First, what drove the return back to Pittsburgh?
We got the call from Coach Tomlin – my agent and me – he said he wanted me back. I was a free agent at the time – the Titans released me in early May, so it was perfect timing.
Coach Tomlin asked if I was in shape and ready to go and if I wanted to still play football, and I said “Yeah!”
A new coaching staff on defense since you were there last – excited to work with Flores and Austin?
Absolutely. I haven’t talked to them much yet – I just got in in time for the last day of OTAs. But I’m excited about the new coaches – especially Coach Flores. I’m honored to be coached by him – and by all the coaches there, really.
Did you reach out to Diontae and any of the other guys? Any sense on what’s changed since you were in Pittsburgh besides the staff? Changes to the defense?
A lot of different faces since I was there last. A lot of new faces. Of course guys like Cam and Minkah and Cam Sutton are here but a lot of new guys too.
Diontae told me to just grind – focus on myself. Diontae is a good friend and I’m excited to be back with him and ready to have some success.
Do you look at the roster and try to see where you fit – where the opportunities for you are?
To be honest I don’t get caught up in that. As we know things change and people on the roster today are gone later. All I know is to grind and try to be on the roster.
What’s changed about you professionally? What are some of the biggest things you learned since your time in Pittsburgh?
I understand football and the defense much better now – the bigger concepts and the defense – I understand a lot more now. Playing for different coaches and learning different terminologies – I’m better now than where I was before. I offer more than what I did in the past and am more confident. I’m excited to show off what I’ve learned.
Who have been some of the biggest mentors in the NFL over the years for you? What did they show you?
T.J. and Bud. T.J. took the time to coach you up if he saw something you could do better. False steps – he’d help correct those. If you got off balance on your two-point stance he’d show you how to tilt your feet at a 45-degree angle to keep you on balance. He showed me how to use one pass rush move to work off another one.
Bud – he and T.J. both – they broke down stuff for you. Having mentors like that – and Harold Landry in Tennessee helped me with drops and things like that…. Markus Golden in New York too – he helped me understand how to pass rush better too.
You feel lucky to have Hall of Fame and Pro Bowl mentors like those?
Really no matter who you are I’ll take advice. I’d be stupid not to to listen to anyone who has advice. It’d be asinine not to take advice from someone – whether they are a Hall of Fame player or starter – they are successful players and can show me things. I listen with open ears and take what I learn and use it my own way so that it fits me.
What was different between Tennessee, New York and Atlanta versus those Steelers teams?
Pittsburgh was a veteran team – that’s one thing I noticed. They were a more mature team. Tennessee had more young guys. Not that either was right or wrong but just something I noticed right way.
Now that you’re coming into a younger Steelers team, how can you use that experience to help the team?
I can help where I can. If in drills I see a kid not striking with their hands the right way… If I see them loading up – meaning they are bring their arms way back first instead of from the floor – I can point that out. Or if I see them false stepping. I won’t go crazy, I mean, who am I? I’m no superstar now – but I will do what I can to help benefit a young kid when I can.
How hard is it moving between teams like you’ve done?
It’s very hard. Extremely hard. You can start thinking you’re not good enough or that the team doesn’t like you for some reason. It takes its toll on you – especially when you’ve moved around across four teams. But it doesn’t change the grind. The grind remains the same. I feel like I can still be someone in this league. Hard work pays off. I believe that. You don’t know when sometimes, but it does.
Personally what has changed about you off the field – how have these few seasons changed you as a person?
It helped me learn to be patient. Things don’t happen overnight. You have to stay on the grind. I like to say you have to keep 10 toes on the ground – to stay grounded. You just have to focus on controlling what you can control. That’s the attitude I have – what I believe in. I’ve learned to be patient in life and in work. I wouldn’t change a thing I’ve gone through as it’s helped make me who I am today.
Lastly what does success in 2022 look like for you?
To make the roster and make a name for myself. It’s year four for me. That’s what I have planned. That’s my goal.
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