WEBVTT - LISTEN | Joe Douglas Talks First Draft, Jets Picks & Roster (4/29) 0:00:03.160 --> 0:00:06.200 Welcome to another edition of the Official Jets Podcast powered 0:00:06.200 --> 0:00:10.000 by Amazon Web Services. On today's episode, e A caught 0:00:10.080 --> 0:00:13.000 up with the general manager himself, Joe Douglas one on 0:00:13.000 --> 0:00:16.400 one and talked about this Jets draft, his first draft 0:00:16.680 --> 0:00:19.360 as general manager, and where this roster is right now 0:00:20.160 --> 0:00:22.680 as it stands on April twenty nine. Then e A, 0:00:22.840 --> 0:00:25.840 before we hear from the architects himself, how do you 0:00:25.840 --> 0:00:28.440 feel like he went about his first draft as general manager, 0:00:28.560 --> 0:00:32.840 especially when you consider the unusual circumstances. To say the least, 0:00:33.159 --> 0:00:38.200 Green's patient, calculating, well thought out. I thought the Jets 0:00:38.360 --> 0:00:41.560 to a man, they raved about the communication heading up 0:00:41.960 --> 0:00:46.000 to the draft. Their preparation was on point. I think 0:00:46.040 --> 0:00:49.559 the collaboration between Joe Douglass and his personal staff and 0:00:49.640 --> 0:00:53.840 Adam Gaze and the coaching staff was tremendous. I think 0:00:53.920 --> 0:00:57.400 the guys felt very good heading into the weekend, and 0:00:57.440 --> 0:01:01.720 then Joe Douglas had every reason to feel very good 0:01:02.000 --> 0:01:06.880 about improving his roster after the weekend. That his first 0:01:07.480 --> 0:01:09.800 draft class is general manager in the New York that's 0:01:09.920 --> 0:01:14.760 nine players, uh, and he also traded for one. So yeah, 0:01:14.800 --> 0:01:18.399 I consider a time person class. But I just thought 0:01:18.560 --> 0:01:23.119 Joe was patient and the other thing that he did 0:01:23.640 --> 0:01:27.800 he never reached. That's what it felt like throughout the draft, Greens, 0:01:27.800 --> 0:01:31.640 and we saw him make three trades, so we thought 0:01:31.680 --> 0:01:34.559 going into it, yeah, he probably make a trader too, 0:01:34.600 --> 0:01:38.800 but three trades very interesting. So um And and when 0:01:38.840 --> 0:01:42.280 you trade down, Greens, you have to have confidence in 0:01:43.360 --> 0:01:46.000 your selection of players, in the prop that you've had, 0:01:46.120 --> 0:01:49.520 because when you trade down, that means that some players 0:01:49.560 --> 0:01:52.600 are gonna obviously go off the board. So you have 0:01:52.720 --> 0:01:56.120 to have a group of players you're comfortable taken. And uh, 0:01:56.240 --> 0:01:59.960 I think Joe Douglas is every reason to feel very 0:02:00.120 --> 0:02:04.400 good about what transported. Let's hear from the headman himself 0:02:04.440 --> 0:02:07.320 before we talk about this roster anymore. Here he is 0:02:07.440 --> 0:02:11.680 Joe Douglas, one on one. Joe, how special was your 0:02:11.680 --> 0:02:14.359 first draft as general manager of the New York Jets. 0:02:15.480 --> 0:02:18.360 It was great, It was It was a great process. 0:02:18.560 --> 0:02:21.600 I think the best part was getting getting in with 0:02:21.800 --> 0:02:24.520 our our scouts and our and our coaching staff and 0:02:24.560 --> 0:02:28.000 having that weekend meetings and you know, hearing everybody's rankings 0:02:28.000 --> 0:02:30.560 and hearing everybody's reports and the discussions that we had 0:02:30.600 --> 0:02:33.800 that kind of that led us into last weekend's draft. 0:02:33.840 --> 0:02:36.320 It was I thought it was a great process and 0:02:37.080 --> 0:02:40.600 everything everything works smoothly. We were able to upgrade the 0:02:40.600 --> 0:02:45.120 talent of the team. First virtual draft in NFL history. 0:02:45.200 --> 0:02:47.520 Your wife, she had an offered to keep the kids 0:02:47.520 --> 0:02:51.880 in the basement, but you decline. When Addison hugged hugged you, 0:02:51.919 --> 0:02:54.239 when Eddie hugged you, and Tommy and Lulu were there. 0:02:54.680 --> 0:02:59.040 Can you describe that moment? Yeah, that was surreal. Um, 0:02:59.080 --> 0:03:01.600 you know, they wanted go down the basement because they 0:03:01.600 --> 0:03:03.760 didn't want to be too loud, but it was such 0:03:03.800 --> 0:03:06.640 a it's such a unique thing to have your family 0:03:06.760 --> 0:03:09.839 this close to you during the draft, and with them 0:03:09.880 --> 0:03:12.480 being in the room opposite and then having the call 0:03:12.560 --> 0:03:16.160 with McKay and how excited he was and his family was, 0:03:16.760 --> 0:03:19.280 and so that that gets you fired up. And then 0:03:19.760 --> 0:03:23.160 in walks uh your children and you know they're hugging 0:03:23.200 --> 0:03:26.440 you and telling you how proud they are, and you know, um, 0:03:26.639 --> 0:03:29.160 you've worked so hard for for a moment like this, 0:03:29.240 --> 0:03:32.280 and it really put things in perspective. It really hit 0:03:32.360 --> 0:03:35.400 me like this, this is truly a special evening. Speaking 0:03:35.440 --> 0:03:38.360 of perspective, if you had an emphasis on the offensive line, 0:03:38.520 --> 0:03:42.880 a need for speed and playmakers around your quarterback Sam Donald, 0:03:43.440 --> 0:03:47.720 the quest for position flexibility, and you wanted to shore 0:03:47.840 --> 0:03:52.080 up some needs. Just how far has this roster come 0:03:52.320 --> 0:03:55.320 since January? When you look at it from the perspective, 0:03:55.360 --> 0:03:58.839 not only is just the draft, but free agency as well. 0:04:00.600 --> 0:04:03.120 You know, I think from the from the start, UM, 0:04:03.280 --> 0:04:05.960 our focus was going going to be to improve the 0:04:06.040 --> 0:04:10.200 protection and playmakers on offense. I feel like we address 0:04:10.280 --> 0:04:14.320 that in free agency. UM. And then the draft was 0:04:14.360 --> 0:04:18.159 another opportunity to address it as well. And you know, 0:04:18.200 --> 0:04:21.080 the pieces that we're able to bring in over the weekend, 0:04:21.920 --> 0:04:26.440 both offense and defense. UM, you know, the the explosive playmakers, 0:04:27.160 --> 0:04:30.560 guys that can play multiple spots. UM. What we're able 0:04:30.600 --> 0:04:33.359 to do in free agency, Uh, you know, offense and 0:04:33.440 --> 0:04:37.000 defense bringing back some key some key players from last 0:04:37.080 --> 0:04:40.080 year's team. UM. You know, I feel I feel good 0:04:40.120 --> 0:04:44.200 about where we are, UM go after after free agency 0:04:44.200 --> 0:04:46.279 in the draft, but we also know we have a 0:04:46.279 --> 0:04:48.279 lot of work to do as well. UM. You know, 0:04:48.320 --> 0:04:51.719 any opportunity we can to shore up any any position group, 0:04:51.920 --> 0:04:55.560 we're gonna look into it. Mackay Beckton and when did 0:04:55.640 --> 0:04:59.080 he jump on your radar during the pre draft process, 0:05:00.400 --> 0:05:04.640 McKay jumped on my radar probably around October. UM, just 0:05:04.960 --> 0:05:07.599 you know, are our scouts send in a little stock 0:05:07.640 --> 0:05:11.200 up stock down report every every week just from the 0:05:11.200 --> 0:05:14.360 places that they've been, the players they looked, and you know, 0:05:14.440 --> 0:05:17.880 mackay was a stock up guy, and UM scouts were 0:05:17.880 --> 0:05:21.040 excited about him and as a possible underclassman that was 0:05:21.040 --> 0:05:23.520 gonna come out early and just going out to practice 0:05:23.520 --> 0:05:25.680 and seeing seeing how big he was and how he 0:05:25.760 --> 0:05:29.920 moved around. So um, just seeing that that that report 0:05:30.360 --> 0:05:33.440 from our area area scouts and over the top scouts 0:05:33.800 --> 0:05:35.760 and then putting the tape on. I think the first 0:05:35.760 --> 0:05:38.400 game I watched was the Notre Dame game, and you 0:05:38.480 --> 0:05:42.720 just see this this hulking uh left tackle that moves 0:05:42.880 --> 0:05:46.440 moves so easy and he's able to just um, you know, 0:05:46.880 --> 0:05:49.839 snap snap defenders heads back every time he hits them, 0:05:49.880 --> 0:05:52.440 and he lifts guys off there, you know, in in 0:05:52.440 --> 0:05:56.240 in uncomfortable positions and put put putting guys on the 0:05:56.279 --> 0:06:00.279 ground and it's uh, it's eye opening and says, Okay, 0:06:00.320 --> 0:06:03.080 this guy has some unusual traits that get you fired 0:06:03.200 --> 0:06:06.640 up at the tackle spots. So that was really the 0:06:06.680 --> 0:06:10.560 genesis of how mackay got on my radar, Joe. I 0:06:10.640 --> 0:06:13.480 know the film is so important and that doesn't lie. 0:06:13.640 --> 0:06:16.320 But when a guy goes to Indianapolis and you're sitting 0:06:16.320 --> 0:06:19.960 there at the combine six seven four pounds and he 0:06:20.040 --> 0:06:22.960 runs a forty yard dash in five point one seconds, 0:06:23.440 --> 0:06:27.000 have you ever seen anything like that before? Yeah, you 0:06:27.360 --> 0:06:29.280 knew he was a good athlete from watching the tape. 0:06:29.440 --> 0:06:31.520 You knew he could, he knew he could slide his feet, 0:06:31.520 --> 0:06:34.200 you knew, you knew he could mirror defense, uh, edge 0:06:34.240 --> 0:06:38.960 rusher's um in pass pro Uh. But when you saw, 0:06:39.400 --> 0:06:42.400 when you saw the forty, it just confirmed everything you 0:06:42.440 --> 0:06:46.200 saw on tape that this is a big athletic man 0:06:46.600 --> 0:06:49.600 that can do that, can do a lot of things. So, um, 0:06:49.880 --> 0:06:52.520 it was certainly it was certainly impressive to see a 0:06:52.640 --> 0:06:55.680 man that size moved out well, But but it was 0:06:56.080 --> 0:06:59.360 it wasn't out of it wasn't out of character for 0:06:59.360 --> 0:07:03.440 for for many thing we saw on tape. Okay, right 0:07:03.720 --> 0:07:06.720 prior to the drafts. I think it was a day 0:07:06.760 --> 0:07:09.400 prior you gave McKay a call. Can you give us 0:07:09.440 --> 0:07:13.680 the nature of that conversation and why you came out 0:07:13.720 --> 0:07:16.960 of that feeling good? If that guy's on the board. 0:07:17.240 --> 0:07:21.240 He might be in New York chet. Yeah. You know, 0:07:22.080 --> 0:07:24.080 with with some of the things that had come out, 0:07:24.280 --> 0:07:26.640 you know, there there were questions that you know, we 0:07:26.720 --> 0:07:30.760 wanted answers on, and um, you know, I can tell 0:07:30.760 --> 0:07:33.560 you that the conversation that I had with McKay was 0:07:33.600 --> 0:07:37.440 a great conversation. And uh, there was upfront. He was 0:07:37.560 --> 0:07:42.560 up front. Um, there was there was honesty, he was authentic. Um, 0:07:42.600 --> 0:07:46.040 you know, he took he took ownership, and you know, 0:07:46.120 --> 0:07:48.160 it was it was a really it was a really 0:07:48.160 --> 0:07:51.520 good conversation. And you know, just being able to spend 0:07:51.520 --> 0:07:54.200 a little extra time with him one on one on 0:07:54.240 --> 0:07:58.080 a FaceTime call, it was a it was a good experience. 0:07:58.840 --> 0:08:01.120 I'm gonna go through the dry player by player. I 0:08:01.160 --> 0:08:03.560 talked to you about a bunch of these guys over 0:08:03.600 --> 0:08:07.560 the weekend. But when you think about a foundation pillar 0:08:07.680 --> 0:08:13.080 perhaps and McKay back then developmental piece along the offensive line, 0:08:14.240 --> 0:08:18.880 a playmaking receiver to versatile highly skilled athletes for the defense, 0:08:18.920 --> 0:08:21.800 backups for a pair of signature players on offense, a 0:08:21.880 --> 0:08:26.880 pair of cornerbacks and U punner, six team captains in all, 0:08:27.520 --> 0:08:30.560 how do you think this class of two thousand twenty 0:08:31.000 --> 0:08:35.880 potentially can help build the foundation of what you're trying 0:08:35.920 --> 0:08:38.880 to do here. Yeah, we'll see, We'll see down the 0:08:38.960 --> 0:08:40.800 road how all these guys pan out. You know, we're 0:08:40.840 --> 0:08:44.719 obviously excited about the character and the ability we were 0:08:44.720 --> 0:08:47.720 able to add. Um, I think all these guys have 0:08:47.880 --> 0:08:51.280 great opportunity to come in and compete and really make 0:08:51.320 --> 0:08:55.320 a name for themselves with this training camp. Um, you know, 0:08:55.600 --> 0:08:58.520 I'm I'm excited about our process how it played out. 0:08:59.080 --> 0:09:02.440 But you know, this, this is a this is a group. 0:09:02.480 --> 0:09:04.720 You know, we were we were fortunate. Um, we were 0:09:04.760 --> 0:09:07.960 able to acquire some extra picks and trades and we 0:09:07.960 --> 0:09:10.840 were fortunate on how the board fell and we were 0:09:10.880 --> 0:09:13.760 able to get get get the right guys. Um that 0:09:13.920 --> 0:09:18.000 that are good players. So, um, they're gonna they're gonna 0:09:18.040 --> 0:09:20.120 have opportunity. That's all you can ever ask for, and 0:09:20.160 --> 0:09:22.920 they've got they each of them have great opportunity to 0:09:22.960 --> 0:09:25.880 make an impact on this year's roster. That's how strong 0:09:25.960 --> 0:09:29.520 has the collaboration been throughout the offseason despite this un 0:09:29.559 --> 0:09:33.280 precedent of time with not only you and your personnel staff, 0:09:33.480 --> 0:09:40.800 but your staff with Adam Gaze and the coaching staff. Yeah, 0:09:40.880 --> 0:09:42.880 I mean there's so many good people in this building. 0:09:43.160 --> 0:09:46.160 And you know, I know I've mentioned Murph and Steve 0:09:46.240 --> 0:09:48.480 in the I T group and how they really helped 0:09:48.559 --> 0:09:51.840 us with h with the video teleconferenceaing and getting our 0:09:51.880 --> 0:09:55.160 coaching staff and personnel staff set up. But then you know, 0:09:55.160 --> 0:09:57.959 when you have guys like Dan's Vowski, you know who's 0:09:57.960 --> 0:10:01.719 who's our director of who as our director of personnel coordinator, 0:10:02.160 --> 0:10:05.040 he does he does such a phenomenal job of getting 0:10:05.040 --> 0:10:08.280 everybody on the same page and so um, you know, 0:10:08.320 --> 0:10:10.959 when we were able to get on the same page 0:10:10.960 --> 0:10:14.120 with teams, app get everybody in check in terms of 0:10:14.760 --> 0:10:17.520 the video conferencely with the players, and then come together 0:10:18.040 --> 0:10:20.640 for this this week of draft meetings that we have 0:10:20.760 --> 0:10:25.280 with the coaches, and everyone was able to just put 0:10:25.320 --> 0:10:28.079 their opinion out there. Um, And if you did the work, 0:10:28.400 --> 0:10:31.080 you get a chance to speak your mind on the player. 0:10:31.440 --> 0:10:34.199 And we're always not going to agree, and but we're 0:10:34.240 --> 0:10:36.960 gonna hash it out respectfully and we're gonna we're gonna 0:10:37.000 --> 0:10:40.120 try to come to the best, uh, the best decision 0:10:40.160 --> 0:10:42.679 for the New York Jets moving forward. So I think 0:10:42.720 --> 0:10:45.120 it was a good process. I think everybody, I think 0:10:45.160 --> 0:10:49.120 everybody was all in Um, you know, from from uh 0:10:49.559 --> 0:10:53.680 collaboration standpoint new Adam Gates going into this and then 0:10:54.240 --> 0:10:58.560 obviously you had last year to kind of watch the 0:10:58.600 --> 0:11:02.400 coaching staff and this and their players in action. But 0:11:02.559 --> 0:11:06.680 just how well have things worked between you two guys 0:11:06.960 --> 0:11:10.040 this offseason. No, it's been good. I mean we've been 0:11:10.080 --> 0:11:13.480 able to either uh get on the team's app or 0:11:13.600 --> 0:11:16.160 call each other just about every day and check in 0:11:16.240 --> 0:11:19.520 and you know, bounce ideas off each other, and um, 0:11:19.800 --> 0:11:24.320 you know, these meetings were great, you know during during 0:11:24.360 --> 0:11:26.360 the week, and then the strategy meetings that we had 0:11:26.400 --> 0:11:28.600 leading up to the great leading up to the draft. 0:11:29.200 --> 0:11:31.040 You know, we we had a lot of a lot 0:11:31.080 --> 0:11:33.880 of conversation, you know, and even and even uh me 0:11:33.960 --> 0:11:36.200 and coach we didn't always see eye to eye on 0:11:36.360 --> 0:11:39.040 exact rankings, but we talked it out. We had we 0:11:39.080 --> 0:11:42.160 had great discussions and I think I think both of 0:11:42.240 --> 0:11:44.600 us were really happy on how this this year's draft 0:11:44.640 --> 0:11:47.280 turned out. Joe, what do you think about the support 0:11:47.360 --> 0:11:51.400 you've put around Sam Donald. We oftentimes have talked about 0:11:51.440 --> 0:11:55.000 the offensive line and that was one area where you 0:11:55.080 --> 0:11:59.120 really emphasize. But you're bringing Rashod Perryman a free agency 0:11:59.720 --> 0:12:03.040 you raft Denzel Men's in the second round. You already 0:12:03.040 --> 0:12:07.439 have Jameson Crowder here on campus, so to speak. Your 0:12:07.520 --> 0:12:10.360 tight ends include Ryan Griffin, who kind of did everything 0:12:10.400 --> 0:12:13.440 for you last year. You're hoping to get Chris Hernon back. 0:12:13.840 --> 0:12:17.400 At two thousand twenty, you still have one of the 0:12:17.400 --> 0:12:20.080 most talented running backs in football, and Levian Bell. You 0:12:20.080 --> 0:12:22.760 add la Michael p. Ryan to the mix. How much 0:12:22.800 --> 0:12:26.559 better do you feel about the offensive weapons around Sam 0:12:26.679 --> 0:12:29.600 right now? Yeah? I think I think I feel good 0:12:29.600 --> 0:12:32.960 about where we're heading up front in terms of in 0:12:33.040 --> 0:12:36.160 terms of the other line. I feel like also that 0:12:36.600 --> 0:12:39.679 a lot of people forgot about Chris Herndon and how 0:12:39.720 --> 0:12:42.320 good of a player that he is. Um, you know, 0:12:42.360 --> 0:12:44.520 a little bit snake He was snake bit last year 0:12:45.200 --> 0:12:48.080 with the suspension and then the injury coming off of suspension. 0:12:48.559 --> 0:12:50.840 But you're talking about a tight end as a rookie 0:12:51.200 --> 0:12:54.400 that I want to say was the number two tight 0:12:54.559 --> 0:12:58.240 end in all of the NFL and explosive plays as 0:12:58.280 --> 0:13:02.319 a as a rookie. So, um, you know, not having 0:13:02.400 --> 0:13:06.120 him last year it hurt. And so I'm really excited 0:13:06.120 --> 0:13:09.200 to get Chris back, and you know, with him, with 0:13:09.280 --> 0:13:12.640 Griffin and Ryan Ryan was a great addition, and then 0:13:12.640 --> 0:13:15.480 a young guy like west go. So Phil, Phil feel 0:13:15.600 --> 0:13:18.719 excited to see these tight ends come back. And um, 0:13:18.880 --> 0:13:22.000 you know, the depth that we've added at wide receiver, 0:13:22.160 --> 0:13:24.440 the depth that we've added at a line, the depth 0:13:24.440 --> 0:13:26.840 that we've added at running back. You know, I'm just 0:13:26.880 --> 0:13:29.280 excited to get these guys on the field. And and 0:13:29.440 --> 0:13:31.360 uh hopefully you know, we need to get on the 0:13:31.360 --> 0:13:35.040 field and get some chemistry. But the there there's uh, 0:13:35.080 --> 0:13:37.680 there's talent that excites you. But I talked to you 0:13:37.679 --> 0:13:40.440 about this in Indianapolis and you said the need for 0:13:40.760 --> 0:13:45.439 speed you address both sides of the ball um specifically 0:13:45.440 --> 0:13:48.679 the wide receiver position. Brashad Perryman bring him in a 0:13:48.760 --> 0:13:51.719 free accene and then Denzel Men's we talked about him 0:13:51.720 --> 0:13:53.760 over the weekend, a long strider. But both of those 0:13:53.760 --> 0:13:59.439 guys have sub four four speed. So how potentially cannot 0:13:59.600 --> 0:14:02.920 help Sam, because I know you've mentioned it before and 0:14:03.040 --> 0:14:06.280 Adam has two, is that you can't have the stress 0:14:06.320 --> 0:14:09.800 to all the time of matriculating the ball down the field, 0:14:09.880 --> 0:14:12.920 so to speak. With twelve plate drives, sometimes you got 0:14:12.920 --> 0:14:15.400 to score quickly in this league. Yeah, I know we 0:14:15.480 --> 0:14:17.640 talked a little bit at the combine about the vertical 0:14:17.679 --> 0:14:20.840 aspect of an offense and and how we saw the 0:14:20.840 --> 0:14:23.840 two teams competed in the Super Bowl, how both of 0:14:23.880 --> 0:14:27.120 their offense feature a vertical passing gaming, how and how 0:14:27.160 --> 0:14:29.880 much pressure that puts on a defense. And so when 0:14:29.880 --> 0:14:34.480 you have guys like Perriman, Um, like like Prashad, like Denzel, 0:14:34.960 --> 0:14:39.000 who are two big guys that run really fast on 0:14:39.040 --> 0:14:42.880 the outside, Um, the those those guys can put a 0:14:42.920 --> 0:14:45.960 lot of pressure on the defense. Um, you have you 0:14:46.040 --> 0:14:48.400 have to be on alert for them when it comes 0:14:48.400 --> 0:14:51.400 to the vertical passing game. And so the hope is 0:14:51.440 --> 0:14:53.840 that that opens up a lot of free space for Jamison, 0:14:54.360 --> 0:14:58.240 for love Um, for for Herndon, for Griff for Westco. 0:14:58.840 --> 0:15:02.400 So you you're you're hoping that this speed can really 0:15:02.440 --> 0:15:04.360 open up the door and pass game for a lot 0:15:04.400 --> 0:15:07.560 of other people. Last question about offensive line real quick, 0:15:08.240 --> 0:15:12.000 How big was it for you in Baltimore that you 0:15:12.200 --> 0:15:16.600 had a Hall of Famer at left tackle in Jonathan Ogden, 0:15:16.680 --> 0:15:20.360 and then in Philadelphia you had Jason Peters, who I 0:15:20.400 --> 0:15:25.520 think is gonna definitely get Hall of Fame consideration. And 0:15:25.960 --> 0:15:30.800 we're not gonna put any kind of um projections I'm McKay, 0:15:30.960 --> 0:15:35.000 Beckton or anybody for that matter. But with that being said, 0:15:36.200 --> 0:15:41.840 how much can potentially a guy like who has talent 0:15:42.000 --> 0:15:46.200 like that help an offensive line? Yeah, you just mentioned 0:15:46.240 --> 0:15:50.480 two unbelievable players, Um, both both. You know, Jo is 0:15:50.480 --> 0:15:52.640 the first pound of Hall of Famer. JP is going 0:15:52.680 --> 0:15:56.240 to be a Hall of Famer. Um. And you know 0:15:56.520 --> 0:15:59.840 those when you have when you have a tackle like 0:16:00.000 --> 0:16:02.680 at left tackle like that, you go into a game 0:16:03.280 --> 0:16:06.760 very relaxed in terms of in terms of protection. Just 0:16:07.320 --> 0:16:09.760 you know, havening't been in Baltimore as long as I was. 0:16:09.960 --> 0:16:12.120 You you you went into games and you just you 0:16:12.160 --> 0:16:15.600 really didn't have to worry, um about about the other 0:16:15.680 --> 0:16:18.760 team's best pass rusher unless they moved into the other 0:16:18.800 --> 0:16:22.760 side of the formation, which oftentimes they did. So when 0:16:22.760 --> 0:16:27.360 you have a tackle like that, um, it takes. It 0:16:27.400 --> 0:16:30.640 makes you sleep a little better at night before a game. 0:16:31.040 --> 0:16:34.320 You know. And um, you know I I wouldn't. I'm 0:16:34.320 --> 0:16:37.280 not gonna. I'm not gonna compare McKay um to those 0:16:37.320 --> 0:16:39.240 two guys. I mean, McKay has got to blaze his 0:16:39.280 --> 0:16:43.200 own trail. Um. But uh, you know you're excited about 0:16:43.240 --> 0:16:46.640 the ability. You know, you're excited about about the traits 0:16:46.720 --> 0:16:50.400 that he has, the mentality that he plays with, and uh, 0:16:50.520 --> 0:16:53.120 you know, we we feel like he's a guy that 0:16:53.160 --> 0:16:55.480 could that could, that could be a difference maker for 0:16:55.560 --> 0:16:57.840 us up front. Where do you think the steam is 0:16:57.880 --> 0:17:02.200 a defensively you were side Jordan Jenkins and Brian Pool 0:17:02.240 --> 0:17:06.800 among others, but then in the draft you get a 0:17:06.880 --> 0:17:13.359 pair of highly athletic players who provide speed and versatility. 0:17:13.400 --> 0:17:16.160 And that's the thing with all these acquisitions we're talking 0:17:16.200 --> 0:17:20.280 about with Joe Douglas right now, is the multiplicity of 0:17:20.400 --> 0:17:24.760 positions that these guys can play. Ashton Davis and Jabari's aninga. 0:17:25.119 --> 0:17:28.600 I think you should be perfect fits for a defense 0:17:28.640 --> 0:17:32.720 that employs so many different packages. With Greg Williams excited 0:17:32.720 --> 0:17:35.960 about the both those guys. You know, Ashton brings speed, 0:17:36.080 --> 0:17:39.560 ball skills, versatility. Um, he's a guy you can want. 0:17:39.560 --> 0:17:41.160 You can throw the type tape on. You can see 0:17:41.240 --> 0:17:43.480 him line up over slot receiver and cover them in 0:17:43.520 --> 0:17:45.600 man coverage. You can see him line up as a 0:17:45.680 --> 0:17:47.879 high safety and range over to the sideline to make 0:17:47.920 --> 0:17:49.919 up play on the ball. You can see him attack 0:17:49.960 --> 0:17:51.800 the alleys in the in the run game. You can 0:17:51.840 --> 0:17:57.159 see him blitz so Um, what what we have with 0:17:57.160 --> 0:18:02.120 with Jamal, with Marcus and you know National letting him compete. Um, 0:18:02.240 --> 0:18:03.920 you know, the hope is that he can he can 0:18:03.960 --> 0:18:08.199 provide that that kind of versatility and playmaking to our 0:18:08.280 --> 0:18:11.400 back end. Back end and a guy like Jabari's Aniga 0:18:11.840 --> 0:18:16.040 who battled injury this year. But another guy, uh, he 0:18:16.080 --> 0:18:18.919 can he can play the end, he can reduce inside 0:18:19.040 --> 0:18:22.880 and Nickel packages the lineup over guard. You know his suddenness, 0:18:23.720 --> 0:18:26.960 his explosiveness off the ball, you know his motor, his 0:18:27.000 --> 0:18:30.280 play temperament, how hard he plays, that jumps off the tape. 0:18:30.600 --> 0:18:33.800 So so Um, with those two guys, we feel like 0:18:33.840 --> 0:18:35.679 those are guys that can that can line up in 0:18:36.119 --> 0:18:39.399 in different positions on and he can play and you 0:18:39.400 --> 0:18:42.159 know based on matchups and help us. So you know, 0:18:42.640 --> 0:18:45.600 we're just we're excited to add those guys. Something that's 0:18:45.600 --> 0:18:49.439 flying onto the radar here. I think externally, at least 0:18:49.480 --> 0:18:53.119 not internally, is the emphasis you put on special teams 0:18:53.160 --> 0:18:57.360 to Aston Davis was a very good kickoff returner at California. 0:18:57.960 --> 0:19:01.560 Michael p Ryan contribute on teams that have Florida and 0:19:01.600 --> 0:19:05.479 then we talked about it. Grandpore stood on the table 0:19:05.880 --> 0:19:08.800 for his partner of Brandon Man and you guys picked 0:19:08.840 --> 0:19:11.879 him up in the sixth round. So, UH, shouldn't we 0:19:11.920 --> 0:19:14.400 think in terms of not just the way you're attacking 0:19:14.480 --> 0:19:18.639 offense and defense, but where some of these acquisition acquisitions 0:19:19.200 --> 0:19:24.760 UH will help in fact or in do special teams play? Yeah, 0:19:25.000 --> 0:19:28.000 the best teams are balanced teams across the board in 0:19:28.040 --> 0:19:31.840 all three phases, and they have depth and um, you know, 0:19:31.920 --> 0:19:34.679 we feel good about the depth we've had and on 0:19:34.720 --> 0:19:37.159 special teams, you feel good about something some guys that 0:19:37.560 --> 0:19:40.359 can compete to be contributors next year on special teams. 0:19:40.359 --> 0:19:42.800 I know brands fired up about a few guys, but 0:19:42.920 --> 0:19:46.000 also you know, like you like you excuse me, like 0:19:46.040 --> 0:19:49.320 you mentioned on man Um a guy that we were 0:19:49.359 --> 0:19:51.840 excited about, I mean, and the things that he can 0:19:51.840 --> 0:19:55.280 do with his directional kicks, the leg strength, um, the 0:19:55.320 --> 0:19:58.320 ability to kick off if need be. So another guy 0:19:58.359 --> 0:20:00.280 that can that can really do more than one thing. 0:20:01.000 --> 0:20:04.720 The virtual off season program under way, Joe, what's going 0:20:04.800 --> 0:20:07.880 to be the challenge ahead for UH? We talked about 0:20:07.920 --> 0:20:10.240 Sam's aren't a little bit a lot of new pieces 0:20:10.320 --> 0:20:13.280 on offense, but we don't know when you guys will 0:20:13.320 --> 0:20:15.520 be able to see the field, just like anybody in 0:20:15.520 --> 0:20:19.520 the National Football League. But uh, what do you think 0:20:19.560 --> 0:20:23.040 about your head coach, Adam Gates talking about he's got 0:20:23.040 --> 0:20:26.240 to become an extension of the coaching staff. Now, yeah, 0:20:26.280 --> 0:20:30.879 you know, these these virtual meetings, Um, these virtual O 0:20:31.000 --> 0:20:33.280 t a s. They're big, you know, and just having 0:20:33.280 --> 0:20:35.680 the opportunity to jump into a couple of different meetings, 0:20:36.160 --> 0:20:38.879 seeing the interaction that's going back and put back and 0:20:38.920 --> 0:20:41.960 forth between the players and coaches. Um, you know, going 0:20:41.960 --> 0:20:44.520 over last year's tape, going over the things that we 0:20:44.560 --> 0:20:47.919 could do better, Uh, going over just the base the 0:20:48.000 --> 0:20:51.720 day one basic fundamentals. Um, you know, there's there's an energy. 0:20:51.880 --> 0:20:54.400 You know, there's there's a lot of hungry guys. So 0:20:54.520 --> 0:20:57.680 I think I think the energy is there, hunger is there. 0:20:58.040 --> 0:21:00.040 And now the next step is us getting together and 0:21:00.200 --> 0:21:04.320 building the chemistry. And so that's that's obviously there's uncertainty 0:21:04.440 --> 0:21:06.679 with what's going on around the world, but I think 0:21:06.760 --> 0:21:09.240 that's the next step when we get together again, is 0:21:09.240 --> 0:21:12.679 to really start building that chemistry that takes good teams, 0:21:12.800 --> 0:21:14.639 that can take you from being a good team to 0:21:14.680 --> 0:21:17.480 a great team. And so, um, you know, we we've 0:21:17.480 --> 0:21:19.000 got a lot of work to do like we said, 0:21:19.480 --> 0:21:21.200 But I think I think that's gonna be a big 0:21:21.240 --> 0:21:23.080 thing for us moving forward and we're able to get 0:21:23.080 --> 0:21:26.399 back together under one roof. Do you think you guys 0:21:26.440 --> 0:21:29.639 took a step forward with the culture here in the 0:21:29.680 --> 0:21:34.359 off season because you targeted specific people and free agency 0:21:34.480 --> 0:21:37.520 not just the roles on the field, but what they 0:21:37.520 --> 0:21:40.600 would bring inside your room, and then you followed it 0:21:40.680 --> 0:21:45.840 up within the draft you selected six team captains out 0:21:45.880 --> 0:21:50.320 of your nine picks. Yeah. I mean, we're excited about 0:21:50.359 --> 0:21:52.840 the character that we added. Um. You know, I know 0:21:52.880 --> 0:21:55.439 we talked about a little bit earlier. UM, you know, 0:21:55.520 --> 0:21:58.440 they're we're excited about the ability and we're excited about 0:21:58.480 --> 0:22:00.840 the character. You know. We we just we just have 0:22:00.920 --> 0:22:03.240 to get everybody in the locker room and and let 0:22:03.240 --> 0:22:06.000 that character show in the locker room, in the building, 0:22:06.160 --> 0:22:09.760 on the field. UM. So just just excited to to 0:22:09.760 --> 0:22:13.520 get everybody back to get everyone together. Um. But yeah, 0:22:13.560 --> 0:22:17.320 that I think we I think we drafted um and 0:22:17.400 --> 0:22:23.040 brought in through free agency passionate guys that love football. UM. 0:22:23.160 --> 0:22:25.400 And I think I think we're going to see that 0:22:25.720 --> 0:22:29.439 really show when we get back together. And the final 0:22:29.560 --> 0:22:34.080 question here, do you think Adam gaze talks always that 0:22:34.920 --> 0:22:37.240 always in terms of we want to be a team 0:22:37.480 --> 0:22:42.200 that gets to determament and competes for a championship. I'm 0:22:42.200 --> 0:22:45.240 not asking for any playout predictions, which would be ridiculous 0:22:45.280 --> 0:22:49.840 or anything like that. More so, do you like where 0:22:49.880 --> 0:22:53.600