First off, tell us how you got into coaching?
At Utah I wanted to be a radiologist – I was at Utah preparing to get my science classes done while my wife was an executive assistant at BYU. I interned at BYU – just helping them with techniques and pass rush skills. Then I went to Virginia with Coach Mendenhall and became their defensive line coach. After that I coached the defensive line at USC – and now I’m the special teams coordinator and linebackers coach here at Cal.
Were there guys that influenced you most as a coach?
Not one guy. Bronco Mendenhall – I played for him then coached with him for four years. Kevin Greene too – he coached me when I was at Green Bay as a rookie. Everyone I came in contact with as a player and coach influenced me in some way.
First and foremost Coach Mendenhall showed me how important discipline was – holding players accountable to the standard you set. That’s the top thing. He would always ask “Is this a masterpiece?” He always wanted to make sure that whatever you did that it was the best you could do. I hold that close to how I coach now.
Is it hard to find kids today who respond well to that kind of coaching?
Sometimes it’s harder but it goes to who you target when you’re recruiting. You find guys who want to play ball the right way and for the right reasons. I definitely still see high school kids and transfers who want to play the right way.
As a player were there guys who helped mentor you over your career?
The NFL is different. I tell my guys, when you’re in the NFL you’re part of a team, but at the same time you’re competing with the guys in the room. You have to do what’s best for you as your own entity.
One guy – Troy Polamalu – he was unique in a sense that he was a type of mentor. It seemed to me that he wasn’t in the NFL as if it were a business. I experienced him helping many players. He’d bring out guys to train with him – he was the closest thing to a mentor I saw.
You played on offense and defense in college – how did that help you as a player and coach later on?
I played tight end, defensive line and linebacker in college. Doing that helped me to understand the game – the alignments – where people were lining up and why. That was the biggest thing – to understand the game as a whole – not just my portion. That’s how I coach now. I teach the how and the why. The why behind the formation – the why behind the running back and tight end alignment. When they understand that it’s easier to understand what comes next. They get that holistic view of the game.
You played for a number of different teams over a short time – how hard was that for you psychologically – how do you navigate that?
The first cut was the hardest. As a free agent in Green Bay – I came in during the lockout. We didn’t have OTAs or camp. There was just a call in July. Making a team finally validated all of the training and work. It was back to being a business after that. I just had to produce more than the other guy. Getting cut was never fun but being in the room with a bunch of different players and coaches and seeing how their organizations were run – as a coach now that was invaluable. I wouldn’t trade that experience for anything. Seeing how they motivated players was a huge help to my career.
Why did you decide to sign with the Steelers in 2o14?
When the opportunity came I jumped on it. Being there with Dick LeBeau and Troy – that’s the place you wanted to be as a defender. I wanted to be a part of that and get a peek behind the curtain.
My experience there also helped shape the way I coach. Dick LeBeau – he had a calm demeanor but he still set expectations without being demeaning. He was still demanding and competitive as anyone – but the way he went about it – the way he installed defenses and his demeanor on game days- it was impressive to me. It left its mark on me.
What memories of your time there stand our most to you?
I quickly picked up that there was a standard you had to have to play there. I remember a preseason game where the defense wasn’t playing well. Troy got heated – he was almost fighting everyone. He grabbed his helmet and pointed at the Steelers logo and yelled “We’re the Pittsburgh Steelers!” This was a preseason game. Just seeing that – the culture there – that stood out. Regardless of who was playing there’s a way you were expected to play – especially on defense.
Any on-field memories stand out?
I’ve never been a guy to be starstruck. I was never that guy. Even when I met Troy. But when I ran out of that tunnel behind Troy – I was like “Wow!” Just in our culture and seeing him play over the years -knowing who he was – it just never occurred to me I’d be sharing a field with him until then. I never had that moment – he was so down to earth I never thought about it that way. To this day I remember that moment.
Lastly – as a defensive coach, knowing how the game has become so slanted to offenses, how do you approach coaching your defensive guys today?
That’s a great question. I look for guys that play physical and violent football -within the rules. The sport has changed but we tell our guys that if you have the measurables – the speed and size and so forth – and play a violent style of football, you can play forever because of how the game is going. More than anything now you have to be like the Steelers want guys to be – violent and physical. Guys that have that will play forever. A lot of guys are dodging that piece now. They want to be entertaining on Sundays but don’t want to be physical. The guys that are – that play the game the right way – those guys will play. That’s what we preach.
Like Coach Tomlin says “I’d rather tell a guy whoa than sic ’em.”