1 00:00:11,640 --> 00:00:13,960 Speaker 1: Coach McCarthy, thank you for sitting down with us here 2 00:00:13,960 --> 00:00:15,000 Speaker 1: at the owners meetings. 3 00:00:15,520 --> 00:00:17,880 Speaker 2: For you specifically, I mean, now you've. 4 00:00:17,680 --> 00:00:20,000 Speaker 1: Had time to relax and kind of get settled back 5 00:00:20,000 --> 00:00:23,400 Speaker 1: into Pittsburgh. How has it been driving to work back 6 00:00:23,400 --> 00:00:24,360 Speaker 1: home in Pittsburgh? 7 00:00:24,440 --> 00:00:25,800 Speaker 2: How has that process been now? 8 00:00:26,160 --> 00:00:29,160 Speaker 3: I mean, the drive to work at home is it's incredible. 9 00:00:29,200 --> 00:00:32,160 Speaker 3: It's something that I don't even think you can dream 10 00:00:32,200 --> 00:00:35,559 Speaker 3: about it because I'm literally driving the streets that I 11 00:00:35,560 --> 00:00:39,600 Speaker 3: grew up on, so Greenville Avenue, Second Avenue, across the bridge, 12 00:00:39,600 --> 00:00:43,120 Speaker 3: and right down Water Street. So it's still a bit surreal. 13 00:00:43,600 --> 00:00:46,000 Speaker 3: I'm loving every minute of it. But it's football. I mean, 14 00:00:46,040 --> 00:00:47,920 Speaker 3: there's a lot of work to do. Year one is 15 00:00:48,320 --> 00:00:49,880 Speaker 3: always the hardest year. 16 00:00:50,040 --> 00:00:50,199 Speaker 2: You know. 17 00:00:50,200 --> 00:00:52,159 Speaker 3: I've been through it a couple of times. I've been 18 00:00:52,159 --> 00:00:54,040 Speaker 3: through it a couple of times as an assistant, So 19 00:00:54,600 --> 00:00:57,480 Speaker 3: really we just have had our head down and just 20 00:00:57,480 --> 00:00:59,000 Speaker 3: trying to grind and make sure we're ready to go 21 00:00:59,040 --> 00:00:59,960 Speaker 3: when the players come back. 22 00:01:00,360 --> 00:01:02,080 Speaker 1: Obviously this time of year, a lot of guys don't 23 00:01:02,080 --> 00:01:05,279 Speaker 1: get into the building that frequently. That'll happen once ota start. 24 00:01:05,720 --> 00:01:07,920 Speaker 1: But how important is it to kind of communicate and 25 00:01:08,000 --> 00:01:10,440 Speaker 1: lean on veterans like a TJ. Wy, a Cam Hayward 26 00:01:10,480 --> 00:01:13,120 Speaker 1: and company to kind of impart kind of what the 27 00:01:13,120 --> 00:01:15,040 Speaker 1: philosophy and your style is. 28 00:01:15,440 --> 00:01:19,199 Speaker 2: How has that process been thus far. I mean it's 29 00:01:19,280 --> 00:01:19,880 Speaker 2: very important. 30 00:01:19,959 --> 00:01:23,840 Speaker 3: I mean this Pittsburgh Steelers has an incredible history and tradition. 31 00:01:24,080 --> 00:01:26,520 Speaker 3: You know, we're all aware of that, but also it 32 00:01:26,560 --> 00:01:30,360 Speaker 3: does have a history of winning currently, So in TJ 33 00:01:30,440 --> 00:01:32,200 Speaker 3: and Cam are part of that. And you know, I 34 00:01:32,440 --> 00:01:35,840 Speaker 3: had early conversations with both men that they just want 35 00:01:35,880 --> 00:01:38,240 Speaker 3: a chance to win it all before you know, their 36 00:01:38,240 --> 00:01:40,880 Speaker 3: career comes to an end, so very receptive. They just 37 00:01:40,920 --> 00:01:43,240 Speaker 3: want to be part of the messaging the new direction. 38 00:01:43,440 --> 00:01:46,280 Speaker 3: So basically both said the coaches tell us, tell us 39 00:01:46,319 --> 00:01:49,240 Speaker 3: what you want. So and really everybody in that locker 40 00:01:49,280 --> 00:01:52,800 Speaker 3: room currently, that's who will impact you know, this upcoming season. 41 00:01:52,880 --> 00:01:56,320 Speaker 3: The new players are very important to veterans. Get them acclimated. 42 00:01:56,360 --> 00:01:58,720 Speaker 3: You know, then we've got the rookie class. But these veterans, 43 00:01:58,800 --> 00:02:01,200 Speaker 3: you know, they're they they you know, they know the 44 00:02:01,240 --> 00:02:03,680 Speaker 3: Pittsburgh steel Away and you know, we're just taking a 45 00:02:03,680 --> 00:02:05,680 Speaker 3: little different path. So you know, we're not trying to 46 00:02:05,720 --> 00:02:08,880 Speaker 3: change They're not change colors. We're not getting new uniforms. Yeah, 47 00:02:09,000 --> 00:02:10,959 Speaker 3: you know, so we want to build off all the 48 00:02:11,000 --> 00:02:12,520 Speaker 3: greatness that's been here for decades. 49 00:02:12,720 --> 00:02:15,359 Speaker 2: And speaking of that players coming back, you've had some quality. 50 00:02:15,080 --> 00:02:18,960 Speaker 1: Free agents and how did how did you identify and 51 00:02:19,080 --> 00:02:21,800 Speaker 1: how was that process figuring out who those guys were 52 00:02:22,000 --> 00:02:24,800 Speaker 1: and to go target and then of course acquire those players. 53 00:02:24,880 --> 00:02:28,560 Speaker 3: Yeah, definitely, I'm big into play style and in physical profiles. 54 00:02:28,600 --> 00:02:31,360 Speaker 3: So I think you see the common thread we have 55 00:02:31,400 --> 00:02:34,600 Speaker 3: everybody who we signed. I think it's a great addition 56 00:02:34,680 --> 00:02:36,920 Speaker 3: to our roster. So we don't feel like we have 57 00:02:36,960 --> 00:02:38,800 Speaker 3: to go in the draft and say, hey we need this. 58 00:02:38,960 --> 00:02:41,480 Speaker 3: We you know, position wide, we can really trust our board. 59 00:02:41,480 --> 00:02:43,960 Speaker 3: We have a lot of picks. You know, this is 60 00:02:43,960 --> 00:02:47,000 Speaker 3: Omar and I was first draft class together. So and 61 00:02:47,320 --> 00:02:49,960 Speaker 3: it's I'm a believer in you know, it's a program 62 00:02:50,040 --> 00:02:53,200 Speaker 3: shift obviously, you know, Mike's had incredible success there for 63 00:02:53,280 --> 00:02:56,080 Speaker 3: nineteen seasons, so we you know, we want this to 64 00:02:56,080 --> 00:02:58,280 Speaker 3: be a you know, a launching point for for our 65 00:02:58,280 --> 00:02:59,040 Speaker 3: new program. 66 00:02:59,080 --> 00:03:00,000 Speaker 2: Some of those additions. 67 00:03:00,080 --> 00:03:03,520 Speaker 1: As we talked about the physical profile, Michael Pittman obviously 68 00:03:03,680 --> 00:03:06,239 Speaker 1: put him with Dame at that that's a that's a 69 00:03:06,360 --> 00:03:10,320 Speaker 1: dynamic duo. But when you're talking about that group, it's 70 00:03:10,320 --> 00:03:13,680 Speaker 1: an imposing group. And how exciting is it to have 71 00:03:13,760 --> 00:03:16,880 Speaker 1: all these kind of big physical types on the offensive 72 00:03:16,880 --> 00:03:17,440 Speaker 1: side of the ball. 73 00:03:18,000 --> 00:03:19,960 Speaker 3: You've played there. I mean, it's it's a style of 74 00:03:19,960 --> 00:03:23,640 Speaker 3: play the division. It's it's been that way for just 75 00:03:23,720 --> 00:03:26,240 Speaker 3: watching them play in the seventies, so you know, it's 76 00:03:26,240 --> 00:03:28,160 Speaker 3: a it's a style football that we're going to play. 77 00:03:28,560 --> 00:03:31,720 Speaker 3: So Michael, you know DK we you know, learned from 78 00:03:31,800 --> 00:03:33,600 Speaker 3: last year. We want to move these guys around. I 79 00:03:33,600 --> 00:03:36,920 Speaker 3: think your perimeter targets. It's important for the quarterback to 80 00:03:36,960 --> 00:03:40,960 Speaker 3: be conceptionally ingrained to you know, his footwork and understand 81 00:03:41,000 --> 00:03:43,240 Speaker 3: the concept and the ability to move your perimeter pieces 82 00:03:43,280 --> 00:03:46,880 Speaker 3: around to create matchups. So, you know, a Michael gives 83 00:03:46,920 --> 00:03:47,920 Speaker 3: us stuff flexibility. 84 00:03:48,080 --> 00:03:50,520 Speaker 1: A lot of questions have been asked about the quarterback position. 85 00:03:51,040 --> 00:03:53,120 Speaker 1: Can you give us any insights to where we are 86 00:03:53,200 --> 00:03:54,400 Speaker 1: with Aaron Rodgers right now? 87 00:03:54,560 --> 00:03:54,800 Speaker 2: Yes? 88 00:03:54,880 --> 00:03:58,440 Speaker 3: I mean Aaron and I have had continuous dialogue pretty 89 00:03:58,520 --> 00:04:01,880 Speaker 3: much every week, so and we'll continue to talk. He's, 90 00:04:02,200 --> 00:04:04,440 Speaker 3: you know, looking at the different things that are going 91 00:04:04,480 --> 00:04:07,280 Speaker 3: on in his life, and I would say is in 92 00:04:07,280 --> 00:04:10,440 Speaker 3: a very positive headspace. So we're kind of working through 93 00:04:10,480 --> 00:04:11,720 Speaker 3: that and we'll get a decision. 94 00:04:11,840 --> 00:04:15,680 Speaker 1: Steelers organization has not gone through changes very often, as 95 00:04:15,760 --> 00:04:16,599 Speaker 1: you very well know. 96 00:04:17,279 --> 00:04:19,440 Speaker 2: You know, just kind of talk about this time of. 97 00:04:19,440 --> 00:04:21,600 Speaker 1: Year the priorities when you're bringing in a whole new 98 00:04:21,640 --> 00:04:24,360 Speaker 1: coaching staff, right, so you have a lot of new 99 00:04:24,400 --> 00:04:27,039 Speaker 1: faces in there, and like you said, the veterans having 100 00:04:27,240 --> 00:04:29,520 Speaker 1: the different impacts. But how how is that what's the 101 00:04:29,520 --> 00:04:31,839 Speaker 1: priority this time of year with the new coaching staff 102 00:04:32,000 --> 00:04:33,120 Speaker 1: where you guys are at. 103 00:04:33,400 --> 00:04:35,559 Speaker 3: I mean, the focus has always been on the draft, 104 00:04:35,560 --> 00:04:38,440 Speaker 3: player acquisition, veteran free agency in the draft, so player 105 00:04:38,480 --> 00:04:42,840 Speaker 3: acquisition and then scheme implementation. So that's really we're finishing up. 106 00:04:43,320 --> 00:04:45,480 Speaker 3: Defense is always a little further ahead in an offense 107 00:04:45,520 --> 00:04:47,760 Speaker 3: a little more like I always tell defense goes, we 108 00:04:47,760 --> 00:04:48,760 Speaker 3: got to tell you where to line up. 109 00:04:48,800 --> 00:04:50,880 Speaker 2: So we've got we've got a little more to do. 110 00:04:50,960 --> 00:04:53,800 Speaker 3: But so we're we're kind of wrapping that up right 111 00:04:53,800 --> 00:04:56,400 Speaker 3: now because we want to be able to get it 112 00:04:56,400 --> 00:04:59,320 Speaker 3: to the players through the phase one and two and 113 00:05:00,120 --> 00:05:02,520 Speaker 3: make sure they're comfortable before we get really can get 114 00:05:02,520 --> 00:05:04,160 Speaker 3: out on the field and go full speed. 115 00:05:04,240 --> 00:05:07,240 Speaker 1: OTAs that time of year, getting the guys back in 116 00:05:07,279 --> 00:05:10,640 Speaker 1: the building really and and enforce with a group of guys. 117 00:05:11,000 --> 00:05:12,720 Speaker 1: How important is that time of year and what are 118 00:05:12,760 --> 00:05:14,920 Speaker 1: you looking to accomplish in the OTA period. 119 00:05:15,760 --> 00:05:18,320 Speaker 3: Anytime you can have your whole football team together, I 120 00:05:18,320 --> 00:05:21,240 Speaker 3: think is an important opportunity that you should try to 121 00:05:21,279 --> 00:05:24,160 Speaker 3: take advantage of. So, yeah, when we get to the OTAs, 122 00:05:24,520 --> 00:05:27,599 Speaker 3: we'll go to a little different format. We'll spend the 123 00:05:27,640 --> 00:05:31,400 Speaker 3: first two phases, you know, teaching everything conceptionally, and then 124 00:05:31,440 --> 00:05:34,080 Speaker 3: we get to OTAs, we'll do more installation type you know, 125 00:05:34,320 --> 00:05:37,680 Speaker 3: first and second down and try to exercise more of 126 00:05:37,680 --> 00:05:40,800 Speaker 3: them I would call a traditional install that you know 127 00:05:40,880 --> 00:05:43,520 Speaker 3: that we've been been part of. So we want to 128 00:05:43,520 --> 00:05:45,960 Speaker 3: get as much teaching, you know, as much teaching we 129 00:05:46,360 --> 00:05:47,880 Speaker 3: possibly can throughout that as ot. 130 00:05:47,760 --> 00:05:50,120 Speaker 1: As And as a draft comes up, how involved is 131 00:05:50,120 --> 00:05:53,960 Speaker 1: the coaching staff and the draft process? Given you know 132 00:05:54,440 --> 00:05:57,000 Speaker 1: where we're at, how how involved are they? 133 00:05:57,720 --> 00:05:58,320 Speaker 2: Very involved? 134 00:05:58,360 --> 00:06:00,440 Speaker 3: I mean, our coaches have you know, we've written a 135 00:06:00,480 --> 00:06:02,680 Speaker 3: lot of reports on a lot of draft picks. So 136 00:06:03,040 --> 00:06:07,520 Speaker 3: I really like the collaboration between personnel and coaching. And 137 00:06:07,600 --> 00:06:09,320 Speaker 3: I think at the end of the day, it's it's 138 00:06:09,360 --> 00:06:11,560 Speaker 3: about getting that board ranked, you know, getting the board right, 139 00:06:12,120 --> 00:06:14,359 Speaker 3: and and then just we just got to have the discipline, 140 00:06:14,360 --> 00:06:16,919 Speaker 3: trust the board, and uh but yeah, I think the 141 00:06:17,000 --> 00:06:20,560 Speaker 3: collaboration and and really I like the way the personnel 142 00:06:20,600 --> 00:06:21,680 Speaker 3: and coaches have been jelling. 143 00:06:22,120 --> 00:06:23,839 Speaker 2: Now draft is in Pittsburgh. 144 00:06:23,920 --> 00:06:26,320 Speaker 1: Yeah, but right that, right right there on the three 145 00:06:26,400 --> 00:06:28,640 Speaker 1: rivers of the confluence of three rivers is my good 146 00:06:28,640 --> 00:06:30,520 Speaker 1: buddy Craig Wolfe used to say, you. 147 00:06:30,480 --> 00:06:31,320 Speaker 2: Have twelve picks. 148 00:06:31,640 --> 00:06:33,520 Speaker 1: How do you approach your first draft as a head 149 00:06:33,600 --> 00:06:36,400 Speaker 1: coach of the Pittsburgh Steelers knowing you have that type 150 00:06:36,400 --> 00:06:37,240 Speaker 1: of capital at your. 151 00:06:37,400 --> 00:06:40,080 Speaker 3: All patients and discipline. I've always looked at the draft, 152 00:06:40,200 --> 00:06:43,240 Speaker 3: you know, a lot like preparing a game plan for 153 00:06:43,240 --> 00:06:45,839 Speaker 3: for the Super Bowl. Just there's so much work that 154 00:06:45,880 --> 00:06:48,719 Speaker 3: goes into that. You spent the whole year. I mean you, 155 00:06:48,800 --> 00:06:51,240 Speaker 3: I mean, these scouts have been banging on these on 156 00:06:51,360 --> 00:06:53,479 Speaker 3: these guys for years. You know, the the amount of 157 00:06:53,520 --> 00:06:56,880 Speaker 3: information that's collected in the ability to now bring it 158 00:06:56,920 --> 00:06:59,720 Speaker 3: together and you know, let's not forget about the conversations 159 00:06:59,720 --> 00:07:03,160 Speaker 3: that place and you know back in November and January, 160 00:07:03,240 --> 00:07:05,760 Speaker 3: and when we get to the final grade, let's let's 161 00:07:05,839 --> 00:07:08,360 Speaker 3: just trust it and bring them in. And then you 162 00:07:08,440 --> 00:07:11,760 Speaker 3: can't have you cannot have enough football players, Max, that's 163 00:07:11,800 --> 00:07:13,080 Speaker 3: one thing I do know about the sleeve. 164 00:07:14,000 --> 00:07:17,520 Speaker 1: Absolutely and happy to have a good one leading that charge. 165 00:07:17,520 --> 00:07:19,440 Speaker 1: Of youu coas Brouh, Thanks, thanks for taking the time 166 00:07:19,480 --> 00:07:20,160 Speaker 1: to sit down with us. 167 00:07:20,200 --> 00:07:22,720 Speaker 2: Well, thank you. It's very visiting, all right, appreciate it.