1 00:00:16,720 --> 00:00:20,919 Speaker 1: Welcome to the twelfth now twelfth episode of Bird Noises 2 00:00:20,920 --> 00:00:25,280 Speaker 1: and Atlanta Falcons podcast about football and mostly everything else. 3 00:00:26,200 --> 00:00:28,280 Speaker 1: Last time we had the head coach on here about 4 00:00:28,280 --> 00:00:31,280 Speaker 1: four weeks ago, Dan Quinn, and today I've got the 5 00:00:31,320 --> 00:00:37,920 Speaker 1: assistant head coach, slash linebackers coach Jeff Albrick and his 6 00:00:39,000 --> 00:00:40,800 Speaker 1: glorious beer. Though it looks like you've trimmed it a 7 00:00:40,840 --> 00:00:44,480 Speaker 1: little bit, Coach sitting here in my office. A little 8 00:00:44,520 --> 00:00:49,440 Speaker 1: deal on TV today, so I'm almost looking Yeah, uh, coach, 9 00:00:49,479 --> 00:00:51,199 Speaker 1: welcome to Bird Noise. Is glad I finally got you 10 00:00:51,280 --> 00:00:54,760 Speaker 1: one on one. Yeah, good to beer, and thanks for 11 00:00:54,800 --> 00:00:56,480 Speaker 1: taking time out of your busy schedule. I know we 12 00:00:56,560 --> 00:01:00,720 Speaker 1: got about twenty five minutes. Let's get in trouble. Yeah, 13 00:01:00,760 --> 00:01:02,680 Speaker 1: it's enough time to get into some trouble, but not 14 00:01:02,800 --> 00:01:06,520 Speaker 1: too much. I do this every week or every time 15 00:01:06,560 --> 00:01:10,520 Speaker 1: we do a show, because this is a new podcast. 16 00:01:11,160 --> 00:01:13,319 Speaker 1: It's got a weird name. I won't tell you unless 17 00:01:13,319 --> 00:01:14,920 Speaker 1: you ask me who came up with the name. But 18 00:01:15,400 --> 00:01:19,800 Speaker 1: what do you think of the name bird Noises? It's strange. Yeah, yeah, 19 00:01:20,120 --> 00:01:22,360 Speaker 1: coach doesn't have a fantastic ring to it. I'm gonna 20 00:01:22,440 --> 00:01:25,039 Speaker 1: d Q said it needed some juice. Yeah, it does. 21 00:01:25,400 --> 00:01:30,120 Speaker 1: It's I won't ask Caleb McGarry loved it, did he? Yeah, 22 00:01:30,160 --> 00:01:35,000 Speaker 1: he absolutely loved it. That's surprising. You know. He strikes 23 00:01:35,080 --> 00:01:37,760 Speaker 1: me as a smarter man than that. You know, i'mally 24 00:01:37,760 --> 00:01:41,560 Speaker 1: got a wittier response. Yeah, he absolutely loved it. He's 25 00:01:41,600 --> 00:01:44,440 Speaker 1: an outdoors guy. Though he kind of liked it, DQ 26 00:01:44,640 --> 00:01:48,200 Speaker 1: did not like it. Yeah, all right, so we're gonna 27 00:01:48,200 --> 00:01:51,400 Speaker 1: talk a little bit about your Hawaii days, you're playing 28 00:01:51,480 --> 00:01:58,800 Speaker 1: days Mohawks, uh, coaching of course, and your Falcon's stint here. 29 00:01:58,840 --> 00:02:03,280 Speaker 1: But first let's go back to California because we try 30 00:02:03,320 --> 00:02:05,200 Speaker 1: to talk about like off field stuff, not too much 31 00:02:05,200 --> 00:02:06,880 Speaker 1: axss and nose. But we'll wrap it up. We'll talk 32 00:02:06,880 --> 00:02:09,679 Speaker 1: about where the team is, and you get your take 33 00:02:09,720 --> 00:02:13,000 Speaker 1: on some things. But I went digging into your background 34 00:02:13,320 --> 00:02:15,359 Speaker 1: a little bit, surface level stuff. It was all on 35 00:02:15,400 --> 00:02:18,320 Speaker 1: the internet, so it must be true. Um, and I 36 00:02:18,360 --> 00:02:20,720 Speaker 1: knew you that you grew up in California right and 37 00:02:20,800 --> 00:02:24,760 Speaker 1: went to Live Oak. Ye found out that Jared Allen 38 00:02:24,840 --> 00:02:26,760 Speaker 1: also went to Live Oak for about two years till 39 00:02:26,760 --> 00:02:30,560 Speaker 1: he was kicked out for the yearbooks. Yep, absolutely, Ryan 40 00:02:30,680 --> 00:02:35,040 Speaker 1: Neufeld went there. Ryan did yeah. Um, so first thing 41 00:02:35,040 --> 00:02:38,320 Speaker 1: I got to ask is was it tough playing or 42 00:02:38,360 --> 00:02:41,560 Speaker 1: being in a high school where the nickname was the Acorns. 43 00:02:41,720 --> 00:02:45,240 Speaker 1: It was, yeah, especially since the rally cry was go nuts. 44 00:02:45,919 --> 00:02:50,200 Speaker 1: I wasn't going to say that no imposing. Yeah, so 45 00:02:50,400 --> 00:02:53,119 Speaker 1: I imagine, yeah, go ahead, No, it was that. It's 46 00:02:53,320 --> 00:02:56,519 Speaker 1: it's a unique area because it's like people think of California, 47 00:02:56,560 --> 00:02:58,640 Speaker 1: they think of Los Angeles. I think of San Francisco 48 00:02:58,720 --> 00:03:01,160 Speaker 1: and yeah, um, where I grew up was very rural. 49 00:03:01,240 --> 00:03:04,679 Speaker 1: It was I would say the vast majority of the 50 00:03:04,680 --> 00:03:06,280 Speaker 1: people that went to the high school that lived in 51 00:03:06,320 --> 00:03:09,320 Speaker 1: the town that I lived in. Um, we're involved with 52 00:03:09,320 --> 00:03:12,560 Speaker 1: agriculture in some way, you know. So it was a 53 00:03:12,880 --> 00:03:16,760 Speaker 1: beautiful stadium though, I mean the backdrop, Yeah, it's it. 54 00:03:17,040 --> 00:03:19,400 Speaker 1: Like I said, it was, especially back when I played, 55 00:03:19,440 --> 00:03:23,760 Speaker 1: it was m fields of cabbage and strawberries and all 56 00:03:23,760 --> 00:03:27,200 Speaker 1: sorts of things. So, and I think it bred like 57 00:03:27,720 --> 00:03:29,600 Speaker 1: a tougher kid. You know a lot of kids that 58 00:03:29,639 --> 00:03:32,880 Speaker 1: grew up, you know, doing work. Um. I imagine the 59 00:03:33,000 --> 00:03:37,560 Speaker 1: opposing high schools like the Hollister, hay Balers, and Honorey 60 00:03:38,320 --> 00:03:41,720 Speaker 1: where they called the Toria doors. Yes, they actually put 61 00:03:41,760 --> 00:03:44,280 Speaker 1: the steak in the bolt, right, that's right. I imagine 62 00:03:44,280 --> 00:03:47,080 Speaker 1: they had fun with your nickname. They did, yeah, they did? 63 00:03:47,200 --> 00:03:49,840 Speaker 1: All right, Well this is a PG rated show, but 64 00:03:50,040 --> 00:03:52,960 Speaker 1: this wasn't leap it out though, just I mean, is 65 00:03:53,040 --> 00:03:56,200 Speaker 1: like our mascot was an acorn with a lightning bolt 66 00:03:56,280 --> 00:03:59,480 Speaker 1: or no, no lightning bolt. Just acorn was angry acorn. 67 00:03:59,760 --> 00:04:06,120 Speaker 1: No not really? Um, you also wrestled in high school? Um, 68 00:04:07,480 --> 00:04:10,320 Speaker 1: is that your first love? Or is football your first love? Soccer? 69 00:04:10,440 --> 00:04:13,280 Speaker 1: Probably my first love really yeah, I was still a 70 00:04:13,280 --> 00:04:16,720 Speaker 1: soccer fan now not as much surprising enough, like but 71 00:04:16,720 --> 00:04:19,480 Speaker 1: but it's all I grew up playing. I didn't play. Um, 72 00:04:20,120 --> 00:04:22,359 Speaker 1: I didn't play football until my sophomore year high school. 73 00:04:22,760 --> 00:04:25,240 Speaker 1: I was a soccer player up to that point. And 74 00:04:25,480 --> 00:04:28,520 Speaker 1: really you know, did wrestling, did soccer, and kind of 75 00:04:28,520 --> 00:04:31,359 Speaker 1: took football on a bet. You know that. Wow, you 76 00:04:31,400 --> 00:04:34,599 Speaker 1: know it wasn't tough enough to play football. So wow, okay, 77 00:04:35,440 --> 00:04:40,160 Speaker 1: uh that is interesting. So love soccer though, like I 78 00:04:40,800 --> 00:04:43,920 Speaker 1: have to develop your footwork I imagine footwork and quick 79 00:04:43,960 --> 00:04:47,960 Speaker 1: fee yeah, and just athleticism overall. And um, I really 80 00:04:48,040 --> 00:04:51,960 Speaker 1: enjoyed it. I really did. So it's interesting journey for 81 00:04:52,040 --> 00:04:58,080 Speaker 1: you because you ended up you when you left Live Oak, 82 00:04:58,720 --> 00:05:02,640 Speaker 1: you went to San Jose's date Forever, then Gabbling Yep, 83 00:05:03,120 --> 00:05:08,520 Speaker 1: and then and then Hawaii. But so you know, interesting 84 00:05:08,520 --> 00:05:10,040 Speaker 1: path to the NFL. But we'll get to that in 85 00:05:10,040 --> 00:05:13,200 Speaker 1: a minute. Why San Jose State? And then tell me 86 00:05:13,200 --> 00:05:15,120 Speaker 1: a little bit because I you know, I was talking 87 00:05:15,120 --> 00:05:18,120 Speaker 1: to some people in the building and doing my homework 88 00:05:18,160 --> 00:05:21,160 Speaker 1: for this, and so if you can talk about the 89 00:05:21,200 --> 00:05:24,680 Speaker 1: space even how I heard that question, maybe I'll given 90 00:05:24,680 --> 00:05:27,400 Speaker 1: away who told me, but the space between San Jose 91 00:05:27,920 --> 00:05:30,800 Speaker 1: State and Hawaii and just how you ended up at 92 00:05:30,800 --> 00:05:34,960 Speaker 1: Santose's just I found it fascinating, and I'm sure a 93 00:05:34,960 --> 00:05:37,880 Speaker 1: lot of our falcons fantastening would find it fascinating. There's 94 00:05:37,880 --> 00:05:40,000 Speaker 1: a lot of It was a long journey. It was 95 00:05:40,040 --> 00:05:45,159 Speaker 1: a lot of decisions that I made that were the 96 00:05:45,240 --> 00:05:47,080 Speaker 1: right ones and decisions that I made that were the 97 00:05:47,120 --> 00:05:50,839 Speaker 1: wrong ones. And you know that age, yes, absolutely, and 98 00:05:51,000 --> 00:05:53,880 Speaker 1: uh you know, ultimately you know what it did was 99 00:05:53,920 --> 00:05:56,719 Speaker 1: it led me to a junior college where um, I 100 00:05:56,800 --> 00:06:00,719 Speaker 1: was given an opportunity to really fee true who I was. 101 00:06:01,200 --> 00:06:05,359 Speaker 1: And you know, and it was funny because like I 102 00:06:05,520 --> 00:06:08,159 Speaker 1: was a two for two guy, which means like leaving 103 00:06:08,200 --> 00:06:10,080 Speaker 1: junior college. I had two years to play two years 104 00:06:10,120 --> 00:06:12,400 Speaker 1: as opposed to a lot of junior college kids. They 105 00:06:12,480 --> 00:06:14,200 Speaker 1: leave and they have the one red shirt year and 106 00:06:14,200 --> 00:06:17,120 Speaker 1: they have two years to play. So a big part 107 00:06:17,160 --> 00:06:19,839 Speaker 1: of my search for the school that I would pick 108 00:06:20,080 --> 00:06:22,359 Speaker 1: was an opportunity to play. And it wasn't that I 109 00:06:22,400 --> 00:06:25,719 Speaker 1: was scared of competition, but I also understood the situation 110 00:06:26,000 --> 00:06:27,960 Speaker 1: and the circumstance I was in as far as like 111 00:06:28,040 --> 00:06:32,000 Speaker 1: pick a school where you know, at least you're going 112 00:06:32,040 --> 00:06:34,880 Speaker 1: to get an opportunity to to authentically compete, you know, 113 00:06:34,960 --> 00:06:38,800 Speaker 1: And you know, there was a lot of schools. There 114 00:06:38,800 --> 00:06:41,799 Speaker 1: were some schools that were bigger schools, maybe better schools 115 00:06:41,839 --> 00:06:45,600 Speaker 1: from a football standpoint. But I took a trip out 116 00:06:45,640 --> 00:06:49,320 Speaker 1: to Hawaii and it was just like, I know, there's 117 00:06:49,360 --> 00:06:51,840 Speaker 1: the allure of Hawaiian itself, you know, and going out there. 118 00:06:51,839 --> 00:06:54,839 Speaker 1: Obviously that was part of it, but there was a 119 00:06:54,839 --> 00:06:58,240 Speaker 1: bigger part where I really saw myself as Okay, I 120 00:06:58,320 --> 00:07:01,760 Speaker 1: have an opportunity to take a struggle program, not only play, 121 00:07:01,800 --> 00:07:04,520 Speaker 1: but then ultimately help a program turn around a little bit. 122 00:07:04,720 --> 00:07:07,320 Speaker 1: So when you're at Live Oak, did you play a linebacker? 123 00:07:07,720 --> 00:07:11,080 Speaker 1: I played safety? Okay, yep, did you played both ways. 124 00:07:11,760 --> 00:07:13,280 Speaker 1: I played a little bit both was that that was 125 00:07:13,320 --> 00:07:17,080 Speaker 1: kind It wasn't our our the policy of the team, 126 00:07:17,160 --> 00:07:20,000 Speaker 1: you know, like Jared Allen didn't played both ways. Ryan 127 00:07:20,040 --> 00:07:23,600 Speaker 1: Newfield didn't play both ways. Um okay, you know, the 128 00:07:23,640 --> 00:07:25,520 Speaker 1: all the good players that had come through there, they 129 00:07:25,520 --> 00:07:29,080 Speaker 1: were very against that. You know, we were fortunate, you know, 130 00:07:29,160 --> 00:07:31,440 Speaker 1: it was the only high school in town. So it 131 00:07:31,480 --> 00:07:36,000 Speaker 1: was we had a big draw, had a big roster. Okay. 132 00:07:36,120 --> 00:07:38,360 Speaker 1: So when you went to San Jose State, did you 133 00:07:38,920 --> 00:07:40,720 Speaker 1: go as a safety or a linebacker? I when as 134 00:07:40,720 --> 00:07:44,680 Speaker 1: a safety. Okay, yep. And then you said, Gavelin kind 135 00:07:44,680 --> 00:07:47,080 Speaker 1: of helped you kind of find your way a little bit, 136 00:07:47,120 --> 00:07:49,960 Speaker 1: did Yeah, Like I, you know, over the course of 137 00:07:50,200 --> 00:07:53,240 Speaker 1: I didn't play there for a year, and uh, and 138 00:07:54,600 --> 00:07:57,840 Speaker 1: it was an opportunity to just kind of I liked 139 00:07:58,040 --> 00:08:01,160 Speaker 1: football when I left it in I came to find 140 00:08:01,200 --> 00:08:03,800 Speaker 1: out that I loved it, you know, um, and I 141 00:08:03,840 --> 00:08:06,520 Speaker 1: love probably more than anything. I loved sport and competition 142 00:08:06,680 --> 00:08:10,560 Speaker 1: and I loved um you know, the bigger the stakes, 143 00:08:10,600 --> 00:08:14,040 Speaker 1: the more I felt alive, you know. And so that 144 00:08:14,160 --> 00:08:17,800 Speaker 1: was what ultimately brought them back to it. Um. So 145 00:08:17,880 --> 00:08:21,920 Speaker 1: you go to Hawaii, which I read some interesting q 146 00:08:22,120 --> 00:08:24,400 Speaker 1: and a's that you've you did have done over the 147 00:08:24,480 --> 00:08:28,040 Speaker 1: years online different outlets, some of the forty nine ers, 148 00:08:28,040 --> 00:08:32,640 Speaker 1: dot com and the Press Democrat, different different articles. Um goodness. 149 00:08:32,640 --> 00:08:34,320 Speaker 1: Like some of the stuff has like a timeline on 150 00:08:34,320 --> 00:08:37,080 Speaker 1: it where it gets like, no, they know, they appear 151 00:08:37,120 --> 00:08:40,080 Speaker 1: on message boards people copying Oh my gosh. So you 152 00:08:40,160 --> 00:08:43,160 Speaker 1: had some you had some far out questions or answers 153 00:08:43,200 --> 00:08:45,920 Speaker 1: to this, but yeah, for sure. One of the ones 154 00:08:46,000 --> 00:08:47,760 Speaker 1: I thought was kind of your response to go in 155 00:08:47,760 --> 00:08:50,960 Speaker 1: Hawaii is like you want to go someplace far away different, 156 00:08:51,000 --> 00:08:54,280 Speaker 1: almost like a I'm doing the air quotes here, uh, 157 00:08:54,320 --> 00:08:57,840 Speaker 1: like a foreign country. Yeah. Yeah, And so you get 158 00:08:57,840 --> 00:09:01,760 Speaker 1: out to Hawaii and you just kind of I guess 159 00:09:01,760 --> 00:09:04,240 Speaker 1: you met your wife out there. I did, absolutely, Um, 160 00:09:04,800 --> 00:09:09,440 Speaker 1: and so talk about the evolution of the player from 161 00:09:09,640 --> 00:09:13,640 Speaker 1: San Jose stay and then the setbacks and then end 162 00:09:13,760 --> 00:09:16,000 Speaker 1: up being a third round pick. But it wasn't it 163 00:09:16,080 --> 00:09:19,680 Speaker 1: wasn't just coasting right to the NFL draft for you. 164 00:09:19,760 --> 00:09:22,280 Speaker 1: That's that's what I was alluding to. You had some setbacks, 165 00:09:22,559 --> 00:09:25,240 Speaker 1: come come to Hawaii and like I said, had two 166 00:09:25,280 --> 00:09:30,360 Speaker 1: years to play two years. Uh and um, like there 167 00:09:30,440 --> 00:09:33,600 Speaker 1: was a guy he was established, and he ended up 168 00:09:33,600 --> 00:09:36,200 Speaker 1: winning the spot, and he ended up starting ahead of 169 00:09:36,200 --> 00:09:38,280 Speaker 1: me my junior year. About the third or fourth game 170 00:09:38,320 --> 00:09:40,400 Speaker 1: of the year, I think, I, you know, by then, 171 00:09:40,440 --> 00:09:42,040 Speaker 1: I was kind of sharing time and I blow my 172 00:09:42,120 --> 00:09:46,240 Speaker 1: knee out and tore my ACL. So so I heard, um, yeah, 173 00:09:46,280 --> 00:09:50,600 Speaker 1: it was a wild deal where I really let the 174 00:09:50,679 --> 00:09:54,080 Speaker 1: injury and I let the circumstance like beat me. I 175 00:09:54,120 --> 00:09:57,000 Speaker 1: really did, and uh, and I told myself that I 176 00:09:57,040 --> 00:09:59,360 Speaker 1: was kind of done. You know, I had the school 177 00:09:59,600 --> 00:10:02,160 Speaker 1: what's that with school too? With everything? Yeah, so I 178 00:10:02,840 --> 00:10:07,719 Speaker 1: I did the dumb thing of I played. I tore 179 00:10:07,800 --> 00:10:09,280 Speaker 1: the a sail of whatever it was week four or 180 00:10:09,320 --> 00:10:11,240 Speaker 1: five at BYU, and then I end up playing the 181 00:10:11,280 --> 00:10:16,120 Speaker 1: finisher at Michigan and with the torn ACL part of 182 00:10:16,120 --> 00:10:18,720 Speaker 1: the surgery which was not smart, which kind of further 183 00:10:18,800 --> 00:10:22,000 Speaker 1: damaged my knee. So throughout the REACT process, it just 184 00:10:22,040 --> 00:10:24,839 Speaker 1: felt like it wasn't gonna happen for me. And then 185 00:10:24,840 --> 00:10:30,160 Speaker 1: it was like I had become you know, I let 186 00:10:30,160 --> 00:10:31,720 Speaker 1: it beat me. I really did, had a moment of 187 00:10:31,720 --> 00:10:36,160 Speaker 1: weakness and really like you know, failed essentially every class 188 00:10:36,200 --> 00:10:38,760 Speaker 1: that I was in, and and I thought that, Okay, 189 00:10:38,760 --> 00:10:43,520 Speaker 1: we're gonna we're gonna try something different here. Yeah, And 190 00:10:43,520 --> 00:10:46,240 Speaker 1: and then it finally starts to come back, and I 191 00:10:46,360 --> 00:10:48,840 Speaker 1: finally start to feel a little bit healthier. And then 192 00:10:49,520 --> 00:10:51,960 Speaker 1: you know, the team, we went oh and twelve that 193 00:10:52,080 --> 00:10:55,280 Speaker 1: junior year, and they they hired a new coaching staff. 194 00:10:55,280 --> 00:10:58,840 Speaker 1: So they brought in June Jones and Greg McMackin and 195 00:10:59,040 --> 00:11:02,760 Speaker 1: a lot of really good coach and kind of reignited 196 00:11:02,800 --> 00:11:05,400 Speaker 1: my fire, you know, and and got me to come 197 00:11:05,440 --> 00:11:08,440 Speaker 1: back out and give it a try. So it's funny 198 00:11:08,600 --> 00:11:12,480 Speaker 1: that summer I had to take a record amount of 199 00:11:12,480 --> 00:11:15,600 Speaker 1: classes and not only become eligible, just become eligible, and 200 00:11:15,600 --> 00:11:19,040 Speaker 1: not only like to stay on course to graduate from 201 00:11:19,080 --> 00:11:21,520 Speaker 1: an NC double a standpoint, from a cool from a 202 00:11:21,559 --> 00:11:24,760 Speaker 1: school standpoint, I had to get like straight a's because 203 00:11:24,760 --> 00:11:27,240 Speaker 1: my GPA had fallen so low because I hadn't withdrew 204 00:11:27,280 --> 00:11:30,160 Speaker 1: from any of the classes that I've failed, you know. 205 00:11:30,280 --> 00:11:34,160 Speaker 1: So it was a disaster, but you know, I thank 206 00:11:34,160 --> 00:11:37,320 Speaker 1: goodness it worked out. It came down to the last class, 207 00:11:38,320 --> 00:11:40,680 Speaker 1: I might have got an eighty nine point nine. And 208 00:11:41,600 --> 00:11:45,080 Speaker 1: I mean, where were you what was your major? Sociology? Yeah, 209 00:11:45,120 --> 00:11:47,280 Speaker 1: and uh, I think I read somewhere where you said 210 00:11:47,280 --> 00:11:49,280 Speaker 1: you might if you didn't play football you wanted to 211 00:11:49,320 --> 00:11:52,280 Speaker 1: be a social worker. Yes, absolutely, And I don't know 212 00:11:52,400 --> 00:11:54,559 Speaker 1: if I got if I did bonus work or the 213 00:11:55,120 --> 00:11:57,960 Speaker 1: professor was just kind to me, but um, but he 214 00:11:57,960 --> 00:12:00,439 Speaker 1: allowed me to play. And even at that point, it's 215 00:12:00,480 --> 00:12:03,439 Speaker 1: like the NFL is never gonna happen? Are you kidding me? 216 00:12:03,600 --> 00:12:06,200 Speaker 1: Like I'm gonna be a one year player, you know 217 00:12:06,280 --> 00:12:09,920 Speaker 1: at Hawaii who was just o and twelve. So although 218 00:12:09,960 --> 00:12:13,000 Speaker 1: it was a dream, it was like in the far distance, 219 00:12:13,120 --> 00:12:15,720 Speaker 1: like it was the mirage you can't see. And uh, 220 00:12:15,920 --> 00:12:18,720 Speaker 1: did you go work too? Did you? Where did you go? Yeah? 221 00:12:18,720 --> 00:12:20,760 Speaker 1: And we all kind of had summer jobs to what 222 00:12:20,920 --> 00:12:23,600 Speaker 1: was your summer job? There was multiple things I did. 223 00:12:23,679 --> 00:12:26,960 Speaker 1: I worked at a refrigeration place where I moved refrigerators. 224 00:12:27,600 --> 00:12:30,600 Speaker 1: What else did we do? Y welding. I did welding 225 00:12:30,600 --> 00:12:33,400 Speaker 1: in high school and I did welding in junior college. Yeah, yeah, 226 00:12:33,440 --> 00:12:36,720 Speaker 1: I was a certified welder by the live oak acorns, 227 00:12:36,960 --> 00:12:40,439 Speaker 1: you know. And um Dan Quinn dropped that tidbit by 228 00:12:40,480 --> 00:12:42,440 Speaker 1: me just so you know. Yeah, I said I had 229 00:12:42,480 --> 00:12:46,000 Speaker 1: some welding skills. I did. I. Uh it was a 230 00:12:46,000 --> 00:12:49,000 Speaker 1: little sheep sheet metal company named Ratech It was a 231 00:12:49,000 --> 00:12:51,800 Speaker 1: summer job, and I would run a bead on a 232 00:12:52,120 --> 00:12:55,280 Speaker 1: on a slot machine for Harris, you know, on a 233 00:12:55,920 --> 00:12:59,120 Speaker 1: essentially an assembly line, you know. So I run two 234 00:12:59,120 --> 00:13:01,439 Speaker 1: bids on it day and they just keep going by, 235 00:13:01,520 --> 00:13:04,280 Speaker 1: and so you get eligible by the skin of your teeth. 236 00:13:04,520 --> 00:13:08,880 Speaker 1: Yeah you're on a bad team, yep. And so yeah, 237 00:13:08,960 --> 00:13:11,199 Speaker 1: so the furtherest thing from your mind has gotta be Yeah, 238 00:13:11,240 --> 00:13:14,160 Speaker 1: I'm gonna be playing on Sundays. Yeah at this point, right, yeah, 239 00:13:14,160 --> 00:13:17,400 Speaker 1: for sure, you know. And the one the one saving 240 00:13:17,440 --> 00:13:20,360 Speaker 1: grace was the coaching staff. You know, like June Jones 241 00:13:20,400 --> 00:13:23,560 Speaker 1: had had a lot of experience the NFL, um as did. 242 00:13:23,920 --> 00:13:26,079 Speaker 1: There was other coaches on the staff that that did 243 00:13:26,120 --> 00:13:29,920 Speaker 1: as well, and um. And at the end of the day, 244 00:13:29,960 --> 00:13:31,920 Speaker 1: I think Greg McMackin was a huge part of it. 245 00:13:32,000 --> 00:13:33,720 Speaker 1: You know. He was a defensive coordinator at the time. 246 00:13:33,720 --> 00:13:36,200 Speaker 1: He had been the defensive coordinator for the Seahawks prior 247 00:13:36,240 --> 00:13:40,000 Speaker 1: and UM and really like I remember he installed a 248 00:13:40,080 --> 00:13:43,440 Speaker 1: defense one day and then and then he said, albrit 249 00:13:43,440 --> 00:13:45,400 Speaker 1: came here and took me up to the office and 250 00:13:45,400 --> 00:13:48,320 Speaker 1: it was like, okay, like what I said was was 251 00:13:48,440 --> 00:13:51,200 Speaker 1: right on for everybody else. He's like, but you're gonna 252 00:13:51,480 --> 00:13:54,560 Speaker 1: you're gonna go to the football you know, and and uh, 253 00:13:54,679 --> 00:13:58,000 Speaker 1: he just let me go and let me play, and um, 254 00:13:58,880 --> 00:14:01,400 Speaker 1: it was I was really fortunate, you know that that's 255 00:14:01,400 --> 00:14:03,440 Speaker 1: so rare. Yeah, and then I came in as a 256 00:14:03,480 --> 00:14:06,840 Speaker 1: senior as the second team linebacker, ultimately won the spot 257 00:14:06,880 --> 00:14:10,680 Speaker 1: in camp and UM player of the year, right, Yeah, 258 00:14:10,720 --> 00:14:13,240 Speaker 1: well yeah, it was it was. It was just it 259 00:14:13,240 --> 00:14:15,959 Speaker 1: was a byproduct of like the stars aligned and like 260 00:14:16,080 --> 00:14:18,320 Speaker 1: and it's rare that it happens that way. But it did. 261 00:14:18,480 --> 00:14:20,720 Speaker 1: You know, a good coach and June Jones to come in, 262 00:14:21,120 --> 00:14:23,560 Speaker 1: not only he turns the fortune of the team around, 263 00:14:23,720 --> 00:14:26,480 Speaker 1: and then a defensive coach that really features me. The 264 00:14:26,520 --> 00:14:30,240 Speaker 1: combination of the two UM helped bring me some some 265 00:14:30,240 --> 00:14:33,240 Speaker 1: attention I wouldn't wouldn't have had Otherwise, there's no way 266 00:14:33,560 --> 00:14:38,520 Speaker 1: you end up, uh at six foot two forty end 267 00:14:38,640 --> 00:14:43,000 Speaker 1: up being a third round pick eighty six. Overall, ye 268 00:14:44,320 --> 00:14:48,360 Speaker 1: stay home, you go to San Francisco Bay areas. It 269 00:14:48,440 --> 00:14:50,400 Speaker 1: was wild because like you know, you grew up in 270 00:14:50,400 --> 00:14:53,440 Speaker 1: the bar area when I grew up, and it was, um, 271 00:14:53,480 --> 00:14:55,760 Speaker 1: there wasn't anybody that wasn't a forty hundred fan I 272 00:14:55,800 --> 00:14:58,120 Speaker 1: mean you you lived through all the Super Bowls and 273 00:14:58,120 --> 00:14:59,600 Speaker 1: and you felt like you were a part of them. 274 00:14:59,600 --> 00:15:02,120 Speaker 1: And then, um, so you grew up in nine Ers 275 00:15:02,160 --> 00:15:04,760 Speaker 1: fan I did huge, you know. And what was your 276 00:15:04,760 --> 00:15:07,600 Speaker 1: favorite player? Oh Roddy Lot not even not even close up, 277 00:15:07,880 --> 00:15:12,080 Speaker 1: you know, but um and then not only to be 278 00:15:12,840 --> 00:15:15,000 Speaker 1: And it was funny because during the draft process it 279 00:15:15,080 --> 00:15:16,880 Speaker 1: might have been the only team that didn't show any 280 00:15:16,880 --> 00:15:19,480 Speaker 1: interest in me, you know, didn't have an interview with me, 281 00:15:19,800 --> 00:15:25,360 Speaker 1: no interaction with me, nothing. And then on draft day, Uh, 282 00:15:25,800 --> 00:15:28,120 Speaker 1: Bill Walsh calls me because he was the acting Gem 283 00:15:28,160 --> 00:15:30,400 Speaker 1: at the time, you know, And and I thought for 284 00:15:30,480 --> 00:15:32,680 Speaker 1: sure it was one of my friends, like just messing 285 00:15:32,720 --> 00:15:36,840 Speaker 1: with me, like yeah, like uh like how cool? It 286 00:15:36,880 --> 00:15:40,640 Speaker 1: was awesome. It was awesome. And then uh wow, I 287 00:15:40,640 --> 00:15:43,680 Speaker 1: got to stay Yeah, I got to stay home. Um. 288 00:15:43,840 --> 00:15:45,560 Speaker 1: You know. The first when I was digging looking for 289 00:15:45,600 --> 00:15:48,840 Speaker 1: stuff on you, Um, I started looking at pictures too. 290 00:15:48,920 --> 00:15:52,960 Speaker 1: The first picture I came across, uh, was this Gem. 291 00:15:53,080 --> 00:15:55,440 Speaker 1: You're standing on the sideline with a mohawk. It's a 292 00:15:55,440 --> 00:15:57,720 Speaker 1: lot of lost bets right there. Okay. I was wondering, 293 00:15:57,840 --> 00:15:59,920 Speaker 1: is that it was that emblematic of the kind of 294 00:16:00,040 --> 00:16:02,200 Speaker 1: player you were a free spirit or was that just 295 00:16:03,240 --> 00:16:05,560 Speaker 1: were you a mohawk kind of guy or I wasn't 296 00:16:05,680 --> 00:16:08,240 Speaker 1: free spirit in all honesty until probably the back half 297 00:16:08,240 --> 00:16:09,920 Speaker 1: of my career, I was probably that was taking it 298 00:16:10,000 --> 00:16:11,760 Speaker 1: oh nine. But yeah, that was the end of it. 299 00:16:11,840 --> 00:16:13,720 Speaker 1: Like in the first half I might have been the 300 00:16:13,760 --> 00:16:16,040 Speaker 1: most paranoid player of all time. I thought I was 301 00:16:16,040 --> 00:16:19,960 Speaker 1: gonna get cut every second every day, rarely slept like 302 00:16:20,160 --> 00:16:24,920 Speaker 1: just you know, um countless and securities, you know, and uh. 303 00:16:26,240 --> 00:16:28,480 Speaker 1: And it was funny like I kind of had the 304 00:16:28,520 --> 00:16:30,640 Speaker 1: reverse career like a lot of guys start with special 305 00:16:30,640 --> 00:16:33,080 Speaker 1: teams and then and then they and then they eventually 306 00:16:33,120 --> 00:16:35,920 Speaker 1: start I kind of, you know, Barry my first year 307 00:16:35,960 --> 00:16:38,640 Speaker 1: which was on and off because of injury. I started 308 00:16:38,640 --> 00:16:42,120 Speaker 1: my second to about my eighth and um, and then 309 00:16:42,320 --> 00:16:45,200 Speaker 1: the back half of my career I played special teams, UM, 310 00:16:45,560 --> 00:16:47,840 Speaker 1: which is you don't here very often. But but I 311 00:16:47,960 --> 00:16:50,960 Speaker 1: remember like I had this mindset like if I ever 312 00:16:51,120 --> 00:16:55,000 Speaker 1: get um put on special teams, like I'm gonna dominate. 313 00:16:55,120 --> 00:16:58,200 Speaker 1: It's gonna be easy. Like I'm a starter, what are 314 00:16:58,200 --> 00:17:01,000 Speaker 1: you talking about? And I remember, um, one of the 315 00:17:01,120 --> 00:17:03,000 Speaker 1: and I made all these bets with all the special 316 00:17:03,000 --> 00:17:07,120 Speaker 1: team players because in oh seven or whatever it was, Wait, 317 00:17:07,560 --> 00:17:10,960 Speaker 1: they drafted Patrick Willis. Now they had part of that 318 00:17:11,040 --> 00:17:13,479 Speaker 1: day drafted a lot of guys. Are not gonna gave 319 00:17:13,520 --> 00:17:16,399 Speaker 1: any names, but every time they drafted him, my parento 320 00:17:16,400 --> 00:17:18,199 Speaker 1: itself would be like, Okay, he's gonna beat me out. 321 00:17:18,240 --> 00:17:20,440 Speaker 1: He's gonna beat me out. He's gonna beat me out. Well, 322 00:17:20,480 --> 00:17:22,919 Speaker 1: I get to year seven whatever it was when they 323 00:17:23,000 --> 00:17:26,480 Speaker 1: got Pat, and I'm like, oh, just another guy. Finally 324 00:17:26,520 --> 00:17:28,360 Speaker 1: I got to that space where I'm gonna beat him out. 325 00:17:28,800 --> 00:17:32,320 Speaker 1: And I remember it's the third preseason game or playing Chicago, 326 00:17:32,359 --> 00:17:34,560 Speaker 1: I think, and the coaches come up to me before 327 00:17:34,600 --> 00:17:37,520 Speaker 1: the game be like, hey, you're good. I'm like, what 328 00:17:37,560 --> 00:17:39,640 Speaker 1: are you talking about? I'm good? Like the third preseason 329 00:17:39,680 --> 00:17:43,240 Speaker 1: game is the game? Yeah, that's the game, absolutely, And 330 00:17:43,480 --> 00:17:45,920 Speaker 1: what do you mean I'm good. You know, we're gonna 331 00:17:45,960 --> 00:17:48,360 Speaker 1: let Pat get some reps just so he gets comfortable 332 00:17:48,400 --> 00:17:52,520 Speaker 1: with this and that. And I'm like what so I'm thinking, 333 00:17:53,760 --> 00:17:56,080 Speaker 1: I'm still I'm still thinking I got the spot. And 334 00:17:56,080 --> 00:17:58,359 Speaker 1: he goes out and has like a monster day and 335 00:17:58,480 --> 00:18:01,040 Speaker 1: just goes off, and I remember, so the next day 336 00:18:01,040 --> 00:18:04,920 Speaker 1: I'm there at like three thirty am. At Al Everest, 337 00:18:05,440 --> 00:18:07,960 Speaker 1: who just passed away this past year, one of my mentors, 338 00:18:08,000 --> 00:18:11,440 Speaker 1: one of the greatest humans I've ever known and been around. Um, 339 00:18:11,440 --> 00:18:15,159 Speaker 1: I'm in his office begging, begging for a job, like 340 00:18:15,200 --> 00:18:17,240 Speaker 1: I will start on all of them. I'll die for you, 341 00:18:17,280 --> 00:18:19,919 Speaker 1: I'll do and uh so he throws me on him, 342 00:18:19,920 --> 00:18:22,879 Speaker 1: and I remember just talking, you know, like I was 343 00:18:22,920 --> 00:18:25,280 Speaker 1: gonna be this and that as a special team player 344 00:18:25,320 --> 00:18:27,840 Speaker 1: and making all these bets. So the first week it 345 00:18:27,880 --> 00:18:30,359 Speaker 1: was like, I'm gonna shave my head that like the 346 00:18:30,760 --> 00:18:32,479 Speaker 1: if you guys beat me in points, will they all 347 00:18:32,480 --> 00:18:33,760 Speaker 1: beat me in points? So I shave my head and 348 00:18:33,760 --> 00:18:35,719 Speaker 1: then it was like the next week it was like 349 00:18:35,760 --> 00:18:38,200 Speaker 1: a mohawk. So the next week I had a mohawk, 350 00:18:38,240 --> 00:18:39,640 Speaker 1: and then if you beat me this week, I gotta 351 00:18:39,680 --> 00:18:42,560 Speaker 1: die my mohawk blonde. And then it went I didn't 352 00:18:42,560 --> 00:18:45,560 Speaker 1: find that. Oh it's out there, all right, it's out there. 353 00:18:46,000 --> 00:18:49,640 Speaker 1: But shoot, yeah, I was looking at your stats. You're 354 00:18:49,920 --> 00:18:52,600 Speaker 1: your second year eighty eight tackles seventy times. This is 355 00:18:52,600 --> 00:18:56,200 Speaker 1: Pro Football Reference regular season, but yeah, eighty eight, seventy 356 00:18:56,200 --> 00:19:01,760 Speaker 1: seventy nine, ninety three. Um in that was what, oh four? 357 00:19:02,119 --> 00:19:06,159 Speaker 1: So you also played with what Tequillo Spikes was that 358 00:19:06,480 --> 00:19:09,120 Speaker 1: played with Tequillo one of the Singletarier head coach too. 359 00:19:09,640 --> 00:19:13,320 Speaker 1: He was Singletary was my my linebacker coach, and then 360 00:19:13,359 --> 00:19:15,720 Speaker 1: he was my head coach after that once he he 361 00:19:15,800 --> 00:19:19,600 Speaker 1: became the interim for for Mike Nolan. Um. You played 362 00:19:19,600 --> 00:19:24,479 Speaker 1: ten years, yeah, Foldham ten years, ten year career. Yeah, 363 00:19:24,520 --> 00:19:27,760 Speaker 1: And you know, like in all honesty like that, that's 364 00:19:27,760 --> 00:19:31,560 Speaker 1: not I mean, that's nothing to that's that's pretty that's 365 00:19:31,560 --> 00:19:33,840 Speaker 1: pretty good. I was just you know, it was another 366 00:19:33,880 --> 00:19:35,800 Speaker 1: thing where kind of the stars lined for me. You know, 367 00:19:35,880 --> 00:19:39,280 Speaker 1: like I understand in this league it's about opportunity. And 368 00:19:40,080 --> 00:19:42,719 Speaker 1: I got there. We were on the older side from 369 00:19:42,720 --> 00:19:45,359 Speaker 1: the standpoint, and these are all guys that have shaped 370 00:19:45,400 --> 00:19:47,399 Speaker 1: me as a person and as a football player and 371 00:19:47,400 --> 00:19:49,320 Speaker 1: as a coach, the whole thing. But I get there 372 00:19:49,320 --> 00:19:52,240 Speaker 1: and it's it's Ken Norton Junior was the linebacker, and 373 00:19:52,560 --> 00:19:54,480 Speaker 1: there was Gary Plummer there, and there was all these 374 00:19:55,240 --> 00:19:58,640 Speaker 1: man and winter Winter tubs and like these really really 375 00:19:58,680 --> 00:20:01,919 Speaker 1: good players and they gave me this unbelievable model. But 376 00:20:02,200 --> 00:20:06,600 Speaker 1: year two they cut them all. So all of a sudden, 377 00:20:06,600 --> 00:20:10,720 Speaker 1: I'm looking around, is like it's an eye opener in itself. Yeah, 378 00:20:10,760 --> 00:20:16,360 Speaker 1: like yeah, and that and from the standpoint like I'm 379 00:20:16,400 --> 00:20:18,800 Speaker 1: getting a chance that I get, I get it. A 380 00:20:18,800 --> 00:20:20,800 Speaker 1: lot of guys never get, you know, like I get 381 00:20:20,840 --> 00:20:23,199 Speaker 1: a chance to. They're giving me the rains that are 382 00:20:23,280 --> 00:20:27,520 Speaker 1: really early stage in my career. Um, but they gave 383 00:20:27,520 --> 00:20:30,199 Speaker 1: me the opportunity and they kind of lived with the 384 00:20:30,280 --> 00:20:32,800 Speaker 1: lumps because it's never pretty at first for anybody that 385 00:20:32,840 --> 00:20:37,120 Speaker 1: starts in this league, you know. And so I read 386 00:20:37,160 --> 00:20:40,480 Speaker 1: that you initially wanted to be a college coach. I did, 387 00:20:40,800 --> 00:20:43,600 Speaker 1: and because you said the quote was, I don't want 388 00:20:43,600 --> 00:20:45,720 Speaker 1: to work at the professional level because those guys, the 389 00:20:46,040 --> 00:20:48,760 Speaker 1: guys at this level put in crazy hours and the 390 00:20:48,880 --> 00:20:52,119 Speaker 1: NFL season is too long. Yeah you told Niners that 391 00:20:52,240 --> 00:20:55,440 Speaker 1: kind on that back when you Wow two thousand and five. Yeah, 392 00:20:55,880 --> 00:20:58,639 Speaker 1: it's funny like that. That was the dream to coach 393 00:20:58,640 --> 00:21:00,919 Speaker 1: college football. Now when I can you Yeah, when I 394 00:21:00,960 --> 00:21:03,240 Speaker 1: when I when I retired some pretty good players too. 395 00:21:03,600 --> 00:21:05,840 Speaker 1: Yeah I was, I was, I had. We had a 396 00:21:05,840 --> 00:21:08,080 Speaker 1: good run when we were there. But when I retired, 397 00:21:08,160 --> 00:21:11,320 Speaker 1: I got my first opportunity to coach was in the NFL. 398 00:21:11,359 --> 00:21:14,480 Speaker 1: So I went up to Seattle, which was an awesome 399 00:21:14,520 --> 00:21:16,840 Speaker 1: deal because like I didn't know Pete Carroll from anything, 400 00:21:16,920 --> 00:21:19,400 Speaker 1: you know, but had an opportunity to meet a specially 401 00:21:19,440 --> 00:21:21,159 Speaker 1: in coach, meet him at the Senior Bowl. I went 402 00:21:21,240 --> 00:21:23,440 Speaker 1: up there and just kind of shot myself around. At 403 00:21:23,440 --> 00:21:26,679 Speaker 1: the same time, their d line coach was Dan Quinn, 404 00:21:26,840 --> 00:21:30,240 Speaker 1: you know. So through those those avenues, I was able 405 00:21:30,280 --> 00:21:32,600 Speaker 1: to get that opportunity. Coached there a couple of years, 406 00:21:32,640 --> 00:21:34,439 Speaker 1: but still with the thought process that I wanted to 407 00:21:34,440 --> 00:21:37,320 Speaker 1: coach college football. So, you know, Jim Mora, a familiar 408 00:21:37,359 --> 00:21:39,800 Speaker 1: Atlanta name, Jim Moore was the defensive coordinator when I 409 00:21:39,800 --> 00:21:41,960 Speaker 1: got drafted to the Niners, so we had a long 410 00:21:42,040 --> 00:21:47,040 Speaker 1: standing relationship and um, so he uh gets the head 411 00:21:47,119 --> 00:21:50,160 Speaker 1: job at UCLA, asked me to come aboard, and um 412 00:21:50,760 --> 00:21:53,760 Speaker 1: and I come on for three years. I loved the experience, 413 00:21:53,800 --> 00:21:56,040 Speaker 1: I really did. I loved I did. It was it 414 00:21:56,080 --> 00:21:59,800 Speaker 1: was crazy that That's that's at the end of the day. 415 00:22:00,040 --> 00:22:02,920 Speaker 1: That's what drove me away from OK. You know, I 416 00:22:02,920 --> 00:22:07,680 Speaker 1: I felt like it was like I don't know, it 417 00:22:08,040 --> 00:22:12,240 Speaker 1: was just I compromised too much of my time. Like 418 00:22:12,560 --> 00:22:14,320 Speaker 1: I'm committed to this job and I work my butt 419 00:22:14,359 --> 00:22:15,960 Speaker 1: off at it, and I you know, and we work 420 00:22:16,040 --> 00:22:18,320 Speaker 1: long hours and it's a long season, but it felt 421 00:22:18,359 --> 00:22:20,879 Speaker 1: like with recruiting it was never over, you know, it 422 00:22:20,960 --> 00:22:22,960 Speaker 1: was there was a never a break. And then there 423 00:22:23,080 --> 00:22:25,720 Speaker 1: was this this thing with your phone and recruiting that 424 00:22:25,800 --> 00:22:27,680 Speaker 1: was just constant, you know. And and for some guys 425 00:22:27,680 --> 00:22:29,679 Speaker 1: they're great at and it works for him, you know, 426 00:22:29,760 --> 00:22:32,200 Speaker 1: and it works for their lives. For me, um, this 427 00:22:32,320 --> 00:22:35,000 Speaker 1: was just a healthier lifestyle because although the season is longer, 428 00:22:35,080 --> 00:22:38,080 Speaker 1: there's also like when when you're off, you're off, you know, 429 00:22:38,359 --> 00:22:39,880 Speaker 1: and I don't have to be attached to my phone, 430 00:22:39,880 --> 00:22:42,239 Speaker 1: and I can reconnect with my family, and it just 431 00:22:42,280 --> 00:22:44,600 Speaker 1: makes me more sense for me, So a little irony 432 00:22:44,720 --> 00:22:47,840 Speaker 1: I came across. An article was published the summer ninth, 433 00:22:47,920 --> 00:22:51,400 Speaker 1: two thousand and nine in the Santa Rosa Press Democrat, 434 00:22:51,440 --> 00:22:55,680 Speaker 1: and the lead was linebacker Jeff Albert's playing career ended 435 00:22:55,720 --> 00:23:00,560 Speaker 1: October eleventh when he sustained a severe concussion running down 436 00:23:00,600 --> 00:23:03,920 Speaker 1: the field to cover a kickoff against the Atlanta Falcons. 437 00:23:04,880 --> 00:23:07,840 Speaker 1: The Atlanta Falcons was your last game? Right? Was that 438 00:23:07,880 --> 00:23:12,360 Speaker 1: true or not? I don't think so, so that would 439 00:23:12,400 --> 00:23:14,840 Speaker 1: have been good, though I think it was. It was 440 00:23:14,840 --> 00:23:17,520 Speaker 1: the Rams. I'm glad I attributed they it was the 441 00:23:17,600 --> 00:23:20,760 Speaker 1: article and it was the Rams. Yeah, so it was 442 00:23:20,800 --> 00:23:22,960 Speaker 1: a concussion, though it could be the Falcons. Who knows. 443 00:23:23,000 --> 00:23:27,040 Speaker 1: The article says I was knocked unconscious, so you never know. 444 00:23:27,960 --> 00:23:30,320 Speaker 1: But I thought that was kind of ironic that it 445 00:23:30,359 --> 00:23:33,040 Speaker 1: was against the Falcons. Yeah. I've always felt the connection 446 00:23:33,200 --> 00:23:36,080 Speaker 1: to the Falcons in Atlanta. You know, people forget that 447 00:23:36,119 --> 00:23:37,880 Speaker 1: the forty nine ers we were in the same division. Yeah, 448 00:23:38,040 --> 00:23:39,679 Speaker 1: So I spent a lot of time here, you know, 449 00:23:39,760 --> 00:23:42,960 Speaker 1: and got to see the you know, all the good 450 00:23:42,960 --> 00:23:45,000 Speaker 1: and the bad, and got to be here during the 451 00:23:45,040 --> 00:23:48,040 Speaker 1: Michael Vick experience when like you'd go home and your 452 00:23:48,040 --> 00:23:51,560 Speaker 1: ears hurt and you know, and it was you know, 453 00:23:51,640 --> 00:23:55,439 Speaker 1: always had a lot of respect for the organization. So 454 00:23:56,200 --> 00:23:57,960 Speaker 1: I wish I could talk to you another hour, and 455 00:23:58,000 --> 00:23:59,679 Speaker 1: I'm trying to just get all my points here, and 456 00:23:59,840 --> 00:24:02,080 Speaker 1: I've got a few more minutes with you. I've got 457 00:24:02,160 --> 00:24:08,040 Speaker 1: five minutes with you, I'm told by the producer. So 458 00:24:08,080 --> 00:24:09,919 Speaker 1: we talked a lot about your pass and stuff like that, 459 00:24:10,000 --> 00:24:12,600 Speaker 1: and which was the point. But I'd be remiss if 460 00:24:12,640 --> 00:24:14,760 Speaker 1: I didn't talk about what's going on here with you? 461 00:24:17,520 --> 00:24:21,560 Speaker 1: And so the one question that I think every Falcons 462 00:24:21,600 --> 00:24:24,879 Speaker 1: fan would be upset if I didn't ask, you would 463 00:24:24,880 --> 00:24:28,960 Speaker 1: be this. Can this team, especially despite all the changes 464 00:24:28,960 --> 00:24:32,040 Speaker 1: we're about to undergo with free agency in the draft, 465 00:24:32,200 --> 00:24:36,160 Speaker 1: you know that's normal churning of the roster, Right, Can 466 00:24:36,720 --> 00:24:40,040 Speaker 1: this team replicate what happened in the second half of 467 00:24:40,080 --> 00:24:44,040 Speaker 1: the season last year? And can you carry that into 468 00:24:44,240 --> 00:24:47,560 Speaker 1: another season? I've heard players and coaches say yes and no. 469 00:24:50,119 --> 00:24:53,359 Speaker 1: Some of it's more I've heard different responses. I'm curious 470 00:24:53,359 --> 00:24:57,679 Speaker 1: to hear what your response is on that. In all honesty, Like, 471 00:24:57,800 --> 00:25:01,959 Speaker 1: I've got a really small brain first of all. So 472 00:25:02,000 --> 00:25:04,639 Speaker 1: I segment my life and I segment the periods of 473 00:25:04,640 --> 00:25:09,199 Speaker 1: the year, and um, ultimately, do I think that that 474 00:25:09,240 --> 00:25:12,520 Speaker 1: will happen? Can we replicate the success? Absolutely? I do, 475 00:25:13,280 --> 00:25:17,399 Speaker 1: But I'm so far from that space. Um, Like, right now, 476 00:25:17,560 --> 00:25:21,719 Speaker 1: we have to absolutely nail free agency, have to like 477 00:25:21,800 --> 00:25:24,800 Speaker 1: it's we we got to get it right, you know. Um, 478 00:25:25,000 --> 00:25:28,320 Speaker 1: that's that's I'm talking about the guys that we potentially retain, 479 00:25:28,920 --> 00:25:31,280 Speaker 1: the guys that we want and get the guys that 480 00:25:31,320 --> 00:25:33,840 Speaker 1: we don't get, the guys that we don't retain. Like, 481 00:25:33,880 --> 00:25:37,439 Speaker 1: these are critical decisions that you gotta make, um, and 482 00:25:37,480 --> 00:25:40,359 Speaker 1: you got to make the right ones. The missteps and 483 00:25:40,359 --> 00:25:44,000 Speaker 1: free agency can absolutely cripple your team, you know. So 484 00:25:44,080 --> 00:25:47,000 Speaker 1: that's that's where I'm at. And now I'm I'm starting 485 00:25:47,000 --> 00:25:49,520 Speaker 1: to get onto this to the to the draft. So 486 00:25:49,680 --> 00:25:52,080 Speaker 1: you know that the big like jump in the pool 487 00:25:52,080 --> 00:25:54,360 Speaker 1: moments always that you go to the combine, you meet 488 00:25:54,400 --> 00:25:57,199 Speaker 1: all these kids and you get your first impressions and UM, 489 00:25:57,240 --> 00:25:59,000 Speaker 1: and I love this time of year because it's like 490 00:25:59,080 --> 00:26:04,040 Speaker 1: my opportunity to dig like um, you know, I love 491 00:26:04,080 --> 00:26:07,399 Speaker 1: the information our scouting department collects and I read every 492 00:26:07,400 --> 00:26:09,199 Speaker 1: single bit of it because it's so valuable and they 493 00:26:09,520 --> 00:26:11,960 Speaker 1: do a fantastic job. But at the same time, I'd 494 00:26:11,960 --> 00:26:13,800 Speaker 1: like to collect my own information, you know, and really 495 00:26:13,800 --> 00:26:16,199 Speaker 1: go out there and work and try to find the 496 00:26:16,240 --> 00:26:18,800 Speaker 1: guys that, like everybody's talking about what they can't do, 497 00:26:18,840 --> 00:26:21,239 Speaker 1: and try to find them the guys and what they 498 00:26:21,280 --> 00:26:23,120 Speaker 1: can do and how you can feature them. So that's 499 00:26:23,160 --> 00:26:25,520 Speaker 1: the next phase. It's got to be nailed. The draft 500 00:26:25,520 --> 00:26:29,000 Speaker 1: has got to be absolutely nailed. While this is both 501 00:26:29,040 --> 00:26:33,280 Speaker 1: going on, we have to really evaluate our scheme, what worked, 502 00:26:33,400 --> 00:26:36,160 Speaker 1: what didn't work, UM, what are we going to eliminate, 503 00:26:36,200 --> 00:26:37,919 Speaker 1: what are we going to get better at? UM? What 504 00:26:37,960 --> 00:26:42,080 Speaker 1: are we going to add critical same time, we've got 505 00:26:42,119 --> 00:26:46,680 Speaker 1: two fantastic new defensive coaches and enjoy it and tash 506 00:26:46,760 --> 00:26:48,960 Speaker 1: Lapoy and both of them, getting them up to speed 507 00:26:49,000 --> 00:26:51,400 Speaker 1: and what we do, and then allowing them to add 508 00:26:51,440 --> 00:26:54,600 Speaker 1: their their flavor to us, you know, and obviously both 509 00:26:54,640 --> 00:26:57,600 Speaker 1: of coach defense at a high level. And that'll be 510 00:26:57,640 --> 00:27:01,240 Speaker 1: the next piece, like really refining our playbook what we're 511 00:27:01,240 --> 00:27:05,639 Speaker 1: gonna do, um um, and then at the end of 512 00:27:05,720 --> 00:27:08,600 Speaker 1: RAID and seeing the draft, taking that playbook and then 513 00:27:08,720 --> 00:27:11,560 Speaker 1: tailoring it. Okay, this is who we got, this is 514 00:27:12,080 --> 00:27:16,240 Speaker 1: twenty twenty. Um, let's tailor this thing to these guys 515 00:27:16,359 --> 00:27:19,440 Speaker 1: and let's feature them in the absolute best way possible. 516 00:27:19,600 --> 00:27:25,720 Speaker 1: And when that is done, you can come ask asking 517 00:27:25,760 --> 00:27:28,800 Speaker 1: that question again, because that's where I'll give you, like 518 00:27:28,920 --> 00:27:31,679 Speaker 1: I could absolutely tell you whatever right now. You know, 519 00:27:31,920 --> 00:27:33,920 Speaker 1: do I believe it? I do. Don't get me wrong, 520 00:27:33,960 --> 00:27:36,760 Speaker 1: I'm not saying I don't. But I'm so far from 521 00:27:36,760 --> 00:27:40,920 Speaker 1: the space where it's like we're eight days away from eighteenth, 522 00:27:40,960 --> 00:27:45,000 Speaker 1: so right, you know, So right now everything's seemingly possible. 523 00:27:45,119 --> 00:27:49,600 Speaker 1: It is, it is, and um, it's gonna definitely affect um. 524 00:27:51,400 --> 00:27:54,520 Speaker 1: Not that I'll think any differently. But it just until 525 00:27:54,560 --> 00:27:56,520 Speaker 1: I get into that space, can I tell you exactly 526 00:27:56,520 --> 00:28:00,320 Speaker 1: how I think we'll do. So I'm gonna think that 527 00:28:00,400 --> 00:28:04,440 Speaker 1: response and say that twenty nineteens in the review. Yep, 528 00:28:05,040 --> 00:28:07,240 Speaker 1: that's that's how I read that. A lot to be learned, 529 00:28:07,359 --> 00:28:08,880 Speaker 1: a lot to be learned, a lot to be learned, 530 00:28:09,200 --> 00:28:13,440 Speaker 1: and player and coach alike. A season isn't made in 531 00:28:13,480 --> 00:28:15,399 Speaker 1: the first two weeks. The season isn't made in the 532 00:28:15,440 --> 00:28:18,280 Speaker 1: first four weeks. And the last question I'll ask you 533 00:28:18,359 --> 00:28:21,240 Speaker 1: is how important is it considering the last two years? 534 00:28:21,800 --> 00:28:23,560 Speaker 1: You know, eleven to five, ten to six, seven to nine, 535 00:28:23,600 --> 00:28:27,439 Speaker 1: seven to nine, How important is it to start in 536 00:28:27,520 --> 00:28:32,360 Speaker 1: your mind? To start quickly this year? It's always critical, 537 00:28:32,960 --> 00:28:35,399 Speaker 1: it always is. Um there's not a greater sense of 538 00:28:35,480 --> 00:28:37,640 Speaker 1: urgency this year compared to any other I think they're 539 00:28:38,000 --> 00:28:40,240 Speaker 1: in this league. It's like, how many one and done 540 00:28:40,320 --> 00:28:42,760 Speaker 1: staffs and and one and done players have you seen? 541 00:28:42,800 --> 00:28:45,560 Speaker 1: It's the countless. You know, it's becoming more and more common. 542 00:28:46,160 --> 00:28:48,560 Speaker 1: Um So the urgency always has to be there. I 543 00:28:48,600 --> 00:28:52,840 Speaker 1: think that what is the key? Then? You think outside 544 00:28:52,840 --> 00:28:57,640 Speaker 1: of nailing free agency, in nailing the draft, in nailing 545 00:28:57,680 --> 00:29:00,880 Speaker 1: your scheme, and then this offseason, you know, and really 546 00:29:01,160 --> 00:29:04,880 Speaker 1: really diving into individual player, finding ways to develop each one, 547 00:29:05,000 --> 00:29:08,080 Speaker 1: reach each one, find the best way to teach them, Um, 548 00:29:08,240 --> 00:29:11,240 Speaker 1: find the best way to then create the cohesion that 549 00:29:11,280 --> 00:29:13,440 Speaker 1: we that we need, you know, and create this team 550 00:29:13,520 --> 00:29:17,400 Speaker 1: because every team's got its own little personality and identity 551 00:29:17,440 --> 00:29:21,120 Speaker 1: and style in which they play, so really finding it 552 00:29:21,160 --> 00:29:24,320 Speaker 1: and then umay, you know, helping it first. But I 553 00:29:24,360 --> 00:29:27,160 Speaker 1: think that, like, is it critical to start fast? It 554 00:29:27,280 --> 00:29:31,200 Speaker 1: absolutely is. But it's like, but I say that in 555 00:29:31,200 --> 00:29:35,560 Speaker 1: one breath, then the next breath I say it's not. No, 556 00:29:35,640 --> 00:29:38,760 Speaker 1: it's not because it's like I always got frustrated by 557 00:29:38,760 --> 00:29:42,280 Speaker 1: coaches that said, we gotta start fast, we gotta start fast, 558 00:29:42,640 --> 00:29:47,920 Speaker 1: game practice, uh, season whatever. It's like, all right, what 559 00:29:47,960 --> 00:29:50,040 Speaker 1: happens when you don't start fast in a game? You 560 00:29:50,040 --> 00:29:52,280 Speaker 1: can't mail it in? Are you well you said that 561 00:29:52,360 --> 00:29:55,880 Speaker 1: we had to. Yeah, well we didn't. Yeah, so what 562 00:29:55,880 --> 00:29:58,400 Speaker 1: do you tell me now? You know, Like, if the 563 00:29:58,600 --> 00:30:01,680 Speaker 1: entire emphasis is on the way start, then um, you're 564 00:30:01,680 --> 00:30:04,200 Speaker 1: gonna sabotage me when things don't work out right, And 565 00:30:04,240 --> 00:30:07,520 Speaker 1: in this league, like it's virtually impossible for me to 566 00:30:07,520 --> 00:30:09,280 Speaker 1: tell you it's always going to start right, you know, 567 00:30:09,880 --> 00:30:13,160 Speaker 1: I would prefer to say it's the way we handle adversity. 568 00:30:13,200 --> 00:30:16,080 Speaker 1: I would prefer to say it's the way we finish. Uh, 569 00:30:16,320 --> 00:30:18,480 Speaker 1: you know, it's those are the moments that will define 570 00:30:18,560 --> 00:30:21,680 Speaker 1: us be relevant in November December, and then give me 571 00:30:21,720 --> 00:30:25,320 Speaker 1: a chance in November December. And that's that's really all 572 00:30:25,320 --> 00:30:28,000 Speaker 1: you can ask for, right, Yeah, that's it, that's it. Yeah, 573 00:30:28,040 --> 00:30:32,160 Speaker 1: that's it. By then you know who you are schematically personally, 574 00:30:32,280 --> 00:30:35,440 Speaker 1: like your personnel, your your roster, you're you know it, 575 00:30:35,520 --> 00:30:40,560 Speaker 1: you know and and you know, just I really believe 576 00:30:40,920 --> 00:30:43,800 Speaker 1: this last year and the years prior for sure too. 577 00:30:43,800 --> 00:30:49,520 Speaker 1: But this last year we learned invaluable lessons coaches, players, 578 00:30:50,640 --> 00:30:53,360 Speaker 1: um the way we organize, teach, the way we motivate, 579 00:30:53,440 --> 00:30:56,040 Speaker 1: the way we scheme, the way we we do it all. 580 00:30:56,080 --> 00:30:58,720 Speaker 1: And I think we're going to look back on this 581 00:30:58,800 --> 00:31:02,600 Speaker 1: year as a a powerful clear for all of us 582 00:31:02,960 --> 00:31:07,440 Speaker 1: professionally personally, all of us and how we grew from it, 583 00:31:07,480 --> 00:31:10,640 Speaker 1: and we grew some like true authentic strength from it, 584 00:31:10,720 --> 00:31:12,640 Speaker 1: and we're gonna be able to lean on it and 585 00:31:13,400 --> 00:31:16,400 Speaker 1: and utilize it to help us. I think have a 586 00:31:16,480 --> 00:31:18,880 Speaker 1: fantastic year this year. Coach That's a perfect way to 587 00:31:18,960 --> 00:31:21,760 Speaker 1: end this one. I really appreciate you coming on. We 588 00:31:21,800 --> 00:31:23,720 Speaker 1: have to do this again. Yeah for sure. I don't 589 00:31:23,720 --> 00:31:25,600 Speaker 1: know why it's taken so long, but yeah for sure. 590 00:31:25,840 --> 00:31:29,120 Speaker 1: This is fun, fun, all right? Thanks, Yeah, no problem. 591 00:31:29,160 --> 00:31:32,560 Speaker 1: This is Jeff Albrick, the linebacker coach for the Atlanta Falcons, 592 00:31:33,000 --> 00:31:37,120 Speaker 1: and you have been listening to the official Atlanta Falcons podcast, 593 00:31:37,160 --> 00:32:03,080 Speaker 1: Bird Noises, Black Clown Back