1
00:00:09,520 --> 00:00:11,520
Speaker 1: Alright, coach Tee, thanks for sitting down with us. We

2
00:00:11,560 --> 00:00:13,960
Speaker 1: know it's busy here at the annual meetings. One of

3
00:00:14,000 --> 00:00:16,119
Speaker 1: the things I wanted to ask, you know, as you

4
00:00:16,200 --> 00:00:18,160
Speaker 1: kind of look at twenty twenty four, right the way

5
00:00:18,160 --> 00:00:20,919
Speaker 1: the season started, ten wins in the first thirteen weeks,

6
00:00:21,400 --> 00:00:23,400
Speaker 1: of course, go through a tough stretch at the end,

7
00:00:23,760 --> 00:00:26,200
Speaker 1: last five games, not the desire result that you want.

8
00:00:26,600 --> 00:00:28,280
Speaker 1: You've had time to kind of sit away from that.

9
00:00:29,280 --> 00:00:31,240
Speaker 1: What do you take away from the twenty twenty four

10
00:00:31,360 --> 00:00:32,240
Speaker 1: Pittsburgh Steelers.

11
00:00:32,640 --> 00:00:34,320
Speaker 2: You know, if you look at the people that we played,

12
00:00:34,400 --> 00:00:39,000
Speaker 2: particularly down the stretch, two Super Bowl teams Baltimore Ravens

13
00:00:39,479 --> 00:00:43,520
Speaker 2: uh being in that collection, it shows that we didn't

14
00:00:43,520 --> 00:00:46,319
Speaker 2: have the goods at the end. And I just see

15
00:00:46,360 --> 00:00:49,520
Speaker 2: it with sober eyes as a coach, as a guy

16
00:00:49,520 --> 00:00:54,080
Speaker 2: that puts the collective together, is responsible for the development

17
00:00:54,120 --> 00:00:57,240
Speaker 2: of the collective over the course of the journey. We

18
00:00:57,240 --> 00:01:00,480
Speaker 2: were not moving uh in the right direction in the end.

19
00:01:00,880 --> 00:01:03,640
Speaker 2: That put us in that elite category. That's just truth.

20
00:01:04,200 --> 00:01:06,720
Speaker 2: And so for me, it's about how do we how

21
00:01:06,720 --> 00:01:09,240
Speaker 2: do we change that, How do we, you know, how

22
00:01:09,240 --> 00:01:12,680
Speaker 2: do we stay in those considerations as a road against narrow.

23
00:01:13,880 --> 00:01:15,800
Speaker 2: You know, we got to beat everyone if we desire

24
00:01:15,840 --> 00:01:18,160
Speaker 2: to be world champ and and it wasn't us in

25
00:01:18,200 --> 00:01:21,360
Speaker 2: twenty twenty four. And the way that the season ended

26
00:01:21,760 --> 00:01:26,280
Speaker 2: really is just a you know, a hard, brutal realization

27
00:01:26,360 --> 00:01:26,959
Speaker 2: of that truth.

28
00:01:28,200 --> 00:01:31,399
Speaker 1: And so when we kind of look at what's happened,

29
00:01:31,720 --> 00:01:35,640
Speaker 1: you know, with free agency and the acquisitions, you guys

30
00:01:35,640 --> 00:01:38,360
Speaker 1: were busy right out the gate. So I just want

31
00:01:38,360 --> 00:01:40,160
Speaker 1: to kind of talk about some of the guys that

32
00:01:40,240 --> 00:01:42,480
Speaker 1: you had, especially on the offensive side. You add DK

33
00:01:42,600 --> 00:01:45,280
Speaker 1: metcalf you add Addakanu gain Well, just kind of give

34
00:01:45,319 --> 00:01:47,400
Speaker 1: me your thoughts on what those guys bring to the

35
00:01:47,440 --> 00:01:49,200
Speaker 1: table and what they can add to the Steelers' offense.

36
00:01:49,560 --> 00:01:54,880
Speaker 2: Well, for someone that you know that organizes defensive efforts

37
00:01:54,920 --> 00:01:58,960
Speaker 2: for the larger part of my career, I can't underscore

38
00:01:59,000 --> 00:02:02,400
Speaker 2: the significance of guy like DK. It's not only the

39
00:02:02,440 --> 00:02:06,800
Speaker 2: plays that he makes, it's the schematics that a guy

40
00:02:06,880 --> 00:02:12,000
Speaker 2: like him controls. We've competed against him as recently as

41
00:02:12,040 --> 00:02:14,640
Speaker 2: twenty twenty three, and I just noted when you're playing

42
00:02:14,720 --> 00:02:18,120
Speaker 2: DK metcalf man, it controls how you call coverage. You're

43
00:02:18,280 --> 00:02:22,200
Speaker 2: very cognizant of one on one matchups, and so there's

44
00:02:22,240 --> 00:02:26,000
Speaker 2: a statistical component of his contributions, but there's also an

45
00:02:26,040 --> 00:02:30,920
Speaker 2: intangible component of his contributions that get distributed across an

46
00:02:30,919 --> 00:02:35,360
Speaker 2: offensive unit to others that's equally as exciting. He's a

47
00:02:35,400 --> 00:02:39,079
Speaker 2: difference maker. He is really significant, and so we're really

48
00:02:39,080 --> 00:02:43,359
Speaker 2: excited about acquiring him and with gainwell Man, we played

49
00:02:43,520 --> 00:02:46,639
Speaker 2: Philadelphia late in the year, he made some subtle yet

50
00:02:46,720 --> 00:02:51,040
Speaker 2: really significant plays against US. A third down plays, third

51
00:02:51,120 --> 00:02:53,360
Speaker 2: down and six, they throw him a swing route. He

52
00:02:53,440 --> 00:02:55,960
Speaker 2: splits two defenders and gets a new set of downs

53
00:02:56,000 --> 00:02:58,640
Speaker 2: and that ends up being a scoring drive. You know,

54
00:02:58,639 --> 00:03:01,760
Speaker 2: I'm excited about getting a space player like that, a

55
00:03:01,800 --> 00:03:04,399
Speaker 2: guy that can win in one on one circumstance where

56
00:03:04,400 --> 00:03:06,400
Speaker 2: you could throw a swing route to him and absorb

57
00:03:06,520 --> 00:03:10,600
Speaker 2: very little risk with big time potential gain. He's also

58
00:03:10,680 --> 00:03:14,040
Speaker 2: a very reputable special teams contributor, not only as a

59
00:03:14,080 --> 00:03:16,399
Speaker 2: return man but as a kick coverage guy. I don't

60
00:03:16,400 --> 00:03:20,240
Speaker 2: think he gets enough credit for his talents in that area.

61
00:03:20,360 --> 00:03:23,920
Speaker 1: Now year two for Arthar Smith and Pittsburgh, you know,

62
00:03:24,520 --> 00:03:26,960
Speaker 1: having the helm of the offense, what are you looking

63
00:03:27,000 --> 00:03:29,960
Speaker 1: at some of the changes and improvements for that offense?

64
00:03:30,120 --> 00:03:31,880
Speaker 1: With that stasis.

65
00:03:32,200 --> 00:03:35,960
Speaker 2: You know, certainly when I talk about rookies, for example,

66
00:03:36,520 --> 00:03:40,560
Speaker 2: is reasonable to expect significant growth between year one and

67
00:03:40,680 --> 00:03:44,480
Speaker 2: year two. But I can apply that analogy to any

68
00:03:44,520 --> 00:03:46,960
Speaker 2: and all of us. As you mentioned, this is Arthur's

69
00:03:47,000 --> 00:03:50,600
Speaker 2: second year in Pittsburgh, and so he's familiar with the

70
00:03:50,640 --> 00:03:53,720
Speaker 2: culture within which he works. He's also familiar and more

71
00:03:53,760 --> 00:03:57,200
Speaker 2: familiar with the players that we have, the ones that

72
00:03:57,240 --> 00:03:59,280
Speaker 2: have been here and will continue to be here. And

73
00:03:59,360 --> 00:04:02,160
Speaker 2: also he's been a component of the acquisition of the

74
00:04:02,200 --> 00:04:05,000
Speaker 2: new players, guys like Kenny and d k and so

75
00:04:05,480 --> 00:04:08,120
Speaker 2: it's reasonable to expect him and us as an offense

76
00:04:08,160 --> 00:04:11,680
Speaker 2: and collective to take a significant step forward. I know

77
00:04:11,760 --> 00:04:14,600
Speaker 2: that's our mindset as we lay in a foundation for it.

78
00:04:15,200 --> 00:04:17,039
Speaker 1: And so, you know, stay on the office side of

79
00:04:17,040 --> 00:04:19,880
Speaker 1: the ball. I feel like one of the things that's

80
00:04:19,960 --> 00:04:23,839
Speaker 1: been significant, right You're looking at the quarterback room. Three

81
00:04:23,839 --> 00:04:26,400
Speaker 1: guys from last year all have three new teams. We

82
00:04:26,480 --> 00:04:28,839
Speaker 1: make the acquisitions to get a familiar face in Mason,

83
00:04:28,960 --> 00:04:32,440
Speaker 1: also add a Skylar Thompson. Aaron Rodgers recently visited the

84
00:04:32,520 --> 00:04:34,800
Speaker 1: team just kind of talk about the status of the

85
00:04:34,839 --> 00:04:36,440
Speaker 1: quarterback room as it stands today.

86
00:04:37,080 --> 00:04:40,000
Speaker 2: You know, we've been in turnover in that room. As

87
00:04:40,040 --> 00:04:42,840
Speaker 2: you mentioned, none of the guys from twenty twenty four

88
00:04:43,760 --> 00:04:46,080
Speaker 2: will be on our twenty twenty five roster. But I

89
00:04:46,120 --> 00:04:50,600
Speaker 2: think that's one of the things that Mason Rudolph such

90
00:04:50,640 --> 00:04:55,240
Speaker 2: an attractive acquisition for us. We know his talents, he's

91
00:04:55,279 --> 00:04:58,680
Speaker 2: certainly capable. We like the intangible quality of him as

92
00:04:58,680 --> 00:05:01,800
Speaker 2: a human, as a man, as a football worker. But

93
00:05:01,880 --> 00:05:06,560
Speaker 2: I just think the familiarity is very comforting. You know,

94
00:05:06,600 --> 00:05:09,960
Speaker 2: you're not always controlled, you're not always in control of continuity.

95
00:05:10,360 --> 00:05:13,200
Speaker 2: All the guys that you mentioned were free agents and

96
00:05:13,279 --> 00:05:15,719
Speaker 2: all on one year deals, and so that was a

97
00:05:15,800 --> 00:05:19,720
Speaker 2: real reality that we're experiencing. But at the same time, man,

98
00:05:19,760 --> 00:05:23,080
Speaker 2: I'm excited to be quite honest with you about about

99
00:05:23,080 --> 00:05:26,240
Speaker 2: the acquisition of new talent. Uh. As you mentioned, h

100
00:05:26,320 --> 00:05:28,320
Speaker 2: Aaron came and spend a day with uspan. We had

101
00:05:28,320 --> 00:05:31,560
Speaker 2: an awesome day. And for a couple of guys like ourselves,

102
00:05:31,680 --> 00:05:33,920
Speaker 2: me and and Aaron, to have been in the league

103
00:05:33,920 --> 00:05:36,160
Speaker 2: as long as we have and to be familiar with

104
00:05:36,160 --> 00:05:39,440
Speaker 2: one another, there's still no substitute for spending time together

105
00:05:39,920 --> 00:05:43,159
Speaker 2: and and balancing ideas off of one another, and and

106
00:05:43,160 --> 00:05:45,800
Speaker 2: and getting to know one another in a more intimate

107
00:05:45,839 --> 00:05:50,880
Speaker 2: way beyond competition, and so that was exciting. The process

108
00:05:51,080 --> 00:05:53,640
Speaker 2: of evaluating everyone at the position has been a fun,

109
00:05:54,120 --> 00:05:58,200
Speaker 2: fun one and but fun for me is winning. And so,

110
00:05:59,640 --> 00:06:03,000
Speaker 2: you know, the players that we acquire got we gotta train,

111
00:06:03,120 --> 00:06:06,200
Speaker 2: we got to assimilate into our culture, and we got

112
00:06:06,240 --> 00:06:09,680
Speaker 2: to get prepared to meet the challenges of competition in

113
00:06:09,720 --> 00:06:10,360
Speaker 2: the fall and winter.

114
00:06:11,440 --> 00:06:13,880
Speaker 1: And with that, you know, thinking about the twenty twenty

115
00:06:13,920 --> 00:06:18,240
Speaker 1: four draft class, very few players did not have significant

116
00:06:18,320 --> 00:06:21,600
Speaker 1: roles on the defense and offense as the year went on.

117
00:06:22,440 --> 00:06:23,839
Speaker 1: Two of the guys I want to kind of focus

118
00:06:23,880 --> 00:06:27,120
Speaker 1: on with the challenge and the opportunities Troy Fatano, Roman Wilson,

119
00:06:27,200 --> 00:06:29,480
Speaker 1: kind of what are you expecting in them growth wise

120
00:06:29,480 --> 00:06:30,000
Speaker 1: in year two?

121
00:06:30,480 --> 00:06:35,599
Speaker 2: You know, and it might be seemingly unfair, but such

122
00:06:35,640 --> 00:06:38,839
Speaker 2: as life, man, I expect significant growth from them and

123
00:06:39,000 --> 00:06:43,000
Speaker 2: jumps from them because there are levels of participation with

124
00:06:43,200 --> 00:06:46,480
Speaker 2: standing They've been a part of our culture, They've been

125
00:06:46,480 --> 00:06:49,600
Speaker 2: in the building, they've been in meetings, they understand what's

126
00:06:49,600 --> 00:06:53,920
Speaker 2: expected of them and just have gone through the cycle

127
00:06:53,960 --> 00:06:56,800
Speaker 2: that everyone else has gone through other than playing. And

128
00:06:56,839 --> 00:07:00,360
Speaker 2: there's so many examples, particularly in recent year years of

129
00:07:01,240 --> 00:07:04,080
Speaker 2: of you know, sometimes a rookie year doesn't define the

130
00:07:04,120 --> 00:07:08,320
Speaker 2: trajectory of your overall career. We've had guys in recent

131
00:07:08,400 --> 00:07:11,240
Speaker 2: years that experience, you know, lack of playing time due

132
00:07:11,280 --> 00:07:13,760
Speaker 2: to injury and their rookie year, but it hadn't shaped

133
00:07:13,840 --> 00:07:17,240
Speaker 2: or defined their career. Calvin Austin is a guy that's

134
00:07:17,280 --> 00:07:20,480
Speaker 2: continually ascending for us that played very little as a

135
00:07:20,560 --> 00:07:23,560
Speaker 2: rookie due to injury. David DeCastro is a guy that

136
00:07:23,880 --> 00:07:26,800
Speaker 2: recently retired not too many years ago, who missed a

137
00:07:26,800 --> 00:07:30,600
Speaker 2: significant amount of time because of injury his rookie year

138
00:07:30,600 --> 00:07:34,760
Speaker 2: and it certainly didn't define or shape his career. And

139
00:07:34,840 --> 00:07:38,400
Speaker 2: so I see it through that lens. I challenged them

140
00:07:38,440 --> 00:07:41,840
Speaker 2: through that lens. I'm expecting those guys to perform like

141
00:07:41,880 --> 00:07:44,800
Speaker 2: second year guys and to and to and to make

142
00:07:44,840 --> 00:07:47,480
Speaker 2: plays that guys that have been a lap around the

143
00:07:47,520 --> 00:07:48,560
Speaker 2: track make.

144
00:07:49,000 --> 00:07:52,160
Speaker 1: Obviously, coaching, I'm excited about the offensive line play and

145
00:07:52,200 --> 00:07:54,600
Speaker 1: when you think about just the growth of that unit,

146
00:07:54,680 --> 00:07:57,480
Speaker 1: what what are you expecting from this group come this year.

147
00:07:57,960 --> 00:08:02,000
Speaker 2: I'm equally as excited. Talent acquisition is just one thing.

148
00:08:02,400 --> 00:08:06,640
Speaker 2: Talent development is the next step for us and We've

149
00:08:06,640 --> 00:08:09,200
Speaker 2: made the commitment over the last several years to acquire

150
00:08:09,280 --> 00:08:13,760
Speaker 2: some awesome young talent at that position. Those guys have

151
00:08:13,880 --> 00:08:18,440
Speaker 2: proven their capabilities. I'm excited about the prospects of continuing

152
00:08:18,480 --> 00:08:22,080
Speaker 2: to move forward with that group individually and collectively, knowing

153
00:08:22,120 --> 00:08:24,360
Speaker 2: the growth that has happened and will continue to happen,

154
00:08:24,800 --> 00:08:26,960
Speaker 2: not only for the individuals within the group, but the

155
00:08:27,000 --> 00:08:30,480
Speaker 2: longer they play together, the more comfortable they get in

156
00:08:30,560 --> 00:08:35,520
Speaker 2: their shoes the end product. Particularly when you got a

157
00:08:35,559 --> 00:08:40,199
Speaker 2: guy like at the center position, for example, Zach Frazer

158
00:08:40,240 --> 00:08:44,160
Speaker 2: man Man, he represents himself very well a year ago.

159
00:08:45,040 --> 00:08:48,480
Speaker 2: I'm excited about the prospects of what year two might be,

160
00:08:48,840 --> 00:08:51,720
Speaker 2: not only because he's gonna make a significant jump, but

161
00:08:51,800 --> 00:08:56,359
Speaker 2: as a hub of communication based on his position, declarations

162
00:08:56,400 --> 00:08:58,960
Speaker 2: and so forth, things that we know he's gonna be

163
00:08:59,000 --> 00:09:01,600
Speaker 2: able to absorb and he may be been able to

164
00:09:01,640 --> 00:09:04,160
Speaker 2: absorb in a year ago, but we were just cautious

165
00:09:04,200 --> 00:09:06,200
Speaker 2: in terms of some of the things that we asked

166
00:09:06,240 --> 00:09:09,560
Speaker 2: a new player to do. And so there's a lot

167
00:09:09,600 --> 00:09:12,640
Speaker 2: of things to be excited about within that group. And

168
00:09:13,559 --> 00:09:15,280
Speaker 2: I share your optimism and just.

169
00:09:15,240 --> 00:09:17,199
Speaker 1: Turn our attention to like the defensive side, of the ball.

170
00:09:17,240 --> 00:09:20,760
Speaker 1: There were some big acquisitions there. Obviously you had Darius

171
00:09:20,760 --> 00:09:24,960
Speaker 1: slay that was brought on Derreny Qualley, Malik Harrison, and

172
00:09:25,040 --> 00:09:27,679
Speaker 1: Juan Thornhill. Just kind of talk about those additions as

173
00:09:27,679 --> 00:09:29,079
Speaker 1: it pertains to the defense man.

174
00:09:29,080 --> 00:09:34,200
Speaker 2: It's just great to acquire savvy veteran players their presence,

175
00:09:34,679 --> 00:09:37,320
Speaker 2: not only in terms of the players that they make,

176
00:09:37,360 --> 00:09:41,840
Speaker 2: but the experience that they bring and the way that

177
00:09:42,040 --> 00:09:46,839
Speaker 2: it allows them to assist younger developing players. When I

178
00:09:46,840 --> 00:09:49,440
Speaker 2: think about the acquisition of slay Man, I can't help

179
00:09:49,480 --> 00:09:53,000
Speaker 2: but think about, you know, the byproduct of that in

180
00:09:53,080 --> 00:09:54,839
Speaker 2: terms of the relationship that he could have with a

181
00:09:54,920 --> 00:09:59,240
Speaker 2: Joey Porter Jr. He certainly is not responsible for Joey's

182
00:09:59,240 --> 00:10:02,679
Speaker 2: growth and development, but it's great to work alongside someone

183
00:10:03,160 --> 00:10:05,200
Speaker 2: that's done it at a high level for a long

184
00:10:05,280 --> 00:10:08,200
Speaker 2: time or on a lot of fronts, not only in

185
00:10:08,280 --> 00:10:12,480
Speaker 2: terms of exchanging of ideas, but just seeing what a

186
00:10:12,559 --> 00:10:16,240
Speaker 2: what a savvy veteran process looks like, whether it's a

187
00:10:16,320 --> 00:10:18,600
Speaker 2: over the course of a twelve month calendar or whether

188
00:10:18,600 --> 00:10:21,280
Speaker 2: it's over the course you know of a seven day

189
00:10:21,320 --> 00:10:24,680
Speaker 2: cycle getting ready for a game. Uh, And really it's

190
00:10:24,840 --> 00:10:27,439
Speaker 2: it's a business model that we've been highly involved in

191
00:10:27,440 --> 00:10:30,440
Speaker 2: in recent years and this year is probably nothing new.

192
00:10:31,160 --> 00:10:33,440
Speaker 2: We've done business with guys like Pat Peterson in the

193
00:10:33,480 --> 00:10:36,319
Speaker 2: past in the effort to allow him to be a

194
00:10:36,440 --> 00:10:40,680
Speaker 2: veteran presence in a in a maturing secondary, if you will.

195
00:10:41,600 --> 00:10:44,720
Speaker 2: And so that's that's what Darius brings us. But you know,

196
00:10:44,800 --> 00:10:46,960
Speaker 2: all of these guys have been acquired for a reason,

197
00:10:47,960 --> 00:10:51,280
Speaker 2: and there's some real tangible reasons, but we're really excited

198
00:10:51,320 --> 00:10:54,720
Speaker 2: about some of the unintended consequences. Positively that comes with

199
00:10:54,800 --> 00:10:57,640
Speaker 2: the acquisition of veteran guys that know what to do.

200
00:10:58,480 --> 00:11:01,160
Speaker 1: And you know, with it that as we can turn

201
00:11:01,160 --> 00:11:03,280
Speaker 1: our attention to like the NFL Draft now, I know

202
00:11:03,400 --> 00:11:06,160
Speaker 1: we've spent time with the football staff and one of

203
00:11:06,160 --> 00:11:07,800
Speaker 1: the things I know that you really love to do

204
00:11:08,000 --> 00:11:10,440
Speaker 1: is go down to senior world practices and mix it

205
00:11:10,520 --> 00:11:12,280
Speaker 1: up in the middle and the trenches, like get on

206
00:11:12,320 --> 00:11:15,520
Speaker 1: the field level with those young prospects, just kind of

207
00:11:15,520 --> 00:11:20,040
Speaker 1: talk about what you see in that group of guys,

208
00:11:20,160 --> 00:11:23,160
Speaker 1: that new prospect class, and what are your expectations for

209
00:11:23,160 --> 00:11:24,480
Speaker 1: those guys contributions.

210
00:11:24,840 --> 00:11:29,720
Speaker 2: You know, it's I'm impressed with the general football know

211
00:11:29,840 --> 00:11:34,280
Speaker 2: how of this collective, and it's probably for several reasons,

212
00:11:34,320 --> 00:11:38,000
Speaker 2: you know, you know, this being you know, a post

213
00:11:38,040 --> 00:11:41,280
Speaker 2: COVID group and a lot of instances, many of the

214
00:11:41,320 --> 00:11:44,960
Speaker 2: members of this draft class are older maybe than they

215
00:11:45,000 --> 00:11:48,160
Speaker 2: would be if if COVID didn't happen, And so you

216
00:11:48,200 --> 00:11:52,160
Speaker 2: see a level of maturity that's really attractive across all

217
00:11:52,160 --> 00:11:54,800
Speaker 2: positions in terms of some of the guys and the

218
00:11:54,880 --> 00:11:59,280
Speaker 2: amount of experience that they have. You couple that with

219
00:11:59,520 --> 00:12:03,520
Speaker 2: just the expansion of the college football season and what

220
00:12:03,600 --> 00:12:06,719
Speaker 2: that provides guys in terms of growth and development. I mean,

221
00:12:06,720 --> 00:12:09,319
Speaker 2: I was just with you know, guys from Texas, Ohio

222
00:12:09,400 --> 00:12:12,480
Speaker 2: State and Notre Dame for example, just this past week. Uh,

223
00:12:12,480 --> 00:12:15,360
Speaker 2: in some of my travels, and we identify those groups.

224
00:12:15,360 --> 00:12:17,840
Speaker 2: You're talking about the groups of kids that played fifteen

225
00:12:17,840 --> 00:12:21,600
Speaker 2: and sixteen games, and you know when you and I

226
00:12:21,679 --> 00:12:24,640
Speaker 2: came through, man, it was like eleven game schedule. Yeah, okay,

227
00:12:24,720 --> 00:12:26,640
Speaker 2: And so when you look at it from that perspective,

228
00:12:27,160 --> 00:12:30,480
Speaker 2: right five additional games, Man, we're talking about big time

229
00:12:30,520 --> 00:12:33,760
Speaker 2: growth and development opportunities. And I see it in the

230
00:12:33,760 --> 00:12:36,480
Speaker 2: way that they conduct themselves. But I also see it

231
00:12:36,480 --> 00:12:39,119
Speaker 2: in the in in their game tape, in the maturity

232
00:12:39,120 --> 00:12:42,520
Speaker 2: and the development in their play, whether it's technical or

233
00:12:43,000 --> 00:12:46,240
Speaker 2: or from a football intellect perspective, And so that's exciting

234
00:12:46,240 --> 00:12:49,200
Speaker 2: about this group. Certainly it's a talented group, as a

235
00:12:49,240 --> 00:12:54,040
Speaker 2: talented group every year, but I think the the experience UH,

236
00:12:54,160 --> 00:12:57,840
Speaker 2: coupled with COVID and the additional games makes this a

237
00:12:57,920 --> 00:12:59,679
Speaker 2: really interesting and attractive group.

238
00:13:00,160 --> 00:13:02,120
Speaker 1: And I think one of the things that's coming up

239
00:13:02,160 --> 00:13:04,520
Speaker 1: this season that's really important is the Steelers are going

240
00:13:04,559 --> 00:13:07,000
Speaker 1: to travel international for the first time in ten years.

241
00:13:07,559 --> 00:13:09,199
Speaker 1: You know, fans are excited about it. I know I'm

242
00:13:09,240 --> 00:13:11,480
Speaker 1: excited about it. I want to get your thoughts on

243
00:13:11,559 --> 00:13:13,439
Speaker 1: the opportunity of playing in Ireland.

244
00:13:13,920 --> 00:13:18,319
Speaker 2: Man, I'm excited about it. All I think about, man

245
00:13:18,400 --> 00:13:22,920
Speaker 2: is the late Ambassador Rooney and how excited he would

246
00:13:22,920 --> 00:13:27,760
Speaker 2: be for this. And so for me, you know, I'm

247
00:13:27,760 --> 00:13:30,080
Speaker 2: excited to talk to the guys about it, to educate

248
00:13:30,120 --> 00:13:33,200
Speaker 2: them about it. But more important than anything else, I

249
00:13:33,200 --> 00:13:35,240
Speaker 2: want them to know what a big deal is this

250
00:13:35,280 --> 00:13:38,600
Speaker 2: would have been for the late Ambassador and what an

251
00:13:38,640 --> 00:13:41,960
Speaker 2: opportunity it is for us to take our American game

252
00:13:42,040 --> 00:13:46,800
Speaker 2: global man, and represent not only our sport but this

253
00:13:46,920 --> 00:13:50,640
Speaker 2: country internationally. Man, it's just a it's a humbling experience

254
00:13:50,679 --> 00:13:53,880
Speaker 2: for me and for us and excited about it.

255
00:13:54,880 --> 00:13:57,840
Speaker 1: And now I know, coach, you don't have hobbies. You

256
00:13:57,920 --> 00:14:00,959
Speaker 1: famously said you don't have hobbies. I mean, but you've

257
00:14:00,960 --> 00:14:03,440
Speaker 1: got to do something. I mean, what like in the

258
00:14:03,440 --> 00:14:04,960
Speaker 1: free time that you a little bit of free time

259
00:14:04,960 --> 00:14:07,719
Speaker 1: that you had, right, what is it that you do

260
00:14:07,800 --> 00:14:10,000
Speaker 1: that just kind of gets you back to base.

261
00:14:10,960 --> 00:14:14,600
Speaker 2: I try to pick one thing. I get hyper focused

262
00:14:14,640 --> 00:14:18,199
Speaker 2: on things and that's just my nature and so usually

263
00:14:18,240 --> 00:14:22,240
Speaker 2: I'll pick one thing that becomes my off season hobby,

264
00:14:22,240 --> 00:14:26,040
Speaker 2: if you will. Last off season it was boating for me.

265
00:14:28,240 --> 00:14:33,320
Speaker 2: I wanted to get better at boating, managing the boat,

266
00:14:33,840 --> 00:14:37,320
Speaker 2: driving a boat, all the things around. Boating is where

267
00:14:37,360 --> 00:14:41,200
Speaker 2: I spend a lot of time. I enjoy learning about

268
00:14:41,240 --> 00:14:43,920
Speaker 2: real estate. You know, it's another it's been another off

269
00:14:43,920 --> 00:14:46,560
Speaker 2: season hobby of mine. But for me, no matter what

270
00:14:46,640 --> 00:14:49,280
Speaker 2: I do, I probably like to delve into it with

271
00:14:49,320 --> 00:14:52,080
Speaker 2: a little bit more intensity than the most. And so

272
00:14:53,120 --> 00:14:55,680
Speaker 2: you know, I hesitate when I call it a hobby

273
00:14:55,960 --> 00:14:59,520
Speaker 2: because of just how I'm wired. I haven't discovered with

274
00:15:00,080 --> 00:15:04,760
Speaker 2: this season's hobby is going to be. But I've enjoyed

275
00:15:05,160 --> 00:15:07,760
Speaker 2: Those are two examples of things that I've gotten focused

276
00:15:07,760 --> 00:15:11,800
Speaker 2: on in recent years that's been very enjoyable for me.

277
00:15:12,560 --> 00:15:14,920
Speaker 1: Well, Coach, I mean, I appreciate the time as always.

278
00:15:15,400 --> 00:15:17,720
Speaker 1: Thank you for sitting down enjoy still the meetings.

279
00:15:17,720 --> 00:15:19,920
Speaker 2: Coach. You know, I appreciate you. You know it