First, can you let us know about your training work – where you are and how that all got started?
I started Yo Murphy Performance years ago – that was my own performance training work. I merged years ago with Brandon Marshall and the House of Athlete here in Tampa. I still have the Yo Murphy Performance but that’s really academy-based. My main work is as the Vice President of Performance at the House of Athlete.
How did you get started in training?
I’ve been doing it for 16 years now. When I was forced-retired from the NFL I played in Canada for three years. While I played I got my training certification – I shadowed the strength coach there – Pat Etcheberry – then jumped into it when I was done playing. Booger McFarland and I started our own warehouse then.
You played for a number of different teams and leagues Were there guys that you modeled your training approach after?
I took a lot from every strength coach – the pillars they believed in. Some coaches believed in continuing the strength training more as a continuous thing and others believed more in working on power – Olympic lifting and that sort of thing. Some focused more on power versus strength – more about conditioning the muscles versus stamina.
Derrick Brooks – he showed me how to prepare, And how to be confident – that’s so important in sports and in life.
You had a ton of experience across different leagues – in fact you are the player to dress for the Grey Cup, Super Bowl and World Bowl. How did that influence you approach?
You learn to treat every play like it’s the NFL. The NFL is the holy grail – I played in Canada, the World League, the XFL – but I treated each like it was the NFL. Every step had a purpose. I maximized everything I could – every game was a Super Bowl for me. Even when it wasn’t necessarily where I wanted to be – NFL Europe and Canada weren’t my end goals – I treated those like the Super Bowl.
You spoke earlier about confidence. How do you train players for that?
Jona Geneva is the mental health coach here – she came recently to talk to the guys we’re working with here. She spoke to them a lot about being real with yourself and that you have to do. A lot of people aren’t real with where they re skill-wise. Or if they’re injured, it’s hard for them to understand that they have to slow down. Their time will come but it’s frustrating for them – they have to accept where they are now.
Do you train across all positions?
I do yes – across the board. I handle the performance training – focusing on speed and agility and that sort of thing, We have other guys who focus on the skills training – that’s more position focused – focusing on things like backpedaling, routes, linemen dropping into coverage.
What is the biggest mistake you see players make when they are prepping for the combine and NFL?
Just not having a simple focus. Everyone is talented at this level – but you need to have a specific focus on what you work on. We give players an evaluation to determine their strengths and weaknesses and customize programs for them. A lot of players like to focus and work on what they’re good at. But you have to focus on your weaknesses. You’ll get eaten alive once people see what your weaknesses are if you don’t work on them. The hardest guy to work with is the one who can’t tell you what their weaknesses are. I try to push them in that direction.
How do you deal with the differences that different teams and players want from a positional/training aspect for the same position?
For sure – I’ll get on the phone with teams when we’re working with one of their players and they may tell me that they want XYZ player to be 15 pounds heavier, while other teams may want, for that same position, for a player to be 10 pounds lighter. I communicate and collaborate with the teams so we’re on the same page. There’s no ego here – we do what’s best for the player.
You work with some Steelers – any fun experiences with them?
I work with Cam Sutton, Diontae Johnson and Tre Norwood. Those three bring great energy – they all want to be great. They want their names on the building and to have that gold jacket. You don’t have to push them – I just try to do right by them. I’ve worked with Cam the longest – Tre I worked with at the combine. They are all good people who bring good energy.
Do you have to hold guys back at times?
Yeah – it’s a go-go mindset in college but sometimes I have to hold guys back. Sometimes they just can’t do something and you don’t want to keep piling on. I’d much rather hold them back versus having to push them, but you can’t let someone do too much and put them at risk.
What’s changed the most since you started training 16-plus years ago?
I think one of the biggest things is that guys now understand the whole process. They understand the steps they need to take to prepare – daily and monthly.
When I played physical therapy was just for injured players. Now we have performance therapists. Things like that can cause issues when people don’t stay in their lane. You need everyone to be on the same page. We want everything to one in the best interest of the athletes.
I wanted to circle back lastly on the mental health focus. When you played I’m sure that wasn’t even a consideration for teams. That has also changed a lot correct?
I’d have been run out of the building if I tried to talk about my feelings when I played. But we all go through thing and you’re stronger as a player and person if you can unload stuff. It’s hard to do but it makes you stronger when you do.
That’s one big reason I got with Brandon Marshall at the House of Athlete. There’s no bigger banner for mental health in the NFL than him. He started that with the NFL. I don’t know anyone else who focuses more on it. He kicked us all out of the building recently for mental health week. He – we – all believe in the importance of focusing on mental health. I respect that out of him and one big reason why I jumped in with him.