First, can you let me know how you got into coaching at Northwest Mississippi Community College?
For the most part I’ve been here since 201o teaching the offensive line, with a one-year stint at Pearl River Community College before I went back to Northwest.
I grew up in Chicago and played at Notre Dame – I was never in Mississippi before and never expected to be. But nobody wanted to re-sign me anymore in the NFL. I was never a starter in the NFL – I was always battling to make a roster. For me, it took all I had to make it in the NFL as long as I did. By 2008, no one was going to pay me what it would take to pay a veteran player to be a backup. You can say I was drafted out of football.
So what did you do from there?
It was tough for me – I had no idea what to do next. But one day it hit me. I loved playing on the offensive line and felt I was somewhat prepared to coach. I had a lot to learn but I had a lot of good coaches and could teach technique and body efficiency. I thought coaching offensive linemen would be great for me.
I was right – I thoroughly enjoy it. It’s been very rewarding for me. Being on the field and teaching players never felt like work. I hope I can continue doing it for a long time.
Who were some of the coaches that helped shape the way you coach today?
At my high school – Richards High School – Joe Mendez was my offensive line coach. He had such a positive relationship with us and gave us such positive guidance.
Frank Salvatore and Bob Porter there too – as well as our head coach, Gary Korhonen. They were just all positive influences and leaders. Their guidance was invaluable. I learned that from them.
When I was playing I was just living in the moment – I wasn’t thinking about coaching. But I think about their influence a lot now as a coach.
After high school?
At Notre Dame Dave Borbely – he was my offensive line coach my last few years there. I enjoyed his coaching style. When I was done in the NFL he was the offensive line coach at the University of Virginia. I called him to ask how a guy gets into coaching. It’s not like there are a lot of job sites asking for coaches. He told me the way to get in was by serving time as a graduate assistant. I asked him to keep me in mind if he heard of opportunities.
Well, he called me a few months later in 2007 – he vouched for me there and I was offered a graduate assistant position. That’s where I really learned the ins and outs of coaching.
What brought you to the Steelers in 2004?
After college I had no plans – my future was the NFL – that’s what I wanted. Draft weekend – I’ll never forget it. I knew I wasn’t going in the first few rounds but I was really disappointed when my name was never called. Jim Colletto of the Ravens called though and told me they wanted to sign me as an undrafted free agent. I was there for three years, off and on. I think he appreciated my style – that I gave my all every play. I wasn’t a 6’6″ guy – I had to work for everything.
I went to the NFL Europe after that. When the Steelers signed me Mark Gorscak told me that he saw me play in NFL Europe and liked my play there. I went to NFL Europe to learn to play center – that helped me to get more years in the NFL. In a press conference that year Bill Cowher said he never heard of me before but that I had a great preseason. He said it was a great job by the scouting department to find me.
Anyone there take you under their wing at all – show you the Steelers way?
The guy I really admired most for his leadership and the way he carried himself was Jeff Hartings. He was a blue collar guy – a really nice guy. I was 26 and he was in his early 30’s. He was unbelievably helpful and encouraging. One time in 2004 he told me I was having a heckuva training camp. That lit me on fire – for him to say that meant the world to me.
How did you learn that you made the active roster that season?
After all of those tough breaks I had, that moment stood out to me. But it wasn’t a big announcement or anything. In fact, no one really told me. My agent let me know when he saw the final active roster list and I was on it. I guess in the NFL they aren’t really concerned about your feelings!
Any moments stand out most to you?
That was Ben’s rookie year. We had a great defense and a great running game, but his leadership and ability to escape pressure were also a big reason we won so many games. We beat an undefeated Philadelphia team and a good Patriots team. I know we’ll all agree the AFC Championship game didn’t go our way though.
What was Russ Grimm like as a coach for you in Pittsburgh – what made him so special?
The relationship he had with the linemen – he was just great at teaching guys what to do.
For me, I admired him because he was one of the original Redskins Hogs. I grew up in Chicago and had bad memories of those Redskins teams. They beat the Bears in the playoffs in 1986 and 1987. It’s different when it’s a guy who’s played at that level teaching you.
He had a way of helping us learn and showed me protections and formations. Things to remember pre-snap. Just the way he helped us to understand things. Just the way he said them – the clarity and the way he knew just what to throw in there to help you make mental notes on what to do. What he said was gold – the way he delivered it and the way he carried himself. I admired his blue-collar nature.
What about that time stands out most you now?
I’m a Steelers fan now, let’s put it that way. I played most of my time with the Ravens, Steelers and Redskins over my career. I appreciate all three, but I’m a Steelers fan now. That’s due to my personal experience there. Those were great years of my life. To me, the feeling I had when I was driving there to the facility, to games, to work every day – it was always a great feeling. I was doing it for a great organization that gave me the fairest shot – a guy without all of the measurables.
Cowher, Whisenhunt, Grimm and Colbert – they all gave me an opportunity when other teams didn’t as much. They cut a sixth rounder and a veteran for me to make the team. They truly gave me a fair opportunity to make the team. There’s a real difference in the way the team is run. Not that those other teams aren’t run well, but I can tell the difference when I’ve played for enough of those other teams.
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