First off, what’s the offseason plan for you?
I’m just training back at home now. There are training facilities here that I go to that do a great job and I stick to their plan. I have a regular lifting schedule and will transition soon to the football and run stuff to get ready for the season. Really just basic workout programs.
I also like going to see my folks with my fiancé out in Ohio. That’s a good time – we’ll go out soon to see them.
Why sign with Pittsburgh initially interview?
I was with the Texans last year and was cut at the end of preseason. I had workouts with the Steelers early in December and got the call that they were interested in me, so I signed with them.
It’s a great organization with a great history. My dad is a huge Steelers fan even though he lives in Ohio. So I thought that was really cool. Just the tradition and culture they have their and everything Mike T. has done there. It’s an historic organization.
Where do you think you excel and what do you have to work on most – and how?
I’d say my run blocking isn’t as great as I want it to be so far. I think having multiple rolls on the offensive line – I played guard and tackle in the preseason – on both sides – that helped me. I’m improving some as a guard – I just started playing guard my Senior year in college, so I’m still learning the position.
For my pass blocking – I’m just continuing to work on my craft there and trying to perfect it.
How do you improve as a run blocker?
Just studying film and asking my buddies for strategies. There are a lot of Wisconsin guys in the NFL and they always have great ideas and opinions that they share with me.
A good number of Wisconsin guys on the team like Watt, Herbig, Benton, Loudermilk … does that make things easier for you – and did any take you under their wing at all?
I played with them all except TJ. I’m excited to see those familiar faces and go against them in practice. Keeanu is a monster. He and I used to go up to a small town in Northern Wisconsin called Rhinelander and help the high school kids there. We’d help run a camp there – he’d work on the defensive line drills and I’d work with the offensive lineman. We had a blast doing that.
Isaiahh – I had a blast going up against him every day. He taught a lot of us the ropes as a lineman. And Herbig – he was just a sprout then but he came in with a lot of fire and developed real fast. They all helped the offensive lineman get better.
Any thoughts on the Steelers scheme so far in terms of blocking – anything different about it from your perspective or harder to pick up?
There wasn’t anything too crazy or difficult no. I’m excited to start working with the offensive line coach. I’m not too worried or challenged by the scheme.
What are you thoughts on Art Smith’s hire and coaching scheme and how it fits with your style of play?
At Wisconsin we were run-heavy – we probably ran 67% of the time. So that’s not a big adjustment for me. It’ll be cool. Running well means the team is doing well so I like that.
You’ve played every position on the line except center – and tight end as well – how does that help you and how to you master the different roles?
I moved around a lot in college. I started off at left tackle, then right tackle, then back to left tackle, then left guard. I played all of those spots in the NFL now as well with the Texans. I know it can be a hindrance at times moving around so much, I get that. But if you get enough reps you get used to it.
You can get comfortable on one side then move to the other side, and there can be some hinges there when that happens. That can be a problem. You just have to understand that and remember what side you’re on. I’ve seen guys go the wrong direction because they weren’t used to being on the other side.
How do you work on that?
You just have to practice those steps and and stance on both sides. You stay after practice and get those extra reps in – you need every rep you can get and that includes in the offseason.
What’s the best fun/poignant memory that stands out to you so far, early on in your Pittsburgh experience?
It’s been a very short time, but I’ve never been to Pittsburgh before the workout I went to. I just loved the town and people – they remind me of Ohio. On the plane ride in I sat next to an older couple who guessed that I was coming in for a workout. This big guy sitting next to them! They were so nice. They told me about their love of the team and city and were so open-armed and wished men luck. That was nice to see.
Lastly, what should we know about you that has nothing to do with football?
I love to fish. My grandparents have a cabin – a really small one, nothing fancy – on Lake Erie and we go fishing for walleye there. I really enjoy doing that.