1 00:00:00,160 --> 00:00:00,840 Speaker 1: Thirty birds. 2 00:00:00,880 --> 00:00:01,319 Speaker 2: What's Up? 3 00:00:01,360 --> 00:00:04,440 Speaker 1: And welcome back to the Atlanta Falcons podcast network. I'm 4 00:00:04,440 --> 00:00:07,640 Speaker 1: your host, Will McFadden. It is my absolute honor to 5 00:00:07,760 --> 00:00:11,360 Speaker 1: welcome Norfolk State head coach and Atlanta Falcons legend Michael 6 00:00:11,440 --> 00:00:13,560 Speaker 1: Vick to the show. Mike, thank you for joining us. 7 00:00:13,560 --> 00:00:15,120 Speaker 1: How you doing, man, I'm good man. 8 00:00:15,120 --> 00:00:17,480 Speaker 2: How about yourself? I'm great? And to be sitting here 9 00:00:17,520 --> 00:00:19,120 Speaker 2: with you, man, Yeah, long. 10 00:00:18,960 --> 00:00:22,400 Speaker 1: Time excited to uh to kind of dig into what 11 00:00:22,440 --> 00:00:24,440 Speaker 1: you got going on in kind of your next chapter. 12 00:00:24,520 --> 00:00:27,600 Speaker 1: And you just wrapped up your first springs as a 13 00:00:27,600 --> 00:00:28,840 Speaker 1: head coach in Norfolk State. 14 00:00:28,920 --> 00:00:32,360 Speaker 2: What was that like? Man? It was exciting at the 15 00:00:32,400 --> 00:00:33,000 Speaker 2: same time. 16 00:00:33,240 --> 00:00:35,920 Speaker 3: Uh, you know, just being a first year head coach, 17 00:00:35,960 --> 00:00:38,920 Speaker 3: you instantly find out, you know, what works and what 18 00:00:39,000 --> 00:00:42,040 Speaker 3: don't work, and uh, you know, it was fun just 19 00:00:43,240 --> 00:00:47,600 Speaker 3: learning every day being around the guys and being around 20 00:00:47,640 --> 00:00:50,559 Speaker 3: the coaches, and and you know, just learning what it 21 00:00:50,640 --> 00:00:51,120 Speaker 3: takes to. 22 00:00:51,000 --> 00:00:54,160 Speaker 2: Be a football coach, a head coach at that. 23 00:00:55,560 --> 00:00:57,440 Speaker 3: You know, watched a lot of coaches over the years, 24 00:00:57,480 --> 00:01:01,600 Speaker 3: but never really knew what happens behind the scenes, and 25 00:01:01,680 --> 00:01:04,080 Speaker 3: so had to pick a couple of coaches brains and 26 00:01:05,000 --> 00:01:06,560 Speaker 3: put my own little spin on it, and that was 27 00:01:06,600 --> 00:01:07,399 Speaker 3: the cool part. 28 00:01:07,680 --> 00:01:10,640 Speaker 1: It does seem like you've immersed yourself with a staff 29 00:01:10,760 --> 00:01:14,319 Speaker 1: of guys who have some NFL experience and I think Leroy, Reynolds, 30 00:01:14,720 --> 00:01:19,600 Speaker 1: Falkens fans probably know pretty well. But yeah, so what 31 00:01:19,680 --> 00:01:22,839 Speaker 1: has that immersive kind of getting your hands in there 32 00:01:22,920 --> 00:01:25,119 Speaker 1: just really, like you said, identifying some of the strengths 33 00:01:25,120 --> 00:01:25,800 Speaker 1: of weaknesses. 34 00:01:26,000 --> 00:01:30,880 Speaker 3: Yeah, myself, Leroy Turns, Garvid, Elton Brown, just a couple. 35 00:01:30,920 --> 00:01:34,080 Speaker 3: I didn't want to have a staff full of NFL 36 00:01:34,480 --> 00:01:38,199 Speaker 3: former NFL players, which I could have. I just wanted 37 00:01:38,200 --> 00:01:43,119 Speaker 3: to have enough experience to where the young men can 38 00:01:43,200 --> 00:01:46,119 Speaker 3: relate and we can share stories, and we can build 39 00:01:46,200 --> 00:01:49,520 Speaker 3: character and you know, we can help them find ways 40 00:01:49,560 --> 00:01:52,480 Speaker 3: to chase that level of commitment. Because we had to 41 00:01:52,520 --> 00:01:54,480 Speaker 3: do it. And I did take credit away from the 42 00:01:54,520 --> 00:01:57,200 Speaker 3: other coaches who didn't make it or didn't play on 43 00:01:57,720 --> 00:01:59,480 Speaker 3: that level. It was just I just felt like it 44 00:01:59,520 --> 00:02:02,000 Speaker 3: was a bonus for them. And so I got an amazing 45 00:02:01,960 --> 00:02:06,400 Speaker 3: staff for coaches, you know, top to bottom, and we 46 00:02:07,040 --> 00:02:10,320 Speaker 3: all share the same goals. We know it's at stake, 47 00:02:10,400 --> 00:02:13,160 Speaker 3: and we just carried the monster that everything matters. 48 00:02:13,800 --> 00:02:16,120 Speaker 1: So to go back to kind of the beginning, of 49 00:02:16,120 --> 00:02:18,560 Speaker 1: the process once you make it known that you're interested 50 00:02:18,600 --> 00:02:20,200 Speaker 1: in and potentially pursuing coaching. 51 00:02:20,240 --> 00:02:20,400 Speaker 2: It. 52 00:02:20,400 --> 00:02:23,120 Speaker 1: It seemed like Norfolk State reached out pretty quickly. Can 53 00:02:23,160 --> 00:02:26,040 Speaker 1: you take us through what that process was like with them? 54 00:02:26,200 --> 00:02:32,399 Speaker 3: Yeah, Norfolk State, they reached out like late November last year. 55 00:02:32,480 --> 00:02:35,280 Speaker 3: I remember it was right around Thanksgiving because I was 56 00:02:35,320 --> 00:02:39,320 Speaker 3: thinking about it and contemplating it just throughout the holidays 57 00:02:39,360 --> 00:02:42,600 Speaker 3: and you know, the opportunity that was at hand, but 58 00:02:43,160 --> 00:02:47,000 Speaker 3: still enjoying Fox and Lovin you know, being at at 59 00:02:47,040 --> 00:02:48,320 Speaker 3: Fox Sports and the people that. 60 00:02:48,280 --> 00:02:51,880 Speaker 2: I worked with there. So it was a tough decision. 61 00:02:53,120 --> 00:02:55,440 Speaker 3: Truthfully, at the end of the day out I was 62 00:02:56,600 --> 00:02:58,359 Speaker 3: wanting to go into coaching, you know, a couple of 63 00:02:58,400 --> 00:03:02,519 Speaker 3: years from now, but the opportunity just came a little 64 00:03:02,560 --> 00:03:06,079 Speaker 3: earlier than what I expected. And so I was at 65 00:03:06,080 --> 00:03:08,320 Speaker 3: a crossroads, like, you know, do I wait another two 66 00:03:08,400 --> 00:03:10,960 Speaker 3: years or do I just step into it now and 67 00:03:11,000 --> 00:03:14,920 Speaker 3: get the experience. And I felt like God was, you know, 68 00:03:14,960 --> 00:03:18,639 Speaker 3: putting me in a position where I was forced to 69 00:03:18,639 --> 00:03:21,399 Speaker 3: make a decision and hopefully I made the right one. 70 00:03:21,480 --> 00:03:22,560 Speaker 2: And so I know I did. 71 00:03:22,639 --> 00:03:24,160 Speaker 3: I know I made the right decision, but it was 72 00:03:24,160 --> 00:03:26,480 Speaker 3: hard to leave Fox but I'm glad that I made 73 00:03:26,520 --> 00:03:28,240 Speaker 3: the decision and just get out there and do it 74 00:03:28,280 --> 00:03:30,840 Speaker 3: and not be afraid. And you know, the only thing 75 00:03:30,880 --> 00:03:32,839 Speaker 3: I'm afraid of is failing, and that's a good thing. 76 00:03:33,440 --> 00:03:34,280 Speaker 3: But I can handle it. 77 00:03:34,960 --> 00:03:37,600 Speaker 1: And how important or how big of a role did 78 00:03:37,720 --> 00:03:41,120 Speaker 1: returning to the Hamptons Roads community kind of play in 79 00:03:41,160 --> 00:03:43,400 Speaker 1: your decision ultimately to say, maybe this is the right 80 00:03:43,400 --> 00:03:45,520 Speaker 1: time to go back to a community that means so 81 00:03:45,600 --> 00:03:46,000 Speaker 1: much to you. 82 00:03:46,320 --> 00:03:49,400 Speaker 3: Yeah, I think it was part of the reason that 83 00:03:49,440 --> 00:03:54,760 Speaker 3: I went back, being in my hometown, you know, thirty 84 00:03:54,760 --> 00:03:59,640 Speaker 3: minutes away where I grew up from Norfolk in Newport News, 85 00:03:59,680 --> 00:04:01,720 Speaker 3: and you know, I had a chance to go to 86 00:04:02,560 --> 00:04:06,520 Speaker 3: Sacramento State where they had you know, tons of money 87 00:04:06,600 --> 00:04:09,880 Speaker 3: in IL, tons of money to pay me. My wife 88 00:04:09,920 --> 00:04:14,800 Speaker 3: still think I'm crazy for going to Norfolk. And you know, 89 00:04:14,960 --> 00:04:17,520 Speaker 3: sometimes it's not all about the monetary. It's not about 90 00:04:17,560 --> 00:04:21,279 Speaker 3: the money. It's about, you know, the experience, what you 91 00:04:21,279 --> 00:04:24,320 Speaker 3: can get out of it. I don't do things for 92 00:04:25,120 --> 00:04:29,680 Speaker 3: all the time for for monetary reasons, and so if 93 00:04:29,720 --> 00:04:31,560 Speaker 3: it's gonna happen, it's gonna happen. I felt like this 94 00:04:31,640 --> 00:04:33,760 Speaker 3: was it was a great place to gain some experience, 95 00:04:35,560 --> 00:04:37,880 Speaker 3: get a layer of the land, and get a feel for 96 00:04:38,000 --> 00:04:40,840 Speaker 3: what I really wanted to do for the next ten 97 00:04:40,920 --> 00:04:43,000 Speaker 3: years of my life. And uh, you know, I'm gonna 98 00:04:43,040 --> 00:04:45,240 Speaker 3: make it a success. It's gonna be successful, and I'm 99 00:04:45,240 --> 00:04:46,040 Speaker 3: looking forward to it. 100 00:04:46,360 --> 00:04:48,600 Speaker 1: Yeah. I mean, you don't have to look far around 101 00:04:48,640 --> 00:04:51,280 Speaker 1: the league to see that the legacy you left on 102 00:04:51,320 --> 00:04:55,480 Speaker 1: the field is carried on today even greater than it 103 00:04:55,560 --> 00:04:57,360 Speaker 1: was when when you kind of carried on the Doug 104 00:04:57,400 --> 00:05:00,640 Speaker 1: Williams and so forth. But what kind of legacy or 105 00:05:00,680 --> 00:05:02,600 Speaker 1: you're hoping to leave in the community you know now, 106 00:05:02,680 --> 00:05:04,120 Speaker 1: as as Michael Vick the coach. 107 00:05:04,080 --> 00:05:06,680 Speaker 2: Yeah, I'm looking to leave a legacy. 108 00:05:08,320 --> 00:05:11,440 Speaker 3: To a standpoint of it, don't matter what you do, 109 00:05:12,200 --> 00:05:14,280 Speaker 3: It don't matter what you look like, don't matter where 110 00:05:14,320 --> 00:05:15,360 Speaker 3: you come from. 111 00:05:15,400 --> 00:05:17,479 Speaker 2: You can always give back into your community. 112 00:05:17,800 --> 00:05:21,480 Speaker 3: Like and you know, when I was playing with the 113 00:05:21,480 --> 00:05:24,719 Speaker 3: Falcons and when I had millions and millions of dollars 114 00:05:24,720 --> 00:05:26,520 Speaker 3: and I was making that type of money at the time, 115 00:05:26,560 --> 00:05:29,640 Speaker 3: I gave back. When you know, I went away and 116 00:05:29,680 --> 00:05:31,720 Speaker 3: I came back, and before I got signed to the 117 00:05:31,760 --> 00:05:34,560 Speaker 3: Philadelphia Eagles in a major contract, I was giving back 118 00:05:34,600 --> 00:05:38,320 Speaker 3: and doing football camps and when I retired, I still 119 00:05:38,360 --> 00:05:40,480 Speaker 3: came back home when I wasn't playing in the NFL 120 00:05:40,560 --> 00:05:43,680 Speaker 3: and making millions of dollars, I still gave back to 121 00:05:43,760 --> 00:05:46,920 Speaker 3: the community. Kids, still came home and coached. Still coached 122 00:05:47,160 --> 00:05:51,720 Speaker 3: UH football camps here in Atlanta, Tennessee, you know, Texas. 123 00:05:51,760 --> 00:05:52,479 Speaker 2: I moved around. 124 00:05:52,560 --> 00:05:54,640 Speaker 3: I was mobile with it, me and some of my coaches, 125 00:05:54,640 --> 00:05:57,359 Speaker 3: and that's on the staff with us now. And we 126 00:05:57,440 --> 00:05:59,560 Speaker 3: always cared, man, We always cared about what the next 127 00:05:59,560 --> 00:06:02,560 Speaker 3: generation and would look like. And especially after seeing the quarterbacks, 128 00:06:03,000 --> 00:06:06,920 Speaker 3: you know, like Michael Pennix and Lamar Jackson and Russell 129 00:06:06,960 --> 00:06:11,279 Speaker 3: Wilson and RG three. After seeing these guys emerge and 130 00:06:11,400 --> 00:06:15,400 Speaker 3: Cam Newton, I was like, man, this is because the 131 00:06:15,480 --> 00:06:17,640 Speaker 3: work was put in years probably, and so I was 132 00:06:17,720 --> 00:06:19,000 Speaker 3: just just proud of that. 133 00:06:19,360 --> 00:06:21,640 Speaker 1: Has that always been kind of inate quality or was 134 00:06:21,640 --> 00:06:23,840 Speaker 1: that something you picked up in childhood kind of the 135 00:06:23,920 --> 00:06:26,680 Speaker 1: importance of paying it forward for future generations? 136 00:06:26,880 --> 00:06:27,080 Speaker 2: Yeah. 137 00:06:27,120 --> 00:06:29,880 Speaker 3: Well, I seen Bruce Smith as a kid when he's 138 00:06:29,960 --> 00:06:32,800 Speaker 3: from Virginia Beach, and I seen him when I was 139 00:06:32,880 --> 00:06:36,120 Speaker 3: about thirteen years old at a football game and I 140 00:06:36,160 --> 00:06:38,760 Speaker 3: spoke to him. He spoke back, and then he he 141 00:06:38,839 --> 00:06:44,200 Speaker 3: spoke to us after practice, and like, I just remember 142 00:06:44,320 --> 00:06:48,520 Speaker 3: him smiling at me and talking to us, and you know, 143 00:06:48,720 --> 00:06:50,719 Speaker 3: I probably didn't understand what he was saying at the time, 144 00:06:50,760 --> 00:06:52,440 Speaker 3: but I'm like, he took the time out to talk 145 00:06:52,480 --> 00:06:54,880 Speaker 3: to us. Bruce Smith is standing right there talking to us. 146 00:06:54,960 --> 00:06:57,560 Speaker 3: And so I always felt like if I had a 147 00:06:57,640 --> 00:06:59,320 Speaker 3: chance to be in that position one day, then I 148 00:06:59,360 --> 00:07:02,720 Speaker 3: would do the same thing. And so years later I 149 00:07:02,800 --> 00:07:04,960 Speaker 3: was able to give back in the community and teach 150 00:07:05,040 --> 00:07:07,520 Speaker 3: kids football and teaching principals and teach them how to 151 00:07:07,600 --> 00:07:08,840 Speaker 3: lead and teach them how to care. 152 00:07:09,840 --> 00:07:13,000 Speaker 1: You have played for some of the best teachers in 153 00:07:13,080 --> 00:07:16,840 Speaker 1: the NFL, Andy Reid, Mike Tomlin, Dan Rieves here in Atlanta. 154 00:07:17,520 --> 00:07:20,560 Speaker 1: I'm curious, do you think that they all shared kind 155 00:07:20,600 --> 00:07:23,280 Speaker 1: of a common trait that made them a great coach? 156 00:07:23,520 --> 00:07:27,040 Speaker 1: Or as you're going about looking as your career as 157 00:07:27,080 --> 00:07:29,480 Speaker 1: a coach, are you trying to pick bits and pieces 158 00:07:29,840 --> 00:07:30,960 Speaker 1: from each one that you've worked with. 159 00:07:31,160 --> 00:07:33,920 Speaker 3: Yeah, definitely take bits and pieces from each and each 160 00:07:33,960 --> 00:07:35,840 Speaker 3: and every coach that I've had. 161 00:07:35,640 --> 00:07:38,760 Speaker 2: From Dan to Jim to Andy. 162 00:07:40,200 --> 00:07:45,440 Speaker 3: To Mike t You know, great football coaches, but I 163 00:07:45,480 --> 00:07:49,920 Speaker 3: think extraordinary people, you know, great men, and maybe it's 164 00:07:49,960 --> 00:07:51,320 Speaker 3: just because of the way they was raised and the 165 00:07:51,360 --> 00:07:54,160 Speaker 3: principles that they was taught. And then they turn around 166 00:07:54,200 --> 00:07:56,680 Speaker 3: and in still it writing us. And so when we're 167 00:07:56,720 --> 00:07:59,440 Speaker 3: making a mistake or going down the wrong path or 168 00:07:59,440 --> 00:08:01,600 Speaker 3: not doing things right and need some advice, we can 169 00:08:01,640 --> 00:08:04,120 Speaker 3: go to them and get the proper advice. So they'll 170 00:08:04,120 --> 00:08:06,360 Speaker 3: see it coming. Hey, why don't you do this? And 171 00:08:07,440 --> 00:08:10,160 Speaker 3: this should be done this way? And so those the 172 00:08:10,240 --> 00:08:13,320 Speaker 3: moments that you know, when you and him, you might 173 00:08:14,560 --> 00:08:17,080 Speaker 3: be hearing something that you don't want to hear, but 174 00:08:17,120 --> 00:08:19,160 Speaker 3: you're hearing what you supposed to hear, and that makes 175 00:08:19,160 --> 00:08:22,360 Speaker 3: a difference. And so you know, even just talking to 176 00:08:22,440 --> 00:08:25,760 Speaker 3: my him today and just hearing him, you know, just 177 00:08:25,760 --> 00:08:28,400 Speaker 3: just know that these dudes are used to leading men. 178 00:08:29,480 --> 00:08:30,440 Speaker 3: They're very used to it. 179 00:08:30,840 --> 00:08:34,120 Speaker 1: What was that like kind of seeing Raheem work out 180 00:08:34,160 --> 00:08:36,599 Speaker 1: there on the practice field and what's your impression of 181 00:08:36,640 --> 00:08:37,040 Speaker 1: him so far? 182 00:08:37,160 --> 00:08:40,840 Speaker 3: Well, me being in that same position, I'm just watching like, yeah, 183 00:08:40,840 --> 00:08:41,800 Speaker 3: that's kind of that's me. 184 00:08:42,160 --> 00:08:44,079 Speaker 2: Like I go from one side of the ball to 185 00:08:44,120 --> 00:08:44,400 Speaker 2: the other. 186 00:08:44,960 --> 00:08:47,560 Speaker 3: I try to encourage, you know, even though on my 187 00:08:47,640 --> 00:08:51,080 Speaker 3: offensive mind, I try to encourage the defense to you know, 188 00:08:51,160 --> 00:08:53,520 Speaker 3: put pressure on the offense every day and don't let up, 189 00:08:53,559 --> 00:08:55,679 Speaker 3: and you know, try to shut him out if you can, 190 00:08:56,120 --> 00:08:59,400 Speaker 3: you know, And that's creating toughness, you know, that's creating 191 00:08:59,800 --> 00:09:02,960 Speaker 3: a hard core mentality. And it's good for my players 192 00:09:03,000 --> 00:09:05,560 Speaker 3: to see that. I'm not biased just because I played 193 00:09:05,559 --> 00:09:09,560 Speaker 3: in the NFL and I played quarterback and I cater 194 00:09:09,679 --> 00:09:11,720 Speaker 3: more to you know, I spent probably spend more time 195 00:09:11,760 --> 00:09:13,800 Speaker 3: with my quarterbacks than I do any other position. But 196 00:09:14,880 --> 00:09:16,880 Speaker 3: I think that's the most important position on the field 197 00:09:17,320 --> 00:09:19,480 Speaker 3: for sure, and not unit position. 198 00:09:20,400 --> 00:09:23,720 Speaker 1: Yeah, it's so interesting because I've heard that, you know, 199 00:09:23,720 --> 00:09:26,719 Speaker 1: there are some aspects qualities that you can't coach right, 200 00:09:26,760 --> 00:09:28,199 Speaker 1: and I think it's fair to say that a lot 201 00:09:28,200 --> 00:09:30,559 Speaker 1: of what you did on the football field, it's hard 202 00:09:30,600 --> 00:09:33,000 Speaker 1: for me to learn how to do those things right. 203 00:09:33,520 --> 00:09:36,880 Speaker 1: So how do you kind of strike that balance between 204 00:09:37,440 --> 00:09:39,880 Speaker 1: coaching something that maybe came to you a little bit 205 00:09:39,880 --> 00:09:42,760 Speaker 1: more naturally than others, while still being able to provide 206 00:09:42,800 --> 00:09:45,880 Speaker 1: insights and kind of really get in there technically? 207 00:09:46,200 --> 00:09:50,559 Speaker 3: Yeah, you just gotta, you know, read between the lines 208 00:09:50,600 --> 00:09:55,240 Speaker 3: and a lot of situations. You got to be straightforward 209 00:09:56,040 --> 00:09:59,600 Speaker 3: with your quarterbacks, and it's your offense in general, and 210 00:09:59,679 --> 00:10:01,880 Speaker 3: I think more so now just with my team, I 211 00:10:01,920 --> 00:10:05,200 Speaker 3: can't cut any corners, I can't take any choice. I 212 00:10:05,200 --> 00:10:08,280 Speaker 3: gotta be fully transparent with them in order to get 213 00:10:08,280 --> 00:10:11,199 Speaker 3: the best version of them. And so you know, I'm 214 00:10:11,280 --> 00:10:13,800 Speaker 3: learning that, you know, being honest is the best thing. 215 00:10:15,000 --> 00:10:15,160 Speaker 2: You know. 216 00:10:15,240 --> 00:10:18,120 Speaker 3: We try to teach trust in the process and that 217 00:10:18,200 --> 00:10:20,880 Speaker 3: everything matters, and so I got to believe in that 218 00:10:20,920 --> 00:10:24,040 Speaker 3: as well. And so when I see something that needs 219 00:10:24,440 --> 00:10:26,360 Speaker 3: to be taught or need to be talked about, or 220 00:10:26,440 --> 00:10:28,960 Speaker 3: need to be spoken upon. 221 00:10:29,040 --> 00:10:30,680 Speaker 2: I gotta I gotta do that. 222 00:10:30,880 --> 00:10:34,080 Speaker 3: And so that I appreciate that responsibility because I feel 223 00:10:34,120 --> 00:10:35,880 Speaker 3: like it's just God putting me in this position to 224 00:10:35,920 --> 00:10:37,040 Speaker 3: just continue to lead. 225 00:10:38,120 --> 00:10:41,720 Speaker 1: I you know, as kind of a leader when you're 226 00:10:41,880 --> 00:10:45,439 Speaker 1: entering your first season, I mean, you don't want to 227 00:10:45,440 --> 00:10:47,920 Speaker 1: focus necessarily on the results, right because results can be 228 00:10:48,480 --> 00:10:51,080 Speaker 1: the result of the process. And so how much are 229 00:10:51,120 --> 00:10:53,640 Speaker 1: you trying to work on the men, the players, the 230 00:10:53,679 --> 00:10:56,400 Speaker 1: people on your team versus kind of the score and 231 00:10:56,440 --> 00:10:57,199 Speaker 1: the record at the end. 232 00:10:57,160 --> 00:10:57,520 Speaker 2: Of the year. 233 00:10:57,640 --> 00:11:00,160 Speaker 3: Yeah, I think most important, it's important for us to 234 00:11:00,200 --> 00:11:03,920 Speaker 3: get to know each other. You know, what makes me tick, 235 00:11:04,000 --> 00:11:06,839 Speaker 3: what makes them tick? It's a lot of them, a 236 00:11:06,920 --> 00:11:10,840 Speaker 3: lot of personal relationships. But it'll happen in time, and 237 00:11:10,920 --> 00:11:12,640 Speaker 3: some of them you'll be a little closer to than 238 00:11:12,720 --> 00:11:15,559 Speaker 3: others because some get more reps and need more communication 239 00:11:16,600 --> 00:11:17,160 Speaker 3: than others. 240 00:11:17,320 --> 00:11:19,960 Speaker 2: But you know, they all come and knock on my door. 241 00:11:20,360 --> 00:11:23,000 Speaker 3: They all walk into my office and say hi and 242 00:11:23,040 --> 00:11:26,319 Speaker 3: speak and sit them and chair and talk and communicate, 243 00:11:26,800 --> 00:11:29,640 Speaker 3: and I think that's special. And so you know, I 244 00:11:29,679 --> 00:11:31,760 Speaker 3: hope that we continue to have those same vibes and 245 00:11:32,120 --> 00:11:34,840 Speaker 3: keep that same energy and you know, keep putting forth 246 00:11:34,880 --> 00:11:37,160 Speaker 3: the best best effort and so as long as we 247 00:11:37,240 --> 00:11:40,360 Speaker 3: try and it's specipicated, I think we will be successful 248 00:11:40,400 --> 00:11:40,640 Speaker 3: in there. 249 00:11:41,160 --> 00:11:43,559 Speaker 1: I've got one more kind of coaching one before we 250 00:11:43,880 --> 00:11:47,000 Speaker 1: talk a little Falcons football. But it seems like you're 251 00:11:47,000 --> 00:11:49,360 Speaker 1: you're following a trend of a lot of former athletes 252 00:11:49,400 --> 00:11:52,240 Speaker 1: becoming head coaches. Obviously dianna Is is kind of the 253 00:11:52,280 --> 00:11:54,560 Speaker 1: number one example there. But have you reached out to 254 00:11:54,880 --> 00:11:58,240 Speaker 1: any of your former colleagues to kind of like, see, hey, 255 00:11:58,280 --> 00:12:00,960 Speaker 1: what's this about, Yanni. Advice is to go into my 256 00:12:00,960 --> 00:12:01,600 Speaker 1: first year here? 257 00:12:01,800 --> 00:12:04,520 Speaker 3: Yeah, I mean I reached out to pretty much to 258 00:12:04,559 --> 00:12:06,840 Speaker 3: all the coaches that I played for and and talk 259 00:12:06,920 --> 00:12:08,640 Speaker 3: to him and they all they all reached out to me. 260 00:12:11,200 --> 00:12:14,800 Speaker 3: You know, I think they all recognize and understand who 261 00:12:14,840 --> 00:12:17,640 Speaker 3: I was as a person as a player, and they 262 00:12:17,679 --> 00:12:21,560 Speaker 3: can see that that that's gonna come out. So yeah, 263 00:12:21,600 --> 00:12:25,240 Speaker 3: it's just uh, I think, you know, just in most 264 00:12:25,320 --> 00:12:28,720 Speaker 3: recent it was just like Dion was like the one 265 00:12:28,720 --> 00:12:31,960 Speaker 3: who went through it, like you know, especially playing coaching 266 00:12:32,000 --> 00:12:36,240 Speaker 3: college football. You know, it's like, man, how do I 267 00:12:36,280 --> 00:12:37,120 Speaker 3: need to look at things? 268 00:12:37,160 --> 00:12:37,199 Speaker 1: So? 269 00:12:37,280 --> 00:12:39,600 Speaker 3: How do I need to And but even today I 270 00:12:39,640 --> 00:12:42,040 Speaker 3: was picking my ing brain on a couple of different things. 271 00:12:42,120 --> 00:12:44,320 Speaker 3: He was telling me some things that he do and 272 00:12:44,400 --> 00:12:46,280 Speaker 3: I'm like, okay, I'm doing it that way too, So 273 00:12:46,320 --> 00:12:47,200 Speaker 3: I'm spot on with it. 274 00:12:47,200 --> 00:12:48,840 Speaker 2: He like, yeah, you spot on, keep it that way. 275 00:12:49,679 --> 00:12:52,960 Speaker 3: And so just keeping it simple man, and you know, 276 00:12:53,040 --> 00:12:56,720 Speaker 3: not not wearing it out, you know, the team meetings 277 00:12:56,720 --> 00:12:58,880 Speaker 3: of that sort and not having them every day and 278 00:12:58,880 --> 00:13:02,600 Speaker 3: trying to preach him like let things happen naturally and 279 00:13:02,720 --> 00:13:05,120 Speaker 3: knowing when to step in and knowing when to communicate 280 00:13:05,240 --> 00:13:08,680 Speaker 3: and how to communicate it is important. So I'm soaking 281 00:13:08,720 --> 00:13:10,719 Speaker 3: all these things in. But at the same time, got 282 00:13:10,720 --> 00:13:14,360 Speaker 3: great mentors around me, and Rahim was he reached out 283 00:13:14,360 --> 00:13:16,080 Speaker 3: as soon as I got the job in off Stateum, 284 00:13:16,080 --> 00:13:18,439 Speaker 3: you need anything, reach out, It's great. 285 00:13:18,440 --> 00:13:20,200 Speaker 1: That's awesome. Yeah, it's amazing to hear. And there are 286 00:13:20,240 --> 00:13:23,120 Speaker 1: so many facets and different styles of leadership, and it'll 287 00:13:23,200 --> 00:13:26,120 Speaker 1: get busy twenty four to seven trying to learn all 288 00:13:26,160 --> 00:13:29,880 Speaker 1: of it. But Atlanta's offense is kind of under a 289 00:13:29,920 --> 00:13:32,440 Speaker 1: new leadership of sorts with Michael Pennock stepping in as 290 00:13:32,520 --> 00:13:34,959 Speaker 1: a starting quarterback. You know, what are your thoughts on 291 00:13:35,160 --> 00:13:36,800 Speaker 1: him as he heads into a second year. 292 00:13:37,040 --> 00:13:38,120 Speaker 2: Yeah, I'm excited for Mike. 293 00:13:38,400 --> 00:13:41,760 Speaker 3: I think this is gonna be an amazing season for him. 294 00:13:41,800 --> 00:13:45,440 Speaker 3: Just watching practices look like everything is slowed down. He 295 00:13:45,520 --> 00:13:49,440 Speaker 3: threw a couple of touchdown passes today, good reason, move 296 00:13:49,520 --> 00:13:53,320 Speaker 3: well in the pocket, good pocket presence, and good feel 297 00:13:53,360 --> 00:13:56,760 Speaker 3: for the game. And so with some complimentary players around 298 00:13:56,800 --> 00:13:59,880 Speaker 3: him like Bijon and Drake and Cayl, you know, the 299 00:14:00,000 --> 00:14:03,040 Speaker 3: these guys are gonna really do some special things this year. 300 00:14:03,080 --> 00:14:06,040 Speaker 3: And with a revamped defense, which I think is most 301 00:14:06,040 --> 00:14:10,360 Speaker 3: important to talk about. Yeah, Rahim did what he's supposed 302 00:14:10,360 --> 00:14:12,720 Speaker 3: to do. That's what Rahien do, like he Bill's defense. 303 00:14:12,920 --> 00:14:16,520 Speaker 3: So you know, it's funny. I was headed over here 304 00:14:16,520 --> 00:14:18,440 Speaker 3: and I seen that Jayleen Ramsey was still on the market. 305 00:14:18,520 --> 00:14:20,720 Speaker 3: I'm like, damn, what would Jayalen Ramsey and aj Terrell 306 00:14:20,800 --> 00:14:23,240 Speaker 3: look like? But then I started thinking about the economic 307 00:14:23,320 --> 00:14:25,840 Speaker 3: part of it, and that just won't work. But they 308 00:14:25,840 --> 00:14:28,040 Speaker 3: got some young guys that they drafted and they wrung in. 309 00:14:28,120 --> 00:14:30,080 Speaker 3: It's gonna be They're gonna be dynamite as well. 310 00:14:30,240 --> 00:14:32,720 Speaker 1: No, yeah, day day two, in the beginning of Day three, 311 00:14:32,720 --> 00:14:35,360 Speaker 1: it was all all secondary for Atlanta. Sure when you 312 00:14:35,400 --> 00:14:37,280 Speaker 1: look at kind of the Jews that they're adding in 313 00:14:37,320 --> 00:14:39,680 Speaker 1: the pass rush with James Pierce, Jamen Walker, I mean, 314 00:14:40,040 --> 00:14:43,200 Speaker 1: you know, after playing Julius Peppers and some of those guys, 315 00:14:43,360 --> 00:14:44,800 Speaker 1: the importance of having a pass rush. 316 00:14:44,800 --> 00:14:48,120 Speaker 3: Oh man, it's invaluable to have a pass rush, and 317 00:14:48,200 --> 00:14:50,960 Speaker 3: to have it for four quarters. It's a full quarter game. 318 00:14:51,000 --> 00:14:52,520 Speaker 3: I got told him today. I feel like the game 319 00:14:52,600 --> 00:14:54,720 Speaker 3: was won in the first quarter, second quarter. It's phially one. 320 00:14:54,760 --> 00:14:56,880 Speaker 2: In four quarters. You gotta play the whole full game. 321 00:14:57,760 --> 00:14:58,880 Speaker 2: And uh, it ain't. 322 00:14:58,680 --> 00:15:01,640 Speaker 3: Over to that that clock right, triple zero, man, when 323 00:15:01,640 --> 00:15:04,440 Speaker 3: it's all said and done. And so you know, you 324 00:15:04,520 --> 00:15:07,200 Speaker 3: need them pass rushers to keep going and keep getting 325 00:15:07,240 --> 00:15:09,240 Speaker 3: getting to it and keep battling. 326 00:15:09,680 --> 00:15:11,560 Speaker 2: And that's what football is all about it. It's a 327 00:15:11,600 --> 00:15:12,360 Speaker 2: constant battle. 328 00:15:12,920 --> 00:15:15,800 Speaker 1: So that's been kind of a talking point this offseason 329 00:15:15,840 --> 00:15:18,200 Speaker 1: here with the defense is kind of the waves of 330 00:15:18,760 --> 00:15:21,920 Speaker 1: pass rushers and having some rotations in there. I'm curious, 331 00:15:21,920 --> 00:15:24,160 Speaker 1: like the groups that gave you the most trouble in 332 00:15:24,200 --> 00:15:26,880 Speaker 1: your playing days, was it the defensive lines that could 333 00:15:27,000 --> 00:15:29,440 Speaker 1: rotate fresh legs? 334 00:15:29,480 --> 00:15:32,280 Speaker 3: It was it was the Philadelphia Eagles of the world. 335 00:15:33,040 --> 00:15:39,840 Speaker 3: But Corey Simon and Javon Cursed and I think they 336 00:15:39,840 --> 00:15:42,760 Speaker 3: Guy mcdouga. They just had good pass rushers all across 337 00:15:42,800 --> 00:15:44,360 Speaker 3: and it was just a bunch of it was a 338 00:15:44,360 --> 00:15:46,840 Speaker 3: couple of them. And then the Bucks when they had 339 00:15:46,920 --> 00:15:51,160 Speaker 3: Sap and Booker and you know, they had Simeon on 340 00:15:51,200 --> 00:15:53,960 Speaker 3: the edge, and so you know, those are the teams 341 00:15:53,960 --> 00:15:55,800 Speaker 3: that get you fits. You know, when they got a 342 00:15:55,840 --> 00:16:00,320 Speaker 3: pass rush that's consistent, and you know, you know in 343 00:16:00,360 --> 00:16:02,360 Speaker 3: the fourth quarter, when it's all set and done, that's 344 00:16:02,400 --> 00:16:03,480 Speaker 3: when you gotta win the game. 345 00:16:03,920 --> 00:16:05,160 Speaker 2: You gotta win the fourth quarter. 346 00:16:05,560 --> 00:16:07,840 Speaker 1: And then Jesse Bates on the back end, you know, 347 00:16:08,000 --> 00:16:10,560 Speaker 1: just kind of seeing the whole field. 348 00:16:10,760 --> 00:16:13,840 Speaker 3: Yeah, Jesse is so smart, like just understand what's going on, 349 00:16:13,920 --> 00:16:17,080 Speaker 3: like the quarterback of the defense. And you know, just 350 00:16:17,160 --> 00:16:19,600 Speaker 3: a true leader. So you know you got you know, 351 00:16:19,680 --> 00:16:21,600 Speaker 3: you got a good pass rush and and then you 352 00:16:21,720 --> 00:16:23,880 Speaker 3: got you got AJ who's still gonna hold it down. 353 00:16:24,000 --> 00:16:25,840 Speaker 3: You know what I'm saying, A stick I was talking 354 00:16:25,880 --> 00:16:27,040 Speaker 3: to him today like I ain't done. 355 00:16:27,280 --> 00:16:27,840 Speaker 2: I'm not done. 356 00:16:27,880 --> 00:16:31,000 Speaker 3: It sounds like, yeah, I'm a big fan of AJ man, 357 00:16:31,080 --> 00:16:33,400 Speaker 3: AJ strong and he you know what I'm saying, he 358 00:16:33,440 --> 00:16:35,560 Speaker 3: play the game the right way and he's done it 359 00:16:35,600 --> 00:16:36,160 Speaker 3: the right way. 360 00:16:37,080 --> 00:16:39,480 Speaker 2: I can't believe me. It's like his seventh season or something. 361 00:16:39,520 --> 00:16:42,120 Speaker 2: It's crazy. Eight season. Man, it just. 362 00:16:42,080 --> 00:16:47,320 Speaker 3: Still got They still seem so young, but you know, 363 00:16:47,560 --> 00:16:50,280 Speaker 3: just coming into their own and at the same time 364 00:16:50,920 --> 00:16:53,600 Speaker 3: like maturing into their role. And so you know, you 365 00:16:53,680 --> 00:16:55,800 Speaker 3: got a guy like AJ who's really a who's a 366 00:16:55,800 --> 00:16:59,440 Speaker 3: pro bowler, who gonna be leading the next generation the 367 00:16:59,480 --> 00:17:01,280 Speaker 3: corners come and then and that's that's big. 368 00:17:01,400 --> 00:17:03,040 Speaker 2: You can't get it. Don't get no better than that. 369 00:17:03,640 --> 00:17:05,600 Speaker 1: I would be remiss if I didn't ask you about 370 00:17:05,640 --> 00:17:07,119 Speaker 1: you know, the player who took up the mantle of 371 00:17:07,160 --> 00:17:10,960 Speaker 1: number seven here and both he and Tyler Algier. Honestly, 372 00:17:11,000 --> 00:17:13,560 Speaker 1: it reminds me a little bit of of Warwick and TJ. 373 00:17:14,040 --> 00:17:15,440 Speaker 2: Yeah, man, what are your thoughts? 374 00:17:16,520 --> 00:17:19,879 Speaker 3: Oh man, I mean just Tyler and Bjon. Man, Like, 375 00:17:20,240 --> 00:17:24,119 Speaker 3: Tyler gonna do the dirty work. Bison gonna just be dynamic. 376 00:17:24,200 --> 00:17:27,159 Speaker 3: And this season right here is gonna be the breakout season. 377 00:17:28,640 --> 00:17:30,479 Speaker 3: And then when you look at it, man, it almost 378 00:17:30,480 --> 00:17:33,320 Speaker 3: looked like what we had. You know, you got the 379 00:17:33,359 --> 00:17:36,560 Speaker 3: big receivers, you know I had. I had Fan, you know, 380 00:17:36,840 --> 00:17:41,240 Speaker 3: I had Algae, He Michael got Pitts, he got cal 381 00:17:41,880 --> 00:17:44,399 Speaker 3: he got Drake, big receivers, and then he got a 382 00:17:44,600 --> 00:17:47,560 Speaker 3: dynamic I had Warick, a dynamic running back behind me, 383 00:17:47,880 --> 00:17:50,320 Speaker 3: and then and then and then another dynamic running back 384 00:17:50,320 --> 00:17:54,119 Speaker 3: and t J. Duckett, and so with Chris and Vjon, 385 00:17:54,240 --> 00:17:56,800 Speaker 3: it's like and I was just talking to Mic, like, 386 00:17:56,800 --> 00:17:58,960 Speaker 3: what you think the offense is? What type of offense is? 387 00:17:59,040 --> 00:18:01,160 Speaker 3: He like, I think we oriented, but we're gonna throw 388 00:18:01,160 --> 00:18:02,600 Speaker 3: it a lot of them, like you gotta run when 389 00:18:02,640 --> 00:18:05,359 Speaker 3: you got those type of runners. And so it just 390 00:18:05,400 --> 00:18:07,840 Speaker 3: eases up depressure and makes the game a lot easier. 391 00:18:07,880 --> 00:18:09,960 Speaker 3: From a quarterback standpoint. 392 00:18:09,680 --> 00:18:11,359 Speaker 1: It is exciting to think, you know a lot of 393 00:18:11,440 --> 00:18:14,159 Speaker 1: rookie quarterbacks you come in and then you start building 394 00:18:14,200 --> 00:18:17,040 Speaker 1: out around them. He's coming into a situation where, yeah, 395 00:18:17,280 --> 00:18:18,760 Speaker 1: you kind of get this thing going in the right 396 00:18:18,760 --> 00:18:21,360 Speaker 1: direction early. Yeah, it does feel like they could catch fire. 397 00:18:21,480 --> 00:18:24,320 Speaker 1: Last one for you, You know, all these years removed 398 00:18:24,640 --> 00:18:27,160 Speaker 1: from your time here in Atlanta, when you think back 399 00:18:27,200 --> 00:18:29,480 Speaker 1: to your your playing days with the Falcons, is there 400 00:18:30,040 --> 00:18:32,320 Speaker 1: one moment, one memory that kind of bubbles up to 401 00:18:32,320 --> 00:18:34,520 Speaker 1: the surface a little more often than others. 402 00:18:34,960 --> 00:18:35,280 Speaker 2: Yeah. 403 00:18:35,280 --> 00:18:40,560 Speaker 3: Man, I remember when I broke my ankle in two 404 00:18:40,600 --> 00:18:44,880 Speaker 3: thousand and three and I missed twelve games and we 405 00:18:44,880 --> 00:18:47,120 Speaker 3: was struggling. It was like one in eight, one and nine, 406 00:18:47,160 --> 00:18:49,480 Speaker 3: and I was just kind of contemplating, should I come 407 00:18:49,480 --> 00:18:51,280 Speaker 3: back this season. It's no need to come back. The 408 00:18:51,320 --> 00:18:55,440 Speaker 3: season's already over. I probably just sit this season out. 409 00:18:55,480 --> 00:19:00,560 Speaker 3: And I came back in week twelve or thirteen because 410 00:19:00,600 --> 00:19:03,200 Speaker 3: I I wanted to be out there for my teammates. 411 00:19:03,320 --> 00:19:06,199 Speaker 2: I watched them, you know, their struggle. They was losing. 412 00:19:06,400 --> 00:19:11,639 Speaker 3: It was dismal, and even though I was I had 413 00:19:11,680 --> 00:19:13,879 Speaker 3: never had the type of injury that I had, I 414 00:19:13,920 --> 00:19:16,280 Speaker 3: was afraid to get back out there. But I was like, 415 00:19:16,280 --> 00:19:17,960 Speaker 3: if I'm gonna make a sacrifice, I'm a do it 416 00:19:18,040 --> 00:19:20,280 Speaker 3: for my teammates. I'm a door for my for the guys, 417 00:19:20,480 --> 00:19:23,000 Speaker 3: and I went back out there. We went I think 418 00:19:23,000 --> 00:19:24,719 Speaker 3: we went two and one, and we might have went 419 00:19:24,760 --> 00:19:27,439 Speaker 3: three and one, two and one. I know we I 420 00:19:27,480 --> 00:19:33,040 Speaker 3: came back, we beat Uh, we beat Carolina, we went 421 00:19:33,080 --> 00:19:37,280 Speaker 3: to Indian got smoked by Peyton, and then we beat 422 00:19:37,320 --> 00:19:39,240 Speaker 3: the Bucks and then we beat the Jaguars at home. 423 00:19:39,280 --> 00:19:43,399 Speaker 3: And I just remember, you know, and just asking you 424 00:19:43,440 --> 00:19:47,199 Speaker 3: asked me about the memory man, just being so satisfied 425 00:19:47,240 --> 00:19:50,480 Speaker 3: with a four game season for myself, And it wasn't 426 00:19:50,480 --> 00:19:52,359 Speaker 3: because we came back and won the games came. That 427 00:19:52,480 --> 00:19:54,520 Speaker 3: was because I came back and battle with my teammates 428 00:19:54,920 --> 00:19:56,960 Speaker 3: and showed them how much I cared and it meant 429 00:19:56,960 --> 00:19:57,480 Speaker 3: a lot to me. 430 00:19:57,880 --> 00:20:00,000 Speaker 1: Oh that's such an awesome answer. Thank you for sharing that. 431 00:20:00,040 --> 00:20:04,360 Speaker 1: I remember exactly where I was, as you probably a 432 00:20:04,359 --> 00:20:07,160 Speaker 1: ten year old kid at that. Yeah, for watching that game, 433 00:20:09,040 --> 00:20:12,680 Speaker 1: Sorry about it. I tend to be apologize, but yeah, 434 00:20:12,760 --> 00:20:15,720 Speaker 1: that's that's incredible. And to look at what then the 435 00:20:15,720 --> 00:20:18,639 Speaker 1: two thousand and four season was, right, you springboarded that 436 00:20:18,800 --> 00:20:21,360 Speaker 1: so well. So, Mike, thank you so much for taking 437 00:20:21,520 --> 00:20:24,800 Speaker 1: time to join us on this podcast. A lifelong dream 438 00:20:24,800 --> 00:20:26,640 Speaker 1: of mine come true. And thank you guys so much 439 00:20:26,640 --> 00:20:29,520 Speaker 1: for listening, watching, We will catch you guys soon.