1 00:00:00,080 --> 00:00:04,000 Speaker 1: To be heading to the SC Championship. Yeah. Uh, I 2 00:00:04,040 --> 00:00:08,080 Speaker 1: mean it's huge, a huge accomplishment every uh, this year, 3 00:00:08,160 --> 00:00:12,680 Speaker 1: it's a huge accomplishment as a team. Uh. And I 4 00:00:12,720 --> 00:00:15,200 Speaker 1: mean this is our eighth straight year going to it, 5 00:00:15,640 --> 00:00:18,239 Speaker 1: and every year we don't take it for granted. And 6 00:00:18,440 --> 00:00:22,120 Speaker 1: it's just like this year, we worked our tails off 7 00:00:22,200 --> 00:00:26,560 Speaker 1: since the summer, since training camp. So it's a huge game, 8 00:00:27,040 --> 00:00:29,480 Speaker 1: but you also got to treat it like any other game. 9 00:00:29,480 --> 00:00:31,800 Speaker 1: It's another football game. You gotta go out there and 10 00:00:31,840 --> 00:00:35,199 Speaker 1: do what you gotta do and play well. Different They 11 00:00:35,240 --> 00:00:38,640 Speaker 1: give you different coverages the last time you played a 12 00:00:38,640 --> 00:00:42,480 Speaker 1: little bit for us, I've always see Yeah, I've seen 13 00:00:42,479 --> 00:00:46,239 Speaker 1: a many different coverages with them, and uh, from man 14 00:00:46,600 --> 00:00:49,040 Speaker 1: to a guy trying to jam me, I'm trying to 15 00:00:49,080 --> 00:00:51,519 Speaker 1: jam the guy they're trying to jam me. Sometimes it 16 00:00:51,600 --> 00:00:55,040 Speaker 1: mixes up like that. Uh. You see some double coverage, 17 00:00:56,360 --> 00:00:59,200 Speaker 1: a lot of post safety, but a lot of guys 18 00:00:59,240 --> 00:01:04,920 Speaker 1: switching up to different players safety corners. And then also 19 00:01:04,959 --> 00:01:06,320 Speaker 1: you see it a couple of times too. You can 20 00:01:06,319 --> 00:01:08,800 Speaker 1: see the same coverage once or twice three times, but 21 00:01:08,880 --> 00:01:11,520 Speaker 1: also you can see a different coverage many times too, 22 00:01:11,560 --> 00:01:13,600 Speaker 1: So it switches up and you gotta be ready at 23 00:01:13,640 --> 00:01:16,360 Speaker 1: all times. The last time this team won a true 24 00:01:16,440 --> 00:01:18,560 Speaker 1: road playoff game was in two thousand and six. I 25 00:01:18,560 --> 00:01:21,080 Speaker 1: think you were probably still in high school. So not 26 00:01:21,240 --> 00:01:23,240 Speaker 1: having one on the road in the playoffs that long, 27 00:01:23,480 --> 00:01:27,440 Speaker 1: is there just a different mentality this week. I mean 28 00:01:27,959 --> 00:01:30,920 Speaker 1: going on the road being at home. I mean, you 29 00:01:31,000 --> 00:01:33,720 Speaker 1: gotta play your best football no matter what to win 30 00:01:33,760 --> 00:01:35,880 Speaker 1: the game, if you're at home or if you're away, 31 00:01:36,400 --> 00:01:38,800 Speaker 1: and we just gotta treat it like any other game. 32 00:01:39,000 --> 00:01:41,199 Speaker 1: I'm going into stadium, we know it's going to be loud, 33 00:01:41,640 --> 00:01:44,400 Speaker 1: we know the atmosphere is going to be hyped. It 34 00:01:44,440 --> 00:01:46,640 Speaker 1: always is every time we go there, even during the 35 00:01:46,640 --> 00:01:48,680 Speaker 1: regular season. Just can't imagine what it's going to be 36 00:01:48,720 --> 00:01:51,320 Speaker 1: like in the playoffs. So you got to treat it 37 00:01:51,360 --> 00:01:54,120 Speaker 1: like any other game. But also you know what type 38 00:01:54,160 --> 00:01:56,480 Speaker 1: of atmosphere we're going into. We gotta be ready, we 39 00:01:56,520 --> 00:01:59,040 Speaker 1: gotta be focused, and we gotta be mentally prepared to 40 00:01:59,040 --> 00:02:01,880 Speaker 1: go into it. Travis Kelsey has been very complimentary of you. 41 00:02:01,960 --> 00:02:04,480 Speaker 1: He says he can't wait to face an elite quarterback 42 00:02:04,880 --> 00:02:07,080 Speaker 1: at least tight end like yourself. I'm sorry, um, what 43 00:02:07,200 --> 00:02:08,320 Speaker 1: have you seen out of him? I know that you 44 00:02:08,360 --> 00:02:09,880 Speaker 1: guys won't be on the bill at the same time, 45 00:02:09,880 --> 00:02:14,160 Speaker 1: but what if you see, Yeah, he's a very excellent player. 46 00:02:14,520 --> 00:02:17,840 Speaker 1: The way he can move, the savviness he has is 47 00:02:18,800 --> 00:02:20,760 Speaker 1: second to nine. I mean, the way he can go 48 00:02:20,840 --> 00:02:24,000 Speaker 1: up on a defender and you know, plant one way 49 00:02:24,040 --> 00:02:26,839 Speaker 1: and go the other at his size, his speed, that's 50 00:02:26,840 --> 00:02:30,120 Speaker 1: what makes tight ends, you know, special in this league. 51 00:02:30,680 --> 00:02:32,760 Speaker 1: A top tight end special is when they can plant 52 00:02:32,960 --> 00:02:35,800 Speaker 1: go the other way at our size, with his speed 53 00:02:36,240 --> 00:02:38,639 Speaker 1: and stuff like that. So he's a great player. You 54 00:02:38,720 --> 00:02:40,919 Speaker 1: gotta give it to him, and it's gonna be it's 55 00:02:40,919 --> 00:02:44,600 Speaker 1: gonna be fun to watch. Do you feel like he's 56 00:02:44,600 --> 00:02:48,639 Speaker 1: coming for your throne as the best tight end? I mean, 57 00:02:48,880 --> 00:02:53,760 Speaker 1: I know he competes, competes hard, competes every play, competes 58 00:02:53,800 --> 00:02:56,360 Speaker 1: every game, and that's all you can ask for. And 59 00:02:57,000 --> 00:02:58,680 Speaker 1: that's what I do too. So I just got to 60 00:02:58,680 --> 00:03:02,480 Speaker 1: go out there and played best ball. You told us 61 00:03:02,880 --> 00:03:05,680 Speaker 1: that you were all in. You were killing guys on 62 00:03:05,720 --> 00:03:08,360 Speaker 1: Sunday in the blocking game, moving guys all over the place. 63 00:03:08,720 --> 00:03:11,480 Speaker 1: Did you find it like another year or another level 64 00:03:11,720 --> 00:03:15,480 Speaker 1: for this time of year? I mean, it's the playoffs. 65 00:03:15,480 --> 00:03:18,359 Speaker 1: It's one and done. I mean, you know, during the 66 00:03:18,400 --> 00:03:21,080 Speaker 1: regular season and all you know you got you know, 67 00:03:21,080 --> 00:03:23,359 Speaker 1: you got another game in that. But this is one 68 00:03:23,400 --> 00:03:27,440 Speaker 1: and done. Every single play counts. Any any play at 69 00:03:27,440 --> 00:03:30,800 Speaker 1: any given time can boost your team into the next round. 70 00:03:31,360 --> 00:03:34,680 Speaker 1: And you know you can see you see that happen 71 00:03:34,800 --> 00:03:37,320 Speaker 1: throughout the playoffs too. I mean you see it happened 72 00:03:37,400 --> 00:03:40,680 Speaker 1: many different times throughout the playoffs throughout the years that 73 00:03:40,760 --> 00:03:43,600 Speaker 1: it doesn't happen during the regular season, like one little 74 00:03:43,640 --> 00:03:45,560 Speaker 1: play there, one black there. So you got to be 75 00:03:45,600 --> 00:03:47,840 Speaker 1: on top of your toes and I'm bringing out all times. 76 00:03:48,440 --> 00:03:50,760 Speaker 1: There's been a lot of focus going into this weekend 77 00:03:50,800 --> 00:03:53,280 Speaker 1: on young quarterbacks like Mahomes and Gary Gopp for you 78 00:03:53,320 --> 00:03:55,160 Speaker 1: and the team wasn't mean to have someone like Brady 79 00:03:55,200 --> 00:03:57,480 Speaker 1: who's been doing this for so long and being so 80 00:03:57,600 --> 00:04:01,040 Speaker 1: consistent at a quarterback. Yeah, it's just unreil just having 81 00:04:01,120 --> 00:04:03,640 Speaker 1: him at the quarterback position, not having no change. Don't 82 00:04:03,640 --> 00:04:07,040 Speaker 1: got to worry about that, and just consistency he's been 83 00:04:07,040 --> 00:04:10,000 Speaker 1: bringing a year in a year out, spend the same 84 00:04:10,480 --> 00:04:13,880 Speaker 1: and just how prepared he's been, how prepared and ready 85 00:04:13,920 --> 00:04:16,280 Speaker 1: to go he is. There's just no reason to ever 86 00:04:16,320 --> 00:04:20,320 Speaker 1: worry at that position. For us just marvel that how 87 00:04:20,360 --> 00:04:21,960 Speaker 1: to be fast he can get rid of the ball 88 00:04:21,960 --> 00:04:26,280 Speaker 1: at times over the years, Tom, Yeah, yeah, I mean 89 00:04:26,320 --> 00:04:28,479 Speaker 1: it's impressive. I mean he works on every scale set, 90 00:04:29,040 --> 00:04:32,800 Speaker 1: and when he feels like he doesn't have a scale set, 91 00:04:32,800 --> 00:04:35,000 Speaker 1: for example, say he's not getting the ball out quick enough, 92 00:04:35,279 --> 00:04:37,280 Speaker 1: you'll see him in practice. He'll be working on that. 93 00:04:37,320 --> 00:04:39,080 Speaker 1: He'll be getting better, he'll be learning how to get 94 00:04:39,080 --> 00:04:41,400 Speaker 1: the ball out quicker. And that's what just makes him 95 00:04:41,400 --> 00:04:43,960 Speaker 1: so great. So he can hold the ball for however 96 00:04:44,000 --> 00:04:45,960 Speaker 1: long he needs to, and he also can get it 97 00:04:45,960 --> 00:04:49,000 Speaker 1: out as quick as possible to get to get it 98 00:04:49,000 --> 00:04:51,560 Speaker 1: into a flat route, a quick hook route, whatever it 99 00:04:51,680 --> 00:04:53,400 Speaker 1: is to get the ball out and let the guy 100 00:04:53,480 --> 00:04:55,719 Speaker 1: run and make a guy miss and make some yards. 101 00:04:56,040 --> 00:04:58,760 Speaker 1: What's with like playing in these games considering that you 102 00:04:58,839 --> 00:05:01,800 Speaker 1: and the Chiefs usually or often had your way with 103 00:05:01,920 --> 00:05:03,640 Speaker 1: teams during the Yeah, that's why you guys are here. 104 00:05:03,680 --> 00:05:05,960 Speaker 1: But now in this game, it tends to be a 105 00:05:06,000 --> 00:05:08,840 Speaker 1: heavyweight fight back and forth. You know some in those 106 00:05:09,120 --> 00:05:11,520 Speaker 1: type of games with this solid steak, I mean, it's 107 00:05:11,520 --> 00:05:14,760 Speaker 1: always a heavyweight fighting versus Chiefs, no matter when it 108 00:05:14,800 --> 00:05:17,840 Speaker 1: is regular season playoffs, and it's just gonna be that 109 00:05:17,920 --> 00:05:20,760 Speaker 1: big and that tough of a matchup again, as the 110 00:05:20,839 --> 00:05:23,960 Speaker 1: stakes are high to go to the Super Bowl, both 111 00:05:24,000 --> 00:05:26,719 Speaker 1: teams we're gonna be going at it, so it should 112 00:05:26,720 --> 00:05:29,080 Speaker 1: be a good battle if you feel the attention when 113 00:05:29,120 --> 00:05:31,040 Speaker 1: you get on the field for years to change your things, 114 00:05:31,640 --> 00:05:33,600 Speaker 1: you go through the way frankness against yourself ready, But 115 00:05:33,640 --> 00:05:36,919 Speaker 1: once you get on the fields, I would say so. 116 00:05:37,040 --> 00:05:39,159 Speaker 1: I mean because of the atmosphere of the football game, 117 00:05:39,240 --> 00:05:42,279 Speaker 1: the atmosphere of the crowd. I mean, same way last 118 00:05:42,279 --> 00:05:44,279 Speaker 1: week at our Stateum, you just knew it was buzzing 119 00:05:44,400 --> 00:05:46,200 Speaker 1: right from the beginning, and it's gonna be the same 120 00:05:47,160 --> 00:05:50,320 Speaker 1: at Arrowhead Stadium. I mean it's gonna be I mean 121 00:05:50,480 --> 00:05:54,240 Speaker 1: popping thirty minutes, sixty minutes probably prior to kickoff, and 122 00:05:54,279 --> 00:05:56,480 Speaker 1: then right at kickoff. You know it's going to be 123 00:05:56,520 --> 00:05:58,919 Speaker 1: a playoff atmosphere there. I mean been there in the 124 00:05:58,960 --> 00:06:01,640 Speaker 1: regular season it fell playoff atmosphere. So I just can't 125 00:06:01,680 --> 00:06:03,719 Speaker 1: imagine what it's going to be like going in a 126 00:06:03,760 --> 00:06:05,960 Speaker 1: stadium like this. You're gonna believe in all at the 127 00:06:06,000 --> 00:06:07,680 Speaker 1: run game, what do you do? The job you guys 128 00:06:07,720 --> 00:06:11,440 Speaker 1: have done. Offensive line Sonody Shell and James White these guys, 129 00:06:12,600 --> 00:06:14,599 Speaker 1: I feel like overall, i mean, done a good job 130 00:06:14,640 --> 00:06:17,400 Speaker 1: and there's always room for improvement, always room to get 131 00:06:17,440 --> 00:06:19,600 Speaker 1: better in the areas that we've been doing well too. 132 00:06:19,800 --> 00:06:22,440 Speaker 1: But it's been great just working with defensive line and 133 00:06:22,520 --> 00:06:26,160 Speaker 1: seeing Sony just a development he has had throughout the 134 00:06:26,240 --> 00:06:29,080 Speaker 1: year since training camp. You see it every other week 135 00:06:29,160 --> 00:06:33,200 Speaker 1: and just how he's been approaching practice, coming out trying 136 00:06:33,200 --> 00:06:35,360 Speaker 1: to get better every single week and it shows. So 137 00:06:35,760 --> 00:06:37,840 Speaker 1: he's been doing a great job. Defensive line been doing 138 00:06:37,880 --> 00:06:39,400 Speaker 1: a great job, and it's just cool to be a 139 00:06:39,400 --> 00:06:41,800 Speaker 1: part of it. Well. Right now, the key is so healthy. 140 00:06:41,800 --> 00:06:44,479 Speaker 1: You look at the injury report, there's barely any players 141 00:06:44,640 --> 00:06:47,400 Speaker 1: listed on it, if any Has that helped you, guys 142 00:06:47,440 --> 00:06:50,279 Speaker 1: allow to focus on just preparing for the game and 143 00:06:50,320 --> 00:06:52,919 Speaker 1: not have to worry about anybody nursing an injury or 144 00:06:52,960 --> 00:06:55,600 Speaker 1: anybody being limited in any stance. Has that really let 145 00:06:55,600 --> 00:06:58,720 Speaker 1: you hone in on just basing focusing on the pont 146 00:06:59,600 --> 00:07:01,520 Speaker 1: Of course it does. I mean, when you're dealing with 147 00:07:01,600 --> 00:07:04,080 Speaker 1: that type of stuff and with a lot of guys, 148 00:07:04,080 --> 00:07:06,200 Speaker 1: you know, you're seeing what you can do and stuff 149 00:07:06,240 --> 00:07:09,800 Speaker 1: like that. One that's out of the picture. I mean, 150 00:07:10,000 --> 00:07:12,400 Speaker 1: it just makes practice that much that much easier, that 151 00:07:12,520 --> 00:07:14,480 Speaker 1: much better. Just go out there and do what we 152 00:07:14,520 --> 00:07:17,280 Speaker 1: got to do. Focus on the job that you gotta do, 153 00:07:17,400 --> 00:07:19,760 Speaker 1: and do it at full speed. Do it however you 154 00:07:19,800 --> 00:07:22,160 Speaker 1: need to do during practice so you can go out 155 00:07:22,200 --> 00:07:26,640 Speaker 1: and replicate it on game day on Sunday, well every night. Said, uh, 156 00:07:27,040 --> 00:07:28,800 Speaker 1: you know, with the run game and your strength and 157 00:07:28,920 --> 00:07:31,960 Speaker 1: that in the crowd atmosphere there. Obviously it's important to 158 00:07:32,000 --> 00:07:34,640 Speaker 1: start fast every week, but is it an extra emphasis 159 00:07:34,760 --> 00:07:37,440 Speaker 1: this week? Because if you start fast, you can keep 160 00:07:37,480 --> 00:07:40,000 Speaker 1: running the ball, Whereas it you get behind it, it's 161 00:07:40,040 --> 00:07:42,200 Speaker 1: tougher to run the ball. That seems like an advantage 162 00:07:42,200 --> 00:07:45,480 Speaker 1: that you will develop lay. Starting fast is a huge 163 00:07:45,480 --> 00:07:50,560 Speaker 1: advantage in the league, big time, especially going on the road, 164 00:07:50,840 --> 00:07:54,040 Speaker 1: I would say, and in a playoff atmosphere, it's always 165 00:07:54,040 --> 00:07:56,360 Speaker 1: good to start fast. I mean, if it doesn't happen, 166 00:07:56,440 --> 00:07:58,520 Speaker 1: it's gonna be you gotta catch up. It's gonna it's 167 00:07:58,560 --> 00:08:01,480 Speaker 1: gonna make the whole that much tougher to get out 168 00:08:01,480 --> 00:08:04,480 Speaker 1: of if if you don't get a fast start. So, uh, 169 00:08:04,760 --> 00:08:07,680 Speaker 1: it's gonna definitely crucial. You always want to get out 170 00:08:07,720 --> 00:08:11,480 Speaker 1: and especially going on the road, a stadium like this 171 00:08:11,640 --> 00:08:14,360 Speaker 1: a team like this, it's gonna be crucial though, to 172 00:08:14,440 --> 00:08:16,280 Speaker 1: go out there and make some yards, get some points 173 00:08:16,360 --> 00:08:20,440 Speaker 1: right away. How does your mindset change, maybe from when 174 00:08:20,440 --> 00:08:22,800 Speaker 1: you were a younger player too, now that you know 175 00:08:22,840 --> 00:08:25,240 Speaker 1: it's not it's not giving that you're gonna ever head 176 00:08:25,240 --> 00:08:27,120 Speaker 1: back to another Super Bowl? So how is your mindset 177 00:08:27,200 --> 00:08:29,760 Speaker 1: change made from a younger guy to a veteran to 178 00:08:29,960 --> 00:08:32,760 Speaker 1: the end of the career, as in like what way 179 00:08:32,840 --> 00:08:37,520 Speaker 1: like approaching but just you know, like that type of thing. Yeah, No, 180 00:08:37,840 --> 00:08:41,600 Speaker 1: as when you're a young buck, really young, I feel 181 00:08:41,600 --> 00:08:43,240 Speaker 1: like you're gonna be here for a little I mean, 182 00:08:44,520 --> 00:08:47,800 Speaker 1: I mean, I would say now seeing everything, seeing how 183 00:08:47,840 --> 00:08:51,280 Speaker 1: fast it goes, you know how much work it takes 184 00:08:51,559 --> 00:08:54,040 Speaker 1: to put in to get to this, to this level, 185 00:08:54,480 --> 00:08:56,280 Speaker 1: and as you get older, you got to put more 186 00:08:56,320 --> 00:08:58,600 Speaker 1: work into to get to this, to get this fire, 187 00:08:58,679 --> 00:09:02,600 Speaker 1: to get to this stage, to get to the championship games. 188 00:09:02,600 --> 00:09:08,120 Speaker 1: So you actually you feel like when you get to 189 00:09:08,160 --> 00:09:11,280 Speaker 1: these games like or you feel like you you feel 190 00:09:11,320 --> 00:09:13,520 Speaker 1: all that work you put in, You feel accomplished when 191 00:09:13,520 --> 00:09:15,560 Speaker 1: it happens. You feel accomplished when you won, because you 192 00:09:15,600 --> 00:09:17,560 Speaker 1: know you put all that work in and that's what 193 00:09:17,559 --> 00:09:19,680 Speaker 1: we've been doing all year, and you know you can't 194 00:09:19,679 --> 00:09:22,160 Speaker 1: take it for granted. I mean, I've been through it now, 195 00:09:22,160 --> 00:09:25,520 Speaker 1: I lost some games now, and then you understand like, wow, 196 00:09:25,640 --> 00:09:27,440 Speaker 1: I really wish I won that game, And you just 197 00:09:27,440 --> 00:09:30,440 Speaker 1: can't put take anything for granted at all. You just 198 00:09:30,480 --> 00:09:33,080 Speaker 1: said you feel like it goes so fast. Were you 199 00:09:33,120 --> 00:09:35,480 Speaker 1: talking about your career as a whole, and you feel like, 200 00:09:35,679 --> 00:09:37,480 Speaker 1: you know so far it's kind of flown by or 201 00:09:37,679 --> 00:09:40,560 Speaker 1: I mean just uh, you know, this is our eighth 202 00:09:40,600 --> 00:09:43,160 Speaker 1: AFC Championship game in a row. It's just unbelievable that 203 00:09:43,200 --> 00:09:45,360 Speaker 1: we're in an eighth you know what I'm trying to say, 204 00:09:45,600 --> 00:09:49,080 Speaker 1: and that it's like, wow, we got another one. Now 205 00:09:49,240 --> 00:09:51,439 Speaker 1: we've got to prepare and you got to take it in, 206 00:09:51,880 --> 00:09:53,559 Speaker 1: but also at the same time, you gotta be ready 207 00:09:53,559 --> 00:09:58,080 Speaker 1: for the game Sunday mentally and physically. All right, guys, 208 00:09:58,120 --> 00:09:58,400 Speaker 1: thank you