First, let me know what you’re up to these days?
I just started doing some part-time coaching for a high school here in Fort Worth, Texas. Before that I was just hanging out with the kids, really. A whole lot of nothing, really. I got involved with some businesses after a few years of taking it easy and resting – keeping the revenue stream going.
Any coaching influences form your playing days?
Brian Billick for sure. Steve Spurrier Jr. Danny Wyatt – my college receivers coach. Spurrier showed me how to have fun -just his approach to coaching. Wyatt was a technician – he showed me that every step mattered. And Brian Billick – he taught me how to be more responsible for my own development. He wasn’t a micro-manager. He expected you to do what you were supposed to do. He showed us what I meant to be responsible young men. That was huge for me.
Jumping into the rivalry – what do you remember most about the rivalry in general? How did the coaching staff prepare you guys for those games?
They really didn’t do much differently, I just made sure I kept my body loose and ready for those games. I didn’t need extra motivation – I was harder on myself than anyone else was.
Those game always seemed to decide the division – they were typically big games. I equated those to my college games versus Texas – teams you see every year that decide the season.
Any games or plays stand out to you personally?
Well the AFC Championship game when Polamalu picked off the pass for a touchdown. That was pretty shitty! That probably stands out the most. For me personally, the touchdown pass down the seam of the defense in my second season from McNair was cool. I was a younger player so it was a big moment at that age.
Really, I’m the guy that doesn’t say anything. I was just the guy who you told what to do and I’d do it. I didn’t get involved in many of the funnier moments. I do remember watching out for Ryan Clark – I had to always know where he was and be aware of him because he’d try and knock you out. I also had to go in and crackback block Porter and Woodley – that was always fun!
Polamalu – I looked at him like I looked at Ed Reed. He was my second favorite safety. I was just happy I didn’t have to deal with him that much.
Anything else you remember about those games?
They are all like a blur to me. My approach was always just to do it and keep on going to the next thing. I don’t remember much of the other stuff.
I do remember Ike Taylor used to talk at me a lot – tried to get me to talk back to him and get to me. But I wasn’t a talker. I was really good at not listening to him!
Any routes you liked to run most or wish you ran against the Steelers?
The double-move was one I wish we ran a lot more of. I think I would have had more success with that, but we never ran it. I think because they were worried they wouldn’t have the time to get those passes off due to the pass rush.
My favorite route was the seem corner – there was always a lot of room near the sidelines against the Steelers. But, we never ran those either!
What did they run that worked?
A lot of the deep curls and deep-in routes. We ran those, and we just ran the ball a lot. So I did a lot of blocking.
Was that frustrating for you?
We played very conservatively, so yeah, it was frustrating. Just being too careful not to make mistakes I think. I think we could have come out more aggressively. I think with the guys we had at quarterback – McNair and Flacco – we could have had more success on offense against them.
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