1 00:00:04,920 --> 00:00:08,160 Speaker 1: What's up everyone, I'm JJ Sankamitz. Welcome into another episode 2 00:00:08,280 --> 00:00:10,160 Speaker 1: of The Colts Show in Indianapolis. 3 00:00:10,200 --> 00:00:10,880 Speaker 2: Colts Podcast. 4 00:00:10,960 --> 00:00:14,360 Speaker 1: We are presented by Microsoft Surface Copilot plus PC and 5 00:00:14,400 --> 00:00:17,000 Speaker 1: it is my pleasure to welcome to the podcast Colts 6 00:00:17,040 --> 00:00:19,760 Speaker 1: offensive line coach Tony Sperano Junior Tony HOI do man. 7 00:00:19,640 --> 00:00:22,680 Speaker 3: Doing great, JJ, appreciate it. 8 00:00:22,680 --> 00:00:24,800 Speaker 1: It's kind of this sort of dead period in the 9 00:00:24,880 --> 00:00:27,480 Speaker 1: NFL offensive or the NFL calendar right now we're in 10 00:00:27,520 --> 00:00:31,720 Speaker 1: early February. But I could talk about offensive line play 11 00:00:31,720 --> 00:00:35,199 Speaker 1: with you literally at any point, any hour of the day, 12 00:00:35,240 --> 00:00:37,040 Speaker 1: because it's been one of my favorite things to do 13 00:00:37,680 --> 00:00:40,760 Speaker 1: over year now three going on four seasons here in Indy. 14 00:00:40,840 --> 00:00:44,000 Speaker 1: So excited to get you here on the podcast. I 15 00:00:44,040 --> 00:00:46,199 Speaker 1: want to start with this, like, what is something that 16 00:00:47,280 --> 00:00:50,960 Speaker 1: maybe like the general public either can't know or like 17 00:00:51,000 --> 00:00:53,400 Speaker 1: gets wrong or you would just want to like communicate 18 00:00:53,920 --> 00:00:56,560 Speaker 1: about offensive line play in the NFL. 19 00:00:57,040 --> 00:00:58,800 Speaker 4: Oh, the first thing I would say is there's usually 20 00:00:58,880 --> 00:01:02,320 Speaker 4: I mean it it's simple, but there's usually more than 21 00:01:02,320 --> 00:01:04,840 Speaker 4: meets the eye when it comes to the offensive line. 22 00:01:04,959 --> 00:01:07,360 Speaker 4: So a lot of the times when you're watching something, 23 00:01:08,360 --> 00:01:10,959 Speaker 4: it may seem apparent that all you know, I mean 24 00:01:11,000 --> 00:01:14,039 Speaker 4: the breakdown in this was attributed to this player or 25 00:01:15,000 --> 00:01:17,640 Speaker 4: you know, it was this The reality could be far 26 00:01:17,680 --> 00:01:20,679 Speaker 4: from that. You know, it could be you know, it 27 00:01:20,720 --> 00:01:22,800 Speaker 4: could be a scheme issue, it could be something involving 28 00:01:22,840 --> 00:01:25,720 Speaker 4: a different player, a different position. You know, there's a 29 00:01:25,760 --> 00:01:28,440 Speaker 4: bunch of different things that go into what these guys do. 30 00:01:28,480 --> 00:01:31,680 Speaker 4: You know, I always, you know, I always joke with 31 00:01:31,760 --> 00:01:34,319 Speaker 4: them because obviously they have a very difficult job. When 32 00:01:34,360 --> 00:01:37,720 Speaker 4: you talk about just having a line up, and let's say, hey, 33 00:01:37,800 --> 00:01:40,399 Speaker 4: I know who I'm blocking, uh, and that's someone is 34 00:01:40,920 --> 00:01:45,280 Speaker 4: Jeff Simmons, or it's you know, Will Anderson, or it's 35 00:01:45,319 --> 00:01:48,080 Speaker 4: Daniel Hunter, it's one of these great players. Obviously, blocking 36 00:01:48,120 --> 00:01:50,440 Speaker 4: those guys is really difficult. But then you add into it, 37 00:01:51,760 --> 00:01:54,680 Speaker 4: you know, the other kind of jobs that they have 38 00:01:54,800 --> 00:01:58,520 Speaker 4: within a play, the other assignments they have based on 39 00:01:58,560 --> 00:02:02,680 Speaker 4: the schemes that we're running. There's usually layers or multiple 40 00:02:02,760 --> 00:02:04,880 Speaker 4: levels to what they have to do and how much 41 00:02:04,920 --> 00:02:07,000 Speaker 4: they have to see or process at a given time. 42 00:02:07,080 --> 00:02:08,000 Speaker 3: So I would just. 43 00:02:08,000 --> 00:02:10,080 Speaker 4: Say that, I would say, normally there's there's a little 44 00:02:10,120 --> 00:02:11,639 Speaker 4: bit more than meets the eye when it comes to 45 00:02:11,680 --> 00:02:16,240 Speaker 4: the offensive line, and you know, I think the things 46 00:02:16,280 --> 00:02:19,760 Speaker 4: that those five guys can do when they're truly working 47 00:02:19,800 --> 00:02:22,799 Speaker 4: together in concert with one another and seeing the game 48 00:02:22,880 --> 00:02:24,440 Speaker 4: the same way as is pretty special. 49 00:02:24,560 --> 00:02:26,720 Speaker 1: I remember when I was in Chicago, I used to 50 00:02:26,720 --> 00:02:29,919 Speaker 1: cover the Bears, and I was kind of told by 51 00:02:29,919 --> 00:02:32,800 Speaker 1: one of the Bears offensive linemen like because I had 52 00:02:32,840 --> 00:02:34,440 Speaker 1: written something like, hey, you know, I think it was 53 00:02:34,440 --> 00:02:37,120 Speaker 1: the left tackle got beat or something, and you know, 54 00:02:37,160 --> 00:02:38,320 Speaker 1: it was a play where he got kind of it 55 00:02:38,320 --> 00:02:40,239 Speaker 1: looked like he got knocked over by the d N 56 00:02:40,760 --> 00:02:42,920 Speaker 1: and he you know, kind of throws like, hey, you know, 57 00:02:42,919 --> 00:02:46,519 Speaker 1: like the right the left guard, his footwork was off 58 00:02:46,560 --> 00:02:48,519 Speaker 1: and I kind of stepped on his foot and that's 59 00:02:48,520 --> 00:02:50,799 Speaker 1: why it looked like I got ran over. And it's 60 00:02:50,840 --> 00:02:52,360 Speaker 1: like those are like those little details. 61 00:02:52,400 --> 00:02:55,079 Speaker 3: That's that's exactly right. It's stuff like that, you know. 62 00:02:55,160 --> 00:02:57,560 Speaker 4: I mean that's why I again, I know it sounds 63 00:02:57,560 --> 00:02:59,920 Speaker 4: cliche at times, but that's why. To me, it's so 64 00:03:00,280 --> 00:03:05,119 Speaker 4: it's playing on the offensive line is the ultimate team positions. 65 00:03:05,639 --> 00:03:09,000 Speaker 4: It's such a selfless position because it truly is not 66 00:03:09,200 --> 00:03:13,000 Speaker 4: about one player. And even when you have great players, 67 00:03:13,080 --> 00:03:16,960 Speaker 4: you know, obviously we're blessed to have Quentin Nelson he'd 68 00:03:17,000 --> 00:03:18,440 Speaker 4: be the first one to tell you that without the 69 00:03:18,440 --> 00:03:20,679 Speaker 4: guys that are playing up there with him, he can't 70 00:03:20,720 --> 00:03:24,040 Speaker 4: do anything because it's not about one man. And without 71 00:03:24,360 --> 00:03:26,720 Speaker 4: being able to trust the man next to you on 72 00:03:26,720 --> 00:03:29,000 Speaker 4: either side, and without being able to trust the communication 73 00:03:29,080 --> 00:03:32,520 Speaker 4: from the center, without being able to trust maybe, hey, 74 00:03:32,560 --> 00:03:35,960 Speaker 4: an alert that you know, our right tackle is making 75 00:03:36,360 --> 00:03:38,440 Speaker 4: with what he see and say, Quentin's pulling from the 76 00:03:38,520 --> 00:03:40,200 Speaker 4: left to the right, Well, he's not gonna have vision 77 00:03:40,240 --> 00:03:44,480 Speaker 4: all the way across the ball right away. So what 78 00:03:44,520 --> 00:03:46,880 Speaker 4: we do in order to alert him of things that 79 00:03:46,920 --> 00:03:48,960 Speaker 4: are going on is the players that are on that side, 80 00:03:48,960 --> 00:03:51,320 Speaker 4: the right side, if they see something. We have different 81 00:03:51,360 --> 00:03:53,280 Speaker 4: words we use to give him a heads up for 82 00:03:53,320 --> 00:03:56,200 Speaker 4: different things and an alert that something may be coming. 83 00:03:57,320 --> 00:03:59,960 Speaker 4: He's trusting that communication. He's trusting that if they see 84 00:04:00,080 --> 00:04:02,040 Speaker 4: they're going to make the call, and he's going to 85 00:04:02,080 --> 00:04:03,560 Speaker 4: trust that when they make that. 86 00:04:03,560 --> 00:04:04,760 Speaker 3: That's that's. 87 00:04:06,040 --> 00:04:08,160 Speaker 4: Through the study and the preparation we've done throughout the 88 00:04:08,160 --> 00:04:09,960 Speaker 4: week that hey, man, that indicator is going to lead 89 00:04:10,000 --> 00:04:12,800 Speaker 4: to this. It allows them to play faster, and it 90 00:04:12,840 --> 00:04:15,160 Speaker 4: all kind of ties together. Without that, if you're just 91 00:04:15,200 --> 00:04:17,360 Speaker 4: out there in your freelance and then you're just one man. 92 00:04:18,320 --> 00:04:20,240 Speaker 4: Even when you're really talented, you're never going to be 93 00:04:20,839 --> 00:04:22,480 Speaker 4: consistently great player in this league. 94 00:04:22,520 --> 00:04:23,200 Speaker 3: Just won't happen. 95 00:04:23,240 --> 00:04:25,440 Speaker 1: I'm sure like our you know, our listeners, our viewers 96 00:04:25,440 --> 00:04:27,800 Speaker 1: have heard like the five is one phrase for an 97 00:04:27,839 --> 00:04:31,680 Speaker 1: offensive line, and that that's something that I think is 98 00:04:31,760 --> 00:04:35,240 Speaker 1: kind of maybe hard to almost conceptualize sometimes where you 99 00:04:35,360 --> 00:04:37,800 Speaker 1: see it's like, well, you know, okay, this guy you 100 00:04:37,839 --> 00:04:40,080 Speaker 1: think you see on TV, this guy got beat. But 101 00:04:40,960 --> 00:04:42,400 Speaker 1: if the kind of like I was just saying, like, 102 00:04:42,440 --> 00:04:44,120 Speaker 1: if five aren't playing, is one that could lead to 103 00:04:44,120 --> 00:04:46,800 Speaker 1: one guy getting quote unquote beat, where it might be 104 00:04:47,320 --> 00:04:49,120 Speaker 1: the fault of someone else for not being on their 105 00:04:49,160 --> 00:04:50,400 Speaker 1: their details are correct. 106 00:04:50,440 --> 00:04:54,080 Speaker 4: It might be somebody not hearing the communication. It might 107 00:04:54,120 --> 00:04:56,960 Speaker 4: be somebody not echoing a call. It might be somebody 108 00:04:57,000 --> 00:05:00,600 Speaker 4: being laid off the snap count, like you said, somebody 109 00:05:00,600 --> 00:05:03,000 Speaker 4: took poor footwork or didn't you know, hey, we've got 110 00:05:03,040 --> 00:05:05,159 Speaker 4: a run called and it looks like, you know, the 111 00:05:05,200 --> 00:05:07,680 Speaker 4: guard had an issue, but really the tackle didn't take 112 00:05:07,680 --> 00:05:10,279 Speaker 4: the right footwork, he didn't fit the combination block correctly, 113 00:05:10,320 --> 00:05:12,719 Speaker 4: you know, I mean, it's all all these different things, 114 00:05:12,760 --> 00:05:15,800 Speaker 4: and and you know, sometimes we forget these guys, you know, 115 00:05:15,920 --> 00:05:18,599 Speaker 4: are not it's not a video game. It's not mad 116 00:05:18,600 --> 00:05:20,640 Speaker 4: and these guys are real people, and so you're out 117 00:05:20,640 --> 00:05:23,839 Speaker 4: there and you know, they're all a little bit different. 118 00:05:23,880 --> 00:05:26,320 Speaker 4: Some guys are bigger, some guys are quicker, some guys 119 00:05:26,360 --> 00:05:29,800 Speaker 4: have you know, a longer stride than others. So they 120 00:05:29,839 --> 00:05:33,279 Speaker 4: really need those reps of playing together and you know, 121 00:05:33,400 --> 00:05:37,400 Speaker 4: fitting those combinations, setting together in pass protection, understand where 122 00:05:37,400 --> 00:05:40,280 Speaker 4: each other is gonna be, and the timing of those things. 123 00:05:40,279 --> 00:05:43,599 Speaker 4: It's all really important because it's not just a plug 124 00:05:43,640 --> 00:05:46,960 Speaker 4: and play. Well, everybody's uniform, they're all identical, you know, 125 00:05:47,000 --> 00:05:50,479 Speaker 4: they're they're all a little bit different. So yeah, you 126 00:05:50,200 --> 00:05:52,520 Speaker 4: you know, you coach the technique and the fundamentals. You 127 00:05:52,560 --> 00:05:54,440 Speaker 4: want to try and get them in as uh the 128 00:05:54,480 --> 00:05:57,640 Speaker 4: same or as similar as spots as we can, but 129 00:05:57,880 --> 00:05:59,960 Speaker 4: the field is always a little bit different with each player, 130 00:06:00,800 --> 00:06:03,120 Speaker 4: and that's where the repetition of us working together and 131 00:06:03,200 --> 00:06:05,120 Speaker 4: understanding where we need to be for one another is 132 00:06:05,160 --> 00:06:05,760 Speaker 4: really important. 133 00:06:05,960 --> 00:06:08,640 Speaker 1: I want to talk about Quentin Nelson. He was named 134 00:06:08,640 --> 00:06:11,520 Speaker 1: this year to his eighth consecutive Pro Bowl, which, just 135 00:06:11,640 --> 00:06:14,960 Speaker 1: for posterity's sake, he's the first player in Colt's history 136 00:06:15,000 --> 00:06:16,839 Speaker 1: to earn Pro Bowl honors in each of his first 137 00:06:16,880 --> 00:06:20,120 Speaker 1: eight seasons. He's the first Colts player since Peyton Manning 138 00:06:20,440 --> 00:06:22,719 Speaker 1: to be selected to eight consecutive Pro Bowls, and he's 139 00:06:22,760 --> 00:06:25,440 Speaker 1: the second offensive lineman in the NFL history to be 140 00:06:25,520 --> 00:06:28,320 Speaker 1: named to Pro Bowls in each of his first eight seasons, 141 00:06:28,360 --> 00:06:30,000 Speaker 1: alongside Hall of Famer Joe Thomas. 142 00:06:30,960 --> 00:06:31,720 Speaker 2: What is it like? 143 00:06:31,760 --> 00:06:35,320 Speaker 1: It's hard to like boil Q down to one thing 144 00:06:35,800 --> 00:06:39,240 Speaker 1: because he's so many things. But what are the things 145 00:06:39,279 --> 00:06:43,599 Speaker 1: that make Quinton Nelson that level of a player to 146 00:06:43,960 --> 00:06:46,520 Speaker 1: earn those accomplishments that he has had over his canure? 147 00:06:46,560 --> 00:06:48,120 Speaker 3: Sounds like he's been coasting, doesn't it? 148 00:06:49,240 --> 00:06:49,440 Speaker 2: Yeah? 149 00:06:49,560 --> 00:06:51,279 Speaker 3: Right, I mean you hear that. 150 00:06:51,320 --> 00:06:55,280 Speaker 4: I mean he's a look he The thing I would 151 00:06:55,279 --> 00:06:59,520 Speaker 4: say about Quentin above all, Quentin's care factor for this team, 152 00:07:00,080 --> 00:07:04,760 Speaker 4: in this line, the city, this franchise is off the charts. 153 00:07:04,839 --> 00:07:08,560 Speaker 4: Like playing football here and being a cult means so 154 00:07:08,720 --> 00:07:09,400 Speaker 4: much to him. 155 00:07:09,480 --> 00:07:10,640 Speaker 3: And that's a special thing. 156 00:07:10,720 --> 00:07:13,120 Speaker 4: And I think that you know, it's tangible, you can 157 00:07:13,200 --> 00:07:17,080 Speaker 4: feel that, and and you know he wears that on 158 00:07:17,120 --> 00:07:19,160 Speaker 4: his sleeve, and I think it rubs off on the 159 00:07:19,160 --> 00:07:21,240 Speaker 4: guys that that that are in that room with him, 160 00:07:21,240 --> 00:07:22,560 Speaker 4: and that are on the offense with him and on 161 00:07:22,600 --> 00:07:25,800 Speaker 4: the team with them, And it's a special thing, you know. 162 00:07:25,920 --> 00:07:29,600 Speaker 4: And and I think the thing that's special about obviously 163 00:07:29,640 --> 00:07:32,400 Speaker 4: Quentin's very talented, all right, God's blessed him with a 164 00:07:32,400 --> 00:07:36,960 Speaker 4: lot of ability. But what's special about him is is 165 00:07:37,400 --> 00:07:40,600 Speaker 4: the work ethic and the drive to make the most 166 00:07:40,640 --> 00:07:42,640 Speaker 4: of that that he's able to pair with that ability 167 00:07:42,720 --> 00:07:43,240 Speaker 4: is special. 168 00:07:43,760 --> 00:07:43,920 Speaker 3: Uh. 169 00:07:43,920 --> 00:07:46,280 Speaker 4: There's a lot of players in the league that are talented, 170 00:07:48,280 --> 00:07:50,720 Speaker 4: they don't all and and very few of them have 171 00:07:50,800 --> 00:07:53,720 Speaker 4: a work ethic that's anything like the one that he has. 172 00:07:54,600 --> 00:07:57,120 Speaker 4: Most players would you know, Hey, I've made a few 173 00:07:57,120 --> 00:08:00,520 Speaker 4: Pro Bowls, I've had a big contract and All Pro 174 00:08:00,560 --> 00:08:04,200 Speaker 4: a few times. I'm good. I'm gonna do what I've done. 175 00:08:04,680 --> 00:08:06,840 Speaker 4: It's worked for me. He's never been like that. He 176 00:08:07,160 --> 00:08:10,600 Speaker 4: wants to get better. He wants constant feedback. If if 177 00:08:10,640 --> 00:08:14,000 Speaker 4: there's something that that he feels like he's lacking in, 178 00:08:14,080 --> 00:08:17,880 Speaker 4: he's gonna stay after, he's gonna work on it. He 179 00:08:17,960 --> 00:08:20,560 Speaker 4: wants the brutal truth from you no matter what, which 180 00:08:20,600 --> 00:08:22,720 Speaker 4: I appreciate, you know. It makes him very fun to 181 00:08:22,760 --> 00:08:25,280 Speaker 4: coach because if I see something that I think can 182 00:08:25,280 --> 00:08:26,480 Speaker 4: help him. 183 00:08:26,800 --> 00:08:29,120 Speaker 3: I know that that's feedback he wants. 184 00:08:29,520 --> 00:08:31,480 Speaker 4: You know, that's not something where he's gonna go all right, 185 00:08:31,520 --> 00:08:33,720 Speaker 4: you know, he wants to know, Okay, well, what are 186 00:08:33,720 --> 00:08:35,480 Speaker 4: you seeing? What do you think I can do to 187 00:08:35,520 --> 00:08:36,800 Speaker 4: fix that? What do you think I can do to 188 00:08:36,840 --> 00:08:40,880 Speaker 4: be more consistent with that? And it's why the longer 189 00:08:40,920 --> 00:08:42,760 Speaker 4: he's played you watch, I mean he I thought he 190 00:08:42,800 --> 00:08:44,920 Speaker 4: played some of the very best football of his career 191 00:08:44,960 --> 00:08:48,679 Speaker 4: this year in all phases. I mean, this guy, I 192 00:08:48,960 --> 00:08:51,400 Speaker 4: can't explain how rare it is to have a guard 193 00:08:51,520 --> 00:08:53,760 Speaker 4: that factors the way he does in the run game 194 00:08:55,480 --> 00:08:57,720 Speaker 4: in a bunch of different roles, Like he can pull, 195 00:08:58,080 --> 00:09:00,319 Speaker 4: he can reach, he can he can double team and 196 00:09:00,360 --> 00:09:02,000 Speaker 4: knock guys off the ball, he can slip through and 197 00:09:02,000 --> 00:09:04,840 Speaker 4: get the second level. He can factor in space on 198 00:09:04,920 --> 00:09:07,440 Speaker 4: screens like he can do all these different things, and 199 00:09:07,480 --> 00:09:10,520 Speaker 4: then you can hand him your most difficult matchup in 200 00:09:11,040 --> 00:09:13,800 Speaker 4: the interior and pass protection and he can neutralize that player. 201 00:09:14,320 --> 00:09:18,760 Speaker 3: Like that's just such a rare it's rare air to 202 00:09:18,800 --> 00:09:19,360 Speaker 3: be in, you know. 203 00:09:19,480 --> 00:09:24,560 Speaker 4: And so he's really when he looks back on his career, 204 00:09:24,559 --> 00:09:27,120 Speaker 4: he won't have any regrets because man, he pours everything 205 00:09:27,120 --> 00:09:30,040 Speaker 4: he has into it every day to maximize what he has, 206 00:09:30,040 --> 00:09:32,200 Speaker 4: and it's just such a it's awesome to have a 207 00:09:32,240 --> 00:09:36,360 Speaker 4: guy like that in your group, leading your group, and 208 00:09:36,400 --> 00:09:38,840 Speaker 4: it's just really cool to see, you know, a guy 209 00:09:38,840 --> 00:09:42,400 Speaker 4: that cares that much and gives everything he has into 210 00:09:42,440 --> 00:09:44,199 Speaker 4: something that he loves and he's passionate about. 211 00:09:44,240 --> 00:09:46,360 Speaker 1: I want to talk about like that. You mentioned how 212 00:09:46,440 --> 00:09:49,840 Speaker 1: much he cares about the Colts. How does that when 213 00:09:49,840 --> 00:09:52,520 Speaker 1: you have a player who's at that level of Q 214 00:09:52,840 --> 00:09:55,800 Speaker 1: in terms of talent, when you have that kind of 215 00:09:55,840 --> 00:09:58,160 Speaker 1: backbone of caring about the franchise. 216 00:09:58,200 --> 00:09:59,400 Speaker 2: The way that he does. 217 00:09:59,520 --> 00:10:04,200 Speaker 1: Is that where sometimes these great players become the the 218 00:10:04,320 --> 00:10:07,560 Speaker 1: reach a level even above greatness when they're they're so 219 00:10:07,679 --> 00:10:09,400 Speaker 1: invested in the team that they're on. 220 00:10:09,760 --> 00:10:10,719 Speaker 2: Yeah, to grow like. 221 00:10:10,679 --> 00:10:11,920 Speaker 3: That, I think it does. 222 00:10:12,000 --> 00:10:14,000 Speaker 4: And I think that's one of the things that's unique 223 00:10:14,000 --> 00:10:15,760 Speaker 4: about our line in general is. 224 00:10:17,400 --> 00:10:18,559 Speaker 3: Our line is home grown. 225 00:10:19,080 --> 00:10:21,000 Speaker 4: You know, when you look at the fact that these 226 00:10:21,080 --> 00:10:24,640 Speaker 4: these players that we have have either been drafted here, 227 00:10:24,760 --> 00:10:28,000 Speaker 4: signed here as undrafted free agents, or they were acquired 228 00:10:28,040 --> 00:10:32,400 Speaker 4: here at a very early time in their career on 229 00:10:32,440 --> 00:10:35,319 Speaker 4: a futures contract, or hey, they were cut out of 230 00:10:35,360 --> 00:10:38,000 Speaker 4: a camp, and they were they were claimed here, they 231 00:10:38,120 --> 00:10:40,000 Speaker 4: they developed on the practice squad here. 232 00:10:40,440 --> 00:10:40,840 Speaker 3: Uh. 233 00:10:40,960 --> 00:10:42,680 Speaker 4: You know, these are all guys that have kind of 234 00:10:42,720 --> 00:10:45,920 Speaker 4: come up as colts, and so playing here means a 235 00:10:45,960 --> 00:10:48,600 Speaker 4: lot to them. Being part of this this franchise in 236 00:10:48,600 --> 00:10:50,760 Speaker 4: this city means a lot to them. It's not just 237 00:10:50,800 --> 00:10:53,240 Speaker 4: another stop on the map for those guys, or or 238 00:10:53,280 --> 00:10:53,920 Speaker 4: on the journey. 239 00:10:54,080 --> 00:10:55,239 Speaker 3: It is the destination. 240 00:10:56,400 --> 00:10:58,319 Speaker 4: And I think that matters, you know, I think that's 241 00:10:58,360 --> 00:11:02,840 Speaker 4: a special thing when you know, putting the horseshoe on 242 00:11:03,040 --> 00:11:07,560 Speaker 4: means something to you. And I'm very blessed and we 243 00:11:07,600 --> 00:11:10,520 Speaker 4: are very blessed to have a group of players that 244 00:11:10,640 --> 00:11:13,040 Speaker 4: I mean, you know, just again speaking from my group, 245 00:11:13,040 --> 00:11:15,880 Speaker 4: where it means a lot to those guys because you know, 246 00:11:15,960 --> 00:11:18,080 Speaker 4: this is the place that gave them their opportunity, that 247 00:11:18,160 --> 00:11:20,800 Speaker 4: believed in them. This is you know, and you know, 248 00:11:20,880 --> 00:11:22,400 Speaker 4: for Quentin, this is the place that made him a 249 00:11:22,440 --> 00:11:26,480 Speaker 4: top ten draft pick and and and you know, set 250 00:11:26,559 --> 00:11:28,640 Speaker 4: him up to have this great career and believed in 251 00:11:28,720 --> 00:11:31,000 Speaker 4: him and took a chance on him. You know, you 252 00:11:31,160 --> 00:11:32,840 Speaker 4: go down the list of the guys we have, it's 253 00:11:32,880 --> 00:11:35,840 Speaker 4: the same way, you know, I mean, whether it's Tanner, 254 00:11:35,960 --> 00:11:39,160 Speaker 4: you know, whether it's Bernie Jalen, Travis Maddie, you know. 255 00:11:39,240 --> 00:11:41,920 Speaker 4: I mean, these guys are all Braden Smith, you know, 256 00:11:41,960 --> 00:11:45,720 Speaker 4: these guys are all they've all been Colts from the 257 00:11:45,760 --> 00:11:48,040 Speaker 4: first day to now. And I think that's really it's 258 00:11:48,080 --> 00:11:50,920 Speaker 4: a special thing. You know, it's it's rare in the 259 00:11:50,920 --> 00:11:54,120 Speaker 4: modern game, but it's a really special thing. And playing 260 00:11:54,160 --> 00:11:56,360 Speaker 4: for this city and this team means something to those guys. 261 00:11:56,440 --> 00:11:58,080 Speaker 1: It's also been like that for a little while here. 262 00:11:58,080 --> 00:11:59,680 Speaker 1: I mean it predates you with a gal like Anthony 263 00:11:59,679 --> 00:12:02,280 Speaker 1: Caste who played a long time here, and then you 264 00:12:02,280 --> 00:12:05,160 Speaker 1: had Ryan Kelly come in, and then Quinton comes in, 265 00:12:05,200 --> 00:12:07,160 Speaker 1: and it's almost like this kind of feedback loop of 266 00:12:07,200 --> 00:12:08,880 Speaker 1: like it just keeps building and building and building. 267 00:12:08,960 --> 00:12:10,920 Speaker 4: Yeah, and I think that's special because it builds a 268 00:12:10,920 --> 00:12:15,120 Speaker 4: bomb between the city, the fans, the team, and this 269 00:12:15,280 --> 00:12:17,840 Speaker 4: group of players. You know, a lot of times obviously 270 00:12:17,920 --> 00:12:20,040 Speaker 4: the linemen don't have stats. You're not drafting them on 271 00:12:20,040 --> 00:12:22,079 Speaker 4: your fantasy team. 272 00:12:22,400 --> 00:12:24,000 Speaker 2: You know, I would do fantasy offensive line. 273 00:12:24,040 --> 00:12:25,760 Speaker 4: It would be pretty cool if we could find some 274 00:12:25,760 --> 00:12:28,719 Speaker 4: way to some way to quantify what they're doing. 275 00:12:28,760 --> 00:12:29,600 Speaker 3: That'd be pretty sweet. 276 00:12:29,840 --> 00:12:33,600 Speaker 4: But you're probably not doing that, you know, when most 277 00:12:33,640 --> 00:12:36,320 Speaker 4: people are playing mad and they're not trading for offensive linemen. 278 00:12:36,360 --> 00:12:39,319 Speaker 4: They're trading for you know, a receiver or a pass 279 00:12:39,400 --> 00:12:43,760 Speaker 4: rusher or a corner or something cool. And you know, 280 00:12:44,720 --> 00:12:47,400 Speaker 4: all of a sudden, you know, uh, this group. 281 00:12:48,240 --> 00:12:48,520 Speaker 3: Uh. 282 00:12:48,559 --> 00:12:50,200 Speaker 4: For them to kind of have that bond with our 283 00:12:50,240 --> 00:12:52,480 Speaker 4: fan base and and the team and the city, I 284 00:12:52,520 --> 00:12:55,640 Speaker 4: think is really cool. They're a special group of guys 285 00:12:55,679 --> 00:13:00,719 Speaker 4: and UH, to me, I just love when especially offensive line, 286 00:13:00,760 --> 00:13:05,400 Speaker 4: the offensive line has to be a group built on toughness, togetherness. 287 00:13:05,440 --> 00:13:07,720 Speaker 4: It's got to be a group that that that's reliable. 288 00:13:08,880 --> 00:13:11,080 Speaker 4: And I love the fact that that group can take 289 00:13:11,120 --> 00:13:13,880 Speaker 4: on kind of the mentality of this city and be 290 00:13:13,920 --> 00:13:16,760 Speaker 4: a hard working, tough group that you can count on. 291 00:13:18,040 --> 00:13:19,760 Speaker 4: And we take a lot of pride in that as 292 00:13:19,760 --> 00:13:23,400 Speaker 4: a unit of being being a group that you know, 293 00:13:23,840 --> 00:13:27,320 Speaker 4: we're very careful about the players we acquire. The guys 294 00:13:27,360 --> 00:13:29,200 Speaker 4: that we do acquire, we have a lot of belief in. 295 00:13:29,280 --> 00:13:31,160 Speaker 4: We invest a lot of time in and the thought 296 00:13:31,200 --> 00:13:34,200 Speaker 4: process with those guys as always uh, with a vision 297 00:13:34,240 --> 00:13:36,280 Speaker 4: to get them ready to contribute to this group so 298 00:13:36,320 --> 00:13:40,160 Speaker 4: that when we do undergo losses, you know, like like 299 00:13:40,240 --> 00:13:43,040 Speaker 4: happens to everyone in the league, whether that's Will and 300 00:13:43,120 --> 00:13:46,280 Speaker 4: Ryan leaving in free agency last year, whether that's Braiden 301 00:13:46,400 --> 00:13:49,000 Speaker 4: going down with an injury this year during the season, 302 00:13:49,000 --> 00:13:50,960 Speaker 4: whether that's Tanner having to miss a couple of games 303 00:13:50,960 --> 00:13:56,679 Speaker 4: and Danny steps and we're able to replace with homegrown Colts, 304 00:13:56,679 --> 00:13:59,559 Speaker 4: with guys that that we've had here, that we've developed, 305 00:13:59,559 --> 00:14:02,760 Speaker 4: that we you know, brought up in the culture of 306 00:14:02,920 --> 00:14:07,520 Speaker 4: ro line room in this system and this franchise, and 307 00:14:07,559 --> 00:14:09,960 Speaker 4: they're ready to take the next step and kind of 308 00:14:10,040 --> 00:14:13,200 Speaker 4: establish the next wave of starters or players for us, 309 00:14:13,240 --> 00:14:14,520 Speaker 4: which is important. 310 00:14:14,080 --> 00:14:16,839 Speaker 1: More on the Colt Show right after this. Greatness in 311 00:14:16,880 --> 00:14:20,640 Speaker 1: the NFL is built on preparation and quick decisions. That's 312 00:14:20,640 --> 00:14:24,880 Speaker 1: why the Indianapolis Colts trust Microsoft Surface co Pilot plus 313 00:14:24,920 --> 00:14:28,920 Speaker 1: PCs bringing real time AI insights to the sideline so 314 00:14:29,080 --> 00:14:32,680 Speaker 1: coaches and players can make smarter, faster decisions when it 315 00:14:32,720 --> 00:14:36,200 Speaker 1: matters most from the field to the front office. Microsoft 316 00:14:36,320 --> 00:14:41,280 Speaker 1: Surface Copilot plus PC is transforming how the Indianapolis Colts win. 317 00:14:41,840 --> 00:14:45,600 Speaker 1: Microsoft Surface co Pilot plus PC. Where every day is 318 00:14:45,680 --> 00:14:48,840 Speaker 1: game Day. The Colts Sunday Night seven on seven series 319 00:14:48,880 --> 00:14:52,880 Speaker 1: returns Boys Tackle and Dedicated Girls Flag can train in 320 00:14:52,960 --> 00:14:57,760 Speaker 1: an open gym format across select Sundays this winter, presented 321 00:14:57,760 --> 00:15:01,520 Speaker 1: by Forte Sports Medicine and Orthopedics with support from Gatorade 322 00:15:01,560 --> 00:15:04,720 Speaker 1: and the Gridiron Foundation. Sign up now at colts dot 323 00:15:04,760 --> 00:15:08,440 Speaker 1: com slash s and seven on seven. Do you have 324 00:15:08,520 --> 00:15:10,800 Speaker 1: a group of friends and family or maybe a company 325 00:15:10,800 --> 00:15:13,360 Speaker 1: outing you need to plan in twenty twenty six. Group 326 00:15:13,400 --> 00:15:15,840 Speaker 1: tickets are a fun way to get everyone together to 327 00:15:15,920 --> 00:15:19,160 Speaker 1: celebrate any occasion. 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Together 336 00:15:50,480 --> 00:15:54,160 Speaker 1: we can break barriers, open conversations, and make sure no 337 00:15:54,200 --> 00:15:58,440 Speaker 1: one feels alone. Visit Kickingthistigma dot org to learn more. 338 00:15:59,240 --> 00:16:01,800 Speaker 1: And now back to the Cult show, How you kind 339 00:16:01,800 --> 00:16:04,200 Speaker 1: of honed your your coaching style within that room, because 340 00:16:04,360 --> 00:16:06,920 Speaker 1: you coach one of the biggest rooms by just like 341 00:16:07,520 --> 00:16:10,720 Speaker 1: number of players on a football team. But you've got 342 00:16:10,760 --> 00:16:14,520 Speaker 1: to coach everyone from Quentin Nelson to you know, a 343 00:16:14,560 --> 00:16:16,640 Speaker 1: guy who just maybe was signed to the practice squad 344 00:16:16,640 --> 00:16:18,960 Speaker 1: a week ago. You got to coach them to get 345 00:16:19,000 --> 00:16:22,320 Speaker 1: ready to play in a similar way. But they're all 346 00:16:22,360 --> 00:16:26,120 Speaker 1: different personalities, they're different people. How do you coach them 347 00:16:26,120 --> 00:16:27,760 Speaker 1: to then when they do have to step in be 348 00:16:27,880 --> 00:16:29,760 Speaker 1: that five is one on the line. 349 00:16:29,840 --> 00:16:31,840 Speaker 4: Well, I would say the first thing is I'm very 350 00:16:31,880 --> 00:16:36,600 Speaker 4: genuine with with with all the guys, and I'm not 351 00:16:36,640 --> 00:16:37,760 Speaker 4: afraid to be myself. 352 00:16:38,480 --> 00:16:38,800 Speaker 3: Listen. 353 00:16:38,840 --> 00:16:41,080 Speaker 2: I players will see through it. 354 00:16:41,440 --> 00:16:44,480 Speaker 3: There's no doubt. Like I'm not afraid to be myself. Listen. 355 00:16:44,600 --> 00:16:46,280 Speaker 4: I can be a little bit quirky. I can definitely 356 00:16:46,360 --> 00:16:50,000 Speaker 4: be an emotional guy. I always tell them, listen, I 357 00:16:50,000 --> 00:16:53,040 Speaker 4: got red hot Italian blood in my veins. Sometimes it 358 00:16:53,080 --> 00:16:56,400 Speaker 4: comes out. But I'm not afraid to be myself. I'm 359 00:16:56,400 --> 00:16:58,240 Speaker 4: not afraid to laugh with the guys. I'm not afraid 360 00:16:58,280 --> 00:17:01,080 Speaker 4: to get on them. I'm not afraid to laugh at myself, 361 00:17:02,040 --> 00:17:07,919 Speaker 4: you know. And I try to take that approach. Uh, 362 00:17:08,240 --> 00:17:11,520 Speaker 4: And then you know, extend that to being as genuine 363 00:17:11,560 --> 00:17:14,480 Speaker 4: as I can with every single player and give them 364 00:17:14,480 --> 00:17:18,199 Speaker 4: the truth. I think too often people are afraid to 365 00:17:18,280 --> 00:17:20,879 Speaker 4: just be direct with players and give them the honest 366 00:17:20,880 --> 00:17:24,119 Speaker 4: feedback that they need. My belief is I want to 367 00:17:24,119 --> 00:17:26,840 Speaker 4: be as detailed as I possibly can with these guys, 368 00:17:27,240 --> 00:17:30,200 Speaker 4: and I want to give them honest, direct feedback always 369 00:17:30,560 --> 00:17:33,240 Speaker 4: so they know where they stand, they know what they're 370 00:17:33,240 --> 00:17:35,399 Speaker 4: doing well, which I think is very important. You know, 371 00:17:35,440 --> 00:17:37,560 Speaker 4: I think so many times we highlight the things that 372 00:17:37,600 --> 00:17:40,440 Speaker 4: someone does not do well. To me, it's more valuable 373 00:17:40,440 --> 00:17:42,639 Speaker 4: when you point out when they do it right. So 374 00:17:42,720 --> 00:17:44,600 Speaker 4: I like to do that. You know, Hey, what's it 375 00:17:44,640 --> 00:17:46,159 Speaker 4: look like when you're doing it right? What are you 376 00:17:46,200 --> 00:17:46,600 Speaker 4: doing well? 377 00:17:46,720 --> 00:17:46,960 Speaker 3: Now? 378 00:17:47,359 --> 00:17:48,840 Speaker 4: What are the things that we need to be more 379 00:17:48,880 --> 00:17:51,000 Speaker 4: consistent with, What are the things that we maybe need 380 00:17:51,040 --> 00:17:55,720 Speaker 4: to correct or fine tune a bit? Show them these things, 381 00:17:55,720 --> 00:17:57,800 Speaker 4: Show them examples of what that looks like when it's 382 00:17:57,800 --> 00:18:01,159 Speaker 4: done properly, either from a team made or maybe somebody 383 00:18:01,160 --> 00:18:04,919 Speaker 4: across the league that's a similar player to them, and 384 00:18:04,920 --> 00:18:06,680 Speaker 4: and try to go about building it that way and 385 00:18:06,680 --> 00:18:07,440 Speaker 4: then work on that. 386 00:18:07,520 --> 00:18:10,120 Speaker 3: You know, And and. 387 00:18:10,119 --> 00:18:14,600 Speaker 4: Like you said, everybody's personality is a little different mind 388 00:18:14,680 --> 00:18:16,840 Speaker 4: certainly is too. So I encourage you guys. I want 389 00:18:16,880 --> 00:18:19,399 Speaker 4: them to be themselves. I want them to have I 390 00:18:19,440 --> 00:18:21,520 Speaker 4: want them to enjoy coming to work in that room. 391 00:18:21,560 --> 00:18:23,679 Speaker 4: I want them to feel like it's a place where 392 00:18:24,000 --> 00:18:26,320 Speaker 4: they're gonna get better. They can be themselves, they can 393 00:18:26,359 --> 00:18:29,120 Speaker 4: have fun, and they can chase a dream in there, 394 00:18:29,200 --> 00:18:33,480 Speaker 4: you know. And I think that's really important. But to me, 395 00:18:33,560 --> 00:18:35,760 Speaker 4: it's always about I want their time here to be 396 00:18:35,840 --> 00:18:40,600 Speaker 4: time well spent in terms of getting them better, helping 397 00:18:40,600 --> 00:18:44,560 Speaker 4: them contribute to a winning team here for us, and 398 00:18:44,600 --> 00:18:46,840 Speaker 4: then having them enjoy the experience of playing here and 399 00:18:46,880 --> 00:18:48,720 Speaker 4: being a cult because it's a special time. 400 00:18:48,520 --> 00:18:49,080 Speaker 3: In their life. 401 00:18:49,160 --> 00:18:53,160 Speaker 4: So for me, it's about being honest with them, being 402 00:18:53,240 --> 00:18:57,080 Speaker 4: genuine with them, being direct, and holding every guy accountable 403 00:18:57,760 --> 00:18:59,480 Speaker 4: to the standard we have in the room, which is 404 00:18:59,520 --> 00:19:00,960 Speaker 4: to be the best line in the league. You know, 405 00:19:01,359 --> 00:19:03,720 Speaker 4: I've said that since I got here. As long as 406 00:19:03,720 --> 00:19:06,520 Speaker 4: I am here, that'll be the standard in that room, 407 00:19:07,080 --> 00:19:10,320 Speaker 4: you know. I have no We're not here to try 408 00:19:10,359 --> 00:19:12,680 Speaker 4: and play for second best with that stuff. We want 409 00:19:12,680 --> 00:19:14,640 Speaker 4: to be the best line in this league. We want 410 00:19:14,640 --> 00:19:16,879 Speaker 4: to be an anchor of this team, kind of an 411 00:19:16,920 --> 00:19:19,879 Speaker 4: engine that propels this team into the playoffs and to 412 00:19:19,960 --> 00:19:22,639 Speaker 4: winning this division, and the way that we do that 413 00:19:23,480 --> 00:19:26,159 Speaker 4: is every man's accountable to that. So whether that's Quentin, 414 00:19:26,200 --> 00:19:28,840 Speaker 4: whether that's an undrafted, whether that's a guy that's been 415 00:19:28,880 --> 00:19:31,800 Speaker 4: here two years or ten years, whether it's a guy 416 00:19:31,800 --> 00:19:33,200 Speaker 4: making a lot of money, whether it's a guy in 417 00:19:33,240 --> 00:19:36,320 Speaker 4: a rookie contract, doesn't matter. They're all accountable to that standard. 418 00:19:36,720 --> 00:19:38,520 Speaker 4: The details are the same for all of them. The 419 00:19:38,520 --> 00:19:41,479 Speaker 4: little things are the big things. And at the end 420 00:19:41,520 --> 00:19:45,120 Speaker 4: of the day, the reason that's important is because we're 421 00:19:45,119 --> 00:19:48,280 Speaker 4: going to count on all of them. So at some point, 422 00:19:48,760 --> 00:19:50,240 Speaker 4: those guys that are sitting in the back of the 423 00:19:50,320 --> 00:19:51,560 Speaker 4: room are going to be brought to the front of 424 00:19:51,560 --> 00:19:53,960 Speaker 4: the room. The guys that are on the scout team 425 00:19:53,960 --> 00:19:57,119 Speaker 4: are going to be playing for you. And if you 426 00:19:57,240 --> 00:20:00,760 Speaker 4: haven't coached them as hard as you're coaching starters, if 427 00:20:00,760 --> 00:20:05,040 Speaker 4: you haven't demanded it from them, then when their moment 428 00:20:05,119 --> 00:20:07,560 Speaker 4: comes up, you've done them a disservice. I don't believe 429 00:20:07,560 --> 00:20:10,639 Speaker 4: in that, So I want to prepare every guy in 430 00:20:10,680 --> 00:20:13,640 Speaker 4: that room so that when their moment comes and they 431 00:20:13,640 --> 00:20:16,080 Speaker 4: have a chance to contribute to this group, they are 432 00:20:16,119 --> 00:20:18,160 Speaker 4: ready to do it at a high level. We expect 433 00:20:18,200 --> 00:20:21,600 Speaker 4: no drop off and we keep rolling. And you know, 434 00:20:21,640 --> 00:20:24,160 Speaker 4: we've played a lot of games here with with backup 435 00:20:24,200 --> 00:20:26,919 Speaker 4: players for three straight years and it's something that we 436 00:20:26,960 --> 00:20:29,040 Speaker 4: take pride in of having the next guy ready to 437 00:20:29,080 --> 00:20:33,040 Speaker 4: step up and fill in. You know, Braden unfortunately suffers 438 00:20:33,040 --> 00:20:34,800 Speaker 4: an injury this year, Jalen goes in there. I thought 439 00:20:34,800 --> 00:20:36,720 Speaker 4: he played really well when he went in there. I 440 00:20:36,800 --> 00:20:39,320 Speaker 4: was very proud of what he did. But you know 441 00:20:39,400 --> 00:20:42,200 Speaker 4: what people don't see is the work that went into that. 442 00:20:42,280 --> 00:20:47,359 Speaker 4: You know, Jalen was constantly improving throughout the season on 443 00:20:47,440 --> 00:20:50,520 Speaker 4: the scout team. He was coming in Friday and Saturday 444 00:20:50,520 --> 00:20:53,840 Speaker 4: mornings early every week to meet with me individually and look. 445 00:20:53,680 --> 00:20:55,640 Speaker 3: At his scout rips. What can I be doing better? 446 00:20:55,680 --> 00:20:56,719 Speaker 3: What do I have to all? 447 00:20:56,800 --> 00:20:58,600 Speaker 4: Right, I did this well, I got better at this. 448 00:20:58,600 --> 00:21:00,760 Speaker 4: This is the next step for me. He was meeting 449 00:21:00,760 --> 00:21:03,440 Speaker 4: with our assistant line coach, Chris Watt. He was doing 450 00:21:03,480 --> 00:21:09,200 Speaker 4: things to to help maximize his ability and get himself 451 00:21:09,200 --> 00:21:11,520 Speaker 4: in the best possible position so that when that did 452 00:21:11,520 --> 00:21:14,200 Speaker 4: come up, he was ready to hit the ground running. 453 00:21:14,240 --> 00:21:16,080 Speaker 4: And that that's kind of the thought process with the 454 00:21:16,119 --> 00:21:18,320 Speaker 4: whole group it's I tell him all the time, but 455 00:21:18,400 --> 00:21:20,000 Speaker 4: every guy is just vitally important. 456 00:21:20,440 --> 00:21:22,320 Speaker 1: I mean I was thinking, you know about Jalen Travis, 457 00:21:22,320 --> 00:21:25,160 Speaker 1: but also like I think about that Seahawks game where 458 00:21:25,440 --> 00:21:28,080 Speaker 1: Braden's out and then Bernie goes out with the elbow injury. 459 00:21:28,119 --> 00:21:30,359 Speaker 1: You got Luke Tnuda coming in, who I don't believe 460 00:21:30,359 --> 00:21:32,600 Speaker 1: it ever played an offensive snap in the NFL so 461 00:21:32,720 --> 00:21:34,840 Speaker 1: in like three years, and he comes in and he did. 462 00:21:35,080 --> 00:21:36,280 Speaker 2: He did a totally fine job. 463 00:21:36,400 --> 00:21:39,359 Speaker 3: That's right against against Obviously, what we're seeing is the. 464 00:21:39,400 --> 00:21:40,959 Speaker 2: Top front Super Bowl defense. 465 00:21:41,040 --> 00:21:42,920 Speaker 4: It's it's a top front with a lot of very 466 00:21:43,040 --> 00:21:44,920 Speaker 4: very good players. They can rush the passer at a 467 00:21:45,000 --> 00:21:48,360 Speaker 4: very high level. They're a great run defense. And Luke 468 00:21:48,400 --> 00:21:50,640 Speaker 4: went in there and battle did his job, and and 469 00:21:51,320 --> 00:21:53,760 Speaker 4: again I was really proud of him. And what was 470 00:21:53,800 --> 00:21:56,040 Speaker 4: cool was seeing how excited he was to get out there, 471 00:21:56,119 --> 00:21:57,639 Speaker 4: how much that meant to him, to get out there 472 00:21:57,680 --> 00:22:00,240 Speaker 4: and play meaningful plays in a big game on the 473 00:22:00,320 --> 00:22:03,479 Speaker 4: road like that for this team. And Luke's another one. 474 00:22:03,520 --> 00:22:06,480 Speaker 4: I mean, he worked tirelessly since we got him, and 475 00:22:06,520 --> 00:22:09,560 Speaker 4: all he wanted was an opportunity. So he's somebody that 476 00:22:09,920 --> 00:22:11,720 Speaker 4: the same way, you know, I mean we've been working 477 00:22:11,720 --> 00:22:15,359 Speaker 4: with him throughout this entire year. He's been working extra 478 00:22:15,400 --> 00:22:17,840 Speaker 4: after practice. Man, he's been grind and trying to get 479 00:22:17,840 --> 00:22:20,240 Speaker 4: his opportunity. And when he was called upon, he was 480 00:22:20,280 --> 00:22:23,040 Speaker 4: able to take full advantage, which was awesome. So I 481 00:22:23,080 --> 00:22:26,840 Speaker 4: mean we've had you know, obviously, Tuck started games for 482 00:22:27,000 --> 00:22:29,760 Speaker 4: US this year, Danny started games for US this year. 483 00:22:29,800 --> 00:22:31,760 Speaker 4: You know, I know Blake suffered the injury and preseason, 484 00:22:31,760 --> 00:22:33,720 Speaker 4: but Blake started a bunch of games for US here. 485 00:22:34,560 --> 00:22:36,639 Speaker 4: You know, you think back to last year, you know, 486 00:22:37,119 --> 00:22:39,520 Speaker 4: the two new full time starters, they were rookies that 487 00:22:39,520 --> 00:22:41,760 Speaker 4: were backups that were starting games for US with Tanner 488 00:22:41,800 --> 00:22:44,119 Speaker 4: and Matt and how that paid dividends for this year, 489 00:22:44,600 --> 00:22:48,560 Speaker 4: you know. So you know, development's not linear. I think 490 00:22:48,600 --> 00:22:51,080 Speaker 4: sometimes people think that it just goes like this. Ye 491 00:22:51,440 --> 00:22:52,000 Speaker 4: it doesn't. 492 00:22:52,160 --> 00:22:52,320 Speaker 3: You know. 493 00:22:52,359 --> 00:22:54,920 Speaker 4: It's like anything that we all pursue in our life 494 00:22:54,960 --> 00:22:58,800 Speaker 4: that's worthwhile. You know, you need to learn, and and 495 00:22:58,840 --> 00:23:02,040 Speaker 4: the way you learn is by doing. And you know, listen, 496 00:23:02,080 --> 00:23:04,359 Speaker 4: sometimes you have to fail to learn. Sometimes guys have 497 00:23:04,400 --> 00:23:07,119 Speaker 4: to go out there and they have to endure hard times, 498 00:23:07,160 --> 00:23:10,159 Speaker 4: they have to endure setbacks in order to take the 499 00:23:10,200 --> 00:23:12,920 Speaker 4: step forward that they need to take. But if they're 500 00:23:12,960 --> 00:23:15,600 Speaker 4: resilient and they're humble, and they're made of the right 501 00:23:15,640 --> 00:23:18,679 Speaker 4: stuff and they're looking to learn from it, you know, 502 00:23:18,760 --> 00:23:20,760 Speaker 4: that's the response you want to see from the players 503 00:23:21,040 --> 00:23:24,000 Speaker 4: and from anybody, you know. And I'm proud of my 504 00:23:24,040 --> 00:23:26,280 Speaker 4: group that way, because they're all you know, they're very 505 00:23:26,359 --> 00:23:29,440 Speaker 4: much made that way where they don't let the mistake 506 00:23:29,520 --> 00:23:33,439 Speaker 4: define them and they're looking forward to the next opportunity 507 00:23:33,480 --> 00:23:36,000 Speaker 4: as to how that, you know, learning from that can 508 00:23:36,040 --> 00:23:38,000 Speaker 4: make them better, you know. And I think that's a 509 00:23:38,119 --> 00:23:41,119 Speaker 4: very important thing that sometimes gets lost is you know, 510 00:23:41,160 --> 00:23:44,960 Speaker 4: I think we watch these young players sometimes and we go, ah, well, 511 00:23:45,000 --> 00:23:46,679 Speaker 4: you know, he had a tough game, so it's not 512 00:23:47,040 --> 00:23:48,640 Speaker 4: you know, he he's not good enough. 513 00:23:49,320 --> 00:23:50,359 Speaker 3: That's not true, you know. 514 00:23:50,440 --> 00:23:52,680 Speaker 4: I mean there's a lot of examples of really good players, 515 00:23:54,240 --> 00:23:56,800 Speaker 4: you know, enduring some growing pains early in their careers 516 00:23:57,840 --> 00:24:00,119 Speaker 4: or having an off game and then learning from that 517 00:24:00,160 --> 00:24:02,720 Speaker 4: and becoming very good players. And like I said, I 518 00:24:02,720 --> 00:24:04,800 Speaker 4: mean you're seeing it across the league with some of 519 00:24:04,800 --> 00:24:07,760 Speaker 4: the quarterbacks. Obviously, you know, Sam Darnold's playing in the 520 00:24:07,760 --> 00:24:09,800 Speaker 4: Super Bowl. And I was lucky enough to be around 521 00:24:09,800 --> 00:24:12,560 Speaker 4: Sam when when I was in Carolina. Uh, and he's 522 00:24:12,600 --> 00:24:14,800 Speaker 4: a great guy, but his story has not been linear. 523 00:24:15,160 --> 00:24:16,879 Speaker 2: You're around Daniel in New York exactly. 524 00:24:17,040 --> 00:24:17,560 Speaker 3: Look at his. 525 00:24:17,560 --> 00:24:19,480 Speaker 4: Story is not linear. So all you know, I mean, 526 00:24:19,760 --> 00:24:21,240 Speaker 4: Baker Mayfield story. 527 00:24:20,960 --> 00:24:21,640 Speaker 3: Is not linear. 528 00:24:21,800 --> 00:24:24,560 Speaker 4: So I mean you go through there's a lot of 529 00:24:24,560 --> 00:24:27,760 Speaker 4: these guys where it's not just a straight line too. 530 00:24:28,080 --> 00:24:30,440 Speaker 4: I started here and I just climbed the whole time. 531 00:24:30,760 --> 00:24:32,320 Speaker 4: You know, I tell the guys all the time. You know, 532 00:24:32,440 --> 00:24:34,440 Speaker 4: you you want to be doing this, but it doesn't 533 00:24:34,440 --> 00:24:36,440 Speaker 4: always look like this. Sometimes it's I got to go 534 00:24:36,480 --> 00:24:38,720 Speaker 4: down to go up, and then I'm here and you know, 535 00:24:38,880 --> 00:24:40,800 Speaker 4: all of a sudden, I look at the totality of 536 00:24:40,840 --> 00:24:42,800 Speaker 4: everything and I'm doing this and I'm getting better, and 537 00:24:42,840 --> 00:24:45,800 Speaker 4: then I'm climbing. You know, It's it's easy to stagnate. 538 00:24:45,840 --> 00:24:49,119 Speaker 4: It's really hard to climb. So, you know, anything I 539 00:24:49,119 --> 00:24:50,960 Speaker 4: think that's worthwhile is like that. 540 00:24:51,200 --> 00:24:54,040 Speaker 1: Within that, though, is your role as a coach something 541 00:24:54,080 --> 00:24:55,879 Speaker 1: that I went back and I listened to an interview 542 00:24:55,880 --> 00:24:57,200 Speaker 1: that Matt Taylor and I did with you when you 543 00:24:57,240 --> 00:24:59,440 Speaker 1: got hired here, and you talked a lot about how 544 00:24:59,480 --> 00:25:03,199 Speaker 1: your dad was direct but not demeaning. Yeah, and I 545 00:25:03,200 --> 00:25:08,120 Speaker 1: think sometimes in our society sometimes direct can turn into demeaning, 546 00:25:08,560 --> 00:25:10,920 Speaker 1: almost like very quickly with the way that it's delivered. 547 00:25:11,359 --> 00:25:14,479 Speaker 1: How have you learned to navigate being direct with your 548 00:25:14,480 --> 00:25:16,639 Speaker 1: feedback so when you do have one of those, you 549 00:25:16,640 --> 00:25:18,399 Speaker 1: know you start to go down that that you can 550 00:25:18,440 --> 00:25:20,320 Speaker 1: then help kind of guide them to go back up 551 00:25:20,320 --> 00:25:21,680 Speaker 1: and keep that trend line going up. 552 00:25:22,200 --> 00:25:23,360 Speaker 3: Well, I would just say. 553 00:25:25,400 --> 00:25:29,880 Speaker 4: I always try to reinforce to the players that everything 554 00:25:29,920 --> 00:25:32,040 Speaker 4: that I say to them is coming from a place 555 00:25:32,040 --> 00:25:34,120 Speaker 4: of trying to help them and be of service to them. 556 00:25:34,160 --> 00:25:36,040 Speaker 4: I believed that my function here is to be of 557 00:25:36,119 --> 00:25:40,000 Speaker 4: service to them. The day I'm not direct and honest 558 00:25:40,040 --> 00:25:42,520 Speaker 4: with them is the day I'm not fulfilling that obligation 559 00:25:42,640 --> 00:25:46,800 Speaker 4: to them. And that's something that I take really seriously. Obviously, 560 00:25:46,800 --> 00:25:48,720 Speaker 4: it's what I'm passionate about, and it's my career, but 561 00:25:48,840 --> 00:25:53,200 Speaker 4: what I take really seriously is it's their career, and 562 00:25:53,760 --> 00:25:57,280 Speaker 4: this is their opportunity to earn money, to take care 563 00:25:57,320 --> 00:25:59,240 Speaker 4: of their families, to chase their dreams to be the 564 00:25:59,280 --> 00:26:00,800 Speaker 4: best they can. It's not like you get a do 565 00:26:00,920 --> 00:26:03,439 Speaker 4: over at this career. They get one opportunity at this career, 566 00:26:03,480 --> 00:26:05,960 Speaker 4: and I want to help them maximize it and get 567 00:26:05,960 --> 00:26:08,440 Speaker 4: everything they want out of it. And so I feel 568 00:26:08,440 --> 00:26:10,880 Speaker 4: like I'm not doing my part if I don't tell 569 00:26:10,960 --> 00:26:13,080 Speaker 4: them the truth and I'm not straight up with them. 570 00:26:13,480 --> 00:26:17,680 Speaker 4: That being said, you know, I've never I've just never 571 00:26:17,720 --> 00:26:21,600 Speaker 4: seen the value of piling on unnecessarily to somebody. You know, 572 00:26:21,680 --> 00:26:23,840 Speaker 4: guys want to get it, they want to do it right. 573 00:26:25,320 --> 00:26:27,440 Speaker 4: They're trying the best they can to do it right. 574 00:26:27,840 --> 00:26:30,600 Speaker 4: Sometimes they just need guidance and sometimes, man, they might 575 00:26:30,640 --> 00:26:32,480 Speaker 4: need a little you know, they might need. 576 00:26:32,359 --> 00:26:34,040 Speaker 3: A little kick to get going sometimes. 577 00:26:34,520 --> 00:26:36,639 Speaker 4: And like I said, I mean, I am guilty of 578 00:26:37,520 --> 00:26:40,360 Speaker 4: I am guilty of being a defiery Italian at times, 579 00:26:40,400 --> 00:26:43,800 Speaker 4: and I can get animated, but it comes from a 580 00:26:43,800 --> 00:26:45,920 Speaker 4: place of I want the best for them. I care 581 00:26:46,000 --> 00:26:48,960 Speaker 4: about them, and I just don't want to see them 582 00:26:48,960 --> 00:26:50,080 Speaker 4: settle for less than what I know. 583 00:26:50,080 --> 00:26:50,879 Speaker 3: They're capable of. 584 00:26:51,960 --> 00:26:56,160 Speaker 4: I know how talented each one of them is, and 585 00:26:56,240 --> 00:26:58,560 Speaker 4: I see a lot in them that sometimes they don't see. 586 00:26:58,400 --> 00:26:59,919 Speaker 3: In themselves at first. 587 00:27:00,600 --> 00:27:04,320 Speaker 4: And the way I can best serve them is to 588 00:27:04,400 --> 00:27:08,679 Speaker 4: do whatever I believe to do whatever I believe I 589 00:27:08,720 --> 00:27:10,359 Speaker 4: need to do to get them to see that. You know, 590 00:27:10,480 --> 00:27:14,200 Speaker 4: sometimes they have to belief is such a powerful thing, 591 00:27:14,400 --> 00:27:18,760 Speaker 4: you know, and and sometimes you know, we oftentimes we 592 00:27:18,800 --> 00:27:20,639 Speaker 4: have a lot more in us. We're capable of a 593 00:27:20,680 --> 00:27:24,520 Speaker 4: lot more than we even believe, and that belief is 594 00:27:24,560 --> 00:27:28,240 Speaker 4: so so important. So that's the approach I try to 595 00:27:28,240 --> 00:27:29,879 Speaker 4: take with them. Listen, I'm gonna be direct with you, 596 00:27:29,880 --> 00:27:31,359 Speaker 4: I'm gonna be honest with you. I'm gonna tell you 597 00:27:31,400 --> 00:27:34,040 Speaker 4: what I see. It's all with the vision of trying 598 00:27:34,040 --> 00:27:35,720 Speaker 4: to get you better. It's all with a vision of 599 00:27:35,760 --> 00:27:37,480 Speaker 4: trying to help you grow. It's all with a vision 600 00:27:37,520 --> 00:27:39,800 Speaker 4: of trying to be of service to you and to 601 00:27:39,840 --> 00:27:43,359 Speaker 4: maximize this career that you have because I care about you, 602 00:27:44,119 --> 00:27:46,119 Speaker 4: and because I care about you, know, your career and 603 00:27:46,160 --> 00:27:47,880 Speaker 4: your family, and that's important to. 604 00:27:47,840 --> 00:27:49,280 Speaker 2: Me for you too. 605 00:27:49,280 --> 00:27:51,000 Speaker 1: And I want to kind of end on this kind 606 00:27:51,040 --> 00:27:54,360 Speaker 1: of topic, but just talking about family, obviously you came 607 00:27:54,440 --> 00:27:58,879 Speaker 1: from a coaching family. Your your dad, Tony Sprano was 608 00:27:59,280 --> 00:28:02,000 Speaker 1: I mean, like you go around the league and like 609 00:28:02,760 --> 00:28:06,080 Speaker 1: every single building has a person who crossed paths with 610 00:28:06,119 --> 00:28:08,520 Speaker 1: your dad, or who worked with your dad and who 611 00:28:08,720 --> 00:28:14,040 Speaker 1: speaks so highly of him. But also he was your dad. 612 00:28:14,119 --> 00:28:16,680 Speaker 1: And you know, you you're growing up moving around from 613 00:28:16,800 --> 00:28:20,600 Speaker 1: New Haven to Miami to you know, these different spots 614 00:28:20,640 --> 00:28:25,760 Speaker 1: in between Cleveland. What did you learn about like being 615 00:28:25,800 --> 00:28:29,119 Speaker 1: a dad from your dad being a coach? 616 00:28:30,480 --> 00:28:34,040 Speaker 4: You know, I learned the value of being present when 617 00:28:34,160 --> 00:28:36,600 Speaker 4: when you're home. You know, my dad did a great 618 00:28:36,680 --> 00:28:40,520 Speaker 4: job of listen. I didn't always see my dad a lot, 619 00:28:41,200 --> 00:28:44,320 Speaker 4: you know, especially during the season. At the time, I 620 00:28:44,360 --> 00:28:47,800 Speaker 4: didn't quite understand. You know, you're young. You don't understand 621 00:28:47,800 --> 00:28:49,800 Speaker 4: what he sacrificed him to try and give you a 622 00:28:49,800 --> 00:28:53,160 Speaker 4: better life. Obviously, now I do because I'm in that 623 00:28:53,280 --> 00:28:57,120 Speaker 4: role with my kids. But what he did do a 624 00:28:57,160 --> 00:28:59,680 Speaker 4: really good job of is is when he was around, man, 625 00:28:59,720 --> 00:29:01,880 Speaker 4: he was really present. I try to do the same thing. 626 00:29:02,400 --> 00:29:05,000 Speaker 4: I miss a lot of stuff with my kids. I 627 00:29:05,080 --> 00:29:07,840 Speaker 4: know I'm not there as often as some other parents 628 00:29:07,920 --> 00:29:11,120 Speaker 4: might be there, but I what I try to do 629 00:29:11,200 --> 00:29:15,000 Speaker 4: is be present and let them know that I love 630 00:29:15,040 --> 00:29:16,760 Speaker 4: them and I'm proud of them when I'm there, so 631 00:29:16,800 --> 00:29:18,840 Speaker 4: I try to maximize the time I can. I try 632 00:29:18,880 --> 00:29:20,840 Speaker 4: to let them know they're loved, let them know I'm 633 00:29:20,880 --> 00:29:24,320 Speaker 4: proud of them. When I can help them or when 634 00:29:24,320 --> 00:29:26,240 Speaker 4: I've got to correct them, I do the same thing, 635 00:29:26,320 --> 00:29:28,960 Speaker 4: you know. I mean, I'm honest with my kids, and 636 00:29:29,920 --> 00:29:31,680 Speaker 4: you know, it's because I care about them. 637 00:29:32,400 --> 00:29:32,600 Speaker 3: You know. 638 00:29:32,680 --> 00:29:35,080 Speaker 4: And I just I'd say, the biggest thing I learned 639 00:29:35,080 --> 00:29:37,880 Speaker 4: from my dad as a coach is just man he was. 640 00:29:39,480 --> 00:29:42,200 Speaker 4: He was never afraid to be himself. He was really authentic, 641 00:29:43,080 --> 00:29:46,480 Speaker 4: and he cared about people like he wasn't afraid to 642 00:29:46,560 --> 00:29:50,360 Speaker 4: let people know how he felt relationships mattered to him. 643 00:29:50,720 --> 00:29:54,480 Speaker 4: I think that's why, you know, listen, it's been a while, 644 00:29:54,520 --> 00:29:58,640 Speaker 4: and you know, unfortunately since he's passed now, Josh, I 645 00:29:58,680 --> 00:30:02,800 Speaker 4: think we're coming up on eight years now, and I 646 00:30:02,840 --> 00:30:08,440 Speaker 4: think that's why, even with that time lapse, you're able 647 00:30:08,520 --> 00:30:10,680 Speaker 4: to still hear people talk about them the way that 648 00:30:10,720 --> 00:30:15,760 Speaker 4: they do, former players, former coaches. It's because he cares that, 649 00:30:15,840 --> 00:30:18,480 Speaker 4: you know, he cared genuinely about the people that he 650 00:30:18,560 --> 00:30:22,920 Speaker 4: worked with and and and he put his heart into that. 651 00:30:23,080 --> 00:30:25,160 Speaker 4: And so I watched him do that, and I thought, 652 00:30:25,200 --> 00:30:27,120 Speaker 4: you know, like, man, if I ever get a chance 653 00:30:27,120 --> 00:30:28,160 Speaker 4: to do that, that's the way. 654 00:30:28,000 --> 00:30:30,000 Speaker 3: That I want to do that, you know. And and. 655 00:30:31,400 --> 00:30:33,520 Speaker 4: I just never think there's something wrong with letting someone 656 00:30:33,560 --> 00:30:36,040 Speaker 4: know how you feel and letting them know that you 657 00:30:36,080 --> 00:30:40,440 Speaker 4: care about them. Like I said, part of my nature 658 00:30:40,520 --> 00:30:42,440 Speaker 4: is you know, look, I'm emotional. I wear my heart 659 00:30:42,440 --> 00:30:45,400 Speaker 4: on my sleeve and I'm not afraid of that. So 660 00:30:46,000 --> 00:30:48,840 Speaker 4: you know, I'm my guys. Like I said, my guys 661 00:30:48,880 --> 00:30:51,400 Speaker 4: know that I care about them, just the way that 662 00:30:51,440 --> 00:30:53,920 Speaker 4: my father's players knew that he cared about them. And 663 00:30:53,920 --> 00:30:57,400 Speaker 4: and I think that's really important. You know, this job 664 00:30:57,480 --> 00:30:58,280 Speaker 4: is really hard. 665 00:30:59,280 --> 00:30:59,480 Speaker 3: You know. 666 00:30:59,520 --> 00:31:02,040 Speaker 4: Being a player in this league is a really demanding job. 667 00:31:03,000 --> 00:31:05,160 Speaker 4: Being a coach in this league is a really demanding job. 668 00:31:05,200 --> 00:31:11,920 Speaker 4: And obviously they're different, they're demanding in different ways. I 669 00:31:11,960 --> 00:31:16,160 Speaker 4: think having an environment where you know the people you're 670 00:31:16,200 --> 00:31:20,400 Speaker 4: going through it with care about you and are genuinely 671 00:31:20,440 --> 00:31:21,160 Speaker 4: there for you. 672 00:31:21,480 --> 00:31:23,080 Speaker 3: I think that makes all the difference in the world. 673 00:31:23,160 --> 00:31:25,880 Speaker 4: And I think that's that's sometimes I think that stuff 674 00:31:26,240 --> 00:31:28,160 Speaker 4: kind of falls by the wayside, and I just never 675 00:31:28,240 --> 00:31:30,440 Speaker 4: want that that. I never want that to be the 676 00:31:30,480 --> 00:31:32,640 Speaker 4: case with the group that I coach, or with with 677 00:31:34,200 --> 00:31:36,720 Speaker 4: how I do things. So you know, my dad never 678 00:31:36,800 --> 00:31:42,800 Speaker 4: ever took shortcuts that way. He just cared about people, 679 00:31:43,200 --> 00:31:46,720 Speaker 4: and uh, you know, it was always about football was 680 00:31:46,800 --> 00:31:49,200 Speaker 4: kind of his vehicle to help people, you know, with 681 00:31:49,360 --> 00:31:53,160 Speaker 4: his way to help change people's lives. And I try 682 00:31:53,200 --> 00:31:54,719 Speaker 4: to always keep that in perspective. 683 00:31:55,080 --> 00:31:56,320 Speaker 3: You know, when I went, I think. 684 00:31:56,160 --> 00:32:00,520 Speaker 1: Back, there's been a great conversation. Tony really really enjoyed it. 685 00:32:00,600 --> 00:32:03,320 Speaker 1: Tony Sprowno, Junior Colts offensive line coach. Thanks for joining 686 00:32:03,360 --> 00:32:04,600 Speaker 1: me here on the PODET appreciate it. 687 00:32:04,680 --> 00:32:05,600 Speaker 3: Jai, thank you so much.