First, what is the offseason plan for you – did the coaches talk to you/ask anything of you heading into next season?
Not really. I asked Coach T. if we needed to speak before I left and he said “Nah”. I told Coach Butts I was going to Mexico, then I left! I’ll start working out soon and getting ready for next season.
As a veteran/leader now on the defense, how have you adjusted to the role of mentor and leader for the young guys in the locker room? How hard is working with guys looking to take reps?
It’s not hard. You have to understand, the guys that were there before me did the same thing. My first time starting was because Larry Foote got hurt. He wasn’t mad – he was excited for me. He stayed late and helped me get a command of the defense and make the calls. He wanted me to succeed.
Timmons was the same way. He wasn’t insecure about his role. It speaks volumes about the confidence of those guys. They love to see guys do well. I’m the same way – I don’t worry about my role in the organization. I want those guys to do well. None of us play forever – I want to leave the room in better shape than when I was there.
The standard is the standard. I want to be a good example for guys. We’re all tremendously blessed – God gave us this ability and we can’t waste it by not helping others.
What players and coaches mentored you as a younger player – on and off the field – and what did you learn most from them? How did they help you?
Larry Foote – like I said earlier. And James Harrison – he showed me how to take care of my body when I came into the NFL. I asked him how he was able to play for so long. When we come into the NFL we’re just kids – 22 year olds who don’t know how to take care of ourselves. We’re just out here running fast!
Harrison showed me how to take care of myself – fish oils, stuff like that. But it’s a tremendous locker room – everyone is willing to help you – you just have to ask. It’s always been that way here. Even guys like Ramon Foster on the other side of the ball. He taught me offensive line protections to help me with my blitzing game.
Ever consider taking those lessons and your own experiences some day and getting into coaching when you’re done playing?
Ha – I don’t know. I’ve talked to coaches and they tell me I’ve made too much money to coach and give up my Sundays! Maybe at a smaller level like high school where it’s not so political.
Former Steelers linebackers seem to have had great success doing that.
It makes sense. Linebackers in this Steelers defense have to have a tremendous understanding of how complicated defenses work and need to be leaders to make sure everyone is doing what they are supposed to do. That translates well to coaching.
I spoke to Terence Garvin recently who said he told you he was “10 minutes late” to the NFL due to his coverage ability as an undersized linebacker. Do you look at your more physical style of play and the way the NFL is going now as a pass-oriented league and worry about the direction it’s taking?
To be honest I have two opposing beliefs on this.
The game has changed since – it’s not the game I grew up with. But that’s not a bad thing – everything changes.
For me personally I actually think it gives me an advantage. There aren’t many guys who now play as physical as I do now. There are guys that play us now who wonder who this crazy guy is that’s hitting everyone so hard! “You have one of those guys?” I think that makes me a commodity.
Do you see the game swinging back again like a pendulum – as defenses get smaller offenses trying to get back to the run/physical style of offense?
Yeah – it’s funny to me. You see guys like Derrick Henry who never shied away from being physical – he’s a tremendous back. You see him have those big games against teams playing with those smaller hybrid guys and have 200 yard games and people wonder how he does it.
Football has just gotten smarter now. Offensive coordinators are brilliant. It’s a matchup-based game now and teams know how to take advantage of what other teams are doing. If teams go small for pass-pro they pound them. If they go big they get iso’s on linebackers.
With the cap situation there could be guys on both sides of the ball that may not be there next season. I know it’s a business, but how hard is it seeing guys you are close to leave and are you worried at all about what the team makeup may look like next season?
It’s always hard – but it’s a blessing too. It’s bittersweet – losing guys you are close to is hard but its a great thing for them.
Bud – he and I talk almost every day. He’s talked to me about his worry about not coming back – depending on how everything works out. I told him it’s a blessing – he’ll make more money than he’s ever made. It’s sad too – but this is the thing. I don’t let myself get caught up in that. You get to change your family’s life. You have to look at the game in it’s entirety and set up your success not just while you play, but for the future.
As for the team – we hear this every year. But I tell guys every year, give me one year where we weren’t tight against the cap. Every year we’re pressed against the cap and every year Omar does his magic and we have a competitive team.
On the other side of that coin – are there young guys on the team you’re get excited to see get more playing time next season? Anything you’re excited about for next season as well?
Oh yeah – I’m super-excited about Dwayne Haskins. I understand some of what was happening in Washington – I have friends there. I think being in this locker room will help him tremendously. I think we do good things with guys like that.
I know some people think we have focus issues here sometimes, but we really don’t. It’s nothing like what some people think. I think if he comes here prepared we can develop him. He’s talking to everyone already.
In the playoffs it seems like the defense struggled against Cleveland and in years past Jacksonville too. When you look back at those games what do you attribute that too?
The first game against Jacksonville they exploited a flaw in our coverage that we couldn’t adjust to until halftime. I’m not sure how many people know that. They did a great job with that. The second game against Cleveland we had five turnovers – how do you fix that? Anything can happen. There are no trash teams in the NFL – I know some fans like to think so. But any team can beat any other team – they all have first round guys and talent.
Tell me more about the scheme that was exploited versus Jacksonville?
They took the strength of our defense and moved it over – pulled our support away from where they ran Fournette and created matchups with Fournette on our cornerbacks. That’s a 240 pound back against a smaller cornerback all half- they exploited that until we were finally able to adjust.
You’ve spoken a lot about your love for the Steelers and the city. What is special about the team from your perspective that makes it different from other organizations you hear other guys talk about?
When my grandmother was sick Pop Rooney asked me how she was doing. When she passed away everyone cared and asked me how I was and told me to go to the funeral – to go home and don’t worry about football.
Colbert is my GM and he’s helping me buy a house! The people here care about you. They want to help you and want you to be successful. As a Steeler but as a human being too.
The coaches are tough love guys but they make it easy to be coached. It’s a lot easier to take coaching and criticism from guys who you know care about you.
What are some of the fun experiences/memories – on and off the field – that stand out most to you so far of your time in Pittsburgh and why?
You know, every day is a blessing. Every day I look forward to coming to work – how many people can say that? It’s a collective – no one person or thing. It’s a serious but light-hearted environment here. It’s hard to explain but it’s what makes playing here so special.
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