1 00:00:00,200 --> 00:00:02,480 Speaker 1: All right, Joe, it has been a very short period 2 00:00:02,520 --> 00:00:05,200 Speaker 1: of time since you have joined the Steelers. Um, what 3 00:00:05,320 --> 00:00:07,520 Speaker 1: have you learned so far about this team and the 4 00:00:07,560 --> 00:00:10,360 Speaker 1: defense as you prepare for what will be your first 5 00:00:10,400 --> 00:00:13,960 Speaker 1: preseason game this year. Yeah. Uh, Like you said, it's 6 00:00:13,960 --> 00:00:16,040 Speaker 1: been a whirl when the biggest thing I've learned is 7 00:00:16,079 --> 00:00:19,320 Speaker 1: the schematics of the defense. Um, but coming in with 8 00:00:19,360 --> 00:00:22,440 Speaker 1: the guys having a lot of veteran presence and veteran 9 00:00:22,480 --> 00:00:25,200 Speaker 1: leadership on the defensive side of the ball, especially, UM, 10 00:00:25,480 --> 00:00:28,080 Speaker 1: just getting into practice being able to communicate with them, 11 00:00:28,080 --> 00:00:30,600 Speaker 1: it's Uh, it's been learning trial by fire, but they've 12 00:00:30,600 --> 00:00:32,720 Speaker 1: been very good and their communication is it really helped 13 00:00:32,720 --> 00:00:36,280 Speaker 1: me along these first re practices I've had, getting my 14 00:00:36,280 --> 00:00:38,800 Speaker 1: feet wet and jumping in. So did you know coach 15 00:00:38,880 --> 00:00:40,440 Speaker 1: was going to throw you in with the ones that 16 00:00:40,479 --> 00:00:42,960 Speaker 1: first day to get your feet wet? Yeah? I think. 17 00:00:43,000 --> 00:00:45,920 Speaker 1: I mean they were very upfront from the time second 18 00:00:45,960 --> 00:00:47,959 Speaker 1: I got here on the plan and what they were 19 00:00:48,800 --> 00:00:50,800 Speaker 1: wanting me to do for this week leading up to 20 00:00:50,800 --> 00:00:53,280 Speaker 1: the game against Detroit. So I knew that was going 21 00:00:53,320 --> 00:00:55,080 Speaker 1: to be a situation. I knew I just gonna have 22 00:00:55,080 --> 00:00:56,720 Speaker 1: to get a lot of studying done and be able 23 00:00:56,760 --> 00:00:58,920 Speaker 1: to get out in the field and get the reps 24 00:00:58,960 --> 00:01:01,240 Speaker 1: in so I can me, like I said, communicate, UM, 25 00:01:01,320 --> 00:01:03,040 Speaker 1: get all that stuff done because there's a lot of 26 00:01:03,240 --> 00:01:05,640 Speaker 1: pre snap polksnap communication in this defense and there's a 27 00:01:05,680 --> 00:01:08,280 Speaker 1: lot of guys to talk to and communicate with. I 28 00:01:08,319 --> 00:01:10,559 Speaker 1: just gotta get reps at it. Who has been helping 29 00:01:10,560 --> 00:01:13,520 Speaker 1: you the most get prepared for the line's team? Well, 30 00:01:13,560 --> 00:01:15,920 Speaker 1: I've had a lot of meetings with coach Butler, Um 31 00:01:15,920 --> 00:01:18,959 Speaker 1: the defensive coordinator. UM, a lot of individual meetings with 32 00:01:19,040 --> 00:01:23,319 Speaker 1: him getting installation and UM. Devon and Robert have been great. Uh. 33 00:01:23,640 --> 00:01:26,120 Speaker 1: Just when I have questions on the field, Jerry coach 34 00:01:26,200 --> 00:01:28,640 Speaker 1: Jerry has been a good sounding board every time I 35 00:01:28,680 --> 00:01:29,960 Speaker 1: come out of the field. If I have questions, I 36 00:01:30,000 --> 00:01:33,479 Speaker 1: can just ask him. He's been very good teaching me 37 00:01:33,560 --> 00:01:36,160 Speaker 1: on the fly and practice on what my rules and 38 00:01:36,200 --> 00:01:38,520 Speaker 1: what my responsibilities are in certain players that we had 39 00:01:38,600 --> 00:01:41,600 Speaker 1: just ran. So I think all those guys and then 40 00:01:41,600 --> 00:01:43,640 Speaker 1: everybody on the defense when I'm out there, safety's a 41 00:01:43,680 --> 00:01:45,399 Speaker 1: defensive lineman and they've played in the system for a 42 00:01:45,400 --> 00:01:48,280 Speaker 1: long time or doing a great job of leading me along. 43 00:01:48,840 --> 00:01:51,640 Speaker 1: Can you take us back to Wisconsin and just your 44 00:01:51,720 --> 00:01:55,160 Speaker 1: history with the Watt family, obviously specifically t J and Derrek, 45 00:01:55,200 --> 00:01:58,080 Speaker 1: who are now your teammates. Yeah, I mean I grew 46 00:01:58,160 --> 00:02:01,279 Speaker 1: up in the next town over from them. Uh Walker 47 00:02:01,320 --> 00:02:03,840 Speaker 1: shot at Pewaukee. We never played in high school because 48 00:02:03,840 --> 00:02:06,160 Speaker 1: they were a smaller school than mine, but knew of 49 00:02:06,200 --> 00:02:08,040 Speaker 1: them because they're doing good things at Pewaukee, and I 50 00:02:08,120 --> 00:02:10,919 Speaker 1: went to on to play at Wisconsin. UM Derek was 51 00:02:10,919 --> 00:02:12,440 Speaker 1: a year older than me, and t J is you're 52 00:02:12,480 --> 00:02:15,079 Speaker 1: younger than me. UM ended up playing the same position 53 00:02:15,080 --> 00:02:18,440 Speaker 1: as t J my senior year when he we uh 54 00:02:18,520 --> 00:02:21,160 Speaker 1: flipped from offense to defense, and I like to tell 55 00:02:21,200 --> 00:02:22,960 Speaker 1: people he was my backup, but he was just really 56 00:02:23,040 --> 00:02:25,480 Speaker 1: learning the ropes and I like to say taught him 57 00:02:25,480 --> 00:02:27,720 Speaker 1: everything he knows. But I think he's taken he has. 58 00:02:27,760 --> 00:02:29,920 Speaker 1: He's had other really good teachers in his life, obviously 59 00:02:30,000 --> 00:02:32,920 Speaker 1: with j J and getting here UM, and he's taken 60 00:02:32,960 --> 00:02:35,680 Speaker 1: those teachings and transformed to another level that I not. 61 00:02:35,840 --> 00:02:38,160 Speaker 1: I never achieved that outside linebacker, So I think he's 62 00:02:38,160 --> 00:02:40,920 Speaker 1: doing well for himself. Is it nice having them just 63 00:02:41,040 --> 00:02:43,760 Speaker 1: on a personal level. You were thrown into a new city, 64 00:02:43,760 --> 00:02:47,080 Speaker 1: a new team to just have people that you already know. Yeah, 65 00:02:47,160 --> 00:02:49,720 Speaker 1: when you're every good into a new situation, it's always 66 00:02:49,800 --> 00:02:51,720 Speaker 1: nice to be able to lean on somebody that you've 67 00:02:51,800 --> 00:02:55,160 Speaker 1: had experienced with in the past and played with and 68 00:02:55,160 --> 00:02:57,560 Speaker 1: went to college with. So they've been a huge resource. 69 00:02:57,600 --> 00:02:59,240 Speaker 1: As soon as I got traded, I was texting both 70 00:02:59,280 --> 00:03:01,120 Speaker 1: of them Um trying to figure out what to do 71 00:03:01,280 --> 00:03:04,959 Speaker 1: and Uh, Derek his wife Gabriel Gabriella have been really 72 00:03:04,960 --> 00:03:09,480 Speaker 1: helpful with my wife Megan. I'm getting things situated, getting 73 00:03:09,520 --> 00:03:12,760 Speaker 1: references just whether it's to live, places to eat, the 74 00:03:13,440 --> 00:03:16,560 Speaker 1: Steelers organization, what to expect. So it's been good. We're 75 00:03:16,600 --> 00:03:20,000 Speaker 1: excited about having him um productivity. When I think of 76 00:03:20,080 --> 00:03:23,480 Speaker 1: Joe man Um, he needs no endorsement from me. We're 77 00:03:23,520 --> 00:03:25,840 Speaker 1: familiar with him. Former a f C North guy, has 78 00:03:25,840 --> 00:03:30,200 Speaker 1: been highly productive in every circumstances is that he's been in. UM. 79 00:03:30,480 --> 00:03:33,760 Speaker 1: He's a sideline, sideline tackler. He's good in coverage, he 80 00:03:33,800 --> 00:03:37,320 Speaker 1: has coverage production in terms of interceptions, he has sack production. 81 00:03:37,640 --> 00:03:39,800 Speaker 1: He plays a well rounded game, and so we're excited 82 00:03:39,800 --> 00:03:44,040 Speaker 1: about infusing him into what we do. What did you 83 00:03:44,080 --> 00:03:46,200 Speaker 1: know about coach just from when you played with the 84 00:03:46,240 --> 00:03:49,040 Speaker 1: Browns even Jackson, though you've obviously faced the Steelers then 85 00:03:49,080 --> 00:03:51,600 Speaker 1: as well. Um, in terms of what kind of coach 86 00:03:51,640 --> 00:03:54,800 Speaker 1: he is and what to expect when you got traded here, Yeah, 87 00:03:54,840 --> 00:03:57,680 Speaker 1: I mean, he's has a very good reputation around the league, 88 00:03:57,680 --> 00:04:01,040 Speaker 1: and I just knew for personal interactions with him, just 89 00:04:01,120 --> 00:04:03,520 Speaker 1: playing against him twice a year for my first four 90 00:04:03,600 --> 00:04:06,000 Speaker 1: seasons and at the Pro Bowl, the kind of diet 91 00:04:06,240 --> 00:04:09,520 Speaker 1: guy he is. Um, the genuine coach who cares about 92 00:04:09,520 --> 00:04:11,920 Speaker 1: his players. He expects a lot out of you, but 93 00:04:12,440 --> 00:04:14,840 Speaker 1: he expects a lot out of himself as well. He's 94 00:04:14,840 --> 00:04:17,640 Speaker 1: a great leader. Um. He he takes charge of the team, 95 00:04:17,680 --> 00:04:20,080 Speaker 1: and he asked realistic expectations and he asked you to 96 00:04:20,120 --> 00:04:22,000 Speaker 1: get the job done and the things that he knows 97 00:04:22,040 --> 00:04:24,960 Speaker 1: you can do. So it's been it's been a privilege 98 00:04:25,040 --> 00:04:27,880 Speaker 1: to be able to join this organization and play under 99 00:04:27,920 --> 00:04:30,599 Speaker 1: a coach like him. In terms of the Green Dot, 100 00:04:30,640 --> 00:04:32,839 Speaker 1: I know a lot has been made about it, but um, 101 00:04:32,880 --> 00:04:36,720 Speaker 1: what goes into that role? Obviously it's the defensive quarterback, 102 00:04:36,800 --> 00:04:38,839 Speaker 1: But in terms of being prepared to do that in 103 00:04:38,880 --> 00:04:41,960 Speaker 1: a in a different team, a different scheme, yeah, I mean, 104 00:04:41,960 --> 00:04:44,920 Speaker 1: it's just it's all communication. If you have a green 105 00:04:44,960 --> 00:04:48,520 Speaker 1: dot on defense or offense. You're the the coaches linked 106 00:04:48,560 --> 00:04:50,839 Speaker 1: on the field. You got the call. You have to 107 00:04:50,880 --> 00:04:52,920 Speaker 1: make sure everybody gets set Um. You have to make 108 00:04:52,920 --> 00:04:54,640 Speaker 1: sure everybody gets the call so everyone can be on 109 00:04:54,680 --> 00:04:57,599 Speaker 1: the same page. Um. So it's just I mean, I've 110 00:04:57,640 --> 00:05:00,720 Speaker 1: had it my whole career since playing linebacker. Um It's 111 00:05:00,760 --> 00:05:03,640 Speaker 1: kind of just a comfort thing once you uh are 112 00:05:03,680 --> 00:05:05,800 Speaker 1: able to do it a couple of seasons in the NFL. 113 00:05:06,240 --> 00:05:09,279 Speaker 1: It's just uh something that I mean, it can add 114 00:05:09,279 --> 00:05:12,039 Speaker 1: stress if you're not used to it. But for me, 115 00:05:12,080 --> 00:05:13,960 Speaker 1: I personally like to hear the call first so I 116 00:05:14,000 --> 00:05:15,719 Speaker 1: know exactly what my job is going to be before 117 00:05:15,760 --> 00:05:18,040 Speaker 1: I tell everybody else. All right, thanks so much to 118 00:05:18,160 --> 00:05:20,240 Speaker 1: appreciate your time. You got it. Thank you.