1 00:00:10,039 --> 00:00:13,320 Speaker 1: This is the OTP presented by Farm Bureau Health Plans. 2 00:00:13,800 --> 00:00:16,760 Speaker 1: Farm Bureau Health Plans his healthcare coverage the way it 3 00:00:16,800 --> 00:00:21,119 Speaker 1: ought to be, high quality, sensibly priced, and easy to 4 00:00:21,200 --> 00:00:26,159 Speaker 1: apply for at FBHP dot com. I'm Mike Keith. The 5 00:00:26,239 --> 00:00:29,880 Speaker 1: Tennessee Titans had free agents in town to take physicals, 6 00:00:30,160 --> 00:00:33,960 Speaker 1: sign their contracts, and then be formally introduced as the 7 00:00:34,080 --> 00:00:37,360 Speaker 1: newest of the Titans, and I had the opportunity to 8 00:00:37,440 --> 00:00:42,519 Speaker 1: visit with them earlier today. First up, outside linebacker Arden Key, 9 00:00:42,880 --> 00:00:47,800 Speaker 1: a young man who has no personality whatsoever. That's a 10 00:00:47,840 --> 00:00:52,720 Speaker 1: complete lie. The former LSU Tiger practically bounced into the 11 00:00:52,800 --> 00:00:56,720 Speaker 1: room and he had everyone in stitches. This guy has 12 00:00:57,000 --> 00:01:00,280 Speaker 1: energy to spare for everyone at a s n A 13 00:01:00,360 --> 00:01:03,640 Speaker 1: Sate Thomas Sports Park. Best of all, he's a pass 14 00:01:03,760 --> 00:01:06,560 Speaker 1: rusher who's ready to take the next step now that 15 00:01:06,640 --> 00:01:10,320 Speaker 1: he's playing for Mike Vrabel. Originally drafted by the Oakland 16 00:01:10,400 --> 00:01:14,800 Speaker 1: Raiders in the third round in twenty eighteen. He was 17 00:01:14,840 --> 00:01:18,240 Speaker 1: a disappointment for that team for three seasons, but a 18 00:01:18,360 --> 00:01:22,040 Speaker 1: good year in San Francisco and then another in Jacksonville 19 00:01:22,440 --> 00:01:26,960 Speaker 1: has totally changed his trajectory. Here's my visit with one 20 00:01:27,000 --> 00:01:36,640 Speaker 1: of the newest Titans Arden Key on the OTP on 21 00:01:36,800 --> 00:01:39,520 Speaker 1: the field, off the field, is anybody having a better 22 00:01:39,640 --> 00:01:46,480 Speaker 1: time than Arden Kildee the reason why? Um, I'm a 23 00:01:46,720 --> 00:01:50,120 Speaker 1: La Zaza bunny. Um, I wake up smiling, I wake 24 00:01:50,200 --> 00:01:53,000 Speaker 1: up laughing, I wake up. I don't take I don't 25 00:01:53,040 --> 00:01:56,240 Speaker 1: take a life so serious you can't U. I did 26 00:01:56,400 --> 00:02:02,600 Speaker 1: one at one point. And when was that? Uh, it 27 00:02:02,680 --> 00:02:07,360 Speaker 1: would have been my sophomore year in college all the 28 00:02:07,440 --> 00:02:11,440 Speaker 1: way up to my second year in the league. Um 29 00:02:12,160 --> 00:02:13,760 Speaker 1: and I got hurt my second year in the league, 30 00:02:13,800 --> 00:02:16,919 Speaker 1: So it gave me time off to really think, to 31 00:02:17,200 --> 00:02:22,160 Speaker 1: really reflect on what, um, where I was headed. Um 32 00:02:22,360 --> 00:02:25,160 Speaker 1: and that at that time in that direction. Um and 33 00:02:25,320 --> 00:02:27,359 Speaker 1: I just had to get back to myself, really just 34 00:02:27,480 --> 00:02:30,440 Speaker 1: get back to the fun, laughing, joking art and key 35 00:02:30,600 --> 00:02:34,520 Speaker 1: that it was. And if people question my my, um 36 00:02:35,520 --> 00:02:39,239 Speaker 1: my seriousness, then it kind of bothered me at that 37 00:02:39,360 --> 00:02:41,919 Speaker 1: time because I'm just a hyper go lucky guy. But 38 00:02:42,120 --> 00:02:46,080 Speaker 1: I'm serious at the same time. But everybody seriousness is different. 39 00:02:46,120 --> 00:02:48,519 Speaker 1: You might have a mad face, I'm just a happy face. 40 00:02:49,760 --> 00:02:51,560 Speaker 1: I'm serious. So I just had to get back to 41 00:02:51,639 --> 00:02:54,280 Speaker 1: that to that point, um and I'm there now I'm 42 00:02:54,320 --> 00:02:58,600 Speaker 1: back Is that What did it for you in San Francisco? Yeah, 43 00:02:58,800 --> 00:03:03,360 Speaker 1: letting go, let go, letting expectations, letting go, stop reading Twitter, 44 00:03:03,760 --> 00:03:08,359 Speaker 1: stop reading social media, reading up comments and everything. It 45 00:03:08,520 --> 00:03:10,320 Speaker 1: was that I just had to let that go, just 46 00:03:11,000 --> 00:03:13,959 Speaker 1: live life. Football is what I do. It is not me, 47 00:03:14,240 --> 00:03:17,600 Speaker 1: So leave football at the facility when I get home, 48 00:03:18,240 --> 00:03:21,240 Speaker 1: home is home, and that would change, That would change, 49 00:03:21,240 --> 00:03:22,880 Speaker 1: that would change the friend. It was just the mental 50 00:03:23,280 --> 00:03:26,000 Speaker 1: aspect of everything. It wasn't the physical or anything like that, 51 00:03:26,280 --> 00:03:28,560 Speaker 1: or me not able to do that, do that. It 52 00:03:28,720 --> 00:03:31,679 Speaker 1: was just the mental aspect of it. Were there elements 53 00:03:31,720 --> 00:03:33,840 Speaker 1: when you went to San Francisco and played under Chris 54 00:03:33,960 --> 00:03:36,960 Speaker 1: caltur Chris Calturk, who played here for Jim Washburn and 55 00:03:37,080 --> 00:03:39,600 Speaker 1: is now kind of the Jim Washburn in the league 56 00:03:41,080 --> 00:03:43,600 Speaker 1: your position coach. Were there things that he taught you 57 00:03:44,120 --> 00:03:46,680 Speaker 1: that he asked you to do where you could fully 58 00:03:46,840 --> 00:03:50,760 Speaker 1: harness all of this. Yeah, Chris helped me out with 59 00:03:51,960 --> 00:03:55,560 Speaker 1: not caring a lot, because that would Chris do. Chris 60 00:03:55,680 --> 00:04:00,400 Speaker 1: bring in talented guys who maybe other teams don't think 61 00:04:00,600 --> 00:04:04,360 Speaker 1: he's as talented or looking at numbers and not film 62 00:04:04,440 --> 00:04:07,560 Speaker 1: per se, and Chris bring those guys in and it's 63 00:04:07,600 --> 00:04:09,880 Speaker 1: not just me that has done it. It's plenty of 64 00:04:09,960 --> 00:04:12,840 Speaker 1: guys and it's a track record of that where guys 65 00:04:12,920 --> 00:04:16,240 Speaker 1: come in, play their butts off and then go on 66 00:04:16,520 --> 00:04:19,600 Speaker 1: and continue their career in a positive way. And it's 67 00:04:19,640 --> 00:04:22,560 Speaker 1: just Chris. Chris is the same guy every day. He 68 00:04:22,680 --> 00:04:25,280 Speaker 1: wants the best for you. He loves you dearly. It's 69 00:04:25,320 --> 00:04:28,880 Speaker 1: not it's not just football, it's he wants he wants 70 00:04:28,920 --> 00:04:32,560 Speaker 1: you to be a man. Really with him is take 71 00:04:32,600 --> 00:04:35,080 Speaker 1: care of the man first football or take care of itself. 72 00:04:35,320 --> 00:04:37,240 Speaker 1: And then I think that's what he do and he 73 00:04:37,360 --> 00:04:40,080 Speaker 1: really showed that he really loves and cares for the players, 74 00:04:40,160 --> 00:04:43,080 Speaker 1: for his players. Okay, so unfortunately for us, we saw 75 00:04:43,200 --> 00:04:46,400 Speaker 1: you twice at the end of the season. Yeah, don't 76 00:04:46,440 --> 00:04:49,560 Speaker 1: smile like that. I don't think we've blocked you yet. 77 00:04:50,440 --> 00:04:54,039 Speaker 1: So what was it wasn't just us? You got going 78 00:04:54,440 --> 00:04:57,480 Speaker 1: crazy good in December and then into the playoffs? What 79 00:04:57,680 --> 00:05:01,880 Speaker 1: was that san Fran learning in San Fran being in 80 00:05:01,960 --> 00:05:05,000 Speaker 1: the league, you know, November December is meaningful football game. 81 00:05:05,400 --> 00:05:08,560 Speaker 1: It's we don't I mean, you start off high, who cares? 82 00:05:08,680 --> 00:05:10,839 Speaker 1: Yeah you're high, But we're the same team that start 83 00:05:10,880 --> 00:05:12,720 Speaker 1: off hot and don't make it to the playoffs, and 84 00:05:12,839 --> 00:05:18,039 Speaker 1: it's November December is when players start to separate themselves. 85 00:05:18,279 --> 00:05:22,000 Speaker 1: For me, players start to separate themselves in November December 86 00:05:22,080 --> 00:05:26,239 Speaker 1: because we understand as players it's playoff time. It's difference 87 00:05:26,400 --> 00:05:29,920 Speaker 1: than regular season playoffs is we're trying to get to 88 00:05:30,040 --> 00:05:33,560 Speaker 1: the super Bowl. That's what every team dream and aspiration 89 00:05:33,960 --> 00:05:35,560 Speaker 1: in this league is to get to the super Bowl. 90 00:05:35,800 --> 00:05:39,480 Speaker 1: But November December is what sets you up to make 91 00:05:39,560 --> 00:05:43,080 Speaker 1: it to the playoffs or have that the momentum going 92 00:05:43,200 --> 00:05:46,280 Speaker 1: into the playoffs. But I mean last year for Jacksonville 93 00:05:46,360 --> 00:05:48,400 Speaker 1: at the end, we played to December eleventh, and then 94 00:05:48,440 --> 00:05:50,920 Speaker 1: we saw you in January, and then in the two 95 00:05:50,960 --> 00:05:56,640 Speaker 1: playoff games, I mean you were almost unblockable totally. Was 96 00:05:56,680 --> 00:05:59,839 Speaker 1: there something technique wise or something that you had tapped 97 00:06:00,040 --> 00:06:03,120 Speaker 1: into where you just fresh? How did I mean? That 98 00:06:03,320 --> 00:06:06,719 Speaker 1: was remarkable? It was just tapping in as when November 99 00:06:06,760 --> 00:06:09,839 Speaker 1: December come. I talked about November dy Center, September Tober, 100 00:06:10,120 --> 00:06:14,080 Speaker 1: so my mind is already always and already on November December, 101 00:06:14,520 --> 00:06:16,760 Speaker 1: and it just being like I said, I'm always burned 102 00:06:16,760 --> 00:06:18,680 Speaker 1: back to San France because I learned so much there. 103 00:06:19,160 --> 00:06:22,920 Speaker 1: It's like we got Fred Warner, you got Nick Bosa, 104 00:06:23,120 --> 00:06:26,720 Speaker 1: Eric Armstead, you you had Jimmy Ward, you had all 105 00:06:26,800 --> 00:06:30,119 Speaker 1: these guys who've been playing playoff football. I never played 106 00:06:30,160 --> 00:06:33,800 Speaker 1: a playoff football game before being in San France. So 107 00:06:33,920 --> 00:06:36,040 Speaker 1: you carried that over, carried it over. So they tell 108 00:06:36,120 --> 00:06:38,920 Speaker 1: you it don't matter what you did early on in 109 00:06:39,000 --> 00:06:43,040 Speaker 1: the season. November December is where you separate yourself so 110 00:06:43,240 --> 00:06:45,120 Speaker 1: we can make it to the playoffs. You know, if 111 00:06:45,120 --> 00:06:47,520 Speaker 1: you put together a whole year like that, who knows 112 00:06:47,560 --> 00:06:50,000 Speaker 1: the numbers that's and that's are you ready to do that? 113 00:06:50,120 --> 00:06:53,200 Speaker 1: I am? I am going into That's a decision. That 114 00:06:53,360 --> 00:06:55,680 Speaker 1: was That's why I came to Tennessee. It was an 115 00:06:55,720 --> 00:06:59,160 Speaker 1: opportunity for me to come in have a starting row. Um. 116 00:06:59,480 --> 00:07:01,880 Speaker 1: I've been looking for a starting role for the last 117 00:07:02,680 --> 00:07:05,240 Speaker 1: two years and when able to get that at same 118 00:07:05,320 --> 00:07:09,800 Speaker 1: frand which everyone, to be honest, it's some guys over there, 119 00:07:10,560 --> 00:07:13,360 Speaker 1: some dude. And I can't be mad at that because 120 00:07:13,400 --> 00:07:16,800 Speaker 1: it's it's dudes and they've been all pros everything, So 121 00:07:16,880 --> 00:07:19,720 Speaker 1: I can't argue with that. Jacksonville, I kind of was 122 00:07:19,960 --> 00:07:22,720 Speaker 1: arguing with it. I mean, put my numbers compared to 123 00:07:22,760 --> 00:07:25,720 Speaker 1: their numbers. I mean, we can sit and we can talk. 124 00:07:25,960 --> 00:07:28,080 Speaker 1: So I was just tired of being a third down 125 00:07:28,520 --> 00:07:32,640 Speaker 1: pastor specialist. That's that's, that's my name. Now I started 126 00:07:32,680 --> 00:07:36,600 Speaker 1: to see a third down specialist, Yeah, third down specialist, 127 00:07:36,640 --> 00:07:39,960 Speaker 1: A pastor specialist. Yeah, I mean I'm more than just 128 00:07:40,040 --> 00:07:42,840 Speaker 1: a pastors. I played a run too as well as 129 00:07:42,880 --> 00:07:45,600 Speaker 1: I do the pastors. But I guess it's every interview 130 00:07:45,640 --> 00:07:47,960 Speaker 1: I talk about pastors because I love it. I love him. 131 00:07:48,200 --> 00:07:50,240 Speaker 1: When you did your pre draft interview here with us, 132 00:07:50,280 --> 00:07:53,200 Speaker 1: you talked about pastor. Every answer to every question was 133 00:07:53,240 --> 00:07:56,640 Speaker 1: a pastor, pastor. Even though I pay I played the 134 00:07:56,720 --> 00:08:01,200 Speaker 1: run because now, yeah, are you coming out of LSU 135 00:08:01,720 --> 00:08:07,600 Speaker 1: two thirty five to eight specific? Okay, well forty good burgers, 136 00:08:07,640 --> 00:08:09,680 Speaker 1: you know, all right? So let me ask you this. 137 00:08:09,800 --> 00:08:12,800 Speaker 1: Are you a fan of professional wrestling? M oh, you 138 00:08:12,920 --> 00:08:16,320 Speaker 1: like MMA better, But you know, in professional wrestling, when 139 00:08:16,400 --> 00:08:20,160 Speaker 1: a bad guy becomes a good guy, it's a little jarring. 140 00:08:21,120 --> 00:08:23,320 Speaker 1: So we thought of you the last two years as 141 00:08:23,360 --> 00:08:26,280 Speaker 1: a bad guy and now you're a good guy. Are 142 00:08:26,320 --> 00:08:29,240 Speaker 1: you ready to be a really good good guy in Nashville? Yeah, 143 00:08:29,240 --> 00:08:31,920 Speaker 1: I'm gonna be a really great guy. In Nashville, just 144 00:08:32,160 --> 00:08:46,120 Speaker 1: on Thursdays, Sundays and Mondays. Thank you, thank you. That's 145 00:08:46,360 --> 00:08:51,280 Speaker 1: Ardent Key. Next up, my interview with a linebacker by 146 00:08:51,320 --> 00:08:54,559 Speaker 1: the name of Aziz al Shire. He comes to the 147 00:08:54,640 --> 00:08:58,599 Speaker 1: Titans from San Francisco after four successful seasons with the 148 00:08:58,720 --> 00:09:02,520 Speaker 1: nineties six two to twenty eight, played in sixty two games, 149 00:09:02,640 --> 00:09:08,400 Speaker 1: thirty five starts versatile, smart, athletic linebacker that Mike Vrabel 150 00:09:08,559 --> 00:09:11,559 Speaker 1: was looking for in free agency, and of course Ran 151 00:09:11,720 --> 00:09:15,240 Speaker 1: Carthon knew him well from their days together with the 152 00:09:15,320 --> 00:09:19,600 Speaker 1: forty nine ers. A Tampa native who played at Florida Atlantic, 153 00:09:19,960 --> 00:09:24,559 Speaker 1: al Shire has an amazing story, both personally and professionally. 154 00:09:25,200 --> 00:09:28,520 Speaker 1: Here's my talk with a zs Alshi on the OT two. 155 00:09:34,960 --> 00:09:38,040 Speaker 1: A Zz, you have signed up to play linebacker from 156 00:09:38,080 --> 00:09:46,199 Speaker 1: Mike Vrabel. Did you knowingly do that or restrict Tell me? 157 00:09:46,320 --> 00:09:50,400 Speaker 1: I mean Vrabel was a good linebacker and the linebackers 158 00:09:50,440 --> 00:09:54,680 Speaker 1: who play for him he holds extra responsible. But I'm 159 00:09:54,760 --> 00:09:57,959 Speaker 1: guessing from where you come from and what your background is, 160 00:09:58,160 --> 00:10:02,439 Speaker 1: you almost welcome that, don't you. I think from being 161 00:10:02,480 --> 00:10:04,959 Speaker 1: in San Francisco for the last four years, like we 162 00:10:05,360 --> 00:10:08,480 Speaker 1: consider ourselves the best linebacker group in the NFL, you know, 163 00:10:08,559 --> 00:10:11,120 Speaker 1: in the world, because NFL is the highest group you 164 00:10:11,160 --> 00:10:12,800 Speaker 1: can get, and so if you're the best in the NFL, 165 00:10:12,880 --> 00:10:15,280 Speaker 1: you're the best in the world. And that's just something 166 00:10:15,360 --> 00:10:17,640 Speaker 1: that we stood by. We put we put the defense 167 00:10:17,720 --> 00:10:19,320 Speaker 1: on our shoulders, We put a lot on our plate 168 00:10:19,679 --> 00:10:21,839 Speaker 1: as a group to say, hey, man, like, if we 169 00:10:21,960 --> 00:10:25,240 Speaker 1: play well, the whole team will. So that's the same mentality. 170 00:10:25,280 --> 00:10:27,800 Speaker 1: That's the only mentality I've known. And so you know 171 00:10:28,120 --> 00:10:32,079 Speaker 1: with Coach Rabel, like I wouldn't expect anything less, Like 172 00:10:32,160 --> 00:10:33,640 Speaker 1: he doesn't even have to tell me that. That's something 173 00:10:33,679 --> 00:10:36,800 Speaker 1: I feel myself, you know, even talking with the coaches, 174 00:10:36,840 --> 00:10:39,160 Speaker 1: like that's just kind of the mentality that I want 175 00:10:39,200 --> 00:10:41,000 Speaker 1: to bring, is to make sure that's like, hey, like 176 00:10:41,600 --> 00:10:43,120 Speaker 1: we got to hold our weight, we got to set 177 00:10:43,160 --> 00:10:45,440 Speaker 1: the standards. So because that's the same mentality we had 178 00:10:45,480 --> 00:10:48,720 Speaker 1: in San franc When the Titans played San Francisco two 179 00:10:48,800 --> 00:10:51,800 Speaker 1: days before Christmas in twenty twenty one, we met with 180 00:10:51,880 --> 00:10:55,880 Speaker 1: Coach Rabel before the broadcast and in the production meeting. 181 00:10:55,960 --> 00:10:59,920 Speaker 1: He said that that linebacking core, which is on point 182 00:11:00,360 --> 00:11:03,079 Speaker 1: as anybody he had ever seen. That that's what really 183 00:11:03,240 --> 00:11:06,079 Speaker 1: impressed him that you guys, whether it's run or pass 184 00:11:06,200 --> 00:11:10,760 Speaker 1: or whatever, you guys didn't make mistakes. How did it 185 00:11:10,920 --> 00:11:14,679 Speaker 1: come to be that that group and your play would 186 00:11:14,720 --> 00:11:17,400 Speaker 1: be so on point in that way? Man? I think 187 00:11:18,320 --> 00:11:21,120 Speaker 1: years of jelling with each other with a combination of 188 00:11:21,320 --> 00:11:25,480 Speaker 1: you know, Johnny Holland like, man, one of the best 189 00:11:25,559 --> 00:11:29,040 Speaker 1: coaches I've ever had and got to be coached by. 190 00:11:29,160 --> 00:11:32,000 Speaker 1: You know, it's an honor. He's literally like a grandfather 191 00:11:32,080 --> 00:11:34,160 Speaker 1: to me. You know what I'm saying, Like the man 192 00:11:34,440 --> 00:11:38,920 Speaker 1: like he's gonna be on you about everything, but he's 193 00:11:39,480 --> 00:11:44,040 Speaker 1: really big on positive like reinforcement. And I think he 194 00:11:44,240 --> 00:11:46,920 Speaker 1: just he made people. He can make the sorriest player 195 00:11:47,040 --> 00:11:49,280 Speaker 1: feel as if he was the best person in the room. 196 00:11:49,360 --> 00:11:51,199 Speaker 1: Like that's the that's the energy that he rans, the 197 00:11:51,280 --> 00:11:53,160 Speaker 1: mentality that he had, and he was gonna have you 198 00:11:53,280 --> 00:11:57,000 Speaker 1: prepared for every meeting, every game, anything he faced. Um. 199 00:11:57,559 --> 00:11:59,400 Speaker 1: And I think when you just buy into that, you know, 200 00:11:59,480 --> 00:12:02,480 Speaker 1: and over years of the same thing, you know, it 201 00:12:02,640 --> 00:12:05,640 Speaker 1: just it only got stronger. So I mean, I think 202 00:12:05,679 --> 00:12:07,680 Speaker 1: that's how you do that when you play with love 203 00:12:08,600 --> 00:12:10,920 Speaker 1: for each other. You know, you play with a bond 204 00:12:11,000 --> 00:12:12,559 Speaker 1: for your brother. You don't want to make mistakes. You 205 00:12:12,600 --> 00:12:14,240 Speaker 1: want to make sure that you go out there and 206 00:12:14,320 --> 00:12:16,400 Speaker 1: play hard as you can play your best, and you 207 00:12:16,440 --> 00:12:18,520 Speaker 1: know that's what we're able to accomplish and do that time. 208 00:12:18,920 --> 00:12:22,880 Speaker 1: What does Aziz al Shire bring to the meeting rooms 209 00:12:23,160 --> 00:12:26,480 Speaker 1: here knowing that it's going to be a very young 210 00:12:26,640 --> 00:12:29,000 Speaker 1: room that you're going to walk into. Yeah, honestly, I 211 00:12:29,040 --> 00:12:30,920 Speaker 1: feel like I bring a lot of experience, a lot 212 00:12:30,960 --> 00:12:34,319 Speaker 1: of leadership and the aspect like I've been through. I 213 00:12:34,480 --> 00:12:37,280 Speaker 1: was undrafted. You know, when you're undrafted, it's like I 214 00:12:37,400 --> 00:12:39,959 Speaker 1: try to explain to all the guys and especially to 215 00:12:40,000 --> 00:12:42,920 Speaker 1: college guys, being undrafted in the NFL, it's like being 216 00:12:42,960 --> 00:12:45,880 Speaker 1: a walk out in college football, like you're you're at 217 00:12:45,920 --> 00:12:48,599 Speaker 1: the very bottom of the total pole. So you know, 218 00:12:48,760 --> 00:12:51,559 Speaker 1: when you remember Kwan Alexander, he's like a brother to 219 00:12:51,640 --> 00:12:54,560 Speaker 1: me and coming in we both to our ACL at 220 00:12:54,600 --> 00:12:56,800 Speaker 1: the same time, almost like two three days apart from 221 00:12:56,840 --> 00:12:59,679 Speaker 1: each other, my senior year of college and his last 222 00:12:59,760 --> 00:13:03,880 Speaker 1: year Tampa, and we rehab together, did everything together. Obviously, 223 00:13:03,960 --> 00:13:06,320 Speaker 1: Kwan signed like the fifty seven million dollars contracts something 224 00:13:06,400 --> 00:13:09,000 Speaker 1: like that. You know, I signed undrafted free agent the 225 00:13:09,120 --> 00:13:11,520 Speaker 1: first dead training camp when we both are ready to play. 226 00:13:12,080 --> 00:13:16,160 Speaker 1: Look at the depth chart, Alexander number one starter, and 227 00:13:16,200 --> 00:13:17,559 Speaker 1: then I see my name and I remember it with 228 00:13:17,640 --> 00:13:19,760 Speaker 1: ten guys in there, and I was literally the tenth 229 00:13:19,880 --> 00:13:22,120 Speaker 1: guy on the depth chart. And I remember just laughing 230 00:13:22,160 --> 00:13:23,719 Speaker 1: to me and Kwan Saturday to each other, and I 231 00:13:23,840 --> 00:13:26,280 Speaker 1: was just laughing to myself, just like you know, like 232 00:13:26,559 --> 00:13:28,360 Speaker 1: here it goes again, like you got to start from 233 00:13:28,400 --> 00:13:31,120 Speaker 1: the bottom up, and you know, going through all that 234 00:13:31,360 --> 00:13:32,880 Speaker 1: and going through all the highs and lows that I 235 00:13:33,000 --> 00:13:35,360 Speaker 1: went through in San Francisco over the last four years. 236 00:13:35,400 --> 00:13:37,800 Speaker 1: And I've been in three NFC Championships in four years 237 00:13:38,240 --> 00:13:40,559 Speaker 1: playing in the NFL, you know, so I feel like 238 00:13:41,080 --> 00:13:43,840 Speaker 1: all experience I have from that and also just personally 239 00:13:43,920 --> 00:13:46,240 Speaker 1: in my own life, I can bring a lot to 240 00:13:46,320 --> 00:13:49,120 Speaker 1: the table just in that room with those guys, just 241 00:13:49,240 --> 00:13:52,080 Speaker 1: really helping him grow as better players. Because the same 242 00:13:52,760 --> 00:13:55,760 Speaker 1: mentality that Johnny had, you know, he instilled in me 243 00:13:55,880 --> 00:13:59,079 Speaker 1: and I feel the same way, Like I know how 244 00:13:59,200 --> 00:14:01,040 Speaker 1: I can get the most side of the guys in Army, 245 00:14:01,480 --> 00:14:03,439 Speaker 1: and I think that in order to get the most 246 00:14:03,440 --> 00:14:06,040 Speaker 1: out of each other, you gotta build chemistry with each other, 247 00:14:06,080 --> 00:14:08,319 Speaker 1: and you gotta like build that bond because if you 248 00:14:08,360 --> 00:14:10,880 Speaker 1: don't have it, it'll be cool when things are good, 249 00:14:11,000 --> 00:14:13,880 Speaker 1: but as soon as like you start losing or you 250 00:14:13,960 --> 00:14:16,480 Speaker 1: have a tough game or somebody makes a bad play. 251 00:14:16,960 --> 00:14:19,560 Speaker 1: Now everybody law school, that dude like you gotta figured 252 00:14:19,600 --> 00:14:21,600 Speaker 1: out on his own when his family, when it's somebody 253 00:14:21,600 --> 00:14:23,400 Speaker 1: that you care about, you know, you're like, listen, we're 254 00:14:23,400 --> 00:14:27,160 Speaker 1: gonna figure this out together. So pros have to be resilion. 255 00:14:27,320 --> 00:14:31,520 Speaker 1: But your life story is one of resiliency. I mean 256 00:14:32,480 --> 00:14:36,960 Speaker 1: remarkable family of nine right, yes, sir, eight children and 257 00:14:37,080 --> 00:14:42,240 Speaker 1: my mother. So your house is on fire and you 258 00:14:42,440 --> 00:14:46,000 Speaker 1: wake up and get everybody out of the house, and 259 00:14:46,120 --> 00:14:48,960 Speaker 1: that's great, but then you're homeless, and then you have 260 00:14:49,080 --> 00:14:52,840 Speaker 1: to fight through all of that, making through making sure 261 00:14:52,960 --> 00:14:57,720 Speaker 1: brothers and sisters get fed, taking extra recruiting trips for 262 00:14:57,920 --> 00:15:01,680 Speaker 1: food before you go to Florida Atlantic, taking two of 263 00:15:01,760 --> 00:15:04,800 Speaker 1: your brothers with you to Florida Atlantic to make sure 264 00:15:05,360 --> 00:15:10,680 Speaker 1: they're taking care of So being resilient as a football 265 00:15:10,760 --> 00:15:14,000 Speaker 1: player it must feel like nothing to you after how 266 00:15:14,080 --> 00:15:17,240 Speaker 1: your life had prepared you for your career. I think 267 00:15:18,400 --> 00:15:21,040 Speaker 1: that's one of the biggest things that I've relied on 268 00:15:21,480 --> 00:15:23,920 Speaker 1: to getting me through the football stuff. Is you know, 269 00:15:24,040 --> 00:15:26,880 Speaker 1: I think football is like it's it's like control chaos, 270 00:15:27,520 --> 00:15:32,040 Speaker 1: and I think when you take a like a broader 271 00:15:32,120 --> 00:15:35,040 Speaker 1: look at not just football, but look at the world, 272 00:15:35,200 --> 00:15:38,920 Speaker 1: and like imagine being in those situations. I'm thirteen years old, 273 00:15:39,040 --> 00:15:41,280 Speaker 1: you know when that when the fire I happened. So 274 00:15:41,440 --> 00:15:44,480 Speaker 1: it's like, if I got through all those things and 275 00:15:45,000 --> 00:15:47,320 Speaker 1: I made it to be here, I'll be fine while 276 00:15:47,320 --> 00:15:50,120 Speaker 1: I'm here. So that's kind of just like always been 277 00:15:50,200 --> 00:15:52,920 Speaker 1: something I carried myself with and had that little chip 278 00:15:53,000 --> 00:15:54,960 Speaker 1: on my shoulder that kind of just brought me all 279 00:15:55,000 --> 00:15:57,560 Speaker 1: the way through and even through the hard times through football, 280 00:15:57,920 --> 00:15:59,640 Speaker 1: I just kept pushing and I was able to see 281 00:15:59,680 --> 00:16:03,080 Speaker 1: the light. Wrap this up for us with this, how 282 00:16:03,120 --> 00:16:07,120 Speaker 1: would you describe the linebacker, the football player, the person 283 00:16:08,320 --> 00:16:11,920 Speaker 1: that Aziz al Shire is to the Titans fans? What 284 00:16:12,160 --> 00:16:15,280 Speaker 1: is this team getting in you? And you're getting the 285 00:16:15,320 --> 00:16:18,720 Speaker 1: guy that has passion, has a love for the game. 286 00:16:19,440 --> 00:16:23,360 Speaker 1: I'm so grateful for just everything that I've accomplished in life, 287 00:16:23,400 --> 00:16:26,080 Speaker 1: everything that I'll be able to to do in my 288 00:16:26,200 --> 00:16:28,920 Speaker 1: lifetime and getting here, and I'm gonna give you everything 289 00:16:28,960 --> 00:16:32,880 Speaker 1: I got, Like like my blood, sweat and tears is 290 00:16:32,920 --> 00:16:34,960 Speaker 1: going to go into what I do. I take everything 291 00:16:35,120 --> 00:16:37,480 Speaker 1: I do very seriously, but I also have fun with it. 292 00:16:37,520 --> 00:16:38,960 Speaker 1: I like to put a smile on my face all 293 00:16:39,000 --> 00:16:41,520 Speaker 1: the time. My grandfather always telling me to smile, Big 294 00:16:41,560 --> 00:16:43,520 Speaker 1: old Smiley called me smiley O'Reilly. When I was a 295 00:16:43,520 --> 00:16:46,160 Speaker 1: little kid. My mama did so, you know. I just 296 00:16:47,240 --> 00:16:50,440 Speaker 1: bring a lot of energy, a lot of positivity. Um. 297 00:16:50,920 --> 00:16:53,320 Speaker 1: I love to get back in the community, so you'll 298 00:16:53,320 --> 00:16:56,280 Speaker 1: see my face a lot in the community, hopefully, really so. 299 00:16:57,160 --> 00:16:59,040 Speaker 1: And I'm just excited to be here. Man. Sorry for 300 00:16:59,120 --> 00:17:09,399 Speaker 1: the opportunity. That's a zz Alshire, one of the newest 301 00:17:09,560 --> 00:17:13,840 Speaker 1: Titans free agents. Are you a Tennessee Titans fan looking 302 00:17:13,920 --> 00:17:17,040 Speaker 1: for a premium wine experience, look no further than the 303 00:17:17,119 --> 00:17:21,560 Speaker 1: Foolish Club, the official wine club of the Titans. Enjoy 304 00:17:21,760 --> 00:17:27,040 Speaker 1: handcrafted Napa Valley wines, exclusive access to private events, and 305 00:17:27,320 --> 00:17:32,720 Speaker 1: complementary tastings. Visit Foolish Club dot com to sign up now, 306 00:17:33,280 --> 00:17:38,159 Speaker 1: and you'll receive either three or six premium Napa Valley 307 00:17:38,240 --> 00:17:41,040 Speaker 1: wine bottles twice a year, along with many other benefits. 308 00:17:41,640 --> 00:17:45,360 Speaker 1: Join the Foolish Club today at elevate your wine game 309 00:17:45,480 --> 00:17:50,119 Speaker 1: while showing off your Titans pride. Aziz al Shire is 310 00:17:50,200 --> 00:17:53,600 Speaker 1: one of two players signing with the Tennessee Titans who 311 00:17:53,840 --> 00:17:57,280 Speaker 1: came from the San Francisco forty nine Ers. The other 312 00:17:57,600 --> 00:18:01,640 Speaker 1: is offensive lineman Daniel Brunskill. Did I say that right? 313 00:18:01,920 --> 00:18:06,000 Speaker 1: Let's make sure. Here's my chat with the newest Titans 314 00:18:06,080 --> 00:18:10,320 Speaker 1: offensive lineman or one of the two newest, Daniel brun Skill. 315 00:18:11,160 --> 00:18:20,800 Speaker 1: For Brunt Skille, most obvious question to begin is, we 316 00:18:20,920 --> 00:18:23,600 Speaker 1: want to say your last name? Probably okay, so the 317 00:18:23,720 --> 00:18:26,320 Speaker 1: forty nine ers didn't list it under the pronunciation, so 318 00:18:26,480 --> 00:18:30,560 Speaker 1: give it to us brunt Skill. Yeah, well that's pretty straightforward, 319 00:18:30,800 --> 00:18:33,399 Speaker 1: pretty easy. Yeah, and that's who you are as a player, 320 00:18:33,480 --> 00:18:36,840 Speaker 1: pretty straightforward. Yeah, that's what you've done throughout your career. 321 00:18:37,920 --> 00:18:39,639 Speaker 1: So I gotta see if I got this right. So 322 00:18:39,760 --> 00:18:42,520 Speaker 1: you come out of high school in San Diego, you 323 00:18:42,720 --> 00:18:45,640 Speaker 1: decide to walk on at San Diego State, and who 324 00:18:45,800 --> 00:18:48,840 Speaker 1: recruits you really there? Who convinces you to come walk on? 325 00:18:49,640 --> 00:18:52,720 Speaker 1: Brian Sipe was the guy, the Browns quarterback from years 326 00:18:52,840 --> 00:18:55,520 Speaker 1: going by. Okay, So you go to San Diego State 327 00:18:56,480 --> 00:18:59,840 Speaker 1: and you're an offensive lineman in high school and you're 328 00:19:00,040 --> 00:19:03,560 Speaker 1: a Shirt and then you end up a tight end. Yes, sir, 329 00:19:03,880 --> 00:19:06,040 Speaker 1: how does that happen? I didn't weigh a lot, and 330 00:19:06,240 --> 00:19:08,200 Speaker 1: so they wanted me on the field, and they wanted 331 00:19:08,200 --> 00:19:09,520 Speaker 1: to find a way to get me on the field, 332 00:19:09,560 --> 00:19:11,520 Speaker 1: so tight end was the best way to do that. 333 00:19:11,720 --> 00:19:15,040 Speaker 1: And then uh then did I end up run running 334 00:19:15,080 --> 00:19:16,760 Speaker 1: routes and stuff, and they're like, this guy can actually 335 00:19:16,800 --> 00:19:19,160 Speaker 1: play tight end. So then you know I had had 336 00:19:19,320 --> 00:19:22,320 Speaker 1: pretty decent hands, and so they like that, and then 337 00:19:22,920 --> 00:19:26,000 Speaker 1: ended up playing tight end for three years and wasn't 338 00:19:26,080 --> 00:19:28,160 Speaker 1: until my senior year where they we had a guy 339 00:19:28,240 --> 00:19:30,160 Speaker 1: go down and they need they needed a right tackle, 340 00:19:30,240 --> 00:19:33,639 Speaker 1: and they said for me to play that even if 341 00:19:33,680 --> 00:19:37,280 Speaker 1: I was two fifty they said, I gain as much 342 00:19:37,320 --> 00:19:39,000 Speaker 1: weight as you can, but at the end of the day, 343 00:19:39,040 --> 00:19:40,760 Speaker 1: we think you can play that spot better than what 344 00:19:40,920 --> 00:19:43,600 Speaker 1: we have left. So then they did, what did you 345 00:19:43,720 --> 00:19:46,920 Speaker 1: weigh that year? That was twenty sixteen, right, Yeah, so 346 00:19:47,560 --> 00:19:50,480 Speaker 1: my senior year it was twenty sixteen. I weighed about 347 00:19:50,840 --> 00:19:53,440 Speaker 1: two fifty five maybe two sixty in the offseason, and 348 00:19:53,560 --> 00:19:56,040 Speaker 1: then I put on like ten pounds ended up waghing 349 00:19:56,080 --> 00:20:00,320 Speaker 1: like two seventy. Now as as a professional offensive lineman day, 350 00:20:00,640 --> 00:20:04,240 Speaker 1: when you think about that, that's crazy. Yeah, yeah, no, 351 00:20:04,400 --> 00:20:06,159 Speaker 1: it's wild, but I mean, I've always kind of been 352 00:20:06,240 --> 00:20:08,440 Speaker 1: the lighter guy and able to play at that and 353 00:20:08,560 --> 00:20:11,480 Speaker 1: so I don't have too much of a problem with that. 354 00:20:11,720 --> 00:20:13,920 Speaker 1: And you played a lot of other sports in high 355 00:20:13,960 --> 00:20:16,440 Speaker 1: school too, volleyball, Yes, sir, what else did you do? 356 00:20:16,720 --> 00:20:20,000 Speaker 1: Played a volleyball, lacrosse, I wrestled for a little bit, 357 00:20:20,240 --> 00:20:24,640 Speaker 1: So you're pretty good overall athlete, I'd like to think. 358 00:20:25,520 --> 00:20:27,960 Speaker 1: And then so two years with the Falcons on the 359 00:20:28,040 --> 00:20:32,000 Speaker 1: practice squad, so you basically got two NFL red shirt seasons, 360 00:20:32,920 --> 00:20:35,159 Speaker 1: and then you go to the AAF and that was 361 00:20:35,240 --> 00:20:38,880 Speaker 1: a turning point for you. Yeah, so I knew in Atlanta, 362 00:20:38,880 --> 00:20:40,360 Speaker 1: I felt like I could play a lot of guys 363 00:20:40,400 --> 00:20:42,560 Speaker 1: they brought in, they still had me taking like a 364 00:20:42,680 --> 00:20:46,119 Speaker 1: majority of the reps to relieve the starters and stuff 365 00:20:46,160 --> 00:20:48,040 Speaker 1: like that, and I just felt like I never really 366 00:20:48,080 --> 00:20:51,080 Speaker 1: got an opportunity to move up, and I saw like 367 00:20:51,160 --> 00:20:54,159 Speaker 1: other guys moving up around me. So when they offered 368 00:20:54,200 --> 00:20:56,399 Speaker 1: me a future is my second year, I decided not 369 00:20:56,480 --> 00:20:58,840 Speaker 1: to take it because I wanted a chance to maybe 370 00:20:58,880 --> 00:21:01,240 Speaker 1: prove myself be able to like I can actually play 371 00:21:01,240 --> 00:21:05,280 Speaker 1: in the NFL. And so then nobody really came around 372 00:21:05,320 --> 00:21:06,800 Speaker 1: at that point. So then I was a little worried, 373 00:21:06,840 --> 00:21:08,720 Speaker 1: but that I knew the AF was starting up and 374 00:21:09,119 --> 00:21:11,760 Speaker 1: those teams wanted me a lot, And so then to 375 00:21:11,840 --> 00:21:13,600 Speaker 1: be able to go play in San Diego again, I 376 00:21:13,720 --> 00:21:15,840 Speaker 1: was like, I took the took the opportunity to do that. 377 00:21:16,240 --> 00:21:17,840 Speaker 1: I figured it best it can give me, like some 378 00:21:18,000 --> 00:21:21,200 Speaker 1: good film all that and ended up working out. Gave 379 00:21:21,240 --> 00:21:23,640 Speaker 1: me a chance to play with the Niners and got there, 380 00:21:23,760 --> 00:21:27,040 Speaker 1: made the team right away, and stories history. And you've 381 00:21:27,080 --> 00:21:30,440 Speaker 1: played in sixty four games. You've made forty five starts. 382 00:21:30,800 --> 00:21:32,240 Speaker 1: Let me see if I got this right. So you 383 00:21:32,359 --> 00:21:35,560 Speaker 1: have thirty one starts at right guard, you have eight 384 00:21:35,680 --> 00:21:39,240 Speaker 1: starts at center, you have four starts at right tackle, 385 00:21:39,320 --> 00:21:41,280 Speaker 1: and then you have one start at left guard and 386 00:21:41,400 --> 00:21:44,280 Speaker 1: left tackle. It sounds about right, okay, So you've started 387 00:21:44,320 --> 00:21:46,439 Speaker 1: every position, yes, sir. So you're just a guy who 388 00:21:46,480 --> 00:21:50,320 Speaker 1: wants a job. Yeah, pretty much when you have a preference, 389 00:21:50,440 --> 00:21:52,520 Speaker 1: do you do you really came at the end of 390 00:21:52,520 --> 00:21:54,800 Speaker 1: the day, Yeah, like the right side feels more comfortable. 391 00:21:54,800 --> 00:21:56,879 Speaker 1: Pieuse Like you said, I've played a lot more starts 392 00:21:56,880 --> 00:21:59,720 Speaker 1: over there, but anywhere that's on the field. Piece. Once 393 00:21:59,760 --> 00:22:01,600 Speaker 1: you get going on the left left side. I used 394 00:22:01,640 --> 00:22:04,119 Speaker 1: to think early on that you know, it was always 395 00:22:04,119 --> 00:22:06,199 Speaker 1: like super hard because you don't feel comfortable. But then 396 00:22:06,200 --> 00:22:07,800 Speaker 1: all of a sudden, you start playing and you just 397 00:22:07,880 --> 00:22:09,280 Speaker 1: get used to it and you're like, you know, this 398 00:22:09,359 --> 00:22:11,680 Speaker 1: ain't too bad, So left side is not that much 399 00:22:11,680 --> 00:22:15,719 Speaker 1: of a problem either. You are truly a professional offensive lineman, 400 00:22:15,760 --> 00:22:18,399 Speaker 1: aren't you. I mean, that's pretty much that's the I mean, 401 00:22:18,440 --> 00:22:21,400 Speaker 1: you're you're nearly twenty nine and you've you know, you've 402 00:22:21,480 --> 00:22:24,600 Speaker 1: got an opportunity now to become a full time starter 403 00:22:24,840 --> 00:22:27,480 Speaker 1: for the Tennessee Titans. It's got to be an exciting 404 00:22:27,600 --> 00:22:31,720 Speaker 1: proposition to go through this process now, after all that 405 00:22:31,800 --> 00:22:33,920 Speaker 1: you've been through to get here. Yeah. No, I'm excited 406 00:22:34,000 --> 00:22:36,720 Speaker 1: to start again and be able to prove to the 407 00:22:37,119 --> 00:22:39,120 Speaker 1: you know, the NFL that I'm a full time starter 408 00:22:39,240 --> 00:22:42,080 Speaker 1: all the time. I got to do two full years 409 00:22:42,160 --> 00:22:44,920 Speaker 1: of starting in the Niners and and then, you know, 410 00:22:44,960 --> 00:22:46,840 Speaker 1: I'm just excited to be able to show everybody that 411 00:22:46,920 --> 00:22:49,080 Speaker 1: I can. I mean, I can go play out there, 412 00:22:49,119 --> 00:22:50,399 Speaker 1: and at the end of the day, playing football is 413 00:22:50,480 --> 00:22:58,600 Speaker 1: what I want to do. It's half time of the OTP, 414 00:22:58,880 --> 00:23:03,879 Speaker 1: presented by Duncan Rewards download the Duncan app today and 415 00:23:04,040 --> 00:23:08,000 Speaker 1: start saving and stacking your way to the free Duncan. 416 00:23:08,080 --> 00:23:11,320 Speaker 1: You'll love save him, stack 'em, use him how you want. 417 00:23:11,440 --> 00:23:16,200 Speaker 1: America runs on Duncan terms apply. Luke Gifford, Titans free 418 00:23:16,240 --> 00:23:20,040 Speaker 1: agent signee, not related to Kathee Lee Gifford, as some 419 00:23:20,200 --> 00:23:24,280 Speaker 1: people thought ed. Multiple people ask me that Kathy Lee, 420 00:23:24,320 --> 00:23:26,200 Speaker 1: by the way, is lovely. I met her briefly and 421 00:23:26,320 --> 00:23:30,480 Speaker 1: Franklin recently. She's very nice, but she's not related to 422 00:23:30,640 --> 00:23:33,679 Speaker 1: Luke Gifford, a linebacker who comes to the Tennessee Titans 423 00:23:33,760 --> 00:23:36,800 Speaker 1: from the Dallas Cowboys. Gifford might be a sleeper in 424 00:23:36,880 --> 00:23:40,639 Speaker 1: the Titans twenty twenty three free agent class, as he 425 00:23:40,760 --> 00:23:45,320 Speaker 1: has built simply as a special team stalwart, but he 426 00:23:45,480 --> 00:23:48,760 Speaker 1: may be more than that. Here's my visit with new 427 00:23:48,840 --> 00:23:53,600 Speaker 1: Titans linebacker Luke Gifford, not related to Kathy Lee on 428 00:23:53,720 --> 00:24:02,440 Speaker 1: the OTP. You've been to a lot to get to 429 00:24:02,560 --> 00:24:05,919 Speaker 1: this point, haven't you. Yeah. Yeah, it's kind of been 430 00:24:05,960 --> 00:24:08,879 Speaker 1: a long journey for sure. So you go to Nebraska, yep, 431 00:24:08,960 --> 00:24:11,959 Speaker 1: because you're from Lincoln, ye? And do you go as 432 00:24:12,000 --> 00:24:15,320 Speaker 1: a quarterback? So I went in as a safety? Okay, 433 00:24:16,520 --> 00:24:18,520 Speaker 1: but I moved around all over the place once I 434 00:24:18,600 --> 00:24:21,440 Speaker 1: got there. So yeah, but I played quarterback in high school, 435 00:24:21,560 --> 00:24:23,840 Speaker 1: all that been all over the place. So then basically 436 00:24:23,960 --> 00:24:27,199 Speaker 1: you're hurt until your senior year, right, yeah, and then 437 00:24:27,240 --> 00:24:29,720 Speaker 1: you have a great senior year. Yeah. Like I had 438 00:24:29,960 --> 00:24:32,400 Speaker 1: probably six games in my junior year where I played 439 00:24:32,440 --> 00:24:35,440 Speaker 1: well and got hurt, had hip surgery, and so it 440 00:24:35,560 --> 00:24:36,680 Speaker 1: was kind of one of those deals where like I 441 00:24:36,760 --> 00:24:38,320 Speaker 1: knew what I could do, but I also knew I 442 00:24:38,400 --> 00:24:40,359 Speaker 1: was only going to get one year probably to do it. 443 00:24:40,480 --> 00:24:43,639 Speaker 1: And thankfully it worked out the way it did. It 444 00:24:43,880 --> 00:24:46,920 Speaker 1: worked out really well. And so the Cowboys bring you 445 00:24:47,000 --> 00:24:50,000 Speaker 1: in as an undrafted and you're like the darling Yeah 446 00:24:50,480 --> 00:24:54,639 Speaker 1: of mini camps and preseason and it's going great and 447 00:24:55,040 --> 00:24:58,040 Speaker 1: you're gonna make the opening day roster and everybody's fired up, 448 00:24:58,119 --> 00:25:01,040 Speaker 1: and you hurt your ankle, my ankle in the first 449 00:25:01,080 --> 00:25:04,720 Speaker 1: preseason game. Oh yeah, but they kept you. They did. Honestly, 450 00:25:04,840 --> 00:25:08,399 Speaker 1: I am very grateful for how they stuck with me 451 00:25:08,520 --> 00:25:12,280 Speaker 1: through everything, because who knows where I would have could be, 452 00:25:12,560 --> 00:25:15,960 Speaker 1: you know, had I had they not. So, but yeah, 453 00:25:16,080 --> 00:25:18,000 Speaker 1: my rookie year was just kind of all over the place. 454 00:25:18,119 --> 00:25:21,240 Speaker 1: Came came back after six or seven games from my ankle, 455 00:25:21,320 --> 00:25:24,119 Speaker 1: and then broke my forearm like three games later. So 456 00:25:24,840 --> 00:25:27,320 Speaker 1: it was up and down for sure, And then every 457 00:25:27,400 --> 00:25:29,840 Speaker 1: year you've kind of built Is that fair to characterize 458 00:25:29,840 --> 00:25:32,280 Speaker 1: for four years in Dallas? Yeah, for sure. Um, I 459 00:25:32,400 --> 00:25:35,520 Speaker 1: think I kind of understood what special teams was going 460 00:25:35,560 --> 00:25:37,560 Speaker 1: to do for me, you know, and where and where 461 00:25:37,560 --> 00:25:38,800 Speaker 1: it could get me. I knew that it was going 462 00:25:38,840 --> 00:25:41,640 Speaker 1: to keep me around one and hopefully get me more opportunities. 463 00:25:41,960 --> 00:25:45,159 Speaker 1: Um So yeah, I think that once I realized that, 464 00:25:45,359 --> 00:25:47,159 Speaker 1: that's kind of what kind of what drove me to 465 00:25:47,240 --> 00:25:50,280 Speaker 1: where I am. Now. You played special team so well 466 00:25:50,400 --> 00:25:54,160 Speaker 1: for the Cowboys? Did they almost forget you could play linebacker? 467 00:25:55,240 --> 00:25:58,080 Speaker 1: You know? I don't. I don't. I don't know about that. 468 00:25:58,320 --> 00:26:00,560 Speaker 1: We've We've had a lot of good line backers there. 469 00:26:00,680 --> 00:26:03,280 Speaker 1: Oh yeah. So it's one of those things where, yeah, 470 00:26:03,359 --> 00:26:04,840 Speaker 1: obviously you want to be on the field, but I've 471 00:26:04,840 --> 00:26:06,680 Speaker 1: also had the opportunity to learn from a lot of 472 00:26:06,760 --> 00:26:09,680 Speaker 1: really good players and be in some good rooms around 473 00:26:09,760 --> 00:26:13,119 Speaker 1: really good people. So there's definitely, Yeah, obviously I'd like 474 00:26:13,160 --> 00:26:15,679 Speaker 1: to be on the field more, but I can definitely 475 00:26:15,720 --> 00:26:18,280 Speaker 1: take a lot from that experience. Is it fair to 476 00:26:18,440 --> 00:26:20,720 Speaker 1: say that you didn't come to the Titans with the 477 00:26:20,960 --> 00:26:24,960 Speaker 1: idea of playing special teams only. Yeah, for sure. You know, 478 00:26:25,119 --> 00:26:28,200 Speaker 1: I think I'm just I'm a competitor, right, you know. 479 00:26:28,280 --> 00:26:31,560 Speaker 1: I wanted the opportunity and chance to do more, you know, 480 00:26:31,640 --> 00:26:34,560 Speaker 1: and whatever that may be. If whatever the coaches see 481 00:26:34,640 --> 00:26:37,960 Speaker 1: for me, whatever that role is, I'm good with that. 482 00:26:38,000 --> 00:26:39,840 Speaker 1: I'm going to own my role. But yeah, I definitely 483 00:26:39,880 --> 00:26:41,920 Speaker 1: want to compete for that opportunity to be on the 484 00:26:41,960 --> 00:26:44,720 Speaker 1: field more and helping any way I can. Your senior 485 00:26:44,840 --> 00:26:46,840 Speaker 1: year at Nebraska, you had five and a half sacks. Ye, 486 00:26:47,359 --> 00:26:49,760 Speaker 1: so you can rush the pastor. I was about ten 487 00:26:49,840 --> 00:26:51,960 Speaker 1: pounds heavier then, but I got a little bit of 488 00:26:52,000 --> 00:26:54,159 Speaker 1: it in me. I haven't done it much since, but 489 00:26:54,680 --> 00:26:57,000 Speaker 1: I got some of that. But you know, Mike Vrabel 490 00:26:57,119 --> 00:26:59,800 Speaker 1: and Shane Bow would like to use various people in 491 00:27:00,080 --> 00:27:03,440 Speaker 1: packages according to the opponent. For sure, you think your 492 00:27:03,520 --> 00:27:06,840 Speaker 1: skill set will allow you to be part potentially, Yeah, 493 00:27:07,000 --> 00:27:10,040 Speaker 1: to be part of those packages. Yeah, I think so. Um. 494 00:27:10,440 --> 00:27:12,639 Speaker 1: I think one of my biggest assets that I've always 495 00:27:12,640 --> 00:27:14,800 Speaker 1: had is just versatility. You know. I feel like I 496 00:27:14,840 --> 00:27:17,560 Speaker 1: could play Sam, Mike orwell and hopefully be on the 497 00:27:17,600 --> 00:27:20,720 Speaker 1: field on third down, whether it's covering or pass rushing. 498 00:27:20,840 --> 00:27:22,960 Speaker 1: So that was one thing that really intrigued me and 499 00:27:23,000 --> 00:27:25,960 Speaker 1: the way they coach Vrabel talk to me and about 500 00:27:26,000 --> 00:27:29,200 Speaker 1: what he saw possibly for my role, and so yeah, 501 00:27:29,240 --> 00:27:31,960 Speaker 1: I'm excited about that because you need versus with how 502 00:27:32,040 --> 00:27:36,560 Speaker 1: linebackers are used today, you need versatility in that core russure. Yeah, 503 00:27:36,600 --> 00:27:38,360 Speaker 1: I think that that's just the way the game is moving. 504 00:27:38,400 --> 00:27:40,040 Speaker 1: You kind of got to be able to do everything now, 505 00:27:40,200 --> 00:27:43,800 Speaker 1: you know. And I think even the bodies in the 506 00:27:44,480 --> 00:27:47,240 Speaker 1: way that typical linebackers look now is a lot different 507 00:27:47,320 --> 00:27:49,800 Speaker 1: than what it did, you know, ten years ago. So 508 00:27:50,600 --> 00:27:53,360 Speaker 1: for sure, I think versatilities is the biggest thing. It's 509 00:27:53,400 --> 00:27:56,520 Speaker 1: a lot of former safeties, yeah, play it is. Yeah, 510 00:27:56,600 --> 00:27:58,680 Speaker 1: most of the time. I feel like it's those guys 511 00:27:58,760 --> 00:28:02,720 Speaker 1: moving down, making the step down from safety to linebacker. 512 00:28:02,840 --> 00:28:05,280 Speaker 1: So and you know, I have a little bit of 513 00:28:05,359 --> 00:28:07,600 Speaker 1: that in my background. It was about forty pounds ago, 514 00:28:08,080 --> 00:28:10,600 Speaker 1: but there's some of that in there. So yeah, it's 515 00:28:10,600 --> 00:28:12,479 Speaker 1: definitely the way it's moving. Keep talking about your weight, 516 00:28:12,560 --> 00:28:14,760 Speaker 1: then what do you weigh? I'm I'm like two forty 517 00:28:14,840 --> 00:28:16,760 Speaker 1: right now, Okay. I came into Yeah, I came into 518 00:28:17,600 --> 00:28:20,200 Speaker 1: or into college at about two h five, soaking wet. 519 00:28:20,240 --> 00:28:22,560 Speaker 1: I was tall and skinny, so I'm a lot different 520 00:28:22,560 --> 00:28:26,040 Speaker 1: than what I was then. But on teams they described you, oh, 521 00:28:26,119 --> 00:28:29,720 Speaker 1: he's he's a heat seeking missile. He loves the contact. Yeah, 522 00:28:30,240 --> 00:28:33,320 Speaker 1: most of the guys like that are shorter, stockier guy. 523 00:28:33,400 --> 00:28:36,119 Speaker 1: You don't you don't kind of strike me as yeah, yeah, no, 524 00:28:36,280 --> 00:28:38,000 Speaker 1: I don't. You know, I don't know. That's always just 525 00:28:38,080 --> 00:28:40,640 Speaker 1: kind of been my identity since I've been in high school, 526 00:28:40,800 --> 00:28:42,880 Speaker 1: was I'm going to hit you in the mouth, you know, 527 00:28:43,040 --> 00:28:45,120 Speaker 1: And and I think that's that's part of the reason 528 00:28:45,200 --> 00:28:48,040 Speaker 1: why I think I identify so well with this organization 529 00:28:48,240 --> 00:28:50,960 Speaker 1: is I think that's that's what coach Brabel preaches, you know. 530 00:28:51,120 --> 00:28:53,360 Speaker 1: So I felt like this was a really good fit 531 00:28:53,400 --> 00:29:03,960 Speaker 1: for that. We moved from Luke Gifford to Andre Dillard, 532 00:29:04,920 --> 00:29:09,880 Speaker 1: now Washington State offensive tackle. Andre Dillard visited the Tennessee 533 00:29:09,960 --> 00:29:13,800 Speaker 1: Titans complex here at Ascension Saint Thomas Sports Park prior 534 00:29:13,880 --> 00:29:18,080 Speaker 1: to the two thousand nineteen NFL Draft. You may remember, 535 00:29:18,120 --> 00:29:22,680 Speaker 1: the Titans instead opted to select Jeffrey Simmons at number 536 00:29:22,800 --> 00:29:27,240 Speaker 1: nineteen overall, and that's worked out. Dillard went three picks 537 00:29:27,360 --> 00:29:30,760 Speaker 1: later to Philadelphia, and that did not work out as well. 538 00:29:31,440 --> 00:29:35,680 Speaker 1: A poorly timed season ending injury in twenty twenty and 539 00:29:36,640 --> 00:29:42,080 Speaker 1: the amazing development of Australian Giant Jordan Milatta left Dillard 540 00:29:42,160 --> 00:29:46,160 Speaker 1: on the outside looking in as the Eagles starting left tackle. 541 00:29:46,880 --> 00:29:49,760 Speaker 1: He did appear in forty eight games, starting nine ate 542 00:29:49,800 --> 00:29:53,320 Speaker 1: at left tackle and won at right tackle. He's gotten healthy, 543 00:29:53,800 --> 00:29:56,960 Speaker 1: he's gotten stronger, and he was forced to play other 544 00:29:57,120 --> 00:30:00,520 Speaker 1: spots in the offensive line. So now, as free agent, 545 00:30:00,800 --> 00:30:03,760 Speaker 1: Andre Dillard was able to pick a new place for 546 00:30:03,840 --> 00:30:08,080 Speaker 1: a new beginning, he hopes that he's found his football home, 547 00:30:09,000 --> 00:30:12,520 Speaker 1: although he has zero understanding of hot chicken. I mean, 548 00:30:12,920 --> 00:30:15,280 Speaker 1: wait till you hear this. Here's my interview with the 549 00:30:15,360 --> 00:30:18,840 Speaker 1: man who hopes to be the Titans new left tackle, 550 00:30:19,400 --> 00:30:31,520 Speaker 1: Andre Dillard. Andre Dillard, you had options leaving Philadelphia. Why 551 00:30:31,680 --> 00:30:34,440 Speaker 1: was Tennessee the best option? There's a couple of reasons. 552 00:30:34,600 --> 00:30:37,360 Speaker 1: The first was, you know, I already kind of had 553 00:30:37,440 --> 00:30:41,440 Speaker 1: a bit of a relationship with I. You know, I 554 00:30:41,520 --> 00:30:44,080 Speaker 1: had a sorry Coach Rabel, that's all right, we gotta 555 00:30:44,080 --> 00:30:47,600 Speaker 1: be you don't go ahead, Uh yeah, you know we've 556 00:30:47,680 --> 00:30:49,280 Speaker 1: kind of met with each other. A few times in 557 00:30:49,320 --> 00:30:53,680 Speaker 1: the draft process in twenty nineteen, and you know, he 558 00:30:54,920 --> 00:30:57,680 Speaker 1: always believed in me as a player, and you know 559 00:30:57,720 --> 00:31:01,440 Speaker 1: I could feel that, and uh, Tennessee just felt like 560 00:31:01,560 --> 00:31:04,360 Speaker 1: a good a good fit, you know, good people and 561 00:31:05,280 --> 00:31:09,240 Speaker 1: the culture of the team feels good, you know, the 562 00:31:09,560 --> 00:31:13,080 Speaker 1: relationship between the players and the coaches. Yeah, I just 563 00:31:14,000 --> 00:31:16,000 Speaker 1: it kind of was a gut feeling too. A little bit. 564 00:31:16,680 --> 00:31:20,520 Speaker 1: This part of the country maybe more your speed, because 565 00:31:20,560 --> 00:31:24,479 Speaker 1: it's kind of like where you grew up in Washington State. Uh, 566 00:31:24,720 --> 00:31:27,960 Speaker 1: it's a little bit like that. Maybe not so much 567 00:31:28,040 --> 00:31:32,280 Speaker 1: weather was, but you know, the people here have all 568 00:31:32,360 --> 00:31:35,960 Speaker 1: been really nice and welcoming. And yeah, I heard there's 569 00:31:35,960 --> 00:31:39,080 Speaker 1: a lot of good food places here too, So I'm 570 00:31:39,200 --> 00:31:42,520 Speaker 1: excited to explore that area. What are you most excited 571 00:31:42,560 --> 00:31:46,400 Speaker 1: to eat here? M because there's kind of everything. Yeah, 572 00:31:46,520 --> 00:31:50,200 Speaker 1: there's kind of But everybody was talking about hot chicken. 573 00:31:50,240 --> 00:31:52,720 Speaker 1: I've never heard the term hot chicken before, so I'm 574 00:31:53,280 --> 00:31:55,480 Speaker 1: I'm not sure what the hot part means because it's 575 00:31:55,480 --> 00:31:58,600 Speaker 1: like it's always hot, isn't it. You're gonna find out, like, 576 00:31:59,120 --> 00:32:02,440 Speaker 1: so the hot means by hot means beyond spicy, like 577 00:32:03,000 --> 00:32:06,040 Speaker 1: as in, we'll go through the top of your brain. 578 00:32:06,440 --> 00:32:08,120 Speaker 1: You can do it that way, or you can just 579 00:32:08,440 --> 00:32:11,440 Speaker 1: like I don't do that. I do just kind of 580 00:32:11,560 --> 00:32:15,000 Speaker 1: medium and then spicy. What I mean, if I want 581 00:32:15,040 --> 00:32:18,680 Speaker 1: to go crazy, you can go crazy. That just doesn't 582 00:32:18,720 --> 00:32:21,640 Speaker 1: sound as enjoyable. Some people think it is. They take 583 00:32:21,680 --> 00:32:24,320 Speaker 1: the challenge. But I might have to try that. Okay, 584 00:32:24,360 --> 00:32:26,920 Speaker 1: you might have to try that. That's good. The other reason, 585 00:32:26,960 --> 00:32:29,440 Speaker 1: I'm sure you like this job too. Got an open 586 00:32:29,480 --> 00:32:31,880 Speaker 1: to get left tackle, and that's really what you want 587 00:32:31,880 --> 00:32:34,400 Speaker 1: to do, isn't it. I definitely have my sides on that, 588 00:32:34,600 --> 00:32:38,520 Speaker 1: and that's what I'm competing for. First Off, you've spent 589 00:32:38,600 --> 00:32:41,280 Speaker 1: the majority of your time on the left side. Why 590 00:32:41,320 --> 00:32:44,520 Speaker 1: do you prefer the left side? Really, it's just because 591 00:32:44,560 --> 00:32:48,760 Speaker 1: that's where I was for good twelve thirteen years. I 592 00:32:48,840 --> 00:32:52,040 Speaker 1: played left tackle, and since I started, really they just 593 00:32:52,120 --> 00:32:55,800 Speaker 1: kind of threw me there and it stuck, and my 594 00:32:55,880 --> 00:33:00,520 Speaker 1: whole body and brain and eyes they just kind of 595 00:33:00,600 --> 00:33:04,080 Speaker 1: got geared towards that over those years, and I was 596 00:33:04,200 --> 00:33:08,480 Speaker 1: never asked to move. You were the highest rated senior 597 00:33:08,680 --> 00:33:13,000 Speaker 1: tackle coming out in the twenty nineteen draft. Where do 598 00:33:13,120 --> 00:33:16,600 Speaker 1: you think you have improved your game most into four years? 599 00:33:16,680 --> 00:33:21,080 Speaker 1: You've already spent in the league. Honestly, I think I haven't. 600 00:33:21,560 --> 00:33:25,560 Speaker 1: You know, I've improved upon the pass protection, proved upon 601 00:33:26,320 --> 00:33:32,440 Speaker 1: my strength like a lot, and I've definitely progressed in 602 00:33:32,520 --> 00:33:35,400 Speaker 1: the run game. As each year went on, I felt 603 00:33:35,440 --> 00:33:38,720 Speaker 1: like I've improved a lot, and people that watch my tape, 604 00:33:39,520 --> 00:33:41,360 Speaker 1: you know, I agree with me when I how would 605 00:33:41,360 --> 00:33:45,240 Speaker 1: you characterize your four years in Philadelphia? Start of it was, 606 00:33:45,440 --> 00:33:50,959 Speaker 1: I was drafted, you know, twenty second pick in twenty nineteen, 607 00:33:51,160 --> 00:33:56,480 Speaker 1: and their goal for me was, hey, use this first 608 00:33:56,560 --> 00:33:59,200 Speaker 1: year as almost a red shirt year behind Jason Peters, 609 00:33:59,320 --> 00:34:02,800 Speaker 1: learned from him, and and then next year, you know, 610 00:34:02,960 --> 00:34:06,640 Speaker 1: you're the guy. And I got plugged in here and 611 00:34:06,720 --> 00:34:10,600 Speaker 1: there started a few games in my rookie season, and 612 00:34:10,719 --> 00:34:14,040 Speaker 1: then second year rolls around and I'm listed as a starter. 613 00:34:14,200 --> 00:34:17,400 Speaker 1: I'm you know, with the ones in training camp for 614 00:34:17,520 --> 00:34:19,800 Speaker 1: a couple of weeks, and then I tore my bicep, 615 00:34:19,960 --> 00:34:23,560 Speaker 1: which kind of derailed things like just the plan that 616 00:34:23,680 --> 00:34:26,080 Speaker 1: we all had that I had, and you know, I 617 00:34:26,239 --> 00:34:28,440 Speaker 1: did everything I could come back as fast as I 618 00:34:28,480 --> 00:34:32,960 Speaker 1: could from that injury, and I came back from it, 619 00:34:33,200 --> 00:34:37,400 Speaker 1: but they had kind of made a decision to, you know, 620 00:34:37,560 --> 00:34:41,719 Speaker 1: keep the guys in that we're in. And so that year, 621 00:34:41,840 --> 00:34:44,040 Speaker 1: my third year, I just plugged in here and there 622 00:34:44,960 --> 00:34:48,000 Speaker 1: started five games, did pretty well. My fourth year rolls 623 00:34:48,040 --> 00:34:50,840 Speaker 1: around and I didn't get to I didn't start any games, actually, 624 00:34:50,960 --> 00:34:55,000 Speaker 1: but I had learned to play some guard, some left 625 00:34:55,040 --> 00:34:58,200 Speaker 1: and right guard just to help the team out, but 626 00:34:58,400 --> 00:35:02,400 Speaker 1: still kept my left hack, polished at practice going against 627 00:35:02,440 --> 00:35:05,880 Speaker 1: all of our starting view limon. So Andre Dillard's feeling 628 00:35:06,080 --> 00:35:09,600 Speaker 1: is this is your time, this is your place, is 629 00:35:09,920 --> 00:35:13,160 Speaker 1: one hundred percent how I'm feeling. I'm more than anything 630 00:35:13,200 --> 00:35:15,800 Speaker 1: that I'm feeling right now is just being grateful, you know. 631 00:35:16,480 --> 00:35:20,759 Speaker 1: The It was a very emotional time when I got 632 00:35:20,840 --> 00:35:25,640 Speaker 1: the call to play here. It felt better than when 633 00:35:25,640 --> 00:35:28,840 Speaker 1: I got drafted, like in all honesty, because I was like, 634 00:35:29,600 --> 00:35:33,080 Speaker 1: this is finally my chance to show what I can 635 00:35:33,200 --> 00:35:37,120 Speaker 1: do to compete for this spot and just get a 636 00:35:37,200 --> 00:35:41,280 Speaker 1: fresh start with everything, clean slate, you know, new location, 637 00:35:41,880 --> 00:35:47,120 Speaker 1: new faces, everything, and it's good for a lot of guys, 638 00:35:47,200 --> 00:35:50,000 Speaker 1: and I believe it'll be good for me. The bonding 639 00:35:50,120 --> 00:35:52,200 Speaker 1: with Mike Vrabel that you felt when you went through 640 00:35:52,239 --> 00:35:54,920 Speaker 1: the twenty nineteen draft process and you came here for 641 00:35:55,080 --> 00:35:57,719 Speaker 1: a for a thirty visit. We interviewed you on your 642 00:35:57,800 --> 00:36:01,960 Speaker 1: on your visit here. What is it about him that 643 00:36:02,200 --> 00:36:04,880 Speaker 1: gives you the feeling? Gave you the feeling and continues 644 00:36:04,960 --> 00:36:07,320 Speaker 1: to give you the feeling about that bond? At first, 645 00:36:07,960 --> 00:36:10,360 Speaker 1: you know, I wasn't sure how I felt because he 646 00:36:11,400 --> 00:36:15,799 Speaker 1: kind of put on that that aggression, you know when 647 00:36:15,880 --> 00:36:19,560 Speaker 1: you're trying to get to know these pre draft players 648 00:36:19,640 --> 00:36:23,040 Speaker 1: and all that, and he was straight grilling me hard, 649 00:36:23,120 --> 00:36:25,800 Speaker 1: and I, you know, I was like, just just go 650 00:36:25,960 --> 00:36:27,719 Speaker 1: with it, you know, this is part of it. But 651 00:36:28,480 --> 00:36:32,400 Speaker 1: he gave off a different feeling than a lot of 652 00:36:32,440 --> 00:36:35,120 Speaker 1: the other coaches. You know, he felt like he was 653 00:36:35,920 --> 00:36:39,520 Speaker 1: connecting with you, even though he was kind of hard 654 00:36:39,560 --> 00:36:42,000 Speaker 1: on you at first. And a lot of the conversations 655 00:36:42,200 --> 00:36:45,879 Speaker 1: we've had over the years were you know, just kind 656 00:36:45,920 --> 00:36:49,440 Speaker 1: of casual, you know, not it's not always about football. 657 00:36:49,520 --> 00:36:52,600 Speaker 1: You know, how's the family, you know, when your plans 658 00:36:52,680 --> 00:36:56,000 Speaker 1: here and there, you know, in life and stuff like that. 659 00:36:56,280 --> 00:37:01,560 Speaker 1: And he feels like a very family oriented guy, and it, uh, 660 00:37:02,160 --> 00:37:05,600 Speaker 1: he's easy to talk to. That does it? For the 661 00:37:05,680 --> 00:37:09,160 Speaker 1: Official Titans Podcast, brought to you by Farm Bureau Health Plans, 662 00:37:09,680 --> 00:37:11,960 Speaker 1: I might Keith thanking you for listening to the O 663 00:37:12,520 --> 00:37:13,160 Speaker 1: t P