1 00:00:05,840 --> 00:00:08,640 Speaker 1: Dirty Birds. What's up and welcome to another edition of 2 00:00:08,680 --> 00:00:12,200 Speaker 1: Falcons Final Whistle presented by Zaxby's I'm your host Will McFadden, 3 00:00:12,280 --> 00:00:16,079 Speaker 1: joined by Tory mclaney and a very special guest, Falcon 4 00:00:16,120 --> 00:00:19,600 Speaker 1: safety Jesse Bates. Jesse, how you feeling, man going into 5 00:00:19,800 --> 00:00:21,080 Speaker 1: your seventh NFL season? 6 00:00:21,480 --> 00:00:25,360 Speaker 2: Yeah, you know, I feel great. You know, I remember 7 00:00:25,360 --> 00:00:29,560 Speaker 2: the first time, my first training camp and you know, Cincinnati, 8 00:00:29,600 --> 00:00:32,720 Speaker 2: I was twenty one years old, and then just being 9 00:00:32,760 --> 00:00:36,519 Speaker 2: able to walk into year seven and still have a 10 00:00:36,600 --> 00:00:40,120 Speaker 2: fresh mind and you know, still be excited. I feel 11 00:00:40,120 --> 00:00:42,800 Speaker 2: like this is something that you would never take for 12 00:00:42,880 --> 00:00:46,800 Speaker 2: granted walking into a training camp, you know, walking into 13 00:00:46,840 --> 00:00:50,720 Speaker 2: a building, still living a dream that you know once was, 14 00:00:50,840 --> 00:00:52,839 Speaker 2: you know, a fairy tale as a little kid, like 15 00:00:53,120 --> 00:00:56,120 Speaker 2: I'm gonna be at training camp. So it's it's just 16 00:00:56,800 --> 00:00:59,560 Speaker 2: a blessing to be able to, like I said, walk 17 00:00:59,600 --> 00:01:01,840 Speaker 2: into year or seven. It's crazy to think that it's 18 00:01:01,920 --> 00:01:05,639 Speaker 2: year seven, but like I said, it's something that's been earned. 19 00:01:05,880 --> 00:01:07,760 Speaker 2: There's a lot of hard work that goes into that. 20 00:01:08,640 --> 00:01:10,920 Speaker 2: You know, just excited to be here and uh, you know, 21 00:01:10,959 --> 00:01:14,080 Speaker 2: we got a lot of momentum, uh going into this offseason, 22 00:01:14,120 --> 00:01:18,520 Speaker 2: so I'm just excited to put into work and you 23 00:01:18,560 --> 00:01:21,400 Speaker 2: know see the results you know later on the season. 24 00:01:21,720 --> 00:01:24,080 Speaker 3: What's something that you learned in your very first training 25 00:01:24,080 --> 00:01:27,000 Speaker 3: camp that you still stick with today. 26 00:01:27,520 --> 00:01:31,920 Speaker 2: Yeah, you know, training camp can it can get repetitive, 27 00:01:32,920 --> 00:01:35,440 Speaker 2: you know in year one. Uh, you know, as a 28 00:01:35,480 --> 00:01:39,959 Speaker 2: young guys like mentally taxing. You know it's obviously it's 29 00:01:39,959 --> 00:01:43,000 Speaker 2: always physically taxing, but mentally it's like you're doing the 30 00:01:43,040 --> 00:01:46,360 Speaker 2: same thing over and over. But you can't get bored 31 00:01:46,360 --> 00:01:49,520 Speaker 2: with that stuff. That's what makes you know, great teams great. 32 00:01:49,920 --> 00:01:52,000 Speaker 2: And every single day you got to be able to 33 00:01:52,080 --> 00:01:55,080 Speaker 2: you know, just stack days, continue to stack days, and 34 00:01:55,440 --> 00:01:58,160 Speaker 2: every day you figure out, you know, uh, something to 35 00:01:58,200 --> 00:02:00,760 Speaker 2: get better at. And you know, not just as an individual, 36 00:02:00,760 --> 00:02:04,320 Speaker 2: but you know as a position group. You know, as 37 00:02:04,360 --> 00:02:06,440 Speaker 2: a leader, you know, try to add different stuff to 38 00:02:06,480 --> 00:02:09,960 Speaker 2: your game because at some point the lights are going 39 00:02:10,040 --> 00:02:12,480 Speaker 2: to be on and it's gonna be for real. So 40 00:02:12,560 --> 00:02:15,000 Speaker 2: you know, you know, learn from your mistakes, learn from 41 00:02:15,040 --> 00:02:18,839 Speaker 2: others people mistakes, and don't be a repeated, repeated guy 42 00:02:18,919 --> 00:02:21,040 Speaker 2: that's they're going to continue to you know, make mistakes. 43 00:02:21,040 --> 00:02:24,120 Speaker 2: So yeah, I will say just every day, you know, 44 00:02:24,360 --> 00:02:27,320 Speaker 2: just figure out something new for you to get better 45 00:02:27,360 --> 00:02:29,799 Speaker 2: at and don't get bored with, you know, just the 46 00:02:29,880 --> 00:02:32,639 Speaker 2: simple details of you know, getting lined up, knowing my 47 00:02:32,720 --> 00:02:35,560 Speaker 2: assignment and just continue to build on that, and you know, 48 00:02:35,639 --> 00:02:36,800 Speaker 2: great things happen from that. 49 00:02:37,280 --> 00:02:40,639 Speaker 3: When we talked to this offense, you know, we talked 50 00:02:40,639 --> 00:02:42,440 Speaker 3: to Kirk, we talked to y Ray, we talked to 51 00:02:42,880 --> 00:02:46,440 Speaker 3: all those guys, and they made the comment that the 52 00:02:46,440 --> 00:02:49,840 Speaker 3: first day of this four block period it was really 53 00:02:49,919 --> 00:02:52,120 Speaker 3: heavy in terms of what they were being asked to 54 00:02:52,160 --> 00:02:54,440 Speaker 3: do and plays there being asked to run out of 55 00:02:54,520 --> 00:02:58,400 Speaker 3: and all that kind of stuff. I'm curious from your perspective, 56 00:02:59,160 --> 00:03:01,320 Speaker 3: where did the defense and line up in terms of 57 00:03:01,360 --> 00:03:05,200 Speaker 3: what y'all were able to carry over from the work 58 00:03:05,200 --> 00:03:08,040 Speaker 3: that y'all did in OTAs into the first four days 59 00:03:08,200 --> 00:03:10,240 Speaker 3: of this and how quickly y'all were able to start. 60 00:03:10,480 --> 00:03:14,279 Speaker 2: Yeah, you know, the first the first time in OTA's 61 00:03:14,960 --> 00:03:17,880 Speaker 2: compared to the first day of training camp, it was 62 00:03:18,000 --> 00:03:21,640 Speaker 2: completely different because in OTAs you're able to you know, 63 00:03:21,760 --> 00:03:25,400 Speaker 2: ask questions, and I feel like the urgency isn't is 64 00:03:25,480 --> 00:03:27,560 Speaker 2: like we gotta get this down, Like we need to 65 00:03:27,600 --> 00:03:29,120 Speaker 2: hurry up and get this stuff down. I mean, the 66 00:03:29,160 --> 00:03:31,440 Speaker 2: season is coming up. Very soon. In the OTAs, you 67 00:03:31,520 --> 00:03:33,440 Speaker 2: kind of got a little bit more time to slowly 68 00:03:33,520 --> 00:03:37,280 Speaker 2: go through, you know, the playbook and you know certain 69 00:03:37,320 --> 00:03:40,640 Speaker 2: details in our defense, but you kind of set that standard, 70 00:03:40,640 --> 00:03:43,480 Speaker 2: set the beginning foundation of that in OTAs and then 71 00:03:43,560 --> 00:03:46,160 Speaker 2: when you get back, you know, for training camp, it's 72 00:03:46,240 --> 00:03:48,320 Speaker 2: kind of like a refresher We're kind of just going 73 00:03:48,360 --> 00:03:50,880 Speaker 2: over you know, what defense are we going to focus 74 00:03:50,920 --> 00:03:53,920 Speaker 2: on today? And yeah, it's gonna be still you know, 75 00:03:54,000 --> 00:03:56,920 Speaker 2: some problems, some kinks and wrinkles that you still got 76 00:03:56,920 --> 00:04:00,400 Speaker 2: to iron out, but it's really just flying over the 77 00:04:00,440 --> 00:04:04,400 Speaker 2: stuff that you already reviewed. But yeah, I think offense 78 00:04:04,480 --> 00:04:06,840 Speaker 2: is a little bit different than defense. You know, we 79 00:04:07,400 --> 00:04:09,880 Speaker 2: you know, we got our base stuff in and you 80 00:04:09,920 --> 00:04:12,360 Speaker 2: know it doesn't change. It's not a lot that changes, 81 00:04:13,080 --> 00:04:16,040 Speaker 2: but it's just being able to focus on more of 82 00:04:16,040 --> 00:04:19,640 Speaker 2: the small details. Now. Like I said, it's the urgency 83 00:04:19,680 --> 00:04:22,359 Speaker 2: that picks up during training camp because I mean, you 84 00:04:22,400 --> 00:04:24,680 Speaker 2: can't just be sitting on one play you know, we 85 00:04:24,960 --> 00:04:26,520 Speaker 2: need to focus on this one. No, we got a 86 00:04:26,560 --> 00:04:29,719 Speaker 2: whole the rest of our playbook to get in and 87 00:04:29,760 --> 00:04:32,159 Speaker 2: then you go to Miami in two weeks, Like it's 88 00:04:32,200 --> 00:04:34,239 Speaker 2: just it's just crazy to think. 89 00:04:34,080 --> 00:04:36,960 Speaker 3: About really like we leave a week from tomorrow. 90 00:04:37,080 --> 00:04:39,880 Speaker 2: Yeah, it is crazy. We'll be in Miami a week 91 00:04:40,000 --> 00:04:42,960 Speaker 2: so just sweating. Yeah, So it's just the urgency. I 92 00:04:43,000 --> 00:04:45,400 Speaker 2: think that that picks up a little bit during training camp. 93 00:04:45,720 --> 00:04:48,000 Speaker 1: Yeah, I can't wait to see just some of some 94 00:04:48,040 --> 00:04:50,320 Speaker 1: of what's gonna happen between you guys and the Dolphins 95 00:04:50,320 --> 00:04:53,000 Speaker 1: down there. But you've talked about the details a little 96 00:04:53,040 --> 00:04:55,159 Speaker 1: bit and it's clear that that's what makes you such 97 00:04:55,160 --> 00:04:57,359 Speaker 1: an excellent player. But when you've got kind of this 98 00:04:57,480 --> 00:05:00,360 Speaker 1: level of continuity in the secondary now with guys AJ 99 00:05:00,560 --> 00:05:03,159 Speaker 1: and Mike and d and you and Ritchie, does that 100 00:05:03,240 --> 00:05:05,839 Speaker 1: allow you as a group to almost kind of like 101 00:05:06,000 --> 00:05:09,039 Speaker 1: continue to stack those details when you've got last year 102 00:05:09,080 --> 00:05:10,920 Speaker 1: to look back on and build on, and you can 103 00:05:10,960 --> 00:05:13,320 Speaker 1: say going into training camp now we can kind of 104 00:05:13,360 --> 00:05:15,719 Speaker 1: like pick up where we left off and continue to refine. 105 00:05:15,880 --> 00:05:18,840 Speaker 2: Yeah. Yeah, that's that's huge. You know, when you talk 106 00:05:18,880 --> 00:05:22,800 Speaker 2: about defensive backs in chemistry, that's it's kind of like 107 00:05:22,800 --> 00:05:25,600 Speaker 2: a quarterback and a receiver. Yea kind of thing knowing 108 00:05:25,760 --> 00:05:27,720 Speaker 2: you know where the ball is going to be, uh. 109 00:05:28,040 --> 00:05:30,560 Speaker 2: With Drake and Kirk like on the backside, you know, 110 00:05:30,800 --> 00:05:32,159 Speaker 2: are you gonna throw it over the top. You're gonna 111 00:05:32,160 --> 00:05:35,680 Speaker 2: throw a back shoulder for for dB. Just like we're 112 00:05:35,680 --> 00:05:37,839 Speaker 2: seeing that stuff through the same lens and being able 113 00:05:37,839 --> 00:05:40,760 Speaker 2: to have a year underneath our belt. You know, we're 114 00:05:40,800 --> 00:05:44,440 Speaker 2: not speaking different languages, we're not seeing stuff differently. We're 115 00:05:44,480 --> 00:05:48,000 Speaker 2: seeing stuff through the same lens. And that's very That's 116 00:05:48,040 --> 00:05:50,719 Speaker 2: that's powerful when you can you know, have a dB. 117 00:05:51,320 --> 00:05:53,120 Speaker 2: Uh No, I kind of seen it this way. No, 118 00:05:53,400 --> 00:05:55,160 Speaker 2: you've seen it this No, we we got to be 119 00:05:55,200 --> 00:05:58,480 Speaker 2: on the same page. And yeah, I think that's what uh, 120 00:05:58,560 --> 00:06:01,240 Speaker 2: you know makes that you know that continuity, you know, 121 00:06:01,279 --> 00:06:04,160 Speaker 2: you can continue to stack days even easier, not easier, 122 00:06:04,200 --> 00:06:08,360 Speaker 2: but just more natural. And it's just a better feel 123 00:06:08,440 --> 00:06:11,040 Speaker 2: and than just having to come in with some new guys. 124 00:06:11,080 --> 00:06:14,000 Speaker 2: And I remember last year I was like, I'm not 125 00:06:14,040 --> 00:06:16,360 Speaker 2: sure if Ritchie is seeing the same way. But now 126 00:06:16,880 --> 00:06:20,520 Speaker 2: you know, we've had a whole year underneath our belt. 127 00:06:20,279 --> 00:06:23,120 Speaker 2: And like I said, that's going to show a lot 128 00:06:23,200 --> 00:06:23,560 Speaker 2: for sure. 129 00:06:23,760 --> 00:06:25,480 Speaker 3: Speaking of kind of being on the same page, I 130 00:06:25,480 --> 00:06:27,919 Speaker 3: find the way that this coaching staff is contructed to 131 00:06:27,960 --> 00:06:31,160 Speaker 3: be very interesting because you have Raheem, you have Jimmy Lake, 132 00:06:31,720 --> 00:06:35,080 Speaker 3: Jerry Gray, Justin hood all have this like wealth of 133 00:06:35,160 --> 00:06:38,280 Speaker 3: knowledge in terms of being being able to coach the 134 00:06:38,320 --> 00:06:41,680 Speaker 3: defensive back in the secondary. I'm kind of curious from 135 00:06:41,680 --> 00:06:44,880 Speaker 3: your perspective, how did they all work in tandem with 136 00:06:44,960 --> 00:06:48,680 Speaker 3: each other and also making sure that there aren't too 137 00:06:48,760 --> 00:06:49,760 Speaker 3: many cooks in the kitchen. 138 00:06:50,120 --> 00:06:53,960 Speaker 2: Yeah, you know, ra always peeks his head in there 139 00:06:54,000 --> 00:06:54,480 Speaker 2: a little bit. 140 00:06:55,440 --> 00:06:57,719 Speaker 3: You know, that's way Wait before you start, what is 141 00:06:58,120 --> 00:07:00,920 Speaker 3: I always say his love language is there's always something 142 00:07:00,920 --> 00:07:01,719 Speaker 3: that he'll make fun. 143 00:07:01,600 --> 00:07:03,160 Speaker 1: Of you for. What's it with you? 144 00:07:04,279 --> 00:07:06,039 Speaker 3: Or is he just like Jesse's my dude? 145 00:07:06,200 --> 00:07:08,520 Speaker 2: No, he calls me beage. He calls all the light 146 00:07:08,560 --> 00:07:13,480 Speaker 2: skinned guys, get your beage button here and break the 147 00:07:13,560 --> 00:07:15,720 Speaker 2: huddle down. So yeah, that's his. Uh, you know that's his. 148 00:07:16,280 --> 00:07:20,480 Speaker 2: That's it's funny because I met Raheem's dad and I 149 00:07:20,840 --> 00:07:22,720 Speaker 2: see where he gets it from. His dad. Is just 150 00:07:22,760 --> 00:07:26,080 Speaker 2: the same exact way he jokes around. But it's super 151 00:07:26,160 --> 00:07:28,840 Speaker 2: intentional and you know it makes it makes you feel, 152 00:07:29,080 --> 00:07:32,040 Speaker 2: you know, well about yourself, and if you talk to 153 00:07:32,080 --> 00:07:34,480 Speaker 2: people all around the league, that's what you know. Raheem 154 00:07:34,560 --> 00:07:37,440 Speaker 2: is known for. It's just he's about his business. But 155 00:07:37,520 --> 00:07:39,840 Speaker 2: he's also a funny dude that you can you know, 156 00:07:39,920 --> 00:07:44,040 Speaker 2: have a conversation with. So, yeah, something that's very special. 157 00:07:44,080 --> 00:07:46,200 Speaker 2: I think that we got in our head coach, and 158 00:07:46,440 --> 00:07:47,400 Speaker 2: I'm excited to play for. 159 00:07:48,040 --> 00:07:50,200 Speaker 3: And going back to my original question, I know I 160 00:07:50,480 --> 00:07:53,120 Speaker 3: just went completely but when when it comes to those 161 00:07:53,200 --> 00:07:56,640 Speaker 3: those four guys, Jerry and Jimmy and Ron and Justin, Like, 162 00:07:56,760 --> 00:07:57,920 Speaker 3: how do they work together? 163 00:07:58,280 --> 00:08:00,520 Speaker 2: Yeah, I think they do a good job of, you know, 164 00:08:00,600 --> 00:08:03,400 Speaker 2: bouncing off of each other. Like I said, Rod doesn't 165 00:08:03,520 --> 00:08:06,080 Speaker 2: get two hands on. He kind of lets Hood and 166 00:08:06,360 --> 00:08:10,440 Speaker 2: Coach Gray kind of run the dB run the dB room, 167 00:08:11,440 --> 00:08:13,160 Speaker 2: and then you'll see Jimmy like in the back of 168 00:08:13,200 --> 00:08:15,239 Speaker 2: the meeting just making sure that, like I said, we 169 00:08:15,240 --> 00:08:18,920 Speaker 2: were all talking the same way. But yeah, you know, 170 00:08:19,120 --> 00:08:22,040 Speaker 2: just having that type of knowledge in the room and 171 00:08:22,120 --> 00:08:24,360 Speaker 2: just being able to talk to our d C, being 172 00:08:24,360 --> 00:08:28,160 Speaker 2: able to talk to you know, Jerry or coach Hood, 173 00:08:28,320 --> 00:08:31,320 Speaker 2: you know Raheem. It's it's really cool to have that 174 00:08:31,440 --> 00:08:35,000 Speaker 2: and just have different perspectives and you know a bunch 175 00:08:35,040 --> 00:08:37,880 Speaker 2: of knowledge. Like I said, that's about one hundred years 176 00:08:37,920 --> 00:08:41,760 Speaker 2: of you know, of of coaching and you know experience. 177 00:08:41,800 --> 00:08:44,520 Speaker 2: And for Rah, I mean he's been on the offensive side. 178 00:08:44,600 --> 00:08:47,880 Speaker 2: You know, Jerry's been a player. You know, Hood hasn't 179 00:08:47,920 --> 00:08:50,640 Speaker 2: been a player, so it's just like different you know, 180 00:08:50,760 --> 00:08:52,640 Speaker 2: coaching coaching styles. 181 00:08:52,240 --> 00:08:53,760 Speaker 3: And different viewpoints of the game. 182 00:08:53,880 --> 00:08:57,120 Speaker 2: Yeah, exactly exactly. And I think sometimes you get coaches 183 00:08:57,120 --> 00:08:59,880 Speaker 2: that never played the game that kind of like over 184 00:09:00,080 --> 00:09:02,719 Speaker 2: detail it, and then you get the player that's been 185 00:09:02,840 --> 00:09:05,040 Speaker 2: that's a coach now and they're kind of like simple, 186 00:09:05,080 --> 00:09:07,800 Speaker 2: it's like this, it's like that, And like I said, 187 00:09:07,800 --> 00:09:10,640 Speaker 2: it makes it easy, you know for young guys that 188 00:09:10,800 --> 00:09:13,520 Speaker 2: you know are coming in and us as a whole 189 00:09:13,559 --> 00:09:17,360 Speaker 2: defense kind of chemistry, the chemistry and kind of connect together. 190 00:09:17,480 --> 00:09:19,640 Speaker 2: So it's been really cool to see that. 191 00:09:20,120 --> 00:09:23,240 Speaker 1: I've heard it said that that you don't coach defense, 192 00:09:23,280 --> 00:09:26,600 Speaker 1: you teach defense because of what you're just saying, right, You, 193 00:09:26,640 --> 00:09:29,240 Speaker 1: when you diagram something up on a chalkboard, right, it 194 00:09:29,240 --> 00:09:31,480 Speaker 1: may look perfect and you can shut down every offense 195 00:09:31,520 --> 00:09:33,559 Speaker 1: in the world, but when you actually have to put 196 00:09:33,559 --> 00:09:36,040 Speaker 1: it on the field, yeah, it may not always work 197 00:09:36,040 --> 00:09:38,480 Speaker 1: out perfectly. And it's really the principles that a player 198 00:09:38,480 --> 00:09:40,839 Speaker 1: has that allows them to play fast. But with kind 199 00:09:40,840 --> 00:09:43,240 Speaker 1: of those details, is that the sense that you get 200 00:09:43,240 --> 00:09:45,240 Speaker 1: from this coaching staff that they're more teachers. 201 00:09:45,520 --> 00:09:48,560 Speaker 2: Yeah, absolutely, Like I said, it's not everything is not 202 00:09:48,600 --> 00:09:51,560 Speaker 2: gonna be perfect. You're always reacting to something on defense 203 00:09:52,280 --> 00:09:55,760 Speaker 2: and understand how people are trying to attack us defensively. 204 00:09:56,679 --> 00:09:58,920 Speaker 2: Like I said, there's stuff that you know, motions, and 205 00:09:59,360 --> 00:10:02,000 Speaker 2: you know it's not gonna be throw the iPad out there, 206 00:10:02,040 --> 00:10:04,439 Speaker 2: and the iPad is gonna make us play like you 207 00:10:04,520 --> 00:10:07,920 Speaker 2: got to be able to, you know, take a take 208 00:10:07,960 --> 00:10:10,959 Speaker 2: a lead on it and take control of the defense 209 00:10:11,000 --> 00:10:13,080 Speaker 2: because we're the ones that's out there making calls and 210 00:10:13,120 --> 00:10:18,120 Speaker 2: making adjustments. So, like you said, teaching the game itself, 211 00:10:18,280 --> 00:10:23,480 Speaker 2: not just teaching technique, you know, just teaching the game, 212 00:10:23,640 --> 00:10:26,280 Speaker 2: how the offense is coming, how the offense views it, 213 00:10:26,360 --> 00:10:28,920 Speaker 2: how the you know, the quarterback views it. I think 214 00:10:28,960 --> 00:10:31,920 Speaker 2: that's very like I said, very powerful, and you know, 215 00:10:31,960 --> 00:10:35,520 Speaker 2: seeing it from that perspective, because if not, you're gonna 216 00:10:35,520 --> 00:10:37,520 Speaker 2: be out there like, oh, the iPads had played it 217 00:10:37,559 --> 00:10:40,720 Speaker 2: this way, but yeah, that's not real football. So yeah, 218 00:10:40,920 --> 00:10:41,280 Speaker 2: you could. 219 00:10:41,320 --> 00:10:43,240 Speaker 1: You could be a professional podcaster with the way you 220 00:10:43,280 --> 00:10:44,719 Speaker 1: set up that segue, because I want to ask you 221 00:10:44,760 --> 00:10:47,240 Speaker 1: about your your time with Kirk Cousins and seeing the 222 00:10:47,280 --> 00:10:50,199 Speaker 1: game through a quarterback's viewpoint, and I remember one of 223 00:10:50,200 --> 00:10:51,480 Speaker 1: the people I used to love talking to us for 224 00:10:51,559 --> 00:10:55,080 Speaker 1: Cardo Allen, your your former teammate Cincinnati, and he did 225 00:10:55,080 --> 00:10:57,640 Speaker 1: the same thing with Matt Ryan. And I'm just really curious, 226 00:10:57,679 --> 00:11:00,720 Speaker 1: you know, like, what are some of the bits of 227 00:11:00,760 --> 00:11:03,600 Speaker 1: advice that like Kirk can impart upon you and vice 228 00:11:03,679 --> 00:11:06,240 Speaker 1: versa when you guys are sitting down watching the tape. 229 00:11:06,400 --> 00:11:10,280 Speaker 2: Yeah, you know, there's it's always that, you know, that 230 00:11:10,400 --> 00:11:13,080 Speaker 2: relationship is a little you know, weird because we're like, hey, 231 00:11:13,120 --> 00:11:17,240 Speaker 2: we want to pick you off every single time. But 232 00:11:17,280 --> 00:11:19,520 Speaker 2: it's like I'm always staring at Kirk. Kirk staring at me. 233 00:11:19,600 --> 00:11:21,760 Speaker 2: He's trying to lie to me, you know, with his eyes. 234 00:11:21,880 --> 00:11:24,160 Speaker 2: So it's, uh, you know, you got to break that 235 00:11:24,200 --> 00:11:27,120 Speaker 2: conversation like, hey, you're still part of my team, you know, 236 00:11:27,920 --> 00:11:31,600 Speaker 2: I want to understand and process what you're thinking, you know, 237 00:11:31,640 --> 00:11:34,120 Speaker 2: what you're seeing, because like I said, they're always looking 238 00:11:34,120 --> 00:11:36,280 Speaker 2: at the safety to figure out, you know, what's going on. 239 00:11:37,600 --> 00:11:40,520 Speaker 2: So yeah, when we're watching films with Kirk, it's an 240 00:11:40,520 --> 00:11:43,120 Speaker 2: ongoing conversation. He's asking me like, hey, what do you 241 00:11:43,160 --> 00:11:45,640 Speaker 2: think of this? Jesse, Like what does that mean when 242 00:11:45,679 --> 00:11:47,320 Speaker 2: you're doing that? And I'm like Kurk, what does this 243 00:11:47,360 --> 00:11:50,600 Speaker 2: mean when you're doing you know, looking off here, So 244 00:11:50,640 --> 00:11:54,560 Speaker 2: it goes both hands and hand. It's something that I 245 00:11:54,679 --> 00:11:57,719 Speaker 2: didn't do as much as I wanted to in Cincinnati 246 00:11:57,760 --> 00:12:01,680 Speaker 2: with Joe and Andy Dawton. But it just having that 247 00:12:01,720 --> 00:12:04,800 Speaker 2: perspective of how how important it is to understand what 248 00:12:04,880 --> 00:12:08,840 Speaker 2: a quarterbacks processes and how he's thinking and what's his 249 00:12:08,960 --> 00:12:12,960 Speaker 2: progression and stuff. So and Kirk is, I mean, he's 250 00:12:13,080 --> 00:12:17,040 Speaker 2: a top, top dude when it comes to knowing the game. 251 00:12:17,160 --> 00:12:20,280 Speaker 2: He's seen it all. He's seen every single safety, he's 252 00:12:20,280 --> 00:12:22,440 Speaker 2: seen the game evolve into what it is now. So 253 00:12:24,120 --> 00:12:25,680 Speaker 2: just being able to have him as a, you know, 254 00:12:25,720 --> 00:12:30,199 Speaker 2: another resource to become a better player. But you look 255 00:12:30,200 --> 00:12:32,320 Speaker 2: at Kirk as a person too, like that's a solid 256 00:12:32,400 --> 00:12:35,360 Speaker 2: dude that you would want to be, you know, in 257 00:12:35,400 --> 00:12:38,160 Speaker 2: your life. So just asking him questions about you know, 258 00:12:38,720 --> 00:12:41,720 Speaker 2: his life. And he's also a Midwest guy from Michigan, 259 00:12:41,840 --> 00:12:43,800 Speaker 2: so yeah, you know, it's a it's a lot of 260 00:12:43,800 --> 00:12:47,400 Speaker 2: continuity there. You know. I always say Midwest guys or 261 00:12:47,559 --> 00:12:51,400 Speaker 2: blue collar guys don't care about much, you know, outside noise, 262 00:12:51,480 --> 00:12:53,760 Speaker 2: and that's what Kirk is. 263 00:12:54,120 --> 00:12:56,719 Speaker 3: It's funny too, because you you made mention of I 264 00:12:56,800 --> 00:12:59,640 Speaker 3: wish I would have done this earlier in my career. 265 00:12:59,679 --> 00:13:01,320 Speaker 3: I wish I would have done this more because Kirk 266 00:13:01,360 --> 00:13:03,240 Speaker 3: said the exact same thing. We were talking to him 267 00:13:03,240 --> 00:13:06,600 Speaker 3: about these one on one sessions that y'all had, and 268 00:13:06,840 --> 00:13:09,160 Speaker 3: I almost wonder, is like that a piece of advice 269 00:13:09,200 --> 00:13:11,800 Speaker 3: that you would maybe give to young guys in the 270 00:13:11,920 --> 00:13:14,280 Speaker 3: league is like, hey, go and talk to people who 271 00:13:15,080 --> 00:13:17,240 Speaker 3: are your adversaries technically on the field. 272 00:13:17,480 --> 00:13:21,080 Speaker 2: Yeah, like I said, especially when they want to, you know, 273 00:13:21,160 --> 00:13:24,080 Speaker 2: help you out as well. And Kirk has been awesome 274 00:13:24,120 --> 00:13:25,480 Speaker 2: in that. I'm like, hey, Kirk, I want to watch 275 00:13:25,480 --> 00:13:27,840 Speaker 2: some film. And it's not like I had to go 276 00:13:27,880 --> 00:13:30,040 Speaker 2: ask Kirk again. Kirk's texting me like, Hey, I'm in 277 00:13:30,080 --> 00:13:32,840 Speaker 2: here at seven o'clock in the morning, watch film. You 278 00:13:32,880 --> 00:13:36,120 Speaker 2: can join me. If not, it's okay, awesome. So just 279 00:13:36,200 --> 00:13:39,800 Speaker 2: having that open conversation, Like I said, every quarterback is 280 00:13:39,840 --> 00:13:43,000 Speaker 2: not like Kirk Cousins. So I'm just very blessed to 281 00:13:43,040 --> 00:13:45,920 Speaker 2: have him as our quarterback and being able to learn from. 282 00:13:45,880 --> 00:13:49,280 Speaker 1: Him and this this group of receivers right like, it's 283 00:13:49,280 --> 00:13:52,040 Speaker 1: not just a new quarterback, but guy like Darnell Mooney 284 00:13:52,080 --> 00:13:53,920 Speaker 1: or Ray Raymoncloud who have been out there, like have 285 00:13:54,040 --> 00:13:57,280 Speaker 1: you feltz? Their their kind of speed, their agility, things 286 00:13:57,320 --> 00:13:58,400 Speaker 1: like that so far in camp. 287 00:13:58,679 --> 00:14:01,880 Speaker 2: Yeah, you know, I've always know Rondelle's from Indiana, so 288 00:14:02,600 --> 00:14:05,520 Speaker 2: uh you know, I've always I've always known them, Uh. 289 00:14:05,280 --> 00:14:06,480 Speaker 1: Y'all in Midwest group chat. 290 00:14:07,600 --> 00:14:11,360 Speaker 2: Yeah a little bit, Yeah, a little bit. But yeah, 291 00:14:11,440 --> 00:14:14,040 Speaker 2: I mean those receivers I played against him, you know, 292 00:14:14,080 --> 00:14:17,280 Speaker 2: I know what Mooney brings to the table, and just 293 00:14:17,320 --> 00:14:19,520 Speaker 2: to have them on our team and add the add 294 00:14:19,520 --> 00:14:22,440 Speaker 2: that value to that room. You know, you're you still 295 00:14:22,480 --> 00:14:24,440 Speaker 2: got Drake, you know, you still got some other guys 296 00:14:24,480 --> 00:14:28,560 Speaker 2: that's been here. But just having those guys and then 297 00:14:28,640 --> 00:14:31,640 Speaker 2: having Kirk leading those guys, I think he'll make those 298 00:14:31,640 --> 00:14:35,000 Speaker 2: guys better as well, just you know, making them understand 299 00:14:35,040 --> 00:14:37,760 Speaker 2: the game. Why are they running this route? Just because 300 00:14:37,760 --> 00:14:39,800 Speaker 2: you're fast. I don't mean you're gonna be a great player, 301 00:14:39,840 --> 00:14:42,960 Speaker 2: but just learning how you know to get open and 302 00:14:43,000 --> 00:14:45,520 Speaker 2: you know, seeing it from Kirk's perspective, I think is 303 00:14:45,560 --> 00:14:48,400 Speaker 2: like I said, it's very powerful and we'll lead to 304 00:14:48,520 --> 00:14:51,560 Speaker 2: some success for not just our team, but for them 305 00:14:51,600 --> 00:14:51,960 Speaker 2: as well. 306 00:14:52,320 --> 00:14:53,600 Speaker 3: Who are you rooming with right now? 307 00:14:55,080 --> 00:14:58,280 Speaker 2: Yeah, it's the safety so we got we got Richie, uh, 308 00:14:58,400 --> 00:15:01,240 Speaker 2: DeMarco and uh Michael Abenath. 309 00:15:01,440 --> 00:15:04,040 Speaker 3: Okay, so what's it like living with those guys? 310 00:15:04,080 --> 00:15:04,520 Speaker 2: Did y'all? 311 00:15:04,800 --> 00:15:06,560 Speaker 3: I mean that that group, I feel like y'all are 312 00:15:06,560 --> 00:15:10,000 Speaker 3: pretty pretty close just in general. But what what's what's 313 00:15:10,000 --> 00:15:11,720 Speaker 3: a peek inside the dorm line? 314 00:15:11,800 --> 00:15:14,200 Speaker 2: Yeah, we probably got one of the most lip rooms, 315 00:15:14,200 --> 00:15:19,320 Speaker 2: I think. Oh yeah, okay, not like thirty Yeah, I 316 00:15:19,320 --> 00:15:21,000 Speaker 2: mean there's been a couple of times we stayed up 317 00:15:21,040 --> 00:15:23,600 Speaker 2: and we're playing cards and we're kind of hanging out. 318 00:15:24,440 --> 00:15:25,880 Speaker 2: But yeah, we got a good group. You know, you 319 00:15:25,960 --> 00:15:28,520 Speaker 2: got Richie, who you know, he might be in bed 320 00:15:28,560 --> 00:15:30,400 Speaker 2: at ten thirty, he might just yell something out and 321 00:15:30,440 --> 00:15:32,240 Speaker 2: over him. That was going on? 322 00:15:32,520 --> 00:15:35,120 Speaker 3: Was that someone said you hear Richie coming before you 323 00:15:35,160 --> 00:15:37,720 Speaker 3: see him. Yeah, and I'm like, that is absolutely true. 324 00:15:37,720 --> 00:15:39,480 Speaker 2: And then you got DeMarco, he's still kind of, you know, 325 00:15:39,480 --> 00:15:41,400 Speaker 2: a year or two figuring it out a little bit. 326 00:15:41,440 --> 00:15:43,840 Speaker 2: And then you got Michael, who's just he's just a 327 00:15:44,000 --> 00:15:47,040 Speaker 2: smart dude. He's from Atlanta. He kind of giving giving 328 00:15:47,080 --> 00:15:50,400 Speaker 2: the game to us about what's going on in Atlanta. Yeah, 329 00:15:50,440 --> 00:15:52,200 Speaker 2: and then you got me and I'm just kind of 330 00:15:52,200 --> 00:15:54,120 Speaker 2: like the peacemaker. I'm trying to teach him how to 331 00:15:54,120 --> 00:15:57,600 Speaker 2: play dominoes. We're playing some dominoes. You know, I'm the 332 00:15:57,640 --> 00:15:59,960 Speaker 2: oldest guy in the room. It's just crazy to think about. 333 00:16:00,200 --> 00:16:02,600 Speaker 2: But you know, we were playing some dominoes the other 334 00:16:02,680 --> 00:16:06,400 Speaker 2: night until one o'clock in the morning. We were able 335 00:16:06,400 --> 00:16:09,480 Speaker 2: to sleep until eleven, so it was all good. But 336 00:16:09,520 --> 00:16:12,400 Speaker 2: we're still getting our you know, eight to nine hours. 337 00:16:13,000 --> 00:16:15,280 Speaker 2: But yeah, it's definitely a good group to be around 338 00:16:15,440 --> 00:16:20,000 Speaker 2: and to just continue to build our relationship together and that, 339 00:16:20,280 --> 00:16:22,840 Speaker 2: like I said, when we were playing cards, playing dominoes, 340 00:16:22,880 --> 00:16:25,720 Speaker 2: that leads to other conversations and you know, getting to 341 00:16:25,720 --> 00:16:28,440 Speaker 2: know those guys and you know, talking about you know, 342 00:16:28,560 --> 00:16:31,280 Speaker 2: becoming a man, stuff like that. Just you know, just 343 00:16:31,320 --> 00:16:35,360 Speaker 2: really real deal conversations that we've been having in Ah, 344 00:16:35,680 --> 00:16:38,280 Speaker 2: you know, when we're just at home kind of kind 345 00:16:38,280 --> 00:16:39,800 Speaker 2: of thing. So it's a little different when you're in 346 00:16:39,840 --> 00:16:42,920 Speaker 2: the locker room. You're thinking about what you know, this 347 00:16:42,920 --> 00:16:45,480 Speaker 2: this call is, that call is. We're talking about you know, 348 00:16:45,560 --> 00:16:50,080 Speaker 2: life life stuff and real life conversations. That's it's pretty cool. 349 00:16:50,080 --> 00:16:51,800 Speaker 2: That's what you know this game is for. 350 00:16:52,640 --> 00:16:55,760 Speaker 3: Before we let you go. Raw has made mentioned that 351 00:16:55,920 --> 00:16:58,160 Speaker 3: he When he's asked about the identity of this team, 352 00:16:58,560 --> 00:17:00,760 Speaker 3: he said, I don't want to dictate the identity of 353 00:17:00,760 --> 00:17:02,880 Speaker 3: this team. I want the players to to dictate that. 354 00:17:03,360 --> 00:17:06,200 Speaker 3: For you. I know it's we're four days into this thing, 355 00:17:06,760 --> 00:17:10,920 Speaker 3: but if you could say, you know, we're in week twelve, 356 00:17:10,960 --> 00:17:13,760 Speaker 3: week thirteen, what do you hope the identity is. 357 00:17:14,240 --> 00:17:17,960 Speaker 2: Yeah, like like ros said, is a player led thing, 358 00:17:19,000 --> 00:17:21,320 Speaker 2: you know, led by a bunch of coaches as well. 359 00:17:21,359 --> 00:17:24,720 Speaker 2: That's kind of given us, you know, the keys to everything. 360 00:17:24,840 --> 00:17:28,480 Speaker 2: But it's not just some really good football players on 361 00:17:28,480 --> 00:17:30,520 Speaker 2: this team. It's really good people on this team. And 362 00:17:31,640 --> 00:17:33,840 Speaker 2: you know, whether it's going good, whether it's going bad, 363 00:17:33,880 --> 00:17:37,520 Speaker 2: we need mentally tough people that can you know, get 364 00:17:37,560 --> 00:17:40,720 Speaker 2: through those tough times and that stuff's going to happen 365 00:17:40,800 --> 00:17:43,040 Speaker 2: at some point, everything's not going to be great and 366 00:17:43,240 --> 00:17:46,680 Speaker 2: you know good and you know, when you got good 367 00:17:46,680 --> 00:17:49,200 Speaker 2: people in the building that's able to overcome that type 368 00:17:49,200 --> 00:17:52,200 Speaker 2: of stuff, I think we'll be fine when it's week 369 00:17:52,240 --> 00:17:55,480 Speaker 2: twelve and you know, whatever the situation is, I think 370 00:17:55,520 --> 00:17:59,320 Speaker 2: we'll thrive in that. So it's hard to say right now, 371 00:17:59,480 --> 00:18:02,080 Speaker 2: you know, nothing's you know, we haven't really hit in 372 00:18:02,119 --> 00:18:05,280 Speaker 2: the adversity right now in training camp as a team 373 00:18:05,520 --> 00:18:08,800 Speaker 2: against each other. Yeah, vibes are high, but we'll see 374 00:18:09,160 --> 00:18:11,119 Speaker 2: And I know, like I said, well, we have the 375 00:18:11,200 --> 00:18:14,800 Speaker 2: right people in this building, the right leaders to get 376 00:18:14,840 --> 00:18:18,480 Speaker 2: us back on track or or even if we're riding high, 377 00:18:18,480 --> 00:18:20,440 Speaker 2: we can you know, make sure we're not getting too high, 378 00:18:20,720 --> 00:18:22,720 Speaker 2: make sure we're not getting too low, and just you know, 379 00:18:23,040 --> 00:18:26,960 Speaker 2: keeping that steady and just continue to like you said, 380 00:18:27,040 --> 00:18:28,720 Speaker 2: keep that vibe high. 381 00:18:28,800 --> 00:18:31,399 Speaker 1: Yeah, I think that's a great mentality to strive for. 382 00:18:31,480 --> 00:18:32,920 Speaker 1: And and I don't think you're gonna have to worry 383 00:18:32,920 --> 00:18:34,960 Speaker 1: because Rod's going to keep that vibe high. So yeah, 384 00:18:35,040 --> 00:18:37,920 Speaker 1: y'all can y'all can keep keep it steady. He'll he'll 385 00:18:38,000 --> 00:18:40,159 Speaker 1: raise it when he needs to. Torium, I'm trying to 386 00:18:40,760 --> 00:18:43,520 Speaker 1: trying to figure out if we should uh invite Jesse 387 00:18:43,640 --> 00:18:48,359 Speaker 1: on for Camp Champ for our final side Jesse, Let's 388 00:18:48,560 --> 00:18:50,720 Speaker 1: let's explain this to you a little bit so you 389 00:18:51,440 --> 00:18:53,359 Speaker 1: we love our games. Yeah, at the end of each 390 00:18:53,880 --> 00:18:57,320 Speaker 1: each episode throughout training camp, where we're each nominating a 391 00:18:57,359 --> 00:18:59,680 Speaker 1: player who we think had the best day of practice. 392 00:19:00,160 --> 00:19:04,640 Speaker 1: Whoever wins that day's Camp Champ most throughout training camp 393 00:19:04,680 --> 00:19:08,800 Speaker 1: will officially be the Falcons twenty twenty four Training Camp Champs, right, 394 00:19:08,840 --> 00:19:10,240 Speaker 1: and then we'll and buye them on. We'll give him 395 00:19:10,240 --> 00:19:12,359 Speaker 1: a crown or whatever. He'll be fun. We don't have 396 00:19:12,359 --> 00:19:15,280 Speaker 1: it all fleshed out yet, we're getting there. Is Is 397 00:19:15,320 --> 00:19:18,360 Speaker 1: there anybody that and we can maybe broaden it for 398 00:19:18,440 --> 00:19:21,320 Speaker 1: you since we're throwing this on the spot, either today 399 00:19:21,320 --> 00:19:23,880 Speaker 1: in practice or maybe just from the first four day block. 400 00:19:23,960 --> 00:19:26,439 Speaker 1: Do you feel like, you know this guy, I just 401 00:19:26,440 --> 00:19:28,520 Speaker 1: felt like brought it every single day. 402 00:19:28,840 --> 00:19:31,840 Speaker 2: Yeah, you know, it's hard to pick out, you know, 403 00:19:32,000 --> 00:19:34,480 Speaker 2: just one guy. Just I'm trying to think, you know, 404 00:19:34,560 --> 00:19:37,760 Speaker 2: over the past, you know, a couple of days. You know, 405 00:19:37,840 --> 00:19:41,560 Speaker 2: we haven't we haven't did the physical part now, so 406 00:19:41,600 --> 00:19:43,000 Speaker 2: it's kind of hard to figure that out. 407 00:19:43,080 --> 00:19:46,119 Speaker 3: But trust us, we know we keep telling people like, 408 00:19:46,359 --> 00:19:49,320 Speaker 3: you're not seeing this defense go one hundred and ten percent, 409 00:19:49,359 --> 00:19:52,040 Speaker 3: Like it's really hard to kind of dictate. Like everybody's like, oh, 410 00:19:52,080 --> 00:19:53,359 Speaker 3: how did they how do they look? How do they look? 411 00:19:53,400 --> 00:19:55,520 Speaker 2: And it's like, well, it's hard hard to tell. 412 00:19:55,560 --> 00:19:58,199 Speaker 3: Right now. They have some like yeah, the want them 413 00:19:58,200 --> 00:19:58,760 Speaker 3: back a little bit. 414 00:19:59,240 --> 00:20:01,240 Speaker 2: You know, it's always good to see people come back 415 00:20:01,280 --> 00:20:05,320 Speaker 2: off you know, injuries, So Troy Anderson, you know, Grady 416 00:20:05,880 --> 00:20:07,840 Speaker 2: and just having him back as a leader, I think 417 00:20:07,840 --> 00:20:10,359 Speaker 2: it has been huge. And like I said, see and 418 00:20:10,400 --> 00:20:14,120 Speaker 2: Troy catch an interception yesterday and I know he wanted 419 00:20:14,160 --> 00:20:15,919 Speaker 2: to be out there so bad last year and just 420 00:20:16,080 --> 00:20:20,160 Speaker 2: him coming back into the season entering with his third 421 00:20:20,240 --> 00:20:24,040 Speaker 2: or fourth year. Third, Yeah, so just watching him grow 422 00:20:24,080 --> 00:20:27,800 Speaker 2: next to Cayden and Nate has been really good to see. 423 00:20:27,880 --> 00:20:31,280 Speaker 2: So the last couple of days, I have to go 424 00:20:31,320 --> 00:20:33,320 Speaker 2: with Troy. 425 00:20:33,760 --> 00:20:34,680 Speaker 1: Yeah, I'm good with. 426 00:20:34,640 --> 00:20:37,040 Speaker 3: It because we did Grady the first day because I said, 427 00:20:37,080 --> 00:20:39,480 Speaker 3: I was like, there's just something like so natural that 428 00:20:39,520 --> 00:20:42,240 Speaker 3: Grady Syret's back out there, and it's just nice to see. 429 00:20:42,560 --> 00:20:43,400 Speaker 2: I'm in the same way. 430 00:20:43,640 --> 00:20:47,040 Speaker 3: Yeah Grady, Yeah, yeah, you got it And I love that. 431 00:20:47,119 --> 00:20:50,879 Speaker 1: Yeah, Troy, Troy can be the camp champ of the 432 00:20:51,040 --> 00:20:54,160 Speaker 1: first four day block. After securing an intersect, so you 433 00:20:54,240 --> 00:20:57,960 Speaker 1: are officially like, no, there was no whistle play was. 434 00:20:59,600 --> 00:20:59,840 Speaker 2: There? 435 00:21:00,119 --> 00:21:02,600 Speaker 3: That was where we had there was a discrepancy because 436 00:21:02,600 --> 00:21:04,760 Speaker 3: the offense was sitting there saying like, no, they called 437 00:21:04,760 --> 00:21:05,760 Speaker 3: it dead. They called it dead. 438 00:21:05,840 --> 00:21:09,560 Speaker 2: But you can't hit the quarterback right now, right, I 439 00:21:09,600 --> 00:21:17,640 Speaker 2: mean that's true. He picked off Kirk Cousins, that's exactly so. Yeah, 440 00:21:18,080 --> 00:21:19,720 Speaker 2: it's good for I love that. 441 00:21:19,840 --> 00:21:22,080 Speaker 1: Awesome well, Jesse, this was so much fun. Thank you 442 00:21:22,119 --> 00:21:25,240 Speaker 1: so much for telling the time to join us. Thank 443 00:21:25,320 --> 00:21:27,919 Speaker 1: you guys so much for watching Falcons Final Whistle presented 444 00:21:27,960 --> 00:21:31,360 Speaker 1: by Zaxby's for Jesse Bates, Tory mclaney I and Will McFadden. 445 00:21:31,400 --> 00:21:33,959 Speaker 1: We will see you guys on Tuesday. 446 00:21:34,160 --> 00:21:40,320 Speaker 3: Yeah,