee to get to that the liketo selling at the traditional angle that I
love to set on. Felt evenI thought I felt, I thought I
felt great already by my kat Ifelt even better of it. So I'm
even more excited tomorrow. Now I'mgetting my feedback to how I liked it

(04:11:26):
the right side and on the leftside, so I'm excited to teach.
I mean, obviously, I feellike in the league, whether I left
or right, you're still going againstpremier guys. So obviously you have high
expectations for your left hand or righttackle. But there's definitely uh, like
the the level of energy and likethe expectations, definitely taking a human spect

(04:11:50):
cause now connected the black side,that's the that's a de tackle role,
you know. So so yeah,I would say in terms of communication as
far as this even outside of facilityand just stuff like that, like really
creating that left tackle quarterback bond evenmore off the field, I think has
been something that's even been cool.I got a text one day. I

(04:12:13):
was like, hey, like youplay 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 know, we'll talk to yousome play in the season. And I
just got a text me like,depending what happens with with the free agency
then. So I was like,you know what, I had a whole
season right tackle, So if Iget the word, I'm going I'm standing

(04:12:35):
right tackle. I don't need todo what I did before. I'm built
on that bus. I was like, I might as almost trained the left
tackle now as if I'm gonna beleft tackle, and I'd rather do that
than training on right time and getthe ko Hey you're the left tackle.
I'm like, ooh, I didn't. I didn't even switch on my feet
yet, you know what I mean. So I'm like, let me just
prepare in the advance. I waslike, yeah, let's god. You

(04:12:56):
know, I think occasionally on thirddown there would be all twist. I
would just know like it's automatically coming. And in fact, that was my
mindset for like the first half ofthe season, like I didn't have to
go to a game and with surpriselike oh my gosh, they did that,
I kind of figured like, okay, like this is this is the
type of rush. Minute get.This is how this guy usually rushes.

(04:13:16):
But I get the vibe, thisis how the end's like the rush.
You know, tackles that are youknow, first year guys who got the
premiere patch on. I already knewwhat it was gonna be, already knew
of every stunt and honestly just knowingthat it's kind of an advantage too,
So you're not you're not, You'renot. Oh they brought the twist on
my side again. It was neveran Aaron Donal like, you know,
they're coming out the mines like threeplays in a row two minutes. I

(04:13:39):
knew that it was the way ithappened. So you know what I mean,
I'm watching more than everybody else,and he rarely England goes out there
on occasional third downs on the dN. I was like, already know
it's gonna be, He's gonna pickme, you know what I mean,
So fact fact, it's kind ofa it's also kind of advantage in a
way, but it's also exciting,like, Okay, it was the two
guys of this talent, this backgroundat the top of that group. How

(04:14:01):
much of your discussions with Ryan doI guess the interview process were about how
you might approach this and what doyou think it's meaning? The key element?
You're getting the most out of thosebecause you got two guys. This
ain't my first rodeo, No.I know a lot of people look at
say, well, this guy onlybeen on the field for three years westernn

(04:14:24):
Tucky and Oregon. Just because Ididn't have the title of a running back
coach where I was at the MemphisI never carried myself that way. I
was carried myself as a running backcoach. I approach every day that way.
So at Memphis we had Darren Henderson, Patrick Taylor, Tony Pollock,
Kenny game Well, Tonyo Gibson.I've seen talented backs and I've seen them

(04:14:46):
being able to function with one another. So I hear that all the time
about well, this ain't my firstrodeo. Same thing out there at Oregon
Wet Buckeervern Norwich and George James.You go look at their numbers. They
all functioned well together. We learnedhow to play as one, so this
ain't my first rodeo. So andplus I know those two kids cause I
have recruited on when they was inhigh school. So I'm up for the

(04:15:07):
challenge and the responsibility of it.Got right behind it. Damn hopeful Carlos.
Just what is your kind of coachingphilosophy? How do you get the
best out of your running backs?I get the best out them cause I
love the young man. My mainfocus is to change the hearts and minds
of them, and they'll play forme. I had just got through reading
Coach Trestle's Winners Manual, and it'ssome day that I took from that book.

(04:15:30):
You have your purpose and you haveyour goals, alright. My purpose
is to serve and portant to theyoung men. Now my goals is a
football coach. All of them takecare of themselves. So that's one of
the ways. I'm just real relationshipbase and I'm very detailed at this position.
I I know y'all heard me sayit before, and I'm go'na keep
saying. This is the worst coachposition in football. It's terrible, guys,

(04:15:52):
hire anybody to coach this position andrecruiters. CARLS Locker is not a
recruiter. I'm an elite relationship builder. But I coached this position. I'm
about coach, so that's who Iam. So I'm gonna pouring to these
kids. I think they kind ofseeing it now. And I jumped in
day one I'm ready to coach.And the phrase, you know, soft
batched cookies. Where did that phrasecome from? Kind of what was this
one boy? Let me tell youabout that boy. I've been called everything

(04:16:15):
but the name the child of Godby the people at the other places I
left. So that I've been getting. Pillsbury needs to give me a deal
because I've been getting I been gettingsome DM and texts do some of it.
Some of them have been so funny. The Saubat's cookiet thing came from
just having a frame of mind,a mental toughness. It had nothing to

(04:16:37):
do with guys getting in the portaland anything. Now, most people say
I'm a Saftbat's cookie for leaving there, 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 decision I made, so it
took great strength to do that.So I'm telling you, if I literally
in my DMS, it's some it'ssome great comedians out here that had been

(04:17:00):
sending me like tons of cookies outlike it's funny right behind him, Tony,
how are you going about the assessmentof the talent in the room?
Uh over the past week or two? How much is that on field?
Off field? Like? What's theprocess of getting to know who you have
as players? Well? I brokedown well me being a guy that loves

(04:17:21):
the running back positions, and Ialready broke those kids down cause I recruited
him out of high school. Youknow, Q is from where I'm from
in Montgomery. I was one ofthe first guys to offer him just watching
him great contact balance, creative runner, great hands and trey. I recruited
him out of Virginia exceptional short air, your bursting quickness and things that I'm

(04:17:42):
gonna help him get better on.And then I recruited James Peeples out of
t out of San Antonio, Texas. I knew what he was gonna what
he was gonna be TC and Sam. Those two kids I'm getting to know
and I'm gonna help them improve thatgame, but we got different runners in
there. I like to call myself. Uh, I'm in love with this

(04:18:02):
position. So I get the breakdown runners and help their game. So
talented, talented room, very talented. Uh far back Uh, Jeremy Birmingham
podcast couch. Uh, how doyou swear that that the soft past cookies
are actually the best cookies to Philiprittmix and or those are way better than
the country chips and white things withchermany. I mean, do you do
you have to first find a balancethere or somewhere. Well, for me,

(04:18:26):
I'm actually not eating any cookies.Nah, I'm just saying I'm not
eating any cookies this year. Igave it up for a fast or no
sweets for me for the whole year. That's something I gave up. So
they the term the south bast cookieterm. Look, guys, I actually
took that from I represent the highschool coaches of meThe, Tennessee. I

(04:18:48):
actually took that form Uh. Guynamed coach Slocum, he used to always
say that soft bast cookie. Iactually stole that from him. I give
him credit for it, and Itell him all the time he said,
you I should have branded that,cause you done took it and ran away
with it. But that's just wherethat comes from. So that that now
was standing. As you get toa high standing and start to look around
the country, every organ's a bigplace. That's a that's a major job

(04:19:10):
with How how do you think thatRarey your opposite the logo or ja right
the blocko? When you get outout of living free and trail, how
does that change the way that youfeel you're either received or or does it
add a different level to to justfeeling like I could go anywhere and get
anybody in the country. And that'sthe sagest thing for me. This is
a great place. Oregon is agreat place too. But guess what,

(04:19:36):
whatever I put on, I knowwhat I'm going to represent for me?
I n I N I know whowho put me here? Uh? I
know I represented something higher, youknow. Like I told you, I
know what my purpose is. Mypurpose is to porting to people. So
whatever logo I have on, I'mstill gonna be doing the same thing.
So this is a great logo.Great logo by well, another logo every

(04:20:00):
day it's across I see around myneck. I know what I represent.
So that's the greatest logo I couldever wear, So it don't matter what
other logo I have on. Igot that one though. I'm going to
any house and be a recruit.Uh uh deep right camera tiqu Robinson and
the athletic So which you you mentionedthe time if Memphis and them's four nfoll
Going back sh you mentioned there?Who you learned from that time that you

(04:20:23):
and you take over to managing yourgroup and kids? What did I learned
from them? I just building ajust teaching the kids. We live in
such a selfish world though, andI can tell the kids all the times,
it'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
is it wasn't four five teaching themhow to be a bo boy? Being

(04:20:48):
one? I tell you them inall time, it doesn't cost you anything
to celebrate another man's success. Soteaching them how to be one, and
then once they learned to be one, they function and they feed off one
another. So that's what I learnedfrom being there in Memphis. Road Carl
started your career in law enforcement,kind of influence you as a coach and
kind of shape where you are,Oh, well, I just got through

(04:21:11):
talking to somebody about that today.When I first got in this profession and
I got my own room in WesternTech, I was asked, no,
how was I was gonna be ableto handle my room? I said,
Man, I had a part withfifty one inmates. You talking about me
having got six or seven guys?Are you kidding me? I'm talking about

(04:21:33):
me having to do traffic stops.So going on domestic no vioence calls,
it's simple easy. No people donnaknow what you care. Also know you
gotta have a certain demeaning about yourself. So when I walk into the room,
it's the reason why I go trainevery morning. This is when it's
the same thing when I was apolice officer. You look a certain way
kind of deter people from doing certainthings. So that reason why I go

(04:21:56):
train every morning. I'm gonna lookjust as good as my boys look.
So it helped out a lot.In other words, From right Austin Ward
the podcast Carls, Welcome to Columbus. What would it mean to I don't
know, revolutionize the way running backsor coach? What does that take?

(04:22:17):
I ain't I'm not gonna say Revolutionarizjust good. It's some good running back
coaches out here. Everybody's different.It's some great coaches out here. I
just want the head guys who saythat on these jobs to not just hire
guys. As you know, allcoaches on your staff should be great recruiters,
not just some running back coach.We coach a position. We developed
players as well. I just wantthe coaches to realize, Hey, you

(04:22:40):
know what, let me look andbe thorough about this guy that I'm hiring
for this job. Is he teachingthe position? Is he development the position?
Because you're not gonna hire anybody justcoach quarterbacks, are you. Well,
it shouldn't be like that for therunning back position either. And I'm
only passionate about it because I playedit. I love it, so it's
the only position I want to coach. Could I coach other positions? Yeah?
I played in college too, butI love the running back position,

(04:23:03):
so I just wanted to see itcoach well to May podcasts, Yeah,
a million questions. So that's acouple. Number one, when you when
you when your wife whatever, yougot the message stuff? Or are we
moving again? What was what washer reaction? Nah? She she just
new guy had give us, gaveus a new assignment. She w it
was never like we're moving again.Let me tell you, guys something I

(04:23:23):
grew up. My mom was inthe military, so I lived everywhere.
I lived in Panama of South America. I'm used to picking up and moving.
I lived in Fort Riley, Kansas. Montgomery's home. Meph's my second
home, so I'm I'm used tomoving now. My wife it was different
for her, but she just knewguy that gave us a new assignment.
So it's time to go. Whatdid uh? What did coach Day tell

(04:23:44):
you when he heard you that hewants out of you? That may be
different. It's not slamming somebody else, But what did he say he wanted
you to bring to the running backroom. I think he did his research
on me. He said he wantedthe guy to to develop the position.
It's not taking a shot at thecoach that was here who I'm friends with.

(04:24:04):
He said, they want somebody toreally get I like our edge guys
that we picked up, and I'mexcited to work with them. You know
much about how we played against himLeonarfloyd and what's been kind of your earlier
him. I think He's super skilled, Russia well, good length, and
he's more athletic than I even realized. And I think guys like him,

(04:24:26):
when they come to our scheme arethe best is brought out of him.
So I'm excited to see what potentialhe has. He's year nine, so
I feel like you, as ad lineman, you can keep improving all
the way through ten years in thisleague. So I'm excited to see what
he's got. How old did youknow soors So when he was assistant here

(04:24:48):
and had gotten to know him alot better? With's the relationship maybe right
now? I know him pretty well. He was always just a good dude
around the facility. He did ourball meetings, so he's in front of
a group. He's a good leader. He knows the scheme really well,
which is good. I was happyto see him promoted. He called me

(04:25:11):
in the off season, we talked. I just congratulated him, and I
think he's gonna bring something similar towhat we had with the Miko. It'll
be good. Do you know BrandonStanley well at all? I mean,
obviously Joey played for him. Idon't know too much about him. I've
obviously heard from my brother, ButI don't even think i've said high yet.

(04:25:32):
I haven't ran into him yet,but I'm sure i'll get to know
him. When you say it lookssimilar to the Miko of the energy or
system, maybe a little different energy, but I think just knowing the system
from the front to the back,I think he knows how it ties in,
and he's been around with some reallygood coaches, so I think it'll

(04:25:56):
be pretty pretty seamless, and Ithink will be far and all cylinders.
You're three months removed from the superBowl now, so just how have you?
I guess digested it, and Iguess physically everything good to go.
Yeah, I feel really good.I think it's been one of my better
off seasons of just kind of itwas a long year, so I took
it nice and slow to get backinto it. Not as young as I

(04:26:21):
once was, so I'm taking alittle a little slower, but everything's great.
I'm feeling as good as I felt. I'm excited to actually get some
practice in. Last year was kindof tough, getting thrown in week one
after I walked through, so thatwas another reason I'm excited to be here,
is just to get practicing a littlebit in season practice is one thing,

(04:26:45):
but actually being able to work yourstuff and not have a game coming
up is good. With the SuperBowl unfortunately, I know how to bounce
back from tough losses, so itwas rough for a little bit, but
no, just annoying when people bringit up. Since the last season,

(04:27:07):
we've seen a Rock on TV commercialsand on the stage with Kluke Coombs and
throwing out the first pitch of theGiants game. But he seems like a
guy that's totally unaffected by celebrity,which he has now. But what have
you noticed in his leadership style andthe way he carries himself any difference at
all. I think he's definitely gettinga little more vocal within the building.

(04:27:27):
And uh yeah, I mean Idon't think he's ever gonna change. I
don't think he's somebody that's gonna changeeven when he gets paid next year.
So he's he's a man of faithand he kind of reminds me of Scotti
Scheffler, but except for just superhumble and really good kid. And yeah,

(04:27:56):
he's definitely famous. It's famous,you know, Shuffler. I don't.
Just from watching Armstead get released obviouslymeant so much to the defensive line
into the team. I mean,Colin john were prey open that they were
willing to talk about trading deebo orare you at you? Does that just

(04:28:18):
another what's that feel like in thelocker room when those sort of jowls happened.
I didn't even know that happened andI wasn't here, But you're talking
about this offseason Armstead will in alarmEr released, So that's certainly one thing.
Yeah, it's a tough business,for sure. You have to have

(04:28:40):
thick skin and I haven't gone throughthat, but I think you just have
to understand that it is a businessand the team's going to try and get
as good as it possibly can withor without you, and you have to
look out for yourself. That's whyyou go through holdouts and do certain things
that seem selfish in the moment,but it is what it is, and

(04:29:03):
when everything's settled, we're gonna cometogether as a team and try and go
get one Nick, what's the overallfeeling around the group right now? Like,
how much does it feel like theexcitement of the ramp up to the
season, even though it's early,it feels good. It's been a couple
of days for me. So Ilike all the new guys. I'm getting
to know everybody, but I thinkthe past is in the past and we're

(04:29:27):
ready to go. Do you talkto Be? Can you talk to Be
at all about handling the business partof this? He's going through something similar.
We chat a little bit, butnot too much about the details.
I just told him keep his headup and try and stay positive through it
all. Over your first impressions whenyou heard what your schedule would be in

(04:29:47):
that Aaron Rodgers' first up, it'llbe fun. Yeah, it's gonna be
gonna be good on me kind ofalluded to this, to the fact that
last year you had hold out thataffected you somewhat early in the season.
If you hadn't had that experience,would you be here right now? I

(04:30:08):
mean, was that part of themotivation for being here early, just to
have the opposite No, I don'tthink that's one of the reasons. But
I just talked to Kyle and hekind of asked me, h, He
kind of stated how he felt aboutwhy it would be good for me to
be here and asked if I agreed. And I agree. So it's not

(04:30:33):
like I'm missing too much. Ithink I'm out here. It's a little
less workload than I'm doing back home, so it's kind of a good active
recovery thing for me. And I'mgetting football stuff, football working specifically,
so that's good. I'm not it'snot compromising my training at all, and
I get to meet all the guys. It's positive. How did Joey kits?

(04:31:03):
Oh no, he's he's there.He's got a new regime over there.
I actually thought I was coming nextweek until recently, so I was
gonna have one more week at home, but we're both in California. I've
come in and thought we were goingto lose or have have a bad year.
I felt like every year when Itell you things are feeling good and

(04:31:26):
I feel optimistic, it wasn't alie. But yeah, I think things
are are definitely, like I said, trending in the right direction. Everybody's
on the details. I'm sure it'sa word that you've heard a million times.
So yeah, I think it justfeels like it feels like coach is
leading the team the way it shouldbe led. It has a feel of

(04:31:52):
being back in college, you know, with with coach Urban Meyer and you
know, the message is 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 doing
things, and everybody's following that,And I think it's impressive the details that
everybody have been on, has hasbeen on, the effort and just the

(04:32:15):
competitiveness that that's been going on overthe last few weeks. Yeah, it's
it's it's been great. How muchdo you appreciate that the stopping just described
the way jingles we shouldn't eat inthe messaging doesn't eat mixed up. I
appreciate that. I mean it's Iguess it's easy to appreciate when you kind

(04:32:40):
of see it working and you seeguys improving, getting better. I just
think the details are really important.You can pretend that leaving your shoes all
a mess or your locker mess isn'ta big deal, and what matters is
playing football. But I think allthose tiny details and things kind of add

(04:33:00):
up and leak into the important stuff, like what you're doing on the field.
So if you can have your toebehind the line, or have your
locker and order and all these things, they kind of stack up into performing
well and and playing well when thingscount, So you know, I appreciate
that. It's it also hasn't beena fight with the guys in the locker

(04:33:22):
room. They buy in and youknow, it's a lot of young guys,
and I think they're hungry to learn, hungry to compete and win.
You know, it's just an example, whether it's we talked about first day
you have your shoot, if youcould, if you could spend the time
on these small things when nobody's watching. I think, like I was saying,

(04:33:44):
it seems like it might not addup too much, but I think
in the long term it does,and it leaks into other things, whether
you're doing your right assignment on thefield, being late to meetings or all
these things. If you hold astandard and you stay to that standard,
I think it benefits you long term. It's been like Ben Herbert, who

(04:34:07):
has there been anything in his trainingprogram we're working with you that you feel
will benefit you later. Yeah,yeah, definitely. He's he's been great.
He's a no nonsense kind of guy, but he's not an old school
in the sense that he's bringing hisway of doing things and that's the only
way to do things. He understandsthat guys have been in the in the

(04:34:27):
business for a long time. Khalilme and we have a way of doing
things, and all he wants todo is add to that and help you
get better and perform the best hecan. He's he stresses it all the
time that he's a tool for us, and you know he's been He's been
great. The guys love him.The energy brings is awesome, and I

(04:34:48):
think the stuff that we're doing inthe weight room is great, great addition
to stuff that I may may doon the side or whatever that is.
Yeah, I think we I mean, we had a present tation today with
all the certain measurables that are changing, and if you guys are in the
meeting, you definitely see how beneficialhe's been to the team so far.
So obviously staying healthy is is ahuge factor to anybody's success. I'd say

(04:35:15):
it's plagued us a little bit fora while. So yeah, I think
he's he's definitely incredibly beneficial. Youlike, I know at the end of
last season, you might have beenable to Yeah, No, I was
not ready to go last year.No, tried practicing, tried coming back

(04:35:36):
and uh it was it was notgood, but yeah, it was.
Unfortunately, the year wasn't going greatand it just was unnecessary risk for I
mean, my foot could have hadsome real real issues if I came back
too early. So yeah, it'sbeen, it's been. It's been a

(04:35:56):
great off season. My foots feelinggreat, toes good, hand change good.
I mean, there was a listof things last year in my hand,
so all those things are good.Gout surgery on my finger, so
that's feeling good. Yeah, it'sit's nice to be feeling better going into
year nine than you have since maybefive six years ago, which I've said,

(04:36:18):
I've said I've been feeling great thelast couple of years. I'm telling
you it's a real deal this time. But obviously anything can happen. But
I just feel it's fun feeling reallyconfident in your body and being able to
perform. So I could just goout during practice and you know, go
balls to the wall and do everythingthat I feel like I need to to

(04:36:38):
be able to prepare. It's fun. My brother and whoever I trained with
my trainer Todd back home, Ithink they'd be really proud of how I've
been working this offseason and it's justexciting that winning. Was the injuries on

(04:36:59):
the Grevey game, you kind ofyeah, it was a bit of a
build up, a little bit ofan overreaction, but you know, it's
just tough. It comes sometimes likethat, and I just felt felt really
defeated coming back, had a brokenhand. I'm like, oh, yeah,
I get to play Boom first seriesfoot Pops. Thought I'd have to

(04:37:19):
get surgery, and all these thoughtsflooded through my head. Broke down a
bit, and yeah, it justhurts. You know, you're losing,
You're getting injured. You've felt likeyou prepared really well in the off season,
and then the year before you hadgrowing surgery, so you know,
a lot of things build up.Yeah, you don't get a break if

(04:37:40):
you're injured. Everybody wants to goon. Fans are very nice, but
no, I just I'm grateful thatI feel this way. I'm still still
nicey Ripe twenty eight, so nottoo old yet, but yeah, I'm
just excited. I can't remember whatthe original question was at this point,

(04:38:04):
something about my body, how closeyou and Gift were, How frustrating was
it that you couldn't you know forone of those last three games. It
was frustrating, but I mean,GIF was had my back the whole way.
I think for gift, for anybut for for the whole team,

(04:38:27):
just to show what it means tome. It would have been important for
me to be out there, butI literally couldn't. I tried to practice,
injured my footworse the very first playI was and in practice, So
no chance that was happening unless Iwanted to throw my next season away as
well. But no, I'm justI'm proud of him for what he did

(04:38:48):
with the team, how he handledit, and I need to call him
back. Actually sorry, GIF.Yeah, I'm happy he gets to stay
close by the with the Rams anduh, I'm just proud of all we
accomplished here together over the years andand we'll be close for the rest of
our lives. Was the foot injury. It was this guy basically a foot

(04:39:11):
sprang. Yeah, I sprained onearea of my foot, then when I
tried to return, I sprained anotherarea. Was able to avoid getting surgery,
which is kind of the main goal, But yeah, it was.
It was tough when it comes tothe addition of but Dupree when he felt
like he's kind of brought to theto the room and could bring on the

(04:39:33):
field. Yeah, it's when Iheard we got my brother some I don't
know, maybe my brother told me. I'm like, really, we just
got Bud Like, that's no,that's no small pickup. He's a seriously
elite pass rusher. Has had sometrouble with injuries as well, so I
understand how that is, but notonly him as a player, but as

(04:39:55):
a personality. I heard Khalil justsaying he's he's a fun guy. He's
a funny guy and and have thatin the room. Another vet is always
a great addition. But I'm justexcited to have him and Tuley and to
be able to rotate like that andnot drop off at all when we come
off the field is huge. Andnow Tuley is going into a second year.
Just what do you what are youkind of What are some of the

(04:40:17):
maturity maturity areas you see from him? You know, I'm gonna say not
much, And that's a compliment becausehe was already mature in those areas.
I mean, he's on it everythingplaybook wise, always doing his job,
working hard, just refining his techniqueand pass rush. I mean, we

(04:40:37):
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 Tuli. I've loved him sincethe first day he's he's walked into the
facility, and I know he's justgonna continue to get better. What do
you think of the addition of JoeAlt? Yeah, yeah, I'm gonna
need to beat him up a littlebit in camp. So so he's ready.

(04:41:00):
But no, I think anything toprotect our number ten is a good,
good investment. So he seems likea real solid dude. Haven't talked
to him too much, great build, seems like he has good hands,
good feet, strong, We'll see. We'll see in a few weeks when
I lay a helmet in his chinhow he holds up. But it'll I'll

(04:41:25):
take it easy on him. No, Rashon's a beast. Did you know
coach Harbond before he came here?And if he did, just what were
those first couple of conversations like that? Yeah, probably have crossed paths with
him. Maybe maybe not. ActuallyI think what was it his first year

(04:41:47):
when I was a junior, Sohe kicked his ass as usual at Ohio
State. No, No, theyjust want A championships. I'd say they
probably have the bragging rights right now. I'm like the guy talking about his
old high school. Oh I rememberwe used to kick No, but no,
yeah, no, the rivalry isdead. I was just saying this

(04:42:11):
morning, you know, nine yearsand kind of forget about that. I'm
not a great alumni. Sorry,sorry, coach, but no, it's
great. That's what's great about theNFL is you just have guys from all
backgrounds. You could hate their gutsone one year, and then you come
on the same team and your brothersand you're all working towards one goal together.

(04:42:32):
So our first talk together was great. I just sat down with them,
went up into his office and choppedit up about life mainly and his
opportunity here and how much it meansto him. And uh, yeah,
I think he's a special guy.I think he's the way he conducts himself.
He's an interesting cat for sure.And I'm still still feeling them out.

(04:42:52):
But one thing you can't denies thathe loves football and his main goal
is to win football games. Andthat's what we need. When you see
him working out with you guys andand pushing his lives and doing all this
stuff. Just how interesting is that? Yeah, I mean he was a
he was a great player himself,and I think he's always been you know,

(04:43:14):
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 that is being with the guys and
and the connections he makes. SoYeah, to to see a guy like
that come in and embrace it alland kind of be part of it himself

(04:43:38):
is important. Your initial impressions ofCoachman during the defensive same, Yeah,
it's funny to go from old gift, old gift to this little young guy
who's my age. I wouldn't wantto get thrown into a room with me
and Khalils his age. But no, he's been great. I love and

(04:44:00):
with him a little bit, welittle sarcasm back and forth, but no,
he's great. He's uh, he'svery talks very fast, and I
don't as you know, so sometimesI gotta be like slow down, coach,
come on. But no, he'sgreat. I'm excited, you know,
to get closer as the years,as the year goes on, and

(04:44:22):
I think he has. He hasa lot of passion for the position,
and all he wants to do islearn and and help us to improve.
So I'm excited about him and Ime and I do miss Giff. 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 Linebergers in Michigan. Did

(04:44:48):
you ask about Jesse? Did youask about doing? Okay, you asked
about Jesse. Oh my god,I was talking about freaking doing the whole
time. You guys are so confused. No, sorry, I thought we
I thought I was. I thoughtyou mentioned coach Rony. No, no,
coach Mentor has been great as well. Yeah, they've both been great.

(04:45:10):
Sorry, run that back. No, he's been good. Uh yeah,
very knowledgeable guy. Same thing.I'm excited to get to know him
more as the year goes on.Have you worked Have you worked much jes
Yeah? No, I have not. I don't know if I've said one
word to him, but more wordsto come down the road. Like you

(04:45:37):
said, you've been in year sincetwenty sixteen. Just what are some of
this stuff? You just someone ona ramble about the wrong guy for fifteen
minutes walking what Yeah, what theheck? So actually that's literally not the
person. Yeah, figured out what'ssomething that you you worked unduring the off

(04:46:07):
season, something to improve your gameor is there something that you can Usually
my answer is pretty consistent that Ijust continue to try to prepare myself physically,
whether that's my sprint work or agilitywork and my lifting, but yeah,
just to get everything feeling great.I dealt with those injuries, so

(04:46:30):
I had to kind of ramp itup with my finger and foot and all
those things. But now I'm I'mfull full speed out there, and I'm
just going to continue to do whatI know, uh will prepare me for
the season. And uh, Iknow I'm gonna get plenty of technique work
and position work when I'm out here. So for now, I'm going to

(04:46:52):
spend these five weeks really getting uhpreparing my body's workouts. Competitive again another
competitive all that stuff. Yeah,Yeah, it's usually too hot out there
for much competition. We're just tryingto survive. So but yeah, it's
always it's a it's a silent competitionbetween between each other, be like Peeking's

(04:47:15):
like what was his time? Washis time? But no, yeah,
it's always you can never have anoff day when when you're out there and
he's he's warming up like a beat, like a freaking robot every day out
there, so there's there's no offdays. Have you got you and have
talked at all and out? Imean, I need when you were having

(04:47:36):
a contract thing, do you haveguys get to talk about that anybody?
Oh? Yeah, I mean it'sit's a conversation, not a not really
a serious conversation, but something that'scome up before. But yeah, I
mean it would be cool. Itwould be cool at some point. I
I always thought of myself being somebodythat will here and retire here, which

(04:48:02):
I think not many people do onone team, and I think would be
a cool thing to accomplish. Butyou never know. I'm gonna worry about
this year. First, guys,it's kind of we're going a food story.
But so you guys have like thelowest or second lowest food catch area
in the NFLPA survey last year,and you better moved to the facility.
Like you talk a lot about foodand how you did some time? Is

(04:48:25):
it fine? Have you looking forwardto the food upgrades at all? Have
you thought about it at all?Yeah? No, it's Wolfgang Puck or
whatever is the is the word.Yeah, that's great. I've been working
with my chef for seven years now, so she's been great, so I've
never really had to worry about thattoo much. But yeah, my weight's

(04:48:45):
good. I've been eating a lotthis offseason, so that's good. But
yeah, I'm excited to maybe beable to Sorry Christina, but maybe I
won't need a chef next year.I'll have I'll have my I'll have my
Wolfgang Puck food and that'll be good. So yeah, I'm excited about the

(04:49:07):
move, found a new spot,excited to kind of learn the area and
all that, even though I won'tever leave my house. Were not you
not need a lot of the facility, just as a chef was doing it
all. We all eat here sometimes. You know, it's may not be
the best setup, but they'll prepareyour food. That's that's plenty good.

(04:49:29):
My man airic character shout out.No, they work harder than literally anybody
in the entire facility, so theymay not have the best means back there,
but they've they freaking worked their buttsoff and after like twenty years of
Breeze and just kind of it wasjust kind of built on top of each
other, on top of each other. It's like kind of a lot to
kind of take in. Do youdo you find that they kind of turn

(04:49:51):
it down to something new. We'restarting to like zero with everybody. It's
just a little bit easier to kindof get everybody on the sad. Yeah,
I feel like it's way easier.Like you said, it was kind
of more of a Drew Brees style, uh the last playbook, so uh
all credit to them though they builtthat around him, around his players.
But uh, like I said,it's it's more. Uh this playbook is
more uh for uh matchups, anduh, I feel like it's gonna be

(04:50:15):
better for us. How do youthink it's gonna really take advantage of your
skill 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
on what we can do and andbuilding on that. Uh. I feel
like it's playing to the player strengths. So I feel like it's gonna help

(04:50:36):
us a lot has been around theway this offense will have a lot more
speed. And how has that transitionbeen so far? I mean, like
I said, it's building around theplayers strengths. So of course we got
speed uh uh with me or uhshe and ati receiver, so uh,
just building around that. Uh.Like I said, playing to our strengths
and be able to capitalize off that. Feel like it's gonna help us a

(04:50:56):
lot, well most of like uhthe up tempo as strict and you know,
getting a lot of plays in unlesstime. Oh yeah, yeah,
yeah, that's definitely gonna play abig difference. Like I said, coming
from the West Coast, Uh,they bringing that stand for an offense here.
So I'm excited to be able tobe a part of that. For
you personally, what what's the nextlevel look like for you? What do
you what are you trying to accomplishthis year? Just staying consistent, man,

(04:51:18):
a couple of upside downs last year, just building off that. It's
always always gonna work on the physicalpart, but being able to bounce back
after a bad game the mental mentalaspect, Uh, just learning learning that
last year and be able to buildon that this year is a huge part,
you know with Mike go on,did you take it upon yourself to
kind of be that voice in theroom or to take a step forward even

(04:51:41):
further as Uh, I mean it'snot really. I mean everybody kind of
grown in the NFL, so it'sjust on you to be able to have
that standard. Like I said,I just try to do that lead by
example. I'm not really outspoken,but just lead by example where hard,
trying to dominate every rep and hopefullythey follow after that. After the catch?

(04:52:04):
Is that you feel like that's thestrength of yours that maybe wasn't utilize
I don't know if utilizes the rightword, but you could show more.
Yeah, it's an offense that uhis built around that. Uh just catching
the ball in space, catching theball over the middle or even on the
outside, uh with with space andseparation. I feel like it's built around

(04:52:26):
having yards have to catch. SoI'm definitely proud to be in the system,
like I said, and I'm excited. But is that is that a
mindset to like being good at yardsafter the catch? Like? Oh yeah,
I mean of course, I meanyou don't want to get tackled by
the first person, and my mindsetis trying to take every take everything to
the house, you know, everytouch. So I definitely got to do
that more and definitely try to workon that and practice. A great dude

(04:52:52):
man some some that I definitely needed. Some that he relates to me.
Uh, just from background I wasin. Uh, he's a great coach,
great leader, Uh, motivational andUh. Like I said, I'm
excited to have him around and forhim to push me is everything that I
need. So you're talking about likementally bouncing back, you know from tough

(04:53:14):
performances or whatever. Like, didyou try to find your resources gonna help
you figure out how to do that? Oh? Yeah, I mean it's
older guys. Uh, uh tellme that's natural. Just have bad games.
But uh, just having the standardthat I have for myself and the
expectations I have for myself gets hardsometimes. So just be able to be
hard on yourself but at the sametime just let it go and just bounce

(04:53:37):
back for the next game is somethingthat I learned last year. You're one
of those guys that feels like youshould always have a certain level production.
Are you okay with those certain gameswhere the defense is so focused on you,
the other guys have great games andyou're just running good routes and then,
uh yeah, I definitely was waslike that early in my career,
especially in college. What I foundfound out it's just about winning, really,