1 00:00:00,240 --> 00:00:02,520 Speaker 1: We are pleased to be joined by a member of 2 00:00:02,560 --> 00:00:05,080 Speaker 1: the Minnesota Vikings. How about a route of applause for 3 00:00:05,200 --> 00:00:09,920 Speaker 1: Levi Drake Rodriguez kind of join us. Welcome, thank you 4 00:00:10,000 --> 00:00:13,840 Speaker 1: for giving us, giving us a couple of minutes. Are 5 00:00:13,880 --> 00:00:19,680 Speaker 1: you a Are you a guy who generally speaking works 6 00:00:19,720 --> 00:00:22,279 Speaker 1: way ahead when it comes to Christmas shopping, holiday shopping? 7 00:00:22,400 --> 00:00:23,800 Speaker 1: Or you last minute guy? 8 00:00:24,000 --> 00:00:27,160 Speaker 2: I'm a last minute guy. I say that. Yeah, get 9 00:00:27,200 --> 00:00:29,240 Speaker 2: that from my dad. My dad's bad about that? Is 10 00:00:29,280 --> 00:00:30,480 Speaker 2: that right? Yeah? 11 00:00:30,520 --> 00:00:32,879 Speaker 1: That's not all bad though. I think if you, I mean, 12 00:00:33,120 --> 00:00:35,960 Speaker 1: I guess in your attitude when you get to that place, 13 00:00:36,320 --> 00:00:37,880 Speaker 1: if you can then just say, I'm not going to 14 00:00:37,920 --> 00:00:39,680 Speaker 1: be mad about the rush. I'm not going to be 15 00:00:39,720 --> 00:00:42,080 Speaker 1: mad about any of it. This is just part of 16 00:00:42,080 --> 00:00:42,640 Speaker 1: my routine. 17 00:00:42,720 --> 00:00:42,920 Speaker 3: Yeah. 18 00:00:43,000 --> 00:00:45,680 Speaker 1: Yeah, you just got to embrace that. Yeah for sure. Yeah, 19 00:00:45,760 --> 00:00:49,159 Speaker 1: that's he's always been a procrastinated Yeah that's okay. How 20 00:00:49,200 --> 00:00:52,800 Speaker 1: about as a football player, you can't procrastinate and being 21 00:00:52,840 --> 00:00:53,960 Speaker 1: the National Football League. 22 00:00:53,840 --> 00:00:55,600 Speaker 2: Yeah it's true. No, I'm I'm an. 23 00:00:58,280 --> 00:01:01,880 Speaker 3: Ye yes, sir, So wake up probably four forty five 24 00:01:01,920 --> 00:01:04,880 Speaker 3: in morning, get there five point fifteen and then get 25 00:01:04,920 --> 00:01:05,760 Speaker 3: to work, son. 26 00:01:06,240 --> 00:01:07,160 Speaker 1: Or forty five? 27 00:01:07,440 --> 00:01:11,080 Speaker 3: Ye are you do you need an alarm clock? Yeah, yeah, 28 00:01:11,160 --> 00:01:14,520 Speaker 3: no doubt. Man, that pillow is comfy sometimes, so yeah, 29 00:01:14,640 --> 00:01:17,440 Speaker 3: I understand that. Sure, that's got to be tough, no doubt. 30 00:01:17,680 --> 00:01:23,880 Speaker 1: What do you what about the professional football experience to 31 00:01:23,959 --> 00:01:27,360 Speaker 1: this point would you say surprises you the most? As 32 00:01:27,400 --> 00:01:29,760 Speaker 1: much as I'm sure you try to prepare. Why when 33 00:01:29,800 --> 00:01:31,559 Speaker 1: you look back and say, God, I didn't know about 34 00:01:31,640 --> 00:01:33,680 Speaker 1: this or I didn't realize about that. 35 00:01:33,959 --> 00:01:37,120 Speaker 3: Yeah, thing in particular, I think just people don't understand 36 00:01:37,160 --> 00:01:40,600 Speaker 3: how hard we work, you know, day in and day out. 37 00:01:41,520 --> 00:01:42,960 Speaker 3: And of course, you know, we want to give them 38 00:01:42,959 --> 00:01:46,040 Speaker 3: a show on Sundays. But I wish that people could, 39 00:01:46,160 --> 00:01:48,000 Speaker 3: you know, be a little fly on the wall and 40 00:01:48,120 --> 00:01:51,840 Speaker 3: see the hours and hours that we put in daily, 41 00:01:52,280 --> 00:01:55,160 Speaker 3: you know, for our bodies, for our minds, for you know, 42 00:01:55,320 --> 00:01:56,200 Speaker 3: our hearts. 43 00:01:55,960 --> 00:01:57,400 Speaker 2: Just to be great at what we do. 44 00:01:58,120 --> 00:02:01,640 Speaker 1: Are you a you know, we tend to when we 45 00:02:01,680 --> 00:02:06,120 Speaker 1: talk about watching tape, we tend to talk more about quarterbacks, 46 00:02:06,280 --> 00:02:09,440 Speaker 1: I think, and maybe even the dot guy in the defense, 47 00:02:10,120 --> 00:02:12,000 Speaker 1: but not just but I mean, if you if you're 48 00:02:12,040 --> 00:02:14,320 Speaker 1: gonna be the best you can be along the defensive line, 49 00:02:14,639 --> 00:02:16,320 Speaker 1: do you have to be a big time tape guy? 50 00:02:16,360 --> 00:02:18,880 Speaker 3: Too, of course, of course, you know, just no informations, 51 00:02:18,919 --> 00:02:22,040 Speaker 3: no in backfields, their scheme, their their past scheme. How 52 00:02:22,040 --> 00:02:25,160 Speaker 3: they're trying to block that up. Yeah, yeah, you gotta. 53 00:02:25,280 --> 00:02:28,160 Speaker 3: You gotta be engulfed in film and watch it, see 54 00:02:28,200 --> 00:02:31,480 Speaker 3: tendencies and you know, and then those come to life 55 00:02:31,480 --> 00:02:34,200 Speaker 3: in the film or on the field. Yeah. 56 00:02:34,240 --> 00:02:38,400 Speaker 1: So, you know, it's interesting when you're a player who's 57 00:02:38,520 --> 00:02:41,880 Speaker 1: drafted late. There's some players I've talked to over the 58 00:02:41,919 --> 00:02:45,239 Speaker 1: years who didn't take that personally, and then there's other people, 59 00:02:45,360 --> 00:02:48,200 Speaker 1: other players who did and who basically said, Okay, okay, 60 00:02:48,200 --> 00:02:50,440 Speaker 1: that's fine. You know, maybe you don't think I have 61 00:02:50,560 --> 00:02:53,880 Speaker 1: the pedigree or I didn't test the right way. I'm 62 00:02:53,919 --> 00:02:56,200 Speaker 1: going to show you. I am going to use this. 63 00:02:56,200 --> 00:02:59,560 Speaker 1: This is going to be part of my fuel. What's what? 64 00:02:59,639 --> 00:03:02,960 Speaker 1: How much of that has gone into a really good 65 00:03:03,280 --> 00:03:05,920 Speaker 1: encouraging I think most people agree, and I would think 66 00:03:05,960 --> 00:03:07,440 Speaker 1: you would agree first season for. 67 00:03:07,440 --> 00:03:10,600 Speaker 3: You, yeah, man, going in my second season, I think 68 00:03:10,639 --> 00:03:14,560 Speaker 3: it's it's so cool just to see everybody going to 69 00:03:14,639 --> 00:03:19,760 Speaker 3: these Oklahoma's, Texas, Alabama's and me come from Little text 70 00:03:19,800 --> 00:03:20,760 Speaker 3: A and m commerces. 71 00:03:21,200 --> 00:03:22,960 Speaker 2: It's insane, you know, Like I'm in. 72 00:03:22,880 --> 00:03:24,800 Speaker 1: The where is Texas? A and M Commerce and Commerce 73 00:03:24,880 --> 00:03:26,840 Speaker 1: Commerce Texas. You got about a hunch. 74 00:03:27,840 --> 00:03:29,080 Speaker 2: We have about two stop lights. 75 00:03:29,200 --> 00:03:32,440 Speaker 1: And how did you end up there? By the way, Yeah, 76 00:03:32,760 --> 00:03:34,120 Speaker 1: tell me about where you were before that? 77 00:03:34,240 --> 00:03:34,400 Speaker 2: Yeah? 78 00:03:34,440 --> 00:03:38,480 Speaker 3: I was at an NAI named sago Southwestern Assemblies of 79 00:03:38,520 --> 00:03:39,320 Speaker 3: God University. 80 00:03:39,720 --> 00:03:40,280 Speaker 2: Uh Man. 81 00:03:40,320 --> 00:03:43,240 Speaker 3: We had people in our dorms the other sex for 82 00:03:43,640 --> 00:03:45,920 Speaker 3: one day out of the out of the month. 83 00:03:46,200 --> 00:03:47,520 Speaker 1: Is that right? That was it? 84 00:03:47,840 --> 00:03:48,760 Speaker 2: That was that. 85 00:03:49,640 --> 00:03:54,000 Speaker 3: We had a we had a chapel dorm DeVos. I 86 00:03:54,080 --> 00:03:57,560 Speaker 3: was there for for three years and I transferred out 87 00:03:57,560 --> 00:03:57,800 Speaker 3: of there. 88 00:03:57,880 --> 00:03:58,040 Speaker 1: Man. 89 00:03:58,160 --> 00:04:01,360 Speaker 3: I prayed about it, fasted about it. Yea, and yeah, 90 00:04:01,440 --> 00:04:03,600 Speaker 3: I just went Lord said go, I said why? He 91 00:04:03,600 --> 00:04:07,480 Speaker 3: said go again? Yes, sir, So I was there for 92 00:04:08,040 --> 00:04:12,000 Speaker 3: transferred played all five years total, UH three at SAGOO 93 00:04:12,080 --> 00:04:14,400 Speaker 3: and then UH two had TEXTA and M Commerce and 94 00:04:14,520 --> 00:04:17,000 Speaker 3: uh man changed my life. 95 00:04:16,640 --> 00:04:17,839 Speaker 1: So how did it change it? 96 00:04:18,279 --> 00:04:22,840 Speaker 3: Just first three years at sagu man just spiritually so much, 97 00:04:24,000 --> 00:04:26,799 Speaker 3: and then that commerce. Just wanting to get more exposure. 98 00:04:26,880 --> 00:04:29,279 Speaker 3: I thought that was a biggest school, you know, and 99 00:04:29,360 --> 00:04:32,640 Speaker 3: it's not so just working my butt off to get 100 00:04:32,640 --> 00:04:36,600 Speaker 3: that exposure. It helped, no doubt. 101 00:04:36,880 --> 00:04:40,560 Speaker 1: Did you as you are improving as a college football player. 102 00:04:40,600 --> 00:04:46,920 Speaker 1: So are you allowing yourself to think about a professional career? 103 00:04:47,400 --> 00:04:49,000 Speaker 1: Did you go down that road a lot? 104 00:04:49,120 --> 00:04:51,440 Speaker 3: Oh yeah, oh yeah, that was always a dream of mind. Well, 105 00:04:51,480 --> 00:04:53,120 Speaker 3: ever since I was a little boy, ever since I 106 00:04:53,120 --> 00:04:54,039 Speaker 3: started playing football. 107 00:04:54,160 --> 00:04:57,479 Speaker 1: You know when did you start? I was four years old? 108 00:04:57,560 --> 00:05:02,120 Speaker 1: It was four ye so tackle football at four yep, seriously. 109 00:05:02,000 --> 00:05:05,680 Speaker 3: Tackle And then we moved on to uh select, So 110 00:05:05,760 --> 00:05:06,320 Speaker 3: that's okay. 111 00:05:07,279 --> 00:05:08,840 Speaker 1: And that was in Texas as well? 112 00:05:08,839 --> 00:05:09,599 Speaker 2: Correct? Correct? Yeah? 113 00:05:09,720 --> 00:05:13,839 Speaker 1: Whereabouts in Texas, Central Texas, close to Austin, Okay, yeah, 114 00:05:13,839 --> 00:05:15,560 Speaker 1: And that was the only sport for you? Or did 115 00:05:15,560 --> 00:05:17,599 Speaker 1: you play baseball? 116 00:05:17,800 --> 00:05:21,320 Speaker 3: I actually went to Sagoo on a baseball scholarship, on 117 00:05:21,400 --> 00:05:24,159 Speaker 3: a baseball visit, and then the coach saw me, Duncan 118 00:05:24,200 --> 00:05:27,320 Speaker 3: and my cowboy boots, and it was a hey, let's 119 00:05:27,320 --> 00:05:31,160 Speaker 3: talk to you quick, so talk to them. And then 120 00:05:31,160 --> 00:05:34,200 Speaker 3: I got a dual, dual sports scholarship for both baseball 121 00:05:34,200 --> 00:05:34,640 Speaker 3: and football. 122 00:05:35,480 --> 00:05:39,400 Speaker 1: And would you say one? Was your first? Football always 123 00:05:39,440 --> 00:05:40,760 Speaker 1: been your love? Or was baseball? 124 00:05:41,040 --> 00:05:42,760 Speaker 2: Man? I wanted to go to the league for baseball 125 00:05:42,800 --> 00:05:43,080 Speaker 2: as well? 126 00:05:43,080 --> 00:05:45,200 Speaker 1: You did, yeah? But then and what did you play? 127 00:05:45,240 --> 00:05:49,640 Speaker 1: Were you position player? My whole life and that picture. Yeah. 128 00:05:49,720 --> 00:05:52,680 Speaker 2: Yeah, but man, I started eating too good A wait. 129 00:05:54,160 --> 00:05:58,960 Speaker 1: So that at some point you start thinking about the 130 00:05:58,960 --> 00:06:01,440 Speaker 1: possibility of a of a of a pro football career. 131 00:06:01,680 --> 00:06:03,880 Speaker 1: When when does that go through your mind in a 132 00:06:04,360 --> 00:06:05,000 Speaker 1: serious way? 133 00:06:05,080 --> 00:06:07,640 Speaker 3: Yeah, in a serious way. I've been practicing my signature 134 00:06:07,720 --> 00:06:12,120 Speaker 3: for since third grade, you know. I was like, Mom, 135 00:06:12,200 --> 00:06:15,120 Speaker 3: this is gonna be worse somethinge day, you know, so 136 00:06:16,120 --> 00:06:19,279 Speaker 3: ever since I can remember, I've always loved this this profession. 137 00:06:19,360 --> 00:06:22,360 Speaker 3: Now that I'm in it, it's oh my goodness. 138 00:06:22,680 --> 00:06:24,480 Speaker 1: Was it always defensive line? 139 00:06:24,680 --> 00:06:24,800 Speaker 2: No? 140 00:06:24,920 --> 00:06:27,560 Speaker 3: I played O line in high school? Lie, high school, 141 00:06:27,560 --> 00:06:30,480 Speaker 3: I played old line. That's it interesting? And how did 142 00:06:30,560 --> 00:06:33,320 Speaker 3: you like that? Did you like I embraced it? 143 00:06:33,400 --> 00:06:33,560 Speaker 2: You did? 144 00:06:34,200 --> 00:06:36,839 Speaker 3: I embraced it. I've always been a defensive player. Go 145 00:06:36,920 --> 00:06:40,000 Speaker 3: hit some seatball? Good, right, but you know, just being 146 00:06:40,000 --> 00:06:43,440 Speaker 3: a team player, embracing that and you know, protecting our quarterback. 147 00:06:44,160 --> 00:06:47,039 Speaker 3: I got actually got all state for right tackle. 148 00:06:47,400 --> 00:06:50,960 Speaker 1: Offensive tackle, sir, So who made the decision to move 149 00:06:51,000 --> 00:06:54,120 Speaker 1: you to defense in your second college stop? Then that 150 00:06:54,200 --> 00:06:56,840 Speaker 1: was my first first college stop playing playing d N 151 00:06:57,360 --> 00:06:59,559 Speaker 1: But that does A coach said, hey, will you belong 152 00:06:59,600 --> 00:07:01,840 Speaker 1: on defense? Is that you pushing it? 153 00:07:01,920 --> 00:07:05,560 Speaker 2: I was like, thank you lord you like that, yes, completely, yep. 154 00:07:06,400 --> 00:07:09,960 Speaker 1: And what's I mean the in terms of playing where 155 00:07:10,000 --> 00:07:13,880 Speaker 1: you play now? What are the challenges and what do 156 00:07:13,920 --> 00:07:16,400 Speaker 1: you think you've done well? I mean, because you've obviously 157 00:07:16,440 --> 00:07:18,040 Speaker 1: gotten a lot of people's attention. 158 00:07:18,000 --> 00:07:20,280 Speaker 3: Right yeah this year, man, I would say just growing, 159 00:07:20,600 --> 00:07:24,120 Speaker 3: growing daily. Uh, just being a sponge in the building, listening, 160 00:07:24,240 --> 00:07:27,640 Speaker 3: taking coaching and applying it on the field first in practice, 161 00:07:28,040 --> 00:07:31,040 Speaker 3: then you know daily in the practice meetings, walk through 162 00:07:31,560 --> 00:07:34,520 Speaker 3: and then going out there and executing it. You know, 163 00:07:34,640 --> 00:07:39,960 Speaker 3: So just being a coachable person, coachable coachable player and uh, 164 00:07:40,200 --> 00:07:43,360 Speaker 3: just applying what I'm being taught is major. 165 00:07:43,520 --> 00:07:46,760 Speaker 2: But getting here is it's very mental. You know. 166 00:07:47,360 --> 00:07:50,120 Speaker 3: We don't draw stuff up on the whiteboard often, we 167 00:07:50,240 --> 00:07:53,720 Speaker 3: just we know formations in our head, the talk about 168 00:07:53,760 --> 00:07:56,120 Speaker 3: them and then you just have to visualize them to 169 00:07:56,200 --> 00:07:59,080 Speaker 3: do them. It's hard. It's difficult, especially my first year, 170 00:07:59,120 --> 00:08:04,800 Speaker 3: about what is going Yeah, no doubt, but learning ball 171 00:08:04,840 --> 00:08:06,720 Speaker 3: and just getting engulfed in it. 172 00:08:07,160 --> 00:08:12,000 Speaker 1: Were you at the combine? No, no, sir, no, not invited? Okay, 173 00:08:12,040 --> 00:08:14,040 Speaker 1: so is that another thing you file away and say? 174 00:08:14,400 --> 00:08:14,679 Speaker 2: Fine? 175 00:08:14,760 --> 00:08:16,960 Speaker 3: Okay, well yeah, I hear people saying that it was tough. 176 00:08:17,040 --> 00:08:19,600 Speaker 3: It was, you know, the one of the hardest weekends, right, 177 00:08:20,040 --> 00:08:23,280 Speaker 3: like cool? You know that that's good for you. 178 00:08:23,520 --> 00:08:25,600 Speaker 1: So where in your position where do you go to 179 00:08:25,600 --> 00:08:27,080 Speaker 1: get noticed by scouts? 180 00:08:27,560 --> 00:08:29,520 Speaker 3: The vikings from man. I have to have a great agent. 181 00:08:29,640 --> 00:08:32,280 Speaker 3: Everett Levy, he did it, He did his thing. He 182 00:08:32,320 --> 00:08:36,760 Speaker 3: didn't very well. But I went to a tropical Bowl, 183 00:08:37,320 --> 00:08:37,600 Speaker 3: that's what. 184 00:08:37,800 --> 00:08:40,040 Speaker 1: Yeah, I remember that, the tropical Where the hell is 185 00:08:40,040 --> 00:08:41,640 Speaker 1: the tropical tropical? 186 00:08:42,160 --> 00:08:43,959 Speaker 2: Yeah, it was in Florida. It was beautiful too. 187 00:08:44,000 --> 00:08:47,720 Speaker 3: It's gorgeous, but not too many, not too many coaches 188 00:08:47,720 --> 00:08:51,440 Speaker 3: out there, but that that definitely gave me exposure. I 189 00:08:51,440 --> 00:08:54,679 Speaker 3: went to two bowl games, uh, and same things, okay, 190 00:08:54,960 --> 00:09:00,760 Speaker 3: just similar playing. You know, talent from Alabama, Clemson, Tennessee, know, Iowa, 191 00:09:01,280 --> 00:09:04,720 Speaker 3: Illinois is some big schools, right and I dominated. They 192 00:09:04,800 --> 00:09:08,520 Speaker 3: had like three sacks and tackles. Yeah, and that's what 193 00:09:08,640 --> 00:09:09,480 Speaker 3: put my name on the mat. 194 00:09:09,679 --> 00:09:11,760 Speaker 1: So when you see that you can hold not a 195 00:09:12,440 --> 00:09:14,960 Speaker 1: hold your own, but but play maybe even better to 196 00:09:15,040 --> 00:09:17,600 Speaker 1: some of some of those players. Is that the point 197 00:09:17,600 --> 00:09:19,120 Speaker 1: where you go, I can do this or did you 198 00:09:19,120 --> 00:09:20,000 Speaker 1: always feel that. 199 00:09:20,160 --> 00:09:20,600 Speaker 2: In my mind? 200 00:09:20,640 --> 00:09:22,320 Speaker 3: I knew I was going to play. I didn't know 201 00:09:22,320 --> 00:09:24,920 Speaker 3: what day or who what team would win, but I 202 00:09:24,960 --> 00:09:27,000 Speaker 3: knew I was gonna play and. 203 00:09:27,000 --> 00:09:29,960 Speaker 1: You have what do you what are you happiest with this? 204 00:09:30,520 --> 00:09:32,439 Speaker 1: Individually We're gonna get to the team in a minute, 205 00:09:32,440 --> 00:09:35,360 Speaker 1: but individually, in terms of your growth, where do you 206 00:09:35,400 --> 00:09:38,400 Speaker 1: think you have improved the most to the point where 207 00:09:38,400 --> 00:09:39,880 Speaker 1: you're getting people's attention right? 208 00:09:39,920 --> 00:09:44,320 Speaker 3: Just techniques and fundamentals, you know, just learning daily, applying 209 00:09:44,320 --> 00:09:47,840 Speaker 3: them on the field, off the field, just trying to 210 00:09:47,880 --> 00:09:50,120 Speaker 3: be the complete pro that I can be. 211 00:09:50,800 --> 00:09:54,800 Speaker 1: Yeah, and are you a guy? You know? Obviously the 212 00:09:54,840 --> 00:09:58,520 Speaker 1: most complete lineman want to be very good at both. 213 00:09:58,559 --> 00:09:59,959 Speaker 1: They want to be very good at handling the run. 214 00:10:00,120 --> 00:10:02,199 Speaker 1: They want to be able to be good at occasionally 215 00:10:02,240 --> 00:10:05,560 Speaker 1: you knows, wreaking some havoc when the quarterbacks going back 216 00:10:05,600 --> 00:10:07,160 Speaker 1: to past, no doubt, no doubt. 217 00:10:07,240 --> 00:10:09,280 Speaker 3: Yeah, And I'm trying to be great at both of those. 218 00:10:09,360 --> 00:10:13,079 Speaker 3: So just stacking days, man, waking up early, figuring out 219 00:10:13,120 --> 00:10:17,400 Speaker 3: my routine, conquering my routine daily, being that pillow, being 220 00:10:17,400 --> 00:10:18,679 Speaker 3: that warm, blank and every. 221 00:10:18,520 --> 00:10:21,800 Speaker 2: Day is It's tough, but I love it. I love it. 222 00:10:21,840 --> 00:10:23,760 Speaker 2: Best job in the world. What are you every day? 223 00:10:24,080 --> 00:10:28,640 Speaker 1: Do you can you learn from more veteran players on 224 00:10:28,679 --> 00:10:29,400 Speaker 1: this team. 225 00:10:29,240 --> 00:10:30,679 Speaker 2: Of course, of course, man. 226 00:10:30,760 --> 00:10:34,240 Speaker 3: I asked them questions about their routine, their habits, their 227 00:10:34,320 --> 00:10:37,760 Speaker 3: eating habits, everything. How much they spind on their body. 228 00:10:38,040 --> 00:10:41,200 Speaker 3: Can't do that yet, but my goodness, it's insane. Yeah, yeah, 229 00:10:41,240 --> 00:10:44,120 Speaker 3: you're not quite there yet. Now much they were into 230 00:10:44,160 --> 00:10:44,600 Speaker 3: their body? 231 00:10:44,679 --> 00:10:47,400 Speaker 1: How much? Is It's an investment, no doubt. So you're 232 00:10:47,440 --> 00:10:50,520 Speaker 1: a sponge on picking up whatever you can pick. 233 00:10:50,400 --> 00:10:52,760 Speaker 2: Up, SpongeBob square pants, baby, yeah, if that is me? 234 00:10:52,960 --> 00:10:53,400 Speaker 2: So on. 235 00:10:54,800 --> 00:10:57,080 Speaker 1: I mentioned the team. Obviously you guys are not in 236 00:10:57,120 --> 00:11:00,200 Speaker 1: the position you wanted to be at twelve games in 237 00:11:01,040 --> 00:11:05,200 Speaker 1: so how do you you know, how do you finesse that? 238 00:11:05,240 --> 00:11:08,240 Speaker 1: I mean, you're obviously paid to work, your continue to 239 00:11:08,800 --> 00:11:12,640 Speaker 1: go forward, you got to keep playing. But how difficult 240 00:11:12,960 --> 00:11:15,640 Speaker 1: has that been within the locker room? Right? 241 00:11:15,800 --> 00:11:19,560 Speaker 3: Yeah, I don't think there's finessing any of that, you know, 242 00:11:19,720 --> 00:11:23,080 Speaker 3: Like like I said earlier, we go to work every 243 00:11:23,120 --> 00:11:27,040 Speaker 3: single day in the classroom, on the field. Whatever we're doing, 244 00:11:27,280 --> 00:11:30,080 Speaker 3: we're doing it with with our all, you know. So 245 00:11:30,160 --> 00:11:32,840 Speaker 3: there's no finessing hard work and that's you know, one 246 00:11:32,840 --> 00:11:35,480 Speaker 3: thing we pride ourselves on. We work hard in the building, 247 00:11:36,160 --> 00:11:40,640 Speaker 3: in the classroom. So doing that daily to see the produce. 248 00:11:41,080 --> 00:11:44,280 Speaker 3: So the locker room, the locker room's holding tight right now. 249 00:11:44,440 --> 00:11:47,640 Speaker 3: We are being together stronger than ever. So I just 250 00:11:47,640 --> 00:11:49,280 Speaker 3: got to keep doing that. Find for one another. 251 00:11:49,559 --> 00:11:53,120 Speaker 1: I thought, you guys again, I know the result wasn't 252 00:11:53,120 --> 00:11:56,520 Speaker 1: what you were looking for, but I thought, defensively recently, 253 00:11:56,520 --> 00:11:59,600 Speaker 1: as this last game, you guys played well, I don't 254 00:11:59,679 --> 00:12:03,480 Speaker 1: they really did not get all that much going offensively. 255 00:12:04,000 --> 00:12:07,240 Speaker 1: This is, of course Seattle with you know, your quarterback 256 00:12:07,600 --> 00:12:09,360 Speaker 1: Darnold has been very good this year, but it looked 257 00:12:09,360 --> 00:12:12,319 Speaker 1: to me like you guys had them a little bit flustered. 258 00:12:12,559 --> 00:12:12,800 Speaker 2: Yeah. 259 00:12:13,040 --> 00:12:15,640 Speaker 3: I mean, you know, we're on our techniques and fundamentals 260 00:12:15,720 --> 00:12:19,080 Speaker 3: all all week and you know, just working those daily 261 00:12:19,360 --> 00:12:21,120 Speaker 3: so that we can produce on the field. 262 00:12:21,120 --> 00:12:22,120 Speaker 2: And you know, it showed. 263 00:12:22,160 --> 00:12:24,720 Speaker 3: It showed on the field, and you know it was 264 00:12:24,720 --> 00:12:26,880 Speaker 3: it was so much fun playing playing with our dogs. 265 00:12:26,920 --> 00:12:30,360 Speaker 1: Yeah, the block field goal game was that the draking correct. 266 00:12:31,160 --> 00:12:33,000 Speaker 1: So tell me about I know you talked about it 267 00:12:33,040 --> 00:12:35,240 Speaker 1: a lot, but now we have you here, Uh, tell 268 00:12:35,280 --> 00:12:38,920 Speaker 1: me about that. That's got to be an extremely satisfying play. 269 00:12:39,000 --> 00:12:40,199 Speaker 2: Oh it hurt a little bit. 270 00:12:40,440 --> 00:12:42,760 Speaker 3: It hurt on my floor arm and hurt, but man, 271 00:12:42,880 --> 00:12:45,760 Speaker 3: uh you know, just like I said, doing the techniques 272 00:12:45,760 --> 00:12:48,119 Speaker 3: and fundamentals, and you know we're in there once. 273 00:12:47,880 --> 00:12:50,960 Speaker 2: A week for the for the field goal field goal 274 00:12:50,960 --> 00:12:51,400 Speaker 2: Block team. 275 00:12:51,480 --> 00:12:54,440 Speaker 3: Yeah, and uh, just like focusing on that and just 276 00:12:54,480 --> 00:12:56,880 Speaker 3: a one place series can change the game, change the 277 00:12:56,880 --> 00:12:59,240 Speaker 3: momentum of a game, and just giving. 278 00:12:59,040 --> 00:12:59,920 Speaker 2: Your all on that phase. 279 00:13:00,360 --> 00:13:02,000 Speaker 1: So well, you know, I don't know how well you 280 00:13:02,040 --> 00:13:04,280 Speaker 1: know Vikings history if you go back far enough to 281 00:13:04,360 --> 00:13:08,600 Speaker 1: the you know, the the hallowed Bud Grant days. One 282 00:13:08,600 --> 00:13:10,480 Speaker 1: of the strengths of the I mean there were I 283 00:13:10,480 --> 00:13:12,280 Speaker 1: I grew up in Chicago, so I grew up a 284 00:13:12,320 --> 00:13:16,920 Speaker 1: Bears fan, and I I'm sorry, but I tell the 285 00:13:16,960 --> 00:13:19,960 Speaker 1: story as a compliment to the Vikings is that there 286 00:13:20,000 --> 00:13:21,960 Speaker 1: were I felt like there were so many games where 287 00:13:22,000 --> 00:13:25,040 Speaker 1: throughout the game the Bears would dominate and then with 288 00:13:25,120 --> 00:13:27,600 Speaker 1: like four minutes to goo, Matt Blair would block a 289 00:13:27,640 --> 00:13:30,480 Speaker 1: punt or a field goal and it would change the 290 00:13:30,480 --> 00:13:33,040 Speaker 1: whole damn game. So that's part of the tradition of 291 00:13:33,040 --> 00:13:36,600 Speaker 1: this team going way way back and and and those 292 00:13:36,640 --> 00:13:39,960 Speaker 1: plays are they happened so rarely, but that's why I 293 00:13:39,960 --> 00:13:45,880 Speaker 1: think they stand up. Yeah, it's so much fun, especially once. Yeah, yeah, yeah, 294 00:13:46,120 --> 00:13:49,160 Speaker 1: it gets everybody. So what is the art of Is 295 00:13:49,200 --> 00:13:51,680 Speaker 1: it about timing job? 296 00:13:52,120 --> 00:13:53,760 Speaker 3: What's the key to We know the we know the 297 00:13:54,720 --> 00:13:59,520 Speaker 3: procedure time that the offenses use and you know the 298 00:13:59,559 --> 00:14:03,200 Speaker 3: fight pass in their angle. How long it takes to yeah, 299 00:14:03,320 --> 00:14:05,600 Speaker 3: get the ball off the foot and then we just 300 00:14:05,600 --> 00:14:08,080 Speaker 3: have to execute. So it's uh, it's either four of 301 00:14:08,160 --> 00:14:11,200 Speaker 3: us on one side doing one job and then or 302 00:14:11,280 --> 00:14:13,360 Speaker 3: two of us. So that time was was two of 303 00:14:13,440 --> 00:14:16,320 Speaker 3: us hip to hip and you know, taking five steps 304 00:14:16,320 --> 00:14:18,640 Speaker 3: getting their hands up. So and we did just that 305 00:14:18,760 --> 00:14:22,680 Speaker 3: and we heard that that was good. That's very good. 306 00:14:22,720 --> 00:14:22,920 Speaker 2: Yeah. 307 00:14:23,000 --> 00:14:25,920 Speaker 1: Are you how many cold weather games have you over 308 00:14:25,920 --> 00:14:28,400 Speaker 1: the course of your career because you know, again historically 309 00:14:28,440 --> 00:14:31,680 Speaker 1: the Vikings kind of pride of themselves on outdoor football. 310 00:14:31,680 --> 00:14:34,280 Speaker 1: That's all changed now with the building they're in now 311 00:14:35,560 --> 00:14:37,600 Speaker 1: you would you do you think you would thrive if 312 00:14:37,640 --> 00:14:40,120 Speaker 1: the Vikings were outdoors for home games all the time? 313 00:14:40,440 --> 00:14:42,160 Speaker 1: Would you thrive in that? Or you say no, I 314 00:14:42,240 --> 00:14:43,360 Speaker 1: kind of like this better. 315 00:14:43,240 --> 00:14:45,720 Speaker 3: Cold right now? I'm in Texas boys, look cool. I 316 00:14:45,720 --> 00:14:48,400 Speaker 3: was wondering, Man, I would embrace it. That's football, you know, 317 00:14:48,560 --> 00:14:52,080 Speaker 3: that's that's the history of football, And man, that's that's hard. Nos, 318 00:14:52,160 --> 00:14:55,200 Speaker 3: right there, So I love that stuff. I haven't played 319 00:14:55,200 --> 00:14:59,320 Speaker 3: in a real cold game yet, negative temperatures or snow 320 00:14:59,600 --> 00:15:01,880 Speaker 3: foot of yeah, right, man, I want to do that though. 321 00:15:01,920 --> 00:15:02,920 Speaker 2: That's that's gonna be fun. 322 00:15:03,000 --> 00:15:06,680 Speaker 1: Yeah, it'll probably help happen eventually, for sure. Question about 323 00:15:06,680 --> 00:15:09,240 Speaker 1: that a late game in the over the years, maybe 324 00:15:09,240 --> 00:15:10,160 Speaker 1: in Chicago. 325 00:15:10,880 --> 00:15:11,400 Speaker 2: New York. 326 00:15:12,160 --> 00:15:12,880 Speaker 1: Yeah, that's true. 327 00:15:13,400 --> 00:15:13,800 Speaker 2: I don't know. 328 00:15:14,080 --> 00:15:16,600 Speaker 3: We'll see what that looks. That could be it too, 329 00:15:16,720 --> 00:15:23,200 Speaker 3: for sure, sure, iudio, Well. 330 00:15:21,120 --> 00:15:23,200 Speaker 1: I know you're here. You're going to be involved with 331 00:15:23,280 --> 00:15:25,640 Speaker 1: a kind of a shopping spree right with the kid. 332 00:15:25,880 --> 00:15:27,680 Speaker 2: You're gonna be set up at the game. I can't wait, 333 00:15:27,720 --> 00:15:29,040 Speaker 2: which hopefully I can get some too. 334 00:15:29,440 --> 00:15:33,320 Speaker 1: Oh, I'm sure. Yeah, it's I was telling justin uh 335 00:15:33,640 --> 00:15:35,800 Speaker 1: that earlier. This is a store that's kind of it's 336 00:15:35,800 --> 00:15:39,160 Speaker 1: almost impossible to walk around this store and not leave 337 00:15:39,160 --> 00:15:39,640 Speaker 1: with something. 338 00:15:40,200 --> 00:15:42,520 Speaker 2: I go straight upstairs to that hunting. 339 00:15:42,280 --> 00:15:43,440 Speaker 1: Oh is that right? You a big hunter? 340 00:15:43,760 --> 00:15:44,600 Speaker 2: Yeah? 341 00:15:44,640 --> 00:15:46,000 Speaker 1: What did you what kind of hunting? Did you grow 342 00:15:46,080 --> 00:15:46,400 Speaker 1: up doing? 343 00:15:46,480 --> 00:15:49,680 Speaker 2: All of it? Really? Yeah? Deer hunting, hogs, you know 344 00:15:49,920 --> 00:15:50,400 Speaker 2: the whole bit. 345 00:15:50,560 --> 00:15:52,800 Speaker 1: Yeah, tell me a little bit about your family background. 346 00:15:52,960 --> 00:15:55,520 Speaker 3: Yeah, man, I grew up with a brother sister or 347 00:15:55,600 --> 00:15:58,880 Speaker 3: just a sister, my goodness, sorry, Mom, Dad, and then 348 00:15:58,920 --> 00:16:01,160 Speaker 3: a whole bunch of cousins. I grew up in a 349 00:16:01,240 --> 00:16:04,240 Speaker 3: nine hundred square foot home. You know, my pops has 350 00:16:04,240 --> 00:16:06,640 Speaker 3: always said that we're sports poor, and what that looks 351 00:16:06,640 --> 00:16:08,800 Speaker 3: like is, man, we just spent so much on sports 352 00:16:08,840 --> 00:16:11,960 Speaker 3: that we don't have a lot for you know, nicest house, 353 00:16:12,040 --> 00:16:15,560 Speaker 3: nicest car, nic gloves or bats or cleats, things like that. 354 00:16:15,800 --> 00:16:19,840 Speaker 3: But man, we were always pouring into sports. So yeah, 355 00:16:20,000 --> 00:16:22,360 Speaker 3: I'm just grateful for that. That's just my family. There's 356 00:16:22,360 --> 00:16:25,200 Speaker 3: a whole bunch of love in that house. That's great. Yeah, 357 00:16:25,200 --> 00:16:28,000 Speaker 3: I wouldn't trade it, went and trade my story or 358 00:16:28,000 --> 00:16:29,760 Speaker 3: for someone else's any day. 359 00:16:30,160 --> 00:16:31,480 Speaker 1: Any other athletes in the family. 360 00:16:31,600 --> 00:16:34,440 Speaker 3: Yeah, my sister, we actually played college at the same school, 361 00:16:34,560 --> 00:16:36,160 Speaker 3: different eras, but the same school. 362 00:16:36,320 --> 00:16:36,600 Speaker 2: Yeah. 363 00:16:36,680 --> 00:16:37,320 Speaker 1: What does she play? 364 00:16:37,440 --> 00:16:40,080 Speaker 3: She played basketball, basketball, and she was going to be 365 00:16:40,080 --> 00:16:43,760 Speaker 3: a dual sport too with volleyball, but yeah, she played 366 00:16:43,800 --> 00:16:45,120 Speaker 3: basketball for all five years. 367 00:16:45,160 --> 00:16:49,240 Speaker 1: Outstanding. Well, congratulations on emerging. You know, one of the 368 00:16:49,480 --> 00:16:51,560 Speaker 1: I think emerging stories for this team. And I guess 369 00:16:51,640 --> 00:16:54,200 Speaker 1: proof again when we all get hung up all these 370 00:16:54,200 --> 00:16:56,880 Speaker 1: shows we do, you get hung up on high draft 371 00:16:56,880 --> 00:17:01,520 Speaker 1: picks and highly tootored names, you know, but we see 372 00:17:01,520 --> 00:17:03,800 Speaker 1: it over and over again, especially I think in football, 373 00:17:04,240 --> 00:17:06,840 Speaker 1: where you have free agent players, you have lower draft 374 00:17:06,840 --> 00:17:09,040 Speaker 1: pick players who maybe takes them a little bit of time. 375 00:17:09,320 --> 00:17:12,560 Speaker 2: We're hungry, though, Yeah, that's true. We are hungry. We 376 00:17:12,600 --> 00:17:13,800 Speaker 2: want it, we want to go get it. 377 00:17:13,840 --> 00:17:16,760 Speaker 1: So yeah, well, thanks again for coming to see it. 378 00:17:16,800 --> 00:17:19,280 Speaker 1: I appreciate it. Thank you, Levi, Drake Rodriguez, thank you 379 00:17:19,320 --> 00:17:20,840 Speaker 1: for the time. Man, much appreciate it.