First off, what have you been up to in the offseason?
I’m just training – working on cardio and strength training. Nothing too crazy. Doing isometrics for and getting my body right for Spring.
I’m also spending time with the family – we just had a son a couple of months ago so spending a lot of time with him. And I like to bowl and fish when I get the chance.
What made you decide to sign with the Steelers last season?
Honestly, it was the best opportunity for me. When you’re a free agent sitting and waiting it’s tough. The Steelers were the first ones to give me a shot and I’ve tried to make the best of it.
Did they discuss your role in the running back room at all?
I think I’m a guy who can do everything. I’m a core special teams guy who can fill in where they need me. I don’t think they had a specific role for me – they didn’t know me very well – they were getting to know me in camp. I was up and down all season.
How difficult is that going back and forth from the active roster back to the practice squad?
You put it in God’s hands but it’s stressful. It doesn’t feel fair but nothing is fair in the NFL. You take it all with a grain of salt every day. You don’t get too depressed or too high. You have to stay level-headed and possible and be grateful for every day in the building. Every day you’re there you have a chance. You can be bottom of the roster one day and top the next. You see a lot of those stories.
Were there guys that helped you in Pittsburgh – that showed you the ropes?
Not really – I was a vet by that point so I knew the ins and outs and was able to help some of the younger guys. I didn’t know anyone there except Dez Fitzpatrick when we were both in Tennessee.
How competitive was that running backs room – and how close?
It was competitive day in and day out – lie every position. The comradery was different there. Najee was a silent leader – he was the first one in every day – before the coaches, and he stayed after everyone left.
Jaylen Warren is a great guy – it’ll be fun ti see what his career will produce next.
To be able to come in every day and have fun and talk about stuff together, but then compete – it’s a thin line. Cordarelle Patterson too – he was the “Uncle” of the room. I picked his brain a lot – he has so many good stories of his perception of the league and just life in general. That was a blessing. Those are the things those on the outside don’t see – they just see us on Sundays. It’s always love. It’s always “Are you good?” as guys check in on each other.
How does it feel to be that mentor as well?
It feels good helping younger guys like Aaron Shampklin – it makes me feel like a real O.G. I get to offer my gems – it’s nice to have my brain picked. That feels good to be seen like that.
Is it hard seeing guys like Najee leave in free agency?
Honestly, I don’t look at it that way. I’m happy when they leave and make bag – especially at the running back position that is so undervalued and doesn’t have a lot of longevity.
For me, it gives me motivation as a bottom of the roster guy. I put in the work with him every day and helped him in some way to get better, so that feels good. It changes the comradery though – and that sucks. But at the same time we’re man enough to know it’s a business.
If a coach would approach you today and say that if you improved in any one area you’d get more reps, what do you think that would be?
I don’t know – I feel like I’m a good back. We can all get better. I guess I’d say pass pro – not because I think I’m not good at it – I just think that’s the downside of most backs. Being able to step up and stop a 290 pound player blitzing in the A-gap.
I ask the coaches every day what I can improve on and they tell me it’s just about time and opportunity. There’s just one running back on the field at a time. So I try and do my best on special teams to get opportunities to play. I’m a willing tackler and blocker. If I couldn’t block they wouldn’t have me on the wing on punts.
What were some of those matchups like for you on the practice squad?
I switched around a lot to give different guys looks depending on what teams we played. Mark Robinson would give me good looks – if we were blocking more compact linebackers versus faster ones he’s show us that look.
The Steelers are a blue collar team – we all have to compete and work. Dirty Red – Tyler Matekevich was tough. James Pierre was great on the outside on special teams. Every rep counts. We’re not starters so we have to take every rep seriously and make special teams your profession – like Miles Killebrew has.
I know the running game was up and down over the season – what did and didn’t work from your perspective?
Different backs see different things – some are better at outside zones and some better at inside zones. But I didn’t get enough reps to really saw what worked best or not.
What was it like getting those first game day carries for you in Pittsburgh?
You feel like you’re finally getting to enjoy the fruits of your labor, but at the same time it fuels my hunger because it reminds me that you miss getting more chances. It feeds the hunger to keep grinding. Getting those opportunities – it reminds you it’s real. You feel that excitement again like when you were a kid. It reminds you that you can play with the best and aren’t just a scout guy. And hearing your name announced on the stadium speakers – it’s a surreal feeling – something you take for granted when you’re the main guy in college.
What are some of the more fun memories of your time so far in Pittsburgh?
Seeing Jaylen and Najee every day – on purpose – get on the coaches’ nerves. The coaches would go over something and one of them would ask a question then the other would do the same thing after the coach answered it and pretend like they didn’t hear the question the first time.
Jaylen was the first guy after practice to run to the cafeteria. We’d joke about whether he’d get a full or half plate – if he could make it to the cafeteria. Just silly, inside jokes like that.
Mike T. – his coaching points and life lessons at the end of every day – he is like a motivational speaker. He gets you going even when he’s not trying to – just in natural conversations.
His relationship with Cam Hayward too – that trust and bond they developed. It’s deeper than X’s and O’s. You see that true, genuine relationship that was made through the game. That’s really cool to see.
Oh – I have another funny one. Danny Smith – just every day he says something funny. Whether he’s just getting on a rookie’s ass for just being a rookie, or when he walks down the hall as a 70 year-old with the swagger of a 20 year-old! And he has this saying “I need help man, damn!” He says it all the time – it’s his way of saying “Let’s get to it” That sticks with me.
Lastly, what makes you tick that has nothing to do with football?
I like to cook and fish, and like old cars – I’m a car enthusiast.
I also play saxophone – I like jazz, blues, R&B, Afro-beat – anything with a good beat.
Ready to play for the team once they read this?
Ha yeah! I’ll play Mary Had a Little Lamb for them!