1 00:00:00,080 --> 00:00:03,280 Speaker 1: Joining us right now Texans Radio. It's Nick Assario, General manager. Nick. 2 00:00:03,320 --> 00:00:05,600 Speaker 1: How's it going? Hey, fellis how you doing? Doing great? 3 00:00:05,640 --> 00:00:08,440 Speaker 1: I know it's a very tough decision with coach Coullie 4 00:00:08,520 --> 00:00:11,200 Speaker 1: leaving the building, and you have even tougher decisions coming 5 00:00:11,320 --> 00:00:13,560 Speaker 1: up with the search that you're undergoing for a new 6 00:00:13,600 --> 00:00:15,960 Speaker 1: head coach. What can you tell us about the initial 7 00:00:16,079 --> 00:00:19,320 Speaker 1: stages of what you're going through as an organization here? Yeah, 8 00:00:19,360 --> 00:00:21,880 Speaker 1: I think anytime that there has changed, there's always a 9 00:00:21,880 --> 00:00:24,599 Speaker 1: little bit of uncertainty. Everybody's trying to figure out sort 10 00:00:24,640 --> 00:00:27,920 Speaker 1: of what the next steps are. So it's never easy. 11 00:00:28,080 --> 00:00:31,400 Speaker 1: You know, change is always hard to a certain extent. 12 00:00:32,000 --> 00:00:35,000 Speaker 1: You have to be willing to make changes that you 13 00:00:35,040 --> 00:00:37,519 Speaker 1: feel are appropriate, to make tough decisions, and ultimately you 14 00:00:37,600 --> 00:00:40,240 Speaker 1: have to think about, you know, next steps moving forward. 15 00:00:40,320 --> 00:00:44,159 Speaker 1: So there's probably a lot of questions and you know, 16 00:00:44,320 --> 00:00:47,440 Speaker 1: our responsibilities ultimately just try to get those answered as 17 00:00:47,440 --> 00:00:50,199 Speaker 1: best we can, not necessarily in a timely fashion, but 18 00:00:50,320 --> 00:00:53,199 Speaker 1: just the right way, and then just to provide you know, 19 00:00:53,320 --> 00:00:57,040 Speaker 1: stability and a solution to whatever our situation is going 20 00:00:57,040 --> 00:00:59,200 Speaker 1: to be from a coaching standpoint, Nick, you've been here 21 00:00:59,240 --> 00:01:01,360 Speaker 1: a little over your now when you think back to 22 00:01:01,440 --> 00:01:07,520 Speaker 1: where organization was, organization is, what are you most proud of? 23 00:01:07,560 --> 00:01:09,920 Speaker 1: What are the things that you feel have been put 24 00:01:09,959 --> 00:01:13,080 Speaker 1: in place to help you move from here going forward? 25 00:01:13,160 --> 00:01:16,120 Speaker 1: Setting the foundation of the organization before. Yeah, I think 26 00:01:16,160 --> 00:01:18,399 Speaker 1: it starts with the people. I think we have a 27 00:01:18,400 --> 00:01:20,640 Speaker 1: lot of good people in a lot of different areas 28 00:01:20,720 --> 00:01:24,199 Speaker 1: within the organization. You know, whether it's our current coaching staff, 29 00:01:24,280 --> 00:01:27,080 Speaker 1: understanding there's gonna be some changes there to the players 30 00:01:27,120 --> 00:01:29,240 Speaker 1: that we have on a roster that we're on a roster, 31 00:01:29,440 --> 00:01:31,319 Speaker 1: some of whom may be an on our contract for 32 00:01:31,400 --> 00:01:33,560 Speaker 1: next year, some that are under contract for next year. 33 00:01:34,000 --> 00:01:37,440 Speaker 1: And I would say just the overall I mean optimism. 34 00:01:37,480 --> 00:01:39,080 Speaker 1: I don't know if that's the right word, but just 35 00:01:39,280 --> 00:01:43,679 Speaker 1: the you know, the attitude and the ability to understand 36 00:01:43,760 --> 00:01:46,560 Speaker 1: we're trying to build something here that's really cool. It's 37 00:01:46,600 --> 00:01:48,080 Speaker 1: going to take a lot of time. There's a lot 38 00:01:48,080 --> 00:01:51,520 Speaker 1: of steps that are involved. I think the big thing, 39 00:01:51,560 --> 00:01:55,080 Speaker 1: the overarching theme for us organizationally is to understand that 40 00:01:55,400 --> 00:01:59,000 Speaker 1: the standard and the expectation is very high. And you know, 41 00:01:59,080 --> 00:02:01,120 Speaker 1: that's a good thing, and we all have to press 42 00:02:01,160 --> 00:02:04,840 Speaker 1: and push to get ourselves in a position where everybody 43 00:02:04,920 --> 00:02:08,360 Speaker 1: up that holds that standard on the day to day basis, 44 00:02:08,840 --> 00:02:14,240 Speaker 1: and when you implement processes and standards, ultimately the goal 45 00:02:14,360 --> 00:02:16,440 Speaker 1: is you hope those will carry over into the results 46 00:02:16,440 --> 00:02:18,880 Speaker 1: and what happens on the field on Sunday. From an 47 00:02:18,880 --> 00:02:21,960 Speaker 1: overall I would say team in an execution basis. It's 48 00:02:22,000 --> 00:02:24,600 Speaker 1: interesting because any team that's looking for a coach, the 49 00:02:24,639 --> 00:02:27,000 Speaker 1: outside media fans, they say, well, if you had a 50 00:02:27,040 --> 00:02:29,120 Speaker 1: defensive guy, now you're gonna go for an offensive guy, 51 00:02:29,320 --> 00:02:31,680 Speaker 1: Rice versa, or whatever the case may be. How tough 52 00:02:31,800 --> 00:02:34,720 Speaker 1: is it to identify candidates to fit what you want 53 00:02:34,760 --> 00:02:36,960 Speaker 1: to do here? Yeah, it's a good question, Mark. I 54 00:02:36,960 --> 00:02:39,520 Speaker 1: think what you have to do is just think about 55 00:02:39,560 --> 00:02:42,839 Speaker 1: the Houston Texans, not necessarily about what is everybody else 56 00:02:42,880 --> 00:02:45,160 Speaker 1: doing or what is everybody else looking for? So take 57 00:02:45,240 --> 00:02:47,880 Speaker 1: inventory of where we are, what do we have in place, 58 00:02:48,480 --> 00:02:51,560 Speaker 1: what's the organizational philosophy and ethos that we want to build, 59 00:02:51,800 --> 00:02:54,880 Speaker 1: and then who are the people that maybe fit that 60 00:02:55,120 --> 00:02:58,799 Speaker 1: criteria of what we're trying to do. So, going back 61 00:02:58,800 --> 00:03:00,359 Speaker 1: to what we talked about just a little but ago, 62 00:03:00,400 --> 00:03:03,000 Speaker 1: there's some really good people that are in place. You know, 63 00:03:03,040 --> 00:03:05,800 Speaker 1: I think ideally you don't want to have to displace 64 00:03:05,840 --> 00:03:08,560 Speaker 1: too many people, but understanding when you do make change, 65 00:03:08,560 --> 00:03:10,680 Speaker 1: you might end up displacing some people and that's just 66 00:03:10,760 --> 00:03:13,280 Speaker 1: part of the process. So we just have to look 67 00:03:13,320 --> 00:03:15,760 Speaker 1: at our situation and decide what makes the most sense 68 00:03:15,800 --> 00:03:19,320 Speaker 1: for our team, for organization, for our group, and whatever 69 00:03:19,360 --> 00:03:22,160 Speaker 1: that looks like, then we have to back that, put 70 00:03:22,200 --> 00:03:24,520 Speaker 1: belief in it, and then just ultimately move forward. Nick, 71 00:03:24,600 --> 00:03:28,080 Speaker 1: I know you had to make this decision with removing 72 00:03:28,200 --> 00:03:30,440 Speaker 1: David Culley, but you also talked about he did have 73 00:03:30,480 --> 00:03:33,400 Speaker 1: an impact on this organization for the year that he 74 00:03:33,600 --> 00:03:37,000 Speaker 1: was here. Well, what impact did you see from him 75 00:03:37,000 --> 00:03:38,720 Speaker 1: over the time that he was here with you and 76 00:03:38,800 --> 00:03:40,960 Speaker 1: this organization? Yeah, and I think you all saw it 77 00:03:40,960 --> 00:03:44,160 Speaker 1: on a week to week basis, just his consistency, his attitude, 78 00:03:44,240 --> 00:03:49,000 Speaker 1: his leadership, his just spirit like was you know, honestly, 79 00:03:49,040 --> 00:03:52,000 Speaker 1: I don't think there's too many people like that in football, 80 00:03:52,160 --> 00:03:55,040 Speaker 1: you know, And he's the same person every day, So 81 00:03:55,080 --> 00:03:58,600 Speaker 1: I think that speaks to the individual. And when you 82 00:03:58,680 --> 00:04:02,800 Speaker 1: see that consistency to day, the players they certainly feel 83 00:04:02,840 --> 00:04:05,840 Speaker 1: that and they you know, gravitate towards that and they 84 00:04:05,880 --> 00:04:10,200 Speaker 1: appreciate that. So I'd say from a working environment standpoint. 85 00:04:10,280 --> 00:04:12,600 Speaker 1: You know, I think David was able to create a 86 00:04:12,680 --> 00:04:15,280 Speaker 1: very good working environment, so and I think that was 87 00:04:15,320 --> 00:04:18,640 Speaker 1: consistent from the time that he took the job too. 88 00:04:18,960 --> 00:04:21,920 Speaker 1: I would say, to the very end, Nick, does your 89 00:04:21,920 --> 00:04:25,120 Speaker 1: phone blow up with agents right now? How does all 90 00:04:25,200 --> 00:04:28,240 Speaker 1: that work? Let's let's go behind the curtain here for 91 00:04:28,279 --> 00:04:30,720 Speaker 1: a minute. Just tell us about some of that stuff. Yeah, no, 92 00:04:30,880 --> 00:04:34,520 Speaker 1: that that's really how it works. You have, I would say, coaches, agents, 93 00:04:35,120 --> 00:04:39,840 Speaker 1: text messages, emails, back channels try to get you information. 94 00:04:40,040 --> 00:04:43,159 Speaker 1: So there's a lot of flow of information, you know. 95 00:04:43,160 --> 00:04:45,240 Speaker 1: I think what you have to do is, you know, 96 00:04:45,400 --> 00:04:49,039 Speaker 1: go through your inventory and go through your checklist and process, 97 00:04:49,040 --> 00:04:52,359 Speaker 1: and you know, identify some players that are excuse me, 98 00:04:52,440 --> 00:04:54,400 Speaker 1: the coaches that you feel may fit, you know, on 99 00:04:54,440 --> 00:04:57,040 Speaker 1: a variety of different levels. Now that doesn't necessarily mean 100 00:04:57,200 --> 00:04:59,920 Speaker 1: that that's ultimately going to be who the head coach 101 00:05:00,120 --> 00:05:02,280 Speaker 1: ends up being, but you have to start somewhere. Um, 102 00:05:02,720 --> 00:05:06,400 Speaker 1: I would say, there's definitely been I would say, you know, 103 00:05:06,440 --> 00:05:10,400 Speaker 1: pretty significant interest from the outside. So and I think 104 00:05:10,440 --> 00:05:13,200 Speaker 1: that's a credit too. I mean, honestly to probably what 105 00:05:13,440 --> 00:05:15,839 Speaker 1: you know David helped put in place in the foundation. 106 00:05:15,960 --> 00:05:18,520 Speaker 1: So you know, I think there's some some pretty good 107 00:05:18,520 --> 00:05:20,599 Speaker 1: things in place, and you know, we got to try 108 00:05:20,600 --> 00:05:23,719 Speaker 1: to continue to build and grow just organizationally moving forward. 109 00:05:23,920 --> 00:05:25,919 Speaker 1: So are you OCD enough that when you see the 110 00:05:25,920 --> 00:05:29,160 Speaker 1: little red dot by your phone it just drives you crazy? Like, man, 111 00:05:30,720 --> 00:05:32,400 Speaker 1: I try to keep my phone off here to the 112 00:05:32,440 --> 00:05:34,640 Speaker 1: side and that because otherwise, if you get, you know, 113 00:05:34,720 --> 00:05:36,960 Speaker 1: a text a minute, you're gonna it's gonna take you 114 00:05:37,080 --> 00:05:40,320 Speaker 1: away from doing something really important. So, new coach coming in, 115 00:05:40,800 --> 00:05:43,960 Speaker 1: is there a particular trait or a few traits, Nick, 116 00:05:44,040 --> 00:05:46,720 Speaker 1: that you want to see in the new coach that's 117 00:05:46,760 --> 00:05:49,120 Speaker 1: gonna come in here, regardless of when he or she 118 00:05:49,320 --> 00:05:51,480 Speaker 1: comes in. What are you looking for in that new 119 00:05:51,480 --> 00:05:55,200 Speaker 1: coach or regardless of offense, defense and the experience? Right, yeah, yeah, 120 00:05:55,080 --> 00:05:57,320 Speaker 1: I mean I was asked that in the press conference, 121 00:05:57,360 --> 00:05:59,400 Speaker 1: and I think a lot of the qualities that David possessed, 122 00:05:59,400 --> 00:06:01,520 Speaker 1: I mean going to be you know, I would say 123 00:06:01,520 --> 00:06:04,960 Speaker 1: a part of that, the leadership, the consistency, you know, 124 00:06:05,240 --> 00:06:07,200 Speaker 1: those are all going to be important. And I think, 125 00:06:07,240 --> 00:06:09,480 Speaker 1: you know, what's the vision, you know, how do they 126 00:06:09,640 --> 00:06:12,960 Speaker 1: view I would say, whether it's our team, things that 127 00:06:13,000 --> 00:06:17,320 Speaker 1: we're doing offensively, this infrastructure system that we have in place, 128 00:06:17,400 --> 00:06:20,640 Speaker 1: either from a scouting standpoint or how we identify players. 129 00:06:20,839 --> 00:06:24,080 Speaker 1: So how do they view those things? What are some 130 00:06:24,120 --> 00:06:26,960 Speaker 1: of the things that are important to them? And there's 131 00:06:27,000 --> 00:06:29,920 Speaker 1: no I would say right or wrong answer. There's just 132 00:06:30,040 --> 00:06:32,960 Speaker 1: the right answer for the Texans. Well, you were asked 133 00:06:33,000 --> 00:06:35,080 Speaker 1: about the staff as well, and you just talked about 134 00:06:35,120 --> 00:06:36,640 Speaker 1: the staff, and there are many members of the staff 135 00:06:36,720 --> 00:06:39,520 Speaker 1: or are good contributors. But that's so important, right, I mean, 136 00:06:39,520 --> 00:06:42,960 Speaker 1: it's not just about the guy in charge, it's the staff. 137 00:06:42,960 --> 00:06:47,160 Speaker 1: It's everybody working in concert together, including everybody and scouting 138 00:06:47,160 --> 00:06:49,679 Speaker 1: and all the information that flows. So what about putting 139 00:06:49,680 --> 00:06:52,760 Speaker 1: all that together? How does that work out? Yeah? Absolutely, 140 00:06:52,760 --> 00:06:56,080 Speaker 1: it's It's not an easy process, so you just sort 141 00:06:56,120 --> 00:06:57,800 Speaker 1: of have to. I would say the best way to 142 00:06:57,839 --> 00:07:00,560 Speaker 1: approach is this to maintain an open mind and not 143 00:07:00,680 --> 00:07:04,359 Speaker 1: eliminate people or just kind of cast aside people because 144 00:07:04,360 --> 00:07:06,880 Speaker 1: you assume, well, if this happens, then this is going 145 00:07:06,920 --> 00:07:09,000 Speaker 1: to happen. Really, you don't want to make any assumptions. 146 00:07:09,640 --> 00:07:11,120 Speaker 1: Excuse me, You just want to kind of look at 147 00:07:11,160 --> 00:07:14,600 Speaker 1: it globally, take the information, assess it, and then see 148 00:07:14,600 --> 00:07:18,040 Speaker 1: how it all fits together and pieces together, you know, 149 00:07:18,120 --> 00:07:20,600 Speaker 1: so you know, part of the interview process will be 150 00:07:20,720 --> 00:07:23,400 Speaker 1: them understanding what are some of the things that that 151 00:07:23,440 --> 00:07:25,000 Speaker 1: we look for, what are some of the things that 152 00:07:25,040 --> 00:07:28,080 Speaker 1: we're doing in terms of player equisition process, which you know, 153 00:07:28,880 --> 00:07:31,920 Speaker 1: part of that. And so I think getting in understanding 154 00:07:32,000 --> 00:07:34,680 Speaker 1: and how they view those things their vision, you know, 155 00:07:34,760 --> 00:07:37,360 Speaker 1: do they believe in that, do they maybe see it 156 00:07:37,360 --> 00:07:39,360 Speaker 1: a little bit differently, or how can they how do 157 00:07:39,440 --> 00:07:43,080 Speaker 1: we improve it? You know, a lot of these conversations, 158 00:07:43,120 --> 00:07:45,120 Speaker 1: what you find are very organic, so you kind of 159 00:07:45,160 --> 00:07:47,360 Speaker 1: go in. You can have a checklist of like, okay, 160 00:07:47,360 --> 00:07:49,520 Speaker 1: we have to ask these questions, but a lot of 161 00:07:49,520 --> 00:07:51,200 Speaker 1: times it doesn't even go that way. You kind of 162 00:07:51,240 --> 00:07:54,040 Speaker 1: start and then it veers, I would say, a variety 163 00:07:54,040 --> 00:07:59,120 Speaker 1: of different directions. So being open minded, not eliminating any options, 164 00:07:59,200 --> 00:08:01,000 Speaker 1: I think that's the best way to approach it at 165 00:08:01,000 --> 00:08:03,840 Speaker 1: the beginning. Do you have a timeline in your mind? Nick, like, 166 00:08:04,000 --> 00:08:05,760 Speaker 1: I gotta I want to have it. I want to 167 00:08:05,760 --> 00:08:07,760 Speaker 1: have it done by this date so we can move 168 00:08:07,800 --> 00:08:09,720 Speaker 1: on and start doing these things. Do you have a 169 00:08:09,760 --> 00:08:13,120 Speaker 1: timeline at all? Yeah? I think we're just getting started here. 170 00:08:13,160 --> 00:08:15,920 Speaker 1: So how long that takes? Um? You know, it's probably 171 00:08:15,920 --> 00:08:18,720 Speaker 1: gonna take us here, you know, a certain number of days, 172 00:08:18,880 --> 00:08:21,520 Speaker 1: probably through next week, you would think, you know, in 173 00:08:21,520 --> 00:08:24,160 Speaker 1: the next week and kind of maybe you'll crystallize a 174 00:08:24,200 --> 00:08:26,400 Speaker 1: little bit more. You know, you want to try to 175 00:08:26,440 --> 00:08:28,680 Speaker 1: get something in place sooner rather than later. But you 176 00:08:28,720 --> 00:08:31,800 Speaker 1: don't want to rush or hasty with your decision. So 177 00:08:32,080 --> 00:08:34,000 Speaker 1: it's a big decision. It's an important decision. You just 178 00:08:34,000 --> 00:08:35,920 Speaker 1: want to make sure it's the right decision. I gotta 179 00:08:36,000 --> 00:08:38,920 Speaker 1: think that you have your staff pour over the body 180 00:08:38,960 --> 00:08:41,400 Speaker 1: of work of whoever the candidates are, right, somebody's been 181 00:08:41,400 --> 00:08:43,520 Speaker 1: in a coordinator on either side, like, let's go through 182 00:08:43,559 --> 00:08:47,760 Speaker 1: everything right, every call, and you must need that information 183 00:08:47,840 --> 00:08:50,480 Speaker 1: right now. Just rely on whatever they deliver verbally. Yeah, 184 00:08:50,480 --> 00:08:53,160 Speaker 1: wherever you can get the information is important. So whether 185 00:08:53,240 --> 00:08:56,120 Speaker 1: it's a player that may have played for that coach 186 00:08:56,280 --> 00:08:58,640 Speaker 1: or a staff member that crossed over with that coach. 187 00:08:58,679 --> 00:09:03,400 Speaker 1: So it's not too dissimilar to when we're evaluating players 188 00:09:03,400 --> 00:09:06,560 Speaker 1: in the draft. Wherever in free agency, wherever you can 189 00:09:06,559 --> 00:09:09,559 Speaker 1: get useful information, you want to be able to use 190 00:09:09,600 --> 00:09:12,960 Speaker 1: that to your advantage. So howeverard you accumulate it, you know, 191 00:09:13,240 --> 00:09:18,880 Speaker 1: it's it's not necessarily you know, who's important, But how 192 00:09:18,960 --> 00:09:21,400 Speaker 1: you get it. I mean there's no like set way 193 00:09:21,440 --> 00:09:24,400 Speaker 1: and set criteria, but you rely on everything and there's 194 00:09:24,440 --> 00:09:27,920 Speaker 1: a lot that's available, and ultimately, quite frankly, some of 195 00:09:27,920 --> 00:09:29,800 Speaker 1: this is going to come down to your gut instinct 196 00:09:29,880 --> 00:09:33,600 Speaker 1: and what you feel makes the most sense. Nick the 197 00:09:33,679 --> 00:09:38,080 Speaker 1: end of the year, then obviously go according to plan, 198 00:09:38,160 --> 00:09:39,880 Speaker 1: I would say, but you go two and two down 199 00:09:39,920 --> 00:09:42,920 Speaker 1: to stretch B Jacksonville. I have the game against the Chargers, 200 00:09:42,960 --> 00:09:44,679 Speaker 1: go out to San Francisco, and it came to the 201 00:09:44,720 --> 00:09:46,640 Speaker 1: ball game in the fourth quarter, it looks like the 202 00:09:46,679 --> 00:09:49,199 Speaker 1: first half against Tennessee. You're like, Mike, well, we mean 203 00:09:49,280 --> 00:09:50,719 Speaker 1: we're gonna finish this off like this, and all of 204 00:09:50,720 --> 00:09:53,480 Speaker 1: a sudden race back in that fourth quarter. I know 205 00:09:53,520 --> 00:09:55,560 Speaker 1: Mark and I talked about this on Monday. We just 206 00:09:55,600 --> 00:09:58,160 Speaker 1: feel like there was some there was momentum building from 207 00:09:58,200 --> 00:10:00,920 Speaker 1: that finish. Did you sort of send it's that And 208 00:10:01,080 --> 00:10:03,640 Speaker 1: how much do you feel that momentum sort of can 209 00:10:03,679 --> 00:10:06,200 Speaker 1: carry over into bringing in a new coach that kind 210 00:10:06,200 --> 00:10:09,120 Speaker 1: of gives even more juice to being here, fresh and new. Yeah, 211 00:10:09,120 --> 00:10:12,280 Speaker 1: it's never isolated to one game or one situation. To 212 00:10:12,440 --> 00:10:14,120 Speaker 1: your point, I mean that game was kind of a 213 00:10:14,160 --> 00:10:16,760 Speaker 1: tale of two halfs. I mean, we were you know, 214 00:10:17,200 --> 00:10:19,640 Speaker 1: essentially not very good in the first half, and in 215 00:10:19,679 --> 00:10:21,520 Speaker 1: the second half, you know, we played much better as 216 00:10:21,559 --> 00:10:25,439 Speaker 1: a team. So I think that's just an example of 217 00:10:25,760 --> 00:10:28,560 Speaker 1: if you get your team to do those things on 218 00:10:28,600 --> 00:10:31,720 Speaker 1: a consistent basis, what it might look like over the 219 00:10:31,720 --> 00:10:34,920 Speaker 1: course of X number of weeks and games. So, you know, 220 00:10:35,000 --> 00:10:37,520 Speaker 1: there are certainly a lot of positives, from the play 221 00:10:37,520 --> 00:10:40,920 Speaker 1: of Davis to you know, a production of Nico, to 222 00:10:41,280 --> 00:10:44,160 Speaker 1: the way the defense was able to get stops. You know, 223 00:10:44,200 --> 00:10:45,840 Speaker 1: one of the things in that game, we actually did 224 00:10:45,840 --> 00:10:47,480 Speaker 1: a pretty good job of, you know, play decent in 225 00:10:47,520 --> 00:10:49,640 Speaker 1: the red area, which I would say defensively over the 226 00:10:49,640 --> 00:10:51,080 Speaker 1: course of the year, not to like go through an 227 00:10:51,120 --> 00:10:54,760 Speaker 1: evaluation the season, but you know, as probably from the 228 00:10:54,760 --> 00:10:56,600 Speaker 1: middle to the end of the year, you know, we 229 00:10:56,640 --> 00:10:59,679 Speaker 1: actually played pretty good in the red area defensively, really 230 00:10:59,720 --> 00:11:02,920 Speaker 1: gets stops, force some field goals or forced down stops. 231 00:11:03,000 --> 00:11:05,880 Speaker 1: So you know, you saw some of those things show 232 00:11:05,960 --> 00:11:08,240 Speaker 1: up in those games. I think that kind of encapsulated 233 00:11:08,280 --> 00:11:10,400 Speaker 1: our season. You saw it in fragments, you saw some 234 00:11:10,480 --> 00:11:14,120 Speaker 1: good things, you just didn't see it consistently enough on 235 00:11:14,160 --> 00:11:17,839 Speaker 1: a week to week, game to game basis, and ultimately 236 00:11:18,040 --> 00:11:20,600 Speaker 1: that's where you want to try to get to. And 237 00:11:20,720 --> 00:11:24,160 Speaker 1: so that's I would say, to your question, maybe a template, 238 00:11:24,200 --> 00:11:27,120 Speaker 1: but you sort of have to wash that away because 239 00:11:27,160 --> 00:11:30,240 Speaker 1: we're kind of recalibrating and putting together the twenty twenty 240 00:11:30,240 --> 00:11:32,520 Speaker 1: two team. But to Johnny's points, some of that stuff, 241 00:11:32,559 --> 00:11:34,679 Speaker 1: those performances by some of the players you mentioned the 242 00:11:34,720 --> 00:11:37,200 Speaker 1: way you drafted, that's kind of a carrot to somebody 243 00:11:37,280 --> 00:11:39,080 Speaker 1: coming in, right. I mean, you're in a lot better 244 00:11:39,080 --> 00:11:41,040 Speaker 1: shape this year than you were last year and you 245 00:11:41,080 --> 00:11:43,400 Speaker 1: want to take the next steps. Yeah, I think that's fair. Mark. 246 00:11:43,480 --> 00:11:45,520 Speaker 1: We saw some growth in development from some of the 247 00:11:45,559 --> 00:11:48,120 Speaker 1: younger players, you know, some of the newer players that 248 00:11:48,160 --> 00:11:50,520 Speaker 1: we acquire, not necessarily rookies, but some other players that 249 00:11:50,559 --> 00:11:52,800 Speaker 1: were able to come in and make positive contributions. Some 250 00:11:52,840 --> 00:11:57,040 Speaker 1: of the carryovers from the existing year who are under 251 00:11:57,080 --> 00:12:00,160 Speaker 1: contract for next year. You know John, you know John Garnard, 252 00:12:00,200 --> 00:12:01,800 Speaker 1: you know, his most productive he had a more productive 253 00:12:01,840 --> 00:12:04,480 Speaker 1: season the need last year. So there's certainly things that 254 00:12:04,520 --> 00:12:06,280 Speaker 1: you look and say, Okay, you know what, we have 255 00:12:06,320 --> 00:12:09,280 Speaker 1: an opportunity to potentially build on, you know, young players 256 00:12:09,320 --> 00:12:13,679 Speaker 1: on offense, have still a few good offensive linemen under contract, 257 00:12:13,720 --> 00:12:15,680 Speaker 1: you know, probably have a few more players on defense 258 00:12:15,720 --> 00:12:18,600 Speaker 1: who aren't under contract. But you're able to see some 259 00:12:18,679 --> 00:12:21,760 Speaker 1: production from some different players. You know, guy like KG, 260 00:12:22,000 --> 00:12:24,400 Speaker 1: you know, had his most productive season at linebacker over 261 00:12:24,400 --> 00:12:26,240 Speaker 1: the course of his career. So is that a player 262 00:12:26,320 --> 00:12:28,360 Speaker 1: that you know, we would like to the opportunity to 263 00:12:28,440 --> 00:12:31,600 Speaker 1: maybe bring back, you know, possibly you know now what 264 00:12:31,640 --> 00:12:33,680 Speaker 1: that looks like, you know, if we get to that point. 265 00:12:33,760 --> 00:12:37,120 Speaker 1: So there's some I would say, things that are in place, 266 00:12:37,280 --> 00:12:39,760 Speaker 1: and we're in a better position from a salary cap standpoint, 267 00:12:39,800 --> 00:12:43,280 Speaker 1: we're in a better position from a draft allocation, draft 268 00:12:43,320 --> 00:12:46,880 Speaker 1: asset resource allocation standpoint. So and you know we have 269 00:12:47,000 --> 00:12:48,880 Speaker 1: a the third pick in the draft as of now, 270 00:12:48,920 --> 00:12:50,720 Speaker 1: so you would hope that you're going to get you know, 271 00:12:50,760 --> 00:12:52,960 Speaker 1: a good football player that's going to come in and 272 00:12:53,040 --> 00:12:55,320 Speaker 1: help your program. So when you look at some of 273 00:12:55,360 --> 00:12:57,600 Speaker 1: those things, you know, some of those bullet points you say, 274 00:12:57,760 --> 00:13:00,000 Speaker 1: you know, okay, which I think it probably in caps 275 00:13:00,120 --> 00:13:03,280 Speaker 1: late's really where the program is where you know, we 276 00:13:03,440 --> 00:13:06,520 Speaker 1: started it, probably ground zero. We've made some progress to 277 00:13:06,600 --> 00:13:09,040 Speaker 1: a certain point. Now what's the next step from you know, 278 00:13:09,040 --> 00:13:11,400 Speaker 1: a twenty five thirty percent. Can we get from thirty 279 00:13:11,400 --> 00:13:14,240 Speaker 1: percent to fifty percent next year? Right? Whatever that looks like. 280 00:13:14,280 --> 00:13:16,440 Speaker 1: Not necessarily wins and losses, but those are a part 281 00:13:16,440 --> 00:13:19,040 Speaker 1: of it, but just the overall I would say, composition 282 00:13:19,080 --> 00:13:21,400 Speaker 1: of the program and the depth of what we're trying 283 00:13:21,400 --> 00:13:24,120 Speaker 1: to do overall in the building. Okay, I know the response. 284 00:13:24,160 --> 00:13:26,199 Speaker 1: I'm going to get to this, I know it. I'm 285 00:13:26,240 --> 00:13:29,680 Speaker 1: so I'm bracing. I'm bracing for it. And you know 286 00:13:29,720 --> 00:13:31,560 Speaker 1: Thursday night you're gonna have to do some work. Now, 287 00:13:31,840 --> 00:13:33,480 Speaker 1: you know last year you got a chance to kind 288 00:13:33,480 --> 00:13:37,280 Speaker 1: of sit and just you know, do the Waldorf you know, 289 00:13:37,320 --> 00:13:39,320 Speaker 1: the muppets are set up and kind of oh why 290 00:13:39,440 --> 00:13:41,120 Speaker 1: they pick that guy? You actually have to go to 291 00:13:41,160 --> 00:13:45,480 Speaker 1: work on Thursday night. Hey are you ready? Time? But yeah, exactly, 292 00:13:45,600 --> 00:13:47,480 Speaker 1: Hey are you ready for that? Which I know you are, 293 00:13:47,559 --> 00:13:50,720 Speaker 1: but be to have the opportunity to draft in the 294 00:13:50,720 --> 00:13:54,320 Speaker 1: first second rounds where you didn't have that opportunity last year? 295 00:13:54,360 --> 00:13:57,800 Speaker 1: How important does that become? Look? I know their pieces, 296 00:13:58,160 --> 00:14:00,120 Speaker 1: but how important is it to have the opportunity to 297 00:14:00,200 --> 00:14:05,520 Speaker 1: have you know, top fifty picks in a draft? Looking forward? John? Absolutely, 298 00:14:05,559 --> 00:14:07,760 Speaker 1: you know it just gives you more flexibility, just your 299 00:14:07,880 --> 00:14:11,400 Speaker 1: your resource or allocation of players. They're just more that 300 00:14:11,440 --> 00:14:14,080 Speaker 1: are potentially available. Um, you know we weren't in that 301 00:14:14,080 --> 00:14:16,760 Speaker 1: position last year. Nobody's making excuses, just reality what it was. 302 00:14:16,800 --> 00:14:19,600 Speaker 1: We're trying to maximize the situation, you know, which we 303 00:14:19,800 --> 00:14:21,480 Speaker 1: try to do the best of our ability. This year, 304 00:14:21,520 --> 00:14:23,720 Speaker 1: we're in a different position. You talked about top fifty, 305 00:14:24,080 --> 00:14:25,760 Speaker 1: you know, if you include right now the two third 306 00:14:25,840 --> 00:14:27,520 Speaker 1: round picks, so I don't know where they are in 307 00:14:27,520 --> 00:14:30,320 Speaker 1: the top hundred maybe so you know you're looking at, okay, 308 00:14:30,360 --> 00:14:33,000 Speaker 1: we have maybe a larger pool of players that we 309 00:14:33,040 --> 00:14:35,880 Speaker 1: may have the opportunity to select from. So as a 310 00:14:35,920 --> 00:14:38,680 Speaker 1: part of our I would say preparation process, we're gonna 311 00:14:38,760 --> 00:14:41,200 Speaker 1: not that we didn't know the players from last year 312 00:14:41,240 --> 00:14:44,200 Speaker 1: in those levels, but you're probably gonna know those players 313 00:14:44,240 --> 00:14:46,960 Speaker 1: more in depth because you know, it's an important decision. 314 00:14:47,000 --> 00:14:49,440 Speaker 1: That's a pretty big asset, you know, for the organization, 315 00:14:49,560 --> 00:14:51,000 Speaker 1: So you want to make sure you just make the 316 00:14:51,080 --> 00:14:54,080 Speaker 1: right decision with as much information as possible. So I 317 00:14:54,080 --> 00:14:56,160 Speaker 1: think it's you know, it's exciting for your staff. I 318 00:14:56,200 --> 00:14:59,320 Speaker 1: think there's a tendency sometimes to maybe get not's saying 319 00:14:59,320 --> 00:15:01,840 Speaker 1: we're not exciting, it overexcited, but you know, you just 320 00:15:01,920 --> 00:15:05,480 Speaker 1: kind of have to take it as it comes, understanding that, 321 00:15:05,600 --> 00:15:07,120 Speaker 1: you know, there's a lot of there's a lot of 322 00:15:07,120 --> 00:15:09,680 Speaker 1: things that can happen on draft day, and sometimes it 323 00:15:09,720 --> 00:15:12,240 Speaker 1: doesn't really go the way that everybody thinks or hurt. 324 00:15:12,800 --> 00:15:16,520 Speaker 1: But ultimately it's just about maximizing our opportunities and making good, 325 00:15:16,640 --> 00:15:20,560 Speaker 1: solid decisions. Well, i'm sure you're keeping that phone charged up. Nick, 326 00:15:20,960 --> 00:15:22,800 Speaker 1: Thanks so much for the visit. Best of luck with 327 00:15:22,840 --> 00:15:24,760 Speaker 1: the search and everything else you're working on. Thanks guys, 328 00:15:24,800 --> 00:15:25,640 Speaker 1: appreciate your time.