WEBVTT - Catching up with Braxton Jones | Bears, etc. Podcast 0:00:00.680 --> 0:00:06.000 Cut over that DJ Moore and Soode touchdown touchdown pairs. 0:00:06.080 --> 0:00:12.039 I am Jeff joniaclitz Is on Dottie go up. What 0:00:12.280 --> 0:00:13.800 was like playing for Cochi Gooddom. 0:00:14.520 --> 0:00:16.439 I don't want to answer any questions like that pressure 0:00:16.480 --> 0:00:20.400 coming is a big trouble Dotie Go Motest. 0:00:19.960 --> 0:00:26.760 Sweaty Bears, et cetera. 0:00:26.960 --> 0:00:29.160 Brought to you by Miller Light with the voices of 0:00:29.240 --> 0:00:31.440 the Bears, Jeff Joniac and Tom Thayer. 0:00:32.800 --> 0:00:34.200 Well the highlights of training camp. 0:00:34.240 --> 0:00:37.280 We'll kick off on Thursday the dropping of this episode 0:00:37.360 --> 0:00:40.320 of the Bears et Cetera podcast, version number eighty five 0:00:40.680 --> 0:00:43.360 for eighty five Super Bowl winning Bears guard Tom Thayer. 0:00:43.680 --> 0:00:47.160 The Cincinnati Bengals joined the party as the Bears wrap 0:00:47.280 --> 0:00:49.560 up the fan portion of training camp and get ready 0:00:49.600 --> 0:00:52.319 to meet the Bengals Saturday at Soldier Field. Welcome every one. 0:00:52.320 --> 0:00:55.240 I'm Jeff Joniac and our Bears, etcetera. Podcast is brought 0:00:55.240 --> 0:00:58.080 to you by Miller Light. Obviously we're taking this before 0:00:58.160 --> 0:01:00.600 the practice, Tom, but the fact that the Bengals are 0:01:00.600 --> 0:01:03.160 flying in for this one practice. We always look forward 0:01:03.240 --> 0:01:06.520 to these joint practice sessions, whether it could be a factor, 0:01:07.120 --> 0:01:09.360 and that'll be a big part of this whole thing, obviously, 0:01:09.480 --> 0:01:12.160 but it's great to see another team here to take 0:01:12.200 --> 0:01:12.759 on the Bears. 0:01:13.160 --> 0:01:15.920 Yeah, you know, just continue the process of production that 0:01:15.959 --> 0:01:18.000 the Bears have had day in and day out of 0:01:18.080 --> 0:01:20.920 training camp. I really do think there was not a 0:01:21.040 --> 0:01:23.800 day that there was a setback. I think they got 0:01:23.840 --> 0:01:28.119 something accomplished every single day. And you know me, Jeff, 0:01:28.200 --> 0:01:31.560 I'm not in really favor of having no pads, but 0:01:31.680 --> 0:01:35.319 even when they were in no pads, they got something accomplished, 0:01:35.520 --> 0:01:38.880 whether it was mentally the speed of the game or 0:01:39.080 --> 0:01:43.960 just kind of carrying some mistakes or mishaps that have happened. 0:01:43.959 --> 0:01:47.680 So I'm not walking away from this training camp with 0:01:47.760 --> 0:01:50.440 my head down thinking, Wow, you know this team needs 0:01:50.440 --> 0:01:52.240 to get a lot better. No, they just need to 0:01:52.240 --> 0:01:54.040 continue the process of improvement. 0:01:54.240 --> 0:01:58.320 Taste like Miller Time Celebrate Responsibly Miller Brewing Company, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, 0:01:58.600 --> 0:02:01.520 ninety six calories and three point two carbs for twelve 0:02:01.520 --> 0:02:04.000 ounces has practice rolled on this week Time the return 0:02:04.080 --> 0:02:09.480 in pads of Rochean Johnson, Kyler, Gordon Tyreek, Stevenson, Nate Davis, Montes, Sweat, 0:02:09.480 --> 0:02:12.720 and Terrell Smith in some cases limited, but back in 0:02:12.800 --> 0:02:15.920 pads and getting back out there doing football things. After 0:02:16.160 --> 0:02:18.680 several weeks for Gordon, I still have not seen the 0:02:18.680 --> 0:02:22.520 return of Jakwan Brisker just yet. Bates is out conin Johnson, 0:02:22.560 --> 0:02:25.040 Noah Sua, DeAndre Carter's still working their way back. But 0:02:25.480 --> 0:02:27.000 things are headed in the right direction. 0:02:27.160 --> 0:02:29.640 Yeah, you know what, it's encouraging. I love seeing Montese 0:02:29.639 --> 0:02:31.760 sweat out there. I like watching them during one on 0:02:31.760 --> 0:02:34.280 ones because the one thing about Montest Sweat when you 0:02:34.280 --> 0:02:36.960 put him on eleven on eleven, you can see the 0:02:37.000 --> 0:02:41.080 type of player he is and how he compliments the 0:02:41.120 --> 0:02:43.800 other guys on the defensive line at the linebacker position. 0:02:44.240 --> 0:02:46.400 But when you put him in a one on one scenario, 0:02:46.440 --> 0:02:48.720 when you know exactly what the drill is and what 0:02:48.760 --> 0:02:52.080 you're trying to do, that's when he really shines. He's 0:02:52.120 --> 0:02:54.560 a good football player, he's a good athlete. He's a 0:02:54.600 --> 0:02:59.160 big guy, and he really allows the Darnell Rights of 0:02:59.200 --> 0:03:02.800 the Worldarry Borhams and the different guys he goes against 0:03:03.040 --> 0:03:05.200 do I prove at their skills as well. 0:03:05.280 --> 0:03:06.680 So it's encouraging. 0:03:06.960 --> 0:03:09.280 But then you know, you talk about Jakwan Brisker not 0:03:09.400 --> 0:03:11.800 being on the practice field, but Elijah Hicks is doing 0:03:11.840 --> 0:03:14.400 well he's a guy that's getting fed some reps. 0:03:14.440 --> 0:03:16.600 Like we saw last year when there is. 0:03:16.639 --> 0:03:20.080 Injuries in the defensive backfield, of these guys that are 0:03:20.120 --> 0:03:22.840 stepping up and they're playing with the first team defense, 0:03:23.520 --> 0:03:26.160 and it doesn't look like there's a hole in the defense. 0:03:26.240 --> 0:03:29.080 So the guys that are filling in for these guys 0:03:29.120 --> 0:03:34.040 that you mentioned are injured, they're expected to play at 0:03:34.040 --> 0:03:34.600 the same level. 0:03:34.680 --> 0:03:37.880 iFIT even talking about Jonathan Owens. John Owens played a 0:03:37.880 --> 0:03:40.720 physical game against the Buffalo Bills. He's threw his body 0:03:40.760 --> 0:03:43.560 around with a reckless abandon out there as he returned 0:03:43.600 --> 0:03:47.600 from France after Simon Bios captured three gold medals. He's 0:03:47.680 --> 0:03:49.600 ready to play football too, and he really had a 0:03:49.640 --> 0:03:52.480 couple of good seasons back to back, one in Houston 0:03:52.480 --> 0:03:54.320 one with the Green Bay Packers. So I'm interested to 0:03:54.320 --> 0:03:56.880 see him in a role for the Bears as well 0:03:56.920 --> 0:03:57.880 as special teams. 0:03:58.240 --> 0:04:01.040 So am I I'm excited now after I seen him 0:04:01.080 --> 0:04:04.280 come and deliver some hits during the game. I'm excited 0:04:04.320 --> 0:04:07.280 when he gets an expanded opportunity to play in some 0:04:07.360 --> 0:04:11.200 regular defense, but I think on special teams he can 0:04:11.280 --> 0:04:13.560 kind of He's come in with the reputation of being 0:04:13.600 --> 0:04:16.479 a quality special teams player, and I don't think it's 0:04:16.480 --> 0:04:17.719 going to disappoint anybody. 0:04:17.760 --> 0:04:20.320 I want to talk something about defense and Austin Booker, 0:04:20.360 --> 0:04:22.360 Tom and for that matter, Daniel Hardy. We'll hear him 0:04:22.360 --> 0:04:25.040 on Bears Weekly on Thursday night as well after an 0:04:25.080 --> 0:04:28.040 interview with him. They both had terrific games against Buffalo 0:04:28.040 --> 0:04:31.080 and Eric Washington, the defensive coordinator, went in detail the 0:04:31.160 --> 0:04:32.520 other day about Booker. 0:04:32.480 --> 0:04:34.159 That he never gave up on his rushes. 0:04:34.720 --> 0:04:38.440 He says that he's pleased with his approach physical with 0:04:38.440 --> 0:04:41.320 his rushers and that innate feel that you keep referring 0:04:41.320 --> 0:04:44.640 to about Booker, he sees it and he said this, 0:04:44.920 --> 0:04:48.080 and from an offensive lineman's perspective, I'd like your reaction 0:04:48.160 --> 0:04:50.520 to this, he said. Good rushers are hard to hit 0:04:50.600 --> 0:04:53.719 and stall. They go at it max speed with their 0:04:53.760 --> 0:04:56.359 counter and when they engage their hands, they don't slow 0:04:56.480 --> 0:04:59.240 down and allow that protection to catch up. 0:04:59.120 --> 0:04:59.760 To the rusher. 0:05:00.160 --> 0:05:02.840 You, as an offensive lineman, can really feel and see 0:05:02.839 --> 0:05:04.040 what he's trying to say there. 0:05:04.279 --> 0:05:06.239 Do you see that with this rusher? 0:05:06.240 --> 0:05:09.040 And Austin Booker, who played less than five hundred snaps 0:05:09.080 --> 0:05:12.039 in his college career, So this is innate. He doesn't 0:05:12.040 --> 0:05:14.320 have a ton of experience. He's only twenty one years old. 0:05:14.880 --> 0:05:17.080 Right, the word in ac So I want to say 0:05:17.120 --> 0:05:20.800 something and I and it's not disrespectful because I talked 0:05:20.800 --> 0:05:23.560 about when you have a guy like Montes Swet going 0:05:23.600 --> 0:05:26.279 through one on ones, he makes the offensive player better, 0:05:26.560 --> 0:05:29.200 but he also shows the skills, the size, and the 0:05:29.240 --> 0:05:33.120 strength that he has. Austin Booker is a better game 0:05:33.200 --> 0:05:36.480 player than he is a one on one player. And 0:05:37.240 --> 0:05:40.159 I mean that respectfully because, like I said, when the 0:05:40.200 --> 0:05:43.320 opponent knows exactly what you're doing, he's going to be 0:05:43.320 --> 0:05:46.520 able to guard everything against what he doesn't want to 0:05:46.560 --> 0:05:49.120 give up. Okay, I'm not going to give him the inside. 0:05:49.279 --> 0:05:51.120 If he goes to an outside move, I'm going to 0:05:51.200 --> 0:05:53.320 try to push him outside. 0:05:52.880 --> 0:05:55.760 So much that he can't get into the path of 0:05:55.800 --> 0:05:56.480 the quarterback. 0:05:57.040 --> 0:06:00.840 It's a down in distance and you're playing regular offense 0:06:00.920 --> 0:06:04.720 against Austin Booker, he's more effective. That's just what I've 0:06:04.720 --> 0:06:08.159 seen in the early stages of Austin Booker's career. And again, 0:06:08.440 --> 0:06:13.080 I'm not saying this disrespectfully. I'm saying it respectfully. And 0:06:13.120 --> 0:06:15.640 it's kind of what Eric is saying that when you 0:06:15.839 --> 0:06:18.560 just allow Austin Booker to go there and play football. 0:06:18.960 --> 0:06:22.400 He's a football player. He's not trying to follow a 0:06:22.480 --> 0:06:27.679 script of step one two, slap right, slap left. It's okay, 0:06:28.120 --> 0:06:31.400 forced off the line of scrimmage, get the offensive lineman off, bounce, 0:06:31.480 --> 0:06:34.039 slap his hands immediately, and then I'm in the path 0:06:34.080 --> 0:06:37.839 with the quarterback. So I'm really excited to watch Austin 0:06:37.880 --> 0:06:41.080 Booker in the games, probably more than I'm excited to 0:06:41.080 --> 0:06:42.600 see him in one on ones. 0:06:42.320 --> 0:06:45.799 And one on ones you're talking about practice, correct, yes, yes. 0:06:45.600 --> 0:06:48.480 Correct, just one on ones and when okay, you tell 0:06:48.520 --> 0:06:51.560 the offensive tackle it's on two, So then he's going 0:06:51.600 --> 0:06:54.680 through a cadence and or the offensive tackle knows that 0:06:54.720 --> 0:06:58.159 he's doing a pass blocking responsibility and Austin Booker is 0:06:58.279 --> 0:07:01.680 rushing the passer. When you have a whole different scheme 0:07:01.720 --> 0:07:04.760 and it's eleven on eleven in a game type scenario, 0:07:05.520 --> 0:07:08.360 that's when you see the innate ability of Austin Booker 0:07:08.680 --> 0:07:12.240 to do exactly what we think he's capable of doing. 0:07:12.520 --> 0:07:15.240 And I see similar traits in Daniel Hardy. Now he 0:07:15.360 --> 0:07:18.640 is a shorter prospect, he's got leverage on guys that 0:07:18.680 --> 0:07:21.080 are against the Bengals crying now a loud. These guys 0:07:21.120 --> 0:07:23.400 that tackle are six to eight across the board, and 0:07:23.480 --> 0:07:25.800 the depth chart says so with the guys behind them. 0:07:26.480 --> 0:07:29.040 But he has not had a lot of football in 0:07:29.080 --> 0:07:31.080 his career. He did not play until senior year of 0:07:31.120 --> 0:07:33.800 high school. He was a basketball player. But he's been 0:07:33.840 --> 0:07:36.280 dedicated to the weight room. He's up to two hundred 0:07:36.280 --> 0:07:38.600 and forty pounds. He ran a four to six forty 0:07:38.960 --> 0:07:41.920 out of Montana State coming into the league drafted by 0:07:41.960 --> 0:07:46.800 the LA Rams. He's flashing a lot of movement skills 0:07:46.840 --> 0:07:49.240 and things he's bankrolled here in the year plus he's 0:07:49.240 --> 0:07:51.600 been with the Bears without virtue of a training camp. 0:07:51.680 --> 0:07:53.840 Last year with the Bears, he was on the practice 0:07:53.880 --> 0:07:56.000 squad all year. He got activated for one game against 0:07:56.080 --> 0:07:59.440 Kansas City. But I think we're just starting to see 0:07:59.480 --> 0:08:01.800 some of the new things that he can bring to 0:08:01.840 --> 0:08:02.280 the table. 0:08:02.920 --> 0:08:04.720 One hundred percent right. I agree with you. 0:08:04.800 --> 0:08:07.920 He's an interesting character because you know, the more reps 0:08:07.960 --> 0:08:10.200 that Daniel Harding can get on the field, the more 0:08:10.240 --> 0:08:14.400 that he sees run and pass, the more familiar he's 0:08:14.440 --> 0:08:17.400 going to become with the position of defensive end defensive line. 0:08:17.640 --> 0:08:20.520 And he could probably play a three technique defensive tackle. 0:08:20.960 --> 0:08:24.080 And you know, Daniel Harding, he's played an effective role 0:08:24.120 --> 0:08:26.560 on the defensive line no matter if he plays with 0:08:26.600 --> 0:08:29.239 the ones, the twos, or the three since he's been here. 0:08:29.600 --> 0:08:31.240 But now you put him in a game and you 0:08:31.320 --> 0:08:34.360 give him extended amount of snaps and he starts showing 0:08:34.400 --> 0:08:37.160 that he can be a pass rusher. But in order 0:08:37.200 --> 0:08:38.880 to be a pass rusher, you have to learn how 0:08:38.880 --> 0:08:41.280 to play the run first. And that's what I like 0:08:41.360 --> 0:08:45.920 he's complimenting himself in his maturation process of all the 0:08:46.000 --> 0:08:48.040 responsibilities of a defensive lineman. 0:08:48.080 --> 0:08:50.840 All right, I want you to answer this as an 0:08:50.840 --> 0:08:54.600 offensive lineman. I'm going to go back to Washington. So, 0:08:55.520 --> 0:08:57.360 when a guy coming at you at max speed and 0:08:57.360 --> 0:09:00.199 he's doing all his handwork and nothing slowing him down, 0:09:00.760 --> 0:09:04.880 do you have to have the ability as an offensive 0:09:04.880 --> 0:09:08.440 lineman to catch up to the rusher? And if you're not, 0:09:08.880 --> 0:09:10.960 I'm sure it's your feet and your hands are not 0:09:11.040 --> 0:09:11.640 tied together. 0:09:11.720 --> 0:09:13.360 Is that what he's referring to. 0:09:13.840 --> 0:09:14.080 Yeah? 0:09:14.080 --> 0:09:17.640 Well, first of my first responsibility as an offensive lineman, Jeff, 0:09:17.720 --> 0:09:20.280 is get my hands into your chest to make sure 0:09:20.320 --> 0:09:23.400 I slow down or stalemate or get in control of 0:09:23.440 --> 0:09:26.760 your upper body. If there's a separation between us and 0:09:26.880 --> 0:09:30.520 you're already hand fighting against my hands that are reached out, 0:09:30.600 --> 0:09:33.560 you're in control of me. You're in control of my balance, 0:09:33.800 --> 0:09:36.679 your control of my inability to get my hands to you, 0:09:37.040 --> 0:09:42.040 and you're in control of your positioning on your next step. 0:09:42.360 --> 0:09:46.000 So that's the thing why I always say the snapcount 0:09:46.120 --> 0:09:48.600 is a weapon. If I know the snapcount, and I 0:09:48.679 --> 0:09:50.319 know that I should be able to get up out 0:09:50.320 --> 0:09:53.360 of my stance and give you enough of a punch 0:09:53.679 --> 0:09:56.960 where I put you gets you off balance, or I 0:09:57.040 --> 0:09:59.480 put me in a winning position that I should win 0:09:59.520 --> 0:10:03.480 the rush. And you have these you know Dan Hampton, 0:10:03.559 --> 0:10:06.760 for example, he's got really long arms, and Dan Hampton 0:10:06.920 --> 0:10:09.880 is a guy that rushes with straight arms. If he's 0:10:09.960 --> 0:10:12.440 rushing with straight arms, there's no way I can get 0:10:12.440 --> 0:10:15.080 my hands to his body because his arms are longer 0:10:15.120 --> 0:10:18.520 than mine. And you see these guys that have clever skill, 0:10:18.640 --> 0:10:22.080 like Austin Booker that his feet matt his feet matches hands. 0:10:22.559 --> 0:10:25.480 Now he's in control of the offensive lineman and he's 0:10:25.559 --> 0:10:29.120 controlling their balance. And that's the worst thing an offensive 0:10:29.160 --> 0:10:33.200 lineman can have is when that defender is controlling his balance. 0:10:33.280 --> 0:10:35.360 Well, brought to you by a PNC official Bank of 0:10:35.400 --> 0:10:38.160 the Bears. I happen to see some nineteen sixty nine 0:10:38.160 --> 0:10:42.920 Minnesota Vikings videotape about it was a story about the NFL, 0:10:43.320 --> 0:10:46.959 and it was actually it was voiced over by Charlton Heston, 0:10:47.720 --> 0:10:48.680 if I'm not mistaken. 0:10:48.720 --> 0:10:51.280 It was a great video. I just watched it the 0:10:51.320 --> 0:10:51.679 other night. 0:10:51.880 --> 0:10:54.000 I don't even know if somebody posted it on X 0:10:54.520 --> 0:10:55.640 and I watched the whole thing. 0:10:55.679 --> 0:10:59.040 It was fascinating. No, I take that back. It was Burt. 0:10:58.960 --> 0:11:06.680 Lancaster, Bert Lancaster. Anyway, The head slap okay outlawed, But Jim, 0:11:06.800 --> 0:11:13.640 Jim Marshall, Alan Page, Carl Eller, those guys were unbelievably 0:11:13.880 --> 0:11:17.800 Deacon Jones of course, but Jim Marshall the head slap, 0:11:17.880 --> 0:11:21.839 and I'm watching this, you know, you forget what's been 0:11:21.840 --> 0:11:25.120 outlawed and the impact. Did you play in an era 0:11:25.200 --> 0:11:27.320 where the head slap was still legal? 0:11:28.080 --> 0:11:31.160 When I played in the USFL, they allowed it. When 0:11:31.160 --> 0:11:33.280 I played in the NFL they didn't allow But I 0:11:33.320 --> 0:11:37.760 take this into consideration, Jeff, because our Hall of Fame 0:11:37.840 --> 0:11:40.439 coach Dick Stanfeld used to talk about it all the time. 0:11:40.840 --> 0:11:43.480 So offensive lineman at that point they used to have 0:11:43.520 --> 0:11:46.040 to block with their fists up against their chest. 0:11:46.760 --> 0:11:47.360 And now you. 0:11:47.360 --> 0:11:50.960 Think real distance, yes, then you think about the distance 0:11:51.040 --> 0:11:54.000 how defensive lineman could get to you as you are 0:11:54.040 --> 0:11:57.839 trying to block them like this. Now they're coming and 0:11:57.920 --> 0:12:01.760 they're head slapping you and getting and they you know, 0:12:01.760 --> 0:12:04.240 they're in control of your balance. And Dick Stanfold used 0:12:04.240 --> 0:12:06.520 to say about a guy like Bob Lilly, who's one 0:12:06.520 --> 0:12:08.400 of the greatest defensive linemen in the history of the 0:12:08.480 --> 0:12:11.400 National Football League. He goes, I didn't care if Bob 0:12:11.480 --> 0:12:14.319 Lily was head slapping me as long as he wasn't 0:12:14.320 --> 0:12:17.360 going around me. So I just stood there and held 0:12:17.400 --> 0:12:21.360 my ground and widened out with my elbows. And then 0:12:21.800 --> 0:12:26.000 they converted and allowed the offensive linemen to start start 0:12:26.040 --> 0:12:29.240 extending their arms with their hands open. And that kind 0:12:29.360 --> 0:12:33.240 that took that took away the distance that didn't allow 0:12:33.280 --> 0:12:35.960 the head slap to happen as much as it did 0:12:36.000 --> 0:12:37.640 when they couldn't extend their arms. 0:12:37.640 --> 0:12:39.360 So you mean to tell me so for those who 0:12:39.360 --> 0:12:41.800 don't know the you know, they remember the electric football 0:12:41.840 --> 0:12:44.240 games and the and the little player. The players did 0:12:44.280 --> 0:12:47.840 have their their fists against their chest. I mean, that's 0:12:47.880 --> 0:12:50.760 how you're supposed to play football. I can't imagine playing 0:12:50.760 --> 0:12:53.480 football without your hands, I mean either. I mean, man, 0:12:53.559 --> 0:12:54.760 what are we talking about? 0:12:55.000 --> 0:12:57.439 In my whole life, as from Pop Warner to high 0:12:57.480 --> 0:13:00.439 school to college, they allowed you to extend under your 0:13:00.600 --> 0:13:04.000 arms and you know, and open with an open hand, 0:13:04.080 --> 0:13:06.440 be able to strike. And that's what we're talking about 0:13:06.679 --> 0:13:09.960 the pass protection responsibilities nowadays. When you look at an 0:13:10.000 --> 0:13:13.600 offensive tackle going against Austin Booker, Montes Sweat, they want 0:13:13.600 --> 0:13:15.120 to come out of the stance and they want to 0:13:15.120 --> 0:13:17.360 pop you in the chest. And as soon as they 0:13:17.360 --> 0:13:19.720 can pop you in the chest and create that stalemate 0:13:20.040 --> 0:13:22.400 or they can be in control of their next move, 0:13:22.880 --> 0:13:26.760 then the offensive tackle has created the winning edge. And 0:13:26.760 --> 0:13:28.760 that's why you always see what is the arsenal of 0:13:28.840 --> 0:13:31.480 moves for talented defensive ends and pass rushing. 0:13:31.520 --> 0:13:33.520 All right, let's sit down with a pass blocker, the 0:13:33.559 --> 0:13:37.160 veteran left tackle Braxton Jones, our special guest this week 0:13:37.320 --> 0:13:39.720 on Bears et cetera. All right, Braxton, how you doing, 0:13:39.760 --> 0:13:42.320 my man? Can you believe how much time has passed already? 0:13:42.480 --> 0:13:44.320 I mean, we just remember you when you were a 0:13:44.480 --> 0:13:46.280 rook Now you're a vet. 0:13:46.160 --> 0:13:49.280 One hundred percent. I mean, it definitely flies by, but 0:13:49.400 --> 0:13:53.199 I think, you know, it's it's been a great opportunity 0:13:53.360 --> 0:13:57.040 to get the amount of experience that I've gotten every 0:13:57.080 --> 0:13:59.480 rep and you know, every year is just it's just 0:13:59.520 --> 0:14:03.800 been great going through adversity, injuries and everything. But yeah, 0:14:03.880 --> 0:14:06.319 we're here, and uh it feels it feels great. 0:14:06.720 --> 0:14:08.600 If I can't do you ever because I do this 0:14:08.679 --> 0:14:11.319 all the time, maybe maybe you don't you think about 0:14:11.440 --> 0:14:14.720 you think back to where you did begin. Yeah, you 0:14:14.840 --> 0:14:17.080 kind of take stock of like how far you've come. 0:14:17.160 --> 0:14:17.800 Do you ever do that? 0:14:18.840 --> 0:14:23.120 Uh? I mean I definitely do that, uh frequently. It 0:14:23.240 --> 0:14:27.480 definitely pops up every once in a while, but try 0:14:27.560 --> 0:14:30.520 not to, you know, do it too much. But when 0:14:30.600 --> 0:14:32.240 when it does happen, it's a it's a good moment. 0:14:32.280 --> 0:14:35.600 I mean, it's definitely like, you know, it's been a 0:14:35.600 --> 0:14:39.200 long journey journey from you know, a little league from 0:14:39.240 --> 0:14:41.520 from it all and then you know, getting drafted by 0:14:41.520 --> 0:14:44.160 the Bears. It's just it's just been an amazing situation 0:14:44.280 --> 0:14:47.480 going to a small school everything like that, and then 0:14:47.920 --> 0:14:51.320 you know, maybe not having as much expectations coming out 0:14:51.360 --> 0:14:55.120 and starting. So I definitely look back and uh, you know, 0:14:55.320 --> 0:14:58.440 thought of a lot of accomplishments, but I think, uh, 0:14:58.760 --> 0:15:01.040 you know, my my best ball is still ahead of me, 0:15:01.080 --> 0:15:04.680 and uh you know, uh looking forward to continuing that. 0:15:05.040 --> 0:15:07.520 Do you do you then look at that? 0:15:07.720 --> 0:15:11.680 Okay, so I've just bankrolled a couple of strong seasons, 0:15:12.280 --> 0:15:15.960 I started a lot of games already. Do you feel 0:15:15.960 --> 0:15:17.720 the expectations for yourself? 0:15:18.560 --> 0:15:21.720 Yeah, I mean as as just the human being that's 0:15:21.960 --> 0:15:24.680 you know, wants to be better every time they go 0:15:24.720 --> 0:15:27.880 out on that field and wants the best outcome for themselves. 0:15:28.520 --> 0:15:31.240 Of course you're going to fill those expectations, but it's 0:15:31.280 --> 0:15:36.280 my job and my duty to make those expectations not 0:15:36.440 --> 0:15:39.400 as big as they are or however you see that 0:15:39.560 --> 0:15:42.760 just kind of it's just how it is. It's a 0:15:42.800 --> 0:15:47.200 little bit everything into you know, a small binder, trying 0:15:47.200 --> 0:15:49.400 to figure everything out and just going out there and 0:15:49.440 --> 0:15:51.880 performing because I know since day one, I know my 0:15:51.960 --> 0:15:54.600 ability and what I can do. I just got to 0:15:54.640 --> 0:15:57.720 be confident in it and just continuing to do that 0:15:57.840 --> 0:16:00.840 and being being great snapping and step in. 0:16:01.000 --> 0:16:04.040 So does it help that you've had the same offensive 0:16:04.040 --> 0:16:06.760 line coach as opposed to changing a. 0:16:06.760 --> 0:16:10.840 Lot, Yeah, I mean, of course it creates this ability 0:16:10.880 --> 0:16:15.080 to have some consistency. So it's been great having the 0:16:15.120 --> 0:16:19.480 same offensive line coach and just you know, that's going 0:16:19.520 --> 0:16:23.200 to help anybody in terms of, you know, their experience 0:16:23.240 --> 0:16:27.360 in the league. Not having switching out every every year. 0:16:28.000 --> 0:16:30.280 Just it allows me to be more consistent and get 0:16:30.360 --> 0:16:33.080 right with my technique and continue to get better each 0:16:33.080 --> 0:16:33.600 and every year. 0:16:33.680 --> 0:16:36.280 Yeah, I would imagine the conversations are great too with 0:16:36.400 --> 0:16:39.920 Chris Morgan, just because now you know each other very well. 0:16:40.000 --> 0:16:41.920 You know what, you know what would upset him, you 0:16:41.960 --> 0:16:46.000 know what what he likes. Do you guys have honest 0:16:46.040 --> 0:16:50.320 conversations even just non football, You guys get to know 0:16:50.400 --> 0:16:51.520 each other on a different level. 0:16:51.560 --> 0:16:54.880 Yeah, No, one hundred. I mean I have a I 0:16:54.880 --> 0:16:57.560 would say a really good relationship with my offensive line coach, 0:16:57.600 --> 0:16:59.920 and just we've kind of, you know, really built that 0:17:00.120 --> 0:17:03.720 over these first three years of just kind of knowing 0:17:03.840 --> 0:17:07.840 how I need to communicate, knowing how he communicates to me, 0:17:07.920 --> 0:17:11.440 and just having that best relationship, knowing kind of how 0:17:11.560 --> 0:17:14.600 how he likes things done, and kind of it's just 0:17:14.640 --> 0:17:17.040 that player coach relationship and it's a it's a really 0:17:17.040 --> 0:17:19.960 good relationship. So I'm and it continues to build a 0:17:20.040 --> 0:17:20.720 day in day out. 0:17:20.720 --> 0:17:23.359 We keep talking about continuity as the goal, obviously, and 0:17:23.400 --> 0:17:27.480 then that usually leads to success. Uh but you and 0:17:27.480 --> 0:17:29.480 and Tevin on the left side of the line, that's 0:17:29.680 --> 0:17:31.960 that's where your main concern is right now, Just who's 0:17:31.960 --> 0:17:34.159 playing next to you? Right and you guys now have 0:17:34.280 --> 0:17:37.080 bankrolled a lot of time together before we get into 0:17:37.080 --> 0:17:37.679 that part of it. 0:17:38.080 --> 0:17:40.600 I don't think anybody's changed his haircut more than this guy. 0:17:40.840 --> 0:17:41.800 Now he's got another. 0:17:41.560 --> 0:17:45.240 One, right, you guys, You guys get at him a 0:17:45.280 --> 0:17:46.040 little bit about that. 0:17:46.280 --> 0:17:47.440 He's always trying something new. 0:17:47.480 --> 0:17:50.560 I I like his idea, but now he's got another 0:17:50.600 --> 0:17:51.840 he rolled out or another one today. 0:17:51.880 --> 0:17:56.720 I think, Uh yeah, Tevin, Tevin, Tevin seven. I mean, 0:17:56.760 --> 0:18:00.400 he's a character. He's always changing something, and I think 0:18:00.400 --> 0:18:03.639 he enjoys like I think he genuinely enjoys like the 0:18:03.720 --> 0:18:06.600 light of having something new, because he genuinely does have 0:18:06.880 --> 0:18:09.320 a lot of changes in his haircuts. But you know, 0:18:09.640 --> 0:18:12.199 I thought this this change was a good change for 0:18:12.280 --> 0:18:15.680 him and a little shorter, yeah short, it's definitely way shorter, 0:18:15.800 --> 0:18:19.280 yep cut. Yeah, you know, he got got himself a 0:18:19.320 --> 0:18:21.840 little fade up there. So I think it looks good 0:18:21.880 --> 0:18:24.360 on him. But it is funny seeing him go through 0:18:24.400 --> 0:18:27.760 his phases of you know, long hair and then poofy 0:18:27.800 --> 0:18:31.280 hair and then a fro. It's it's just you don't 0:18:31.280 --> 0:18:33.120 know what you're gonna get. And I think I think 0:18:33.160 --> 0:18:35.320 it's kind of cool, like you're in, you're out. 0:18:35.400 --> 0:18:35.919 Yeah, he's going. 0:18:36.160 --> 0:18:39.160 It's like you go on the college websites to look 0:18:39.200 --> 0:18:41.159 back at your careers and they you know, they have 0:18:41.240 --> 0:18:43.800 the four photos of your four years or five years 0:18:43.880 --> 0:18:46.000 or six years, and how you guys, you see the 0:18:46.040 --> 0:18:48.680 maturity in the face, you know, you go from a 0:18:48.720 --> 0:18:52.320 young man to a man. Yeah, short period of time. 0:18:52.720 --> 0:18:54.679 All right. How about the football aspect of it? 0:18:54.840 --> 0:18:59.720 Just the the unspoken communication level that you guys may 0:18:59.840 --> 0:19:01.800 have at this moment that would you say it's at 0:19:01.800 --> 0:19:02.800 a high level right now? 0:19:02.960 --> 0:19:07.080 Yeah, me and Tevin definitely have a high level of communication. 0:19:07.240 --> 0:19:10.399 And you know, we've been building this for a little 0:19:10.400 --> 0:19:13.159 bit now, and I think the biggest thing is I 0:19:13.280 --> 0:19:17.840 just you know, we communicate about everything when things go wrong, 0:19:17.880 --> 0:19:21.879 when things go right, Just having that open line of communication, 0:19:22.040 --> 0:19:24.800 making sure we're both on the same page and we 0:19:24.920 --> 0:19:27.360 dwell on it. We we sit there and really try 0:19:27.400 --> 0:19:29.560 and figure things out, and sometimes we can, you know, 0:19:29.640 --> 0:19:32.080 move on to things quicker than other. But I think 0:19:32.119 --> 0:19:35.600 it's a good thing to really be looking at both 0:19:35.680 --> 0:19:37.600 our situations trying to get the best because at the 0:19:37.680 --> 0:19:40.000 end of the day, it's me and him helping each 0:19:40.040 --> 0:19:42.400 other to be the best that we can be. And 0:19:42.640 --> 0:19:44.879 you know, I'm just trying to help Tevin to be 0:19:44.920 --> 0:19:47.800