First, how do you feel the season went for you?
I think it was pretty successful in that we were able to bring some joy back to the city, and I was able to bond and be a part of the brotherhood with the guys in the locker room.
When the season started, it looked like nothing would happen. We all put blinders on to stay focused. Everybody stepped up and answered the call when needed, Unfortunately there is just one winner in the end. We were all disappointed losing to Cleveland – people lost jobs and people will leave in feee agency which is tough. But that’s part of the business.
For me, I felt it was a great year mentally, physically and spiritually. It was just good being a part of something big.
How did the exit interview go for you?
It’s a business. They have to allow for who might come back. With TJ, Ola, Alex, Bud….and I’m pretty sure they’ll draft a guy – with all of that it’s a pretty crowded linebacker room.
The feeling Coach Tomlin and I shared was mutual. He said he’d love to have me back and I’d love to be back, but they have to work out the kinks in the roster first. He said for me to stay ready and that he feels comfortable with me. I don’t know where to take that right now. I can’t change what they do, I can just be ready when they call.
What made you decide to sign with the Steelers in the first place?
Last year I was a late camp tryout. Even then I could feel the passion and chemistry on the team, and I appreciated the pure honestly in how they ran their business. As a guy that’s bounced around the league a bit, you don’t always have teams tell you what’s really going on. You appreciate the way teams like the Steelers do things. There’s no gray area. You know what they are thinking and I appreciated that.
And with guys like Skipper, Ola, Diontae – guys I played with before – it just felt like the right fit.
What do you feel you need to work on most to take that next step?
Making open field tackles. I missed one on special teams versus Buffalo, one versus Cincinnati and some versus Indianapolis too. I feel like I let myself down – I’m my own harshest critic – I take pride in that. I can be better in those situations. I didn’t help myself in that sense and help my case there with that.
When you got to Pittsburgh did anyone help show you the ropes a bit there?
I didn’t really need that kind of help. I was a veteran at that point. I just needed to get comfortable with the schedule and routine and find my spot on the roster. I hung out with guys like Chickillo, Ola, Bud…
It was my first time on a practice squad. I tried to embrace it. It helped me find a new respect for guys on the practice squad. It was a humbling process but it helped rekindle my passion for the game too.
Was the defense difficult to pick up for you?
It was easy for me to be honest. It’s a simple defense. They let you play – there are minimal checks. It helps you play faster that way. The coaches do the dirty work for us so we can play that way and we just follow their lead.
It’s funny because many guys I’ve spoken to say the defense is complicated and tough to pick up….
Well I’ve played in multiple defenses over my career. Green Bay ran a similar defense so that helped too. The hardest thing for me is not jumping offsides on hard counts. I feel like I could cover tight ends and some receivers well. They don’t ask you to do anything you don’t feel comfortable doing.
On special teams, how was Danny to play for?
Danny – he makes you want to play for him. He coaches with a passion that makes you want to play fast and hard. You can’t ask for anything more than a coach who believes in you and puts you in a position to be successful.
You mentioned Skipper, Ola….what’s with you Toledo guys?
Ha! We’re blue-collar guys. We’re from the bottom of the smaller schools of college football. We’re just hungry and feed off each other. We all helped recruit one another and have kept it going there.
Talking about the comradery there – how competitive is the linebacker room and how much do you appreciate the willingness to help one another out even as you compete for playing time?
I remember as a rookie in Green Bay, all of us being competitive but guys like Matthews, Peppers – guys of that stature – they all helped us out. I struggled at times and they all continued to help me become a better version of myself.
Pittsburgh is the same way. It’s linebacker by committee. When TJ and Bud needed a break, we were like dogs on a leash waiting to get in. We all wanted to go in and make plays.
We all had fun too – that gets lost sometimes in football. All that hard work that goes into it – it makes it easier when you have fun together and help one another get better. Watching TJ too – he’s the hardest working guy I’ve ever seen – he and Michael Thomas. You can see it in how he approaches the game and his success.
Looking at the Cleveland game – what happened in that game from your perspective – did Cleveland’s offense surprise you in any way?
It was just one of the worst quarters of football in history. It’s hard to play your way out of a hole like that.
I was so proud of the way we responded tough. We made it competitive – it could have gotten even more out of hand. We made it competitive despite that first quarter. We just ran out of time.
Now, it’s a bad way to have it happen, but I think it will be beneficial to the young guys in the long run. I think it will motivate some of those guys and can be a stepping stone for the future.
Did the defense try to overcompensate at times for the offensive struggles do you think – did they try and make too many splash plays to make up for things at all?
I think in the Cleveland game it was just snowball effect. By the 13th play for the defense we were down 28-0. When you’re down like that it doesn’t give guys like TJ and Minkah a chance to really make splash plays and focus on getting to the quarterback. When you’re down 28-0 it’s all an uphill battle. I was proud of our effort though – we fought to the end.
As for overcompensating – I don’t think that factored into it. I just think we got put in tough situations and the defense at times could have held them to field goals and didn’t.
Cleveland re-awakened the rivalry with Pittsburgh now. I think that’s good for football. It’ll be motivation for both sides now.
Looking at next season, what it the perfect scenario for you?
I just want an opportunity to compete. I’m thankful for having played for Pittsburgh so far the past couple of years. I’m enjoying all aspects of the game now.
Is it difficult, going from team to team? Have you thought at all about post NFL life as well?
It’s difficult at times yeah. It is a strain on my family and myself, but I knew what I was getting into. I want to set up my family for the future. It’s helped me to learn how to be more focused and mentally prepared – something I’ve struggled with in the past.
As for thinking about life after football. I think if you have a plan B, then plan A never works.
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