First, let me know what you’re doing with yourself these days?
Well, I’m now coaching linebackers and Georgetown University in DC – this I my second year here. My family and I moved here from Louisiana back last April. I’m also getting my Masters here in Sports Industry Administration.
Who helped you as a coach to develop that coaching style – who influenced you and how?
Marvin Lewis was the first guy. When I first got to the NFL he showed me what to do on a personal and professional level. Professionally, what techniques I needed to develop to get better. Later on Jack Del Rio helped me – he played linebacker too. He showed me techniques and the skillsets I needed too – many of the smaller things that made me better. I’d day Jack was more macro and Marvin was more micro in what they taught me.
I combined the things I learned from both guys to shape my coaching style. The biggest part was learning that every team has different schemes, but learning techniques like getting off blocks and how to analyze offenses so you can be in a better position to read and react to offenses and make plays – that was the biggest learning for me.
I wanted to ask you about the rivalry’s intensity – do you think the fans or players were more intense about the rivalry?
I think it was probably more intense for the fans but, but the players fed off of that. When you come into the league you’re really not sure about the rivalry. But you learn fast that the Steelers then were the main challengers for the AFC crown every year.
The physical style of both teams was built for defensive games. The Steelers probably had more big plays on offense. The big thing for us is that we had guys from Pittsburgh like Marvin and they helped the organization run like a family – like in Pittsburgh. It wasn’t a corporate environment like you find in most places. It wasn’t like that in Pittsburgh and they brought that to Baltimore. It wasn’t like a company – it was a family. And you get more out of players that way. We all get a paycheck at the end of the day but you get more out of guys when they play for family.
Any memories of the rivalry stand out most to you?
Nothing specific really – thee was always something going on with Ward or Bettis. But even before we were good and they were beating us more, we knew we wanted to get to that level. Even when we were losing though – the coaches let us be vocal and talk about the Steelers before the games. They wanted us to be ourselves.
I remember trying to tackle Kordell Stewart and how hard he was to hit. I was a big linebacker so hitting a big guy like Bettis -I liked that challenge. I actually have a great picture of six of us all tackling Jerome. It was guys like Amos Zereoue that I didn’t like going up against – they worried me more.
And Hines and those crackback blocks. You always had to know where he was on the field. Other wide receivers – you didn’t have to worry about them – you could just toss them aside. But Hines was so physical – he was so tough-minded. Even when I played against him in college. You liked playing guys like that though.
How did you ensure the rivalry never went overboard like it does at times with teams like the Bengals?
The Steelers and Ravens was always a good rivalry. Both were physical teams. For me, when James Farrior signed with the Steelers it was tough for me! He was a good friend – and played the same position. I loved him but hated the Steelers – I hated he played there!
It was always intense – there were always three teams over the last dozen or so years that went to the Super Bowl from the AFC – New England, Pittsburgh, and Baltimore.
Now, it didn’t get overboard I think because we respected each other so much. Each time was so similar and played clean. There were a couple of times when maybe Ward went a bit too far – but you like to see that sometimes from an offensive player.
The Bengals – they went overboard I think at times because they were trying to get to our level. They has some bad hits I think because of that. The Steelers and Ravens though – we respected each other because we were so similar and understood that. We both wanted to be the biggest bullies on the block!
Lastly – how do you think the NFL is doing in handling the physicality of the sport now?
I think the league has it tough now – it’s in a tough position. They want to keep guys safe I know – especially the quarterbacks. But then you see quarterbacks throw for 500 yards and it’s like Arena Football. I know fans care more about the offense but they end up missing the defensive part of the game. I guess it’s a new generation of fans – with betting especially, this is the way to get them more interested. Either you change, or you become a dinosaur, right?
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