WEBVTT - Colton McKivitz Shares His Mindset Heading into the 2024 Season | Press Pass

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<v Speaker 1>Super quiet, nice. It is great.

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<v Speaker 2>Earlier and he was talking about Dominic Cooney and he

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<v Speaker 2>said how intelligent he was, And I'm just wondering whether.

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<v Speaker 1>That's something that you notice on the field when you're

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<v Speaker 1>when you're lining up next. Yeah, I think what Dom

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<v Speaker 1>does great coming in as a rookie already is he

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<v Speaker 1>understands the playbook one and then second of all, he

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<v Speaker 1>communicates really well at the line of scrimmage. I think,

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<v Speaker 1>you know, some of the rookies that come in, you know,

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<v Speaker 1>they're quiet or shy or you know, a lot of

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<v Speaker 1>things going on and they don't communicate. They missed that part.

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<v Speaker 1>But I think what Dom's done really well is, you know,

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<v Speaker 1>first day, as soon as he got in there, communicated

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<v Speaker 1>really well of where we're going, numbers and that kind

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<v Speaker 1>of thing. So I think that's really helped. And obviously

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<v Speaker 1>knowing what he's doing is has been a huge impact.

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<v Speaker 1>You know, he's a strong athletic, you know guard. I

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<v Speaker 1>think he's just taking and run with it and playing

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<v Speaker 1>really well right now. So it's nice. Nice to have

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<v Speaker 1>a rookie in there, you know, contributing already like that.

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<v Speaker 2>Rookie, especially in the system that you guys run challenging

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<v Speaker 2>and compete.

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<v Speaker 1>Yeah, it's a learning curve. You know, colleges they don't

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<v Speaker 1>run what we're running. You know, his own fast paced

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<v Speaker 1>run getting on backers. So, you know, I think he

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<v Speaker 1>came in and obviously you have your first few hiccups,

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<v Speaker 1>and what he did was he learned from his mistakes.

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<v Speaker 1>And that's the hardest thing in offensive line is just

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<v Speaker 1>you know, when you do make a stake, it's not

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<v Speaker 1>repeating it. So for him to come in and put

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<v Speaker 1>you know, the mistakes he did make in the wrong

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<v Speaker 1>game with footwork and hands, you know, he's moved along

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<v Speaker 1>really well. And I think that's the biggest you know,

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<v Speaker 1>attribute to his game right now is is he's putting

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<v Speaker 1>things that he's messed up behind him and he's not

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<v Speaker 1>made that same mistake. So you know, I think he's

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<v Speaker 1>just learning really quickly and he's playing really well.

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<v Speaker 2>Like not having Trent Williams in camp for almost two

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<v Speaker 2>weeks now in terms of on and off the.

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<v Speaker 1>Field, yeah you miss him, but you know, at the

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<v Speaker 1>end of the day, that's that's between him and upstairs.

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<v Speaker 1>You know, it's hard to comment on contract stuff, and

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<v Speaker 1>you know what where he's at in his position, but

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<v Speaker 1>obviously you know you miss him in the room in

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<v Speaker 1>his presence, but you know, at the end of the day,

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<v Speaker 1>Jalen's getting great work. You're seeing him get better every day.

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<v Speaker 1>And then you know, having Nick back this this camp

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<v Speaker 1>has been a big help for me in Jalen's well.

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<v Speaker 1>So it's just been great having him there. So yeah,

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<v Speaker 1>hopefully silver Back will be back, but you know that's

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<v Speaker 1>that's his deal, and you know, we're just getting better

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<v Speaker 1>where we're at right now.

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<v Speaker 2>You're the need to be more vocal this year in

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<v Speaker 2>the room, the meeting room because there are so many

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<v Speaker 2>you know, young guys in that room this year.

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<v Speaker 1>Yeah, it's kind of crazy, you know, it is your five.

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<v Speaker 1>You know, I never thought, you know, maybe I'd be

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<v Speaker 1>here year five, but you know, to be here, to

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<v Speaker 1>be in that leadership role, to be vocal, I think

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<v Speaker 1>that's something that you know, I'm kind of ready for

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<v Speaker 1>to take control of that, you know, with with Trent

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<v Speaker 1>now being here right now, that's kind of something that

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<v Speaker 1>you know, hopefully me and Jake will take take control

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<v Speaker 1>of and communicate with the younger guys and how we

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<v Speaker 1>want the room to look and how we want the

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<v Speaker 1>line to play and you know, reciprocating what FIRS the

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<v Speaker 1>wants us to do. So, you know, I think it's

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<v Speaker 1>a big role that we need to step up into.

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<v Speaker 1>Just you know with those young guys. You know, it's

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<v Speaker 1>it's crazy to me and trender now you know, the

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<v Speaker 1>oldest tenure guys in the room. We signed the same

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<v Speaker 1>day during COVID saw him at the hotel. So to

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<v Speaker 1>have that length here is you know, that role is

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<v Speaker 1>just waiting to be taken. I think, you know, employees

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<v Speaker 1>and a great spot to do that this morning. And

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<v Speaker 1>if you ask him a question, he'll give you a

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<v Speaker 1>five minute answer. Is he the same way as a coach?

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<v Speaker 1>Like what's unique about him as a coach? I think

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<v Speaker 1>I'd die for him, you know first, or you know,

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<v Speaker 1>we all respect him the heck out of him, the

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<v Speaker 1>just the the career he's had in the NFL and

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<v Speaker 1>the way he coaches us. It's hard, you know, he's

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<v Speaker 1>on us all the time. But the one thing he

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<v Speaker 1>does is he makes it easy to understand. I think

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<v Speaker 1>the one one thing a lot of coaches they can

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<v Speaker 1>communicate to a room, but they can't communicate to individuals.

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<v Speaker 1>I think that's what he does really well, is you know,

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<v Speaker 1>if some guys struggling to get it one way he's

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<v Speaker 1>saying it, he can communicate that another way to get

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<v Speaker 1>them to try and understand that, and then you know,

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<v Speaker 1>to make us responsible for our jobs. I think that's

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<v Speaker 1>the one thing that he does really well, is you know,

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<v Speaker 1>he respects that's a lot and expects a lot out

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<v Speaker 1>of us, and you know we kind of do the

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<v Speaker 1>same for him. So you know, it's the NFL. You're

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<v Speaker 1>a professional, and he expects that. So, I mean he's

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<v Speaker 1>a really, really great coach and we love playing for him.

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<v Speaker 2>You said, I'm sure maybe a lot guys like you know,

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<v Speaker 2>will play ten years or whatever. Did you When did

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<v Speaker 2>you obviously suggests maybe you didn't enter the NFL with

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<v Speaker 2>just tons of confidence. Is when did you I don't

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<v Speaker 2>feel comfortable and say like I belong here and I

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<v Speaker 2>can last a long time.

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<v Speaker 1>Heck, last year, I mean, you know I was cut

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<v Speaker 1>and all that and everything, but you know I moved

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<v Speaker 1>past that now. And I mean last year, he couldn't

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<v Speaker 1>start the year any worse with with TJ. And then

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<v Speaker 1>just you know, by the end of the year in

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<v Speaker 1>the playoffs, you know, I was thinking I was playing

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<v Speaker 1>some of the best ball of my career as young

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<v Speaker 1>as it is, playing wise not length, but you know,

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<v Speaker 1>I just look at this is another year to really,

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<v Speaker 1>you know, take a huge step in my game in

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<v Speaker 1>my career, and it could set me up for the future,

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<v Speaker 1>you know, the extension this year it's been great with

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<v Speaker 1>security and that kind of thing. But I think there's

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<v Speaker 1>a whole other level of game that that I'm ready

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<v Speaker 1>to leap into. And I think that's just something that,

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<v Speaker 1>like you said, five years, who knows the NFL not

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<v Speaker 1>for long. So you know my goals ten and you know,

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<v Speaker 1>and beyond that, you know trnd's thirteen fourteen years in

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<v Speaker 1>so you know that's that's the goal. Man. There's a lot,

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<v Speaker 1>there's a lot of good ball for me to play.

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<v Speaker 2>Really sorry, you know, I think publicly after a week

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<v Speaker 2>one you're like, yo, you know, it happens, I'll get better,

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<v Speaker 2>But I mean more maybe now you can tell us.

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<v Speaker 2>I mean, were there more emotions going on there and

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<v Speaker 2>feelings of like do I belong? Can I do this?

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<v Speaker 2>Can I be a starter?

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<v Speaker 1>I think it's just a big trust thing. You know,

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<v Speaker 1>I could get pulled that kind of thing maybe is

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<v Speaker 1>where my head was at and then the next week

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<v Speaker 1>was in there no problem. So I think that was

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<v Speaker 1>just the biggest thing is that trust that the front

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<v Speaker 1>office and Kyle had me to keep going under in

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<v Speaker 1>the season and then they're like here, dude, like this

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<v Speaker 1>is your job, Like take it. And I think that's

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<v Speaker 1>the biggest thing I learned was not playing you know,

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<v Speaker 1>kind of hesitant on you know, I'm not gonna get

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<v Speaker 1>pulled of this, like no, this is my job and

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<v Speaker 1>now it's mine. And that's kind of the biggest mind

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<v Speaker 1>shift that I've had towards you know, being the right tackle.

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<v Speaker 1>Here is is there's a lot of talk about left

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<v Speaker 1>tackle and run and how great you know Trenty is

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<v Speaker 1>obviously he'll be the best, but there's gonna be some

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<v Speaker 1>good football coming from the right this year. What did

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<v Speaker 1>you think about Isaac? Yeah, I mean he's a good

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<v Speaker 1>addition to the room, to the room man, and he's

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<v Speaker 1>got good, strong hands. He approaches you know, the game

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<v Speaker 1>with a lot more as they think he's a little

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<v Speaker 1>farther ahead. He wants to learn. I think that's the

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<v Speaker 1>biggest thing with Isaac. Man's strong hands plays you know

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<v Speaker 1>a lot faster, So I think He's a great edition

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<v Speaker 1>of the room. Talk to your teammates or if we

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<v Speaker 1>talk to your UH coaches, they're all very complimentary of you.

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<v Speaker 2>Yeah, but there's people in the media and a lot

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<v Speaker 2>of fans who drag you.

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<v Speaker 1>Yeah. Do you block that out? How do you How

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<v Speaker 1>do you do compartmental? Oh? I think last year, I

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<v Speaker 1>think it I let it get to my get to

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<v Speaker 1>my head a little bit. You know, it's hard to

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<v Speaker 1>hear bad, bad things talk about you and how people

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<v Speaker 1>you know, rag right, But I think at the end

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<v Speaker 1>of the day, like you know, I'm the one coming

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<v Speaker 1>to work every day and the one going out there

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<v Speaker 1>every day to play on Sundays, and it's just got

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<v Speaker 1>to be kind of my world. You know, people are

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<v Speaker 1>gonna say things regardless, you know, that's just how it is.

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<v Speaker 1>But you know, my play will speak for itself, you

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<v Speaker 1>know down the road. That's kind of the big thing.

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<v Speaker 1>So not giving people permission to say things like that

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<v Speaker 1>to drag you, and then also you know, not letting

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<v Speaker 1>letting yourself feed into that and see that. So I

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<v Speaker 1>think it's just been a huge mind shift for me

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<v Speaker 1>this offseason with my mindset and how I'm gonna approach

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<v Speaker 1>this year and and kind of you know, I focus

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<v Speaker 1>more on the mind this year than I have in

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<v Speaker 1>the past, so different way of thinking and really excited

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<v Speaker 1>for the season. A commercial with Ron Party, Yeah yeah,

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<v Speaker 1>John Dear, I think, uh, people were you know, kind

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<v Speaker 1>of wild, big eyed and wild. I had to see,

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<v Speaker 1>you know, a John Deere eight R on duels sitting

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<v Speaker 1>up in San Francisco, so I was gung ho about it.

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<v Speaker 1>You know, maybe have more lines. Who knows th Brock,

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<v Speaker 1>but uh, you know he's saving people from coyotes and

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<v Speaker 1>you know, all that crazy stuff. But it was a

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<v Speaker 1>really cool thing. You know, obviously I'd love to do

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<v Speaker 1>it again, but it was very cool to see a

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<v Speaker 1>John Deere sitting up in San Francisco and seeing people's faces.

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<v Speaker 1>Oh yeah, honeon dep man, you get it was pretty funny. Actually.

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<v Speaker 1>So the week we're leaving, we drove back from Ohio

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<v Speaker 1>and our neighbor brought me a bag of Ladys chips

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<v Speaker 1>and a thing on you did for our road trip.

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<v Speaker 1>So it was great, man, commercial did it all. And

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<v Speaker 1>you know, just small town folks, they are awesome.

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<v Speaker 2>On the defensive end side, what have you seen from lenderployd.

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<v Speaker 1>And Leonards just as fast as what he was in

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<v Speaker 1>twenty one I remember playing him, so he's a great

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<v Speaker 1>challe with speed. I think that's one thing. It's gonna

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<v Speaker 1>be a great addition for Nicks some speed off the edge,

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<v Speaker 1>and Beal's gotten a lot better, I think as well.

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<v Speaker 1>And then having the Eater I think i'd say it,

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<v Speaker 1>but I think he's a great, powerful rusher. I think

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<v Speaker 1>that's gonna be good for us, a good addition and

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<v Speaker 1>just you know those role guys. I think another one

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<v Speaker 1>to watch is Alak on the inside. I think he's

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<v Speaker 1>great on B blocks. He's been real tough for for

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<v Speaker 1>some of our guards, and the obviously hard Gray has

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<v Speaker 1>been there. But I think if we had some great

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<v Speaker 1>additions on a D line this year after losing Eric,

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<v Speaker 1>so you know, you lose one, but I think we

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<v Speaker 1>gained a couple four or five really good players that

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<v Speaker 1>are they're going to help this team. So a road trip, Oh,

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<v Speaker 1>Jake Brendle, we'd be arguing the whole time. Thanks guys,