Press Conference (Caleb Downs)

Episode Transcript

(00:00):
And I believe in this team.Okay, maybe this isn't true. You

(00:03):
play like, ohiose they finished secondthe first time around, because what is
that true? Place your fi nocom nothing that's correct. But obviously when
they were recruiting you still back.It's a couple of years ago, Jim
knows was in here. A lotof defensive to hop was in years it
Maybe it was more telling me whatit could look like. And now I
guess seeing what's looked like over thelast few years or that maybe matters where

(00:25):
they would telling it back then andlooked for defensis That's definitely true. Uh,
they played great defense last year andjust seeing how watching the film and
seeing how they progress and seeing howtheir defense played last year definitely helped me
make a more sound decision and havingmore facts about what it would be getting
into now they told you, likewhat's ther those safeties about? They maybe
see you at more so the adjusterthan the bandit. But at the end

(00:52):
of the day, I mean,I I just wanna play where I can
get on the field. Who playsits defense look like what they were pitching
you on as a regroup, Isit live lived up to what they were
trying to tell you what's what Ilooked like him? Yeah, it definitely
has. Do you ever connection withCook though, with what's came around different
pace of the navies? Jo verygenuine person. He he always keeps it

(01:15):
straight with you. Everything that hesays, he has come to fluition,
so I can't knock him on anything. He's uh very close to my pops
too. They grew up together.So just knowing that relationship with him and
our relationship together, is I trI trusted him? You look like you
sort of campaigning so your from princeuh next year? Or is that something
that you wanted keep doing when peopleliked you? Right aday? I did

(01:38):
like doing that at Alabama, butat the end of the day, that's
the coach's decision. So I can'treally uh speak on that right now.
What are your trying to do?Great guy, very int uh intelligent.
A lot to learn from him,he knows this defense very well. Just
being able to learn from him andsee how he sees the game, well,

(01:59):
I think that over very progress mindUh my development feel really good at
the gabate. You made stuffer thematter. But if you're those last place
there always that you started get motherto see you like in your outside if
you don't move a lot of backand forth. Maybe maybe something about beast
reported, maybe something you'd got usyou that at day, anything you'd like

(02:21):
me to get brought in? Andhow would you really get guy with you?
Sis? Hey? How you doingthough? Uh? Be good?
I've been good. It was.There was definitely some back and forth.
There was a lot to think about, a lot to process between me and
my family, so it wasn't reallymuch to say to the media or anything.
But at the end of the day, I made the decision and I'm

(02:42):
here, so I'm glad to behere pretty much as how do you would
you have? All many? Howdo you play that? I think the
development from when I was kid.I've been training with my dad and my
brother since I was four or fiveyears old, So I don't wanna say

(03:06):
I was built for this, butI mean, at the end of the
day, I've been doing this sinceI was a kid, so there's barely
been no change. What did youkid? It stands out right now as
you look back up it about mixedsafety? What what what made him special?
Very disciplined person. He was committedevery single day to being his best
self, and not many people canactually say that and be truthful with that.

(03:29):
He was the same person every singleday, and he taught me a
lot about commitment, about being disciplined, consistency, everything that goes with that
and being great. I feel likethat's what he embodies with with that in
mind. What what is it aboutsafety deepens that that wcyche you? What
do you know? What I mean? Everybody makes a a a pig kids

(03:49):
somewhere in their lives or way offthere your big fants. What what is
it about playing kids fants that recipeyou? I feel like it's being a
part of a a bunch of movingparts that have to work together. The
offense has to do their own thing, but the defense everybody has their own
responsibility. And when everybody can dotheir own responsibility, everybody's gonna make plays

(04:12):
and everybody's gonna be able to succeed. So I just feel like being a
part of that and trying to helpmyself and help my team be better in
terms of that, that's a that'sa big thing for me. What what
what did you get some good samabout that assay? Obviously it's known to
Pechers's good roots the teams. Whatwhat do your party? You know you
would in terms of that counts outa lot about how to see the game

(04:34):
pre snap and during the play,a lot about going into the game in
terms of how you watch film,how you study, what things to see
from the other team, everything likethat. That's that's what he teaches.
That what stands out it is knownright now. I mean he used to
come off with us. It's barelyintelligence. Got what what's the imperson who's

(04:55):
played like me? Uh? Veryintelligent for sure. He sees a lot
and 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
that will allow me to develop indifferent ways. Your parents comes agree.

(05:18):
Very instinctual player, very athletic,being able to make plays all over the
field, being able to see playsbefore they happen. So if you were,
I think, but say to host, you did I just played bassways?
How much your is it to youunderstand a lot of reasons you behaved
into a game and take it somuch a loss that a teacher, I

(05:43):
think I understand it more. Imean I definitely can't understand it from a
uh Ohio state perspective, cause Ihaven't played, and then I haven't been
through that, so I can't reallyspeak on how they feel. But I'm
definitely hungry to be missing with myself. Do you feel the white? What
is it about here? I meanwhen he plays the next day with the
greatest book, he argues with aboutthat the north as the teams, does

(06:06):
them put that face to you?And what just what is it about women?
He's like to borg, you know, he just that's the first time
around, and then the second timegame did they come back at you?
How to me together? And whatwas it about gas whim? Next time?
Teacher? He was the same person. He was, uh, very
genuine when I was getting recruited inhigh school, and he was very genuine

(06:28):
when I talked to him two weeksago. Okay, So just being able
to understand that he's about the peoplethat he works with, and he's very
he believes in the people that he'saround, and he believes in the people
that he believes in. So justknowing that and knowing what he stands for
that means a lot. He said, you said it was a lot of
back. But when during cold oh, just I know everything you said in

(06:50):
the fashions, what going how whatwas that like for your age kids?
That life still time mass going recruitingon steroids. I'd say I got like
a hundred and two calls in oneday, so just uh, well not
in one day, probably seven oreight hours, but just being able to

(07:13):
minimize what my mind was going through. That was a that was a big
thing for me. And being ableto make a sound decision off of what
I knew hasse was. That's nonbrand pudument walks ass adults, really kind
of stuff you physical upon making soundpretty much you have to go silent.

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You have to be able to controlyour circle in terms of getting your opinions
from people that you trust in,people that you know you can count on.
So that was the biggest thing forme, just being able to understand
what the people around me were thinkingand how I wanted to go about it

(07:54):
right That sad topics At the endof the day, I love playing football
and that's what I'm here to do. I'm not here to make money or
do anything like that. I knowthere's a lot of opportunities here in terms

(08:15):
of the city of Columbus, butat the end of the day. I'm
here to help this team with footballgames and I'm here to do my best
and try to develop cause if youwill to do to the uh. I
I played in cold throughout my life, so it's not I mean Georgia's different,
but I mean I have had somecold experiences, so that's not a

(08:39):
really a big thing for me.Xpans for it. How much would you
talk to the porch as a quietstate cook here for the spot with what
your rules get Let you talking aboutpublic school also sickness for the cause I
discussed Okay, I'm gonna get publicto do this that it was discussed,
but it wasn't. It's not somethingthat was a deal worker or anything for
me. So I wasn't. Thatwasn't the biggest the biggest yes or no

(09:03):
for me. And what you meanwhere you go with the expectations of our
lives state the same expectations that I'vehad my whole life, the same expectations
that we had at Bama to wingames and dominate every game and go win
a championship. When you were afew play for what the lad non good
ones and saw the culture they eversaw the in Berlie, You thinking of

(09:26):
for a couple of leagues if there'ssimilarities in approach to how they go about
and try to what it happens.But the you give about this program just
in a couple of teachers think wewere just going about you. They're trying
to getchagal umpionship. It's all aboutthe work, It's all about the process.
It's all about doing everything daily topush yourself to be where we need

(09:46):
to be at the end of theat the end of the ride, how
did the problem you off? Uh? I would say the day of or
day like before the decision, itwould it was m pretty much just sitting
on FaceTime with him and my uncle, uh, just talking about what was
gonna go into the decision and seeingtheir input on what they had to say

(10:09):
about things. You need calm.I'm a I would say, I'm a
pretty respectful person and I respect thepeople that reached out to me, even
if I really wasn't trying to lookat their school. So I'd probably say,
like eighty of'em, you haveto tell to go out for a
tide of ye what you might wantto go though just because of acting or

(10:31):
having that something away, I feellike you have to have some sort of
idea, but people have an ideawhere they're gonna go during recruitment too,
So I wouldn't say it's that bigof a difference, but you definitely have
to have a more of a singularmindset on a few places like what I

(10:52):
wait for? What's this? Fid? Very calm, very I like to
chill out. Not not a lotto do, just uh, hang out
with my people and hang out withmy friends, hang out with my family,
just be around Peoplema, you gotto make fun? How much is

(11:13):
that for me? What can youup? It was? Uh, it
was a highlight for me for sure, just being uh being named at and
going in a relationship with Seawn AlexanderHe's a great person and learning about him.
It was it was definitely an honorfor me. You stuff like that.

(11:39):
I feel like more than just Latethan the Sunny he can compliment each
other. A lot of people inthe secondary can work together to be cohesive
and be uh a brotherhood. Sobut Late Than and Sunny they welcomed me,
and I appreciate them for that.So I think us working together,
we can we can do some realdamage. And if if there's a game
there's a game with what you givethem both to some cases who are thats

(12:01):
a peg because they watch you?What games would you play to s to
as you the best take, Iwould say as a collective the whole season.
You can see the growth. Youcan see the growth from the beginning
season to the end. But Iwould say, okay, Mississippi State or

(12:22):
Texas A and M would probably bethe best too. Interest you, Okay,
what are you the part the pastof this? That's be good?
Uh? I can't say that that'sthat's for God to decide. I can't
really say that it is it better? Is it most fun? You referred
as a high school or referred onthe too, Definitely as a high school,

(12:45):
not as rushed. I would sayyour life the gamest man you gomy
being places that the engine may orsomething like mexical aspect of what happened.
How many from you? I wouldsay, I'm a lead at that.
Being able to watch film and determinewhat are the keys to look at each

(13:05):
pay play. Being able to determinewhich guys I need to change up my
techniques for uh, Being able todetermine what I'm looking at in terms of
before the play and what my teammatesneed to look at before the play.
I would say, I'm I'm eleadeat that and being able to make those

(13:26):
differences each week are a big thingfor me. For the movies, what
strength and positions that you find yourbeing seek exploit ram er Uh, there's
a lot of similarities. Uh.Coach Blue runs a great program and I

(13:46):
love everything that he did for methere and those guys uh that worked there,
like coach you G you J.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
He's a very intense person. Whatdo you as wampas apart? You know

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when you do you wumpar Oh.I love the city. I love being
around here. Uh. I lovethe feel of the town. So just
being a part of it is it'sa great thing for me. I sp
I expect us to be one ofthe best. I expect us to excel

(14:28):
and be better than they were lastyear. I expect us to be elite.
How much do you expect to yourdoor? Expect? Excuse me?
Thought is not what will that twill. I mean, I saw it,

(14:50):
but honestly, it was about memaking my own decision. Uh, me
making the decision that was best formyself. So I mean, he like,
if you're going against hig League,you're going against high, You're going
against you know, with Hero andk Mack and these guys. Now we're
getting really good gradable reps. Thatway. He had a great he had

(15:11):
a great offseason. Uh just allstarted in a weight room with Mick.
I mean, his his weights up, He's thick. He's always been an
explosive guy, but playing with alittle bit of power, you know,
behind that, he's learning to dothat, you know, in the natural
maturation. I mean for all thoseguys, you talk for him, you
talk I mean just his class alone. I mean you're talking to him,
you're talking George, you're talking Tiger, Like those guys are going into year

(15:35):
three, that's when you really startto figure it out your body, the
speed of the game, the technique, the fundamentals. And he's done a
good job of adapting and really growinghimself on the pace that you need to
for a young guy. That's youknow, coming out of the fire a
little bit last year Yeah, hetalked about like being at a better weight
national it's better weight, it's realweight close to three hundred and talks about
being faster and more confident. Isthat where for a center like last year

(16:00):
kind of trial by fire for him? Is it just like how was that
process but not playing at all hisfirst year starting? It's you, it's
for whether it's Carson Hensman or youknow, Johnny Jones, like you get
thrust into real reps and the fullspeed. It's faster than you've ever seen.
And so now he has that bookof work too that he can look
back on, where the understanding ofthe game, the understand of the speed

(16:22):
of the game, the intensity.You know, I've said a thousand times
that he doesn't get incrementally faster orstronger. The game mentally slows down for
him. So he can use hisskill set that way. So what is
that we're talking about. That's hisweight, that's his strength because those numbers
are going up, so he canplay with more pillar strength, he can
play more contact, he can playmore comfortable. Even though his forty time

(16:44):
didn't go from a five to zeroto a four to eight, made himself.
He just jumped right in unbelievable jobboth ways of him just coming in
with shelving the ego that he hadhe really had none and walking in saying
walking into a room, as wetold them when we recruit him, like
you're coming into a room a bunchof good dudes, and then our good

(17:04):
dudes are good dudes. He camein and there was no it's like,
you're here, here's how we do, here's how we operate, and let's
go. And so that learning curvefor all those whether it's a high school
media guy or a veteran media guythat transfers in, there's a learning curve
there, just you know, circlingback to what we had natural maturation a
little bit, because he's been througha little bit of spring ball, he's
been through a little bit of camps, so you're still learning new terminology,

(17:26):
you're learning a new skill set.But he just dove right in and wanted
to be a sponge and wanted tolearn it. He's doing a good job
and he's improving every day, youknow. So that's what's making the battle
and the competition all these graded snapsreally you know good for us is because
they all have that mindset so fromseth awesome, the unit and the group
awesome because there was no combativeness toit. It was let's get in,

(17:48):
let's go, and let's compete andthen let the guys win. Said skill
set, uh, just learning thesame deal all young guys you come in,
you got to learn how to playingfriction. So having you know,
three tech, having a two Ihaving those guys like right in front of
him that every time you take oneof those reps and you're out of your
base or you're in your base,you feel the good, you feel the

(18:10):
bad. So being more consistent thatway, you know, you can't make
moves or shift guys if they're notmentally there. And so for him,
he's got a pretty good football FQ. So he's continued, he's growing every
day, he's working and he's gettingbeat every day too, and he's learning
from those you know, so inthe springtime, you know, we have
saying in our room, we're likein the spring it's yes and it's no,
and I know it's k and owwhy didn't the rep work? What

(18:30):
happened? And how do I makesure I don't repeat the same mistake?
And so whether he's coming in andwatching the tape on his own and then
come up with questions he's grabbing meand watching tape with me, or we're
coming doing stuff as a unit.He's learning so that the same deal of
the game can slow down and hegets more comfortable there in friction. So
I mean he's his weights up,his strengths up. He's spending off season
with Mick. You know, there'sa lot of development that still has to

(18:52):
be had. Obviously not a finishedproduct, but being able mentally for a
guy to handle that, you know, helps a lot. You're doing your
concern similar to Luke a leaner guy. Did you tell him that he paid

(19:14):
you to say that? That mightbe the first time you ever heard that
in his life. No, uh, now, you know, like Luke
Carson whoever it may be, thatthat jump of eighteen to nineteen nineteen to
twenty year old kid, that playsa lot into it too. Being in

(19:36):
a full year with Mick, Imean all those guys you come in at
midyear, like your Devo and Dionand Ian Moore. Right now you're keeping
your head above water. That's yourwhole first year. Now you can actually
get and we can sit, sowhen you sit and talk about a jam,
combo or a lock or whatever thecall may be. To Luke,
he registers that and not like somethingnew, because then there's paralysis by analysis.

(19:59):
So I think the mental part,on top of another year natural maturity
of getting bigger and stronger, that'salways gonna help. You're not gonna guys
here, They're not gonna regress.It's gonna keep adding progress. And how
fast can we get that going.It's what we're working on every day with
him. But said that he wouldhad been ball guard to this point,
and Coach Days mentioned it several timesthat like, Josh could play guard too,
and you guys are trying to workthrough that fire. He's I mean

(20:22):
Josh could play all five. Imean he snapped the ball in high school.
You know, Josh had a greatoffseason. But for you, when
you're going through a spring and it'sfact finding an experimentation, how much do
you want to put them in differentspots or not? Because you also have
an eye on August to try andsettle on a five man rotation. What's
the balance? You have to geta really good gradeable set so that everybody

(20:45):
has numbers of you know, justlike we said before, how many times
have we done a run blocking orpass blocking in this situation so that that
all evens out. So that's it'snot experimentation. It's just making sure that
you get a good book of workto look at in grade. So as
we you know, work guys aroundthe platoons and go just to make sure
that everybody gets good gradable reps.So we can sit back by the end

(21:07):
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 ofthe thought behind that. As you're going
through the spring. A couple ofyears ago, I would you be here?
Office laughed, you know, butthen I said, you know,
it's college football, so who knows, right, what's that like you're enjoying?

(21:33):
Yeah, he just added to anotherpiece of just good people here.
I mean, you're still you're comingto work here with guys every day,
you know, with the kids,we talk about a ton, but then
for us as coaches, the staff, So adding just another good dude that's
in the room. Obviously as hesays something and you know he might speak
in old terms or terms that wehad, you know, maybe be a

(21:55):
little bit of a Rosetta stone,like no, no, this is this.
He's like, yeah, that's right, because that's that happens all coach
is that happened to me when wegot here. At first, I was
at with the coach day sometime withRyan's like, you know, what do
we call this? Because he wasin a system like that before. He
said, oh, this is thisnow? So I think just the you
know, uh translation of Rosettes stonethere help. But just overall standpoint of
adding a great guy that's a greatcoach that's been around. That's he's going

(22:18):
to supplement the room. And everytime you add something new to the room,
then that makes the room better,it makes you individually better. Oh
look how he does that. MaybeI could do that. Maybe I can
bring that to my meeting room.Maybe I can bring that to communication to
the staff or to the kids orwhatever it is. Because he's he's done
it for a long time, andhe's done at a high level for a
long time. So it's good toadd that guy to us and then continues
us to rest the staff for meand Brian and Key and and and everybody

(22:42):
just learning and growing with that kindof specifically, just I mean, does
he from a talent standpoint is doeshe see things sometimes others don't see?
I mean does he? I meanyou know, I mean what does he
kind of boring from the chalkboard aspectof things? Well, I mean what
you're saying, So what does hesee? It's good to have fresh eyes

(23:02):
come in that. Maybe you knowyou're getting a routine and you get in
a rhythm and then all of asudden, running game uh football. You
know, he's one of those guysI think goes in the category has forgotten
a lot of more football than somepeople have learned in their life. But
no, his he I believe hecoached every position on the field, both
sides of Balter's whole career. Soas he looks up and he writes when

(23:25):
he's talking about, well, thiswill linebacker is going to do that,
then he might have coached that atColumbia, right, or this is what
the three text going to read onthe down block of a tackle. Because
he's coached the offensive line and he'sbeen coordinator for a long time. So
just a really good vision of bigpicture understanding. And you know, the
next step and not just being rightnow. Yeah, if he had a

(23:47):
theme or whatever this spring, becauseobviously this seems kind of like a how
to make it or breaking time forhim, but time to step up and
step in. His point was nobodycares. Nobody cares what you know,
what struggles do you have or whateverto get the job done. I mean
it's like if you know what differentlyabout what do you see about? Yeah,

(24:07):
he was competing his butt off.I mean he's kind of living that
way, you know. That's whywe have that the red line over there
when you cross the line. Youknow, Coach State talks about that here
like that. It's it's the gamedoesn't care you're off the field. You
got to come out and step outand do 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

(24:30):
that the game doesn't care. Itdoesn't care 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 threeand a third, the game will love
you back, you know. Andso I think it's the approach mentally that
guys take that way. So yeah, for Tiger that he's he's taking that
approach like he he wants to comein and be a guy. So he's
fighting and clawing and scratching every day. So when he makes a mistake,

(24:52):
he's trying to correct it. Whenhe does it, well, he's trying
to enhance it. And that's whatcompetitive people do and that's what he showed
up to do. So I that'sthat's good that he said that's coming in
on the field been like as acenter And is that difficult when you're coming
into a new offensive line to havethat? Or is there something innate about
the center position if you've been experiencedat it like he has, where you

(25:14):
kind of have that I guess commandon the field over with any offensive sorry
to say it over it, startover again. You're saying the comfort of
center with who? Now? Okay, Yeah, I'm saying, like,
how has his Higgs command of thefield been and hasn't been difficult? I
guess to adjust for him if he'sto have a certain level of offield command
you know at that center position.Yeah, I mean it's on command.

(25:36):
It is just great communication getting everybodyon the same page. Yes, having
a bunch of banked reps helps,but then when you do come into a
new offense. Uh, just likewe talked, you know, with Chip
a little bit earlier. You know, he might have called it yellow and
we call it green or something tosay was that, you know, the
expectation is Yeah, I'm gonna havethe other quote on you. I think

(26:00):
that show just got better now goingin through the three where you can really
look at it and say, wehave veteran players who understand the defense and
understand the position, plus the greatafforts. Jim, what do you like
about Sonny and sutact or about thefirst seas? You know, it's a
it's a change for Sonny because he'splaying in the box, you know,

(26:21):
from a low position instead of droppingin, so things happen a lot faster.
But you know, he he's reactedsuperbly. I mean, he's sure.
He's a guy who's got football intelligence. He understands the scheme, played
a lot of positions. I thinkhe's gonna be great because one of the
biggest, uh parts of being alinebacker is you have to know every all

(26:45):
the pieces around you. Say,you can play fast and uh, Sonny's
showing a lot of that in thefirst two days. The spot where you
yeah, I feel it's it's permanent, but you know in terms of face

(27:06):
and and nickel packaging, you knowit's permanent. But there may be other
things where he'll still have multiricity.You know, there's gonna be packaging.
It gives a mo to fin backat stovel was that never do to He's
just going into a to listen tothirty five pounds now or give us a
DECONDI and it's time. Who's yourmoment ho Steve Im It's just thank yeah,

(27:27):
a little bit of both. Imean, anytime you make a move,
you want it to be right forthe player and for the you know,
the defense and the team. AndI think that fit up naturally.
You know, Sonny. Sonny hadto uh fight to stay lean as a
DV and now he now you knowhe gets to east, you know,
and and and uh and but Ithink it worked out for both of us

(27:48):
to say, well, you know, when you when you when I first
met him, when when I firstgot here, when I think everybody talks
about you know, he's going tobe a linebacker. He's going to be
a linebacker, but I really wantedto see him at safety first. That's

(28:11):
what he wanted to do, That'swhat I wanted to see. You know.
I felt long term in my visionfor him that playing safety early in
his career was going to give hima better perspective of the defense. You
know, had Malcolm Rodriguez who waswith the Lions at Oklahoma State. Now

(28:32):
he's about half a sunny size,but he started as a safety and when
he became a linebacker, he understoodthings a lot better. So my vision
for Sonny was to you know,start him out of safety and then eventually
move him down. How was Hicksdoing and CJ and Sonny competing for the
same spot generally speaking? Yeah,I mean, you know, part of

(28:52):
the time they are you know,part of the time we'll have all three
of them on the field coach,So there's balance there and that they're competing,
and they also could be in thesame package. But got a great
attitude. You know, I've alwaysfelt that CJ has a lot of pressure

(29:14):
on him, you know, beingfrom Ohio, but he's coachable and he
understands growth and our plans for him, and he's got a great attitude and
gay powers. Where's he at histhird year? Probably and it didn't you
didn't see it because he didn't playa lot in the games, But in
our opinion game, you know,the second half of the season, what

(29:34):
we see in practices, it wasprobably one of the most complete guys he
really was. So he made ahuge jump second half of the season in
terms of what he was doing inpractice and when he got into the game,
a huge jump. You know.So I feel like he is a
guy that is going to compete.He's a guy that's going to be ready.

(29:57):
You know. I feel like he'sto NamUs improvements and we can start
to count on it. Are youlooking at just to Will right now?
Or is he a guy that's movingaround to CJ's moving around too, you
know. So you know, youget into a three linebacker package, you

(30:17):
know, Sonny and Cody and cJ. You're you're pretty good right but
now, but you can't just haveone guy, so you know, the
Sonny's not there at the sam thenCJ's got to know how to play it
too, you know, so thatyou can playing gave in and Mike and
Cody can play well, you know, and you still have a great lineup,
so you always have to plan foryou know, okay, we'll start

(30:40):
out this way, but who's who'sin next? So CJ has to know
both positions too. Yeah, areyou are y'all still a four two five
defense? How would you? Imean? Yeah, we're still fortune five?
Yeah, no, absolutely, multiplayers, Absolutely, we're still forty five,
but multiple, multiple deployment at times, you know, we can be

(31:03):
four three. But yeah, youstill got some right, So now you
got Yeah, you got Sonny uhat a sam backer who's who's has experienced
playing safety, you know what Imean? So that that that really creates
more and multiplicity. How does ithelp you do your job now that you
have a full time linebacker's coach andtake one? Yeah, it's uh you

(31:23):
know, just having James initially lastyear was a big bonus because of his
experience and and the way he workswith the players. He's a lot nicer
to them than I am. Youknow, the last year it was good
cop, bad cop. You know, now the bad cops left the room.
So I'm sure the players love it. You know, season, I

(31:45):
think the deface you look at thedefensive line and feel settled. You look
in the secondary. It feels settled. I think outside looking line spot,
what what's there? What? Youknow? Let make you a question on
top top kit mark indition that theright guys to start. Yeah, really

(32:07):
confident. I think adding sunning itinto that makes a guy who's got a
lot of experience, a lot ofplaying time, you know, that really
bolsters that position in that room.So I'm confident in what we have there.
Cody Simon, you know, isa guy who we think is gonna
be great and he's really a leaderor the defense. So I think it'll
be a strange you know. Yeah. R Vel. You know, we

(32:35):
kind of experimented with r Vel atthe d End last year a little bit,
and uh, you know, Ikeep getting asked, you know,
can he be a linebacker? Canhe be a linebacker? And I think
he's gonna be a great linebacker.You know, he just needs growth and
learning. So I would like tojust continue to grow off r Vel mentally

(32:59):
in football and in eligence you knowafter linebacker position. So will there be
a role for him this year?I don't know, because he is so
athletic, you know, he's aguy you kind of look at and say,
I can do different things with youknow, when we get to the
season. You know, that's aguy you can always create something for that
doesn't involve as much thinking, youknow, so he can just go.

(33:22):
But out here, I want tokeep growing him as a linebacker because his
time will come. As far asthe jackets, you say, 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,

(33:44):
you know, so at some pointwe'd like to get through it just
to kind of keep it fresh.Dad, look like Regisiles, what do
you like to do their technique?Size, sport. Yeah, he's got
great speed, you know, goodsize. It's just that he looks like
a nickel. You know, hisskills are his skills are like a nickel.

(34:08):
So you know he's still learning.But you saw Jordan make just cement
tremendous progress with that last year.So we gotta we gotta bring Lorenzo on
that team this year and you're gonnakeep him from there with Mike start.

(34:30):
Yeah, Hero really flashed last yearat times when you go back and watch
the film, so, uh,the fact that we play a lot of
rushing in I mean, that's athat's a guy who's whom he's to have
a good spring for us because he'sgonna be, uh, he's gonna be
next man there, you know.And you know with a guy like Hero,

(34:52):
he starts to really come along.You know, you start to look
at some you know, double eagletype of packaging. You know. My
thoughts are you know, with thewith Jack and j T. You know
that at some point I want totrain them as outside linebackers. You know,

(35:13):
so if you've got Hero Thie leagueof Tie and you get to you
can get to more of you know, uh, you know, five five
guys, five d linemen in thegame, you know, with training guys
like Jack and and j T andKiyata, you know, it's just kind
of been my thoughts, like ifwe're strong inside those those guys can become

(35:38):
more multiple, you know, andI think it's techniques and things that they
can use when they get to thenext level. So that's kind of been
my thoughts too. Expound on thatlittle bit you're saying Jack and j T
possibly with that outside linebacker concept.What exactly would Well, you know,
you're always looking to get the besteleven on the fields, right, So
when when you look at a twelvepersonnel set, you say, okay,

(36:05):
I got you know, Sonny,Cody and CJ with with the four down?
You know, you know, couldwe have another component with you know,
Jack and JT and and three tacklesand Cody and Sonny or Cody and
CJ. You know, I thinkyou know who's gonna be Who's gonna be
the best eleven? You know againstbigger sets? Could it possibly be hero,

(36:31):
you know, versus having a thirdlinebacker? 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 getto that just to see. And like
I said, I feel like withthose guys, the more they know of
how to really be an outside linebackerbetter, it's going to help them when

(36:55):
they get to the next the nextlevel. So it's something I'd like to
do for them to do. Yeah, I'll expect. I mean, Lathan
was making very good progress. Youknow, always loved the way he played,

(37:17):
his attitude, his physicality. Firstyear, you know, he had
some eye violations, you know,he was. He was improving on that
until he got hurt, so youknow, he goes down. I'd say
the responsibility is, you know,first and foremost to uh lead by example.

(37:39):
I could sit there and I cansay all the things I don't want
to say, talk up a stormabout the end of the day. You
gotta just you gotta work the workyou got to do, to do troupposed
to do. And I think that'sgonna ultimately lead guys in the right direction.
So you know, that's the thingthat I can kind of take it
on the most is just lead bysaying, get up here, okay,

(37:59):
well the quick look hurry, I'ma flying standpoint to me, like we
had a good year last year.I mean you know what I mean,
if we if you look back atthe opposite say how far have you come
in net round? Yeah, I'vecame along with It's it's a very say.
I'd argue to say tight end isprobably the most developmental position on the
field. It takes a long timeto get around to. It takes a

(38:21):
lot of work. I think it'sa full process. It's not something that
it's a winner turnaround or a sixmonth turnaround. You come in trying to
catch it on the fly and somethingthat takes a lot of time and attention.
I'm just thankful for you know,my great, great coaching staff and
a great unit around me. Gotsyou back then starting off with you know
rock, from those guys to kid, I think there's been a great example
for the way they're supposed to attackblocking and being a tight end here out

(38:43):
of Ohio State. And I've beenjust you know, thankful to be able
to have that example, fellaway,What are you wait now for? Whatever?
What's it been like? Yeah,well, what's been great? He's
been good in somebody that's came inhumble and is ready to work. That's
that's been like the only words thatI have from not not a minute of

(39:05):
just like many words, but he'shere to get up here to work and
he's done just that. And I'mjust the we'd got to have you learned
a lot luck walking, that's kindof hits are all in fun, like
I know you guys work on SorryBill, you've met more guy anything,
but also that's what he's known.You guys learned a little bit. You
guys learn a little bit walking.Yeah, I think essentially that's the that's
the culture of our rooms. Whenwe come off the ball violent, we're

(39:28):
just looking to swing as hard aswe can. We'll clean up the details
out and so that's kind of ourmindset going into it. And uh,
yeah, you pretty you're from blocking. How long does you feel like if
you to know that you still bereceived or so know your in reality,
like you know you're us a blockthe people to do it? Like how
hard is it to kind of changethe words actually want more? I know
you guys don't pay attesture like outsidenoise, but also block people say gee

(39:52):
Scott or text, but really prettygood from walking too. Yeah, let's
say it starts off with like you'vekind of got too. It starts off
with tuning out for the outside noiseand and what other people have to say
about it. And it's really grewup the mindset. I kind of look
at it as it's like a dropin a bucket. You know, if
I got a big bucket, there'sno one thing I'm gonna do to make

(40:12):
this bucket full. It's it's adaily thing where I put one dropod of
the day and you look back overa year, two years, three years,
you look back and be like,man, I've gotten a lot better.
And so, like I said,I'm just very thankful for the unit.
The guys that I have around mepushed me very hard, but I'm
just thankful. You mentioned that developedhard attend d What was the best challenging
part that you to me developing intothe pit s. Yeah, I'd say

(40:34):
it's definitely the size component. Youknow, you can't you got to be
someone that's you know, one theyou gotta be big, you gotta be
strong, you gotta be fast.There's a lot of jobs that you got
to blue. It's a very askingjob. You need to balk the big
for some of the biggest guys inthe field, but also run routes off
some of the smallest guys in thefield. And so I think just thankful
just to be out here and doexactly that. What was it like to
get that shot the other day frontof the pro scouts You just run routes

(41:00):
catch falls. Oh yeah, yeah, No, it was a good opportunity.
I think some of the big youknow reasoning behind it. We're just
kind of giving those guys out therethat we're at Podavia limited numbers. So
just get out there and give thoseguys a breather, but the need the
opportunity to get to go out therein front of scouts. I think that's
a it's a pretty good deal.And your take on the quarterbacks to this
point, the quarterback battle is goingon. What what? What's spend Your

(41:20):
take on Will, for example,we'll get to know him. Yeah,
then, and of course, Devin, I think the mindset that we embody
around here is ironing shoppering iron.And so that's kind of like it's not
just you know, one room,it's from top to bottom throughout this whole
team. No matter what position youare, we're here to work and I
think we're all here to make eachother better. Whether it's in a quarnerback
room and tighten room' running back room, offense versus defense coach for his coach,

(41:43):
doesn't matter. We're all just youknow, iron and shopping iron.
Especially this time of year in springball, we're not doing too much game
planning for next week, which we'rereally just spending this time to get better
and just build a good foundation forourselves, has something to work on moving
forward. If you've seen Will,Will Howard fitting in more and more is
the practices have gone on, gettingto know every body and all that kind
I mean, I always been beenhere for a while up, so yeah,

(42:04):
no, I think, yeah,I think that's time. I think
as times goes, no matter whereyou are, you start to adapt and
you start to get used to whatwe got going on here. And so
it's good to have them. Thanksyou. Yeah you came in. What's
it been like? Yeah, yeah, I'd say when it comes to that,

(42:32):
I think it's all the glory tothe Lord. And I decided to
give my life completely to the Lorda little over a year ago, and
that kind of really changed my outlookon the way that I approach is football.
It's no longer something that I idolize. It's just something that I do.
And I think from the time ofmy life where I stopped, you
know, compartmentalizing who God was inmy life. God wasn't just something that
I do on Sundays or something thatI do in a Bible study. It

(42:52):
was something. It went from whatI do to who I am. And
so now I embody that's who Iam. And so some of the fruits
of the spirit is patience and kindness, and so those are kind of the
things that I've started to embody onthis on this journey. I think it's
easy to kind of compartmentalize football awayfrom faith, but ultimately it's all one.
It's all one. So it's givenme a spirit of patience, peace

(43:14):
and enjoy with the guys around me. And so I'm just I'm thankful.
I'm thankful to be here. Butjust being quite honest, I just I
know for a fact, I wouldn'tbe where I'm at right now. And
I know on the outside looking inyou asked like, you know, where
are you right now? But Iwouldn't be where I'm at, you know,
right now if it wasn't for myyou know, relationship with the Lord
until they came into my life andyou know, he changed around for the

(43:36):
better. Gee, what did yousee from Bennet Christian last year? How
did you handle that suspension and howdid you work through about who we are?
Yeah? I think he did agreat job. A lot of perseverance.
I think that's no matter who youare, we kind of hear news
like that that are gonna be outfor a year. That's hard no matter
where you are. One thing,I'm really proud of him because he you
know, he came up, andhe came to show up every single day,

(43:57):
and he got better. He gotbetter. The easy thing to do
in that kind of situation was throwinga towel and be like, man,
you know, you know, forgetthis, or you know, I'll get
better next year. But I sawthe drive at him, one thing I've
seen out of him. Every dayhe showed up and he got better.
And I'm proud of Benett, andI'm proud of this unit. Watch a
question I can't like you said,you know heard? I mean, yeah,

(44:23):
I mean, I don't know.I don't really know how to answer
that question. Because if you gofrom one unit to another unit, the
moment you trade units, you're nolonger in the unit you were initially in.
So you're now a tight end.And so I need to answer that
question. I think the time thatI went from in the receiving, it
aproaches things. I love the waythe questions he asks. I love the

(44:44):
way he makes mistakes and then correctmistakes. It's very veteran, like,
I mean, there's so much ballhe has to learn, Like he literally
does things that are good. I'mlike, do you know why that worked?
He goes coach. I have nofreaking idea, so like I'm trying
to teach him all of that whyworked, So then you know, the
consistency at which it works just goesto the roof. And so but I'm

(45:05):
very you know, excited and proudof the conversations we're currently having, and
I'm exciting it for them to keepgoing. I love working with Chip Chip
is. I love talking ball,I love the viewpoints I love I love

(45:28):
the veteran that he has, youknow, uh and uh, I love
now like I love all of it. I think that you know, early
on the biggest impact, you know, just you know, feeling perspective.
I think in the run game hasbeen awesome, you know, and then
you know, off of the rungame some of the actions or or relief

(45:49):
throws or all that kind of stuff. I love where it's at. I
love working with them, and Iwould say that I sleep a little better
all right. Uh No, It'sit's really a great combo because like you

(46:12):
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
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.

(46:35):
We're not changing, We're enhancing.So where the things fit is perfect,
you know. I think, uh, you know, the rest of
the dynamics of search Chip can talkabout. But it's been it's been awesome,
so I'm excited about it. Wetalked to him, Meca and you
just talking about moving from slot tothe outside. You know how good he's
been in the shot. Is thata difficult move for you guys just coaches

(46:58):
to know how good a guy isonce a boy would know that maybe for
his long term future and then no, I wouldn't say it's anything on his
future, because he's capable of doingwhatever you want to get done. But
I'd say that it says more aboutthe room. I think it's it's the
growth of you know, Brandon andthe growth grow of Bryson that's really you

(47:21):
know, allowing my mind to say, hey mech be prepared. You're gonna
move around a lot. You're gonnacome out of that slot. You're gonna
be outside. We're gonna create mismatchesout there. I mean, his ability
to move around is critical. ButI would say between Mech and between Carnell
Takes's ability to move around a lot, it's gonna provide a lot of flexibility
for our room and uh and thosetop you know, six seven guys that
are really doing a good job rightnow. Progress look like this spring for

(47:44):
like a because there's no time.It's one of those things I'm sure where
he has balanced how much work doesa need versus yeah, heavy heavy emphasis
on what work he needs, youknow, versus anything else. Uh.
I rely on him. We havegreat dialogue back and forth. It's way.
It's a two way conversation. Andfrankly, there's would be times we're
like, hey, Mech, whatdo you wanna do today? You wanna

(48:05):
go outside and go inside? AndI don't care. So we're not there
yet. We will be there,but it's just more about, you know,
when the room is ready to startmixing things up. I would say,

(48:30):
there's got I mean, I makesure I'm bring in guys that are
able to do all, but Ihave not asked them to yet. So
the only guys that in our roomcurrently I've asked to do that has been
Mecca and Carnell, and those areprobably the two guys that I would,
you know, think heavily on doingmoving around a lot. I'm not putting
that on anybody else right now,not saying they can't, but at this

(48:51):
point, having two guys been ableto swing, you probably don't need much
more than that. I need guysbeing experts at what they're good at.
So it it helps the off andstill be great at everything and be an
expert at something and we can usethat to our to our advantage. This
year is different, like maybe youguys were more situational. The room's always
different, frankly, I mean fromtwenty eighteen and then nineteen and through COVID

(49:15):
and and those guys, and andthen the depth of those guys and then
where Mec and Marvin and those guyswere as freshmen compared to you know,
it's just it's always different. Anduh, I expect this one to be
different again, not sure at whatlevel yet. Last question, relationship between
the TV room and your West roomespecially, you know, I'm curious.

(49:37):
Yeah, dB has a leader,just like you, you know, played
at Ohio Intel experience. I'm curiousabout how you've seen him kind of build
a different backs room, especially onthe recree till the amount of specify guys
and maybe kind of the effective you'rerecruiting. How that's kind of been answer
He would probably know more for thatquestion than I would, but I would
say that, Yeah, we obviouslyfeel or right at the work. Hello

(50:01):
everybody, Darius Robinson, University ofMissouri. I just want to thank you,
mister Bill Wilmant to your coach Gannonfor this amazing opportunity. I'm glad
to be here with Marvin Harrison rightnext to me, so I peel great.
I'm really excited and I'm excited forthis journey. See fifteen here in

(50:35):
town. Marvin, when did youknow the Cardinals were going to select you?
Did you know before they called orwas there an agreement in place before?
No? I did not know untilI got that phone call from the
Arizona Cardinals. Marvin Richard signs Foxten. Welcome to the valley. I
know kind of tweeted to you,tweeted out to you once you got drafted.

(50:58):
What would it like to get amessage from the franchise quarterback and what
kind of thoughts have you had aboutteaming up with this guy in the near
future. Yes, sir, it'sbeen great. He always want to support
and love from your quarterback and Nikais a great player. Excited to play
with him, and it's gonna bemy job to make his job easier.
Darius Darren Urban from Azycardinals dot Com. I know that a lot of players

(51:21):
these days aren't sticking in one schoolfor a long time, and you did
it for five years. I meaneven Marvin did it for three, Like
what what went behind that? Andwhy was it meaningful for you to stay
at one school? Yes, atMissouri, you know, we had some
tough seasons, but we were reallybuilt with an edge energy, details good
in emotional consistency, and I justfind myself just trying to grow and get

(51:43):
better each year and also as ateam, you know, win more games
each year. And that was mythat was my home, that was my
family. I was blessed to,you know, get two degrees as well
off the field, and I justlove missou two degrees. Wow. Marvinobob
McMahon at Arizona Republic, Congratulations,Thank you to both of you. You're

(52:05):
known as all business, and Iwant to know how that's going to serve
you well in this league from personalstandpoint, your brand, everything you do
on a daily preparation, there's alot that goes into being all business.
Tell me what that is to you. Yeah, I mean it's just being
a pro. It's called and raisedand grew up to do and keep the
same mindset, same attitude that I'vehad throughout my whole career. Once I

(52:30):
get here, continue to work hard, be consistent and discipline, you know,
and all that I do. SoI'm looking forward to put in the
work. Hey Marvin Josh Wayne ESPN, what were the best pieces of advice
your dad gave you about being anNFL 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

(52:52):
easy part. I go out thereand have fun, ready to put the
work in. Son starts with thework first, and then no, when
Sunday comes is reek the benefits.Hey Darius Howard, balls are from cards
wire. I can't help but noticethat ring on your finger. Is that
a cotton bowl? Ring. Yes, it is the Cotton Bowl. You

(53:12):
showed it to Marvin very quickly.No, I I was telling Marma.
You know he was glad he didn'tplay. The whole week leading up.
You know, you see Ohio State, everybody said, okay, Marvin Harrison
and now is he gonna play?To go play? He didn't play,
so you know we lucked out.So hey, Marvin Paul KELVC Cardinals Broadcasting,
do you believe that receivers have toearn the trust of their quarterback?

(53:36):
And if so, what does thatusually require? Absolutely, you got to
earn the trust to the quarterback.And I think it starts, you know,
every day in practice and being consistentreally and you can't just do it
one day. Can't you do itfor one week? Has to be you
know, done over and over andover again. I think that's how trust
has earned. So no matter whereyou get picked, when you're first receiver
it's round seven, doesn't really matter, have to go and earn trust to

(53:59):
the quarterback, your coaches, yourteammates. So it all starts in practice.
What's going on, guys? Goodto see again, Tyler Drake,
there's a sports systems for Darius.What's the feeling of just being able to
represent your school as that first roundpick, and what kind of impact can
that have for those guys following inyour footsteps. Yeah, it's awesome.
I feel like I'm setting the standardgoing forward. But best the name was

(54:20):
Zoo is known as Delon Zoo,so I'm just added to the family.
But now I feel like I'm settingthe standard for my younger teammates that this
is attainable if you work really hard, be consistent, and really gets your
strimp coach. I feel like everyprogram is built out the strimp coach and
that develops all the habits on andoff the field. Darius zach Ershmanez Cardinals
dot Com. Right over here,JG mentioned that he loves the violence that

(54:43):
you played with. You mentioned thedifferent tendencies that you picked up. The
emotional consistency is the great. Howdo you balance that the violence with discipline
on the field. Honestly, justthrough preparation and practice. I'm a big
guy. I'm a big believer ininside hands, so that's why I'm always
working my hand placement and then Ilift weight, so you know that's all
connected. So I'm just trying tobe focused on my technique as much as

(55:06):
possible. Hey, Marvin over here, David Brawnt with the Associated Press.
You know, a lot of rookiescome into the league and they get a
little bit of leeway. It's like, oh, he's young, he needs
to grow and stuff like that.But obviously you're gonna be expected to be
the guy here really quickly. Howdo you deal with that pressure? How
do you go about just so muchbeing expected of you so quickly? I

(55:29):
mean, yeah, I have highstandards for myself, but I'm just gonna
go in there and try to work, you know, the best I can.
I just want to help the teamwin really, so without that role
I play, you know, comeSeptember, let me just do my best.
Know do that role. This one'sfor both of you guys. The
fans want to know who you guysare on the inside. I don't know
how much you're willing to reveal tous today. A lot would be nice.

(55:52):
Can you tell us what you liketo do away from football? What
pisses you off about things, andyou know, what what makes you roll.
I'm pretty simple, like you know, be in my apartment, watch
the movie. If I go outand I go to a restaurant, get
some food, but other than that, they do too much. And then

(56:14):
I'm pretty easy going, guys,so I try not to nothing bother me
too much. Yeah, I saidthe same thing. A real chill guy,
just really obsessed with football. Butoutside of football, like I said,
I got my two degrees. Igot my undergrad hospitality management and the
minor and business I got my mastersand positive culture with m says FLA leadership.
So just thinking about being well rounded, and then I do philanthropy work.

(56:37):
I start my own nonprofit foundation DariusRobinson Helping Hands Foundation, But really
just football and then everything else.Honestly, congratulations, guys, Welcome to
the Valley. I'm Robbie Baker withFox ten. Darius. This is for
you. After the draft last night, you had a great response about how
your process and preparing for a game, just kind of wondering where your love

(56:58):
for kind of the grind comes from, and then your love for that process
comes from. I would say myjunior year, because I played little league
ball off and on. But Igot my junior year and I was playing
high school and my whole goal isjust to earn a scholarship for during that
process I really fell in love withthe game, fell in love with working
out relationships with teammates, and nowit's kind of like my advice and I
can't let it go and just kindof finding ways to always get better,

(57:21):
you know. Luke g litting herewith twelve Sports. Congrats both of you
walking to the valley. This one'sfor you, Marvin. I'm curious your
thoughts or what was that conversation likewith your dad after your name was called
and you were able to be draftedby this organization, and how surreal is
it for you to be following yourown father's footsteps but in your own way.
Yeah, I mean it was verybrief actually, just in the second

(57:42):
graduations, I walk up to thestage and then I had to do a
bunch of interviews afterwards. So Idon't think it's hit both of us yet.
I know what's happened. I think, you know, one of Michaels
always make him proud, So Ihope I did that. Marvin, Bobrock
pH and X Sports. When doyou anticipate catching your first passes from Kyler
Murray? I don't know, Idon't know. I guess we'll see,

(58:04):
hopefully as soon as possible. Darius, you mentioned philanthropy and I know there's
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 where did
that belief in doing those things comefrom? I say my family, my
brother and my mom really instilled thatinto me and to me at a young

(58:25):
age, just give back your blessingsto others. And my fifthuear at Missou
is the best year of my life, so why would I not share my
blessings with others. So that's whatreally motivated me to do that. And
now being in NFL, you knowmy goals to do three events each year
and just give back because you know, his life outside of football and bigger
blessings out there. Marvin, youobviously played with a number of highly drafted

(58:47):
receivers at Ohio State. What sortof feedback have you gotten about the NFL
from them? And you know aboutmaking the transition in the league itself.
Yeah, it's a long season.I think going from in a twelve game
record season you have in college towas it seventeen games now and you got
three preseason I feel just the biggestchallenge. The game stays the same,

(59:07):
obviously, Never're all skilled and verytalented athletes. So the mental part is
probably the biggest thing and the biggestchange from the college to pros. Marvin,
what's your timeline for hiring an agent? Right over here on the way
far right, you haven't hired anagent? Why is that? Is there
a timeline to hiring one? Andare you gonna sign the NFLPA licensing?

(59:28):
I think the taalle on this teamis really good too, and I think
that I can come in here andmake a big difference, you know,
and we can win a lot offootball games, you know. So that
was my that was part of mydecision. You're an achilles coming back?
How sough was that? How long? You say? We are you back
now? I'm one hundred percent nowAnd it was like a walk in the

(59:52):
park. It's like a sprayinged ankle. You know. It was very easy,
you know, because I had theknee. The knee was pretty hard,
hard, you know, and theAchilles was I would say it's easy,
you know, just because that's justmy mentality, and it was it
was pretty easy to be but youknow, I've had these injuries and it's
been storm like the past two years, you know, having haveing like good,

(01:00:15):
great games. The next thing youheard and then you know, so
got got the injury prone out there, you know. But I think the
storm is over it, you know, you know, and I think I'm
gonna gonna take off now, youknow, and there will be no setbacks
and the injury prone thing will begone out of the window again. That's

(01:00:37):
yep, all say you got methat I am. I am excited.
You know. He does a lotof great things, and he's a great
person, and we have a greatrelationship. It's gonna be it's gonna be
a fun year. We're gonna havea lot of fun. We're gonna do
a lot of great things. SoI can't wait to hear. Wait,
the injuries you've had, is thatjust bad luck? Is there anything you've

(01:01:01):
been attributed to behind just misfortunately?Yeah, it's just unfortunate, you know.
But God has a plan always,you know. I don't know what
the plan exactly is, you know, I don't know, but whatever plan
it is, it's for me tobe here. You know, I had
a great rookie year. I didn'tI didn't really have the volume as other

(01:01:23):
people my rookie year, but Istill had a great rookie year. Six
yards of carry, you know thingslike that. I think it was like
nine touchdowns ten including the playoffs.And so there's always been like, all
right, guy, lets me showmy 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 whenever I

(01:01:45):
got you know, got cleaned up. So I went down in twenty one,
right, had the injury, theknee injury, and then came back
later the next year, and andI played the first few games, and
it just feel there was a lotof scars issue in there. So to
get it cleaned up, I didn'tget hurt again. I could have played
the whole year, but I gotit cleaned up so I can feel like
me. And so after I gotthat cleaned up, the first two games

(01:02:09):
back from the injury, I hadover one hundred and twenty yards rushing right,
and then went on had great,great ending of the year, you
know, one hundred total yards inthe playoff game we lost, which I
hate the most. Stats. Don'tmarry me. I don't want to win,
but then come back the next yearhurt again like torn achilles. So
two really unfortunate injuries. But that'sjust God's plan, you know. And

(01:02:34):
I think that the storm is nowover, you know, And I do
think that I'll be able to shinemy light to the whole world. Are
you concerned that you have that label? You get SAT three? I could
care less, because I do.I know this out there because as it
should be, it should be.I got hurt two major injuries back,
not back to back years. Butyou know, so I haven't been on

(01:02:57):
the field as much as I should. That's true, that is true.
But it's not like I'm having theselittle little dinky injuries and sitting out.
It's something I can't control, literally, So that's why I'm not bothered by
it. Like, yeah, Iam injury poem. You could say that,
you know, But I do thinkthat the Chargers are getting a guy
that's gonna be healthy from now on, you know, God willing, and

(01:03:21):
it's gonna be great. And Ido think that it's gonna be It's gonna
be a great. However, manyyears here, when you've been on the
field, you've been highly adopted.Five point of years but very average for
your career. Like knowing that whenyou're out there you're very adopted. How
much confidence does that give you?That really all you need is is not
what you need all the confidence inthe world, you know. The way

(01:03:43):
I work. I wouldn't say justfrom the numbers, but just the way
I work, my work ethic,you know, and my relationship with Jesus
is like I have the most confidencewhen I step out there because I do
know, like if he grants methe health, it's over with, is
it. I don't think I wouldbe you know, I think it will
be a great year or whatever,a couple of years. However many years

(01:04:05):
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 bethere and they might be higher after this
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 therunning behind this line that they put together.

(01:04:29):
Oh yeah, yeah, yeah.I played with Bradley. I played
with him, you know, Iknow the slater, I know all the
I know all the guys, youknow, and I'm excited. I think
it's like I said earlier, it'sa talented group. You know. We
just got to put together win somegames because that's what I came here for
a year. Or I wouldn't Iwouldn't say part of the recruitment. But

(01:04:49):
like whenever I decided I was goingto sign, it was great to have
him in the room. What's yourrelationship? Yeah, we're great. We're
we have a great relationship. That'sHe's like my brother. So I think
accompany ch compliment each other very well. You know, he can do a
lot of stuff too. You know, we got like a lot of people
think he's just power power power,but I think he has some other parts

(01:05:12):
of his game two which it It'llbe great cause I feel like I could
do everything and when one get tired, we we can roll it in.
We keep rolling win some games.So when you the two of you get
going, well, how do youthink that's gonna look for? What?
What would like? What will bethat partnership times back there? I know
that's a hard question. How doI think it? I think it'll look

(01:05:34):
beautiful. You know a lot ofpeople call it a passing league, but
I think you gotta run the ballto win the super Bowl. You know,
if you look at the the theteams who win the Super Bowl,
they can run the ball, theycan control the clock. And so if
we're both good, it'll look great, beautiful. How would you describe the
great running offense? Uh? Iwould I would describe it as, you

(01:05:57):
know, a great offense. Ithink he gives a quarter He's going to
give the quarterback a lot of options. He's going to give the running back
a lot of options. He's gonnagive the receiver a lot of options,
you know, And I think it'llbe I think it's gonna be great.
His offense is going to be amazing. When we talked to him a minute,
you know, I was like,why you man will build something give
rushing offenses throughout your career every whereyou've been, and you said that one

(01:06:20):
part of it is just you gota call a place, You got a
call run place. As a runningback. You know how much confidence,
how much site doesn't give you.You know, you have a play color
that's going to stick with it andallow you and the offensive line to get
into your resident. Gives me alot of excitement. You know, it's
gonna be Like I said, it'sfun to play at his offense, you

(01:06:41):
know, and I think he doeshave some good things in the past game
too, But like you said,he sticks with the run, and that's
that's the identity. You You wantan offense that has an identity, right,
you won't be looking everywhere else tofind your your identity you want,
you want to have it, andso I think his offense has that,
and the guys he builds it putsin there, it complements that identity.

(01:07:02):
So I think it's gonna be great. You'll full go for training. Look,
I ain't gonna answer any of thefour if it's up to me.
Yes, Look, because I hadthis problem like three two years three years
ago. I'm thinking I'm full go. I think I'm ready to go,
and the next thing, you know, I'm on pup like, hey,

(01:07:25):
look some story above my prey paygrade. So but I don't know hopefully
I can start. I think I'mready to start, you know, at
the beginning training camp. But that'snot up to me. As I've learned
tell you, I wouldn't say that. I think I've been I've been in
some great organizations, and I thinkthis this organization is a great organization,

(01:07:49):
and the training staff is great,and so they just want what's best for
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 like Iwork really hard, so maybe sometime I'm

(01:08:09):
blind to you know, the dangerof something, you know, So I
appreciate it. But like I said, if it's up to me, yeah,
I'm out there. But never knowwhat any frustration for you during the
heading into free agency, you know, dealing with with rehab and not you
know, having on a full seasontape or production to go out there.
Is there any part of that whereyou're like, god, you know,

(01:08:30):
had hit the open market with adifferent situation. You know. Nah,
I like it. I like,how would I say this? I like
it the hard way, but not, you know, I like it the
hard way. I like it.I like trial and true relations. So

(01:08:55):
I mean the dice that I wasgiven the role was I was coming off
of our Achilles, and that wasthat was the Lord's plan. So it
was beauty in that, like Iwas comfortable. I was caught like there
was multiple teams, you know,I wasn't. It wasn't like I didn't
have any other team. But Iwas comfortable and sitting back and just that

(01:09:16):
we wouldn't have had initially at thistime of the year, you know,
last year. You know, thosethose tougher conversations, those ones where we
might disagree, where we do agree, where he's got his two cents on
it, which is, you know, always the best two cents I've heard.
But me being who I am,you know, I'm gonna throw my
two cents in there, you know. So that's just a It's been awesome,
man. He's you know, aresource for me, just a person

(01:09:39):
that I can always bounce my thoughtsoff of. And now, you know,
just a year you said, thirteenmonths now I feel more comfortable just
you know, bringing certain things thatyou know, you never you never want
to come off too strong. ButI'm a curious guy. I got a
lot of questions. I like,I like football a lot. I like
to talk and talk to games.So you know, come to find out,
he's the exact same. So weuh, you know, we get
along well, and you know we'regonna keep keep building that relationship. Sometimes

(01:10:01):
in this league, playing you know, eighteen games, they trying to make
it twenty. You know, it'slike it sound like a little a little
fever dream to be honest, Butbut uh, if we can find a
way to k you know, stayup right out there and keep keep airing
on his feet, you know,I'm I'm excited for that and uh everything
that comes with it. But uhbut yeah, like I said, man,
that's it's it's harder said than uhor harder done, and said,
I guess you know, it's oneof those things. It's like that's a

(01:10:24):
lot of games, you know,all of a sudden, take a lot
of hits. They take a lotof hits where they're not looking, and
it's just how can we keep himhealthy? Yeah? Yeah, are you
when you think? I do youever see the room now positions you guys
have made when Monty healthy and everything, like, yeah, you know,
I'm excited to see it at atfull health. You know, we've i
haven't got to see all the allthe guys out there at once. And
and you know it's one of thosepositions where every day is something might happen

(01:10:45):
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
that can do different things, thatcan go catch the ball over the middle,
all types of things that it's gonnatake some of the strain off off
all of us. You know.It's it's a good group. So I'm

(01:11:08):
excited to, uh, you know, get out there. I feel like
we haven't had the whole whole thingtogether, but you know, come season
time, Marol, and it's gonnabe exciting. What about the guy is
in your whole number? Yeah,yeah, Malka, Yeah, man,
he's uh, it was a brute. And I think it's like you know
how to write, like when youuse your right hand, you know how

(01:11:30):
your handwriting should look. It's abouttaking the reps to make sure matches.
I guess, you know, soyou're taking the reps to get back to
that. I think it's all whatit is. I mean obviously, Like
he's one of my biggest supporters,you know, so obviously you know he's
he's he's excited about the opportunity forme, you know, so excited about

(01:11:51):
it. Oh a lot. Hehelped me a lot, even fro like
the first day, just trying tohelp me get used to to write tackle.
He got my feet used to writetackle. Like my first day of
practice, I'm like, dude,I still feel feel a little off.
I don't feel balanced to my stands, and he showed me the small technique

(01:12:12):
and to do with my feet,which I still do even even though left
tackle, just because it's part ofmy routine. That was part of my
process and getting to my stands.So stuff like that that he taught me
from day one and obviously in practicewas fun. Just compete with him,
you know. It's just to meetat the back of the pocket and to
dap each other back to every replike that was compete, you know what

(01:12:33):
I mean. So that's my guy. As much as you love him on
your the West side, how bittersweetis as a certain matters because it would
happened to him, Yeah, that'sthe thing, that's not how it was
definitely not how I n in andthat's how I thought about the transition would
go. You know, I thoughtit would be you know, homeson timing
and a cardinal his whole career.You know, you know you want to

(01:12:59):
play here forever, you know whatI mean when I was talking about his
plans, so you know, youyou wis transitions like one of those fairy
tale like to 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 know hesees he's he's been one of my biggest

(01:13:24):
supporters. Again, I affect everybodyleads in their own way, you know,
not everybody's the guys coming around becauselike 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, well Hump did,
like that's my like big vocal time. I feel like I've talked to

(01:13:46):
Hump about this, you know,just recently talking about how what I want
to do for the room is Iwant to bring that Hump energy that he
brought right so last year. Ofcourse, some traits been doing it for
years but the year while I spentwith him, he brought a lot of
the energy and excitement and the happinessin the room was just his natural energy

(01:14:11):
to where I only had to focuson me, you know, I didn't
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 if Isaw what he did for the room,
I want to be that guy tomake sure everyone's amp to go to practice,
everybody's hype. Weren't taking and fieldteam on period. You know it's

(01:14:33):
a low day or something. Youknow, it's it's a thing. But
like I want to make you feellike parents the tripper right now. I
want to bring that because that's whatme and Hump did to each other.
We will hype each other up,dude like dudes about to people walked through
and we're lit. So I wantto do that. I want to bring
that energy. I want to makebring more guys, you know, to
do that. You know, Iwanted to do that from day one,

(01:14:55):
you know, I kind of Iwanted to do that from day one,
from just talking to him, andobviously it's that time. I spend the
off season before OTA started just beingin myselfish thinking about what the room needs,
you know, because I know Iknew a new role as one of
the leaders, you know on myoffense, is that we need a guy

(01:15:20):
like that that's gonna make sure theold line is picked up, ready to
go every day it was held accountable. Little things aren't happened to practice and
people aren't saying anything. And howI may lead maybe different than somebody else
may lead. You know, Ilike to a practice at least like to
leave with positivity, you know whatI mean. So, but he the

(01:15:41):
energy yet went beyond just the hypeup the dal line and started too.
So that's kind of how I wannabe, s goal mine literally my whole
life. I wanna be a NFLteam captain, like specifically the NFL.
I wasn't a captain of high school, wasn't a captain of college. But
I'm made a joke when I wasin high schools like there. I feel
like I'm not gonna be a captaintil I get to that NFL. Yeah,

(01:16:05):
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,
avidual word today and to get backto that world. Yeah, I mean,
I can't say that. I mean, I guess the biggest thing is

(01:16:27):
that I felt like it has feltlike how it you used to in the
past. But it didn't take justthe first day OTAs. 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 just to get
back to feeling like myself for dayone OTAs and then that whole first week.

(01:16:51):
But now like today, specifically justchanging some small things with my feet.
I did say talking about a linecoach about some things I can do
with my feet to get that toselling it the traditional angle that I love
to set on. Felt even Ithought I felt I thought I felt great
already by mokay, I felt evenbetter. Okay, so I'm even more
excited tomorrow. Now I'm getting myfeedback than how I liked it the right

(01:17:13):
side and on the left side,So I'm excited. I mean, obviously,
I feel like in the league,whether I left or right you're still
going against premier guys, so obviouslyyou have high expectations for your left hand
or right tackle, but there's definitelyuh, like the the level of energy
and like the expectations definitely taking ahuman effect. Cause now connected to blink

(01:17:36):
side, that's the that's the tacklerole, you know. So so yeah,
I would say in terms of communicationas far as just even outside of
facilities, just stuff like that,like really creating that the tackle quarterback bond
even more off the field, Ithink has been something that's even been cool.

(01:17:56):
I got a text one day asa hey, like you put and
I was like, yeah, youknow, yeah, I've been training both.
I've been training both. You know. I asked after the season.
They're like, honestly, you know, we'll talk to you. So play
in the season and I just gottatext me like depending what happens with with
the free agency then. So Iwas like, you know what, I
had a whole season right tackle,So if I get the word, I'm

(01:18:20):
going I'm standing right tackle. Idon't do what I did before. I'm
built on that bus. I waslike, I might as west train the
left tackle now as if I'm gonnabe left tackle and I'd rather do that
than training on right tackle and getthe ko Hey you're the left tackle.
I'm like, oh, I didn'twanna switch on my feet yet, you
know what I mean. So I'mlike, let me just prepare in the
advance. I was like, yeah, letsky. You know, I think

(01:18:43):
occasionally on third down there'd be alot of twists. I would just know
like it's automatically coming. And Ithink that was my mindset for like the
first half of the season. Butlike I didn't have to go into a
game and with surprise like oh mygosh, they did that. I kind
of figured like, okay, likethis is this is the type a rush
minute again, like this is howthis guy usually rushes. But I get
the vibe, this is how theend's like the rush. You know,

(01:19:05):
tackles that are you know, firstyear guys who got the premiere patch on.
I already knew what it was gonnabe, already knew every stunt and
honestly just knowing that it's kind ofan advantage too. So you're not you're
not you're not old. They broughtthe twisted my side again, it was
never an Aaron Donald like, youknow, they're coming up with mine like
three plays in the world and twominutes I knew that it was going to

(01:19:26):
happen. So, like, youknow what I mean, I'm watching more
than everybody else and he rarely Englandgoes out there on occasional third downs on
the d N. I was like, already know what it's gonna be.
He's gonna pick me, you knowwhat I mean. So fact fact,
it's kind of it's also kind ofan advantage in a way, but it's
also exciting, like Okay, I'mgonna get the hardest look, you know.
So those are real, real reps, you know the bank. So

(01:19:50):
really, I I really didn't kindof process that. I was like,
hey, when they tell me tolet me know about I'm just gonna train
it. I was training all left, so ta's. I guess if I
they didn't hear anything about ta's,I would have came in like so you
know what I mean, cause justlike I'm cool training both continuing, I

(01:20:11):
would have been cool training both continually. But I feel like anybody, any
position will be like okay, likeyou wanna as soon as possible give your
feet accountability at the time. Listen, what if, uh, what did
you see, the guy would becounted all week. Yeah, I mean
he's quick. You know, hecan create a lot of space and uh
small spaces, so uh it's quick, you know, uh savvy with its

(01:20:32):
rout running, and you know he'sjust he's just a hard worker. You
know. You know there's some playswhere he knows he's not getting the ball
and he's still still winning ro oute. So you know, just to have
that player, uh A a playerlike that give that much effort uh on
the field every play, it's reallyreally good to see. And I think
it's you know, really uh gonnarub up on the other guys too.

(01:20:53):
I'm good, I'm bother that I'mgetting another. What's it like working with
uh? Some of the tay downsthat you guys happened to him there,
I know, after Smithy Street.Just talking about a personatility that a lot
of the guys have, especially inthat grip. Yeah, I mean we
have a different uh uh a lotof you know, different guys in the
tight end room. You know,Darnell he brings sides to the room.
Uh, Rodney Speed, Uh Connor, he has a great awareness in the
field. Pat of course, he'syou know, he's a great all round

(01:21:15):
tight end and then uh, youknow, uh, crew, he's a
he's a bat, He's smart,he knows what he's doing. So I
mean just all the guys in theroom, you know, they're smart and
intensive and they've i f I feellike they've j a justice to the offense.
Well, so, what's been likeworking with Tom or from what's he
been? Kind of working what youwant specially? Yeah, I mean toal

(01:21:38):
ha's been great. Uh just hisA'si's attention to detail, the way he
comes you know, in each andevery day. He comes into the same
guy every day and uh to beon side. And you know, I
don't think I've had to coach thatdetailed. But as Tom, you know,
he's very detailed in terms of youknow, practice, refuged, sending
us uh the info, breaking downon each and every play and really just

(01:22:02):
really just focused on the details.To be honest with you, I think,
uh, that's the thing that setshim apart. And you know he's
he pushed us to be hard.I mean our our indie periods or you
know, conditioning, so of coursethat's good for us. But I mean
he's been great so far. Soexcited to uh you know, allow that
allow our relationship to grow and excitedto work for and is what he's doing

(01:22:24):
kind of compliment what you're doing individually, you know, when you're away from
the facility, working with you know, coaches one on one anything like that.
He said, what does he whatdoes he do here that kind of
compliments what you do away from thefacility when you're troubling. I mean,
I think he does different stuff.So I think, uh, that's a
good thing about it. You knowsome stuff that we do here. Oh

(01:22:44):
sorry, Uh, I don't youknow, usually do outside of the facility.
So it's good getting that different workin, different drill work that I
can you know, implement into myyou know, off season program and stuff
like that. So it's good thatI'm learned this stuff for sureficiency last year?
What what what? What is uh? Our smith in the offense talk
about you are trying to make makethat incorporate that into being a big part

(01:23:06):
of this office. I mean yeah, Uh, I think we have fast
guys, guys that can get downthe field with speed. Uh, Guys
like Quez, Calvin, Scottie,Van you know me and Rust. You
know, we've we've had a lotof deep ball success and a lot of
explosive plays in the past. Soyou know that's just uh, you know

(01:23:26):
what, Yeah, I guess howour offense is built. To be honest
with you, but I mean,our job is to create explosives and you
know, push the ball down thefield. So anytime we get those ops,
we definitely wanna capitalize on those.Are your coasting any part of your
mechanics and anybody that I mean,yeah, uh, I think there's always
room to improve, uh, mechanicwise and stuff like that. So I
think, you know, Matt Baker, uh, he's a poor quarterback consistant.

(01:23:47):
He you know, usually stays onme the most about it. Okay,
So I appreciate the fact that hedoes that, and uh usually you
know, make sure he doesn't makesure I just just stay on top of
it, you know as a whole, and you know, make sure mechanics
are always cleaned. Can you talkabout one particular element that they're distracting.
It's it's different areas, to behonest, I don't think it's just one
specific area, but it's it's differentareas. Justin in your opinion, was

(01:24:10):
there something that you wanted to workon, maybe get better at when you
got here, at this point ofyour career. I mean, like like
I said, there's you know,no matter who you are, you know,
there's always stuff to get better at, always different areas. Nobody's perfect
in one area. So I thinkyou can continue to prove in all areas
of my game, you know mepersonally, So I'm just focused on getting
better as you never hed. Sowhen we talked at Russ yesterday, he

(01:24:31):
said that Rust said that he personallyfelt kind of revived you being at another
step in his career. Is thereany of that sense of maybe rejuvenation or
feeling reve 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 inthe team uh uh an organization that's

(01:24:54):
you know, just just with thisculture. You know, me being in
two different places now, you justI realize that, you know, you
don't get this culture everywhere. Ithink Chicago, I think they are,
you know, kind of changing thenarrative now, but I mean this has
just been the culture here for somany years to where I mean, you
can see it. It's just theway that you know, we attack each

(01:25:14):
every day and coach Cy you know, he stays honest about it. So
I think just having that and uh, you know, reiterating that you know
each and every day, that keepsguys in the posing guys who are to
compete each and every day. Isit easy to step into an organization when
there already is such a culture that'sbeen established for a long term to kind
of know where you fit and knowwhat's expected most most definitely, I think,

(01:25:39):
you know, especially as a leader, as a player on the team,
you just don't have to thank youfor checking out this content from posts
at sports. If you watch thisand YouTube, please like the video.
Yeah, I mean I think collegefootball is different and uh, ideologies and
understandings and have changed. And Ithink that you know, the portal is

(01:26:04):
a variable. And I would saythat not him in particular, but I
wouldn't say everyone doesn't really know howto handle it properly you see it currently.
I mean, it's just it's avariable that's new and how to handle
it. There's not a transcript onhow to handle that variable, so you
just guys just trying to do whatthey think is right. That's all they're

(01:26:26):
really trying to do. And I'mnot saying there right or wrong, but
he was trying to do the same. And you know, I think at
the end of the day he realizedhe made made the wrong decision and we
connected on it. We talked aboutit, and you know, it was
a great opportunity to to write orwrong. And uh, obviously we're very
glad he's here. I've always believedin him. We believe in him,
and he believes in himself and that'spart of the just trying to understand what's

(01:26:48):
my path right. So, uhbut 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 Rice of Jeremiah.I love the way he lives. I
love the way he approaches things.I love the way the questions he asks.

(01:27:10):
I love the way he makes mistakesand then correct mistakes. It's very
veteran, like, I mean,there's so much ball he has to learn.
Like he literally does things that aregood. I'm like, do you
know what that worked? He goescoach, I have no freaking idea,
So like I'm trying to teach himall of that why it worked. So
then you know, the consistency atwhich it works just goes through the roof.

(01:27:30):
And so but I'm very you know, excited and proud of the conversations
we're currently having, and I'm excitingit for them to keep going by what
power you work and what you tellI love working with Chip, Chip is.
I love talking ball, I lovethe viewpoints, I love I love

(01:27:55):
the the veteran that he has,you know, and uh, I love
Yeah, I like, I loveall of it. I think that you
know, early on the biggest impact, you know, just you know,
feeling perspective. I think in therun game has been awesome, you know,
and then you know, off ofthe run game some of the actions

(01:28:15):
or relief throws or all that kindof stuff. I love where it's at.
I love working with them, andI would say that I sleep a
little better, all right. No, It's it's really a great combo because

(01:28:38):
like you know, we're obviously we'redoing a lot as a group. It's
not just Chip and I so butyou know, obviously Chip has an image
and a view on things that Inever had. So to have that experience
and have that viewpoint. I'm justtrying to absorb as much as i can,
but then also highlight some things thatwe've really done a good job of

(01:28:59):
and make sure those you know,nothing's really changing, We're just trying to
enhance. We're not changing, We'reenhancing. So where the things fit is
perfect. You know, I think, uh, you know, the rest
of the dynamics and search Chip cantalk about. But it's been it's been
awesome, so I'm excited about it. We talked to a meccha who's talking
about moving from slot to the houseside. You know how good we've been

(01:29:20):
in the slot. Is that adifficult move for you guys just coaches to
know how good a guy is inone spot, but know that maybe for
his long term future and the no. I wouldn't say it's anything on his
future, because he's capable of doingwhatever you want to get done. But
I'd say that it says more aboutthe room. I think it's it's the

(01:29:41):
growth of you know, Brandon andthe growth grow of Bryson that's really you
know, allowing my mind to say, hey mech be prepared. You're gonna
move around a lot, You're gonnacome out of that slot you're gonna be
outside. We're going to create mismatchesout there. I mean, his ability
to move around is critical, butI would say between mech and between Carnell
Tast's ability to move around a lot, it's gonna provide a lot of flexibility

(01:30:03):
for our room and uh and thosetop you know, six seven guys that
are really doing a good job rightnow. Progress looks like this spring for
like a because I think it's oneof those things. I'm true when you
guys balanced, how much worse doesa need versus yeah, heavy heavy emphasis
on what work he needs, youknow, versus anything else. Uh,

(01:30:24):
I rely on him. We havegreat dialogue back and forth. It's a
two way to It's a two wayconversation. And frankly, there's gonna be
times we're like, hey, Mac, what do you wanna do today?
You wanna go outside? You gongo inside? And I don't care.
So, Uh, we're not thereyet. 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 guy. I mean, I

(01:30:59):
make sure I bringing guy that areable to do all. But I have
not asked them to yet. Sothe only guys that in our room currently
I've asked to do that has beenMecca and Carnell, and those are probably
the two guys that I would,you know, think heavily on doing moving
around a lot. I'm not puttingthat on anybody else right now. I'm
not saying they can't, but atthis point, having two guys been able
to swing, you probably don't needmuch more than that. I need guys

(01:31:21):
being experts at what they're good at, so it it helps the offense still
be great at everything and be anexpert at something and we can use that
to our advantage. This year isdifferent, like maybe you guys who were
more situational. Yeah, the room'salways different, frankly, I mean from
twenty eighteen and then nineteen and throughCOVID and and those guys, and and

(01:31:45):
then the depth of those guys andthen where Mech and Marvin and those guys
were as freshmen compared to you know, It's just it's always different, and
uh, I expect this one tobe different again, I'm not sure at
what level yet. Last question,your relationshiphip in between the TV room in
your west room, especially you know, back to forwards I'm curious, Yeah,
as a leader, just like you, you know, play at Ohio.

(01:32:06):
Scheme hasn't help stands. I'm curiousabout how you've seen him kind of
build different back room rush on thereferee all then, especially maybe the effective
your recreat that's kind of a handsta. He would probably know more for that,
courving all the way through ten yearsin this league. So excited to

(01:32:27):
see what he's got. How olddid you know Sores and when he was
assistant here and I've gotten to knowhim a lot that it's a relationship made
right now. I know him prettywell. He was always just a good
dude around the facility. He didour ball meetings, so he's good in
front of a group. He's agood leader. He knows the scheme really

(01:32:49):
well, which is good. Iwas happy to see him promoted. Uh.
He called me in the offseason.We talked. I just congratulated him,
and I think he's gonna bring somethingsimilar to what we had with the
Miko. It'll be good. Doyou know Brandon Stanley well at all?
I mean, I always a joeyplatform. I don't know too much about

(01:33:10):
him. I've obviously heard from mybrother, but I don't even think I've
said high yet. I haven't raninto him yet, but I'm sure i'll
get to know him. When yousay it looks similar to the Miko of
the energy or the system, maybea little different energy, but I think
just knowing the system from the frontto the back, I think he knows

(01:33:32):
how it ties in. And he'sbeen around with some really good coaches,
so I think it'll be pretty prettyseamless, and I think we'll be firing
on all cylinders. You're three monthsremoved from the super Bowl now, so
how have you? I guess digestedit, and I guess physically everything good
to go. Yeah, I feelreally good. I think it's been one

(01:33:55):
of my better off seasons of justkind of it was a long year,
so it took a nice and slowto get back into it. Not as
young as I once was, soI'm taking a little, uh, a
little slower, but everything's great.I'm feeling as good as I felt.
I'm excited to actually get some practicein. Last year was kind of tough,

(01:34:16):
getting thrown in week one after Iwalked through, so that was another
reason I'm excited to be here,is just to get practicing a little bit
in season. Practice is one thing, but actually being able to work your
stuff and not have a game comingup is good. With the Super Bowl

(01:34:39):
unfortunately, I know how to bounceback from tough losses, so it was
rough for a little bit, butno, just annoying when people bring it
up. Since the last season,we've seen a Rock on TV commercials and
on the stage with Kluke Koombs andthrowing out the first pitch of the Giants
game. But he seems like aguy that's totally unaffair by celebrity, which

(01:35:00):
he has now. But what haveyou noticed in his leadership style and the
way he carries himself any difference atall. I think he's definitely getting a
little more vocal within the building.And uh yeah, I mean I don't
think he's ever gonna change. Idon't think he's somebody that's going to change
even when he gets paid next year. So he's he's a man of faith

(01:35:23):
and he kind of reminds me ofScotti Scheffler, but except for just super
humble and really good kid. Andyeah, he's definitely famous. I don't

(01:35:45):
just from watching Armstead get released obviouslymeant so much to the defensive line into
the team. I mean, ColinJohn were pretty open that they were willing
to talk about trading deebo or areyou does that just another what's that feel
like in the locker room when thosesort of jowls happen. I didn't even

(01:36:06):
know that happened and I wasn't here, But you're talking about this offseason alarms
and alarmed er release, So that'scertainly one thing. Yeah, it's a
tough business, for sure. Youhave to have thick skin and I haven't

(01:36:27):
gone through that, but I thinkyou just have to understand that it is
a business and the team's going totry and get as good as it possibly
can with or without you, andyou have to look out for yourself.
That's why you go through holdouts anddo certain things that seem selfish in the
moment, but it is what itis, and when everything's settled, we're

(01:36:48):
gonna come together as a team andtry and go get one. What's the
overall feeling around the group right now? Like, how much does it feel
like the excitement of the ramp upto the season, Even though it's early,
it feels good. It's been acouple of days for me, so
I like all the new guys.I'm getting to know everybody, But I
think the past is in the pastand we're ready to go. Do you

(01:37:12):
talk to be Have you talked tobeat all about handling the business part of
this. He's going through something similar. 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 positive throughit all. First impressions when you heard
what your schedule would be in thatAaron Rodgers' first up, it'll be fun.

(01:37:34):
Yeah, it's gonna be gonna bea good one. Excuse me kind
of alluded to this. But thefact that last year you had to have
that holdout said that affected you somewhatearly in the season. If you hadn't
had that experience, would you behere right now? I mean, was
that part of the motivation for beinghere early, just to have the opposite

(01:37:58):
when last year might be No,I don't think that's one of the reasons.
But I just talked to Kyle andhe kind of asked me. 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
like I'm missing too much. Ithink I'm out here. It's a little

(01:38:21):
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 positives. Let him Oh no,

(01:38:47):
he's he's there. He's got anew regime over there. First,
I actually thought I was coming nextweek until recently, so I was gonna
have one more week at home.But we're both in California. You can
share about reasons that you agreed with. It sent from the top and it

(01:39:15):
doesn't get mixed up as it's movingdown the ladder. It's boom. This
is how we're doing things, andeverybody's following that. And I think it's
impressive the details that everybody have beenon, has has been on, the
effort and just the competitiveness that that'sbeen going on over the last few weeks.
Yeah, it's it's it's been great. How much do you appreciate that

(01:39:39):
the stop and just described the wayJim, we shouldn't eat in the messaging,
doesn't eat mixed up you appreciate thatmuch. I mean, it's I
guess it's easy to appreciate when youkind of see it working and you see
guys improving, getting better. Ijust think the details are really important.

(01:40:03):
You can pretend that leaving your shoesa mess or your locker a mess isn't
a big deal, and what mattersis playing football. But I think all
those tiny details and things kind ofadd up and leak into the important stuff,
like what you're doing on the field. So if you can have your
toe behind the line, or haveyour locker and order and all these things,

(01:40:25):
they kind of stack up into performingwell and and playing well when things
count. So you know, Iappreciate that. It's it also hasn't been
a fight with the guys in thelocker room. They buy in, and
you know, it's a lot ofyoung guys, and I think they're hungry
to learn, hungry to compete andwin. You know, it's just an

(01:40:48):
example, whether it's we talked aboutfirst day you have your shoe, if
you could, if you could spendthe time on these small things when nobody's
watching, I think, like Iwas saying, it's seems like it might
not add up too much. ButI think in the long term it does,
and it leaks into other things,whether you're doing your right assignment on

(01:41:09):
the field, being late to meetingsor all these things. If you hold
a standard and you stay to thatstandard, I think it benefits you long
term. It's it been like workingwith Ben Herbert, who has there been
anything in his training program. We'reworking with you that you feel will benefit
you later. Yeah, yeah,definitely. He's been great. He's a

(01:41:31):
no nonsense kind of guy, buthe's not an old school in the sense
that he's bringing his way of doingthings and that's the only way to do
things. He understands that guys havebeen in the in the business for a
long time, Khalil me and wehave a way of doing things, and
all he wants to do is addto that and help you get better and
perform the best you can. He'she stresses it all the time that he's

(01:41:56):
a tool for us, and youknow, he's been He's been great.
The guys love him. The energybrings is awesome, and I think the
stuff that we're doing in the weightroom is great, a 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, andif you guys are in the meeting,

(01:42:20):
you definitely see how beneficial he's beento the team so far. So obviously
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 you fully recarved, I know at the end of the

(01:42:42):
last season, you might have beenable to Yeah, no, I was
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 greatand it just was unnecessary risk for I

(01:43:02):
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
great off season. My foot's feelinggreat, toes good, hamstrings good.
I mean, there was a listof things last year in my hand,
so all those things are good.Finger gout surgery on my finger, So

(01:43:23):
that's feeling good. Yeah, it'sit's nice to be feeling better. Going
into your nine than you have sincemaybe five six years ago, which I've
said, I've said, I've beenfeeling great last couple of years. I'm
telling you it's a real deal thistime. But obviously anything can happen.
But I just feel it's fun feelingreally confident in your body and being able

(01:43:45):
to perform. So I could justgo out during practice and you know,
good balls to the wall and doeverything that I feel like I need to
to be able to prepare. It'sfun. My brother and whoever I trained
with my trainer Todd back home,I think they'd be really proud of how
I've been working this offseason, andit's just exciting. The pointing was the

(01:44:13):
injuries on the Great Big Game.You kind of yeah, it was a
bit of a build up, alittle bit of an overreaction, but you
know, it's just tough. Itcomes sometimes like that, and I just
felt felt really defeated coming back.Had a broken hand. I'm like,
oh, yeah, I get toplay boom for a serious foot pops.

(01:44:33):
Thought I'd have to get surgery andall these thoughts flooded through my head.
Broke down a bit, and yeah, it just hurts, you know,
you're losing, you're getting injured.You've felt like you prepared really well in
the off season, and then theyear before you had groin surgery, so
you know, a lot of thingsbuild up. Yeah, you don't get

(01:44:55):
a break if you're injured. Everybodywants to go on. Fans are very
nice, but no, I justI'm grateful that I feel this way.
I'm still still nicey Ripe twenty eight, so not too old yet. But
yeah, I'm just excited. Ican't remember what the original question was.

(01:45:16):
At this point. You get somethingabout my body, how close you and
Gift were. How frustrating was itthat you couldn't you know soon for one
of those last three games. Itwas frustrating, but I mean Gift was

(01:45:36):
had my back the whole way.I think for Gift, for any but
for the whole team, just toshow what it means to me. It
would have been important for me tobe out there, but I literally couldn't.
I tried to practice, injured myfootworse the very first play I was
and in practice, so no chancethat was happening unless I wanted to throw

(01:45:58):
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, I give Yeah, I'm
happy he gets to stay close bywith the with the Rams and uh,
just proud of all we accomplished heretogether over the years and and we'll be

(01:46:20):
close for the rest of our lives. Was the footage, It was the
guys foot sprang. Yeah, Isprained one area of my foot. Then
when I tried to return and Isprained another area. Was able to avoid
getting surgery, which is kind ofthe main goal, But yeah, it
was. It was tough when itcomes to the addition of but Dupree,

(01:46:44):
when he felt like he's kind ofbrought to the to the room and could
bring on the field. Yeah,it's when I heard we got my brother
some I don't know, maybe mybrother told me. I'm like, really,
we just got Bud Like that's no, that's no small pick up.
He's uh a seriously elite pass rusher. Has had some trouble with injuries as

(01:47:04):
well, so I understand how thatis. But not only him as a
player, but as a personality.I heard Khalil just saying he's he's a
fun guy. He's a funny guy, and to have that in the room
another vet is always a great addition. But I'm just excited to have him
and Tulle and to be able torotate like that and not drop off at

(01:47:24):
all when we come off the fieldis huge. And Map two, he's
going into a second year. Justwhat do you what are you kind of
What are some of the maturity maturityareas you say from him? You know,
I'm gonna say not much, andthat's a compliment because he was already
mature in those areas. I mean, he's on it everything playbook wise,

(01:47:45):
always doing his job, working hard, just refining his technique and pass rush.
I mean, we don't have thepads on right now, so the
real work will will begin, youknow, in six weeks now. So
but yeah, I love Tulie.I've loved him since the first days he's
walked into the facility, and Iknow he's just gonna continue to get better.

(01:48:08):
You think of the addition of JoeOld, Yeah, yeah, I'm
gonna need to beat him up alittle bit in camp. So he's so
he's ready, But no, Ithink anything to protect our number ten is
a good, good investment. Sohe seems like a real solid dude.
Haven't talked to him too much.Great build, seems like he has good

(01:48:30):
hands, good feet, strong.We'll see. We'll see in a few
weeks when I lay a helmet inhis chin, how he holds up.
But it'll I'll take it easy onhim. Rashawn's a beast. Did you
know coach Harbond before he came here? And if you did, just what
were those first couple of conversations likethat? Yeah, probably have crossed paths

(01:48:56):
with him. Maybe maybe not.Actually I think what was it his first
year when I was a junior?So he kicked his ass as usual?
Mitt Ohio State. No, No, they just want a championship, so
I'd say they probably have the braggingrights right now. I'm like the guy
talking about his old high school.Oh I remember we used to kicks.

(01:49:20):
No, but no, yeah,no, the rivalry is dead. I
was just saying this morning, youknow, nine years and kind of forget
about that. I'm not a greatalumni. Sorry, sorry coached, But
no, it's great. That's what'sgreat about the NFL is you just have
guys from all backgrounds. You couldhate their guts one one year and then

(01:49:42):
you come on the same team andyour brothers and you're all working towards one
goal together. So our first talktogether was great. I just sat down
with them, went up into hisoffice and chopped it up about life mainly
and his opportunity here and how muchit means to him, and uh,
yeah, I think he's a specialguy. I think he's uh, the

(01:50:03):
way he conducts himself. He's aninteresting cat for sure, and I'm still
still feeling him out. But onething you can't denies that he loves football
and his main goal is to winfootball games. And that's what we need.
When you see him working out withyou guys and and pushing slaves and
doing all this stuff, just howinteresting is that to see him? Yeah,

(01:50:24):
I mean he was a he wasa great player himself, and I
think he's always been, you know, built like that lack of a better
term. But yeah, he's uh, he's part of the guys. You
know, he's not this guy outsidelooking in. He he really, I
mean he voiced that to me,is that his favorite part of all of
it is being with the guys andand the connections he makes. So yeah,

(01:50:47):
to to see a guy like thatcome in and embrace it all and
kind of be part of it himselfis important. Your initial impressions of coachman
or in the defensive gaming. That'sfunny. You go from old Gift,
old Gift to this little young guywho's my age. I wouldn't want to
get thrown into a room with meand khalilis his age. But no,

(01:51:13):
he's been great. I love messingwith him a little bit. We a
little sarcasm back and forth, butno, he's great. He's uh,
very talks very fast, and Idon't as you know, so sometimes I
got to be like, slow down, coach, come on. But no,
he's great. I'm excited, youknow, to get closer as the

(01:51:35):
years, as the year goes on, and I think he has he has
a lot of passion for the positionand all he wants to do is learn
and and help us to improve.So I'm excited about him and me and
I do miss Gift. Obviously,it was a long time with him,
but I am excited to have anew face and kind of have that challenge

(01:51:56):
for me. Worked much with Jesshis dad, since I know he coached
Linebergers in Michigan. Did you askabout Jesse did you ask about doing?
Okay, you asked about Jesse.Oh my god, I was talking about
freaking doing the whole time. Youguys are so confused. No, sorry,
I thought I thought I was.I thought you mentioned coach Ronie.

(01:52:18):
No, No, coach Mentor hasbeen great as well. Yeah, they've
both been great. Sorry, runthat back. No, he's been good.
Uh yeah, very knowledgeable guy.Same thing. I'm excited to get
to know him more as the yeargoes on. Have you worked Have you
worked much during the Jesse? Yeah? Uh no I have not. I

(01:52:45):
don't know if I've said one wordto him, but more words to come
down the road. Like you said, you've been in years since twenty sixteen.
Just what are some of this stuff? You just one ramble about the
wrong guy for fifteen minutes. Youwalking? What? Yeah? What the

(01:53:11):
hecks? Actually that's literally not theperson. Yeah, I figured out.
What's something that you you worked underingthe off season, something to improve your
game or is there something that youcan Usually my answer is pretty consistent that
I just continue to try to preparemyself physically, whether that's my sprint work

(01:53:38):
or agility work and my lifting.But yeah, just to get everything feeling
great. I dealt with those injuries, so I had to kind of ramp
it up with my finger and footand all those things. But now I'm
I'm full full speed out there,and I'm just going to continue to do
what I know will prepare me forthe season. And uh, I know

(01:54:00):
I'm gonna get plenty of technique workand position work when I'm out here.
So for now, I'm gonna spendthese five weeks really getting uh preparing my
body's workouts competitive again, another year, competitives with all that stuff. Yeah,
yeah, it's usually too hot outthere for much competition. We're just

(01:54:21):
trying to survive. So but yeah, it's always it's a it's a silent
competition between between each other, belike peeking, He's like what was his
time? Was his time? Butno, yeah, it's always. You
can never have an off day whenwhen you're out there and he's he's warming
up like a beat, like afreaking robot every day out there, so

(01:54:44):
there's there's no off days. Haveyou you and him talked at all about
I mean, I mean just whenyou were having a contract thing. Do
you have guys have to talk aboutone anybody? Yeah, I mean,
it's it's a conversation, not notreally a a serious conversation, but something
that's come up before. But yeah, I mean it would be cool.

(01:55:06):
It would be cool at some point. I I always thought of myself being
somebody that will play here and retirehere, which I think not many people
do on one team, and Ithink would be a cool thing to accomplish.
But you never know. I'm gonnaworry about this year first. Sorry,

(01:55:28):
it's kind of we're going a foodstory. But so you guys have
like the lowest or second lowest foodcafeceria in the NFLPA serverally last year,
and better moved in the facility.Like you talk a lot about food and
how you did some times. Isit fine? Have you looking forward to
the food upgrades at all? Haveyou thought about it at all? Yeah?
No, it's Wolfgang Puck or whateveris the is the word. Yeah,

(01:55:50):
that's great. I've been working withmy chef for seven years now,
so she's been great, so I'venever really had to worry about that too
much. But yeah, my weight'sgood. I've been eating a lot this
off season, so that's good.But yeah, I'm excited to maybe be
able to sorry, Christina, butmaybe I won't need a chef next year.

(01:56:13):
I'll have I'll have my going onsee how to see the best fit
Christy again, Chris, here wego. Yeah, Dria, welcome to
Seattle. Than were you looking forin free agency? I flight, that's
a loaded question for real, forreal? Uh, you know in terms

(01:56:36):
of you know, pay system,teammates, environment, city, all those
kind of just like play into it. Besides just the money thing. I
know, financials always play a bigrole. And I kind of steered you
into the direction you want to go, but everything kind of plays into it.
And how much did you reach outto Shelby Drew, knowing some of

(01:56:57):
the guys that you knew that playedhere last year to get a sense for
what what I mean? Not muchright now, I'll talk to I talk
to Showby a little bit about it. Mainly no one, Drew, Uh,
just congratulate me all. Did youcome together pretty quickly? I know

(01:57:17):
you kind of came to your agreementon that first Monday, and everything with
Seattle that come together really faster.Now, it was a long day.
Seattle came in almost out of nowhere. We had like a good set of
teams that we were talking to justtrying to finalize what was going on.
What was it the term is goingto be, you know, and Seattle
came in hot. They showed alot of interest and uh, they're kind

(01:57:39):
of just motivating me to come heremore and more. And how similar will
your role be, you know,in terms of playing what you did in
Denver. I don't know that yet. I kind of just mentioned previously.
I don't know my role. Idon't know the ins and out yet.
Once we'll get NO through the protocolsand nfl p A, we'll we'll talk
about NO, the schemes and everything, right, so welcome. When you

(01:58:02):
were in Denver in the three four, where did you find yourself most comfortable?
And I played a lot of differentpositions in Denver. I mean earlier
in my year, I played zero, I played three, two one.
I mean, I'm definitely more comfortablein a shaded position, mainly being a
three technique and five technique. That'swhy I found myself to be more comfortable

(01:58:23):
whether I'm standing up or I'm not, whether it's runner or pass. Uh,
those seem to be my best,my best Fitch, And what is
your impression of Pete Carroll's defense andwhole environment in from Afar, it seems
like he holds in on the defensea lot. Uh. I can't really
say too much about that. Yeah, I don't. I know Pete Carroll

(01:58:44):
very little, so uh, I'mjust trying to figure out more and I'll
give you a better answer later.What's the reputation around the league out of
the Seahawks? Uh, you know, hard nose hard had type of team,
definitely on a little more lax sideas opposed to being stuck up or
military style, and which is definitelygood because then they this program is one
a lot of football games have beensuper successful for many years, as long

(01:59:08):
as I've been alive, as longas I've been watching football, and definitely
this has been a good program.And Pete Carroll has been a hell of
a coach for as long as Iremember, even back in his college days.
So I'm looking forward to experiencing that. Jan Boyle, Yeah, I
know you said you don't know yet. You know what your role is going
to be, but just what whatkind of player you fans who haven't watched

(01:59:29):
it time to denver what kind ofplayer get? Definitely a high motor,
definitely not a one trick pon anytype of player. I like to attack,
you know, whether it's a firstor first through fourth down, I
like to attack. I'm always tryingto apply pressure. I'm definitely just a
high mortar guy in my opinion.Brady, are there, Brady Henderson for

(01:59:53):
ESPN. Nice to meet you.Yeah, this is not a team that
really makes big splash signings in freeagency. Did you I think going into
it then Seattle would Uh No,not at all. Uh. You you
just it's kind of like being acure at the county store. You know,
I've got a whole whole bunch ofdifferent options coming at you, uh
hearing, a whole bunch of differentcrazy things, and uh, you know,
you only get to choose one.And this is the place that that

(02:00:15):
we both chose each other. AndI mean, I l I'm I'm loving
Seattle so far. You know,I like these colors for real? For
real? What what did you gotto do with Seattle or see since you've
been there? Not much? Uhjust kind of just drive around the city
exploring. Uh, get down tothe market a little bit. I w
I wanna get on a little TheFerris will do some more like touristy type
of things. You know. I'mI'm new to the city and I got
a lot to learn about the city. All right. Yeah, there's been

(02:00:41):
a lot of comparisons with you toMichael Bennett. I was wondering if you
know Michael Bennett at all and youthink those are accurate. Uh, I
know Michael Berrt, then it nlike nothing. I know nothing about it,
but besides his style of play.But uh, I'm honored to be
considered in the same conversation as himand uh style of play. You know,
He's a Hall of Fame type ofdeep linean that I've known about since
aasa a kid. I mean,last time he played here, I was
in high school. So you know, it's cool to it kind of came

(02:01:04):
full circle a little bit watching himon TV and now I'm being kind of
compared to him in the 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 gotta keep doing my
due diligence to be a better player. Car Hey dream Moont, Welcome to
Seattle. I know you get toplay several seasons for vig Fango and the

(02:01:28):
three four style defense and Seattle's playinga similar 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,

(02:01:49):
just kind of like relying on eachother. I know that sounds kind
of cliche, but like it's kindof like the the realm of being in
the three four defense. You gottareally really rely on the guys behind you
and the guys on the side ofyou to really make their to do their
job to make your job easier.Bob. Yeah, well, uh,

(02:02:11):
your your Ohose State payoffs said youdidn't start playing football till you were junior
in high school and largely played basketball. So then that's what made you,
I guess, decided to go goplay football? Then? Was that art
away from basketball? No? No, no, I've always loved football first.
Uh, it was just kind ofjust to plan it out. You
know, I love the who,but you know, football was definitely my
calling given I was two hundred andsixty five pounds power forward and I was

(02:02:33):
like sixtrees and change. So youknow, I kind of cholse the route
that God gave me. No,I'm not six eight LSA. Yeah,
Verymond, Well come to Seattle andyou couldn't quote it, and you're looking
at a couple of auditors that youwasn't the job player, and can you
just talk a little bit about thatthat role that was some of the US

(02:02:57):
said you always kind of counted outmore than that. Just from a standpoint,
like I always get like over overshadowed, overlooked, whether it's a in
something, you know what I'm saying, Like, I feel like I do
a lot more than what can besitting by the eyes of the inexperienced,
you know, Scout and I doa lot of just different dynamic things that

(02:03:19):
help make plays for others. Youknow, I'm definitely an active player.
I'm always doing something, whether inthe runner pass game. So you know,
I think that goes on others sometimesand I'm looking forward to putting people
on notice. Thanks Brady. Whatuh, what do you like to do
outside of football, big gamer?I'm definitely I've been getting to a lot

(02:03:41):
of chests lately, so just toexpand my brain, I try to get
into reading, but if it's notas portulated, I I'm really not interested
in reading that book. What doyou think some of that I'll be able
to bring out out of your games? You can keep trying to, you
know, just being more explosive,Probably more yards for catch with the space
that he's putting us into. Themore yards, more yards I have to

(02:04:04):
catch, more expposed to pick,more exposed to play for for not just
only me, but she and Akand taste them. So I'm excited to
be able to be in the system. I assume you think you guys can
be a lot more explosive than youin the last couple of years. Oh
yeah, of course. It bringsa lot of different things, you know
what I'm saying the playbook, butjust accountability. I feel like that's going

(02:04:27):
to lead us to success. Thissaid, the language is a little a
little shorter it. Have you foundthat the language that you guys use.
Is it about the same or isit a kind of Really it's a long,
long place, but it's more understandingfor sure. I feel like you
can get to that more understanding plays, and I feel like that's that's the
difference. Peter was saying the otherday, just kind of like coming into

(02:04:49):
this offense after like twenty years ofBreeze and just kind of how it was
just kind of built on top ofeach other, on top of each other.
It's like kind of a lot tokind of take in. Do you
do you find that they kind ofturn it down to something new, starting
to like zero with everybody. It'sjust a little bit easier to kind of
get everybody on the same Yeah.I feel like it's way easier. Like
you said, it was kind ofmore of a Drew Brees style, uh

(02:05:10):
the last playbook, so uh allcredit to them though they built that around
him, around his players. Butuh, like I said, it's it's
more. Uh, this playbook ismore uh for uh matchups, and uh,
I feel like it's gonna be betterfor us. How do you think
it's gonna really take advantage of yourskill sets? Uh? Just building around
the strengths that I have. Youknow what I'm saying, things that I

(02:05:32):
can do and things that she cando, uh, things that our players
can do. Is kind of focuson what we can do and and building
on that Uh. I feel likeit's playing to the player strengths, So
I feel like it's gonna help usa lot has been around the way this
offense will have a lot more speed. And how has that transition event so
far? I mean, like Isaid, it's building around the players strengths.
So of course we got speed,uh with me or uh she and

(02:05:56):
ati receiver, so uh, justbuilding around that, uh, like I
said, into our strengths and beable to capitalize off that. Feel like
it's gonna help us a lot mostof like the up tempo aspect and you
know, getting a lot of playsin unless time. Oh yeah, yeah,
yeah, that's definitely gonna play abig difference. Like I said,
coming from the West Coast, Uh, they bringing that stand for an offense
here. So I'm excited to beable to be a part of that.

(02:06:16):
For you personally, what's what's thenext level look like? For you?
What do you what are you tryingto accomplish this year? Just staying consistent,
man, a couple of upside downslast year. Just building off that.
Uh, it's always always gonna workon the physical part, but being
able to bounce back after a badgame. The mental, mental aspect.
Uh. Just learning and learning thatlast year and be able to build on

(02:06:39):
that this year is a huge part. You know with Mike Gon, do
you take it upon yourself to kindof be that voice in the room or
to take a step forward even furtheras Uh, I mean it's not really.
I mean everybody kind of grown inthe NFL, so it's just on
you to be able to have thatstandard like or I just try to do

(02:07:01):
that lead by example. I'm notreally outspoken, but just lead by example,
working hard, trying to dominate everyrep and hopefully they follow out to
that after the touch? Is thatyou feel like that's the strength of yours
that maybe wasn't utilize I don't knowif utilizes the right word, but you
could show more. Yeah, it'san offense that is built around that,

(02:07:24):
Uh, just catching the ball inspace, catching the ball over the middle
or even on the outside, uhwith with space and separation. I feel
like it's built around having yards haveto catch. So I'm definitely proud to
be in the system, like Isaid, and I'm excited. But is
that is that a mindset too?Like being good at yards after the catch?
Like? Oh yeah, I mean, of course, I mean,
you don't want to get tackled bythe first person. And my mindset is

(02:07:46):
trying to take every take everything tothe house, you know, every touch.
So I definitely got to do thatmore and definitely try to work on
that and practice this. Keep greatdude man, some some that I definitely
needed. Some that he relates tome just from backgrounds, and uh he's

(02:08:07):
a great coach, great leader,Uh, motivational and uh. Like I
said, I'm excited to have himaround and for him to push me is
everything that I need. So you'retalking about like mentally bouncing back, you
know from tough performances or whatever,Like, did you try to find your
resources gonna help you figure out howto do that? Oh? Yeah,
I mean it's older guys that uhtell me that's natural, just have bad

(02:08:31):
games. But uh, just havingthe standard that I have for myself and
the expectations I have for myself getshard sometimes. So just be able to
be hard on yourself but at thesame time just let it go and just
bounce back for the next game issomething that I learned last year. You're
one of those guys that feels likeyou should always have a certain level production

(02:08:52):
are you okay with those certain gameswhere the defense is so focused on you
that other guys have big games andwhere you're just running good routes and it's
yeah, I'd definitely be one dimensional. In football. You need to be
able to throw the ball as muchas run the ball. You know,
It's funny. Some people think I'man area guy. Some people think I'm
a wing tea guy. Some peoplethink I want to run the ball every
down. You know, we're gonnaWe're gonna do what's best for a house

(02:09:15):
state, and that's that's kind ofwhat our game plan is right now.
Austin wore a podcast. When youthink about your first evaluations of the quarterbacks
and going through these fifteen practices athow do you want to structure that?
I know that you and Ryan haveprobably talked about that at good amount,
Like what's the right way to setup a spring position battle? How many
reps does everybody need? What's sortof your plan just from a general perspective,

(02:09:37):
I guess yeah, you know,we're really detailed in what practice looks
like and how that's going to operate. But I also think you need to
let the players go, you know, so I don't think you need to
to put shackles on them, soto speak, and just keep them constrained.
I think you got to let themgo and you got to let them
operate. And we were rotating Ithink everybody on every two snaps today just
and that was just what we're gonnado on day one. You know,

(02:09:58):
we'll reassess it at too. Wegot through it, get a chance to
count up all the reps of howmany plays, how many plays each guy
got, and did they get morein seven on than they did in eleven
on? You know, and we'llgo through that whole thing and that'll be
a constant flow in terms of howwe're doing it. But I think the
best way people learn is they learnby doing, you know. So they've
been great in the meeting rooms.They're sharp when you get them on the

(02:10:18):
board, they're really good when they'rewatching film. But you got to go
out and you got to play thegame. And so the more that we
can put them in those situations toplay the game, the better we'll have
an opportunity to evaluate them. Uhship. Thinking all of these things go
back. So for with Ryan's day, you mentioned since you've done him,
since she was a kid. Whatwere your first impressions back then that she

(02:10:43):
could come full circle to now?Like, how do you how do you
feel about that? It's still thesame way, you know, even since
he was playing little league, hewas the ultimate competitor, you know,
and he was always trying to finda way to win. He was great
at a lot of sports, Baseball, basketball, football, you know.
I got an opportunity to recruit him, you know, so I coached him
when I was at New Hampshire.I recruited him out of high school.
We all, and we grew upreally close to each other, so same

(02:11:05):
elementary school, same high school,same junior high, same college. You
know. So I've known him sincefor for a really long time. But
that competitive fire burns deep with him, and that's the one thing that I've
always admired with him. And he'sgot an amazing athletic brain in terms of
how to process things and how tohow to put people in position to make
place. He's always been that prototypicalcoach on the field no matter what sport

(02:11:26):
he was playing. So I knewhe was destined to be a coach,
you know, And I was fortunatein my career as a head coach to
have him on my staff in acouple 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 thenas a coach. So the success he
had is not is not surprising tome that hard here is there for you

(02:11:46):
seeing Wheyan the success he's had.Yeah, I think we all do that.
I think we come from a uniqueplace in a really small hometown in
New Hampshire where we all take alot of pride to where we're from and
when anybody's successful coming out of there, that you kind of take a little
pride that that's it's the upbringing thatwe all had, you know, in
the U sports program that we grewup in in in every aspect whether it
was football, baseball, basketball,those coaches we had an amazing impact on

(02:12:09):
us and that's why we are wherewe are right now. Ryan said,
he doesn't think of it as youworking under him. It's working with him.
In fact is he is the headcoach. He makes me call him
sir though he just said can youdo that day one and I was like,
all right, right now, ButI mean he ultimately it is the

(02:12:35):
decision maker. You've been a headcoach. How do you think that's going
to work. Do you think there'llbe any as close as you are,
any kind of awkward moments the rightterm, But when he's the ultimate decider
and you are working for him,Yeah, I certainly understand my role.
I'm not Alhaic, like I'm not. I'm not in charge here. Yeah,

(02:12:56):
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
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 really struck me
when I walked in this place isthere's an amazing coaching staff here. You

(02:13:16):
know, and if you get achance to talk to Larry Johnson just about
football, or Tim Walton or JimKnowles or Brian Hartline or any of these
guys that are on the staff here, 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's OhioState. You know, it's it's Ohio
State versus the twelve opponents that we'regonna play during the regular season and then

(02:13:39):
beyond. So it's it's really collaborative. And that's the thing I like,
just in the short time that I'vebeen here, is how collaborative everybody's been.
You know, we're all trying tomake each other better and we're all
trying to develop this team. Touchedon this when you said, you know,
you'd like to do what you wantto do and not My sense is
you, in your perfect world,you'd like to scribble plays on an actor

(02:14:00):
and not deal with boosters, dodeal with all the stuff that coaches,
head coaches have to deal with.Now, how much of a factor was
that in this decision? You canjust do football? No, that's not
it. I mean I enjoy Imean we've had some amazing I've had an
opportunity and everywhere I've been to meetsome amazing people that are associated with the
program. And there's people that frommy time at New Hampshire or my time

(02:14:20):
at Oregon. I was just withPhil Night two weeks ago. You know,
I got an opportunity to spend sometime with him and his wife Penny,
who are dear friends of mine thathave been great mentors to me in
my career. And there's a bunchof people that at UCLA, Terry Donahue
and Andrea Donna who were awesome tome. Angela Mazzoni is a great friend,
Casey Wassman, Troy Aikman. Therewas a bunch of people at UCLA
that I really enjoyed, you know, being around and talking with. So

(02:14:43):
I think sometimes everybody wants to makea narrative of it's either this or that.
It's it's it's never that. It'snever just all ball, it's never
just all recruiting, it's never justall boosters. It's it's a mixture of
everything. But I think the onething that as this position as a head
coach kept moving on is that ifyou look at a lot of them,
they all become more CEOs. Youknow. I can't tell you how many
coaches that have called me since Imade this decision that said I'm two years

(02:15:07):
behind you, brother, you knowthat are thinking the same exact way.
And I think it's all part ofwhat we have to do. I think
we all need to protect this gameand promote this game, and I think
there are some rules that we needto get straightened out so that people understand
where what it's about, because thegame is still about the players, and
I hope that never gets discounted.You know, it's it's always been about
the players, and I think ifwe can keep that at the forefront the

(02:15:28):
people that are making decisions on this, and I think Jean Smith is one
of the best influences in in theNCAAA, is to make sure we keep
that the main thing. The mainthing needs to be the student athletes.
You know, you're coming in ata time where you've been through some places
where the expectations are high. Iunderstand it's also coming into a juncture where,

(02:15:52):
you know, the three losses toMichigan, the not making the playoff
last year. The urgency is prettyhigh here. I guess just sort of
what perspective you have them, kindof the stakes that there are for Ryan
this year and the decision that thenhe makes to bring you in to kind
of help solve that. Yeah,I think the expectations can be no higher
than they are in your own brain, you know. And I think if

(02:16:13):
you try to worry about what otherpeople are thinking in their brains, you're
going to get screwed up a littlebit. So, you know, I
talked earlier the one thing about Ryanthat I know about him and has always
been he's the ultimate competitor. Sohe's got There's nowhere that has higher expectations
of Ohio State than Ryan does,nor the rest of us that joined him
in our part of this and thatare working with him. So you know,
I don't think I think sometimes youcan spend too much time thinking about

(02:16:35):
those things. You know, whatyou really have to do is just as
there's a big sign as you walkinto this place, it says when the
moment, you know, I thinkthat's a real thing that we have to
do as coaches, is to makesure that our players aren't worried about what's
going on in the future, oror aren't worried about what's going on in
the past, or worry about canthey get a little bit better today,
you know, and can we makeimprovement? And I think the one thing
that I've seen here, and I'veonly been here for three weeks, but
there's a consistency to the players approachwhen they walk in this building every day,

(02:16:58):
which is it's unique it's not likethat everywhere else. And it's one
of the things that I remarked toMick when I you know, he said,
Hey, what do you think?And I was like, it's impressive.
It's impressive the culture of the playersthat are in this program right now.
But I think it speaks a lotto the leadership. There's there's a
lot of older players on this team, and they've set the tone for the
younger players, and I think theyounger players have done a great job of
followship and getting right in line withthat. It's never hit it over play

(02:17:20):
calling to someone before. What doesit mean to you? I guess he
technically did it to Bill when hewas here for a couple weeks, But
what does that mean to you tokind of be getting that responsibility from him
and he's calling essentially the offense thatyou gave it? I guess in some
way. Yeah, I still thinkthe play calling part will be a collaborative
effort. And by that I meanthat if it's a good play, I

(02:17:41):
called it, and if it's abad play, he called it. Because
the great part is an assistant coach, you can just hen point the finger
a little bit and say, hey, you know I wanted to do this,
but he trumped me. So wehaven't actually discussed game day yet.
You know, we'll see how thatoperates. But everywhere I've been it's been
a color laborative effort, and allof a sudden, someone that's calling the
plays isn't isn't like pulls one outof left field that you hadn't practiced and

(02:18:05):
hadn't been part of your offense andsaid, hey, let's do this.
You know, we're not running theannexation of Puerto Rico. You know,
we're not coming up with something specialyou know in the middle of the fourth
quarter that we haven't done. ButI think it's the key to really being
successful on offense is is how yougame plan, how you put it all
together, and then how you practiceand train for that so that you get
a chance to execute it. Becausethe player's confidences comes from their demonstrated ability

(02:18:28):
that they've done this so many timesin practice that when they get out on
the field that this is like thatto them. You know, it's not
that they do it so they doit right, it's they practice it so
much so that they can't do itwrong. So, you know, I
think it's that whole part of itthat is really the key to being a
really good game planning team. Secondright, Doug Lane Reif North Chip.
When you had that feeling when youwere coaching in quarterbacks during Bowl, did

(02:18:54):
you consider at that point maybe resigningas the head coach and thinking like this
is this is not where I amanymore. I'll leave and then I'll look
to see what else is out there. No. I never thought about quitting
anything. So, you know,I just is there an opportunity that I
think I can that fit, youknow, And I think that's the you
know, it's no different than whenyou're talking to a recruit about them make

(02:19:16):
a decision on where they're going togo to school. I think that where
they should go to school is wherethe best fit is for them. So,
you know, I just entertained someopportunities and I always felt I felt
like this was the best fit.But I never thought about quitting or not
coaching. I'm gonna coach. I'mgonna coach and then I'm gonna die.
But I mean, that's how Ithink I think about things. Is I
can't picture that I know someone Iwas on the Nike trip and they like

(02:19:37):
how much longer are you gonna go? When I said I I have to
go another fifteen twenty years, Idon't think about I don't think about retirement.
I don't think about any of thosethings. That's just not kind of
my mindset that you know. Ilove football and in the as long as
I can be part of this game, then I'll be part of this game.
Just the way things worked out withyour departure from UCLA, is there

(02:19:58):
anything that you wish you had donedifferently, or anything you regret, or
just that the circumstances that presented themselves. Do you think that you handled that
departure the best that you could have? Yeah, I mean I got an
opportunity to tell my players personally.You know, I think in this day
and age of the internet, wherethey read it somewhere else and you have
to text message him, you know, that was always important to me that
I wanted to make sure I talkto my players and explain the reasons of

(02:20:20):
what I was doing. I wasn'tleaving to take a head coaching job somewhere
else. I wasn't thinking that thegrass is greener at another university. Was
just in my personal situation, Thisis what I wanted to do. I
wanted to take an opportunity to gobe a position coach and coordinator, and
that's how it fit. You know. What I was happy is that I
always thought to Sean Foster, Ithink the world of them and I think
he's a special you know. Andthe fact that that they were they gave

(02:20:43):
him the opportunity to take over therewas you know, it worked out.
I didn't have any say in thatdecision, you know, I was gone,
But I always thought that de Shaunwould be a great head coach,
and I'm really proud of him andhappy that that he got the opportunity to
take that job right behind act youhave. Your reputation is innovator. Was
part of the appeal of this isthat you get to get in the weeds

(02:21:05):
a little bit. Maybe not madscientists, maybe too too strong of a
word. Could you're working within thesystem. But was there an appeal of
you get to get my hands dirtyhere again and innovate and get back to
that side of things. It was, But it was really more important of
who I get to work with,you know, and so knowing you know,

(02:21:26):
I've got I know a lot ofguys on the staff besides Ryan also,
so you know, when I knowwhat their mindset is and what their
values are and how they do things, and so I want to be a
part of that. But there's apart of that. Yeah, yeah,
how much of a teacher you getlabeled with the innovator. The teachings are
part of this. How much isit is? How a teacher are you
and how patient are you? Yeah? I think we're all teachers. I

(02:21:48):
mean, education is the transportation ofknowledge, you know, So it really
doesn't matter what the coach knows.It matters what the players understand, you
know. So you have to beable to make sure that while you're implementing
things is what resonates with them andhow does that come back to them?
So, you know a lot ofour teaching styles that we've learned is more
the socratic method of there's a lotof questions, you know, and a

(02:22:09):
lot of check for understandings, justto kind of find out where the players
are coming from, because it's whatthey know that that's ultimately gonna win games,
not what we know. You knowthat we're not playing the games,
we're not stepping across those white lines, you know, And your job as
a coach is to create an environmentwhere they have an opportunity to be successful
and then get out of their wayand let them go do it. So
I think the teaching aspect is huge, and we continue to research, you

(02:22:31):
know, some of the latest trendsin teaching to make sure that we are
transporting that knowledge to our players.The second roll left, Steve Hellwaggen,
twenty four seven Sports. Yeah,coach, just curious you got five scholarship
quarterbacks with differing levels of experience,age and everything else. Not to annoy
him, but just want to askspecifically about Will Howard coming in after starting

(02:22:52):
part of two years at kids ofstage. He just seems to promote this
idea that he's a football player,you know above all else. Just how
impressed are you with his makeup,his experience, what he's bringing to the
table walking in here right now?Yeah, really impressed. You know,
you don't have to talk to Willfor more than five minutes to kind of

(02:23:13):
know where he's coming from. He'sreally focused. You know, he knows
he's got a short window left inhis college career and it really wants to
capitalize on what that is. There'sa maturity to Will. You know,
I really I've had experience. Myexperience in this thing since the transfer portal
opened in college football is some ofthe best players I've had an opportunity to

(02:23:35):
coach ward transfers. Sometimes when you'rea 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'rea transfer, is that I've got
nine months, you know. Sothere's a sense of urgency I think when
you're dealing with with transfers, andI think Will has exuded that since he's
been here. But the other thingthat I just in the short time that
Will has been here is how quicklyhe's fit in with the entire team,

(02:23:56):
you know, and how much therest of the players respect him. You
know. He was uh one ofthe Gold Award winners for his work in
the weight room in this offseason,So that says a lot for him coming
in here as a in a shorttime, being able to to win a
weight room award, you know,to start off, do you guys hope
to have the number one internally externallyat the end of spring or I guess

(02:24:18):
just let it play out, howdo you I? I think it always
every time I've been involved in these, I think when they're organic is when
it's the best that. I don'tthink you can anoint somebody or force the
issue because the players know, theplayers would understand. They see it every
single day, you know, Andthere's a team chemistry part of this thing
too, So we're not gonna forcethe issue a but I've always seen it
play itself out. So I've beenfortunate that there's always gonna be some quarterback

(02:24:41):
battles at at some point in time. At every school there's a quarterback battle,
you know, and then and reallyyou gotta let them play it out
on the field, and that's whereit has to That's that's where it has
to be decided. Just a couplemore age. Hey, welcome than we
We're excited to have you here.I'm kind of to talk about the innovative
part. Ryot said that that's somethingthat he's always loved about working with you,

(02:25:01):
and now he wants you to bringthat here and how it would fit
with Ohio State. Do you havethe idea of what that's going to look
like yet or is it just waytoo ly? I have no idea,
you know, I think part ofit is is you're trying to put the
players in position to make place.So a lot of that comes from getting
to understand the players and what theirskill sets are and how we feature what

(02:25:22):
their skill sets are, you know, And the one thing after day one,
I can tell you that there's alot of skill set out there,
you know. So that's that's whatgets you excited. You know, 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.
You know, it's not just emptytalent. It's you got some kids

(02:25:43):
who want to I mean all ofthem since I've been here, want to
work. So that's what gets youexcited. But I think assessing what the
skill set is you know that wehave available to us on the offensive side
of the ball, is vitally important. And then our job is to put
those guys in positions to make place. You'd lots of pressure, I mean,
you've experienced what it's like to coachnational championship, how over teams this

(02:26:05):
program right now and moving into asituation where you gotta win mm quick and
now, so does that feel likepressure here for you or is it a
little bit of excitement or both?Well, I've always subscribed to as pressure
is what you feel when you don'tknow what you're doing. So if you
don't wanna feel pressure, then youshould know what you're doing. So,
you know, I think it's it'spart of that, and I think part

(02:26:26):
of our job with our players interms of the education process is getting them
to understand that too. Is thatyou know, it's it's about your preparation,
it's about you and your development.It's not about that you can't be
governed by what other people say.It's it's what's my mindset and how am
I intrinsically motivated? And then howdo I really compete against myself on a
daily basis to get a little bitbetter. You know, we got a
little bit better today cause we getout on the field today and got a

(02:26:46):
chance to do some football. Andthen the challenge is when we get back
on the field on Thursday, canwe be a little bit better than we
were on Tuesday? And if we'redoing that, then we keep stacking good
days on top of good days,and I think we'll be in good spot.
R H. Chip and welcome,Thank you. I'm gonna ask about
the pros and cons of coaching fromthe box and coaching from the field.
It's interesting to talk to some offensome coordinators. Tom Herman talking about he

(02:27:09):
swore he wanted to coach from thebox, saw the game so much better,
sterile environment, not all the chaoson the field. Some coaches you
talk to the like, I wantto be on the field so I can
look at my guys in the eye. Where are you at as a as
a coordinator? Honestly, And I'vethought of this a lot. I thought
of it a lot during COVID becausewe had the empty stands, you know,
so I had thought about just walkingup into the stands for a little
bit because I had a better advantage. I've always believed you can see the

(02:27:31):
game better from up above, butI believe you can feel the game better
from the field. So if therewas any way we could get a zip
wire where you could do both,you know, coach calling from there and
then zip down of the field geta chance to talk to him, because
it's a different deal when you're talkingto the quarterbacks on the phone, you
know, than being able to lookin their eye and kind of see where
they are with it. And partof it is the field part of it.

(02:27:52):
I remember when I coached Ryan once. We were playing Ukon and he
got hit hard going out of bounceand he just walked by me, and
I was a play caller, andhe was like, run the next play,
and I just kind of looked athim. I saw the look in
his eyes because I don't think hecould have thrown it, you know,
he was still trying to get hiswin back. But you wouldn't know that
if you're up in the booth,you know, and you call a pass
play from up in the booth andyou're like, how come we can't complete

(02:28:13):
that? Well, he just tooka shot going out of bound. So
it's that fine line that I don'thave an answer, you know. I
think I think it's feel on theground and it's see from up above.
Maybe in this day a technology,they'll figure it out. But we'll see
how that that that operates, andwhatever Ryan feels is the best for the
team is what we're gonna do.So your teams at the Oregon were obviously

(02:28:37):
you know, we're playing at thisassid pace and running a bunch of plays
for a minute and yep, maybenot by a passill pretty fast. What
role do you see tempo and havingan offense and in the stay in college
football and has maybe changed. Ithink the game is always evolving, you
know. I think when I leftin two thousand and twelve to go to
the National Football League, Oregon wasthe only team that was playing really,

(02:29:00):
really fast and had shiny helmets.And when I came back in twenty seventeen,
everybody had shiny helmets and everybody wasplaying fast. So I think the
game is always going to go upand down, and there's going to be
different cycles that it goes through.I think tempo is part of an offense,
but I don't think it's an offensein itself. I think it's more
of like if you go to dinner, it's a side order. You know,

(02:29:20):
it's not the main course, butit's it's always good to have it.
So I think there's times when you'lluse it, but you're you're not
going to use it extensively the entiregame, just like you're not going to
throw the ball every single snap inthe game. You're not going to run
the ball every single snap in thegame. You know, there's there's not
a game of absolutes anymore. Ithink the ability to be diverse and have

(02:29:41):
it as a tool in your twobox, so to speak, is really
how we would look at using it. Here are now work familiar with it,
then, I think so, youknow, I think when you first
started going tempo, there were peoplein the NCAA they want to outlaw,
they want to make an NCAA rolethat, Yeah, you couldn't do it,
you know, And I'll give coachShaping credit. I mean, I
think obviously Nick was the first wantto do it. He wanted it out
loud, and then all of asudden he adapted it and said, all

(02:30:01):
right, we like this, youknow, so we'll keep it in.
But it's I think people have itdoesn't matter what you do. There's there's
cycles to this game, and thenonce people catch on to that cycle,
then it moves. You know.It's no different than for three defenses and
three four defenses. You know whatis the rage when the when the Giants
won the Super Bowl, they werethere were three four defense and everybody,

(02:30:24):
everybody says, we have to dothat well. People didn't understand is they
had Carl Banks and Lawrence Taylor.It didn't matter what defense they were running.
I know Gym's back there and Jimplayed against the you know it was.
They could have been a four downdefense and those guys would have been
great players. But it's not thescheme. I think that the coaches that
do it the best way is theyinsert their players and put them in the
best position to make plays. Andnow, now will Temple be part of

(02:30:46):
it. It'll be part of it, but it's certainly not going to be
the main course. Last question,Oh, thank you very much, Jerry.
Uh. Remember one, there wasthe great moment there when yall were
warming up, when you were youwere talking with Tim Walton, Caleb Down's
and conversing and as you're in thiskind of a two part question, but
number one, what was just yourtake on the talent you saw on that

(02:31:07):
field today on both sides of theball. Where would you rank it?
Yeah, I'll rank it. I'llbe very transparent. As I was telling
Tim and Caleb what a great offensiveplayer I thought Caleb would be, could
be and should be. But I'mnot the head coach, so I always

(02:31:28):
turned stretch as a as an offensivecoordinator, I'm always looking at the defensive
players like I could use him.Oh what could I do if I had
him? What could I do ifI have him? But I don't.
I don't get to choose him anymorebecause I'm I'm not. I don't have
the pick. But I was justtalking to him about he's He's a great
young man. And if you watch, if you want to watch a highlight
tape, watch his hot. Youknow, I understand I came up a
rough season, but I don't thinkit's a step down of where I can

(02:31:52):
play. You know, I thinkwhen I was at the top of my
game, I'm still a top fiveplayer in my position. And you know,
I played a run in the pastand I bring leadership and you know
that's not anything I discover. Canyou do you plan to be here for
mini camp in the storage in thecamp? Yeah? How difficult has it
been the last two weeks to notbe here? I mean you said in

(02:32:15):
your podcast the first time you've nevernot been a Ota. Yeah, it
w It was difficult, But likeyou know, the thing I got very
frustrated with was just and people questionedmy communication with the team. You know,
I uh was communicating with guys leftand right, and you know,
front office, coaches, teammates,and all I care about is how I

(02:32:35):
am with my teammates. I don'twant them to ever think I don't care
about them or how I'm not init. And you know, you can
say whatever you want about me.But besides that, but I'll always dedicate
anything I can do, and Idon't want that to every question. Isaia
said that it felt like sometimes youwere holed up somewhere watching film. You

(02:32:56):
texted hy you missed this, oryou want that. Well, like the
first day, he was batting allup Russ's passes, so I had to
let him know. You know,you gotta take advantage of that. You
gotta make sure guys are you know, UH know that you you still care
and you still want to be apart of this. You know, just
watching practice, there's a couple ofthings we're doing different, whether I'm communicating

(02:33:18):
with Dunbar or other people. Youknow, for you're that you're also talking
with him and you you've given hima pointyers during the off season, just
toss the communication. How do yousee him grow as a person? You
know, as far as how he'sapproaching things and how he's getting ready for
this season from his rookie year.Uh. You know, I think the
thing with Keanu is he's more comfortable, you know. You know, it's

(02:33:39):
not his first time around the track. You know, it's actually like he
can you know, uh, catchhis feet under him. You know,
I always think when you're in yourrookie season, you're going from bowl game.
I don't even know Wisconsin playing abowl game. Sorry, Wisconsin,
I don't even know. But youknow, personally, I just think when
you go from bowl game into trainingfor the combine to you know, rookie

(02:34:03):
mining camps, OTAs, the youknow 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
vocal, you know. And Ithink when my absence now other guy's absence,
you know, you need guys likethat to step up and be ready
for those opportunities. What do youyou had the saying you had during the

(02:34:26):
season was a more thorough what wasjust tightened down everything, you know on
my left side because I was overcompensatinga little bit, but you know it
was it wasn't anything that lingers.You know, I'll say this, A
growing is not like an a clIt's not like anything's that we're going to
get afected again. And you know, you know, I'm feeling good,

(02:34:46):
able to do everything squat and heavywith power and speed, so you know,
it feels good to get after again. What do you think of what
the team was able to accomplish?A shof usually turned to bring guys like
Russian and things. You know,I think they're all good acquisitions, but
you know, you never want tobe known as a paper champion and so
you can't win the off season.I think the work gets done out here

(02:35:09):
on the field, gets done inthe classroom, it gets done training,
uh, you know, and thenyou see where you're at in training camp,
and then you build on that.You know, I think we got
the right guys in the building.It's just about putting a complete team on
the field camp. How temper coupis it to separate the business part of
the game in the actual football player? Uh, you know, you always

(02:35:35):
wanna you always have to treat itlike a business because you know one day
it's gonna end. Uh. Andthat's been the job. Uh. It's
not like in college where you knowyou got four years guaranteed. I don't
know, well now you don't knowwhat n I'll know it's crap, but
the transfer portal portal. But youknow, you have to I still have

(02:35:58):
love for this game, and Istill work my tail off, and I
still put everything into it, andthat's not gonna change. But you have
to know what you bring to theteam and what your what your value is.
Canyon wanted to feel to be outthere with your teammates today. Emotionally
great. You know, we gota new uh, we got a new
training staff and still learning the thewarm up a little different. Uh,

(02:36:22):
but uh, you know I lovedit. Uh, you know, just
getting after it, learning new guys, Uh, going through the same drills
I've been doing by myself. Uh. I actually like having more people around,
cause like kind of go stir crazycrazy when it's just you and another
guy, You're like, damn,I gotta go back up for another rep
already. And so you know it'snice to be up here and get a

(02:36:45):
chance to, you know, bewith my guys. Can were you confident
and deple will get done with youremotions. Oh, I'm gonna we'll try
to remain pretty neutral because you know, I don't wanna be too either way.
All I know is I wanna behere, but we'll see what happens.
Is my last year here, II I I've had a great career

(02:37:09):
here, but uh, I'll lookforward to play next year. Can you
with that second surgery, you saidthat 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,
you can ask doctor Bradley, uh, doctor doctor Zuckerbron who uh did

(02:37:33):
the surgery as well. You know, I if anything's gonna help me and
it'll make me a lot stronger fromhere on up. Did you said you
were training with another guy? Whohave you kind of been Tyson? Oh?
I've been training with him for thelast eight years. We've always trained
together. We got a trainer upnorth, uh shadowt Cole Haley, who's
my guy, traded trained trained uhHeath Miller, Brett Hezel, the multitude

(02:37:58):
of guys that I all respect andwe've just been getting after can the very
few guys historically thirty five that getpaid big contracts. You think that's held
against you. I think there's nota lot of history behind it. But
you know, for me, II look at as I'm not looking to
be like anybody else. You know, my game is different from everybody else

(02:38:20):
in this league. You know,I like to think, you know,
I can play the run in thepast, and then that's where I'm different.
You know, I remember last yearMike t just brought to my attention.
You know, the thing that's reallycool is you watch powerlifters, and
you know, my game's built onpowering technique, and those guys go into
their forties and so you know,that's what kind of research I'm doing behind

(02:38:43):
the scenes. But you know,I I We'll see what happens, but
it's there's not a lot of history. But I'm here to make history and
I'm here to you know, winanother super Bowl here and you know,
have a great season. Do youhave a set goal yourself on how many
years do you want to play inthe NFL? Or do you just take
things here right here? You know, it was it was tough answering that

(02:39:07):
question. Right after the season.I will say this, guys, I
I can't keep answering that question rightafter the season. That is not fair
to the season, That's not fairto my family. Uh you know.
But in my mind, I gotthree years and I want to maximize them.
I wanna play at a high leveland I want to go deep in
the playoffs. And you know,we got a good team and I'm gonna

(02:39:28):
do my part to be ready forall those situations. Here. Have you
plan on practicing when you report toLatrob or is your possibility that you might
pull in and enforces I I havenot even thought that far. I've taken
a day by day. Uh youknow. Uh. I told my agent
and we talked about it. Imean, we were cool coming out here.
You know. I'll be here formany you know, and then I'll

(02:39:52):
be there for training pan. Youknow, I don't know what the work
entails, but when we get there, we'll across that bridge or remain a
stealer for those three years. Youknow. There was a conversation between me
Omar and Mike t And there's certainguys that are one helmet guys, you

(02:40:16):
know, and I wanna be oneof those one helmet guys, and you
know there's a there's a hunger anddesire there. But that doesn't mean just
hanging it up and calling a career. To me, I think, you
know, I got more bullets tofire and uh, you know I'm excited
to do that. What's the meaninglast one you in? What did your

(02:40:37):
impression of him? What? Whatdoes he do well that you're like,
Okay, yeah, this is thisis the program I want to take her?
Uh? He closed your born yougoose forward? Yeah? You you
committed right after your music. Imean when you came down here, was
there a thought process that you couldcommit. Did you come down with an
open mind or did you kind ofhave a feeling that this was gonna be
the beginn of you had? Uh? I came down with open one.
I didn't know about command really andthen I got here. I feel with

(02:40:58):
the uh family. I'm here withthe players. What was that moment like
for you talking to coaches telling methey're telling your family? Just what was
that like for you? But itwas great? I have a mom,
my dad or my mother's in theroom there end. What was that reaction?
Well, my everybody already really exptfrom being from doing Okay, So

(02:41:18):
what was coach last that it wasa time when you think of like just
to comment or the yeah, justan Ohio State back you know, whether
it's physicality, like what are thefirst things that come to mind when you
think of they don't high share anymow, speed of power? Yes on and
tight about it? Yeah? Isthat something that I mean you feel like
you have to you know we're goingor is that something that you're like,

(02:41:39):
Yeah, that's the kind of backI am. I'm just gonna be next
to mine and I I think that'sthe tip of back I am. But
you all, yeah, well,what are kind of a few of those
things that you're like, yeah,I need to work on like go over
the course of the next few monthsof just everything. Make sure I keep
all the details, will Superio?What a coach I'll tell you that he
likes about your game? Is itart between the tackles, speed or what

(02:42:00):
is he like? He said youlike tomorrow though the backfield game without man
he liked that. I'm m what'skind of your main I mean, obviously
as an in state kid committed tothis class, what's your pitch now to
other recruits and being like, thisis why you should join Ohio State twenty
twenty. It's a real family.I'm experienced. Yeah, everybody getting along,
everybody talking to everybody to each other. What'd you say once you give

(02:42:24):
in the team to bring up I'vealways looked up to blow Jacks and watching
this film you, Uh, that'sfunny. Do you think that your boy
style Gamar his for perspect him justthe way that he really too offield?

(02:42:45):
Yeah? I think you want toroll into Yeah, I think I can.
I think the speed of card.Yeah, I think I Who are
the main guys that you're you're talkingto right now to join the school?
I'm really talking to everybody, uhthe listagram that all the committ and any
guys that you want to join theclass, to anybody at the top of
your list. I'm sorry if youalready got asked this, but coming up

(02:43:09):
here as a as a recruit oras a commitments here, what what did
you want to show today? Whatdid you want to get out of this
experience? It wasn't nothing to shownothing to Cove. I just wanted to
just some working with his love.How did you feel like that went?
Obviously he's still relatively new here,but he seems to bring up a little
bit of a different energy than thansome of these camps in the past.
I feel like a really good year. Do you sense that energy? I

(02:43:31):
mean when you're out with him,it's I feel this intense interview. He's
different than other guys though, right, I mean kind of how would you
explain his coaching than some of theother running back coach you've may have worked
with in the path. It's justintense tense, like go go and go.
Ye. Did did you talk tocoach lack one when you either got
to organ? I hear? Okay, So when when didn't he didn't work
in getting market er like Rufford aroundlike half of the season, like not

(02:43:56):
too far after? Okay, SoI mean is it was? He kind
of the same guy that if heis now so just just in a new
uniform basically, yeah, okay,And you guys obviously added Isaiah to the
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 dat the classthrough another thing? What do you
like about Isaiah? I don't know, you've never met him, but just

(02:44:22):
damn not the person when you committed. Who were some of the guys that
they started to rehearse from any particularlyabout that's where they going in. I'm
not really a couple of linebackers.Take me out of the home. Thanks
you want a black appreciate I mean, obviously we got a couple year before

(02:44:50):
you did. Hear it. I'mcurious about how you pitch a higher state,
Like how do you do? Imean it's pretty you started pretty big,
but I mean in terms of theguys, don't you want to join
You're you're not visit mocks for lunchthe test card and Mr Campert mocks hunt
your kim shirt something great? Havea great right Sea because you want what

(02:45:15):
do you want me out of thequarterback here? Like a white you're missing
at which is what we wanted totest done. But you're just gardist Gray

(02:45:50):
Rochester a couple thank you grow thosevisit coats to very very person. Let's
get your talking with moss uh Kellyabout that. Like copis it's the first

(02:46:20):
time I met him. You know, we just find it really well and
yeah, what do you think wedo? Where you think the cop you
know talking? Yeah, so likethe lots of tivers. What's been like
when you being up to California beingout of conde h, this is a
little lottly like I love help.Yeah, like different being in what statement

(02:46:50):
here or when you were just yeah, it's it's definitely different. So just
lying here a new generation of recruitswhere I don't think anybody outside looking at
your own question is the strength ofyour commitment? Like you're locked in the
last night and you send it overand over, but you're making visits around
the country, You've seen other schools. It's it's almost it's totally different mindset.

(02:47:13):
In nineteen that was like the firstyear we were making a transition,
and then you know, COVID hitand then you know, every year it
just seems like there's something else.And I could come to the conclusion that
every year is going to 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's just you know, you know, principles that have you
know, stood the test of time. And I shared this with with a

(02:47:37):
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 traditionsof Ohio State. We talked about
how Ohio Stadium was built, youknow, and when you when you when
you do your research on that onehundred years ago, you know, folks

(02:47:58):
have the idea of building a stadiumover sixty thousand people, and that's because
of what Chick Carley was doing.And you know, they had a wooden
bleachers over here and all these peoplestarted coming in and the idea of bringing
in a stadium that of where sixtythousand people at the time was like,
this is crazy. What is collegefootball turning into? And they instead of
going to the state or going tothe school the community, they went to

(02:48:18):
the community to raise the money theyraised over at the time over a million
dollars. Well, I had fastforward one hundred years and the conversation still
might be like what is college footballdoing right? And in this situation then
il we had to turn to thecommunity for help. And Bucky Nation showed
up again in a big way.So although the landscape is changing, I
don't know, if you know,one hundred years later, if it's that

(02:48:39):
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
that we're taking the next step withthe revenue sharing to try to institutionalize some
of it, which would be bigfor US REI minutes. Yeah, every

(02:49:03):
year's got questions. It seems likethis year's team has fewer questions poss off
the line addressed specifically, if youlook ahead to level in a month,
what are the real questions that youhave in your mind about position, battles
and who I would say On offense, you know, we got to square

(02:49:26):
away the quarterback as you know,I feel like, you know, the
offensive line on the right side,we got to solidify that. I feel
like we got to build, youknow, enough depth at receiver that we
feel like we can put in fiveor six in the game and feel good
about it. On defense, Ithink we're still looking to figure out,

(02:49:48):
you know, who are going tobe the guys inside, you know,
the the third, the fourth,the fifth, defensive interier alignment that we're
gonna put in the game. Andthen and the same thing just just I
would say depth, a little bitof safety, just to kind of see
who those next guys are. They'regoing to step up, and so we
know it's going to be a longyear. We're gonna need everybody, and

(02:50:09):
and so in a lot of thoseareas it's depth, special teams wise.
You know, punter is going tobe you know that that is significant.
You know, we just brought inNick and you know, so there'll be
a battle there. So I'd saythose are probably the areas we're focused on
the most. Ryan just to fallon the offensive line, there was I

(02:50:30):
think a school apology guy might belooked for a transfer in that post spring
window. Did you guys do that? Did you guys not find the guy
or were you just confident the guysyou have, Just like you know in
January, if if we're going tobring somebody in, it is to fill
a hole. We're not just goingto bring somebody in to bring somebody in.
Like in all positions, we'll alwayslook to see what's out there.

(02:50:52):
We did evaluate some of the guysthat were out there, and you know,
you know, we felt like comingout of it as we evaluated it,
there was a couple of guys thatyou know, we checked on but
but ultimately, like based on wherewe were and some of the young guys
that are coming up, you know, we felt like we saw 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, in after the spring.

(02:51:16):
So we looked at it, weidentified it, We did our due
diligence, but you know we're gonnago with through. We have now second
round bills, right, you're itwas interesting that you have two of maybe
the top five ors of guys inSport and then a bunch of guys who
haven't plenty maybe someone that I knowmy question, but did you consider trying

(02:51:37):
to add there? Understanding that probablythe difficult sell we can have such talent
on top the brinks over you ofhis experiences, like what were those conversations
like and how did you settle onbeing comfortable with you know, Trey and
Quin and the young house. Well, like you said, you know,
I think we're we will get someexperience there with those two guys, and
then you know, we felt likecoming out of the spring that James and
Sam both did a nice job andyou know, we're going have to play

(02:52:00):
them, and they're gonna have toyou know, take on a little bit
of that. You know, wehave you know, started having conversations with
Caleb Bowns. I was part ofthe recruiting process of possibly you know,
doing a little bit of running backas well. It's something that he wanted
to do. So we've been havinghim in some of the meetings and some
of the individual drills as a possibilitythere if you know, needed so down
the road to continue to build depthat that position. But you know,

(02:52:24):
I think, you know, wefeel like, you know, if you
have you know, four strong runningbacks going into it, then you know
that's gonna be that's gonna be enoughto carry the season. I do think
that the quarterbacks will run the ballmore this season, so that should take
some carries away from them. Butto your point, you know, James
and Sam are gonna have to stepup to the guys that we can count
on. Save that for another day, Yeah, just fall up on that.

(02:52:52):
Is he capable of stepping in andbeing running back? Obviously a lot
we'll see, we'll see. Wetalked about in the recruiting process, you
know, the first time around,and more specifically in the second time around,
and so he's you know, he'sbeen around a little bit just to
get a feel for it. Wedid very little in the spring. We

(02:53:13):
did I think we pitched them anoption or something like that in the spring
just to kind of get them going. But we'll see. We'll see where
that goes. We don't have aspecific plan right now, but we do
want to introduce him to that justthe same thing like Lorenzo styles. It's
played your seer where he did that, Notre Dame. You know, he's
out there a little bit, justkind of learning. It's healthy. You
know, you're seeing it from theother side of the ball. This time

(02:53:35):
of the 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 stay. I don'tremember ever expectations like this In the summer.
There were some of them were almostas big. Sure do you sense
that too? And what's that pressurelike as you're working through a summer?

(02:53:56):
Yeah, people have asked me thatI go back to the expectations every year
are the same. I mean,it's just the truth. When opening press
conference, I said you got tobeat the team up north, and when
every game after that, that's justthe expectations. And when you come up
short, you know you got tofigure out a way to get those things
fixed. I think we have donethat. But the expectations are the same
every year. Pressure is the sameevery year. I just like the pressure

(02:54:18):
when you've got a really good teambehind you. So that's what we got
right now. And you know,we know it's going to be a long
season. We know what we're workingtowards. But I will say this about
this team, Well, we've beentalented. That's there's been times in the
past we've been talented. I don'tknow since I've been here, if we've
been this talented and this experience togetherwith guys that have played a lot of
football, fourth and fifth year guys, and that doesn't matter. We'll go

(02:54:41):
thank X door step up. Maybethis is just talk because it's summer Timaus
so you can have just have conversations. Maybe we're making a big long term
situations, but we've seen it aroundcollege football in league guys playing both sides
of the ball and doing it quitewell. Right, Travis Sun is doing
Colorado to do that. Caleb Joshas been apartment so we see what he

(02:55:01):
could do with the ball. Butthere's also the standina aspect of that.
Just get into a sixteen game season, So I'm not saying it's any forty
snaps or something like that, butwhat about his athleticis and what he brings
to the table and let you knowthat if you wanted to explore it in
a real game, he could lastand still be an effective seety Yeah.
Yeah, we'd have to see allthat. He did it in high school.

(02:55:22):
But we got some really good runningbacks in a room. So it's
not something that we're planning on doing, but uh, well, we are
gonna, you know, work ona little bit Caleb. Caleb enjoys that
part of it. We did agreethat that was something that we were going
to look into. Where it goes, I don't I don't really know right
now, but I know that hehas the capability to do it. He
has the athleticism and do it,and you know, we'll kind of see
where it goes, see see howhe does and you know, maybe hand

(02:55:46):
the ball Toim a little bit inthe preseason, because again, it's going
to be a long season. Wehave to make sure we have continuoency plans
in place. But I know it'ssomething that he enjoys having the ball in
his hand. So even during theirfirst time around the recruiting process, we
even't talked about coming in as aas an offensive player. Ultimately, we
think a ceiling is highest on defense. But you know, but I also

(02:56:09):
agree. I think that having youknow, guys go on the other side
of the ball and just see it, listen to meetings is really healthy for
their development. So we're gonna dothat regardless. Your defensive recruiting right now
is maybe further along it's been inthe years past, and I think we've
asked numerous questions about it in thePastway, is this a product of seeing
it over the last couple of yearsand now it's not just telling guys,

(02:56:31):
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 Walls 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,
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

(02:56:52):
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 way we playright now is based on you know,
we have four really talented defensive linementhat are really good and we got
a lot of that to those positions. But there's also flexibility with some of
the things Gym's done in the pastthat you know, we're definitely looking at

(02:57:13):
and some of the recruits that we'relooking at who brings some versatility, pass
rusher, you know, we havethat jack position and those type of things.
So that's exciting as well. AndI think you're seeing a lot of
the recruits, you know, reallyget fired up when they get here.
People. Yeah, coach, Ithink your first couple years your identity was
was very clear from an awful standpointand air and out type team look at

(02:57:35):
the key best of talent and theplaymakers you have there, has your identity
changed? I guess what do youthink the identity is of this twenty point
fourth? Well, we'll see aswe go, but you know, we
know what we need to do toplay in the big games. That's never
changed. And we have to beable to stop the run, run the
football, take care of the ball, and there'll be opportunities to throw the
ball that'll that'll happen, but youknow we're gonna have to, you know,

(02:58:00):
do those things to win close gamesand play situational football. But I
think, you know, you won'treally get a feel for what the identity
of the team is until we getinto probably the beginning of October, you
know, and I think we allhave ideas of what it could go.
But you know, now that we'replaying in a playoff format, just like
a lot of those NFL teams sometimes, you know, they don't really quite
understand their identity until they get abouthalfway through the season. I don't think

(02:58:22):
it'll take that long. But youknow, we're able to play some games
and kind of work through some things, and I don't think our defense is
going to change a bunch in termsof what we did last year. I
mean, it's a lot of thesame guys back could look a little different
on offense. Got time for twomore go to Doug Limers. Okay,
right, you lose an important recruitingstaff or to promotion at Michigan just this

(02:58:48):
offseason. How do you react tosomething like that? Is something that someone
like that take information that that couldhelp. Yeah, all good questions,
and you know, I just Iwant to talk about the guys that are
here, you know, the staffmembers that are here, the coaches that

(02:59:09):
are here, the players that arehere, the ones that are Buckeyes.
Joe jug with the scheduling change thatwas announced yesterday, did come together,
didn't have anything to do with theexpanded playoffs. Maybe beginning of the season
a little different. Yeah, youknow, I don't know all that came
in came with it. I knowit got presented to me a while back,

(02:59:31):
and you know I was on boardwith it. So yeah, I
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 he's the betans, like he's lacking as a starter.
CJ. When do you see hisrole being Sonny? When you see his

(02:59:54):
role being gay and all this guy? Yeah, good versatility. All those
guys are vel Reese, Like yousaid, a gay Sonny Cody. You
know I'm missing a couple, I'msure, but like that was that y
R. Bell? Yeah? Imean these guys are really versatile guys.
You can see the length on them, and you know they do a good

(03:00:15):
job in terms of like fitting theruns. They can know how the ship
runs right now, so they knowhow things should operate. And I gotta
spend time making sure those other guysget ready and get caught up to speed
in a timely fashion. It's great. Uh, he's taking a great step
forward. Like I said, he'sthe next guy up man. I mean

(03:00:35):
he's been extremely you know, importanton the growth of our secondary because now
you know we're working them inside someUh he's played outside at both corner spots.
You know, he got that itfactor, you know what I mean.
So so we look what he bringsthe energy to competitiveness. We got
to build off the last year,uh, and expand the role for him

(03:00:58):
and make sure he's, uh,he's ready to go. But he's been
doing great. Uh. We're justauthentic, really not giving a lot of
recruiting talk. It is what itis. We try to shoot straight,

(03:01:20):
honest communication, honest assessment, thecharacter, the value, the work at
it, and the main things thecompetition. You gotta compete. If you
don't want to compete, it's notgonna be the place for you, because
that's the that's the thing that willget us where we need to go is
competition in the room. And thoseguys here love to compete. We sell

(03:01:43):
that we're looking for guys who embracethat, who chairs being in those spots.
And you can take time to grow, you know. Uh, you
don't have to have the the pigmentality of problem of instant gratification. You
know, you can develop and growso and sometimes you maybe behind a guy
that's a really good player. Thereis nothing wrong with developing and growing and

(03:02:05):
playing when your time is right.And if the time is right right now
as a freshman like well, Jermaine, did you play early? You know,
so we try to also sell that, you know, we care about
them as people and try to prepareyou for life after football. So it's
bigger than just football. We're goingto prepare you for life, whether it's
the NFL or on with a regularcareer in the workforce. We want you
to prepare you as a young man, and we try to sell that and

(03:02:26):
preach that to the parents to remainhaving that in factor, you mentioned rolling
all these different spots. Do youanticipate you know, there wasn't a lot
of rotation among the cornerbacks last yearwhen everyone was healthy. Do you anticipate
maybe rolling him through the rest guyshere with the longerst season potentially, Yeah,
we play it by here, youknow what I mean. We see
how it goes by the time weget into the camp. But you know,
obviously he's earning the stripes, soyou know what I mean. When

(03:02:48):
you earn the stripes, you knowthe odd job to create opportunities for you,
you know what I mean. Wehave to see how it goes with
all that other stuff, you know, once we get closer to the season
and we get into game plan stuff. But he's doing a great job,
and he's he and he's taking agreat step forward way that you were the
way you kind of establish him.Now it seems like it's the centerpieces kind

(03:03:09):
of relationships and kind of build theirpond. And I'm curious, is that
something that you came in with thelike a couple of years ago with the
intention of fuling or is it somethingthat you're like, it's kind of been
cool to be to go to thecourse of your time as position here.
No, it's been there for awhile. I've been doing that for a
long time. It's all about relationship. If you develop real relationship and you're
authentic and your communication and you havehonest feedback and you have the you know,

(03:03:31):
direct teaching. The guys that havevalue and character and they appreciate that
stuff, they embrace that. Sobut they have to know your care and
you have to know that it's real, and they have to know that you
you're really concerned about their way ofbeing as a young man. And when
you get close to them and spenda lot of time with them off the
field, you could coach them hardand you can. You can, and
you can you can say truthful thingsto them and then they'll embrace it and

(03:03:54):
you have real conversation because you know, the only goal is to help them
get better as a young man.As a couple of years ago, the
receiver room is so far ahead ofthe corner where you get to kind of
skewed that evaluation sometimes doing hows thatdynamic changed in these two years after group's
gotten older and you've got more talent. Yeah, it's done balanced uff a
little bit. Now. That goeswith great competition. We have the uh

(03:04:16):
we go against the best receivers incollege football. So that helps escalate your
growth process because if you don't figureit out real fast, you'll get embarrassed.
So that competition. But what happenedwith that, eye guys start competing,
Eye guys start growing. Eye guysgot better, and now is even
up a little bit. So willyou get really good work at practice to
day? You know what I mean? So it's competitive, it's fun.

(03:04:37):
Those guys both on both sides ofthe ball care about each other. So
it's great competition. And they're allreal real close, So you know what
I mean. It's that stuff thatgets us better, uh, that will
prepare us for Saturday. That sameidea said my first day of practice,
actually receivers kind of got them.Is that any kind of a good wake
up call maybe for Oh no,it's just it's it's gonna competitive. Man.

(03:05:00):
They got the best group in thecountry that you're going against every day,
so you have to bring it everyday, you know what I mean.
So they we got a great quarterbackroom. We've got a great receiver
room. The running backs are reallygood. So when you out there going
against them, it's deep, soyou have to be ready for it.
And obviously, man, we're seeinga lot of good stuff with with with
Day and coach Kelly doing over there, and so it prepares you a lot

(03:05:22):
and it helps us grow wide receiverroom kind of like a part of your
regree bits like these are the guysyou get to play, Yeah, all
of that because you know that's whereyou get better iron shoppings iron So you
know, you get to see thatevery day at practice. That helps you
grow. It's no better uh thingto go against every day than to see

(03:05:45):
that on a daily basis. Oh, we just moving a lot of guys
around. You watch that practice.We have a lot of guys in there
right now. You know, weprobably have three or four different guys in
there. Obviously Lorenzo's in there,Jermaine is in there. K miles we
have We have about four or fiveguys moving around right now. We just
try things out in spring ball,see where the fit, you know,

(03:06:05):
see what things work together. Sothere's going probably some more guys in there,
you know. We move it aroundto try to just get the right
fit throughout the end and see howit goes by the time we get ready
to start the season. He canrun and he's strong, you know what
I mean. He's fast, Uh, very serious about his business. Uh.
He's big, it's two hundred pounds. He can run, he's strong,
he's conscientious, you know I mean, he's starting to grow and he's

(03:06:26):
starting to get get better with it, you know I mean. So we
looked for big things for him inthe spring. What do you want to
see this spring? Keep competing,you know what I mean. Now he's
made the transition. Competing today,you know what I mean, start going
in that transition is all just likehim Jermaine. Last year. You throw
them in the fire. You lethim go, you compete, you go.
By time we get out of theend of training camp, it'll be
them figure it out. You haveall that, but now you just throw

(03:06:48):
it all at them. Compete,continue to grow, continue to learn.
He has the skill set, hehas the length. Now you just got
to put it all together and ittakes time to do that, and hopefully
you see that by how well getin the training camp. It seems like
midway through springing had a clicked forJermain last year and he started to see
him. It could not be morehacker to be here, super hacked to

(03:07:09):
be here at Trot two as wellor right at the work. Hello everybody,
there's Robinson, University of Missouri.I just want to thank you,
mister Bill Wilmant to your coach Gannonfor this amazing opportunity. I'm glad to
be here with Marvin Harrison right nextto me, so I feel great.
I'm really excited and I'm excited forthis journey. See fifteen here in town.

(03:07:48):
Marvin, when did you know theCardinals were gonna select you? Did
you know before they called or wasthere an agreement in place before? No?
I did not know until I gotthe phone call from the Arizona Cars.
Marvin Richard signs Fox ten, Welcometo the valley. I know kind
of tweeted to you, tweeted outto you once you got drafted. What

(03:08:11):
was it like to get a messagefrom the franchise quarterback and what kind of
thoughts have you had about teaming upwith this guy in the near future.
Yes, sir, it's been great. You always want to support and love
from your quarterback and the cause agreat player. So excited to play with
him, and it's gonna be myjob to make his job easier. Darius
Darren Urban from Azycardinals dot com.I know that a lot of players these

(03:08:35):
days aren't sticking in one school fora long time, and you did it
for five years. I mean evenMarvin did it for three. Like what
went behind that and why was itmeaningful for you to stay at one school?
Yes, at Missouri, you know, we had some tough seasons,
but we were really built with anedge energy, details good in emotional consistency,
and I just find myself just tryingto grow and get better each year

(03:08:56):
and also as a team, youknow, win more games each year.
And that was my that was myhome, that was my family. I
was blessed to, you know,get two degrees as well off the field,
and I just love missou two degrees. Wow. Marvin Bob mcbob McMahon
at Arizona Republic. Congratulations. Thankyou to both of you. You're known

(03:09:18):
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
on 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 kind of raisedand grew up to do and keep the

(03:09:39):
same mindset, same attitude that I'vehad throughout my whole career. Once I
get here, continue to work hard, be consistent and discipline, you know,
and all that I do. SoI'm looking forward to put in the
work here. Marvin Josh Wayne ESPN. What were the best pieces of advice
your dad gave you about being anNFL player? I mean, yeah,
it takes a lot of work,a lot of preparation. You know,

(03:10:00):
from Monday to Saturday, it's allwork, and then Sunday should be the
easy part. I go out thereand have fun, ready to put the
work in. So it starts withthe work first and then when Sunday comes,
it is reek the benefits. Hey, Darius Howard, balls are from
cards Wire. I can't help.But notice that ring on your finger.
Is that a cotton bowl ring?Yes, it is the cotton bowler.

(03:10:24):
You showed it to Marvin very quickly. No, I I was telling Marma.
You know he was glad he didn'tplay. The whole week leading up.
You know, you see Ohio State, everybody said, okay, Marvin
Harrison and now he's gonna play,to go play. He didn't play,
so you know we lucked out.So hey, Marvin Paul KELVC Cardinals Broadcasting,

(03:10:45):
do you believe that receivers have toearn the trust of their quarterback?
And if so, what does thatusually require? Absolutely, you got to
earn the trust of the quarterback.And I think it starts, you know,
every day in practice and being consistent. Really and you can't just do
it one day, can you doit for one week? Has to be
done over and over and over again. I think that's how trust has earned.
So no matter where you get pickedyour first receiver, it's round seven,

(03:11:09):
doesn't really matter, have to goand earn trust to the quarterback,
your coaches, your teammates. Soit all starts in practice. What's going
on, guys? Good to seeagain, Tyler Drake, there's no sports
systems for Darius. What's the feelingof just being able to represent your school
as that first round pick and whatkind of impact can that have for those
guys fallowing in your footsteps. Yeah, it's awesome. I feel like I

(03:11:30):
was setting the standard going forward.Best the name was Zoo is known as
Delon Zoo, so I'm just addedto the family. But now I feel
like I'm setting the standard for myyounger teammates that this is attainable if you
work really hard, be consistent,and really get trust your shrimp coach.
I feel like every program is builtout the strimp coach and that develops all
the habits on and off the field. Darius zach Ershmanezcardinals dot Com. Right

(03:11:52):
over here, JJ mentioned that heloves the violence that you play with.
You mentioned the different tendencies that youpicked up. The emotional consistency is the
great. How do you balance thatthe violence with discipline on the field.
Honestly, just through preparation and practice. I'm a big guy. I'm a
big believer in inside hands, sothat's why I'm always working my hand placement

(03:12:13):
and then I lift weight, soyou know, that's all connected. So
I'm just trying to be focused onmy technique as much as possible. Hey,
Marvin over here, David Brown withthe Associated Press. You know a
lot of rookies come into the leagueand they get a little bit of leeway.
It's like, oh, he's young, he needs to grow and stuff
like that. But obviously you're gonnabe expected to be the guy here really

(03:12:35):
quickly. How do you deal withthat pressure? How do you go about
just so much being expected of youso quickly? I mean, yeah,
I have high standards for myself,but I'm just gonna go in there and
try to work, you know,the best I can. I just want
to help the team win really sowithout that role I play, you know,
come September, let me do mybest. No do that role.

(03:12:56):
This one's for both of you,guys. The fans want to know who
you 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
things, and you know, whatmakes you roll. I'm pretty simple,

(03:13:18):
like you know, be in myapartment watch a movie. If I go
out and I go to a restaurant, get some food, but other than
that, they do too much.And then I'm pretty easy going guys,
so try not to nothing bother metoo much. Yeah, I said the
same thing, A real chill guy, just really obsessed with football. But
outside of football, like I said, I got my two degrees. I
got my undergrad hospitality management and theminor and business I got my masters and

(03:13:43):
positive culture with FLA leadership. Sojust thinking about being well rounded, and
then I do philanthropy work. Istart my own nonprofit foundation Darius Robinson Helping
Hands Foundation, But really just footballand then everything else. Honestly, congratulation,
guys, welcome to the Valley.I'm Robbie Baker with Fox ten.

(03:14:03):
Darius. This is for you.After the draft last night. You had
a great response about how your processand preparing for a game. Just kind
of wondering where your love for kindof the grind comes from and your love
for that process comes from. Iwould say my junior year, because I
played little league ball off and on. But I got my junior year and
I was playing high school and mywhole goal is just to earn a scholarship.
But during that process, I reallyfell in love with the game,

(03:14:24):
fell in love with working out relationshipswith teammates, and now it's kind of
like my advice and I can't letit go and just kind of finding ways
to always get better, you know. Luke liitting here with twelve Sports.
Congrats both of you, Welcome tothe valley. This one's for you.
Marvin. I'm curious your thoughts orwhat was that conversation like with your dad
after your name was called and youwere able to be drafted by this organization,

(03:14:46):
and how surreal is it for youto be following on your own father's
footsteps but in your own way.Yeah, I mean it was very brief.
Actually, just in the second graduations, I walk up to the stage
and then I had to do abunch of interviews afterwords. So I don't
think it's hit both of us yet. I know what's happened, and I
think, you know, one ofmy goals always make him proud, So
I hope I did that. Marvinbo Brock pH and X Sports. When

(03:15:11):
do you anticipate catching your first passesfrom Kyler Murray? I don't know,
I don't know. I guess we'llsee and hopefully as soon as possible.
Darius, you mentioned philanthropy, andI know there's been it's been talked about
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

(03:15:33):
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 myfifthyear at Missou is the best year of
my life, so why would Inot share my blessings with others. So
that's what really motivated me to dothat. And now being in NFL,
you know my goals to do threeevents each year and just give back because

(03:15:54):
you know, his life outside offootball and bigger blessings out there. Marvin,
you obviously played the number of highlydrafted receivers at Ohio State. What
sort of feedback have you gotten aboutthe NFL from them? An you know
about making the transition in the leagueitself. Yeah, it's a long season,
I think going from in a twelvegame record season you have in college
to was it seventeen games now?And you got three preseason actually just the

(03:16:16):
biggest challenge the game. Staateses thingobviously never all skilled and very talented athletes,
So the mental part is probably thebiggest thing and the biggest change from
the college to pros. Marvin,what's your timeline for hiring an agent?
Right over here on the way partright, you haven't hired an agent?
Why is that? Is there atimeline to hiring one? And are you

(03:16:37):
going to sign the NFLPA licensing agreement. I'll continue to talking to my team.
We do what's best for me movingforward. We just take it one
day at a time. I justgot drafted, so I'm trying to enjoy
the moment and be happy while Ican at the moment. Hey, Marvin,
we'll say Romaro, Arizona Republic,Welcome. Then can you just kind
of share a little bit about youtouched on it briefly here, but just

(03:16:58):
a little bit more about growing upwith with your dad and you know,
the experiences you had in Indianapolis andgames and so on and so forth.
Yeah, I mean, there's nobetter role model, coach, mentor relationship.
All the way through college. Wewere captains together Ohio State, so
we shared a lot of we shareda lot of time there together, and

(03:17:18):
then before Pro day he came upand we threw that night before Pro Day,
and we've I mean we've played intouch. I feel like pretty well,
he's just an awesome human and evena better teammates. If I could
ask you quickly, what did youmake of what he was able to do
after you saw him and you playedwith him the year before and he came
on and did what he did hisrookie year? What did you make of

(03:17:39):
what he was able to do inhis rookie season? Man, I just
to be honest with you, itwas no surprise to me or anybody in
that Ohio State facility. It's justwe knew how to do a special and
when he got the chance, gotover with the right people and right coaching
staff. The dudes unbelievable. BrianBearfield, Hey, Kay, welcome to

(03:18:03):
Houston. Brian Bearfield, big sarchmedia. Everybody just called me Sarage,
as you could tell by the hats. So, Kate, I don't want
to take you back down memory lanefor just one second. I just looked
up some of your status. Soyou were in high school, you were
running back one thousand and four intoseventy seven yards. Your senior year,
seventeen touchdowns, linebacker, one hundredand sixty three tackles, four intercessions.

(03:18:26):
You broke your high school scoring recordin basketball overall athlete. Even when you
got to Ohio State, you didn'treally you were like a hybrid. They
didn't really know where to put youuntil you ended up at tight end.
So I say all that to askyou what the Houston Texans are getting an
athlete who's willing to play anywhere andeverywhere they need them. Correct, one

(03:18:48):
hundred percent. Yeah, that's onehundred percent, hundred percent correct, no
doubt about it. I'll do whateverwe got to do here to win ball
games. And I mean they gotawesome players, awesome coaching staff, so
just super super blessed here. Howmuch did that how much does that background
help you or help you to getthrough you know, college and now I'll
get you to where you are today? I think every day I've been thrown

(03:19:09):
in a million different directions, poolin a million different directions, and to
be honest with you, I meannothing's ever gone like how it's supposed to
on pin the paper in my lifeand my coaching career. So I mean
my playing career, excuse me,And it's just I think I'm just I
feel like I'm battle tested and ifeel like I'm ready to go. Thank
you. Yeah, cool, Cool, You're un mute any better? Katie

(03:19:43):
got me? Yeah, I gotyou now. Cole Thompson USA Today Texans
Wire, Congratulations are getting drafted.I just heard you kind of mentioned a
little bit about coaching. You're talkingabout your coaching career, not your playing
career. Do you want to getinto coaching afterwards when you're done playing football?
No, I got It's a lotof emotions going through my body right

(03:20:07):
now. So regardless, No,I'm not playing on getting coaching. I'm
playing on just playing as long asI can. Just a quick follow up,
and you look at a guy likeTamiko Ryans, who is a former
player that is very close to theleague, only has been out for about
seven years. What does it meanto be playing for somebody who's translated over
to this new side of things butalso understands what a player goes through on
the daily basis. I think thatmakes the biggest difference in the world.

(03:20:31):
And I think you can tell bythe way the players respect him and just
how and the job he's done inthe short time he's been there. I
mean, the dude's unbelievable. Heseems like an unbelievable person. I'm just
really really excited to be able toplan er Nathan Cody. Heyk Cody Davis
from Sports Illustrated. You and Imet at the NFL COMBA. By the

(03:20:52):
way, Yeah, I would liketo know, man, what are what
type of tid end are the HoustonTexans getting. Man, I'll tell you
what they're getting. Just a completeutility player. Basically, I'm gonna do
whatever you asked me to do atone hundred percent, one hundred everything I
got every single time, and justI'm going to be the exact glue in

(03:21:13):
the locker room. I'm going tobe a dude people can come to when
things go wrong, and I'm soexcited to help his team anyway I can.
Kim, Hey, Kate, It'sKim Davis with Chalk Talk. Congratulations
on getting drafted by the Texans.Kind of following up on what Cody,
Just to ask you from your compationwith CJ. I know he's spoken how

(03:21:37):
you have the staff, but whatdo you know about this just from what
you've seen this offense, and althoughyou're your utility player, what excites you
most about it other than obviously playingwith CJ. Now, I just think
one. I think Dalton Schultz isa great player. I've watched a lot
of his film growing up and justeven the last couple of years, study
a lot of what he does,especially on the Cowboys and now just to

(03:21:58):
be able to learn from a guylike and take notes and tips how he
handles his life and everything. It'sgonna be awesome for right now, in
long term down the road. Andone quick follow up, what do you
know about the city of Houston?Have you spending time here? No?
No, I trained in Brisco,Dallas for a little bit for a couple
of months, and then that wasreally about it. Other than that,

(03:22:20):
I've never really been to Houston,But I mean, I'm really excited to
come. All right, Thank youthe media, you too, Aaron,
Hey, Kate. When it comesto blocking, some tight ends embrace it,
some do it because it's part ofthe job. What's your mentality to
for blocking? And I have afollow up, Man, I love blocking.

(03:22:43):
I do. I'm gonna throw myface in the fire chance I can
get. I might always be pretty, but I promise you're gonna get every
ounce of power I got. Andthe draft process as a proven guy,
did you go on a lot ofvisit it Did you work out privately?
We're someones that you remember. Andwhat kind of level of activity did you

(03:23:05):
have with Texans Combine meetings, etcetera. Yeah, thank you, Yeah,
we had. We had a formalat the combine. Uh And I've
always, like I said, alwaystalked to CJ closely. H So just
having that and then just throughout theprot we had a couple of zoom calls
here and there, and other thanthat, I mean I trained at the
Hot State coach Mick and coach atthe trained coaches up there with train a

(03:23:28):
group of me, Tommy Iikenberg andStill Chambers, my roommates that we lived
with in the afternoon, and thatwas really about it. We just trained
and play ball at that point andthe other teams. Did you go on
trips things like that? We tookone local visit to the Bengals. That
was it. We have time fora couple more. Go ahead, sarge,
Oh, Kate, I know thatyou know. We asked you a

(03:23:50):
lot of questions about playing with CJ. But you've been scouted as a tight
end, but can also be linksout to the wide receiver position. Being
at Ohio State for as long asyou were, what did you pick up
from a lot of those great OhioState wide receivers they came through the time
you were there. You just watched. I mean, you watch those guys
go about how they handle releases,how they handle their feet a top and

(03:24:13):
the routes and everything like I mean, for me, I've never played it
in my life. So starting youliterally started from square one, absolute square
one. So learning slowly with them, and then I mean, this is
a business and you have to dowhat's best for his career and his future
as well. So you know,obviously has familiarity with Joe Brady. He

(03:24:33):
had one of his best season withthem, So you know, I think
he's gonna be a big part oftheir offense and continue to grow as a
receiver. You know, it's alost for our room because he's a dynamic
playmaker. He can play inside andout and just his energy. Man,
I think he really became one ofthe favorite teammates on the team because he
kept things light, but he alsowas a really hard worker. And made

(03:24:54):
plays when we need him too.So on a personal standpoint, I'm definitely
gonna you know, miss him havinghim in the building and he's kind of
like the guy you I get totalk to and he's like my best friend.
But on the other hand, Iget to see him, you know,
continue take steps in his career.Uh, he's still very young,
so he has a lot of goodfootball ahead of him. Literally king Bury

(03:25:18):
his offense and how be different forthe offense. Yeah. Yeah, we
haven't honestly even started install yet,so I haven't even got a lay of
the land quite yet. I'll probablytake a look at just got our eye
pass within the last few days,so I'll try to take a sneak peek
at what we have looking for.But you know, I know with him
talking to zach Ertz, he doesa great job of trying to get his

(03:25:39):
playmakers involved, which I think wehave a really good group of guys from
the running backs to receivers and somesolid tight ends as well. So I'm
just looking forward to see where Ifit into that. And you know,
I think with him, his biggestthings is making sure the playmakers are making
plays and trying to fit the schemearound that, which is always good to
hear, good to see. Twothis is what your offense. Yeah,

(03:26:11):
yeah, it's definitely, you know, an adjustment obviously when you're learning a
new offense. And it's kind ofthe same mentality I take into last year
in years past, where you kindof just want to take a day one
approach, kind of erase what you'velearned in the past. But at the
end of the day, I think, uh, you know, schemes in
the NFL are relatively similar. Isjust the names and the formations that may

(03:26:35):
be a little different. So justgetting used to the terminology and Cliff's offense
is just going to be something that'san adjustment for all of us. But
the good thing about it is Igot some good time on my hands to
really put some work in studying whenI leave this place, so I could
come in here when we have walkthroughsand when we start to put our helmets
on, we can really hit theground running. So so far it's we

(03:26:56):
haven't learned anything yet, but myapproach is the same and try to take
good notes in there, ask goodquestions, and then study on my own
at night. I know you liketo go to the seasons. Yeah,
m hm, yeah, I thinkI got some really good work down in
Florida. Is just working on myfootwork, just being better at the top

(03:27:20):
of my routes, sharper on myspeed cuts, dig routes, out routes,
and just being cleaner with my footworkat the top of the routes.
I think, you know, witha little bit of zone covers that we've
seen in the past with some teamskind of running more too hot show,
you're gonna get a little bit moreof catch technique where guys are kind of
sitting at the top of your route. So I want to be better at
being efficient to getting out of thoseroutes when a guy's kind of sitting at

(03:27:43):
my depth, whether it's a fifteenyard comeback or a twelve yard curl route,
you know, being able to getout efficiently so I can keep creating
keep the separation within my route.So obviously I'm always still working on my
ball skills and making sure I'm justcatching a football is in the off season,
but just really being better at thetop of the routes and you know,

(03:28:05):
sharper out of my cuts is somethingand I think I can improve on
good to see you too. Youknow, you're obviously one of the leaders
of this team and team captain,and with so many new faces, new
players, locker room, what isthe challenge you're going to have and the
other leaders in that locker room blendeverything together because there's so many new and

(03:28:26):
different personalities. Now, Yeah,I think I think that's really started with
coach Quinn in the way he's reallyintegrated everybody over the first two days.
I think we haven't even got intox's and TH's quite yet. We've just
really beginning to know one another,getting out there with Chad and the strength
coaches and getting some good workouts injust kind of creating a foster in an
environment where everybody's the same and continuingto have a competitive environment. I think

(03:28:52):
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 Marriota obviously, BobbyWagner, who's a future Hall of Famer.
So you've 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,

(03:29:15):
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
chance to watch conference, he didn'twant to use the word rebuild. Yeah,
changes going on with this franchise,all the new changes, new coaching

(03:29:37):
staff, all the new players.Is there a certain word use everything?
Honestly, I just think of itas a as a new year. Just
talking to Sam cosmy, Uh,we've been here for a few years,
so it's a lot of new faces. I think, you know, this
is probably the most I would sayturnover we've had in the last few years.
So there's guys coming from all differentareas, walks of life, and

(03:30:01):
but I think the one thing isthe same. They're all coming in looking
for an opportunity to compete, takeanother step in their careers and prove that
they're one of the best players atthe position. And I think coach Quinn
has emphasized that we're gonna have theopportunity to prove ourselves. Whether you're a
ten year vet or a second yearplayer. You know, this is a
clean slate for everybody. So Ithink it's just about getting on the same

(03:30:24):
page, enjoying coming in here andworking together, and also just pushing each
other in these workouts, and thenwhen we start getting on the field,
uh, really get that competition going. Try to simulate as we go along
in this all season process of howthe games are going to be. Hey,

(03:30:46):
how are you doing? Good tosee you too, andys mm hmm.
Yeah. I think Coach Quinn hasreally assemble assembled a very unique group
of coaches. There's multiple head coaches, there's multiple quarter uh coordinators that have

(03:31:09):
come from different places, and soyou have guys who have a lot of
football experience, some have played,some have coached in big games, and
then you bring in, you know, the talent that we have defensively and
offensively, and I just think youcan feel the unity and the sameness in
the message that he's trying to preachto our team, and it's we're gonna

(03:31:31):
be tough and we're gonna be competitive, but we're also going to have fun.
And he like I think he saidin Your Guys' interview, he said
he likes to do you know,hardship with good people. So I think
that's fun. You know, aguy like me likes to put my nose
down and grind and work. SoI know him and I are going to
continue to hit it off, andyou know it's just my job to help

(03:31:52):
bring other guys along with me.Thank you more. Look like to your
next step as a vocal leader.Yeah, I think for me, I've
grown a lot in my vocal leadership. I think I try to always find

(03:32:13):
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
much you kind of your message isdrowned out. And so it's kind of
continued to find that balance of whento say things and when to kind of

(03:32:33):
just take a step back. ButI think I've I've gotten a really good
feel of how to do that.I think obviously with a new coaching staff,
you just try to understand what theyhow they want things done, and
you try to, you know,bring what you do well into that and
you also try to encourage the guyswho haven't taken those steps in their career
to do that as well. SoI think for me, it's just really

(03:32:54):
starting in my position group. Ithink we have still a very young group,
kind of inexperience for the most part, but I think we have a
lot of talent in there, andit's just my job, in Bobby's job,
and to continue to bring that groupalong as we go throughout this season.

(03:33:16):
What is I guess, Yeah,approach. Yeah, I hit it
really hard this offseason, so Ikind of started training a little bit after
the Super Bowl, so I gota good six to eight weeks into where
I feel football ready right now,which is great for me because you know,

(03:33:39):
obviously we're probably having a mini campat the end of this month,
so that'll be I'm already in footballshape. So that's that's exciting to know
that I'm ready to be able torun routes and get going with our quarterbacks
and get going with our system.So you know, as this off season
goes on, I just trust theplan that Chad and the guys have here.
I want to be here for allthe workouts and things like that and
be a part of the team buildingand just continue to learn the playbook as

(03:34:01):
we start to install things, anduh be at a point where I could
go out there and be confident inmy game what I've worked on this offseason
and and put that into how thatfits into this offense. So I always
try to pride myself on knowing multiplepositions just to have be flexible for the
team and be flexible for myself soI'll be ready for whatever they wherever they

(03:34:22):
put me. I'm surprised that you'regoing to have a new quarterback this year.
Yeah, yeah, you never.Well I don't say never, but
it's it's always tough seeing like someoneyou build a really good relationship with go

(03:34:43):
on and move on in their career, and especially your quarterback, because as
a receiver, you want to continueto try to build that chemistry, you
know what I mean. That wasonly our first year playing with one another,
and I feel like him and Ihad our h We made some great
plays and we had some you know, room for growth, and I think
that comes with any new quarterback receiverrelationship. And so. But to see

(03:35:03):
him go in a situation where havea chance to compete and play under a
really good quarterback in Geno, youknow, I think he'll he'll really like
playing with receivers like uh, well, throwing the receivers like Locket and Jason
Smith and Jig but in DK,you know what I mean. So I
think he's going in a situation whereI think different. It's more mentally they
ain't think though, Like left sidewas always my best side back in Carge,

(03:35:26):
but since I got to always beenplaying right. But you know,
it's a it's a good challenge forme and I can show people I can
actually play right hand left. Soit's a versatility then, So I'm happy
about him there. You moved arounda lot throughout your career that there's jumbo
side tackle, I guess in thesense and playing about the left on the
right side, do you think youkind of benefit from focusing a little bit

(03:35:48):
more on the right center, Yeah, a little bit. But you know,
jerious news system that we have,like I haven't found my mindset most
on the right, but also havemy minds on the left too, just
in case something that's happening to likeyou know what I mean, like colhen
or you know Pete, of course, but I'm always gonna be ready for
love no matter what. How quicklyhave you felt like you picked up this
new system that you're working in at? Oh, it's a we actually pretty

(03:36:11):
picked up pretty well cause it's thesame system that I'm used to back in
the hot see, cause we're morelike spread back at how I say,
so, you know, it's prettygood. It's one of those like the
draft process off seasons. A lotof people outside the buildings you're readers get
the right time, okay, alot of yeah, alright now. A
lot of people in the building werelike, we have the right time.

(03:36:31):
I we gep in get motivated bythat. You followed it like if you
pet nature doing it though I don't. I read into it a little bit.
But also the same time, likethey not here of course, but
I don't really care what they say. I know what I can do,
and the team know I what Ican do. So they trusted me right
now and I'm not gonna live themright now. How hard or how easy
is that to compartmentalize that and usethat as fuels going forward rather than the

(03:36:54):
kind of maritated it, uh,I j I just keep the seats and
everybody knows that one person I don'treally care for him at Also, it's
all good, but it's all love. I love uh outside of this,
but keep doing me keep it better, keep on these Knights. See what
I can do there. You've beena outspoken about your supporter of Zumir,
and obviously it's just his chance nowto be the dog. Wa What is

(03:37:16):
it about him that you bought inso early? The reason why I bought
so earliest cause us I was ata house they they always taught us.
Actually, I to get it andasks ms I got here. I'm'a always
wanna goth get it and I gottapicked late. And I always wanna prove
people wrong. You know, Ithink prove people wrong all my life.
I don't wanna keep doing that.That's all different, which I guess more

(03:37:39):
just like we don't put anything likethe set you you know, like the
community that year nine day difference,nine day difference from my first year and
my second year to now like now, my guy, I know I can
play. I know I can goagainst some one of the best, especially
with Knights anybody else that we wantto play this year, and I know
what I can do. So allgotta do now is that should meet my

(03:38:00):
potential and should do it and helpeverybody else out on the team as well.
You've practiced a lot against Malcolm andhe's really come into his own.
What is it about Malcolm that's helpedhim make that next step? There?
Man, Malcolm, he's quiet,he doesn't really say too much. He
comes in to work every day,do what he does, and he works
hard. He doesn't blit twice oranything. Yeah, he'll get mad over
a couple of respose at the sametime that like, he has a mentality

(03:38:24):
of adult like he's he don't reallycare what y'all think or anybody else thinks
for real. So it's just likealright, just keep going. That's how
everybody is on the team about tyraiseyou that same mindset. He does have
the same mindset. A little nervous, but uh nah nah. He has
definitely grown up a lot from hislike first year here until now, like

(03:38:46):
he has, but he's he's growingup a lot mentally too. Until you
guys are reimagining the offensive line alittle bit with you out there west side,
Yeah, uh farm there next toyou on the on the west side
too, been drafting guys a littleline here. How exciting is that to
be part of something that's that's kindof being you know, having that drus
but also being reinvented a little bit. That was crazy, you know,

(03:39:07):
But me and doing those like theygonna keep placing us, of course,
but all since time, we gottakeep going. You know, you can't
swim and think about what they did. All we gotta do is say about
what what can we do with youbetter? In fours? Well, sorry,
don't put a lot of those outsidea little bit more. How how
long were you guys working? Youever be working? Pretty well? You

(03:39:28):
know you say, for us,we had like a a little rooking moment
a little bit, but you know, yeah, you know those those tougher
conversations, those ones where we mightdisagree, where we do agree, where
where he's got his two cents onit, which is, you know,
always the best two cents I've heard. But me being who I am,
you know, I'm I'm I'm gonnathrow my two cents in there, you
know. So that's just uh,it's been awesome, man. We He's

(03:39:52):
he's you know, a resource forme, just a person that I can
always bounce my thoughts off of.And now, you know, just a
year you said, thirteen months.Now I feel more comfortable just you know,
bringing certain things. If you know, you never you never wanna come
off too strong. But I'm acurious guy. I got a lot of
questions. I like I like footballa lot. I like to talk talk
the games. So you know,come to find out, he's the exact
same. So we uh, youknow, we get along well, and

(03:40:13):
and uh, we're gonna keep keepbuilding that relationship. Sometimes in this league,
playing you know, eighteen games,they tryna make it twenty. You
know, that's like it sound likea little a little fever dream to be
honest, but but uh, ifwe can find a way to k you
know, stay up right out there, keep keep Aaron on his feet.
You know, I'm I'm excited forthat and uh everything that comes with it.
But uh but yeah, like Isaid, man, that's it's it's
harder said than uh or harder done. And said, I guess you know,

(03:40:35):
it's one of those things. It'slike that's a lot of games,
you know, all of a sudden, take a lot of hits. They
take a lot of hits where they'renot looking, and it's just how can
we keep him healthy? Yeah?Yeah, are you when do you think
I get you're a receiver room now? Positions you guys have made when wantay
healthy and everything like, Yeah,you know, I'm excited to see it
at at full health. You know, you've I haven't got to see all

(03:40:56):
the all the guys out there atonce, and and you know, it's
one of those positions where every dayis something might happen to nick up.
You know, it's just a toughposition to stay out there at all times.
But I feel like we got agreat group and the number one thing
is how can we stay healthy?How can we you know, I'll be
out on the field, and Ithink having depth like this and the group
we have is gonna help us.Having guys that can do different things,

(03:41:16):
that can go catch the ball overthe middle, all types of things that
it's gonna take some of the strainoff off all of us. You know,
it's it's a good group. SoI'm excited to, uh, you
know, get out there. Ifeel like we haven't had the whole whole
thing together, but you know,come season time, mo role and it's
gonna be exciting your whole number.Yeah yeah, like yeah, man,
he's uh it was a brute andonce he catches that ball, I mean

(03:41:39):
he's he's got great instinctive where thedefense is. I think the talent on
this team is really good too.And I think that I can come in
here and make a big difference,you know, when we can win a
lot of football games. You know. So that was my that was part
of my decision. Your how longare you at now? I'm one hundred

(03:42:03):
percent now. And it was likea walk in the park. It's like
a sprained ankle. You know.It was very easy, you know,
because I had the knee. Theknee was pretty hard, you know,
and the Achilles was I would sayit's easy, you know, just because
that's just my mentality, and itwas. It was pretty easy to be
But you know, I've had theseinjuries and it's been storm like the past

(03:42:28):
two years, you know, havinghaveing like good, great games. The
next thing, you know, hurtand then you know, so got got
the injury prone out there, youknow. But I think the storm is
over it, you know, youknow, and I think I'm I'm gonna
gonna take off now, you know, and there will be no setbacks and

(03:42:48):
the injury prone thing will be goneout of the window again. Yep,
I'm sorry to be back. Iam. I am excited. You know.
He does a lot of great things, and he's a great person,
and we have a great relationship.It's gonna be it's gonna be a fun
year. We're gonna have a lotof fun. We're gonna do a lot
of great things. So I can'twait, chick here waiting. The interest

(03:43:13):
you've had, is that just badluck? Is there anything you can attribute
to beyond just misfortunate? Yeah,it's just unfortunate, you know. But
God has a plan always, youknow. I don't know what the plan
exactly is, you know, Idon't know, but whatever plan it is,
it's for me to be here.You know, I had a great

(03:43:35):
rookie year. Uh I didn't.I didn't really have the volume as other
people my rookie year, but Istill had a great rookie year. Six
yards of carry, you know,things like that. I think it was
like nine touchdowns ten including the playoffs. And so there's always been like,
all right, God, lets meshow my talent shine a little bit,
Like even when I had the knee. So I had the knee right.

(03:43:56):
A lot of people don't know,like I didn't get hurt again. Whenever
I got you know, got cleanedup. So I went down in twenty
one, right, had the injury, the knee injury, and then came
back later the next year and Iand I played the first few games and
it just feel there was a lotof scars issue in there. So I
had to get it cleaned up.I didn't get hurt again. I could

(03:44:16):
have played the whole year, butI got it cleaned up so I can
feel like me. And so afterI got that cleaned up, the first
two games back from the injury,I had over one hundred and twenty yards
rushing right, and then went onhad great, great ending of the year,
you know, one hundred total yardsin the playoff game we lost,
which I hate the most. Stays, don't marry me. I want to

(03:44:37):
win. But then come back thenext year hurt again like torn achilles.
So two really unfortunate injuries. Butthat's just God's plan, you know.
And I think that the storm isnow over, you know, And I
do think that I'll be able toshine my light to the whole world.
Are you concerned that you have thatlabel? You gain said three, I

(03:45:00):
could care less because I do.I do. I know this out there
because as as it should be,it should be. I got hurt two
major injuries back or not back toback years. But you know, so
I haven't been on the field asmuch as I should That's true, that
is true. But it's not likeI'm having these little little dinky injuries and

(03:45:20):
sitting out. It's something I can'tcontrol, literally, So that's why I'm
not bothered by it. Like,yeah, I am injury polling. You
could say that, you know,but I do think that the Chargers are
getting a guy that's gonna be healthyfrom now on. You know, God
will it, and it's gonna begreat. And I do think that it's
gonna be. It's gonna be agreat. However, many years here,

(03:45:41):
when you've been out on the field, you've been highly adopted five pointy years
for very average for your career.Like knowing that when you're out there or
you're very adopted, how much confidencedoes that give you that really all you
need is is not what you needall the confidence in the world. You
know, the way I work,I wouldn't say just from the numbers,
but just the way I work,my work ethic, you know, and

(03:46:03):
my relationship with Jesus is like Ihave the most confidence when I step out
there because I do know, likeif he grants me the health, it's
over with. I don't think Iwill 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

(03:46:24):
work ethic, my prayer and allthat stuff, that's what helped me have
that confidence with the numbers will bethere, and they might be higher after
this year, you know what I'msaying. And it's crazy to think about
because I had six six yards percarry, you know. So we'll see.
You're looking forward to running behind thisline they put together. Oh yeah,

(03:46:45):
yeah, yeah. I played withBrandley. I played with him,
you know, I know the Slater, I know all. I know all
the guys, you know, andI'm excited. I think it's like I
said earlier, it's a talented group. You know. We just got to
put it together win some games,because that's what I came here for year,
or I wouldn't I wouldn't say,part of the recruitming. But like

(03:47:05):
whenever I decided I 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 likemy brother. So I think compliment each
other very well. You know,he can do a lot of stuff too.
You know, we got a lotof people think he's just power,
power, power, but I thinkhe has some other parts of his game.

(03:47:26):
Two which it it'll be great becauseI feel like I could do everything
and when one get tired, wecan roll it in. We keep rolling
win some games. So when youthe two of you get going, well,
how do you think this is gonnalook for? What will like?
What will be that partnership kind ofback there? I know that's a hard

(03:47:48):
question. How do I think it? I think it'll look beautiful. You
know a lot of people call ita passing league, but I think you
gotta run the ball to win thesuper Bowl. You know, if you
look at the team to win theSuper Bowl can run the ball, they
can control the clock, and soif we're both good, it'll look great,
beautiful. How would you describe theGregor running offense? I would I

(03:48:09):
would describe it as, you know, a great offense. I think he
gives a quarter He's going to givethe quarterback a lot of options. He's
gonna give the running back a lotof options. 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 offenseis going to be amazing. When we
talked to him, and you know, I was like, why have you,

(03:48:30):
ben La built something good rushing offensesthroughout your career every where you've been,
And you said that one part ofit is just you got a call
place, You got a call runof place. As a running back,
you know, how much confidence,how much excite does it give you when
you know you have to play callerthat's gonna stick with it and allow you
and the offensive line to get yourresident. Gives me a lot of excitement.

(03:48:52):
You know. It's gonna be LikeI said, it's fun to play
in his offense, you know.And I think he does have some good
things in the past game too,But like you said, he sticks with
the run, and that's that's theidentity. You You want an offense that
has an identity, right you won'tbe looking everywhere else to find your your
identity. You want to have it. And so I think his offense has

(03:49:13):
that and the guys he builds andputs in there, it complements that identity.
So I think it's gonna be great, full go for training. Look,
I ain't gonna answer any of theif it's up to me. Yes,
Look, because I had this problemlike three two years three years ago,

(03:49:33):
I'm thinking I'm full go. Ithink I'm ready to go, and
the next thing, you know,I'm on pup, like, hey,
look some stuff above my prey paygrade. So but I don't know.
Hopefully I can start. I thinkI'm ready to start, you know,
at the beginning of training camp.But that's not up to me. As
I've learned, I'll tell you howI wouldn't say that. I think I've

(03:49:58):
been been in some great organizations,and I think this this organization is a
great organization, and the training staffis 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 what you want in anorganization. And so that's where that
comes from, which I appreciate it, like I really appreciate that, you

(03:50:20):
know, because I'm the type ofguy like I work really hard, so
maybe sometime I'm blind to you know, the danger of something, you know,
so I appreciate it. But likeI said, if it's up to
me, yeah, I'm out there. But you never know with any frustration
for you during the heading into freeagency, you know, dealing with with
rehab and not you know, havingwon a full season of tape or production

(03:50:41):
to go out there, is thereany part of that where you're like,
God, you know, have hitthe open market with a different situation.
You know. Nah, I likeit. I like, how would I
say this? I like it thehard way, but not, you know,

(03:51:01):
I like it the hard way.I like it. I like trial
and true relations. So I meanthe dice that I was giving the role
was I was coming off of Achilles, and that was that was the lowest
plan. So it was beauty inthat, Like I was comfortable. I

(03:51:22):
was caught like there was multiple teams, you know, I wasn't. It
wasn't like I didn't have any otherteam. But I was comfortable and sitting
back and just enjoying the process,letting myself get fully healed. So whenever
that team, whoever I would signwith, who now is the Chargers,
is going to get the best metyou know. And I think people all

(03:51:43):
around the league though that like,Okay, this guy, Okay, it's
a high risk, high reward typething, right, not even a high
risk for low rice because you it'sa business, right. So I got
her last year, so not asmuch money needs to be thrown there.
But I think everyone around the leaguethough, was that whenever I am on
the field, the numbers don't lie, and so they know that, and

(03:52:05):
a lot of teams were like,all right, here, you can.
We give you this, but wewant you to be healthy. So when
I'm healthy, it's gonna be great. This is the chance that I've been
giving here. I'm so grateful 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. Oh a

(03:52:31):
lot. He helped me a lot, even from like the first day,
just trying to help me get usedto to write tackle. He got my
feet used to write tackle like myfirst dad practice. I'm like, dude,
I still feel we feel a littleoff, I don't feels balanced to
my stands, and he showed methe small technique to do with my feet,
which I still do even even Ileft tackle, just because it's partner

(03:52:52):
my routine. That was part ofmy process and getting on my stands.
So stuff like that that he taughtme from a one and obviously in practice
was fun. Just compete with him, you know, it's just to meet
at the back of the pocket andto dap each other back whatever you rep
like. That was competing, youknow what I mean. So that's my

(03:53:13):
guy. As much as you lovehim on the west side, how bit
or sweet is in a certain mattersbecause it would happen to him. Yeah,
that's the thing. That's not howIt's definitely not how I and and
how I thought about the transition willgo. You know, I thought it
would be you know, homesoone timingat a cardinal his whole career. You
know, you know you want toplay here forever, you know what I

(03:53:35):
mean. When I was talking abouthis plans, so you know, you
you wish transitions like one of thosefairy tale like to your time. But
but again, either way, youknow, we talked about it. You
know that that's that's the how itgoes, you know, but obviously you
know he's sees he's he's been oneof my bigges supports. Again, I

(03:54:01):
affect everybody leads in their own way, you know, not everybody's. The
guys come around like and that's noteverybody right like effect for me, that's
me specifically on game day with theold line and after we do one on
one like that's my like, wellHump did like that's my like big vocal
time. I feel like I've talkedto Hump about this, you know,

(03:54:24):
just recently talking about how what Iwant to do for the room is I
want to bring that Hump energy thathe brought right so last year. Of
course some traits been doing it foryears, but the year I spent with
him, he brought a lot ofthe energy and the excitement and the happiness
in the room was just his naturalenergy to where I only had to focus

(03:54:48):
on me, you know, Ididn't have to make sure other other guys
are, you know, feel sometype of way when they came in here
because Hump brought that. But outthe Hump's not here. But if I
saw what he did for the room, I want to be that guy to
make sure everyone's amp to go topractice, everybody's hype. Weren't taking the
field team one period and you knowit's a low day or something. You

(03:55:11):
know, it's a it's a day, But like I want to make you
feel like your parents the tripper rightnow. I want to bring that because
that's what me and Home did witheach other. We will hype each other
up. Dudes like dudes about tobe walked through. We're lit. So
I want to do that. Iwant to bring that energy. I want
to make bring more guys, youknow, to do that. You know,
I wanted to do that from dayone, you know, I kind
of I wanted to do that fromday one, from just talking to him,

(03:55:37):
and obviously it's that time. Ispend the off season before OTA started,
just being in myself, just thinkingabout what the room needs, you
know, because I know I knewa new role as one of the leaders,
you know on my offense is thatwe need a guy like that that's
gonna make sure the old line ispicked up ready to go. Every day

(03:56:01):
I was held accountable. Little thingsaren't happened to practice, People aren't saying
anything, and how I may lead, 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 I
went beyond just the hype up,the deal on and stuff too. So
that's kind of how I wanna bes goal mine literally my whole life.

(03:56:26):
I wanna be a NFL team captain, like specifically the NFL. I wasn't
a captain of high school, wasn'ta captain of college. But I made
a joke when I was in highschool. It's like there, I feel
like I'm not gonna be a captaintil I get to the NFL. Yeah,
but that would be awesome, youknow, but you know, if
it happens, i'd be great.But not either way. I wanna assume

(03:56:50):
a role as a captain from therespect of the guys on the team.
The visual word today and to getback to that word, yeah, I
mean, I can't say that.I mean, I guess the biggest thing
is that I felt like it hasfelt like how it you used to in
the past. But it didn't takejust the first day OTAs. It took

(03:57:11):
training left and right once the seasonended, cause I didn't know what it
was gonna be true, So ittook a lot of yeah reps just to
get back to feeling like myself forday one OTAs and then that whole first
week. But now like today specificallyjust changing some small things with my feet

(03:57:31):
that I did day talking about aline coach about some things I can do
with my fee to get to thatto sell at the traditional angle that I
loved to set on. Felt evenI thought I felt, I thought I
felt great already by my okat Ifelt even back up it. So I'm
even more excited tomorrow and now I'mgetting my feedback and how I liked it
the right side and on the leftside, So I'm excited. I mean,

(03:57:52):
obviously, I feel like in theleague, whether I left or right,
you're still going against premier guys.So obviously you have high expectations for
your left hand or right tackle.But there's definitely uh like the the level
of energy and like the expectations definitelytake and the human spect cause now connected
the blind side, that's the that'sa de tackle role, you know.

(03:58:16):
So so yeah, I would sayin terms of communication as far as just
even outside the facility and just stufflike that, like really creating that the
tackle quarterback bond even more off thefield, I think has been something that's
even been cool. I got atext one day and it's like, hey,
like you put left and I waslike, yeah, you know,

(03:58:37):
yeah, I've been training both.I've been training both. You know.
I I asks after the season,they're like, honestly, you know,
we'll talk to you still play inthe season. And I just got a
text and like, depending on whathappens with with the free agency then,
so I was like, you knowwhat, I had a whole season right
tackle, So if I get theword, I'm going I'm standing right tackle.

(03:58:58):
I don't just do it at beforeI'm built on that bus. I
was like, I might as welljust trained the left tackle now as if
I'm gonna be a left tackle.And I'd rather do that than training on
the right time because the call heyyou're the left tackle, I'm like,
oh, I didn't even switch onmy feet yet, you know what I
mean. So I'm like, letme just prepare in advance. I was
like, yeah, lets god,you know, I think occasionally on third

(03:59:20):
down there would be a lot oftwists. I would just know, like
it's automatically coming. And I thinkthat was my mindset for like the first
half of the season, like Ididn't have to go into a game and
with surprise like oh my gosh,they did that. I kind of figured
like, okay, like this isthis is the type of rushman again,
like this is how this guy usuallyrushes. But I get the vibe,
this is how the ends like therush you know, tackles that are you

(03:59:41):
know, first year guys who gotthe premier patch on. I already knew
what it was gonna be, alreadyknew every stunt and honestly just knowing that
it's kind of an advantage too,So you're not you're not you're not old.
They brought the twist of my side. Again. It was never an
Aaron Donald like you know, they'recoming up with mines like three plays in
a row in two minutes. Iknew that it was a winning you know

(04:00:03):
what I mean. I'm watching himmore than everybody else and he rarely eland
goes out there occasional third downs onthe DM. He's gonna pick me,
you know what I mean, Sofact fact, it's kind of it's also
kind of advantage of the way butit's also exciting, like, okay,
here with the two guys, thistalent and this this background at the top
of that group. How much ofyour discussions with Brian do I guess the

(04:00:26):
interview process were about how you mightapproach this and and and what do you
think is mean? The the thekey element. You're getting the most out
of those because you got two guys. This ain't my first rodeo. No.
I know a lot of people lookat say, well, this guy
only been on the field for threeyears Western Tuckey and Oregon. Just because

(04:00:46):
I didn't have the title of arunning back coach where I was at the
Memphis I never carried myself that way. I was carried myself as a running
back coach. I approach every daythat way. So at Memphis we had
Darren Henderson, Patrick Taylor, TonyPollard, Kenny Game, Weell, Tonio
Gibson. I've seen talented backs andI've seen them be able to function with

(04:01:07):
one another. So I hear thatall the time about well, I this
ain't my first rodeo. Same thingout there in Oregon we Buckeven Norwich and
George James. You go look atthey numbers. They all functioned well together.
We learned how to play as one. So this ain't my first rodeo.
So and plus I know those twokids cause I recruited them when they
was in high school. So I'mup for the challenge and the responsibility of

(04:01:28):
it. Got right behind the DannHope Leven Carlos, Just what is your
kind of coaching philosophy? How doyou get the best out of your running
backs? I get the best out'em cause I love the young men.
My main focus is to change thehearts and minds of'em and they'll play
for me. I had just gotthrough reading Coach Trestle's Winners Manual, and
it's somethday that I took from thatbook. You have your purpose and you

(04:01:52):
have your goals, alright, Mypurpose is to serve and pour into the
young men. Now my goals isa football coach. All of them are
take care of themselves. So that'sone of the ways. I'm just real
relationship based in a very detailed atthis position. I know y'all heard me
say before, and I'm gonna keepsaying, this is the worst coach position
in football. It's terrible. Guys, hire anybody to coach his position and

(04:02:15):
recruiters. CARLS. Locker is nota recruiter. I'm an elite relationship builder.
But I coached this position. I'ma ball coach, so that's who
I am. So I'm gonna pouringto these kids. I think they kind
of seeing it now. And Ijumped in day one, I'm ready to
coach and then soft fat cookies.Where did that phrase come from? Kind
of always play this boy? Letme tell you about that boy. I've
been called everything but the name thechild of God by the people at the

(04:02:41):
other places I left, so thatI been getting pills Pillsbury need to give
me a deal because I've been gettingI been getting some DM texts something.
Some of them have been so funny. The saltbatch could giet thing came from
just having a frame of mind,a mental toughness. It had nothing to
do with guys getting the portal andanything. Now most people say I'm a

(04:03:03):
salt beats cookie for leaving there,but actually I'm not, because it takes
great strength to make a decision toleave a place. No, a weak
minded person wouldn't be able to makethe decision that I make, So it
took great strength to do that.So I'm telling you I by literally in
my DMS, it's some it's somegreat comedians out here that have been sending
me like tons of cookies out likeit's funny. Right behind him, Tony

(04:03:26):
urb, how have you going aboutthe assessment of 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? Ibroke down well me being a guy that
loves the running back position, andI already broke those kids down cause I
recruit them out of high school.You know, Ce is from where I'm

(04:03:50):
from in Montgomery. I was oneof the first guys to offer him just
watching him great contact balance, creativerunner, great hands and trey. I
recruited them out of Virginia exceptional shortairburst and quickness and things that I'm gonna
help him get better on. Andthen I recruited James Peoples out of t
out of San Antonio, Texas.I knew what he was gonna what he

(04:04:11):
was gonna be TC and Sam,those two kids I'm getting to know and
I'm gonna help them improve the game, but we got different runners in there.
I like to call myself, I'min love with this position, so
I get to break down runners andhelp their game. So talented, talented
room, very talented. Uh farback uh Jeremy Brookingham podcast Couch. How

(04:04:35):
do you swear that fact? Thesoft fast trookies are actually the best cookies
to philosprittin mix and or those areway better than the county chips and white
things. That a terriory. Imean, do you do you have to
first find a balance there or someone. Well, for me, I'm actually
not eating any cookies now, I'mjust saying I'm not eating any cookies this
year. I gave it up fora fast or no sweets for me for

(04:04:56):
the whole year. That's something likegave up. So they the term the
south bast Cookie term. Look,guys, I actually took that from I
represent the high school coaches of MythsTennessee. I actually took that from a
guy that coach Slocum. He usedto always say that south Bast Cookie.
Actually stole that from him. Igive him credit for it, and I

(04:05:16):
tell him all the time he said, you I should have branded that,
cause you done took it and ranaway with it. But that's just where
that comes from. So that thatI was standing as you get to a
high stand and you start to lookaround the country at me, Oregon's a
big place. That's a a majorjob with How how do you think that
where your opposite a logo or theJeff Brandon blocko when you get out out

(04:05:37):
of the little free and trail,how does that change the way that you
feel you're either received or or doesit add a different level to to just
feeling like I could go anywhere andget anybody in the country. And that's
the changest thing for me. Thisis a great place. Oregon is a
great place too. But guess whatwhatever I put on, I know what

(04:05:58):
I'm going to represent for me.I n I N I know who who
put me here? Uh? Iknow I represented something higher, you know.
Like I told you, I knowwhat my purpose is. My purpose
is to poorting the people. Sowhatever logo I have on, I'm still
gonna be doing the same thing.So this is a great logo, great

(04:06:18):
logo, but I wear another logoevery day. It's across I see around
my neck. I know what Irepresent. So that's the greatest logo I
could ever wear. So it doesn'tmatter what other logo I have on.
I got that one on. I'mgoing to any house and be a recruit.
Uh uh deep right to camera,Tick Robinson the athletic. So which
you you mentioned the time at Memphisand them it's for and about going back

(04:06:41):
to you mentioned there who you learnedfrom that time that you that you can
take over to managing to grow upand kid? What did I learn from
them? Just building a just teachingthe kids. We live in such a
selfish world now, and I cantell kids all the times it's gotta be
much more the football the ball goflat one day. As I always say,
what being in that room there atMemphis, it wasn't four five?

(04:07:07):
Teaching them how to be about aboutbeing one? I tell you them in
all time, it doesn't cost youanything to celebrate another man's success. So
teaching them how to be one,and then once they learned to be one,
they function and they feed off oneanother. So that's what I learned
from being there at Memphis Road.Carlos Thard of your career in law enforcement
kind of influenced you as a coachand kind of shape where you are.

(04:07:31):
Oh well, I just got throughtalking to somebody about that today. When
I first got in this profession andI got my own room in Western Tech,
I was asked, No, howwas I was gonna be able to
handle my room? I said,Man, I had a part with fifty
one inmates. You talking about mehaving got six or seven guys like you

(04:07:52):
kidding me? I'm talking about mehaving to do traffic stops or going on
domestic no violence calls easy. Youknow people don't know what you care.
Also know, you gotta have acertain demeaning about yourself. So when I
walk into a room. It's thereason why I go train every morning.
This is one of It's the samething when I was a police officer.

(04:08:13):
You look a certain way kind ofdeter people from doing certain things. So
reason why I go train every morning. I'm gonna look just as good as
my boys look. So U ithelped out a lot. In other words,
uh. From Arrol Right Austin Wredthe podcast Carls Welcome to Columbus.
What would it mean to I don'tknow, revolutionize the way running backs are?
Coach? What does that take?I ain't even know. I'm not

(04:08:39):
gonna say revolutioniz I said some goodit's some good running back coaches out here.
Everybody's different. It's some great coachesout here. I just want to
head guys who say that on thesejobs to not just hire guys. Just
know all coaches on your staffs shouldbe great recruiters. Not just a running
back coach. We coach a position. We developed players as well. I

(04:09:00):
just wanted the coaches to realize,Hey, you know what, let me
look and be thorough about this guythat I'm hiring for the job. Is
he teaching the position? Is hedevelopment the position? Because you're not gonna
hire anybody just coach quarterbacks, areyou. Well, it shouldn't be like
that for the running back position either. And I'm only passionate about it cause
I played it. I love it, So it's the only position I want
to coach cause I coach the otherpositions. Yeah, I played dB in

(04:09:20):
college too, but I love therunning back position, so I just wanted
to see it coach well May podcasts. Yeah, a million questions. All
that's a couple. Number one whenyou when you when your wife whatever?
You got the message stuff? Orare we moving again? What was what
was her reaction. Nah, sheshe just knew God that give us gave
us a new assignment. She wit was never like we're moving again.

(04:09:43):
Let me tell you guys something Igrew up. My mom was in the
military, so I lived everywhere.I lived in Panama of South America.
I'm used to picking up and moving. I lived in Fort Rodley, Kansas,
Montgomery's home if it was my secondhome, so I'm I'm used to
moving now. My wife it wasdifferent for her, but she's a new
guy that gave us a new assignment, so it's time to go. What

(04:10:03):
did uh? What did coach theytell you when he heard you that he
wants out of you? That maybe different. It's not slamming somebody else,
But what did he say he wantedyou to bring to the running back
room? I think he did hisresearch on me. He said he wanted
the guy to to develop the position. And that's not taking a shot at
the coach that was here who I'mfriends with. He said, they want

(04:10:26):
somebody to really get guys that wepicked up, and I'm excited to work
with them. You know much abouthow against Uh? I think he's super
skilled. Russier a little good length, and he's more athletic than I even
realized. And I think guys likehim when they come to our scheme are

(04:10:50):
the best is brought out of him. So I'm excited to see what potential
he has. He's year nine,so I feel like you as a d
line and you could keep improving allthe way through ten years in this league.
So I'm excited to see what he'sgot. How long did you know
sores So when he was assistant here, and I've gotten to know him a
lot that it's a relationship made rightnow. I know him pretty well.

(04:11:13):
He was always just a good dudearound the facility. He did our ball
meetings, so he's good in frontof a group. He's a good leader.
He knows the scheme really well,which is good. I was happy
to see him promoted. He calledme in the off season. We talked.
I just congratulated him, and Ithink he's gonna bring something similar to

(04:11:39):
what we had with the Miko.It'll be good. Do you know Brandon
Stanley well at all? I mean, obviously Joey played for him. I
don't know too much about him.I've obviously heard from my brother, but
I don't even think I've said highyet. I haven't ran into him yet,
but I'm sure i'll get to knowhim. When you say it looks
similar to the Miko the energy orthat system, maybe a little different energy,

(04:12:03):
but I think just knowing the systemfrom the front to the back,
I think he knows how it tiesin. And he's been around with some
really good coaches, so I thinkit'll be pretty pretty seamless, and I
think we'll be firing on all cylinders. You're three months removed from the super

(04:12:24):
Bowl now, so how have you? I guess digested it, and I
guess physically everything good to go.Yeah, I feel really good. I
think it's been one of my betteroff seasons of just kind of it was
a long year, so I tookit nice and slow to get back into
it. Not as young as Ionce was, so I'm taking a little

(04:12:45):
a little slower, but everything's great. I'm feeling as good as I felt.
I'm excited to actually get some practicein. Last year was kind of
tough, getting thrown in week oneafter I walked through, so that was
another reason I'm excited to be here, is just to get practicing a little
bit in season. Practice is onething, but actually being able to work

(04:13:09):
your stuff and not have a gamecoming up is good. With the Super
Bowl unfortunately, I know how tobounce back from tough losses, so it
was rough for a little bit,but now it's just annoying when people bring
it up. Since the last season, we've seen a Rock on TV commercials

(04:13:31):
and on the stage with Kluke Coombsand throwing out the first pitch of the
Giants game. But he seems likea guy that's totally unaffected by celebrity,
which he has now. But whathave you noticed in his leadership style and
the way he carries himself any differenceat all. I think he's definitely getting
a little more vocal within the building. And uh yeah, I mean,

(04:13:52):
I don't think he's ever gonna change. I don't think he's somebody that's gonna
change even when he gets paid nextyear. So he's he's a man of
faith and he kind of reminds meof Scotti Scheffler, but except for just
super humble and really good kid.And yeah, he's definitely famous. I

(04:14:22):
don't just from watching he saw Armsteadget released obviously meant so much to the
defensive line into the team. Imean, Colin John were pretty open that
they were willing to talk about tradingDeebo or are you at raft? Does
that just another what's that feel likein the locker room when those sort of

(04:14:43):
joels happened. I didn't even knowthat happened and I wasn't here, But
you're talking about this armstead in alarmEric released, So that's certainly one thing.
Yeah, it's a tough business,for sure. You have to have
thick skin and I haven't gone throughthat, but I think you just have

(04:15:09):
to understand that it is a businessand the team's going to try and get
as good as it possibly can withor without you, and you have to
look out for yourself. That's whyyou go through holdouts and do certain things
that seem selfish in the moment,but it is what it is. And
when everything's settled, we're gonna cometogether as a team and try and go

(04:15:31):
get one. And 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
ready to go. Do you talkto you? Talk to Beat all about

(04:15:52):
handling the business part of this.He's going through something similar. We chat
a little bit, but not toomuch about the details. I just told
him to keep his head up andtrying to stay positive through it all.
First impressions when you heard about yourschedule would be in that Aaron Rodgers's first
off, it'll be fun. Yeah, it's gonna be gonna be a good

(04:16:14):
one. Excuse me kind of alludedto this. But the fact that last
year you had to have that holdout for sent that affected you somewhat early
in the season. If you hadn'thad that experience, would you be here
right now? I mean, wasthat part of the motivation for being here
early, just to have the oppositewhen last year might be No, I

(04:16:37):
don't think that's one of the reasons. But I just talked to Kyle and
he kind of asked me. Hekind of stated how he felt about why
it would be good for me tobe here and asked if I agreed,
and I one did agree. Soit's not like I'm missing too much.
I think. I'm out here.It's a little less workload than I'm doing

(04:17:02):
back home, so it's kind ofa good active recovery thing for me.
And I'm getting football stuff, footballworking specifically, so that's good. I'm
not it's not compromising my training atall, and I get to meet all
the guys. It's positive. Ohno, he's he's there. He's got

(04:17:26):
a new regime over there. Iactually thought I was coming next week until
recently, so I was going tohave one more week at home. But
we're both in California. As I'vecome in and thought we were going to
lose or have have a bad year. I felt like every year when I
tell you things are feeling good andI feel optimistic, it wasn't a lie.

(04:17:51):
But yeah, I think things areare definitely, like I said,
trending in the right direction. Everybody'son the details. I'm sure it's a
word that you've heard a million times. So yeah, I think it just
feels like it feels like coach isleading the team the way it should be
led. It has a feel ofbeing back in college, you know,

(04:18:15):
with with coach urban Meyer, andyou know the message is sent from the
top and it doesn't get mixed upas it's moving down the ladder. It's
boom. This is how we're doingthings, and everybody's following that, And
I think it's impressive the details thateverybody have been on, has has been
on, the effort and just thecompetitiveness that that's been going on over the

(04:18:38):
last few weeks. Yeah, it'sit's it's been great. How much do
you appreciate that the stop just describedthe way jingles I shouldn't eat in the
messaging doesn't eat mixed up? Whydo you appreciate that so much? I
mean, it's I guess it's easyto appreciate when and you kind of see

(04:19:00):
it working and you see guys improving, getting better. I just think the
details are really important. You canpretend that leaving your shoes a mess or
your locker a mess isn't a bigdeal, and what matters is playing football.
But I think all those tiny detailsand things kind of add up and

(04:19:22):
leak into the important stuff, likewhat you're doing on the field. So
if you can have your toe behindthe line, or have your locker and
order and all these things, theykind of stack up into performing well and
playing well When things count, soyou know, I appreciate that. It
also hasn't been a fight with theguys in the locker room. They buy

(04:19:45):
in and you know, it's alot of young guys, and I think
they're hungry to learn, hungry tocompete and win. You know, it's
just an example, whether it's wetalked about first day you have your shoe,
if you could, if you couldspend the time on these small things
when nobody's watching. I think,like I was saying, it seems like

(04:20:06):
it might not out up too much, but I think in the long term
it does, and it leaks intoother things, whether you're doing your right
assignment on the field, being lateto meetings or all these things. If
you hold a standard and you stayto that standard, I think it benefits
you long term. It's been likeworking with Ben Herbert. Has there been

(04:20:27):
anything in his training program or workingwith you that you feel will benefit you
later? Yeah, Yeah, definitely. He's been great. He's a no
nonsense kind of guy, but he'snot an old school in the sense that
he's bringing his way of doing thingsand that's the only way to do things.
He understands that guys have been inthe business for a long time.

(04:20:51):
Khalil me and we have a wayof doing things, and all he wants
to do is add to that andhelp you get better and perform the best
you can. He's a he stressesit all the time that he's a tool
for us. And you know,he's been He's been great. The guys
love him. The energy brings isawesome, and I think the stuff that

(04:21:11):
we're doing in the weight room isgreat, a great addition to stuff that
I may may do on the sideor whatever that is. Yeah, I
think we I mean, we hada presentation today with all the certain measurables
that are changing, and if youguys are in the meeting, you definitely
see how beneficial he's been to theteam so far. So obviously staying healthy

(04:21:33):
is is a huge factor to anybody'ssuccess. I'd say it's plagued us a
little bit for a while. Soyeah, I think he's He's definitely incredibly
beneficial when you like fully recovered.I know at the end of last season
you might have been able to play. Yeah, No, I was not
ready to go last year. No, tried practicing, tried coming back and

(04:21:57):
uh it was it was not Butyeah, it was. Unfortunately the year
wasn't going great and it just wasunnecessary risk for I mean, my foot
could have had some real real issuesif I came back too early. So
yeah, it's been, it's been. It's been a great off season.

(04:22:18):
My foot's feeling great, toes good, hamstrings good. I mean, there
was a list of things last yearin my hand, so all those things
are good. Gut surgery on myfinger, so that's feeling good. Yeah,
it's it's nice to be feeling bettergoing into year nine than you have
since maybe five six years ago,which I've said, I've said I've been

(04:22:38):
feeling great last 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
really confident in your body and beingable to perform. So I could just
go out during practice and you know, go balls to the wall and do
everything that I feel like I needto to be able to prepare. It's

(04:23:03):
fun. My brother and whoever Itrained with my trainer Todd back home,
uh, I think they'd be reallyproud of how I've been working this offseason,
and it's just exciting. Pointing wasthe injuries on the Green Bay game,
you kind of yeah, it wasa bit of a build up,

(04:23:25):
a little bit of an overreaction,but you know, it's just tough.
It comes sometimes like that, andI just felt felt really uh defeated coming
back, had a broken hand.I'm like, oh, yeah, I
get to play boom for a seriousfoot pops thought I'd have to get surgery,
and all these thoughts flooded through myhead. Broke down a bit,

(04:23:45):
and yeah, it just hurts.You know, you're losing, you're getting
injured. You've felt like you preparedreally well in the off season, and
then the year before you had growingsurgery, so you know, a lot
of things build up. Yeah,you don't get a break if you're injured.
Everybody wants to go on. Fansare very nice, but no,

(04:24:08):
I just I'm grateful that I feelthis way. I'm still still nicey Ripe
twenty eight, so not too oldyet, but yeah, I'm just excited.
I can't remember what the original questionwas at this point, get something
about my Bobby, how close youand Gift were. How frustrated was it

(04:24:36):
that you couldn't you know soon forone of those last three games. It
was frustrating, But I mean Giftwas had my back the whole way.
I think for gift, for anybut for the whole team, just to
show what it means to me.It would have been important for me to
be out there, but I literallycouldn't. I tried to practice, injured
my footworset the very first play Iwas and in practice, no chance that

(04:25:02):
was happening unless I wanted to throwmy next season away as well. But
no, I'm just I'm proud ofhim for what he did with the team,
how he handled it, and Ineed to call him back. Actually
sorry, I give Yeah, I'mhappy he gets to stay close by with
the with the Rams and uh,I'm just proud of all we accomplished here

(04:25:25):
together over the years and and we'llbe close for the rest of our lives.
Was the footage was the guys footsprang? Yeah, I sprained one
area of my foot. Then whenI tried to return and I sprained another
area. Was able to avoid gettingsurgery, which is kind of the main
goal, But yeah, it was. It was tough when it comes to

(04:25:48):
the addition of but Dupree when hefelt like he's kind of brought to the
to the room and could bring onthe field. Yeah, when I heard
we got my brother some I don'tknow, maybe my brother told me.
I'm like, really, we justgot budded, Like that's no, that's
no small pickup. He's a seriouslyelite pass rusher. Has had some trouble

(04:26:10):
with injuries as well, so Iunderstand how that is, but not only
him as a player, but asa personality. I heard Khalil just saying
he's he's a fun guy. He'sa funny guy and to have that in
the room another vet is always agreat addition. But I'm just excited to
have him and Tulle and to beable to rotate like that and not drop
off at all when we come offthe field is huge. And MAP two's

(04:26:33):
going into a second year. Justwhat do you what are you kind of
What are some of the maturity maturityareas you see from him? You know,
I'm gonna say not much, andthat's a compliment because he was already
mature in those areas. I mean, he's on it everything playbook wise,
always doing his job, working hard, just refining his technique and pass rush.

(04:26:57):
I mean, we don't have thepads on right now. So the
real work will begin, you know, in six weeks now. So,
but yeah, I love Julie.I've loved him since the first day he's
walked into the facility, and Iknow he's just gonna continue to get better.
You think of the addition of JoeOld, Yeah, yeah, I'm

(04:27:18):
gonna need to beat him up alittle bit in camp. So he's so
he's ready. But no, Ithink anything to protect our number ten is
a good, good investment. Sohe seems like a real solid dude.
Haven't talked to him too much,great build, seems like he has good
hands, good feet, strong,We'll see. We'll see in a few

(04:27:41):
weeks when I lay a helmet inhis chin, how he holds up.
But it'll I'll take it easy onhim. No, Rashon's a beast.
Did you know coach Harbond before hecame here? And if he did,
just what were those first couple ofconversations like that, I probably have crossed
passed with him. Maybe maybe not. Actually I think what was it his

(04:28:07):
first year when I was a junior? So he kicked his ass as usual
at Ohio State. No, No, they just want a championship, So
I'd say they probably have the braggingrights right now. I'm like the guy
talking about his old high school.Oh I remember we used to kickers.
No, but no, yeah,no, the rivalry is dead. I

(04:28:32):
was just saying this morning, youknow, nine years and kind of forget
about that. I'm not a greatalumni. Sorry, sorry, coach,
But no, it's great. That'swhat's great about the NFL is you just
have guys from all backgrounds. Youcould hate their guts one one year,
and then you come on the sameteam and your brothers and you're all working
towards one goal together. So ourfirst talk together was great. I just

(04:28:56):
sat down with them, went upinto his office and chopped it up about
life and his opportunity here and howmuch it means to him, and uh,
yeah, I think he's a specialguy. I think he's uh the
way he conducts himself. He's aninteresting cat, for sure, and I'm
still still feeling him out. Butone thing you can't denies that he loves

(04:29:17):
football and his main goal is towin football games. And that's what we
need. When you see him workingout with you guys and and pushing his
lives and doing all this stuff,just how interesting is that to see.
Yeah, I mean he was ahe was a great player himself, and
I think he's always been, youknow, built like that lack of a
better term, but yeah, he'suh, he's part of the guys.

(04:29:41):
You know, he's not this guyoutside looking in. He he really,
I mean he voiced that to me, is that his favorite part of all
of it is being with the guysand and the connections he makes. So
yeah, to to see a guylike that come in and embrace it all
and kind of be part of ithimself is important. Your initial impressions of

(04:30:03):
Coachman during the defensive skin, Yeah, it's funny you go from old gift,
old gift to this little young guywho's my age. I wouldn't want
to get thrown into a room withme and Khaliliphos his age. But no,
he's been great. I love messingwith him a little bit. We
little sarcasm back and forth. Butno, he's great. He's uh,

(04:30:26):
he's very talks very fast, andI don't as you know, so sometimes
I got to be like slow down, coach, come on, But no,
he's great. I'm excited, youknow, to get closer as the
years, as the year goes on, and I think he has. He
has a lot of passion for theposition and all he wants to do is

(04:30:48):
learn and and help us to improve. So I'm excited about him, and
I mean I do miss Gift obviously, it was a long time with him,
but I am excited to have anew face and kind of have that
challenge for me. You worked muchwith with Jesse's dad, since I know
he coached linebackers in Michigan. Didyou ask about Jesse? Did you ask

(04:31:11):
about doing Okay, you asked aboutJesse? Oh my god, I was
talking about freaking Doylan the whole time. You guys are so confused. No,
sorry, I thought were I thoughtI was. I thought you mentioned
coach Ronie. No, No,coach Mentor has been great as well.
Yeah, they've both been great.Sorry, run that back. No,

(04:31:33):
he's been good. Yeah, veryknowledgeable guy. Same thing. I'm excited
to get to know him more asthe year goes on. Have you worked
Have you worked much? Yeah?No, I have not. I don't
know if I've said one word tohim, but more words to come down

(04:31:56):
the road, like you said youput years twenty sixteen. Just what are
some of this stuff. You's justramble about the wrong guy for fifteen minutes
walking what Yeah, what the heck'slike? Actually that's literally not the person.

(04:32:19):
Yeah, I figured out what's somethingthat you you worked undering the off
season, something to improve your gameor is there something that you can Usually
my answer is pretty consistent that Ijust continue to try to prepare myself physically,

(04:32:41):
whether that's my sprint worker, agilitywork, and my lifting, but
yeah, just to get everything feelinggreat. I dealt with those injuries,
so I had to kind of rampit up with my finger and foot and
all those things. But now I'mI'm full full speed out there, and
I'm just gonna continue to do whatI know will prepare me for the season.

(04:33:04):
And uh, I know I'm gonnaget plenty of technique work and position
work when I'm out here. Sofor now, I'm gonna spend these five
weeks really getting uh preparing my body. There's workouts, competitive again, another
year of competitive mis with you andall that stuff. Yeah. Yeah,
it's usually too hot out there formuch competition. We're just trying to survive,

(04:33:29):
so but yeah, it's always it'sa it's a silent competition. Between
between each other, be like Peeking'slike what was his time? Was his
time? But no, yeah,it's always you can never have an off
day when when you're out there andhe's he's warming up like a beat,
like a freaking robot every day outthere, so there's there's no off days.

(04:33:52):
Have you you and him talked atall and out? I mean any
when you were having a contract game, do you have guys have to talk
about anybody? Yeah, I meanit's it's a conversation, not a not
really a serious conversation, but somethingthat's come up before. But yeah,
I mean it would be cool.It would be cool at some point.

(04:34:14):
I I always thought of myself beingsomebody that will play here and retire here,
which I think not many people doon one team, and I think
would be a cool thing to accomplish. But you never know. I'm gonna
worry about this year first. Sorry, it's kind of we're on a food
story. But so you guys havelike the lowest or second lowest food cutch

(04:34:38):
area in the NFLPA serve last yearand better moved to the facility, Like
have you talked a lot about food? And how he did some time?
Is it fine that you have tohave you looking forward to the food upgrades
at all? Have you thought aboutit at all? Yeah, No,
it's Wolfgang Puck or whatever is theis the word. Yeah, that's great.
I've been working with my chef forseven years now, so she's been

(04:35:02):
great, so I've never really hadto worry about that too much. But
yeah, my weight's good. I'vebeen eating a lot this offseason, so
that's good. But yeah, I'mexcited to maybe be able to Sorry Christina,
but maybe I won't need a chefnext year. I'll have I'll have
my I'll have my Wolfgang Puck foodand that'll be good. So yeah,

(04:35:26):
I'm excited about the move, founda new spot, excited to kind of
learn the area and all that,even though I won't ever leave my house.
Were you not needing a lot ofthe facility, just as a chef
was good at all? We'll eathere sometimes. You know, it's may
not be the best setup, butthey'll prepare your food. That's that's plenty

(04:35:48):
good. My man, airic heectshout out. No, they work harder
than literally anybody in the entire facility, so they may not have the best
means back there, but they've theyfreaking worked their butts off and to this
offense after like twenty years of Breezeand just kind of how it was just
kind of built on top of eachother and on top of each other.

(04:36:08):
It's like kind of a lot tokind of take in. Do you do
you find that they kind of turnit down to something new, starting to
like zero with everybody. It's justa little bit easier to kind of get
everybody on the same Yeah, Ifeel like it's way easier. Like you
said, it was kind of moreof a Drew Brees style, uh,
the last playbook, So all creditto them though they built that around him,
around his players. But uh,like I said, it's it's more.

(04:36:32):
Uh, this playbook is more foruh matchups, and I feel like
it's gonna be better for us.How do you think it's gonna really take
advantage of just skill sets? Uh, just building around the strengths that I
have. You know what I'm saying, things that I can do and things
that she can do, uh,things that our players can do. Is
kind of focus on what we cando and building on that. Uh.

(04:36:55):
I feel like it's playing to theplayers strengths. So I feel like it's
gonna help us a lot has beenaround them. This offense will have a
lot more speed. And how hasthat transition event so far? I mean,
like I said, it's building aroundthe players strengths. So of course
we got speed, uh with meor she and ati receiver. So just
building around that, Like I said, playing to our strengths and be able

(04:37:15):
to capitalize off that. I feellike it's gonna help us a lot most
of like the up tempo astric andyou know, getting a lot of plays
in unless time. Oh yeah,yeah, yeah, that's definitely gonna play
a big difference. Like I said, coming from the West Coast, Uh,
they bringing that stand for an offensehere. So I'm excited to be
able to be a part of that. For you personally, what's what's the
max level look like? For you? What do you What are you trying
to accomplish this year? Just stayingconsistent, man, a couple of upside

(04:37:40):
downs last year, Just building offthat. It's always always gonna work on
the physical part, but being ableto bounce back after a bad game.
The mental mental aspect, Uh,just learning learned that last year and be
able to build on that this year. Is a huge part, you know,
with Mike go on, did youtake it upon yourself to kind of
be that voice in the room ortake a step forward even further as I

(04:38:04):
mean, it's not really. Imean, everybody kind of grown in the
NFL, so it's just on youto be able to have that standard.
Like I said, I just tryto do that lead by example. I'm
not really outspoken, but just leadby example, working hard, trying to
dominate every rep and hopefully they followout of that bet Yards after the catch?

(04:38:26):
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 isbuilt around that. Just catching the
ball in space, catching the ballover the middle or even on the outside
with space and separation. Feel likeit's built around having yards after catch.

(04:38:48):
So I'm definitely proud to be inthe system, like I said, and
I'm excited. But is that isthat a mindset too? Like being good
at yards after the catch? Likeoh yeah, I mean, of course,
I mean you don't want to gettackled by the first person, and
uh, my mindset is trying totake every take everything to the house,
you know, every touch. Souh, I definitely gotta do that more
and definitely try to work on thatin practice. Keeps a great dude man.

(04:39:15):
Uh some some that I definitely neededsomething that he relates to me.
Uh just from backgrounds, and uhhe's a great coach, great leader,
Uh, motivational and uh. LikeI said, I'm excited to have him
around and for him to push meis everything that I need. Sothing you're
talking about, like mentally bouncing back, you know from tough performances or whatever,

(04:39:36):
Like, did you like try tofind your resources gonna help you figure
out how to do that? Oh? Yeah, I mean it's older guys
that uh tell me that's natural justhave bad games. But uh, just
having the standard that I have formyself and the expectations I have for myself
gets hard sometimes. So just beable to U be hard on yourself,
but at the same time just letit go and just bounce back for them

(04:40:00):
game is something that I learned lastyear. You one of those guys that
feels like you should always have acertain level of production. Are you okay
with those certain games where the defenseis so focused on you that other guys
have three games and you were justrunning good routes, and yeah, I
definitely was. It was like thatearly in my career, especially in college.
But I found out it's just aboutwinning really. You know, I

(04:40:25):
understand I came up a rough season, but I don't think it's a step
down of where I can play.You know, I think when I was
at the top of my game,I'm still you know, top five player
in my position. And you know, I played a run in the past
and I bring leadership and that's notanything I discover. Can you do you
plan to be here for Mini camp? Ram started training camp? Yeah?

(04:40:48):
How difficult has it been the lasttwo weeks to not be here? I
mean you said in your roadcast thefirst time you've never not been at Yeah,
it was difficult, But like youknow, the thing I got very
frustrated with was just and people questionedmy communication with the team. You know,
I uh was communicating with guys leftand right, and you know,
front office, coaches, teammates,and all I care about is how I

(04:41:14):
am with my teammates. I don'twant them to ever think I don't care
about them or how I'm not init and you know, you can say
whatever you want about me. Butbesides that, but I'll always dedicate anything
I can't do them, and Idon't want that to every question. Isaia
said that it felt like sometimes youwere pulled up somewhere watching film. You
text, your missed this or youwant that. Well, like the first

(04:41:37):
day, he was batting all upRuss's passes, so I had to let
him know. You know, Uh, you gotta take advantage of that.
You gotta make sure guys are youknow, uh know that you you still
care and you still wanna be apart of this. Uh, you know,
just watching practice, there's a coupleof little things we're doing different,
whether I'm communicating with dumbbar or otherpeople. You know, so be you

(04:42:00):
so you're that you're also talking withhim and you you giving him the pointers
during the off season, just constantcommunication. How do you see New Girl
as a person, you know,as far as how he's approaching things,
how he's getting ready for this seasonfrom his rookie year. Uh, you
know, I think the thing withKeanu is he's more comfortable, you know,
you know it since his first timearound the track. You know,
it's actually like he can you know, uh, catch his feet under him.

(04:42:22):
You know, I always think whenyou're in your rookie season, you're
going from bowl game. I don'teven know Wisconsin playing a bowl game.
Sorry, Wisconsin, I don't evenknow. But you know, personally,
I just think when you go frombowl game to training for the combine to
you know, rookie minicamp to OTA'sthe you know mini camp, I mean

(04:42:44):
the training camp the regular season,you really don't get a time to really
catch yourself. You know, heunderstands the playbook now, he can be
more vocal, you know, AndI think when my absence the other guy's
absence, you know, you needguys like that to step up and be
ready for those opportunities. Which serveryou had, the same you had during
the season was the more thorough.What was just tightened down everything, you

(04:43:07):
know on my left side because Iwas overcompensating a little bit, but you
know it was there wasn't anything thatlingers. You know, I'll say this,
A growing is not like an ac L. It's not like anything's
ever going to get affected again.And you know, you know, I'm
feeling good, able to do everythingsquat and heavy with power and speed,

(04:43:29):
so you know it feels good toget after Again, what do you think
of what the team was able toaccomplish? A shof easily turned to bring
guys like Russian and things. Youknow, I think they're all good acquisitions.
But you know, you never wantto be known as a paper champion,
so you can't win the off season. I think the work gets done
out here on the field, getsdone in the classroom. Wow, it

(04:43:51):
gets done training, uh, youknow, and then you see where you're
at in training camp, and thenyou build on that. You know,
I think we got the right guysin the building. It's just about uh,
putting a complete team on the field. Cam how Temper calls it to
separate the business part of the gamein the actual football player in the US.
Uh, you know, y youalways wanna you you always have to

(04:44:14):
treat it like a business because youknow one day it's gonna end. Uh
and that's been job. Uh.It's not like in college where you know
you got four years guaranteed. Idon't know, well now you you don't
know what nil and know it's crap, but the transfer portal portal, but
you know you have to know,I still have love for this game,

(04:44:37):
and I still work my tail offand I still put everything into it,
and that's not gonna change. Butyou have to know, uh, what
you bring to the team and andwhat your what your value is. Cam,
you, how did it feel tobe out there with your teammates today?
Emotionally great? You know, wegot a new uh, we got
a new training staff and still learningthe the warm up a little different.

(04:44:57):
Uh, but uh, you knowI loved it. Uh, you know,
just getting after it, learning newguys, Uh, going through the
same drills I've been doing by myself. Uh. I actually like having more
people around, cause like kind ofgo start crazy crazy when it's just you
and another guy, You're like,damn, I gotta go back up for
another rep already. And so youknow, it's nice to be up here

(04:45:21):
and get a chance to you know, be with my guys. Cam.
Were you confident and be able?We'll get done with your emotions. Oh,
I'm gonna we'll try to remain prettyneutral, cause you know, I
don't wanna, you know, betoo either way. All I know is
I want to be here, butwe'll see what happens. Was my last

(04:45:42):
year here and I I I've hada great career here, but I'll look
forward to play next year. Withthat second surgery, you said it this
time was on the left side.It was the first time around on the
right side, right side during theseason, left side, and that was
just tightening down my cornback. Cormasaw it wasn't the same as my ad

(04:46:03):
doctor. You know, you canask doctor Bradley, uh, doctor doctor
zucker Bron who uh did the surgeryas well. You know, I if
anything's gonna help me and you'll makeme a lot stronger from hearing up,
did you think you were training withanother guy who you would have had of
been Tyson? Oh? I've beentraining with him for the last eight years.

(04:46:23):
We've always trained together. We gota trainer up north, uh shadow
Cole Haley. He's my guy,traded trained trained, uh Heath Miller,
Brett Keesel. The multitude of guysthat I all respect, and we've just
been getting after canvas. Very fewguys historically thirty five they get paid big

(04:46:44):
contracts that you think that's held againstyou. I think there's not a lot
of history behind it. But youknow, for me, I I look
at as I'm not looking to belike anybody else. You know, my
game is different from everybody else inthis league. You know, I like
the think. You know, Ican play the run in the past,
and then that's why I'm different,you know. I remember last year,

(04:47:07):
Mike t just brought to my attention. You know. The thing that's really
cool is you watch powerlifters, andyou know, my game's built on powering
technique, and those guys go intotheir forties and so you know, that's
what kind of research I'm doing behindthe scenes. But you know, I
I we'll see what happens. There'sthere's not a lot of history. But

(04:47:29):
I'm here to make history and I'mhere to you know, and win another
Super bowar year and you know,have a great season. Do you have
a set goal for yourself on howmany years you want to play in the
NFL? Or do you just takethings year by the year? You know,
it was it was tough answering thatquestion right after the season. I
will say this, guys, II can't keep answering that question right after
the season. That is not fairto the season, that's not fair to

(04:47:52):
my family. Uh, you know, but in my mind, I got
three years and I wanna maximize them. I wanna play at a high level
and I wanna go deep in theplayoffs, and you know, we got
a good team and I'm gonna domy part to be ready for all those
situations here. If you plan onpractice soon when you report to Latrop,
or is your possibility that you mightpulled in and any forcing new issuations.

(04:48:15):
I I have not even thought thatfar. I'm taken a day by day
uh you know. Uh uh.I told my agent and we talked about
it and mean, uh, wewere cool coming out here. You know.
I'll be here for many you know, and then I'll be there for
training parent you know, I don'tknow what the work entails, but right

(04:48:36):
when we get there, we'll we'llcross that bridge. Why is it a
dog for you or remain a stealerfor those three years? You know?
There was a conversation between me Omarand Mike t And there's certain guys that
are one helmet guys, you know, and I wanna be one of those
one helmet guys. And you know, there's a there's a hunger and desire

(04:48:59):
there. But that doesn't mean justhanging it up and calling it a career.
To me, I think. Youknow, I got more bullets to
fire, and you know I'm excitedto do that last one. You and
Russell Wilson are gonna be out therewith Walter Man. Uh what Walter Payton
Man of the Year had So Isaw Russ's on social media, but I

(04:49:22):
haven't had a chance to see it. Uh. I'll let that surprise happens
when it happens. But uh,you know, it's it's cool to have
another Walter Payton Man the Year winner. You know, I think, Uh,
it's an honor to be there.And one I'll say one thing,
I won't be here. I'm justtelling you guys. So it's not a
big deal. I won't be herebecause I have to do a Walter Payton

(04:49:42):
Man the Year thing on Thursday.So it's not like I'm skipping, all
right, But uh, you know, it's an honor to be with Russ,
and you know, you know,it's in honor of doing things in
the community and doing great work.And you know, the the thing is
as much as we get quarterbacks andgoing through these fifteen practices at how do

(04:50:04):
you want to structure that. Iknow that you and Ryan have probably talked
about that at good amount, Like, what's the right way to set up
a spring position battle? How manyreps does everybody need? What's sort of
your plan? Just from a generalperspective, I guess yeah, you know,
we're really detailed in what practice lookslike and how that's going to operate.
But I also think you need tolet the players go, you know,

(04:50:26):
So I don't think you need toto put shackles on them, so
to speak, and just keep themconstrained. I think you got to let
them go and you got to letthem operate. And we were rotating I
think everybody on every two snaps todayjust and that was just what we're gonna
do on day one. You know. We'll reassess it after we got through
it, get a chance to countup all the reps of how many plays,
how many plays each guy got,and did they get more in seven
on than they did in eleven on? You know, and we'll go through
that whole thing and that'll be aconstant flow in terms of how we're doing

(04:50:49):
it. But I think the bestway people learn is they learn by doing,
you know. So they've been greatin the meeting rooms. They're sharp
when you get them on the board, they're really good when they're watching film,
but you gotta go out and yougotta play the game. And so
the more we can put him inthose situations to play the game, the
better we'll have an opportunity to evaluatethem. Uh, ship thinking all of

(04:51:11):
these things, Uh go back,so forward to Ryan Day. You mentioned
since you've done him since she wasa kid, what were your first impressions
back then? And then she comefull circle to now, like how do
you how do you feel about that? It's still the same way he you
know, even since he was playinglittle league, he was the ultimate competitor,
you know, and he was alwaystrying to find a way to win.

(04:51:33):
He was great at a lot ofsports, Baseball, basketball, football.
You know. I got an opportunityto recruit him, you know,
so I coached him when I wasat New Hampshire. I recruited him out
of high school. We all,and we grew up really close to each
other, so the same elementary school, same high school, same junior high,
same college. You know. SoI've known him since for for a
really long time. But that competitivefire burns deep with him, and that's

(04:51:53):
the one thing that I've always admiredwith him. And he's got an amazing
athletic brain in terms of how toprocess things and how to how to put
people in position to make place.He's always been that prototypical coach on the
field, no matter what sport hewas playing. So I knew he was
destined to be a coach, youknow. And I was fortunate in my
career as a head coach to havehim on my staff in a couple of

(04:52:14):
places, so I got a chanceto see him work firsthand, you know,
I got to see him work firsthandas a player and then as a
coach. So the success he hadis not is not surprising to me,
is there? Where do you seeWheyan the successes had? Yeah, I
think we all do that. Ithink we come from a unique place and
in a really small hometown in NewHampshire where we all take a lot of
pride to where we're from and andwhen anybody's successful coming out of there,

(04:52:37):
then you kind of take a littlepride that that's it's the upbringing that we
all had, you know, inthe UTH sports program that we grew up
in in in every aspect, whetherit was football, baseball, basketball,
those coaches we had an amazing impacton us, and that's why we are
where we are right now. BillRabinwick Ryan said he doesn't think of it
as you working under him, that'sworking with him. The fact is he's

(04:53:00):
the head coach. He makes mecall him sir though he just said can
you do that? Day one?And I was like, all right,
right now. But I mean,he ultimately is the decision maker. You've
been a head coach. How doyou think that's going to work. Do
you think there'll be any as closeas you are, any kind of awkward

(04:53:22):
moments the right term, But whenhe's the ultimate decider and you are working
for him, Yeah, I certainlyunderstand my role. I'm not Alhaic like
I'm not. I'm not in chargehere. Yeah, some people get that
reference. Other people don't get thatreference. But I'd certainly understand that,
and and I actually kind of relishit because I really love the scheming part.

(04:53:44):
I love the individual part. Ilove being in the meeting room of
the quarterbacks and trying to game plan. But everything we do here is collaborative.
You know. The one thing thatthat really struck me when I walked
in this place is there's an amazingcoaching staff here. You know, and
if you get a chance to talkto Larry Johnson just about football, or
Tim Walton or Jim Knowles or BrianHartline or any of these guys that are
on the staff here, it's it'sa very collaborative effort. I think everybody's

(04:54:07):
on the same page. You know, it's not our offense and their defense,
and it's it's Ohio State. Youknow, it's it's Ohio State versus
the twelve opponents that we're gonna playduring the regular season and then beyond.
So it's it's really collaborative. Andthat's the thing I like, just in
the short time that I've been here, is how collaborative everybody's been. You
know, we're all trying to makeeach other better and we're all trying to
develop this team. Touched on thiswhen you said, you know, you

(04:54:32):
like to do what you want todo and not My sense is you,
in your perfect world, you'd liketo scribble plays on an at tam and
not deal with boosters, dot dealwith all the stuff that coaches head coaches
have to deal with. Now,how much of a factor was that in
this decision? You can just dofootball now that that's not it. I
mean, I enjoy I mean,we've had some amazing I've had an opportunity

(04:54:53):
and everywhere I've been to meet someamazing people that are associated with the program.
And there's people that from my timeat New Hampshire of my time at
Oregon. I was just with PhilKnight two weeks ago, you know,
and got an opportunity to spend sometime with him and his wife Penny,
who are dear friends of mine thathave been great mentors to me in my
career. And there's a bunch ofpeople that and UCLA Terry Donahue, Andrea
Donna who were awesome to me.Angela Mazzoni is a great friend, Casey

(04:55:15):
Wassman, Troy Yikman. There wasa bunch of people at UCLA that I
really enjoyed, you know, beingaround and talking with. So I think
sometimes everybody wants to make a narrativeof it's either this or that. It's
it's it's never that, it's neverjust all ball, it's never just all
recruiting, it's never just all boosters. It's it's a mixture of everything.
But I think the one thing thatas this position as a head coach,

(04:55:37):
kept moving on is that if youlook at a lot of them, they
all become more CEOs. You know, I can't tell you how many coaches
that have called me since I madethis decision that said I'm two years behind
you, brother, You know thatare thinking the same exact way. And
I think it's all part of whatwe have to do. I think we
all need to protect this game andpromote this game, and I think there
are some rules that we need toget straightened out so that people understand what
it's about. Because the game isstill about the players, and I hope

(04:56:02):
that never gets discounted. You know, it's it's always been about the players,
and I think if we can keepthat at the forefront the people that
are making decisions on this, andI think Geen Smith is one of the
best influences in in the NCAAA,is to make sure we keep that the
main thing. The main thing itneeds to be. The student athletes com
you know, you're coming in ata time where you've been through some places

(04:56:26):
where the expectations are high. Iunderstand it's also coming into a juncture where,
you know, the three losses toMichigan, the not making the playoff
last year, the urgency is prettyhigh here. I guess just sort of
what the perspective do you have onkind of the stakes that there are for
Ryan this year and the decision thatthen he makes to bring you in to
kind of help solve that. Yeah, I think the expectations can be no

(04:56:48):
harder than they are in your ownbrain, you know. And I think
if you try to worry about whatother people are thinking in their brains,
you're going to get screwed up alittle bit. So, you know,
I talked earlier the one thing aboutRyan that I know about them and has
always been he's the ultimate competitor.So he's got There's nowhere that has higher
expectations of Ohio State than Ryan does, nor the rest of us that joined
him in our part of this andthat are working with him. So you

(04:57:11):
know, I don't think. Ithink sometimes you can spend too much time
thinking about those things. You know. What you really have to do is
just as there's a big sign asyou walk into this place, it says
when the moment you know, Ithink that's a real thing that we have
to do as coaches, is tomake sure that our players aren't worried about
what's going on in the future,or or aren't worried about what's going on
in the past, or worry aboutcan they get a little bit better today,
you know, and can we makeimprovement? And I think the one

(04:57:32):
thing that I've seen here, andI've only been here for three weeks,
but there's a consistency to the playersapproach when they walk in this building every
day, which is it's unique.It's not like that everywhere else. And
it's one of the things that Iremark to Mick when I you know,
he said, Hey, what doyou think? And I was like,
it's impressive. It's impressive the cultureof the players that are in this program
right now. But I think itspeaks a lot to the leadership. There's
a lot of older players on thisteam, and they've set the tone for

(04:57:53):
the younger players, and I thinkthe younger players have done a great job
of followship and getting right in linewith that play calling to someone before what
does it mean to you? Iguess he technically did it to Bill when
he was here for a couple means, but what does that mean to you
to kind of be getting that responsibilityfrom him and he's calling essentially the offense
that you gave it, I guessin some way. Yeah, I still

(04:58:15):
think the play calling part will bea collaborative effort. And by that I
mean that if it's a good play, I called it, and if it's
a bad play, he called it. Because the great part is an assistant
coach, you just hen point thefinger a little bit and just say,
hey, you know, I wantedto do this, but he trumped me.
So we haven't actually discussed game dayyet. You know, we'll see
how that operates. But everywhere I'vebeen it's been a collaborative effort. And

(04:58:38):
all of a sudden, someone that'scalling the plays isn't isn't like pulls one
out of left field that you hadn'tpracticed and hadn't been part of your offense
and said, hey, let's dothis. You know, we're not running
the annexation of Puerto Rico. Youknow, we're not coming up with something
special, you know in the middleof the fourth quarter that we haven't done.
But I think it's the key toreally being successful on offense is is

(04:59:00):
how you game plan, how youput it all together, and then how
you practice and train for that sothat you get a chance to execute it
because the player's confidence comes become comesfrom their demonstrated ability that they've done this
so many times in practice that whenthey get out on the field that this
is like that to them, youknow. And it's not that they do
it so they do it right,it's they practice it so much so that
they can't do it wrong. So, you know, I think it's that
whole part of it that is reallythe key to being a really good game

(04:59:22):
planning team, right Doug Lane reeKingdom North Chip. When you had that
feeling when you were coaching the quarterbacksduring Bold, did you consider at that
point maybe resigning as the head coachand thinking like this is this is not
where I am anymore. I'll leaveand then I'll look to see what else
is out there. No, Inever thought about quitting anything. So,

(04:59:45):
you know, I just is therean opportunity that I think I can that
fit, you know, And Ithink that's the you know, it's no
different than when you're talking to arecruit about them make a decision on where
they're going to go to school.I think that where they should go to
school is where the best fit isfor them. So, you know,
I just entertained some opportunities, andI always felt I felt like this was
the best fit. But I neverthought about quitting or not coaching. I'm

(05:00:07):
gonna coach. I'm gonna coach,and then I'm gonna die. But I
mean, that's how I think Ithink about things. Is I can't picture
that. I know someone I wason the Nike trip and they like,
how much longer are you gonna go? When I said I had to go
another fifteen twenty years. I don'tthink about I don't think about retirement.
I don't think about any of thosethings. That's just not kind of my
mindset that you know. I lovefootball in the as long as I can

(05:00:30):
be part of this game, thenI'll be part of this game. Just
the way things worked out with yourdeparture from UCLA, is there anything that
you wish you had done differently,or anything you regret, or just that
the circumstances that presented themselves. Doyou think that you handled that departure the
best that you could have. Yeah, I mean I got an opportunity to
tell my players personally. You know, I think in this day and age

(05:00:51):
of the Internet, where they readit somewhere else and you have to text
message, and you know that wasalways important to me that I wanted to
make sure I talk to my playersand explain the reasons of what I was
doing. I wasn't leaving to takea head coaching job somewhere else. I
wasn't thinking that the grass is greenerat another university. Was just in my
personal situation, this is what Iwanted to do. I wanted to take
an opportunity to go be a positioncoach and coordinator, and that's how it

(05:01:12):
fit. You know. What Iwas happy is that I always thought to
Sean Foster, I think the worldof them, and I think he's a
special you know. And the factthat that they were they gave him the
opportunity to take over there was youknow, it worked out. I didn't
have any say in that decision.You know, I was gone, But
I always thought that that Shaun wouldbe a great head coach, and I'm

(05:01:33):
really proud of him and happy thatthat he got the opportunity to take that
job right behind him or actually haveyour reputation as innovator. Was part of
the appeal of this is that youget to get in the weeds a little
bit. Uh, maybe not madscientists. Maybe too too strong of a
word because you're working within the system. But was there an appeal of I
get to get my hands dirty hereagain and innovate and get back to that

(05:01:57):
side of things. It was,but it was really more important of who
I get to work with, youknow, and so knowing you know,
I've got I know a lot ofguys on the staff besides Ryan also,
so you know, and I knowwhat their mindset is and what their values
are and how they do things,and so I want to be a part
of that. But there's a partof that. Yeah, how much of

(05:02:18):
a teacher you get labeled in theinnovators. The teachings are part of this.
How much is a teacher? Areeven? How patient are you?
Yeah? I think we're all teachers. I mean education is the transportation of
knowledge, you know. So itreally doesn't matter what the coach knows.
It matters what the players understand,you know. So you have to be
able to make sure that while you'reimplementing things is what resonates with them and

(05:02:41):
how does that come back to them? So, you know, a lot
of our teaching styles that we've learnedis more the Socratic method of there's a
lot of questions, you know,and a lot of check for understandings,
just to kind of find out wherethe players are coming from, because it's
what they know that that's ultimately goingto win games, not what we know.
You know that we're not playing thegames. We're not stepping across those
white lines. You know, inyour as a coach is to create an
environment where they have an opportunity tobe successful and then get out of their

(05:03:03):
way and let them go do it. So I think the teaching aspect is
huge, and we continue to research, you know, some of the latest
trends in teaching to make sure thatwe are transporting that knowledge to our players.
Second, rolld Left, Steve Helwagentwenty four seven Sports. Yeah,
coach, just curious you got fivescholarship quarterbacks with differing levels of experience from

(05:03:25):
age and everything else. Not toannoyed him, but just want to ask
specifically about Will Howard coming in afterstarting part of two years at Kansas State.
He just seems to promote this ideathat he's a football player, you
know above all else. Just howimpressed are you with his makeup, his
experience, what he's bringing to thetable. Walking in here right now.

(05:03:48):
Yeah, really impressed. You know, you don't have to talk to Will
for more than five minutes to kindof know where he's coming from. He's
really focused. You know, heknows he's got a short window left in
his college career and it really wantsto capitalize on what that is. There's
a maturity to Will, you know. I I I really I've had experience.
My experience in in this thing sincethe transfer portal opened in college football

(05:04:11):
is is some of the best playersI've had an opportunity to coach. Award
transfers. Sometimes when you're a truefreshman and it's five years out, you
know, it's like, hey,I got a ton of time, you
know. And sometimes when you're atransfer is that I've got nine months,
you know. So there's a senseof urgency I think when you're dealing with
with transfers, and I think Willhas exuded that since he's been here.
But the other thing that I justin the short time that Will has been

(05:04:32):
here, is how quickly he's fitin with the entire team, you know,
and how much the the rest ofthe players respect him. You know,
he was uh one of the GoldAward winners for his work in the
weight room in this offseason, Sothat says a lot for him coming in
here as a in a short timebeing able to to win a weight room
award, you know, to startoff, You guys, hope to have
the number one internally externally at theend of spring or I guess just let

(05:04:56):
it play out. I think italways every time I've been involved than these.
I think when they're organic is whenit's the best. I don't think
you can anoint somebody or force theissue because the players know the players would
understand. They see it every singleday, you know, and there's a
team chemistry part of this thing too, So we're not going to force the
issue. But I've always seen itplay itself out. So I've been fortunate

(05:05:18):
that there's always going to be somequarterback battles that at some point in time
at every school there's a quarterback battle, you know, And then and really