1 00:00:05,200 --> 00:00:08,160 Speaker 1: Welcome back to the Richard Sherman Podcast. I got another 2 00:00:08,240 --> 00:00:12,240 Speaker 1: incredible guest today, cornerback Riley Mass in the Denver Broncos. 3 00:00:12,280 --> 00:00:17,000 Speaker 1: Appreciate you joining me, brother, Yeah, absolutely for having me anytime, anytime. 4 00:00:17,400 --> 00:00:17,880 Speaker 2: So we go. 5 00:00:18,079 --> 00:00:20,479 Speaker 1: We gonna. You know, everybody tells me to avoid the 6 00:00:20,480 --> 00:00:23,680 Speaker 1: white corner thing, and I'm like, why avoid it? You know, 7 00:00:23,760 --> 00:00:26,280 Speaker 1: it was history in the making when you and Cooper 8 00:00:26,320 --> 00:00:28,800 Speaker 1: Dejene entered the league, and both of you guys came 9 00:00:28,840 --> 00:00:31,680 Speaker 1: in playing at such a high level. You have such 10 00:00:31,680 --> 00:00:34,560 Speaker 1: a tough task each and every week. Obviously Petricertain is 11 00:00:34,600 --> 00:00:37,639 Speaker 1: out right now, but being opposite of him, you get 12 00:00:37,680 --> 00:00:40,560 Speaker 1: a lot more targets and you stand up incredibly well. 13 00:00:40,920 --> 00:00:42,159 Speaker 1: Just talk me through your journey. 14 00:00:42,960 --> 00:00:45,120 Speaker 2: Yeah, you know, and all kind of started when I 15 00:00:45,200 --> 00:00:49,320 Speaker 2: was honestly, it was travel team football, dude, like middle school. 16 00:00:50,200 --> 00:00:52,920 Speaker 2: I had a coach. He kind of threw me at 17 00:00:53,120 --> 00:00:55,200 Speaker 2: dB because I was like one of the faster kids. 18 00:00:55,240 --> 00:00:59,480 Speaker 2: I paid receiver in then uh corner, and I did 19 00:00:59,480 --> 00:01:02,080 Speaker 2: this the FBUTH thing. If you know, FBU is like 20 00:01:02,080 --> 00:01:05,640 Speaker 2: the football university. It's kind of like the youth football. 21 00:01:05,760 --> 00:01:07,320 Speaker 2: Like there's a bunch of camps and stuff. So did 22 00:01:07,319 --> 00:01:11,839 Speaker 2: that and continued kind of trying to play corner, mostly 23 00:01:11,880 --> 00:01:15,720 Speaker 2: because people were telling me, like, you know, typically, you know, 24 00:01:15,760 --> 00:01:18,360 Speaker 2: the white kid really doesn't play corner, and so I 25 00:01:18,480 --> 00:01:21,319 Speaker 2: was kind of like, yeah, let's let's let's do this thing. 26 00:01:21,400 --> 00:01:25,440 Speaker 2: So you know, come to high school. You know, I 27 00:01:25,440 --> 00:01:29,480 Speaker 2: I end up you know, playing corner in high school 28 00:01:29,560 --> 00:01:31,280 Speaker 2: and and doing the camps you know, I went to 29 00:01:31,760 --> 00:01:34,279 Speaker 2: I only went to college camps that you know had 30 00:01:34,720 --> 00:01:37,840 Speaker 2: contacted me, right, So I went to Iowa, and then 31 00:01:37,840 --> 00:01:39,920 Speaker 2: I went to a lot of FCS schools like North 32 00:01:40,000 --> 00:01:44,959 Speaker 2: Dakota State, North Dakota, you and I all around the Midwest. 33 00:01:45,840 --> 00:01:48,240 Speaker 2: I was only really a two star recruit. I wasn't 34 00:01:48,240 --> 00:01:51,600 Speaker 2: getting very much attention. I ended up you know, getting 35 00:01:51,640 --> 00:01:55,680 Speaker 2: Iowa late and it was a blue shirt, I believe. 36 00:01:55,760 --> 00:01:58,080 Speaker 2: So it was you know, they didn't have a scholarship 37 00:01:58,080 --> 00:01:59,920 Speaker 2: before for me then, but you know down the road 38 00:02:00,040 --> 00:02:01,600 Speaker 2: one opened up. I was gonna be the first guy 39 00:02:01,640 --> 00:02:04,400 Speaker 2: to get it. So I ended up going to i 40 00:02:04,520 --> 00:02:08,280 Speaker 2: with my freshman year, balling out my my first summer, 41 00:02:08,280 --> 00:02:10,760 Speaker 2: and and end up you know, earned a scholarship and 42 00:02:11,840 --> 00:02:13,600 Speaker 2: kind of the rest is history, right, Like I ended 43 00:02:13,680 --> 00:02:17,120 Speaker 2: up starting as a freshman, which honestly, I didn't think 44 00:02:17,160 --> 00:02:18,799 Speaker 2: it was gonna happen. You know, I was the last 45 00:02:18,880 --> 00:02:22,440 Speaker 2: kid in my recruiting class, right, So end up you know, 46 00:02:22,560 --> 00:02:25,200 Speaker 2: kind of chipping away, balling out, and you know, my 47 00:02:25,240 --> 00:02:27,680 Speaker 2: first start against Minnesota, you know, I got two picks, 48 00:02:28,080 --> 00:02:31,840 Speaker 2: which was crazy. So it was kind of a wild, 49 00:02:32,000 --> 00:02:35,160 Speaker 2: uh wild journey. But ended up balling out at as 50 00:02:35,520 --> 00:02:38,280 Speaker 2: Well for five years and and you know, got drafted 51 00:02:38,280 --> 00:02:40,959 Speaker 2: the third round to Denver, so uh and here I am. 52 00:02:41,800 --> 00:02:44,440 Speaker 1: Anthony was putting him out for a little while. Anthony 53 00:02:44,600 --> 00:02:47,079 Speaker 1: was was you know, not just at Centennial, but a 54 00:02:47,160 --> 00:02:50,040 Speaker 1: number of guys got out of there and played Big 55 00:02:50,120 --> 00:02:52,840 Speaker 1: ten football. Uh. And it seemed like you ran into 56 00:02:52,880 --> 00:02:55,639 Speaker 1: a bunch of them at Iowa and obviously a few 57 00:02:55,680 --> 00:02:57,000 Speaker 1: at Purdue. Yeah. 58 00:02:57,160 --> 00:02:59,720 Speaker 2: Yeah, you know, Buddy Brex is the name that comes 59 00:02:59,760 --> 00:03:01,960 Speaker 2: to my and he actually got drafted to the to 60 00:03:02,000 --> 00:03:04,600 Speaker 2: the Rockies to play baseball, but he was a dual 61 00:03:04,639 --> 00:03:09,200 Speaker 2: sport at Iowa, played receiver and then played baseball. So yeah, 62 00:03:09,360 --> 00:03:11,600 Speaker 2: Ankie's got some athletes for sure. 63 00:03:13,200 --> 00:03:16,840 Speaker 1: Speaking of that, people don't appreciate high school football enough. 64 00:03:16,840 --> 00:03:19,200 Speaker 1: But you guys played against the number one team in 65 00:03:19,639 --> 00:03:21,799 Speaker 1: your state, in your division and you were able to 66 00:03:22,440 --> 00:03:25,320 Speaker 1: win that game big time upset from what I understand, 67 00:03:25,760 --> 00:03:28,760 Speaker 1: But that seemed to be the moment like you jumped 68 00:03:28,800 --> 00:03:32,959 Speaker 1: on everybody's radar, especially Iowa, when guys really understood that 69 00:03:32,960 --> 00:03:35,160 Speaker 1: you could play at a high level. Talk to me 70 00:03:35,240 --> 00:03:38,240 Speaker 1: about that, because I remember the moment where things started 71 00:03:38,240 --> 00:03:40,640 Speaker 1: to click for me, especially at dB, where it was like, hey, 72 00:03:40,680 --> 00:03:42,600 Speaker 1: I think I can do this at a high level. 73 00:03:42,600 --> 00:03:44,840 Speaker 1: And a lot of it came down to getting the 74 00:03:44,880 --> 00:03:47,120 Speaker 1: football and when the football is in the air. Not everybody, 75 00:03:47,160 --> 00:03:49,440 Speaker 1: as you know, not everybody has natural ball skills. Some 76 00:03:49,480 --> 00:03:51,680 Speaker 1: of these dudes act like they got two left hands 77 00:03:51,880 --> 00:03:54,960 Speaker 1: when the ball comes. But you were natural early on. 78 00:03:55,960 --> 00:03:59,360 Speaker 2: Yeah, I think, you know, the biggest thing was just 79 00:03:59,440 --> 00:04:01,080 Speaker 2: kind of going out there and having fun and flying 80 00:04:01,120 --> 00:04:05,200 Speaker 2: around and the success that's kind of came with that, 81 00:04:05,280 --> 00:04:06,800 Speaker 2: you know what I mean, Like it just followed that 82 00:04:06,960 --> 00:04:10,120 Speaker 2: and I never tried too hard to make a play. 83 00:04:10,120 --> 00:04:12,600 Speaker 2: It always kind of just came to me. And you 84 00:04:12,640 --> 00:04:14,520 Speaker 2: know a lot of guys say, like you're living right, 85 00:04:14,640 --> 00:04:17,640 Speaker 2: Like I think I'm a big believer in that. Dude, 86 00:04:17,680 --> 00:04:20,680 Speaker 2: Like sometimes because that ball just finds you and can't 87 00:04:20,720 --> 00:04:21,159 Speaker 2: explain it. 88 00:04:21,200 --> 00:04:24,599 Speaker 1: But it's great, no question about it. It's tough, and 89 00:04:25,080 --> 00:04:27,560 Speaker 1: this year there's been a little bit of scrutiny for 90 00:04:27,920 --> 00:04:30,800 Speaker 1: PI and for fans out there. Corner is the hardest job. 91 00:04:31,040 --> 00:04:33,640 Speaker 1: Only got dang field. So it appenally or two is 92 00:04:33,640 --> 00:04:35,760 Speaker 1: gonna happen. But I still feel like there's some biased 93 00:04:35,800 --> 00:04:38,280 Speaker 1: against you. I feel like at least four of these 94 00:04:38,320 --> 00:04:41,400 Speaker 1: calls that had could have could have not been called 95 00:04:41,440 --> 00:04:45,600 Speaker 1: at all, are gone the other way but advanced Joseph's defense. 96 00:04:45,800 --> 00:04:48,480 Speaker 1: Like you got a tough task almost each and every dawn, 97 00:04:48,680 --> 00:04:53,040 Speaker 1: man to man coverage, tight zone coverages, and you got 98 00:04:53,040 --> 00:04:56,919 Speaker 1: the lowest completion percentage against you this season forty four percent, 99 00:04:57,040 --> 00:04:59,960 Speaker 1: but the highest amount of targets in the league. I mean, 100 00:05:00,000 --> 00:05:02,360 Speaker 1: I mean, I don't think you're getting appreciated enough for 101 00:05:02,520 --> 00:05:05,000 Speaker 1: the job you're doing. But why do you think that is? 102 00:05:07,320 --> 00:05:10,840 Speaker 2: Yeah, honestly like the p I cause listen, like I'll 103 00:05:10,839 --> 00:05:12,719 Speaker 2: be the first one to point a finger at myself 104 00:05:12,760 --> 00:05:15,080 Speaker 2: if it's p I Like, I'm not delusional, you know, 105 00:05:15,160 --> 00:05:18,040 Speaker 2: but I would agree with you there are a couple 106 00:05:18,080 --> 00:05:21,919 Speaker 2: that were you know, alleged, but also can't allow that 107 00:05:21,960 --> 00:05:25,080 Speaker 2: to affect how I play, right, Like you know, VJ. 108 00:05:25,240 --> 00:05:29,039 Speaker 2: I'll say, like, we're okay with We're okay with you know, 109 00:05:29,160 --> 00:05:32,320 Speaker 2: athletic physical play. We're not gonna tell you to shy 110 00:05:32,320 --> 00:05:35,599 Speaker 2: away from that, you know, obviously, you know, don't be 111 00:05:35,680 --> 00:05:40,400 Speaker 2: stupid and and don't be blatant about it. But there's 112 00:05:40,480 --> 00:05:42,880 Speaker 2: there's definitely been a couple of alleged ones, but you 113 00:05:42,960 --> 00:05:44,919 Speaker 2: got to play through and now let it, let it 114 00:05:44,960 --> 00:05:49,000 Speaker 2: affect you. But that's that's kind of like, you know, 115 00:05:49,160 --> 00:05:52,800 Speaker 2: the the entire mentality though of our defenses is fly around, 116 00:05:52,839 --> 00:05:54,960 Speaker 2: be physical, you know, don't even think about it. Just 117 00:05:55,000 --> 00:05:58,040 Speaker 2: go and play football and whatever happens kind. 118 00:05:57,880 --> 00:06:01,000 Speaker 1: Of happens, no question about it. And your defense is 119 00:06:01,000 --> 00:06:05,320 Speaker 1: playing incredibly well last week. I just I want to 120 00:06:05,360 --> 00:06:07,680 Speaker 1: know how the how the meetings went after that game. 121 00:06:07,720 --> 00:06:10,360 Speaker 1: You guys only allowed seven points in the game, and 122 00:06:10,360 --> 00:06:12,320 Speaker 1: and even that it was it was in the first drive. 123 00:06:12,320 --> 00:06:14,599 Speaker 1: You didn't allow much after that. It looked like this 124 00:06:14,760 --> 00:06:17,880 Speaker 1: defense is hitting on all cylinders as the season, in 125 00:06:17,960 --> 00:06:21,520 Speaker 1: the middle of the season, Uh, comes upon us. What 126 00:06:21,600 --> 00:06:24,320 Speaker 1: are those conversations like after this game? 127 00:06:27,000 --> 00:06:31,080 Speaker 2: You know, I think the biggest thing for our defense 128 00:06:31,600 --> 00:06:34,800 Speaker 2: is not not trying to reach perfection, but always trying 129 00:06:34,839 --> 00:06:38,520 Speaker 2: to improve, and you know, we give up seven points, 130 00:06:38,520 --> 00:06:41,599 Speaker 2: and that's seven points. We don't want to give up, right, Like, 131 00:06:42,480 --> 00:06:44,640 Speaker 2: you know, the stats look good and all that, but 132 00:06:44,640 --> 00:06:48,080 Speaker 2: there's still stuff that we can work on and continue 133 00:06:48,120 --> 00:06:50,400 Speaker 2: to get better at, and you know, being able to 134 00:06:50,400 --> 00:06:52,800 Speaker 2: stay hungry, you know, you know, like it's a long 135 00:06:52,839 --> 00:06:55,440 Speaker 2: season and you got to be able to continue to 136 00:06:55,440 --> 00:06:58,760 Speaker 2: improve and be the team that improves the most, you know, 137 00:06:58,839 --> 00:07:01,520 Speaker 2: each week, because you know, that's why we're sitting where 138 00:07:01,520 --> 00:07:05,320 Speaker 2: we're sitting, is because we continually and rapidly you know, improved. 139 00:07:05,480 --> 00:07:08,680 Speaker 2: So I think that's the biggest thing for us. 140 00:07:09,120 --> 00:07:12,760 Speaker 1: We talked briefly about Patrick Curtain when we when we 141 00:07:12,800 --> 00:07:15,680 Speaker 1: did to sit down and interview. But obviously I'm a 142 00:07:15,760 --> 00:07:17,440 Speaker 1: huge fan of him, and I'm a huge fan of 143 00:07:17,480 --> 00:07:19,760 Speaker 1: you because when you watch the tape, you got to 144 00:07:19,800 --> 00:07:22,040 Speaker 1: see him and you can't happen. You can't help but 145 00:07:22,160 --> 00:07:24,560 Speaker 1: to watch you in the incredible job you're doing. But 146 00:07:25,240 --> 00:07:27,880 Speaker 1: were there a ton Are there a ton of things 147 00:07:27,920 --> 00:07:30,960 Speaker 1: that you've learned from him? I mean technique wise, or 148 00:07:31,080 --> 00:07:34,680 Speaker 1: patience or or you know, because I felt like each 149 00:07:34,720 --> 00:07:36,720 Speaker 1: and every day I felt like I could learn something 150 00:07:36,760 --> 00:07:39,400 Speaker 1: from somebody, whether it was a practice squad guy. I mean, 151 00:07:39,600 --> 00:07:41,200 Speaker 1: I watched a ton of tape on a key to 152 00:07:41,280 --> 00:07:44,440 Speaker 1: leap when he was in Denver. I learned some stuff 153 00:07:44,440 --> 00:07:47,280 Speaker 1: from just about everybody that plays. And because it's such 154 00:07:47,280 --> 00:07:51,640 Speaker 1: a nuanced position and you covered these receivers enough, you're like, hey, 155 00:07:51,760 --> 00:07:53,520 Speaker 1: you could see somebody's trick and you're like, hey, I 156 00:07:53,520 --> 00:07:55,560 Speaker 1: need to put that in my bag because it was 157 00:07:55,600 --> 00:07:58,360 Speaker 1: really effective. Do you feel yourself doing that with Patrick 158 00:07:58,400 --> 00:08:00,600 Speaker 1: Shirtan and you guys bounce an ideas off each. 159 00:08:00,480 --> 00:08:03,160 Speaker 2: Other, yeah, a thousand percent. You know, I think we 160 00:08:03,240 --> 00:08:08,120 Speaker 2: have that conversation each week, you know, at practice, you know, 161 00:08:08,400 --> 00:08:12,120 Speaker 2: ask him questions about the prior week. You know, he 162 00:08:12,200 --> 00:08:14,960 Speaker 2: might have made a play on on something. You know, 163 00:08:15,000 --> 00:08:17,240 Speaker 2: how did you see that? You know what? You know 164 00:08:17,320 --> 00:08:20,520 Speaker 2: you were outside leverage, but his his split was also 165 00:08:20,640 --> 00:08:22,600 Speaker 2: like outside the numbers, So like, how did you know 166 00:08:22,640 --> 00:08:24,320 Speaker 2: you were getting that nine ball fade? You know what 167 00:08:24,320 --> 00:08:28,280 Speaker 2: I mean? Like things like that, And you know, it's 168 00:08:28,280 --> 00:08:30,200 Speaker 2: good to be able to bounce off off each other 169 00:08:30,240 --> 00:08:33,360 Speaker 2: because we play a little bit differently. Obviously everyone's different. 170 00:08:33,679 --> 00:08:36,800 Speaker 2: You know, he's long and lengthy and very patient, and 171 00:08:36,840 --> 00:08:39,160 Speaker 2: I try and mimic as much as possible, you know, 172 00:08:39,200 --> 00:08:41,280 Speaker 2: that same type of thing. But at the same time, 173 00:08:41,320 --> 00:08:44,280 Speaker 2: you know, I'm not six three and and you know long, 174 00:08:44,520 --> 00:08:47,840 Speaker 2: you know, and uh so there's there there's things you 175 00:08:47,840 --> 00:08:49,800 Speaker 2: could pick up on on some guys. And and also 176 00:08:49,840 --> 00:08:51,440 Speaker 2: you know, watch around in the league as well, like 177 00:08:51,480 --> 00:08:55,040 Speaker 2: you said, like you know McDuffie in Kansas City. You know, 178 00:08:55,080 --> 00:08:57,240 Speaker 2: there's some things that you know, he's a little bit 179 00:08:57,240 --> 00:08:59,719 Speaker 2: shorter guy, but he's quick and twitchy and and and 180 00:09:00,040 --> 00:09:01,400 Speaker 2: you know there's some things you can pick up off 181 00:09:01,480 --> 00:09:04,240 Speaker 2: him too. So I think the biggest thing is just 182 00:09:04,280 --> 00:09:06,920 Speaker 2: being able to look around the league and try and 183 00:09:07,040 --> 00:09:09,360 Speaker 2: you know, take one or two things from certain guys 184 00:09:09,360 --> 00:09:10,000 Speaker 2: and put it in your bag. 185 00:09:10,040 --> 00:09:13,000 Speaker 1: Like you said, you talked about when you got to 186 00:09:13,080 --> 00:09:16,640 Speaker 1: Iowa and how quickly you felt comfortable. Obviously you started 187 00:09:16,640 --> 00:09:19,320 Speaker 1: in your first year, and you know, I had two 188 00:09:19,360 --> 00:09:21,560 Speaker 1: picture in your first game, when was the moment where 189 00:09:21,600 --> 00:09:23,600 Speaker 1: you felt comfortable in the league where you've been not 190 00:09:23,640 --> 00:09:26,280 Speaker 1: comfortable but felt like, hey, man, I could play. Because 191 00:09:26,360 --> 00:09:27,880 Speaker 1: I don't know about you, I won't speak for you, 192 00:09:27,960 --> 00:09:30,280 Speaker 1: but when I got to the league, there was a 193 00:09:30,360 --> 00:09:32,480 Speaker 1: moment where we were in the game, I think this 194 00:09:32,600 --> 00:09:35,240 Speaker 1: was my first start, and we had the Bengals and 195 00:09:35,240 --> 00:09:39,000 Speaker 1: I had AJ Green and Ajkan talking cash and you know, 196 00:09:39,080 --> 00:09:41,040 Speaker 1: kind of kind of telling me about myself. This is 197 00:09:41,040 --> 00:09:42,679 Speaker 1: my first start. I'm a fifth round pick, one hundred 198 00:09:42,679 --> 00:09:44,480 Speaker 1: and fifty fourth pick. He's number five to five pick 199 00:09:44,480 --> 00:09:47,360 Speaker 1: in the draft, I think. And I got to pick 200 00:09:47,960 --> 00:09:50,040 Speaker 1: I think first or second quarter, and it was like 201 00:09:50,160 --> 00:09:52,840 Speaker 1: it turned me up immediately. And so at that point 202 00:09:52,840 --> 00:09:54,920 Speaker 1: I was like, hey, I could do this. I can 203 00:09:54,960 --> 00:09:56,240 Speaker 1: do this, and I can play as long as I 204 00:09:56,280 --> 00:09:58,800 Speaker 1: want to because I feel comfortable in this moment. When 205 00:09:58,880 --> 00:09:59,840 Speaker 1: was that moment for you. 206 00:10:01,320 --> 00:10:05,079 Speaker 2: I'd say my first pick against the Raiders last year, 207 00:10:05,120 --> 00:10:08,319 Speaker 2: my second year, you know, it was kind of that, 208 00:10:08,400 --> 00:10:10,560 Speaker 2: like you said, like you know I could I could 209 00:10:10,559 --> 00:10:12,640 Speaker 2: play in this league, and you know, I can dominate 210 00:10:12,640 --> 00:10:14,400 Speaker 2: in this league, not even just play, I can dominate. 211 00:10:14,480 --> 00:10:17,760 Speaker 2: And you know the biggest thing that I've realized about 212 00:10:17,800 --> 00:10:23,200 Speaker 2: myself is, you know, just because they were drafted ahead 213 00:10:23,240 --> 00:10:27,800 Speaker 2: of view or the media covers them more, doesn't doesn't 214 00:10:27,880 --> 00:10:32,040 Speaker 2: make them you know, hercules right, like they're still bleeding red, right, 215 00:10:32,120 --> 00:10:35,000 Speaker 2: Like they're the same as you, and and it just 216 00:10:35,040 --> 00:10:38,240 Speaker 2: depends on your preparation and you know how much time 217 00:10:38,280 --> 00:10:41,280 Speaker 2: you've put in and and you know, I think that's 218 00:10:41,320 --> 00:10:42,439 Speaker 2: the biggest thing for sure. 219 00:10:44,760 --> 00:10:47,400 Speaker 1: That's that's awesome. Was there ever, was there any like 220 00:10:47,480 --> 00:10:49,760 Speaker 1: welcome to the league moments where you felt like, oh 221 00:10:49,760 --> 00:10:52,120 Speaker 1: my god, this guy's legitimate. 222 00:10:53,960 --> 00:10:57,640 Speaker 2: Dude. We were playing the the Seahawks first game the 223 00:10:57,679 --> 00:11:02,040 Speaker 2: season last year. I can't remember who the running back was, 224 00:11:02,840 --> 00:11:05,480 Speaker 2: but I thought I was, you know, I was obviously outside, 225 00:11:05,520 --> 00:11:07,560 Speaker 2: you know, keep everything inside of you, setting an edge 226 00:11:07,920 --> 00:11:11,280 Speaker 2: and took off like you know, I think I'm a 227 00:11:11,280 --> 00:11:13,720 Speaker 2: pretty fast dude. And he hit the corner and was 228 00:11:13,760 --> 00:11:16,840 Speaker 2: out of there, and I was like, how like, yes, 229 00:11:17,080 --> 00:11:20,440 Speaker 2: yes it was Kennith Walker. Yeah, hit the edge and 230 00:11:20,679 --> 00:11:23,200 Speaker 2: just took off, and I was like, oh my god, Like, 231 00:11:24,160 --> 00:11:26,440 Speaker 2: you know, they're getting paid two So this this ain't 232 00:11:26,440 --> 00:11:29,600 Speaker 2: no we're playing Northwestern or. 233 00:11:29,559 --> 00:11:30,640 Speaker 1: You know, this ain't no big head. 234 00:11:30,720 --> 00:11:32,840 Speaker 2: This is right, some real deal stuff. 235 00:11:32,880 --> 00:11:36,640 Speaker 1: So right, no question he got some next man's feed, 236 00:11:36,760 --> 00:11:40,680 Speaker 1: no question about that. There's some incredible whiteouts in it, say, 237 00:11:40,760 --> 00:11:42,920 Speaker 1: but you get to go against an incredible white out 238 00:11:42,960 --> 00:11:47,200 Speaker 1: on your own team. Courtland Sutton obviously underappreciated guy, But 239 00:11:47,360 --> 00:11:49,760 Speaker 1: I remember we did a joint practice versus those guys 240 00:11:50,880 --> 00:11:52,680 Speaker 1: in twenty nineteen. You know, I'm an old man, so 241 00:11:52,720 --> 00:11:56,840 Speaker 1: I gotta take you back. But I had never. I 242 00:11:56,880 --> 00:11:59,920 Speaker 1: had never in my life gotten lost. Never, not one 243 00:12:00,200 --> 00:12:02,319 Speaker 1: in the league. Now. I think I might have had 244 00:12:02,360 --> 00:12:05,400 Speaker 1: one close in college, but never run the league. Never 245 00:12:05,520 --> 00:12:07,040 Speaker 1: in the game where I go jump ball and I 246 00:12:07,080 --> 00:12:10,280 Speaker 1: don't win, and we were in We're in the middle 247 00:12:10,320 --> 00:12:12,080 Speaker 1: of a practice. I'm having a pretty good day, you know, 248 00:12:12,120 --> 00:12:15,360 Speaker 1: knocking it down. Courtland gives a release, goes nine ball. 249 00:12:15,559 --> 00:12:17,240 Speaker 1: You know, I get in the pocket, get my shoulder 250 00:12:17,240 --> 00:12:20,400 Speaker 1: in front of his I look up routine interception and 251 00:12:20,400 --> 00:12:22,439 Speaker 1: I go up off my foot, feeling good about it. 252 00:12:22,640 --> 00:12:24,720 Speaker 1: And then I just feel pressure on my shoulders and 253 00:12:24,760 --> 00:12:27,240 Speaker 1: I'm like, the hell is going on? Like I know, 254 00:12:27,400 --> 00:12:30,720 Speaker 1: gravity ain't got me. And next thing, you know, I 255 00:12:30,760 --> 00:12:35,280 Speaker 1: see hands above my head and pluck over my head. 256 00:12:35,320 --> 00:12:41,720 Speaker 1: I said, who just did that? Never in my life, 257 00:12:41,960 --> 00:12:45,000 Speaker 1: but gotta look. Ever since that day, I'm a Courtland 258 00:12:45,080 --> 00:12:45,920 Speaker 1: Sudden fan boy. 259 00:12:46,400 --> 00:12:49,960 Speaker 2: You got a fan in me, dude, He's uh, he's strong. 260 00:12:50,240 --> 00:12:53,680 Speaker 2: Like it's it's like in practice, like in camp. I 261 00:12:53,720 --> 00:12:55,559 Speaker 2: remember this year, like he does a good job, like 262 00:12:55,600 --> 00:12:58,520 Speaker 2: at the top of the rout of pushing off and 263 00:12:58,600 --> 00:13:01,880 Speaker 2: like you know, like better than anyone. They're not calling 264 00:13:02,080 --> 00:13:04,520 Speaker 2: refs aren't looking for that calling that. So like I'll 265 00:13:04,559 --> 00:13:07,920 Speaker 2: get a dig and or a curl and he's strong 266 00:13:07,920 --> 00:13:10,320 Speaker 2: at the top of the route, he's long. That's what 267 00:13:10,400 --> 00:13:12,120 Speaker 2: makes him really good. And then of course, you know, 268 00:13:12,240 --> 00:13:14,040 Speaker 2: like the fade ball like you've seen this year, he's 269 00:13:14,080 --> 00:13:17,360 Speaker 2: caught multiple, like heavily contested fade balls, like the DD 270 00:13:17,520 --> 00:13:19,760 Speaker 2: was in great position and he just kind of big 271 00:13:19,800 --> 00:13:23,040 Speaker 2: bodies him like he's he's he's gotten really good at 272 00:13:23,120 --> 00:13:24,120 Speaker 2: you know what he's good at. 273 00:13:24,120 --> 00:13:26,600 Speaker 1: If that makes sense, it makes a lot of sense. 274 00:13:26,640 --> 00:13:31,000 Speaker 1: It makes a lot of sense outside of McDuffie obviously 275 00:13:31,080 --> 00:13:33,520 Speaker 1: watching his tape and watching a lot of guys. Now, 276 00:13:33,679 --> 00:13:36,560 Speaker 1: was there anybody that you look to and watched to 277 00:13:36,679 --> 00:13:39,200 Speaker 1: emulate as you were coming up, whether it's high school 278 00:13:39,280 --> 00:13:41,760 Speaker 1: or college, that you were like, hey, I need to 279 00:13:42,240 --> 00:13:46,040 Speaker 1: you know, pattern my game. Obviously, Champ Bailey and and 280 00:13:46,040 --> 00:13:50,000 Speaker 1: and Reeves and Dion and Charles Woodson are all some 281 00:13:50,120 --> 00:13:52,520 Speaker 1: guys that that could play at a high level. I 282 00:13:52,520 --> 00:13:54,679 Speaker 1: don't want to go to the Jason Seahorn route. He's 283 00:13:54,679 --> 00:13:56,560 Speaker 1: not the same type of corner issue. But that's where 284 00:13:56,559 --> 00:13:58,560 Speaker 1: they want me to get cookie cutter. We can't do that. 285 00:13:58,559 --> 00:13:59,840 Speaker 1: It's too cookie cutter. 286 00:14:00,080 --> 00:14:04,599 Speaker 2: Yeah, no, Darrel Reeves. For sure, I grew up a 287 00:14:04,679 --> 00:14:07,120 Speaker 2: Jets fan, which is kind of wild. I'm from Iowa, 288 00:14:08,600 --> 00:14:13,000 Speaker 2: but you know, Darrel Revis and then i'd go low 289 00:14:13,040 --> 00:14:17,760 Speaker 2: key like high school probably you, to be honest with you, 290 00:14:18,160 --> 00:14:20,960 Speaker 2: I appreciate that. Yeah, not just because what I'm talking 291 00:14:20,960 --> 00:14:22,040 Speaker 2: to you, I'm not going to give you that, but 292 00:14:22,200 --> 00:14:27,760 Speaker 2: like honestly, like for sure you and and Darrell and 293 00:14:27,760 --> 00:14:31,160 Speaker 2: and obviously still you know, trying to trying to emulate 294 00:14:31,200 --> 00:14:36,560 Speaker 2: my game after guys you know currently, But yeah, okay. 295 00:14:38,320 --> 00:14:41,600 Speaker 1: I I I just really want people to appreciate that 296 00:14:41,760 --> 00:14:44,600 Speaker 1: the job you're doing, and the job your defense is doing, 297 00:14:44,640 --> 00:14:48,120 Speaker 1: your d line is full of dogs and that makes 298 00:14:48,160 --> 00:14:50,440 Speaker 1: the job a lot easier. I mean, they still doesn't 299 00:14:50,480 --> 00:14:53,440 Speaker 1: make their job totally easy because they get blocked sometimes too. 300 00:14:53,480 --> 00:14:55,360 Speaker 1: And if they got time, you gotta go, you gotta 301 00:14:55,360 --> 00:14:58,600 Speaker 1: stand up. But talk talk talk to me about that 302 00:14:58,720 --> 00:15:02,640 Speaker 1: defense and Benito and Cooper and Zach Allen and uh 303 00:15:02,880 --> 00:15:05,720 Speaker 1: Stranad and all these guys that that can get after 304 00:15:05,760 --> 00:15:09,760 Speaker 1: the pastor I mean, Franklin Myers. 305 00:15:09,960 --> 00:15:12,040 Speaker 2: You know, it's it's a defense full of full of 306 00:15:12,080 --> 00:15:14,200 Speaker 2: junkyard dogs, is the best way I'd put it. Like, 307 00:15:15,640 --> 00:15:17,640 Speaker 2: they don't care if it's pretty. They're they're gonna go 308 00:15:17,680 --> 00:15:20,440 Speaker 2: and fly and hit you in the mouth. And I 309 00:15:20,480 --> 00:15:22,640 Speaker 2: think that's why we're such a good defense is because 310 00:15:23,440 --> 00:15:26,200 Speaker 2: you know, from the D line to the backer, just 311 00:15:26,240 --> 00:15:28,880 Speaker 2: to the back end, like you know, guys are flying 312 00:15:28,920 --> 00:15:32,600 Speaker 2: around Halfunga Is is going in there to knock you out. 313 00:15:33,160 --> 00:15:36,200 Speaker 2: Brandon Jones, same thing. And you know that makes our 314 00:15:36,320 --> 00:15:38,280 Speaker 2: job a lot easier on the outside because you know, 315 00:15:38,320 --> 00:15:40,400 Speaker 2: you got guys that we're setting the blitz. You know, 316 00:15:40,480 --> 00:15:45,400 Speaker 2: it's balls coming out, you know, pretty fast. So you know, 317 00:15:45,440 --> 00:15:48,600 Speaker 2: the front, the front guys have done a phenomenal job 318 00:15:48,600 --> 00:15:51,200 Speaker 2: this year. As you know, Coop and Bonito are are 319 00:15:51,280 --> 00:15:54,880 Speaker 2: absolute dogs, same with zach uh Dj Jones does a 320 00:15:54,880 --> 00:15:58,320 Speaker 2: great job fill on the gaps. So you know, just 321 00:15:58,360 --> 00:16:00,840 Speaker 2: top down, you know, everyone does their job well. And 322 00:16:01,480 --> 00:16:03,360 Speaker 2: you know we kind of build off each other, right 323 00:16:03,400 --> 00:16:06,360 Speaker 2: like we're playing for each other, and that's that's why 324 00:16:06,400 --> 00:16:07,840 Speaker 2: we've seen so much success. 325 00:16:09,360 --> 00:16:11,400 Speaker 1: Yeah, no question about it. I mean, you guys are 326 00:16:11,400 --> 00:16:14,920 Speaker 1: playing as a complete unit. And it's it's cool to see. 327 00:16:15,160 --> 00:16:17,480 Speaker 1: I really appreciate your time. I know it's it's your 328 00:16:17,480 --> 00:16:19,320 Speaker 1: off day and you you got things to do, people 329 00:16:19,320 --> 00:16:21,560 Speaker 1: to see, places to be. If you got any questions 330 00:16:21,680 --> 00:16:23,040 Speaker 1: or anything you want to talk to me about, I 331 00:16:23,080 --> 00:16:25,640 Speaker 1: can talk a corner play all day until the cows 332 00:16:25,640 --> 00:16:27,880 Speaker 1: come home, because I mean, it's it's fun. It's a 333 00:16:27,880 --> 00:16:30,120 Speaker 1: fun position. It's a really tough job. It's a thankless 334 00:16:30,200 --> 00:16:33,120 Speaker 1: job because you could have fifty nine good plays and 335 00:16:33,160 --> 00:16:36,040 Speaker 1: on that sixtieth play, if they hit you, everybody's gonna 336 00:16:36,040 --> 00:16:38,000 Speaker 1: tell tell you how terrible you were. You know, it's 337 00:16:38,040 --> 00:16:40,200 Speaker 1: a what and what have you done lately? Job? But 338 00:16:40,280 --> 00:16:42,480 Speaker 1: you're playing it at a really high level. And I'm uh, 339 00:16:42,600 --> 00:16:43,440 Speaker 1: and I see you. 340 00:16:44,240 --> 00:16:48,120 Speaker 2: Yeah, I appreciate you, you know, giving me some ros 341 00:16:48,160 --> 00:16:51,040 Speaker 2: and stuff. We got some work to do still, though, 342 00:16:51,080 --> 00:16:53,800 Speaker 2: so it'll be I'm excited. I'm excited for our team, 343 00:16:53,880 --> 00:16:56,760 Speaker 2: excited for our defense. Uh, keep chipping away. Got a 344 00:16:56,760 --> 00:16:58,800 Speaker 2: big one this week with the Chiefs coming to town. 345 00:16:58,920 --> 00:17:01,680 Speaker 1: So yeah, that's gonna be fun. That's gonna be a 346 00:17:01,720 --> 00:17:03,360 Speaker 1: fun game. And and and talk to me, I guess 347 00:17:03,400 --> 00:17:05,240 Speaker 1: about the challenge of a game like this A tough 348 00:17:05,240 --> 00:17:08,359 Speaker 1: division opponent against a team who's been so consistent and 349 00:17:08,440 --> 00:17:10,760 Speaker 1: so good and been in a super Bowl five in 350 00:17:10,800 --> 00:17:11,960 Speaker 1: the last six years. 351 00:17:12,400 --> 00:17:15,080 Speaker 2: Yeah, you know, it's always it's always the Chiefs, right, 352 00:17:15,080 --> 00:17:18,159 Speaker 2: Like it's always gonna go through the Chiefs. And you know, 353 00:17:18,240 --> 00:17:21,040 Speaker 2: we've been close to the suite the last two years, right, 354 00:17:22,440 --> 00:17:24,359 Speaker 2: But you know it's time to get over the hump. 355 00:17:24,359 --> 00:17:26,760 Speaker 2: And and you know they're a great team. They got 356 00:17:26,840 --> 00:17:29,439 Speaker 2: a bunch of great players, and uh, they're gonna come 357 00:17:29,440 --> 00:17:31,439 Speaker 2: in your hot and and and we're ready for it. 358 00:17:31,440 --> 00:17:33,359 Speaker 2: It's it's gonna be a great game where I have 359 00:17:33,440 --> 00:17:34,080 Speaker 2: some challenge. 360 00:17:35,080 --> 00:17:36,560 Speaker 1: I love it. I love it. I can't wait for 361 00:17:36,600 --> 00:17:41,080 Speaker 1: that game. It's gonna be a great matchup. I last question, 362 00:17:41,160 --> 00:17:44,000 Speaker 1: what do you think of Sean Shots? Sounds a unique character. 363 00:17:44,040 --> 00:17:45,600 Speaker 1: And if you've never played for him or I had 364 00:17:45,600 --> 00:17:48,320 Speaker 1: a conversation with him, Shot his funny man. 365 00:17:48,720 --> 00:17:51,080 Speaker 2: Yeah, no, I I love Sean. You know he's Uh, 366 00:17:51,119 --> 00:17:53,919 Speaker 2: he's a competitive dude, and he's easy to play for 367 00:17:54,200 --> 00:17:57,560 Speaker 2: because you know, he wants to win so badly and 368 00:17:57,560 --> 00:18:00,440 Speaker 2: and we all want to win badly. And he's done 369 00:18:00,440 --> 00:18:02,960 Speaker 2: a great job since he came here. You know, I 370 00:18:03,040 --> 00:18:05,320 Speaker 2: was his first draft class. He did a great job 371 00:18:05,359 --> 00:18:08,000 Speaker 2: of kind of building the locker room first, having a 372 00:18:08,040 --> 00:18:12,320 Speaker 2: bunch of good guys who could really feed off each 373 00:18:12,359 --> 00:18:15,680 Speaker 2: other and are similar minded people. And and then came 374 00:18:15,720 --> 00:18:18,040 Speaker 2: you know, the football and you know, kind of growing 375 00:18:18,040 --> 00:18:20,760 Speaker 2: as football players. But it all really started with the 376 00:18:20,800 --> 00:18:23,280 Speaker 2: guys that he brought in to the locker room and 377 00:18:23,520 --> 00:18:27,720 Speaker 2: building that culture. And you know, you know, year three 378 00:18:27,760 --> 00:18:29,800 Speaker 2: and this is where we're at. So he's done a 379 00:18:29,800 --> 00:18:32,040 Speaker 2: great job and he's a good coach to play it for. 380 00:18:32,840 --> 00:18:35,280 Speaker 1: Well, it's a great season so far. I hope it continues. 381 00:18:35,320 --> 00:18:36,920 Speaker 1: Hope you guys are able to pull out the dub 382 00:18:36,960 --> 00:18:38,800 Speaker 1: this week. That'll give me something to talk about on 383 00:18:38,880 --> 00:18:42,159 Speaker 1: his great podcast. I appreciate you joining me and spending 384 00:18:42,160 --> 00:18:44,760 Speaker 1: you off day with me. Yeah. 385 00:18:44,800 --> 00:18:46,120 Speaker 2: Absolutely, thanks for having. 386 00:18:45,880 --> 00:18:49,720 Speaker 1: Me anytime anytime, brother, enjoy you, enjoy yourself. We'll see 387 00:18:49,720 --> 00:18:50,320 Speaker 1: you next time.