First, these are crazy times – how do you stay prepared for the season during all of this?
Yeah things are crazy right now – for the whole world – not just the NFL of course. Every day life is strange now.
Right now it’s not too crazy yet in terms of getting ready. It probably will be in a couple of weeks when Jordan, Chris and I would start working together normally to get our timing down.
Now, I just try to stay on top of things. I have a net in my basement and I go outside and snap and do stuff. It’ll really start to feel different though in a week or two when I’m not working with Chris and Jordan like I’m used too.
Stepping back – I wanted to see what brought you to Pittsburgh when you came here as a free agent?
It was a no brainer really. I didn’t have a lot of options and it was my dream to play in the NFL. As a long snapper who didn’t have a good rookie season, I just wanted to go there and do my best. Was I excited to go to Pittsburgh? Of course – they have such a good program.
What was the issue in Arizona – what happened there?
I think it was just my development and learning how to out in the time. Being a starter for a rookie at any position in the NFL is a tough deal. For me, physically and mentally, coming from college to the NFL was a big leap. I can say I was 110% not ready for it. The pressure was so much greater and that can cause you to try and work too hard on the wrong things. I felt like the pressure got to me and I let it get too me too much as a young cat.
What changed in Pittsburgh? And how much did Danny Smith play a part in that?
Danny was a big part in what I did to turn things around. He showed me how not to overthink things. The main thing with Danny – he teaches you that you have to work for your confidence. If you work hard the confidence will follow. He’s such a hard-working guy – that’s where he gets so much respect. I just mirror him – study hard and show up every day and put in the time. On Sundays it makes a difference because you’ve done it a million times in your mind. It doesn’t make it easy but it gives you the confidence.
Coach T is the same way. He is a big mentor to me – studying the way he goes about his business helped me to be more of a professional.
I think those two dudes 100% helped me.
The new contract a bit of a relief for you?
I’m blessed to have another two years, but at the same time I’ve been down this road. It’s a cutthroat business and I take nothing for granted. You can sign the paper but nothing is guaranteed. They already brought in another guy already – Christian Kuntz – he’s a good snapper who was here last year and is trying to play another position too. So I take nothing for granted.
I’m working every day like I’m the worst long snapper in the league to prove I have no ceiling. The contract is nice, but I’ll wait until the end of those two years to see if I played all of those snaps. If so, then cool. But then it’s on to the next one, right?
You played defensive line before you went to the NFL. Any thoughts on working out as a depth guy there too to add versatility?
It was my dream then to play defensive line in the NFL, but that didn’t pan out. I’m glad it didn’t – I like my job now and I can say my body has stayed in good shape. I’m definitely a long snapper only – if they want to put me in there to help out elsewhere I would, but that’s definitely not going to happen!
Chris Boswell had a huge bounce-back year last season – any thoughts on what happened there, being the guy getting him the ball?
Our problems are tough as special teams guys because they are a lot more mental than most and there’s more there than meets the eye. Jordan, me and Chris – we’ve all had ups and downs – like had in Arizona. When you go from that to four years and a new contract in Pittsburgh, you realize how up and down it is.
Sometimes that’s just the way the chips fall – you can have a shitty year. You just have to move on. Boswell had a Pro Bowl year then a tough year, then had a great year last year. For me, all I can do is help him through it as a teammate. That’s why Chris, Jordan and I all have a good relationship- we all cover each other up and help each other. All three of us help each out. Tough times will come but we are there for each other.
Any interesting twists you see coming to the special teams this season – especially after seeing Diontae Johnson shine a bit on returns?
I haven’t been back in the office yet so I don’t know any of that yet. But I do have a lot of respect for Danny. Anything he wants to do – I know it will be good. At the end of the day I’m really just a piece of the puzzle anyway.
Any fun experiences you can share of your time in Pittsburgh so far?
I think it was JuJu who brought back those hot chips for the hot chips challenge a couple of years ago. You have to eat those chips and you can’t make a face. Well, Deebo and Tuitt ate them and stared at each other – the first to make a face would lose. I honestly think Tuitt won! But it was funny all of us standing around watching them – both of them sweating!
Any other thoughts for fans?
Just stay at home and be safe so we can come back and play football!
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