1 00:00:04,800 --> 00:00:06,560 Speaker 1: All right, O, mar thanks very much for being with us. 2 00:00:06,640 --> 00:00:09,480 Speaker 1: First question, Yeah, first question for you. Team starts ten 3 00:00:09,520 --> 00:00:11,840 Speaker 1: and three. Obviously we saw what happened down the stretch. 4 00:00:11,960 --> 00:00:14,200 Speaker 1: How do you kind of evaluate the season overall? 5 00:00:14,960 --> 00:00:17,400 Speaker 2: You know, I'd say, you know, we were ten and three, 6 00:00:17,760 --> 00:00:19,560 Speaker 2: we felt good about where we were, but the reality 7 00:00:19,600 --> 00:00:22,280 Speaker 2: is we lost five fraight games and that's unacceptable and 8 00:00:22,520 --> 00:00:26,200 Speaker 2: it's not good enough, and you know, so it's disappointing 9 00:00:26,239 --> 00:00:29,440 Speaker 2: how it ended, and it can't happen again. Where you know, 10 00:00:29,480 --> 00:00:33,239 Speaker 2: we have to be self aware and review everything that 11 00:00:33,280 --> 00:00:35,040 Speaker 2: we've done and how we do it, and we're in 12 00:00:35,080 --> 00:00:37,080 Speaker 2: the process of doing that and make sure that doesn't 13 00:00:37,080 --> 00:00:37,560 Speaker 2: happen again. 14 00:00:37,920 --> 00:00:40,120 Speaker 1: I think the argument can be made and has been made, 15 00:00:40,120 --> 00:00:42,400 Speaker 1: that the quarterback position is the most important position in 16 00:00:42,440 --> 00:00:45,000 Speaker 1: all of sports. Art Rooney said after the year, Look, 17 00:00:45,040 --> 00:00:47,559 Speaker 1: you got good production from Justin Field, good production from 18 00:00:47,560 --> 00:00:50,240 Speaker 1: Buston Wilson at times both of them that he wants 19 00:00:50,240 --> 00:00:52,720 Speaker 1: to make a decision at the quarterback position. Where does 20 00:00:52,760 --> 00:00:54,240 Speaker 1: that stand as we sit here today? 21 00:00:54,400 --> 00:00:57,320 Speaker 2: Reality is right now, you know, three guys we had 22 00:00:57,400 --> 00:00:59,720 Speaker 2: last year on the roster are not on the contract, 23 00:01:00,280 --> 00:01:05,080 Speaker 2: So you know, our preferences to be able to have 24 00:01:05,480 --> 00:01:08,160 Speaker 2: one or a combination of those guys as part of 25 00:01:08,200 --> 00:01:11,240 Speaker 2: our roster in twenty twenty five. Right now, all options 26 00:01:11,240 --> 00:01:13,959 Speaker 2: are on the table until that happens. But that's that's 27 00:01:13,959 --> 00:01:14,639 Speaker 2: where it's handed. 28 00:01:15,319 --> 00:01:17,640 Speaker 1: You've had two very well regarded drafts. How do you 29 00:01:17,640 --> 00:01:19,800 Speaker 1: feel about the process leading up to the draft with 30 00:01:19,840 --> 00:01:21,720 Speaker 1: you and your scouts and your team. 31 00:01:22,240 --> 00:01:23,920 Speaker 2: I feel really good about a process. You know, we 32 00:01:23,959 --> 00:01:26,000 Speaker 2: always do review it every year to see, hey, how 33 00:01:26,040 --> 00:01:27,800 Speaker 2: can we get better? You know, what can we do 34 00:01:28,040 --> 00:01:31,440 Speaker 2: differently that's gonna maybe help us out. But you know, 35 00:01:31,600 --> 00:01:33,880 Speaker 2: the group that I have a great group of people 36 00:01:33,880 --> 00:01:36,160 Speaker 2: that work that I work with. But yeah, overall, I 37 00:01:36,160 --> 00:01:37,720 Speaker 2: feel good about the process. You know, I love being 38 00:01:37,720 --> 00:01:40,319 Speaker 2: here in Indianapolis. I've been coming here since I think 39 00:01:40,400 --> 00:01:42,400 Speaker 2: nineteen ninety seven, since I was when I was an 40 00:01:42,440 --> 00:01:45,000 Speaker 2: intern with the Saints, and you know, I just love 41 00:01:45,040 --> 00:01:47,520 Speaker 2: it. It's a great process, it's fun, and this is the 42 00:01:47,560 --> 00:01:50,240 Speaker 2: opportunity for us to acquire players that are going to 43 00:01:50,400 --> 00:01:51,600 Speaker 2: help us win our championship. 44 00:01:51,760 --> 00:01:53,240 Speaker 1: I did want to get back to the Combines in 45 00:01:53,280 --> 00:01:55,960 Speaker 1: a moment, but first, you know, looking back at last 46 00:01:56,040 --> 00:01:58,600 Speaker 1: year's class, four of your seven guys basically didn't play, 47 00:01:58,880 --> 00:02:01,600 Speaker 1: but they did have a chance to go through the 48 00:02:01,600 --> 00:02:04,160 Speaker 1: offseason workouts, to go through some of the camp, to 49 00:02:04,200 --> 00:02:06,400 Speaker 1: sit into meetings, that sort of thing. So how do 50 00:02:06,440 --> 00:02:07,639 Speaker 1: you evaluate those players? 51 00:02:07,760 --> 00:02:09,320 Speaker 2: Yeah, you know, it's almost like a red shirt year 52 00:02:09,320 --> 00:02:13,080 Speaker 2: for those guys, right, you know, you hate that that happened, 53 00:02:13,080 --> 00:02:15,680 Speaker 2: that these guys were injured because we felt like all all, 54 00:02:15,720 --> 00:02:17,840 Speaker 2: all of those guys gotta helped us last year. You know, 55 00:02:17,919 --> 00:02:19,919 Speaker 2: guys get hurt and unfortunately, you know that we had 56 00:02:20,080 --> 00:02:22,120 Speaker 2: some draft picks, but you know, I'm glad we have 57 00:02:22,200 --> 00:02:23,399 Speaker 2: them going into twenty twenty five. 58 00:02:23,560 --> 00:02:26,200 Speaker 1: So fans get to see the sprints and the cone 59 00:02:26,280 --> 00:02:29,160 Speaker 1: drills and the workouts. Is there a single most valuable 60 00:02:29,840 --> 00:02:32,480 Speaker 1: part of the combines for you and your staff? 61 00:02:32,919 --> 00:02:35,720 Speaker 2: So I'll say what I get, what I enjoy the most, 62 00:02:35,840 --> 00:02:37,799 Speaker 2: or I think it's it's for me, it's important. It's 63 00:02:37,800 --> 00:02:41,560 Speaker 2: really the interviews, you know, the opportunity to spend time 64 00:02:41,560 --> 00:02:44,480 Speaker 2: with these guys on the formal interviews at night. When 65 00:02:44,480 --> 00:02:48,520 Speaker 2: we get those guys, it's so important, you know. We 66 00:02:48,320 --> 00:02:50,360 Speaker 2: we take full advantage of that time getting to know 67 00:02:50,480 --> 00:02:52,679 Speaker 2: the player, identifying if he's a Steeler, if he's the 68 00:02:52,760 --> 00:02:54,800 Speaker 2: right type of player for us and the guy that 69 00:02:54,800 --> 00:02:57,200 Speaker 2: can help us win. You know, we want guys that 70 00:02:57,200 --> 00:03:00,080 Speaker 2: are that are winners and you know that love football 71 00:03:00,080 --> 00:03:02,720 Speaker 2: and winning is important to them. So the interviews for 72 00:03:02,800 --> 00:03:04,440 Speaker 2: me are a big part of this. 73 00:03:05,000 --> 00:03:07,240 Speaker 1: What else are you and your staff trying to accomplish 74 00:03:07,280 --> 00:03:08,360 Speaker 1: here in Indianapolis? 75 00:03:08,800 --> 00:03:10,840 Speaker 2: You mentioned getting to know those guys, but then also 76 00:03:10,880 --> 00:03:14,080 Speaker 2: you know, the field works important, so you know, you know, 77 00:03:14,120 --> 00:03:17,079 Speaker 2: we'll see how many guys actually participate out there, but 78 00:03:18,520 --> 00:03:20,160 Speaker 2: you know, the field work, it's it's an opportunity for 79 00:03:20,280 --> 00:03:24,160 Speaker 2: us to reaffirm what the scouts saw on tape, so 80 00:03:24,800 --> 00:03:26,480 Speaker 2: you know, and we have some meeting schedule here with 81 00:03:26,560 --> 00:03:30,120 Speaker 2: our our the agents, some of our players, and you 82 00:03:30,160 --> 00:03:32,000 Speaker 2: know there's a business to be done here too. 83 00:03:32,440 --> 00:03:35,000 Speaker 1: As you look at the draft, are there strengths and 84 00:03:35,000 --> 00:03:37,520 Speaker 1: weaknesses of this year's draft? And what would you classify 85 00:03:37,520 --> 00:03:38,600 Speaker 1: as the strengths and weaknesses? 86 00:03:38,640 --> 00:03:42,160 Speaker 2: It's a solid draft, you know, it's been well documented. 87 00:03:42,160 --> 00:03:45,600 Speaker 2: The running back prospects are pretty pretty good this year. 88 00:03:45,960 --> 00:03:48,320 Speaker 2: There's there's a ton of guys and that we would 89 00:03:48,320 --> 00:03:51,280 Speaker 2: feel good about. And I think the d line has 90 00:03:51,360 --> 00:03:55,119 Speaker 2: a good core group, the edge rushers there's a good 91 00:03:55,240 --> 00:03:58,040 Speaker 2: group corps of edge rushers out there, you know. I 92 00:03:58,040 --> 00:04:00,480 Speaker 2: think there's some playmakers out there, guys that get you know, 93 00:04:00,520 --> 00:04:02,080 Speaker 2: you can get in the early round, not only in 94 00:04:02,080 --> 00:04:03,800 Speaker 2: the early rounds, but in the later rounds. You know. 95 00:04:03,840 --> 00:04:06,320 Speaker 2: I'm really excited about it, you know. And the process continues, 96 00:04:06,320 --> 00:04:09,080 Speaker 2: and there's still a lot of time between now and April. 97 00:04:09,320 --> 00:04:12,560 Speaker 1: So see, you have quite a bit of cap space available, 98 00:04:12,640 --> 00:04:15,000 Speaker 1: and you've been aggressive in free agency since you you've 99 00:04:15,040 --> 00:04:16,800 Speaker 1: been in the gentleman aged. You've gotten starters, and you've 100 00:04:16,800 --> 00:04:19,560 Speaker 1: spent good money in free agency, and you've been aggressive. 101 00:04:19,880 --> 00:04:21,479 Speaker 1: Do you expect that to continue this year? 102 00:04:21,839 --> 00:04:23,880 Speaker 2: I'd say we will be consistent with the way things 103 00:04:23,920 --> 00:04:25,240 Speaker 2: have gone in the last couple of years. 104 00:04:25,360 --> 00:04:29,680 Speaker 1: So I think this is a fascinating question about team building. Right, 105 00:04:29,720 --> 00:04:31,640 Speaker 1: So you have the draft, you also have free agency. 106 00:04:31,760 --> 00:04:34,200 Speaker 1: So does one inform the other? I mean, can you 107 00:04:34,240 --> 00:04:36,920 Speaker 1: look at free agency and say, well, we think player 108 00:04:36,960 --> 00:04:39,479 Speaker 1: position X running back is great, so maybe we don't 109 00:04:39,640 --> 00:04:40,719 Speaker 1: pursue that as much. 110 00:04:40,600 --> 00:04:44,120 Speaker 2: In free absolutely, you know, you kind of evaluate that. 111 00:04:44,200 --> 00:04:47,400 Speaker 2: But the reality is sometimes a player might at a 112 00:04:47,440 --> 00:04:49,880 Speaker 2: position of need, might might still be sitting there in 113 00:04:49,920 --> 00:04:52,479 Speaker 2: free agency. That might make sense for you, or something 114 00:04:52,560 --> 00:04:55,240 Speaker 2: might come your way that maybe you didn't think was 115 00:04:55,279 --> 00:04:56,599 Speaker 2: going to come your way at the beginning. You know, 116 00:04:56,600 --> 00:04:59,520 Speaker 2: there's a lot of moving parts with this, and but 117 00:04:59,800 --> 00:05:01,640 Speaker 2: you know, you look at it all. One obviously affects 118 00:05:01,720 --> 00:05:05,440 Speaker 2: the other, but you have to balance how how that works. 119 00:05:05,520 --> 00:05:08,480 Speaker 1: Yeah, you're trying to maximize like your roster right by 120 00:05:09,000 --> 00:05:10,200 Speaker 1: these two processes. 121 00:05:10,279 --> 00:05:12,240 Speaker 2: Yeah, you know, we're always trying to add good players 122 00:05:12,279 --> 00:05:14,200 Speaker 2: at every position group, so you just try to get better. 123 00:05:14,480 --> 00:05:17,159 Speaker 1: So for all the fans out there, what happens now 124 00:05:17,279 --> 00:05:21,000 Speaker 1: next after these combines wrap up, what is sort of 125 00:05:21,000 --> 00:05:22,920 Speaker 1: the next phase for you and your staff? 126 00:05:23,160 --> 00:05:26,960 Speaker 2: Sure, we head back, you know to Pittsburgh after this weekend. 127 00:05:27,640 --> 00:05:29,560 Speaker 2: We go back and kind of reassess some things that 128 00:05:29,600 --> 00:05:31,880 Speaker 2: we saw here, and then the guys just really start 129 00:05:31,920 --> 00:05:33,520 Speaker 2: hitting the pro days. That's the next phase of this. 130 00:05:33,680 --> 00:05:36,240 Speaker 2: You know, Coach and I will attend to several pro days. 131 00:05:36,240 --> 00:05:37,839 Speaker 2: We're we're trying to figure out where we need to 132 00:05:37,839 --> 00:05:40,600 Speaker 2: go we'll make the most sense. But scouts will all 133 00:05:40,600 --> 00:05:42,400 Speaker 2: be out there. We know some of the assistant coaches, 134 00:05:42,400 --> 00:05:44,599 Speaker 2: we might be strategic as to where we send them. 135 00:05:45,120 --> 00:05:47,560 Speaker 2: And then you know, the guys. Come back in April. 136 00:05:47,560 --> 00:05:50,839 Speaker 2: We have our next next phase of draft meetings, and 137 00:05:50,880 --> 00:05:53,320 Speaker 2: then you know, the draft. Draft be here before we 138 00:05:53,360 --> 00:05:53,599 Speaker 2: know it. 139 00:05:53,800 --> 00:05:55,640 Speaker 1: It can't wait. Omar, thanks very much your time. 140 00:05:55,800 --> 00:05:57,480 Speaker 2: I appreciate having me on. It was a pleasure.