First, can you let me know how you got into coaching and your role at Campbell University?
It’s an interesting story. My last two years in the NFL I was training with Trent Guy. His kid – Trent Jr. – he was one of the fastest kids on the nation and ran track and later went to Clemson.
Well, when I retired in 2007 Trent would call me every week at 5:30 am on the way to work to tell me about different high school coaching jobs. His dream was for me to be a football head coach and for him to coach track at the same school. We were close – and football and track help each other out a lot.
Well, I rejected some of those opportunities until one day I said “Let’s see.” He reached out to me about a local high school football head coaching job. I didn’t know the politically correct way to apply for the job – I just faxed them my resume around 12:00. At 2:00 they called me and by 3:30 I was in their office talking about the job.
Well, it turns out I didn’t get the job – they gave it to someone else – an internal candidate. But they wanted me to come in and be an assistant head coach. I had no ego – I did it. I wanted to learn. But by the second day I felt unfulfilled – I wanted to do more. It felt like a tease – these kids were sponges and wanted more. Practices were too short.
I went into the principal’s office and asked if there was a job for me in addition to coaching. I told her I wanted to be around the kids more. The job brought out a passion in me I didn’t know I had for coaching and teaching kids. Being with them had a big impact on me and being able to work with the kids – coaching and teaching – the totality of working with them was something I really enjoyed.
Were there coaches and coaching lessons that impacted you most? And how?
Kevin Rogers – he was recently with the Browns. David Walker – my position coach at Syracuse and recently with the Bears.
I took tidbits of a lot of coaches. Herm Edwards, Dick Vermeil, Paul Pasqualoni, Terry Shea, Brian Schottenheimer, Ed Orgeron …
Orgeron – he showed me about the passion for the game as a coach and how to relate to players. Coach Walker was such a detail guy and showed me how to work with players on leadership qualities. Coach Rogers was great at showing players how to talk and prepare themselves properly. Coach Pasqualoni taught players how to be good teammates. Dick Vermeil got guys to play with tenacity. Dick and Herm Edwards both – they worked with guys who made a lot of money and often had egos – but they got those guys to run through walls for them.
How did you end up as a player with the Steelers back then?
Prior to my third year in Carolina we played the Steelers and I had a good game. I did well in pass pro and scored a couple of touchdowns – one rushing and one receiving. I believe that they liked me because of that game. When Carolina released me I was in Reno working out with by brother when my agent called and said Pittsburgh wanted to sign me. They didn’t need me to come in for a tryout – they just wanted to be sure I was in good shape.
When I got there I was talking to Deshea Townsend and Dewayne Washington – that’s when they learned that my uncle was a former Steelers player who won two Super Bowls – Glen Edwards. The defensive backs used to like to talk about the older Steelers so they thought it was cool to learn that. It was a good time and felt good to see a family member on the wall!
Coach Grimm told me he remembered me from the Carolina game. I just wish I could have stayed longer in Pittsburgh. It was a dismal year – we were 6-10 and the running game was in the bottom half of the league. That wasn’t Steelers football.
Any memories stand out most to you of your time there?
I enjoyed going out with the guys – seeing guys let their hair down. The thing that impressed me most was that when you walked into the locker room, there was a certain aura about the team and organization. You could feel it – you really could. The togetherness and brotherhood. It was a hard-hat organization and you could feel those good vibes and brotherhood.
And the tone when we played Baltimore. Those were blood and bones games. It was always serious in the locker room but there was a laser focus before that game. They had Jamal and Ray Lewis then. The season wasn’t going well for us but you could see the team had the intangibles of a team that wanted to be great.
Amos Zereoue – he had a ferocious hatred for the Ravens and Ray Lewis. He wasn’t a big guy but he was strong – he lifted with the offensive line. He had such a passion to play against Ray Lewis. That team wasn’t scared of anybody.
What happened that they ended up letting you go?
Well you know what they say -“Last guy in first one out.” They revamped the rushing game – the offensive line, running backs, even the quarterback. I was a casualty of all that. We had a poor season that year rushing. It was my third or fourth year in the league – I understood the business of it.
How hard is it as a player moving around between teams as you did?
It can be taxing but you get used to it. If you’re single it’s much more doable. The challenge is when you have a wife and kids. It’s harder to have to keep moving then. You want to be able to be settled and have your feet firmly planted someplace. That can be difficult.
What do you think of the way the NFL has changed over the years?
I think it’s more exciting now the way the offense has changed. It’s more wide-open and fan-friendly. It’s funny – the evolution of what we’re seeing now with the RPO is really just the triple option they ran years ago. It just evolved. They are just different ways to run the same concepts. The field is still the same size – the goalposts are all the same size. The game has just been dressed-up. As an offensive guy I’m good with that! But I know it’s not as good for the defense.
Do the changes affect how you coach now?
It doesn’t change what I do as a coach. You still have to play fast, physical and smart. I can’t teach guys to play cautious – it’s still a physical sport. So it doesn’t change my approach to the game.
Even as a former running back though, I do have an issue with the rules on spearing and the way defensive players can hit. They slow those down in slo-motion to review them, but those happen in real time. What about the running backs who fight for those extra yards and go head first? What do you do then? I think they have some work to do there.
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