First off, can you let us know what you’ve been up to since your playing days?
After I was released by Pittsburgh I played in the Arena Football League for several years with Philly and L.A. After that I was the head of PeeWee Football in Riser, West Virginia – sixth to eighth graders – for a long time. Then five years ago I moved to Fairmont, West Virginia and helped coach at the high school there. My youngest son was playing there at the time. He’s now playing at California University in PA, and I’m still here helping coach at the high school.
Were there any coaches or coaching lessons that helped shape the way you coach?
Ultimately I just want to give back to kids and help them prepare for playing football in college – both on the field and with the costs by helping them get scholarships. I played for a lot of great coaches that I respected. I loved my high school coach.
I just enjoy working with kids. As for my style – I think of myself as old school – I believe in discipline and like coaching the small things. Being on time, doing the things you’re asked to do and having nothing handed to you. You need to work for the things you want.
You played so many different positions in high school and at West Virginia – fullback, linebacker, offensive and defensive line…how did that affect you as a player? Did it make things harder?
In high school I played fullback and linebacker. At West Virginia I played fullback, then defensive line, then offensive line, then back to fullback. I think doing that taught me different aspects of the game. As an offensive lineman I learned about how they made calls and that gave be a better idea of what was happening as a fullback.
It didn’t make things harder for me. In college sometimes you just outgrow a position. Being athletic and being able to play multiple positions allows you to be more valuable. You look at Kyle Juszczyk and the value he brings to the 49ers. If you can play several positions well and give coaches a comfort level in putting you in – that’s a great way to make a team and be valuable to the coaches.
Were there guys that helped you the most when you first went to the NFL with Indianapolis and afterwards?
My first day in Indianapolis I was in the huddle with Peyton Manning and he told me he saw me play in the bowl game against his brother Eli. That was special. Jim Finn – the fullback there – he helped me a lot. You take things from each individual you meet along the journey – each person teaches you something.
But at the end of the day it’s a job and you have to prepare for things on your own. You don’t just work on things during the season. It’s a year-long job.
How did you end up in Pittsburgh in 2003?
My agent was friends with Doug Whaley. Pittsburgh always used a fullback – that was just always a part of their game. After Indianapolis released me my agent and I decided Pittsburgh was a good landing spot. It was closer to home and they used the fullback. We thought it was a good idea to go there, it just didn’t work out.
Was the team different from others you played for? What happened during your time there?
It wasn’t that different. It was a storied program of course – the organization was top notch.
I’m not sure what happened to get me released to be honest. They drafted J.T. Wall that year and I think they didn’t want that to be a wasted pick. They had draft capital in him.
Dan Kreider was already there – he was awesome -a phenomenal fullback. I just watched him practice to see how things were done. I tried to learn from him – things like hand placement and lead blocking. Things like that.
What memories stand out most to you of your time there?
The last preseason game, catching the winning two-point conversion at the end of the game versus the Cowboys.
One fun story. I was in Fairmont watching my son’s high school baseball game. An older friend of mine found my football jersey online somehow and bought it and wore it to the game. That was really funny. A lot of people know I played but I tell myself it’s not who I am it’s what I did.
Do you like the way the game has changed – especially from the perspective of a former fullback?
It’s definitely changing. You look at the fullback position now and how it’s changed. Baltimore took an offensive lineman and made him a fullback and he’s phenomenal. The Chargers converted a defensive lineman to fullback.
Teams today are asking more of the fullback position. They’re splitting them out like a halfback more, for example. That’s kind of where it’s at now. A few teams have pure fullbacks, but those are a dying breed. With the way they use personnel today, with the stress on the passing game, it’s tougher. But if you have a great athlete at running back like Derrick Henry or Saquon Barkley, sometimes it’s good to put a fullback in front of them and let them do their thing.