First off, what’s the offseason looking like for you – what’s the plan?
Just staying in shape – that’s key for me. I don’t want to go back to camp out of shape. Just working on getting stronger and faster. And seeing my family – that’s important for the mental side of it. Just enjoying my time and getting my body ready.
This is your “second signing” with Pittsburgh – the first being last December. Why sign with Pittsburgh this time? What did they tell you?
With five weeks left in the season they signed me up. Two weeks before that they had me in for a tryout and it went well, but you know how that goes. They tell you they’ll let you know when you’re needed. Well, two weeks later I got a call from my agent saying the Steelers wanted to sign me to the practice squad.
It was all really nice – the coaches, players – the whole organization. It all just felt like a great fit. I’m excited to do something great there – it was fun going there and seeing them go on a roll to end the season.
I had no hesitation then when they wanted me back. I want to be a part of the team and run with them until the wheels fall off. I want to make that 53.
What excites you most about the Steelers and this upcoming season?
Just this upcoming season – whether it’s on special teams or on defense, just to be out there fighting with those guys and grinding. To be part of something big.
What did you learn from the first experience – what were some of the takeaways from your time there?
How great a coach Mike Tomlin is. I learned something in every meeting from him. He has a way with words and simplifying how he breaks down teams – the simple way he puts things.
Any examples?
Just the way he breaks down plays in meetings. He points out the plays teams repeatedly use – shows us over multiple games what plays teams use and when – in what situations. He shows us what to look for so that when you’re in the game, you can tell by down and distance what might happen. When you’re in there you’re thinking to yourself that Coach Tomlin told me this would happen. Those keys and tips he gives you – he wants you to be great. He leaves nothing out – he gives you every chance.
Who were some of the guys you got close to during your time there?
David Anineh – I knew him from Houston – he was a Freshman when I was a Junior. He got signed by Atlanta though. Derrick Watt – we were there together in San Diego for two years. Trent Scott too. And Gunner and I share the same agency so I knew him.
But everyone there was so welcoming. They all introduced themselves to me on my first day and welcomed me to the team.
How hard is it coming in to a team so late like that – how to you ramp up quickly?
Man, it’s like jumping on a moving train. The defense you just don’t get down fast – special teams you can learn pretty quickly but the defense takes time.
You just have to go 100% – play fast and study during your free time and go to all of the meetings you can. You just play fast and learn as you go – that’s what helped me out the most. But I was definitely learning as I went – I just played as fast as I could. Within the tempo of course – you don’t want any tempo violations! But especially when we were in full pads practicing, just going 100% was what I did.
Looking back – as a very good two-sport athlete in high school (football and basketball), how did that help you as an athlete and ultimately as a 3-4 outside linebacker?
Basketball helped me out a lot – you’re constantly moving. That movement translates on the field especially as a pass rusher. Just like in basketball you’re going one-on-one trying to get past the guy in front of you – except in football you don’t have the ball. So that footwork and agility you learn in basketball helps.
Baseball was actually my first sport and that also helped with my hand-eye coordination and footwork too.
You were praised for athleticism in the draft as a guy who can cover and rush the passer – where do you think you can still improve most to take that next step?
I think I have all of the keys I need. Just the past two years I had injuries that held me back. I can’t point out anything specific to work on. I know what I need to learn. I just needed to stay healthy most of all. I was injured early in camp my last two seasons – a shoulder, a tailbone….That made it difficult. I just need to stay healthy – I know I can be a problem if I’m healthy. You know what they say – “You feel good, you play good.”
You had a few years there in San Diego – anyone help mentor you there and prior to that in high school and at Houston? How so?
My head coach at North Shore High School – he’s the one who got me on defense when I asked to play. He was a hard-nosed guy but he always said to have fun too. We’d spend all day going hard and fighting but he emphasized having fun doing it
Don Carroll at Houston too. He taught me a lot about the pass rush – speed to power – that always stayed with me. Coach Dunson in Houston too – he went through a lot and always bounced back. He showed me never to quit – to keep going. The spirt of those guys stays with me.
How do you think you’ve improved the most over the past few years in the NFL?
When San Diego drafted me they used me a lot as a linebacker in their 4-3 base defense and had me play some inside as well. Those first two years I was going back and forth between defensive line and linebacker.
Once Coach Staley came in they put me in as a full-time edge and I noticed my pass rush was getting much better. I got to pass rush more in practice and improved. My strength too – I got a lot stronger as well.
What should we know about you that has nothing to do with football?
I’m a big video gamer – and love watching movies and binge-watching shows too like Snowfall, Power, Game of Thrones, BMF… I like competitive cooking shows!
I’m a big family guy too – I go back to Houston a lot to spend time with my family and hang out. I think about them in all that I do.
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