First, can you let me know how the offseason is going?
It’s going well. Going in to camp I’m working on my pass rushing moves and making sure to be in shape. We were told to come back in the best shape of our lives so I’m enjoying and hating doing that at the same time!
I was always told that conditioning is one of the biggest separators in sports. My basketball coach had the hardest conditioning programs I had ever seen, We’d have running ladders where we ran five sets – the first set had to be done in nine seconds, the second in 21, and so on…
Stepping back, what brought you to Pittsburgh last season?
After I was released in Green Bay at the end of preseason my agent called and told me a few teams were interested in signing me. We took a couple of days to decide and the Steelers called. I was actually at a rodeo with my horse trainer – I worked with him while I was in Green Bay. My agent told me the Steelers wanted me out there the next day. I thought at first they wanted me there for a workout, but my agent told me they wanted me there for practice!
The Chargers, Eagles, Steelers all were interested but I got into my car and got packed. They actually wanted me to fly out that night but it was already 4:00 and there were no flights left, so I flew out and practiced that next day.
How do you adjust so quickly to that?
They had me on the practice squad at first so I didn’t have to jump in right away. I was able to go and get a sense of the organization. Green Bay was great – great people and a winning culture. The Steelers were like that too.
I also knew a few guys from Green Bay and around the league – I played with Leglue in Green Bay – he was there before me. Then Montravious Adams and Jace Sternbeger were brought in.
I just got there and let the coaches see what I could do and learned how they do things. It happened so fast. They put me in the Omni Hotel downtown and the first person I met was Arthur Maulet who gave me a ride to the facility. My wife came down later with the car.
Anyone help mentor you when you got there?
The whole group was great. Alex Highsmith was my lockermate and he was very helpful. TJ of course too was hands-on with us. They all helped with everything – Cam and the group. The players as a group all came together to help the collective group. You’re only as strong and your weakest link and they knew that and worked with us on our technique and schemes.
What did the coaches tell you after the season?
As an undrafted free agent Coach T. wanted to see where I fit on special teams and what my specific role would be there. How I could help more there. He also wanted me to get into my pass rush bag more, so to speak. He asked me what I felt my best moves were – he said he wasn’t sure by watching me. He’s still learning me a bit since I came in late. I came in and showed enough of what I can do to prove my pass rush ability. I just need to improve there and show what I can do on special teams.
A lot of new faces on the defense and coaching staff. How have guys like Flores helped you?
T.A. was there before and Flores just came in. He’s a great coach – big on the fundamentals. I think we all fell back into the basics. We worked a lot on the fundamentals in camp and OTAs – worked on the basics to make sure we all understood what was expected of us.
I came in late last season so I was learning week-to-week and learning as I watched. This offseason it felt like it was different than last year. Everyone seems to have a higher understanding of what we are all trying to accomplish. They are pushing the basics – communication and fundamentals – it’s like back-to-basics. Working on the basics to ensure the outside linebackers understand the secondary’s terms so we know the calls happening behind us, that kind of thing.
Any new wrinkles you see with the defense so far?
The Steelers defense was the best in the league for a while but last year the run defense was down. With Tyson back I think that will help – I thought he was my age when I saw him – he is an impressive guy! I’m excited to see how this whole defense is versus last year with the new players and coaches.
There are always new wrinkles and changes to what the offense is doing. Defenses are always adapting and adjusting to what offenses are doing. It’s a pass-first league. Like the NBA – everyone wants to shoot threes now so perimeter defense is emphasized more. Me as a pass rusher, I enjoy it being a pass-first league.
Where do you see yourself fitting in in the linebacker room now?
I always feel like I can play. Its a room filled with great guys – top to bottom. Derrick is one of the smartest guys I ever met. TJ and Alex are great players, and Genard was a great player I knew when we played against him when he was at Memphis. Tyree and T.D. are young dudes like me. I think the whole group – whoever is behind TJ and Alex they’ll be ready. It’s a great group of guys that like to compete and work. I feel like I’ll be ready if they call my number.
What are the things you would say you need to work on most and are strongest at?
I think my best thing is my long arms – my length. I can use that often to my advantage. My weakness – the area I’ve been working on this offseason and in camp is dropping in coverage. I didn’t have to do that since high school so I’m working on getting comfortable there.
I noticed that in high school and college your numbers progressed every season. Is that something you’re seeing happening so far in the NFL as well?
It’s crazy – I was just talking to my wife about that. I have been seeing that progress. In high school and college that was how it was. I’m understanding more now how to rush the passer and be an NFL outside linebacker. The different things I need to focus on.
TJ – watching him, I see what it takes to be a gamechanger at the highest level. I can see what it takes – all the hard work, studying and staying healthy that goes into it.
Lastly, what should we know about you that isn’t football-related. Like, say, what about the horse-trainer you were working with that you mentioned earlier?
I grew up riding horses. My dad taught m before I learned to walk. I think people think it’s common that all Texans ride horses but it’s not as common as people think. I’m a cowboy at heart and wanted to be a jockey when I was little. That was ok when I was five or six but I’m 6’5″ now so I’m probably not the right height!
When I was growing up I didn’t even like sports – I just later wanted to be a rodeo cowboy, but my pops wanted nothing to do about that! But yeah, I’m a big horse guy.
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