First, how is the offseason going so far- what are you focusing on right now?
Right now I’m just resting my body a bit for a good month or so before getting after it again. I’ll pick it up again in March and hit the ground running. I’ll start doing some little things after the after the Super Bowl to start getting ready too.
I’m just looking to work on small things – you can always get an edge on everything.
Did the coaches talk to you about working on anything specific this offseason?
I’ve been around a while so they know what I bring in all phases of the game – special teams and defense. They would probably like to see me make more plays and stand out more on defense. I love special teams though and stay in my lane – they know I play well there, They didn’t ask me to work on much – but there’s always young guys coming to take your job so I know I need to keep working on everything.
You excel on special teams – what makes you so effective there – it’s more than just a mindset right?
It definitely is a mindset – you have to have a little bit of a crazy mindset like I have and know your lane and feel comfortable with it.
But it’s also about technique. It’s not just running downfield and tackling guys. There are techniques for blocking on returns that you have to learn.
How influential has Danny Smith been to your development and to the special teams in general? What does he bring to the table besides lots of gum!
Ha! Danny is a football genius. He helps a lot and has seen a lot – he tells you what’s coming before you see it. He’s a great coach – he’s my guy!
Danny doesn’t care who you are. If I’m lacking technique or make a mistake he’ll call me out on it. That motivates me to be even better. You have to be perfect every play on special teams -you get one chance to make a play sometimes in a game. On offense and defense you can just come back to that next play but it doesn’t work like that on special teams. You have to be perfect every time.
I spoke to a few of the guys and they seem very positive about next season. What are your thoughts on the 2020 season and how last season unfolded?
God only knows if I’m here next season – as an restricted free agent. I hope I am. We had a lot of adversity this year with injuries and lots of young guys playing, – I thought we did a good job competing considering the situation. There are a lot of young and new guys so we just have to gel together. Last year we lost a lot of games by one possession.
There’s no question we have to get into the playoffs next season and get Super Bowl win number seven! That’s always the goal. We missed the playoffs the last two seasons. We just need to get back to Pittsburgh football.
Lots of turnover at the safety position too – any thoughts on how that may affect you?
I’m not sure how it affects me. As a restricted free agent a team could come grab me too – we’ll see in March. But I got nothing but positive feedback in my exit interview so I think I should be back!
With so many new guys on defense especially, how did the strategies and gameplanning change over the course of the season, especially after the Fitzpatrick trade?
I think just the guys growing every week and learning the Steelers’ system helped the defense improve. Watching film every week and getting comfortable with the defense. You could tell as the season went on everyone was growing and learning the defense and the offenses we played too.
Minkah is a great player – he helped getting everyone lined up for sure. As the season went on you could see the guys on the back end really helping the defensive line and linebackers get set and that led to more interceptions. We were all working well together.
How did Coach Butler change the playcalls as the season went on?
He cut out some plays early on to make the defense simpler for guys. He simplified things so the guys could play faster. But every week he’d out in a new gameplam and add some things.
It looks like the Bengals will have a chance to land Burrows in the draft – excited to have a division loaded with good quarterbacks?
The AFC North is a tough division – we prove it every year. It’s going to be a season for hard, physical football. There are going to be lots of good quarterbacks next year n the division – every game is going to be a good matchup and a battle.
Coming in as a veteran player now – how hard is it being a mentor of younger players who are out to take your reps and job?
It’s not that hard honestly. I’m not like that – and we all get a chance and opportunities to show what we can do. So why not help others? The veteran guys helped me when I was young, now it’s time to pay it forward and pave the way for the younger guys.
What veteran players helped you when you were younger?
Mike Mitchell was a big part of me getting comfortable at safety. He helped me to learn how to figure out offenses and learn the defense – how to watch film.
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