1 00:00:11,720 --> 00:00:15,560 Speaker 1: Welcome to another edition of the OTP. I'm Amy Wells 2 00:00:15,680 --> 00:00:20,600 Speaker 1: and we are joined by Tennessee Titans head coach Brian Callahan. Coach, 3 00:00:20,640 --> 00:00:23,880 Speaker 1: We're so happy to have you here. It's a holiday weekend, 4 00:00:24,079 --> 00:00:28,120 Speaker 1: so there's a lot of time for relaxing and slowing down, 5 00:00:28,200 --> 00:00:29,600 Speaker 1: and we want to talk about all of that. But 6 00:00:29,640 --> 00:00:34,000 Speaker 1: first we've got to do some football stuff. Early, early, early, 7 00:00:34,120 --> 00:00:37,720 Speaker 1: early in the off season program, you established that competition 8 00:00:37,960 --> 00:00:40,440 Speaker 1: was the name of the game throughout the whole process. 9 00:00:40,880 --> 00:00:43,960 Speaker 1: What was it that you saw or noticed about the 10 00:00:44,000 --> 00:00:47,560 Speaker 1: twenty twenty four season that you felt like a little 11 00:00:47,600 --> 00:00:50,160 Speaker 1: more competition could solve that problem. 12 00:00:51,159 --> 00:00:58,280 Speaker 2: I think there's probably more layers to it than that. Okay, 13 00:00:58,520 --> 00:01:01,920 Speaker 2: certainly after the season, from feedback from coaches and players 14 00:01:01,760 --> 00:01:06,559 Speaker 2: as we left, and obviously whatever whatever we did prior 15 00:01:06,720 --> 00:01:09,520 Speaker 2: wasn't quite good enough. And so how do you know 16 00:01:09,640 --> 00:01:11,400 Speaker 2: as a as a leader, you have to sit there 17 00:01:11,400 --> 00:01:14,560 Speaker 2: and you got to take a lot of different viewpoints 18 00:01:14,560 --> 00:01:16,319 Speaker 2: and criticisms, and you have to be open to that 19 00:01:16,440 --> 00:01:17,840 Speaker 2: because at the end of the day, it's going to 20 00:01:17,920 --> 00:01:20,000 Speaker 2: make make you better, it's going to make our team better, 21 00:01:20,040 --> 00:01:22,360 Speaker 2: it's going to make our process better. So there's a 22 00:01:22,400 --> 00:01:25,160 Speaker 2: lot of different things that that some coaches and players 23 00:01:25,200 --> 00:01:28,080 Speaker 2: and people had sort of gave me feedback on that 24 00:01:29,920 --> 00:01:33,319 Speaker 2: I reflected on for a long time, and it's how 25 00:01:33,319 --> 00:01:35,160 Speaker 2: do you take all this information and how do you 26 00:01:35,200 --> 00:01:37,280 Speaker 2: make it actionable? How do you how do you take 27 00:01:37,400 --> 00:01:40,920 Speaker 2: a comment here and an idea here and another idea 28 00:01:40,920 --> 00:01:43,360 Speaker 2: over here, and so how do you manage all those things? 29 00:01:43,400 --> 00:01:46,240 Speaker 2: So I spent a lot of time going back through 30 00:01:46,240 --> 00:01:47,960 Speaker 2: all the things that the conversations I had at the 31 00:01:48,000 --> 00:01:50,960 Speaker 2: end of the year with a lot of people, and 32 00:01:50,960 --> 00:01:53,240 Speaker 2: and I sort of came away with like three or 33 00:01:53,280 --> 00:01:57,320 Speaker 2: four main points of emphasis. One is how do we 34 00:01:57,360 --> 00:02:01,480 Speaker 2: win football games? That's that's the goal, right, how do 35 00:02:01,480 --> 00:02:05,840 Speaker 2: we better put ourselves in position to win in doing that? 36 00:02:06,160 --> 00:02:08,120 Speaker 2: When you're saying how do we win football games? Well, 37 00:02:08,200 --> 00:02:12,040 Speaker 2: how do we keep ourselves first and foremost from losing 38 00:02:12,080 --> 00:02:14,640 Speaker 2: football games? Because that's a huge part of NFL football 39 00:02:14,680 --> 00:02:16,200 Speaker 2: is that you can lose a game a whole lot 40 00:02:16,240 --> 00:02:18,520 Speaker 2: easier than you can win one. And so we went 41 00:02:18,560 --> 00:02:20,480 Speaker 2: through and looked at and as part of yourself scout 42 00:02:20,480 --> 00:02:22,559 Speaker 2: and all that, all the different things that we did 43 00:02:23,200 --> 00:02:27,560 Speaker 2: and where we can actionably improve the things that we 44 00:02:27,560 --> 00:02:30,560 Speaker 2: can control, right, what are what did we do in 45 00:02:30,600 --> 00:02:32,919 Speaker 2: games that don't doesn't have anything to do with talent, 46 00:02:33,000 --> 00:02:35,320 Speaker 2: doesn't anything do with scheme. What are the things that 47 00:02:35,360 --> 00:02:40,239 Speaker 2: we can very actionably be better at that we can 48 00:02:40,280 --> 00:02:42,320 Speaker 2: control on a regular basis, And then how do we 49 00:02:42,560 --> 00:02:44,680 Speaker 2: measure it and verify it? That's kind of the theme 50 00:02:44,720 --> 00:02:47,040 Speaker 2: of what you what I'm going to talk about ultimately, 51 00:02:47,960 --> 00:02:49,720 Speaker 2: And that was the first thing. How do you do that? 52 00:02:49,800 --> 00:02:54,760 Speaker 2: Then the second thing was, we need more connection on 53 00:02:54,800 --> 00:02:57,800 Speaker 2: our football team from top to bottom coaches and players. 54 00:02:58,520 --> 00:03:01,600 Speaker 2: Coaches and coaches, how do you how do you players 55 00:03:01,600 --> 00:03:05,920 Speaker 2: to players? How do you foster connection? I thought we 56 00:03:05,960 --> 00:03:09,680 Speaker 2: had okay connectivity on our team, but it just needed 57 00:03:09,720 --> 00:03:11,639 Speaker 2: it needs to be more, It needs to be better. 58 00:03:11,720 --> 00:03:15,000 Speaker 2: So how do we do that? And for pro athletes 59 00:03:15,480 --> 00:03:18,600 Speaker 2: generally speaking, the thing that they connect over the quickest 60 00:03:18,800 --> 00:03:22,280 Speaker 2: is competition. Yeah, and so how do you how do 61 00:03:22,320 --> 00:03:24,919 Speaker 2: you make something that they're going to that doesn't feel 62 00:03:24,960 --> 00:03:29,840 Speaker 2: like you know, Kitchie and in high schooling and stuff 63 00:03:29,880 --> 00:03:32,400 Speaker 2: like that, but still but still gets to the core 64 00:03:32,440 --> 00:03:35,000 Speaker 2: of what you're trying to accomplish, which is is to 65 00:03:35,520 --> 00:03:37,920 Speaker 2: ramp up the level of competition, which should also then 66 00:03:37,920 --> 00:03:41,680 Speaker 2: in turn ramp up the level of connection those are 67 00:03:41,680 --> 00:03:43,880 Speaker 2: that that was kind of the core of what I 68 00:03:43,920 --> 00:03:46,119 Speaker 2: was looking at over over the course of the leading 69 00:03:46,200 --> 00:03:47,680 Speaker 2: up to the off season program is that how do 70 00:03:47,760 --> 00:03:49,960 Speaker 2: we do those things? How do we win football games? 71 00:03:50,280 --> 00:03:52,800 Speaker 2: How do we take take command of the things that 72 00:03:52,840 --> 00:03:56,280 Speaker 2: we can control, and then how do we connect our 73 00:03:56,320 --> 00:03:58,000 Speaker 2: football team better? And a lot of that is going 74 00:03:58,040 --> 00:04:04,320 Speaker 2: to be through competitive drills, competitive practices, competitive games for 75 00:04:04,480 --> 00:04:08,400 Speaker 2: lack of a better term. And it really sort of occurred. 76 00:04:08,400 --> 00:04:11,280 Speaker 2: I had a Peyton McCollum, who's who's our assistant wide 77 00:04:11,280 --> 00:04:14,600 Speaker 2: receivers coach. He had came to me and said, look, 78 00:04:15,080 --> 00:04:19,000 Speaker 2: there's here's something you should here's the thought. And I 79 00:04:19,040 --> 00:04:21,880 Speaker 2: take thoughts and ideas from everybody, and and he said, 80 00:04:21,920 --> 00:04:26,800 Speaker 2: there's this. You know, there's a there's a coach that 81 00:04:26,800 --> 00:04:29,279 Speaker 2: that I've kind of gotten familiar with over the years. 82 00:04:29,800 --> 00:04:33,320 Speaker 2: Who's a guy named Anson Anson Durants who's the head 83 00:04:33,480 --> 00:04:37,560 Speaker 2: women's soccer coach in North Carolina. He's written now multiple 84 00:04:37,600 --> 00:04:40,719 Speaker 2: books and you know they've been North Carolina women's soccer 85 00:04:40,760 --> 00:04:44,240 Speaker 2: has been one of the highest they're one of the 86 00:04:44,240 --> 00:04:47,559 Speaker 2: best programs in sports. And he was like, you should 87 00:04:47,560 --> 00:04:49,839 Speaker 2: just breath this. It's pretty interesting on how they structure 88 00:04:49,920 --> 00:04:53,080 Speaker 2: practice and how they compete, and so I kind of 89 00:04:53,120 --> 00:04:55,200 Speaker 2: dove down this rabbit hole of all the things they 90 00:04:55,200 --> 00:04:57,880 Speaker 2: did there and it's super fascinating. They do an unbelievable job. 91 00:04:58,680 --> 00:04:59,800 Speaker 2: And then I come to find a lot of it 92 00:04:59,839 --> 00:05:03,560 Speaker 2: can from Dean Smith, who was obviously legendary coach for 93 00:05:03,600 --> 00:05:10,320 Speaker 2: North Carolina men's basketball, and how they charted and uh 94 00:05:10,360 --> 00:05:13,400 Speaker 2: tracked practice. Uh So there's there's a whole and act 95 00:05:13,640 --> 00:05:15,400 Speaker 2: kind of like that's really fascinating. Well, how do I 96 00:05:15,440 --> 00:05:18,240 Speaker 2: how do we do something? Here's all the things I 97 00:05:18,240 --> 00:05:21,880 Speaker 2: want to do, here's some ideas, and how do you 98 00:05:22,040 --> 00:05:25,280 Speaker 2: meld them together? That's sort of how the whole thing 99 00:05:25,440 --> 00:05:28,520 Speaker 2: was born. And it was again a lot of thought 100 00:05:28,520 --> 00:05:30,560 Speaker 2: and effort and time and energy put into it. But 101 00:05:31,279 --> 00:05:33,960 Speaker 2: that's how we divided our That's the first step was 102 00:05:34,640 --> 00:05:38,240 Speaker 2: dividing the locker room back into into not just by 103 00:05:38,279 --> 00:05:42,440 Speaker 2: position groups, so we weren't siloed in the positions, because 104 00:05:42,440 --> 00:05:44,640 Speaker 2: that's where we spend all our time is with our position. 105 00:05:45,200 --> 00:05:46,760 Speaker 2: So I mixed the whole locker room up, and then 106 00:05:46,800 --> 00:05:49,080 Speaker 2: I said, well, let's mix the whole team up and 107 00:05:49,120 --> 00:05:51,080 Speaker 2: So the idea was this, we come up with these 108 00:05:51,080 --> 00:05:54,960 Speaker 2: eight different teams they have captains, and now you have 109 00:05:55,000 --> 00:05:57,719 Speaker 2: eight captains, and then you have a bunch of guys 110 00:05:57,760 --> 00:06:01,839 Speaker 2: that are competing for something other than just an offensive 111 00:06:01,920 --> 00:06:06,000 Speaker 2: defensive win. You know, in practice, so an offensive player 112 00:06:06,279 --> 00:06:08,760 Speaker 2: might get a point for a touchdown, but he also 113 00:06:08,800 --> 00:06:10,400 Speaker 2: might have a defensive player on his team that he's 114 00:06:10,440 --> 00:06:13,200 Speaker 2: playing against that has a negative because he just had 115 00:06:13,320 --> 00:06:16,039 Speaker 2: bad leverage and he gave up the touchdown. And so 116 00:06:16,440 --> 00:06:18,680 Speaker 2: there's this sort of points back and forth that really 117 00:06:18,680 --> 00:06:20,920 Speaker 2: the guys as it went on, they really bought into 118 00:06:22,160 --> 00:06:27,719 Speaker 2: and the competition amongst the players that wasn't just offense 119 00:06:27,760 --> 00:06:31,880 Speaker 2: and defense. That was truly about they wanted their team 120 00:06:32,000 --> 00:06:36,320 Speaker 2: to win. And so we again points, we points are 121 00:06:36,320 --> 00:06:38,800 Speaker 2: assigned for a million different things. But the idea was 122 00:06:38,960 --> 00:06:41,240 Speaker 2: is how do we how do we connect more through that? 123 00:06:41,400 --> 00:06:45,039 Speaker 2: And I think it was a really cool offseason program. Again, 124 00:06:45,240 --> 00:06:47,479 Speaker 2: the players will probably tell you their perspective on it, 125 00:06:47,520 --> 00:06:49,520 Speaker 2: but for me, it felt like the intent of what 126 00:06:49,560 --> 00:06:51,880 Speaker 2: we wanted to do we got out of it. And 127 00:06:51,880 --> 00:06:55,039 Speaker 2: that's that's encouraging and exciting for me as a head coach. 128 00:06:55,040 --> 00:06:57,800 Speaker 2: I think for our football team is that we found 129 00:06:57,839 --> 00:07:00,000 Speaker 2: a way to get all of those things kind of 130 00:07:00,040 --> 00:07:02,400 Speaker 2: packed into a very short amount of time, and I 131 00:07:02,440 --> 00:07:05,000 Speaker 2: think we got value from it and we're better for 132 00:07:05,080 --> 00:07:07,760 Speaker 2: it because of the of how we went about our business. 133 00:07:07,839 --> 00:07:11,520 Speaker 2: So I know that's a kind of a long roundabout 134 00:07:11,560 --> 00:07:13,520 Speaker 2: way of talking about the whole process, but I think 135 00:07:13,560 --> 00:07:15,920 Speaker 2: it's important to have the context in the background of 136 00:07:15,920 --> 00:07:20,000 Speaker 2: where it came from and why we're doing it. And 137 00:07:20,480 --> 00:07:22,200 Speaker 2: at the end, the one of the first videos I 138 00:07:22,240 --> 00:07:24,119 Speaker 2: showed the team and the team meeting was a video 139 00:07:24,160 --> 00:07:27,400 Speaker 2: from Steve Kerr from the Quarter Gold documentary, which is 140 00:07:27,440 --> 00:07:29,280 Speaker 2: really fantastic about all these other, you know, the other 141 00:07:29,320 --> 00:07:32,200 Speaker 2: basketball teams for the Olympics, and Steve cur said he'd 142 00:07:32,240 --> 00:07:34,239 Speaker 2: been around a bunch of winning, He's won a lot, 143 00:07:34,920 --> 00:07:37,400 Speaker 2: he's you know, first and foremost good players. That's part 144 00:07:37,400 --> 00:07:39,440 Speaker 2: of it, he goes, but there's two things that matter most, 145 00:07:39,600 --> 00:07:42,520 Speaker 2: and what wins its joy and its competition. And then 146 00:07:42,560 --> 00:07:45,040 Speaker 2: the third part is it's the joy in the success 147 00:07:45,040 --> 00:07:48,320 Speaker 2: of others. And that sort of was like, that makes 148 00:07:48,360 --> 00:07:50,400 Speaker 2: sense to me, And I think that's what we got 149 00:07:50,400 --> 00:07:52,680 Speaker 2: out of our off season program, is that was those 150 00:07:53,360 --> 00:07:55,320 Speaker 2: quite a bit of joy and a whole lot of competition, 151 00:07:55,400 --> 00:07:56,880 Speaker 2: and I think we're better for it. 152 00:07:56,880 --> 00:08:00,000 Speaker 1: It's interesting because conventional wisdom would say there's a five 153 00:08:00,120 --> 00:08:04,400 Speaker 1: in line when instilling competition in something where you want 154 00:08:04,440 --> 00:08:07,320 Speaker 1: guys to compete, but not compete to the level where 155 00:08:07,640 --> 00:08:10,640 Speaker 1: you then fracture a locker room like you go too far. 156 00:08:11,080 --> 00:08:14,480 Speaker 1: But it seems like throughout this whole off season you've 157 00:08:14,480 --> 00:08:17,680 Speaker 1: done a really good job of minding that line and 158 00:08:17,760 --> 00:08:22,000 Speaker 1: getting peak performance and peak competition. So you're right at 159 00:08:22,000 --> 00:08:23,040 Speaker 1: the top of that curve. 160 00:08:23,440 --> 00:08:27,240 Speaker 2: Yeah, anytime now there's when you're competing for something there 161 00:08:27,280 --> 00:08:30,160 Speaker 2: you're always risking that that you're tipping over the edge 162 00:08:30,240 --> 00:08:32,679 Speaker 2: right where it goes a little bit too too far. 163 00:08:33,400 --> 00:08:38,240 Speaker 2: We haven't had that issue, I think partly because it's 164 00:08:38,280 --> 00:08:43,520 Speaker 2: not it's not just a offense defense competition that there's 165 00:08:43,640 --> 00:08:47,800 Speaker 2: that there's more involved in it, and there's more things 166 00:08:47,840 --> 00:08:51,760 Speaker 2: that they're competing for with their team of guys as 167 00:08:51,760 --> 00:08:54,240 Speaker 2: opposed to our side of the ball. Because then you 168 00:08:54,280 --> 00:08:56,479 Speaker 2: do sides of the ball sometimes and it just becomes 169 00:08:56,960 --> 00:08:59,360 Speaker 2: it becomes almost irritating and personal. Is that they just 170 00:08:59,440 --> 00:09:00,959 Speaker 2: they just want to beat the hell out of each other, 171 00:09:00,960 --> 00:09:03,360 Speaker 2: you know what I mean? Right, This wasn't that This 172 00:09:03,960 --> 00:09:08,040 Speaker 2: wasn't that style of competition necessarily. It was more about 173 00:09:08,080 --> 00:09:12,439 Speaker 2: the connecting and the building up of the players and 174 00:09:13,520 --> 00:09:16,199 Speaker 2: the building of the relationships with guys maybe they hadn't 175 00:09:16,240 --> 00:09:21,360 Speaker 2: been around a lot previously, and I think that's what 176 00:09:21,440 --> 00:09:25,160 Speaker 2: kept it from being more than what we were looking for. 177 00:09:25,559 --> 00:09:28,680 Speaker 1: So in your first year, you build a foundation to 178 00:09:28,720 --> 00:09:30,720 Speaker 1: your football team what it's going to be. In your 179 00:09:30,800 --> 00:09:34,679 Speaker 1: second year, you're adding this layer of connecting, of competition 180 00:09:34,800 --> 00:09:37,080 Speaker 1: and kind of establishing that this is going to be 181 00:09:37,960 --> 00:09:42,080 Speaker 1: the expectation going forward, that we handle ourselves in this way. 182 00:09:42,120 --> 00:09:44,679 Speaker 1: What are you hoping that that creates in your team 183 00:09:44,880 --> 00:09:48,000 Speaker 1: as you go through training camp and beyond through the season. 184 00:09:48,600 --> 00:09:50,280 Speaker 2: At the end of the day, you're trying to create 185 00:09:51,040 --> 00:09:53,760 Speaker 2: You're trying to create your culture of what you want 186 00:09:53,800 --> 00:09:56,840 Speaker 2: your team and you're building to look like and act 187 00:09:57,000 --> 00:10:00,520 Speaker 2: like to the point where what you hope happens is 188 00:10:00,520 --> 00:10:02,400 Speaker 2: you get to you get to a spot where you 189 00:10:02,440 --> 00:10:05,960 Speaker 2: bring somebody in and they do something that isn't, you know, 190 00:10:06,040 --> 00:10:08,360 Speaker 2: kind of in line with how we operate, and people go, 191 00:10:08,520 --> 00:10:10,480 Speaker 2: you know, we don't do that here, you know what 192 00:10:10,480 --> 00:10:12,320 Speaker 2: I mean, that's not how were that's not how we 193 00:10:12,360 --> 00:10:15,200 Speaker 2: do business here. That's what you're trying to get to, 194 00:10:15,400 --> 00:10:17,160 Speaker 2: is you're trying to get to something that's so ingrained 195 00:10:17,320 --> 00:10:21,800 Speaker 2: in the locker room in the building that that's what's expected, 196 00:10:21,920 --> 00:10:24,240 Speaker 2: that's your that that is what your standard is. Now, 197 00:10:24,240 --> 00:10:26,120 Speaker 2: we got to go earn our standard. You know, you don't. 198 00:10:26,200 --> 00:10:27,720 Speaker 2: You don't just get to say what your standard is. 199 00:10:27,760 --> 00:10:30,560 Speaker 2: You have to earn it right, and and you earn 200 00:10:30,640 --> 00:10:32,400 Speaker 2: that through At the end of the day, you your 201 00:10:32,440 --> 00:10:37,200 Speaker 2: culture and your standards and your expectations are are ultimately 202 00:10:37,200 --> 00:10:40,280 Speaker 2: built through winning, because that's what we're all trying to 203 00:10:40,280 --> 00:10:42,800 Speaker 2: get done is win football games. But there's a whole 204 00:10:42,760 --> 00:10:45,280 Speaker 2: other part of that that as you as you win 205 00:10:45,440 --> 00:10:47,560 Speaker 2: and you build through the culture, through the things that 206 00:10:47,600 --> 00:10:51,240 Speaker 2: you're emphasizing and expecting, you hope that that's ultimately what 207 00:10:51,320 --> 00:10:53,960 Speaker 2: takes hold and then it becomes who you are, It 208 00:10:54,000 --> 00:10:56,280 Speaker 2: becomes what your organization is, your football team is that 209 00:10:56,320 --> 00:11:00,720 Speaker 2: when you walk in that locker room, there's no there's 210 00:11:00,760 --> 00:11:06,000 Speaker 2: no confusion on what's expected and what works for us here. 211 00:11:06,080 --> 00:11:07,520 Speaker 2: And if you're not a part of that, if you 212 00:11:07,520 --> 00:11:09,320 Speaker 2: don't buy into that, then you won't be here. 213 00:11:09,760 --> 00:11:13,280 Speaker 1: Hey, Titans, fans With a Kroger Boost membership, you'll score 214 00:11:13,400 --> 00:11:17,440 Speaker 1: big with double fuel points, free delivery, and lots more. 215 00:11:17,840 --> 00:11:21,439 Speaker 1: Go to Kroger dot com slash boost for details. Kroger 216 00:11:21,559 --> 00:11:25,800 Speaker 1: the official grocer of the Tennessee Titans. Tighten Up Home 217 00:11:25,920 --> 00:11:28,600 Speaker 1: is the forefront of all we do. It's why we're 218 00:11:28,600 --> 00:11:31,680 Speaker 1: so committed to caring for the places and spaces in 219 00:11:31,720 --> 00:11:35,560 Speaker 1: which we work and live. Ashley the Official furniture provider 220 00:11:35,679 --> 00:11:42,400 Speaker 1: of the Tennessee Titans. Now back to the OTP. This 221 00:11:42,760 --> 00:11:45,360 Speaker 1: team looks very different in twenty twenty five than it 222 00:11:45,400 --> 00:11:47,960 Speaker 1: did in twenty twenty four. A lot of new faces. 223 00:11:48,120 --> 00:11:51,160 Speaker 1: This roster has just experienced a lot of change. So 224 00:11:51,320 --> 00:11:55,559 Speaker 1: I'm going to make some sweeping generalizations about this team 225 00:11:55,920 --> 00:11:58,120 Speaker 1: and you can let me know if I am heading 226 00:11:58,160 --> 00:12:00,880 Speaker 1: down the right path here. The first one is that 227 00:12:01,000 --> 00:12:04,240 Speaker 1: one of the main characteristics you guys were looking for 228 00:12:04,640 --> 00:12:09,000 Speaker 1: in free agent acquisitions over the twenty twenty twenty five 229 00:12:09,040 --> 00:12:12,680 Speaker 1: offseason was durability. Is that correct? 230 00:12:12,880 --> 00:12:16,120 Speaker 2: Yeah, it's it's hard to It's hard to go out 231 00:12:16,160 --> 00:12:21,960 Speaker 2: and pay players that you don't know if they're going 232 00:12:22,000 --> 00:12:25,439 Speaker 2: to play seventeen games for you, because you're at the 233 00:12:25,520 --> 00:12:26,880 Speaker 2: end of the day. It's, you know, you to take 234 00:12:26,920 --> 00:12:28,520 Speaker 2: a step back from the personal side that you look 235 00:12:28,520 --> 00:12:30,760 Speaker 2: at the business part of it. It's you know, it's 236 00:12:30,760 --> 00:12:33,599 Speaker 2: you're you're making an investment in in a player, and 237 00:12:33,640 --> 00:12:37,199 Speaker 2: you're making investment in in performance. And it's hard to 238 00:12:37,240 --> 00:12:40,440 Speaker 2: perform if you can't play. And when you're when you're 239 00:12:40,600 --> 00:12:43,520 Speaker 2: investing money and you're spending the money of the organization 240 00:12:43,600 --> 00:12:46,160 Speaker 2: to upgrade your football team, you look at how does 241 00:12:46,200 --> 00:12:49,160 Speaker 2: this how does this player impact our team? And when 242 00:12:49,160 --> 00:12:53,440 Speaker 2: they're healthy, they are impactful. But you know this player 243 00:12:53,480 --> 00:13:00,160 Speaker 2: acts only played forty of his games and player be 244 00:13:00,600 --> 00:13:06,360 Speaker 2: as played ninety and so you're you're essentially betting on 245 00:13:07,160 --> 00:13:08,960 Speaker 2: the durability and that they're going to be there to 246 00:13:08,960 --> 00:13:13,240 Speaker 2: help us longer more often than you know another play 247 00:13:13,280 --> 00:13:15,400 Speaker 2: that maybe isn't that's not part of their strengths. And 248 00:13:15,440 --> 00:13:20,280 Speaker 2: so we invested heavily in availability. You know, guys that 249 00:13:20,520 --> 00:13:23,360 Speaker 2: have been available and performed at a high level over time, 250 00:13:23,400 --> 00:13:25,240 Speaker 2: and you want as many of those guys as possible 251 00:13:25,240 --> 00:13:32,080 Speaker 2: because there's also a mental toughness and a character, a 252 00:13:32,160 --> 00:13:35,400 Speaker 2: defined character to guys that are available, if that makes sense, 253 00:13:35,520 --> 00:13:38,160 Speaker 2: Because it's hard, it's very hard. It's hard to play 254 00:13:39,040 --> 00:13:42,360 Speaker 2: that many snaps over your course of your career because 255 00:13:43,520 --> 00:13:47,160 Speaker 2: it's a physical it hurts these guys. But there's part 256 00:13:47,240 --> 00:13:49,880 Speaker 2: of there's part of what drives these guys to continue 257 00:13:49,880 --> 00:13:52,080 Speaker 2: to suit up on Sundays. And you want as many 258 00:13:52,080 --> 00:13:53,240 Speaker 2: guys like that as you can find. 259 00:13:53,720 --> 00:13:58,840 Speaker 1: All Right, another broad generalization, but this rookie class is 260 00:13:58,880 --> 00:14:02,480 Speaker 1: one of the most sure groups of rookie football players 261 00:14:02,480 --> 00:14:03,559 Speaker 1: that has ever existed. 262 00:14:04,240 --> 00:14:09,400 Speaker 2: It's a really impressive class when it comes to professionalism, maturity, 263 00:14:09,480 --> 00:14:12,840 Speaker 2: those things. It's they've they check all of those boxes. 264 00:14:13,679 --> 00:14:17,640 Speaker 2: That was intentional, I know. I know Mike was very 265 00:14:17,679 --> 00:14:20,800 Speaker 2: adamant about it. The same with Chad and even for me, 266 00:14:21,040 --> 00:14:23,400 Speaker 2: I like him back at some point in the draft 267 00:14:23,480 --> 00:14:26,520 Speaker 2: process to really what turned you know, you just your 268 00:14:27,080 --> 00:14:29,520 Speaker 2: your product of your experiences. And so a lot of 269 00:14:29,520 --> 00:14:34,200 Speaker 2: my experiences with building of a team was through Cincinnati 270 00:14:34,240 --> 00:14:37,160 Speaker 2: when I was there, and I thought about the draft 271 00:14:37,160 --> 00:14:40,280 Speaker 2: class that sort of flipped our football team, and it 272 00:14:40,360 --> 00:14:42,760 Speaker 2: was our twenty twenty draft class, and that was it 273 00:14:42,760 --> 00:14:45,040 Speaker 2: was Joe Burrow and T Higgins and Logan Wilson and 274 00:14:45,080 --> 00:14:49,280 Speaker 2: Keem Davis gaither those guys that were I think of 275 00:14:49,320 --> 00:14:52,040 Speaker 2: that draft class. I think seven of the eight picks 276 00:14:52,040 --> 00:14:56,440 Speaker 2: were captains. They were super high level character players. They 277 00:14:56,560 --> 00:14:59,920 Speaker 2: became the foundation. That draft class and that free agency 278 00:15:00,040 --> 00:15:02,800 Speaker 2: class that we signed that year became the foundation of 279 00:15:02,800 --> 00:15:05,680 Speaker 2: of what was back to back AFC championship games and 280 00:15:05,800 --> 00:15:10,040 Speaker 2: a lot of success over two seasons. Mike had similar 281 00:15:10,080 --> 00:15:12,720 Speaker 2: experiences in Kansas City. And so when you when you 282 00:15:12,720 --> 00:15:14,560 Speaker 2: go when you and you were very intentional about the 283 00:15:14,640 --> 00:15:17,320 Speaker 2: character you're drafting, and you do all the work and 284 00:15:17,360 --> 00:15:19,200 Speaker 2: making sure that these are the kind of guys that 285 00:15:19,840 --> 00:15:24,840 Speaker 2: love playing football, that are intelligent football players, that have people. 286 00:15:24,840 --> 00:15:27,160 Speaker 2: When you draft a player and everybody you talk to 287 00:15:27,240 --> 00:15:31,200 Speaker 2: at the school says, this is this is the guy, 288 00:15:31,360 --> 00:15:34,280 Speaker 2: this is this is and maybe it's not their best player, 289 00:15:35,160 --> 00:15:37,280 Speaker 2: but it's like that's the guy. Like that's the guy 290 00:15:37,280 --> 00:15:39,080 Speaker 2: that's going to succeed. And so you you bet on 291 00:15:39,120 --> 00:15:42,600 Speaker 2: those characteristics that that's going to allow them to succeed. Uh. 292 00:15:42,680 --> 00:15:45,400 Speaker 2: And what is ultimately very challenging and difficult profession to 293 00:15:45,400 --> 00:15:48,840 Speaker 2: succeed in. And that the class in and of itself 294 00:15:48,840 --> 00:15:51,560 Speaker 2: has been fantastic when it comes to those things, But 295 00:15:51,600 --> 00:15:54,560 Speaker 2: it was all very intentional. We we sought out those 296 00:15:54,640 --> 00:15:57,800 Speaker 2: characteristics and players, and we drafted guys that fit that 297 00:15:57,880 --> 00:16:00,960 Speaker 2: profile for us, and uh, it has certainly paid off. 298 00:16:01,320 --> 00:16:04,440 Speaker 1: We've made it this far without saying the name cam Ward, 299 00:16:04,680 --> 00:16:06,560 Speaker 1: which feels pretty impressive. 300 00:16:07,240 --> 00:16:08,200 Speaker 2: Just for us. 301 00:16:09,440 --> 00:16:12,400 Speaker 1: So this feels like the appropriate time to ask what 302 00:16:12,520 --> 00:16:15,600 Speaker 1: has surprised you the most about cam warden the time 303 00:16:15,640 --> 00:16:16,160 Speaker 1: that you've been. 304 00:16:16,080 --> 00:16:17,880 Speaker 2: Able to work with him? Nothing? 305 00:16:18,200 --> 00:16:20,520 Speaker 1: Really, he is as advertised. 306 00:16:20,600 --> 00:16:23,840 Speaker 2: Yeah, nothing is surprised me. Because the more when we 307 00:16:23,880 --> 00:16:26,080 Speaker 2: went back to the beginning and we start watching this tape, 308 00:16:27,160 --> 00:16:29,920 Speaker 2: I would say that we were probably we were probably 309 00:16:29,960 --> 00:16:31,840 Speaker 2: pretty early on the process because we knew we were 310 00:16:31,880 --> 00:16:34,200 Speaker 2: picking first, so we kind of jumped into that maybe 311 00:16:34,240 --> 00:16:35,960 Speaker 2: a little more in depth than some teams would have 312 00:16:35,960 --> 00:16:39,280 Speaker 2: at the moment. And the more you watched him, you're like, man, 313 00:16:39,920 --> 00:16:43,640 Speaker 2: I think this guy's got real talent. And what matters 314 00:16:43,680 --> 00:16:45,600 Speaker 2: most in playing quarterback in the NFL, though, is the 315 00:16:45,600 --> 00:16:46,040 Speaker 2: rest of it? 316 00:16:46,760 --> 00:16:47,040 Speaker 1: Exactly. 317 00:16:47,080 --> 00:16:49,040 Speaker 2: There's plenty of guys that got talent, it's just the 318 00:16:49,080 --> 00:16:53,480 Speaker 2: rest of it. How do they process, what's their ability 319 00:16:53,520 --> 00:16:55,640 Speaker 2: to relate with their teammates, how do they lead? What's 320 00:16:55,680 --> 00:16:58,640 Speaker 2: the toughness like all the other things? Is what really 321 00:16:58,680 --> 00:17:03,160 Speaker 2: matters in quarterback play, and at every point that we 322 00:17:03,240 --> 00:17:06,360 Speaker 2: met with Cam, we learned more and more about him 323 00:17:06,400 --> 00:17:08,879 Speaker 2: as a person. And the more people you talk to 324 00:17:08,960 --> 00:17:11,960 Speaker 2: you learn about him as a player. In the locker 325 00:17:12,040 --> 00:17:16,560 Speaker 2: room and everything that we heard and all of our 326 00:17:16,600 --> 00:17:19,960 Speaker 2: own experiences, and once we got him here, everything was 327 00:17:20,440 --> 00:17:26,280 Speaker 2: exactly as advertised when it came to those things. And 328 00:17:26,320 --> 00:17:29,119 Speaker 2: that's what I mean by like nothing has surprised me, 329 00:17:29,280 --> 00:17:35,920 Speaker 2: because he's incredibly focused. He loves playing football. He only 330 00:17:35,960 --> 00:17:38,840 Speaker 2: cares about playing football at a high level. He works, 331 00:17:39,200 --> 00:17:43,080 Speaker 2: his work ethic is off the charts, and then his 332 00:17:43,160 --> 00:17:46,280 Speaker 2: ability to connect and relate to his teammates. He's got 333 00:17:46,320 --> 00:17:49,480 Speaker 2: an easy way about him, but he is He's also 334 00:17:49,960 --> 00:17:54,159 Speaker 2: highly competitive, hates to lose in anything he does. So 335 00:17:54,200 --> 00:17:57,200 Speaker 2: all these things are all things we knew about him 336 00:17:57,400 --> 00:18:00,640 Speaker 2: in the process, and then once he got here, as 337 00:18:00,640 --> 00:18:03,919 Speaker 2: you get to know him better, it's all real. That's 338 00:18:03,960 --> 00:18:06,600 Speaker 2: who he is. And so that's why nothing about Cam 339 00:18:06,680 --> 00:18:09,600 Speaker 2: has surprised me, because I feel like we had a 340 00:18:09,640 --> 00:18:11,400 Speaker 2: pretty good idea of who he was, and then he's 341 00:18:11,400 --> 00:18:13,040 Speaker 2: shown that to be accurate. 342 00:18:13,040 --> 00:18:16,080 Speaker 1: Throughout the offseason. But specifically, I think it was the 343 00:18:16,119 --> 00:18:20,360 Speaker 1: most pronounced during the mandatory mini camp. You could tell 344 00:18:21,000 --> 00:18:24,240 Speaker 1: that cam Ward was going to do cam Ward things, 345 00:18:24,600 --> 00:18:28,239 Speaker 1: and the defense as a whole collectively was determined to 346 00:18:28,400 --> 00:18:31,879 Speaker 1: remind everybody that he is still a rookie. Yeah, do 347 00:18:31,960 --> 00:18:33,760 Speaker 1: you like that? I know you're an offensive guy, and 348 00:18:33,760 --> 00:18:36,280 Speaker 1: I know you're a quarterback guy, but is that what 349 00:18:36,320 --> 00:18:38,040 Speaker 1: you want to see on your defense? 350 00:18:38,080 --> 00:18:38,159 Speaker 2: That? 351 00:18:38,320 --> 00:18:42,640 Speaker 1: All right? Cool, we appreciate your eighteen in a row completions. 352 00:18:43,280 --> 00:18:44,400 Speaker 1: We're coming for you now. 353 00:18:44,560 --> 00:18:47,440 Speaker 2: Yeah. That's what he needs, That's what our team needs. 354 00:18:47,520 --> 00:18:50,200 Speaker 2: And I think the mark of a good football team 355 00:18:50,280 --> 00:18:52,920 Speaker 2: is when you do have You do have back and forth. 356 00:18:53,160 --> 00:18:56,240 Speaker 2: You have offense has good days, defense has good days. 357 00:18:56,320 --> 00:19:00,720 Speaker 2: Defense makes plays. Offense makes plays because you're competitive. Uh, 358 00:19:00,760 --> 00:19:04,840 Speaker 2: if the defense is consistently beating you drill the drill 359 00:19:04,920 --> 00:19:07,040 Speaker 2: day to day, that probably means you're not very good 360 00:19:07,080 --> 00:19:10,399 Speaker 2: on offense and vice versa. And so that competitiveness and 361 00:19:10,480 --> 00:19:14,320 Speaker 2: back and forth, I think is is great. And at 362 00:19:14,359 --> 00:19:16,600 Speaker 2: the end of the day, all the defensive players want 363 00:19:16,600 --> 00:19:18,360 Speaker 2: to know is is this a guy that we can 364 00:19:18,359 --> 00:19:21,439 Speaker 2: count on? And is this a guy that's gonna gonna 365 00:19:21,760 --> 00:19:26,200 Speaker 2: do what we think he can do? And they're testing him. 366 00:19:26,440 --> 00:19:29,240 Speaker 2: They want to find out because I think the ultimate 367 00:19:29,280 --> 00:19:31,960 Speaker 2: mark for pro football players is it doesn't really matter 368 00:19:31,960 --> 00:19:34,400 Speaker 2: where you come from, doesn't really matter what what anybody 369 00:19:34,440 --> 00:19:36,120 Speaker 2: else thinks of you when you walk in the locker room. 370 00:19:36,160 --> 00:19:37,720 Speaker 2: The players in the locker room want to know can 371 00:19:37,760 --> 00:19:40,920 Speaker 2: you help us win? And that is ultimately what they're 372 00:19:40,960 --> 00:19:43,840 Speaker 2: trying to find out. And that's why they they test 373 00:19:43,880 --> 00:19:45,960 Speaker 2: and they poke, and they prod and they and and 374 00:19:46,000 --> 00:19:49,640 Speaker 2: they don't care. They're not They're they're not trying, No, 375 00:19:49,680 --> 00:19:52,760 Speaker 2: They're just they're just trying to find out if this 376 00:19:52,800 --> 00:19:54,920 Speaker 2: guy's for real. And that goes the same way for 377 00:19:54,920 --> 00:20:00,640 Speaker 2: for for Elk and Strepo and Chim and all these 378 00:20:00,640 --> 00:20:02,920 Speaker 2: young players. They're just trying to find out are you 379 00:20:03,080 --> 00:20:04,280 Speaker 2: Are you going to be able to help us? And 380 00:20:04,320 --> 00:20:05,600 Speaker 2: they're going to find out are you made of the 381 00:20:05,680 --> 00:20:10,639 Speaker 2: right stuff? Do we think as veteran players and older 382 00:20:10,640 --> 00:20:13,920 Speaker 2: players or defensive players that all these young players are 383 00:20:13,960 --> 00:20:17,360 Speaker 2: able to help? And they go through their own process 384 00:20:17,400 --> 00:20:20,440 Speaker 2: of finding out. And that's really what you saw sort 385 00:20:20,440 --> 00:20:22,120 Speaker 2: of in real time, is that they're trying to find 386 00:20:22,119 --> 00:20:23,840 Speaker 2: out if these guys are up to the task. 387 00:20:24,080 --> 00:20:27,120 Speaker 1: This summer seat Geek has your ticket to the best 388 00:20:27,200 --> 00:20:30,920 Speaker 1: live concerts in Nashville at Nissan Stadium. Seek Geek has 389 00:20:30,960 --> 00:20:35,480 Speaker 1: the best seat your seat for an unforgettable summer. From 390 00:20:35,560 --> 00:20:39,080 Speaker 1: Rock Royalty to rap superstars R and B to Country. 391 00:20:39,320 --> 00:20:42,600 Speaker 1: Find it all on seat Geek, the official ticketing partner 392 00:20:42,680 --> 00:20:46,280 Speaker 1: of Nissan Stadium. Little Caesars is the official pizza partner 393 00:20:46,359 --> 00:20:49,639 Speaker 1: of your Tennessee Titans. Download the Little Caesars app and 394 00:20:49,640 --> 00:20:54,400 Speaker 1: get your favorites delivered today. Delivery fees apply now. Back 395 00:20:54,400 --> 00:20:58,720 Speaker 1: to the OTP. Is that why it was so important 396 00:20:58,760 --> 00:21:01,560 Speaker 1: to do as many joint practices with other teams as 397 00:21:01,600 --> 00:21:05,359 Speaker 1: you could to get that experience, to get that adversity. 398 00:21:06,000 --> 00:21:09,280 Speaker 2: Yeah, that's exactly what you hope for. And it's good 399 00:21:09,320 --> 00:21:11,119 Speaker 2: because you get tired of playing against the same scheme. 400 00:21:11,320 --> 00:21:13,600 Speaker 2: You know, we've played all spring against an Arnge defense, 401 00:21:13,640 --> 00:21:16,600 Speaker 2: and he's played all spring against us, and you get 402 00:21:16,600 --> 00:21:19,320 Speaker 2: tired of just the day to day back and forth, 403 00:21:19,320 --> 00:21:21,160 Speaker 2: and it's like, you just want to go play something different. 404 00:21:21,240 --> 00:21:22,960 Speaker 2: You want to play different players with a different color 405 00:21:23,040 --> 00:21:27,080 Speaker 2: jersey on and a different scheme and then see where 406 00:21:27,080 --> 00:21:29,760 Speaker 2: you stack up. And I think I got a lot 407 00:21:29,760 --> 00:21:32,080 Speaker 2: of respect for Todd Bowles and what he's done in 408 00:21:32,119 --> 00:21:34,600 Speaker 2: Tampa and the defense style that they play there and 409 00:21:34,720 --> 00:21:37,240 Speaker 2: how well they've been able to build that offense, and 410 00:21:37,520 --> 00:21:39,840 Speaker 2: they've went through a couple of different iterations because obviously 411 00:21:39,880 --> 00:21:42,320 Speaker 2: Tom was there Brady and they had some success and 412 00:21:42,440 --> 00:21:44,200 Speaker 2: had some They've had success with Baker. I just think 413 00:21:44,200 --> 00:21:45,520 Speaker 2: they do such a great job and so to go 414 00:21:45,560 --> 00:21:49,040 Speaker 2: compete against a team like that is something I'm very 415 00:21:49,119 --> 00:21:51,439 Speaker 2: much looking forward to. And then you know, Atlanta's got 416 00:21:51,480 --> 00:21:53,200 Speaker 2: a ton of young talent, they got a young team 417 00:21:53,320 --> 00:21:57,920 Speaker 2: or Hem Morse is I think a really fantastic football 418 00:21:57,960 --> 00:22:00,480 Speaker 2: coach and so it's a and does things the right way, 419 00:22:00,480 --> 00:22:02,760 Speaker 2: and so you want to go practice against people like that, 420 00:22:02,920 --> 00:22:05,000 Speaker 2: and I'm excited for it. I think it's going to 421 00:22:05,040 --> 00:22:08,160 Speaker 2: be great for our football team as as a as 422 00:22:08,160 --> 00:22:10,800 Speaker 2: a barometer for us to see where we're where we're at. 423 00:22:11,119 --> 00:22:13,720 Speaker 2: It's going to help us get ready for September. And 424 00:22:13,960 --> 00:22:16,720 Speaker 2: it's also going to be hard. It's going to be hot, uh, 425 00:22:16,840 --> 00:22:18,640 Speaker 2: and we're on the road and we're not coming home, 426 00:22:18,800 --> 00:22:20,560 Speaker 2: and that's going to be a whole part of the process. 427 00:22:20,560 --> 00:22:23,160 Speaker 2: It's all very intentional, but that's why we do it. 428 00:22:24,160 --> 00:22:27,040 Speaker 1: How do you turn this you, I guess You've been 429 00:22:27,080 --> 00:22:30,879 Speaker 1: working so hard to infuse as much competition in every 430 00:22:30,960 --> 00:22:36,000 Speaker 1: situation that you can for months. Now, how do you 431 00:22:36,080 --> 00:22:39,439 Speaker 1: turn that off for these next four weeks. 432 00:22:40,320 --> 00:22:42,920 Speaker 2: I hope we don't. I hope. I mean, I'll everyone 433 00:22:42,920 --> 00:22:44,720 Speaker 2: want to take a step back because it's been it's 434 00:22:44,720 --> 00:22:47,080 Speaker 2: been a really good, hard offseason. It's been great. Guys 435 00:22:47,119 --> 00:22:50,200 Speaker 2: have bought in. I'm appreciative of their effort. I'm appreciative 436 00:22:50,200 --> 00:22:54,000 Speaker 2: their attendance, their their intensity, all those things. And so 437 00:22:54,040 --> 00:22:56,640 Speaker 2: it's an eight week program, and and now we got, 438 00:22:56,720 --> 00:22:59,280 Speaker 2: you know, roughly five ish weeks before we go back 439 00:22:59,320 --> 00:23:05,520 Speaker 2: for the real thing here the end of July. The 440 00:23:05,520 --> 00:23:08,680 Speaker 2: the idea is that this really isn't a vacation, it's 441 00:23:08,720 --> 00:23:11,480 Speaker 2: a break, and they should take a little bit of 442 00:23:11,480 --> 00:23:16,320 Speaker 2: time because they've they've earned that. But you know, fourth 443 00:23:16,320 --> 00:23:18,600 Speaker 2: of July weekend, a little bit after that, we should 444 00:23:18,640 --> 00:23:20,800 Speaker 2: we should be ramping back up, and guys should be 445 00:23:20,800 --> 00:23:24,800 Speaker 2: ready to come report in shape, you know, not losing 446 00:23:24,840 --> 00:23:27,040 Speaker 2: any of the things that we accomplished over this offseason 447 00:23:27,080 --> 00:23:30,119 Speaker 2: program and being able to hit the ground running right 448 00:23:30,160 --> 00:23:31,879 Speaker 2: back at it when we come back, when we come 449 00:23:31,920 --> 00:23:34,760 Speaker 2: back at the end of the month. So that's The 450 00:23:34,800 --> 00:23:36,840 Speaker 2: idea is that this this really isn't it's a break, 451 00:23:36,880 --> 00:23:38,560 Speaker 2: but it's not a vacation. You know, this isn't like 452 00:23:38,680 --> 00:23:40,600 Speaker 2: end of the season where you just like go away 453 00:23:40,600 --> 00:23:44,800 Speaker 2: and unplugs. I will unplug, I'll rest and I'll but 454 00:23:44,920 --> 00:23:46,880 Speaker 2: my mind is always on what's coming. When you get 455 00:23:46,880 --> 00:23:48,160 Speaker 2: to this point and you rest. 456 00:23:48,200 --> 00:23:52,400 Speaker 1: If you don't unplug, though, how how do you slow 457 00:23:52,480 --> 00:23:53,159 Speaker 1: it down? 458 00:23:53,640 --> 00:23:55,640 Speaker 2: You have to miss You have to try hard. 459 00:23:57,520 --> 00:24:00,160 Speaker 1: If you're trying to rest, are you resting? 460 00:24:00,680 --> 00:24:03,680 Speaker 2: No? No, not really No. I try to take a 461 00:24:03,680 --> 00:24:05,320 Speaker 2: little bit of time and just kind of step back. 462 00:24:05,359 --> 00:24:08,000 Speaker 2: But you know, I get to I get to get 463 00:24:08,040 --> 00:24:10,000 Speaker 2: to the fourth of July, and it's kind of like 464 00:24:10,119 --> 00:24:12,520 Speaker 2: you can just feel it coming and and and and 465 00:24:12,720 --> 00:24:15,360 Speaker 2: my mind gets is sort of always on it from 466 00:24:15,359 --> 00:24:16,720 Speaker 2: that point on. So I try to take a little 467 00:24:16,720 --> 00:24:20,160 Speaker 2: bit of time, but it's it's to me, it's already 468 00:24:20,200 --> 00:24:22,000 Speaker 2: it's here, so it's in it now. 469 00:24:22,200 --> 00:24:24,600 Speaker 1: Yeah, do you physically have to go to a different 470 00:24:24,640 --> 00:24:27,960 Speaker 1: place or can you just go home or be in 471 00:24:28,040 --> 00:24:31,080 Speaker 1: Nashville and still like feel like you're stepping away. 472 00:24:31,160 --> 00:24:32,920 Speaker 2: I try to go I try to get away a 473 00:24:33,000 --> 00:24:36,960 Speaker 2: little bit, but really where being my kids are in 474 00:24:37,000 --> 00:24:39,080 Speaker 2: some camps this summer that that they that they wanted 475 00:24:39,080 --> 00:24:40,320 Speaker 2: to be in and so we're just kind of hanging 476 00:24:40,359 --> 00:24:42,159 Speaker 2: around here, which actually for me is one of the 477 00:24:42,359 --> 00:24:43,879 Speaker 2: usually I like take off for the summer and we 478 00:24:43,920 --> 00:24:46,359 Speaker 2: go family and all that stuff. It helps it. You know, 479 00:24:46,400 --> 00:24:48,719 Speaker 2: my mom and dad are here, which is nice. Yeah, 480 00:24:48,800 --> 00:24:51,800 Speaker 2: but we don't we aren't going to do a lot 481 00:24:51,840 --> 00:24:53,600 Speaker 2: this summer, and I'm kind of hopeful that that that 482 00:24:53,680 --> 00:24:55,280 Speaker 2: does help a little bit where it's just you're not 483 00:24:55,359 --> 00:24:57,000 Speaker 2: kind of on the go for a couple of weeks. 484 00:24:57,440 --> 00:24:59,399 Speaker 2: I'm just here. I'm at my house, I with my 485 00:24:59,480 --> 00:25:02,159 Speaker 2: kids and and just hanging out and join Nashville a 486 00:25:02,160 --> 00:25:06,800 Speaker 2: little bit. And that's we'll see if that helps. But 487 00:25:06,840 --> 00:25:08,560 Speaker 2: then I'll take a little bit of time and I'll 488 00:25:08,560 --> 00:25:10,639 Speaker 2: go see my in laws and my wife's family. They 489 00:25:10,640 --> 00:25:12,639 Speaker 2: have a place up in Lake Georgia, New York. So 490 00:25:12,840 --> 00:25:15,840 Speaker 2: little lake life. Yeah, go jump on a boat and 491 00:25:16,520 --> 00:25:19,040 Speaker 2: puts around, and that's sort of that's sort of like 492 00:25:19,080 --> 00:25:20,840 Speaker 2: my one escape that I usually take. 493 00:25:20,920 --> 00:25:23,760 Speaker 1: So your parents are here, your dad's on your staff. 494 00:25:24,280 --> 00:25:27,560 Speaker 1: Do you guys, are you able to have conversations and 495 00:25:27,640 --> 00:25:30,040 Speaker 1: not talk about work? Yeah? 496 00:25:30,400 --> 00:25:31,320 Speaker 2: Not for ver long. 497 00:25:31,320 --> 00:25:33,840 Speaker 1: Okay, there it is. Yeah, not for. 498 00:25:33,840 --> 00:25:35,919 Speaker 2: Very long, but yeah we can. Yeah, and a lot 499 00:25:35,920 --> 00:25:39,360 Speaker 2: of it's usually centered around the kids and I'm brothers 500 00:25:39,359 --> 00:25:41,640 Speaker 2: and sisters and all that stuff, but yeah we can. 501 00:25:41,640 --> 00:25:43,240 Speaker 2: We can do it for a little bit, but inevitably 502 00:25:43,240 --> 00:25:45,000 Speaker 2: it always kind of like leans right. 503 00:25:44,920 --> 00:25:47,560 Speaker 1: Back into the years into it. Well, I mean because 504 00:25:47,600 --> 00:25:50,440 Speaker 1: even when you're like close friends with co workers, when 505 00:25:50,440 --> 00:25:53,800 Speaker 1: you get together socially, you usually end up talking about 506 00:25:53,800 --> 00:25:57,200 Speaker 1: work anyway, always, and so I would imagine that it's 507 00:25:57,240 --> 00:26:00,560 Speaker 1: the same thing. You're at a family barbecue. You you're 508 00:26:00,600 --> 00:26:04,639 Speaker 1: all grilling, but you're also kind of talking about work. 509 00:26:04,840 --> 00:26:08,399 Speaker 2: Yeah, that's pretty much how it good. Yeah, it's not. 510 00:26:09,320 --> 00:26:13,919 Speaker 2: It's no. And when you're in this profession too, like 511 00:26:13,960 --> 00:26:16,120 Speaker 2: it's it's just sort of all you ever think about. 512 00:26:16,520 --> 00:26:19,960 Speaker 2: You know, there's not a whole lot of like I'm 513 00:26:19,960 --> 00:26:21,439 Speaker 2: just going to leave this away for a while, Like 514 00:26:21,520 --> 00:26:22,600 Speaker 2: it just doesn't work that way. 515 00:26:22,880 --> 00:26:25,440 Speaker 1: Yeah. Yeah, there's not a lot of not a lot 516 00:26:25,480 --> 00:26:30,120 Speaker 1: of separation, but still some time to relax, some time 517 00:26:30,160 --> 00:26:33,520 Speaker 1: to rest. And then everybody comes back for training camp 518 00:26:33,560 --> 00:26:36,000 Speaker 1: and we get this thing going. What is your number 519 00:26:36,040 --> 00:26:40,240 Speaker 1: one goal or priority for the first week or two 520 00:26:40,280 --> 00:26:41,240 Speaker 1: of training camp. 521 00:26:41,400 --> 00:26:43,240 Speaker 2: The first week or two. The first week or two 522 00:26:43,240 --> 00:26:44,800 Speaker 2: has changed so much because you've got to go through 523 00:26:44,800 --> 00:26:48,080 Speaker 2: this acclamation period and so there's there's limits on we 524 00:26:48,080 --> 00:26:50,119 Speaker 2: won't even put pads on until we've been practicing for 525 00:26:50,119 --> 00:26:54,119 Speaker 2: almost seven days eight days. So you just sort of 526 00:26:54,160 --> 00:27:00,399 Speaker 2: you're more focused on ramping back into football. And and 527 00:27:00,600 --> 00:27:04,440 Speaker 2: what I mean by that is even OTAs isn't it's football, 528 00:27:04,440 --> 00:27:08,200 Speaker 2: but it's not. You're ramping into like padded practice and 529 00:27:08,800 --> 00:27:13,760 Speaker 2: real physical, hard football. And that's the ideas. You're trying 530 00:27:13,800 --> 00:27:15,160 Speaker 2: to get to that point. And then once you hit 531 00:27:15,200 --> 00:27:19,280 Speaker 2: that point, the process, the intent is to be hard. 532 00:27:19,520 --> 00:27:21,360 Speaker 2: You want you have to do hard things. I mean, 533 00:27:21,400 --> 00:27:23,320 Speaker 2: that's part of it. Like you're trying to manage your 534 00:27:23,359 --> 00:27:25,480 Speaker 2: team and your roster so you're healthy for seventeen games 535 00:27:25,480 --> 00:27:27,880 Speaker 2: and you're and you got to load manage some guys 536 00:27:27,880 --> 00:27:30,360 Speaker 2: through training camp. But the idea is that the way 537 00:27:30,400 --> 00:27:32,880 Speaker 2: that our practices are scheduled is we come off our 538 00:27:32,920 --> 00:27:35,320 Speaker 2: off days. We have a jog through day, which is 539 00:27:35,359 --> 00:27:37,520 Speaker 2: sort of like a primer to get back into it 540 00:27:38,000 --> 00:27:40,240 Speaker 2: after an off day. It's not as intense, it's a 541 00:27:40,240 --> 00:27:42,480 Speaker 2: little more mental. We're just moving around a little bit, 542 00:27:42,560 --> 00:27:44,440 Speaker 2: and then we have two back to back days and 543 00:27:44,520 --> 00:27:47,480 Speaker 2: pads and that's sort of our four day block works. 544 00:27:47,480 --> 00:27:49,960 Speaker 2: It's off day jog through two days and pads with 545 00:27:50,080 --> 00:27:52,800 Speaker 2: the intent of when we hit those two days and pads, 546 00:27:53,359 --> 00:27:59,040 Speaker 2: those are long, hard physical practices and the expectation is 547 00:27:59,080 --> 00:28:01,240 Speaker 2: that we are at full hill for two straight days 548 00:28:01,320 --> 00:28:03,320 Speaker 2: and then we break and then we start to cycle 549 00:28:03,359 --> 00:28:07,400 Speaker 2: over again. Yeah, and it gets you hardened and ready 550 00:28:07,400 --> 00:28:10,080 Speaker 2: for the football season, but it also manages the load 551 00:28:10,160 --> 00:28:13,000 Speaker 2: to the point where you're you're not losing guys hopefully 552 00:28:13,040 --> 00:28:15,720 Speaker 2: too often to injury, and you're managing that process the 553 00:28:15,800 --> 00:28:18,640 Speaker 2: smart and scientific way, which is what we do. But like, 554 00:28:19,440 --> 00:28:21,639 Speaker 2: you need football pads on your body and you need 555 00:28:21,680 --> 00:28:24,480 Speaker 2: to play football, and that's that's training camp, and it 556 00:28:24,480 --> 00:28:26,280 Speaker 2: should be hard, and it should you should be sore 557 00:28:26,320 --> 00:28:28,840 Speaker 2: and you should feel tired because you're trying to harden 558 00:28:28,880 --> 00:28:31,720 Speaker 2: your team and you're trying to toughen your team for 559 00:28:31,800 --> 00:28:34,720 Speaker 2: what's to come, which the regular season is is a 560 00:28:34,800 --> 00:28:37,879 Speaker 2: grind and it's it's hard, and so you're trying to 561 00:28:37,920 --> 00:28:38,800 Speaker 2: get yourself ready for that. 562 00:28:38,880 --> 00:28:42,600 Speaker 1: But it seems like that cadence very similarly mirrors the 563 00:28:42,640 --> 00:28:46,240 Speaker 1: cadence of the regular season where you have some down days, 564 00:28:46,360 --> 00:28:50,360 Speaker 1: but you have some really really hard days, including Sunday. 565 00:28:50,720 --> 00:28:53,200 Speaker 2: Yeah, and that's that's the idea, is that it should 566 00:28:53,640 --> 00:28:56,120 Speaker 2: we the rhythm should mirror it to some degree because 567 00:28:56,240 --> 00:28:57,760 Speaker 2: really you look at a jog through day sort of 568 00:28:57,800 --> 00:29:01,080 Speaker 2: like our Wednesday practice and then our Thursday practices and pads. 569 00:29:01,120 --> 00:29:03,560 Speaker 2: This is during the season, Thursday practice and pads. It 570 00:29:03,560 --> 00:29:05,480 Speaker 2: should be long, it should be hard, and then Friday 571 00:29:05,600 --> 00:29:07,560 Speaker 2: sort of back it back down again. So it's kind 572 00:29:07,560 --> 00:29:11,160 Speaker 2: of like this, there's these undulations in effort and intensity, 573 00:29:11,640 --> 00:29:14,000 Speaker 2: and that's scientifically the way that you should be doing. 574 00:29:14,000 --> 00:29:19,239 Speaker 2: It shouldn't be this like max velocity for days at 575 00:29:19,240 --> 00:29:22,040 Speaker 2: a time. There should be it should be ebbs and flows. 576 00:29:22,080 --> 00:29:24,760 Speaker 2: And so that's the intent of it is that there's 577 00:29:24,800 --> 00:29:29,680 Speaker 2: this idea of bursts of effort and back downs and 578 00:29:29,720 --> 00:29:31,840 Speaker 2: bursts of effort and back downs, and that's how training 579 00:29:31,880 --> 00:29:35,400 Speaker 2: camp schedule that it mirrors how we schedule our regular 580 00:29:35,440 --> 00:29:38,840 Speaker 2: season weeks. And then again you max out on Sunday, Coach. 581 00:29:38,920 --> 00:29:41,600 Speaker 1: That's for sure the first time the word undulation has 582 00:29:41,680 --> 00:29:44,400 Speaker 1: ever been said on this podcast, and we've had we've 583 00:29:44,400 --> 00:29:47,200 Speaker 1: had this podcast for seven years, so that's pretty impressive. 584 00:29:47,240 --> 00:29:48,200 Speaker 2: Well, I'll take the win. 585 00:29:48,280 --> 00:29:50,360 Speaker 1: Yeah, we've gotten a lot of words on this podcast. 586 00:29:50,440 --> 00:29:54,160 Speaker 1: That's the first one for Undulation. Good coach Callahan. We 587 00:29:54,200 --> 00:29:56,600 Speaker 1: so appreciate the time. We hope you get some time 588 00:29:56,640 --> 00:30:00,320 Speaker 1: to relax and sort of unplug. Yeah, and then we'll 589 00:30:00,320 --> 00:30:03,360 Speaker 1: see you again and train here. I can't wait for 590 00:30:03,400 --> 00:30:06,040 Speaker 1: Brian Callahan. I'm Amy Wells and this has been the 591 00:30:06,200 --> 00:30:10,760 Speaker 1: ot P H m hm