1 00:00:00,800 --> 00:00:06,200 Speaker 1: And now Move the Sticks with Daniel Jeremiah and Bucky Brooks. 2 00:00:07,000 --> 00:00:09,400 Speaker 1: Welcome to the Moving Sticks Podcast. I am Blacky Works. 3 00:00:09,400 --> 00:00:13,400 Speaker 1: I got a special guest. Former All Pro, former All Everything, 4 00:00:13,520 --> 00:00:17,040 Speaker 1: Pro Bowl linebacker Thomas Davis joins the program. TV was 5 00:00:17,079 --> 00:00:19,360 Speaker 1: going on, what's up? Man? Are you doing? I'm good man? 6 00:00:19,920 --> 00:00:21,919 Speaker 1: How do you get you out that way? What what's happening? 7 00:00:21,960 --> 00:00:23,799 Speaker 1: I mean, just trying to get reps man, That's what 8 00:00:23,920 --> 00:00:26,120 Speaker 1: it's about in this retired life, trying to figure out 9 00:00:26,160 --> 00:00:28,760 Speaker 1: west next man and just have an opportunity to be 10 00:00:28,880 --> 00:00:31,760 Speaker 1: on Total Access. It's been fine for me. Okay, it's fine. 11 00:00:31,800 --> 00:00:34,320 Speaker 1: So now, I mean, look, we'll go a few different 12 00:00:34,320 --> 00:00:36,879 Speaker 1: directions in the podcast. But I just saw your partner, 13 00:00:37,000 --> 00:00:39,960 Speaker 1: your your partner in crime, Luke Keikley is joining the 14 00:00:40,080 --> 00:00:42,920 Speaker 1: radio Brocket. Did you talk to look about this side? 15 00:00:43,000 --> 00:00:44,839 Speaker 1: I was living on the dark side, listen. I was 16 00:00:44,880 --> 00:00:47,400 Speaker 1: literally me and Luke went to dinner the other night 17 00:00:47,440 --> 00:00:49,720 Speaker 1: and kind of had a went to his crib and 18 00:00:49,760 --> 00:00:52,080 Speaker 1: just had a conversation. Man, sat down, man and minute 19 00:00:52,040 --> 00:00:55,480 Speaker 1: and he told me before it's actually came to fruition 20 00:00:55,520 --> 00:00:58,520 Speaker 1: that death what he wanted to do. And um, I'm 21 00:00:58,520 --> 00:01:01,560 Speaker 1: excited for him. Just when you get into this retired 22 00:01:01,560 --> 00:01:03,560 Speaker 1: phase of your life, you just try to figure out 23 00:01:03,600 --> 00:01:06,360 Speaker 1: what that next move is, man. And I mean, obviously 24 00:01:06,480 --> 00:01:08,240 Speaker 1: Luke is in a position where he don't ever have 25 00:01:08,319 --> 00:01:11,440 Speaker 1: to do anything again if you don't want to. But um, 26 00:01:11,480 --> 00:01:13,760 Speaker 1: and I ain't saying that because he saved his money. 27 00:01:13,760 --> 00:01:15,600 Speaker 1: He's just the cheapest person that you've ever met in 28 00:01:15,600 --> 00:01:18,200 Speaker 1: your life. But he, I mean, he's a great dude, man, 29 00:01:18,280 --> 00:01:20,919 Speaker 1: And I'm happy to see him find that next step, 30 00:01:21,400 --> 00:01:23,120 Speaker 1: you know. And thinking about this because I think you 31 00:01:23,120 --> 00:01:26,399 Speaker 1: guys are always synonymous with the Carolina Panthers. What is 32 00:01:26,400 --> 00:01:28,600 Speaker 1: it like to have a partner guy that you play 33 00:01:28,640 --> 00:01:31,960 Speaker 1: alongside of that position that you know, you build this bond, 34 00:01:32,040 --> 00:01:34,679 Speaker 1: you build this brotherhood, this kinship. What is it like 35 00:01:34,720 --> 00:01:37,040 Speaker 1: playing with someone who is I don't say you're equal, 36 00:01:37,319 --> 00:01:39,240 Speaker 1: but you gotta see the game the same way. Man. 37 00:01:39,319 --> 00:01:42,720 Speaker 1: It was amazing. He We literally were out there trying 38 00:01:42,760 --> 00:01:45,120 Speaker 1: to make each other's job easier. You know. We tried 39 00:01:45,160 --> 00:01:48,440 Speaker 1: to be everything for each other. We tried to make 40 00:01:48,480 --> 00:01:50,640 Speaker 1: sure if I didn't see something, he saw it. If 41 00:01:50,680 --> 00:01:52,960 Speaker 1: he didn't see it, I saw it. And um, when 42 00:01:52,960 --> 00:01:55,680 Speaker 1: you have that kind of chemistry, that kind of camaraderie 43 00:01:55,680 --> 00:01:58,480 Speaker 1: that we had on the field. Man, it goes above 44 00:01:58,560 --> 00:02:00,600 Speaker 1: and beyond football. And that's and this is just the 45 00:02:00,640 --> 00:02:03,120 Speaker 1: relationship that we had and they started from day one. 46 00:02:03,240 --> 00:02:05,840 Speaker 1: And when you have a guy that comes in with 47 00:02:05,880 --> 00:02:08,239 Speaker 1: the mindset and the attitude that Luke kick Lee has, 48 00:02:08,280 --> 00:02:10,600 Speaker 1: it it really lends to being able to do something 49 00:02:10,639 --> 00:02:13,399 Speaker 1: like that. It's funny because when we had conversations with Luke, 50 00:02:13,480 --> 00:02:16,040 Speaker 1: he talked about you and how you challenged him in 51 00:02:16,120 --> 00:02:18,720 Speaker 1: terms of how cool you guys could read the guards 52 00:02:18,760 --> 00:02:20,480 Speaker 1: and how you could flow to the thing, and how 53 00:02:20,919 --> 00:02:23,480 Speaker 1: a lot of the communication that you guys had was 54 00:02:23,560 --> 00:02:25,600 Speaker 1: non verbal, that you could see a formation and you 55 00:02:25,600 --> 00:02:28,520 Speaker 1: guys would know what was about to happen. Where did 56 00:02:28,520 --> 00:02:30,560 Speaker 1: that come from? You know, just all the reps? You know, 57 00:02:30,639 --> 00:02:33,359 Speaker 1: we we kind of took the approach and practiced that 58 00:02:33,440 --> 00:02:35,880 Speaker 1: we were gonna make practice harder than the games. And 59 00:02:35,919 --> 00:02:37,720 Speaker 1: the only way that we could do that was going 60 00:02:37,720 --> 00:02:40,680 Speaker 1: out and competing hard against each other. And we felt 61 00:02:40,720 --> 00:02:43,239 Speaker 1: like once we competed hard against each other, that would 62 00:02:43,280 --> 00:02:46,000 Speaker 1: make game they like just fun. So we would go out, 63 00:02:46,400 --> 00:02:48,920 Speaker 1: we would literally be on the sideline and games like 64 00:02:49,040 --> 00:02:51,400 Speaker 1: looking up at the stat sheet talking about, hey, I 65 00:02:51,400 --> 00:02:53,640 Speaker 1: got more taxic than you right now, or you know, 66 00:02:53,840 --> 00:02:55,720 Speaker 1: I'm gonna be the first one going into the game. 67 00:02:55,800 --> 00:02:57,440 Speaker 1: I'll be the first one to make the big play. 68 00:02:57,560 --> 00:03:00,239 Speaker 1: And like whenever you had that kind of competition level 69 00:03:00,280 --> 00:03:02,360 Speaker 1: and you're a true competitor, you want to be the 70 00:03:02,400 --> 00:03:05,840 Speaker 1: one that like jump starts to team or get guys excited. Obviously, 71 00:03:06,280 --> 00:03:08,120 Speaker 1: Luke Kickle is gonna be a first ballot Hall of 72 00:03:08,200 --> 00:03:11,919 Speaker 1: Fame famer. I'm not so. I think it's safe to 73 00:03:11,960 --> 00:03:14,840 Speaker 1: say that he won most of those battles. But let's 74 00:03:14,840 --> 00:03:18,040 Speaker 1: talk about this because literally we know, so you're drafted 75 00:03:18,400 --> 00:03:22,000 Speaker 1: two overall pick. I was working for the Carolina Panthers. 76 00:03:22,080 --> 00:03:23,919 Speaker 1: I was scouting. I wasn't in charge of the Southeast. 77 00:03:23,960 --> 00:03:26,440 Speaker 1: I was doing the West. When we brought you in, 78 00:03:27,200 --> 00:03:30,200 Speaker 1: we brought you and we put you at safety. You 79 00:03:30,280 --> 00:03:34,880 Speaker 1: end up being a all everything linebacker. What was that transition? 80 00:03:34,960 --> 00:03:38,400 Speaker 1: Like safety when you first come into the league and 81 00:03:38,440 --> 00:03:41,160 Speaker 1: then making the move to linebacker. How difficult was it? 82 00:03:41,320 --> 00:03:43,680 Speaker 1: You know, it was so weird because I played eight 83 00:03:43,680 --> 00:03:47,360 Speaker 1: different positions in high school, and ironically enough, linebacker was 84 00:03:47,480 --> 00:03:50,280 Speaker 1: never one of them. You know, I always tried to 85 00:03:50,480 --> 00:03:52,840 Speaker 1: be that guy that that could go out and show 86 00:03:52,920 --> 00:03:55,520 Speaker 1: that I can do multiple things. And for me, what 87 00:03:55,640 --> 00:03:57,680 Speaker 1: I did in high school it was about, Hey, I 88 00:03:57,680 --> 00:03:59,240 Speaker 1: want to show these teams that I can do this 89 00:03:59,280 --> 00:04:01,280 Speaker 1: so I can try to get the scholarship opportunity. I 90 00:04:01,320 --> 00:04:04,720 Speaker 1: don't know if that is essentially what ended up hurting 91 00:04:04,760 --> 00:04:07,360 Speaker 1: me because I only had one Division well two Division 92 00:04:07,360 --> 00:04:10,320 Speaker 1: one offers. One was to Grambling University. One was to 93 00:04:10,360 --> 00:04:13,480 Speaker 1: the University of Georgia on signing day and I tell 94 00:04:13,520 --> 00:04:17,080 Speaker 1: people that story all the time. But for me, that 95 00:04:17,160 --> 00:04:19,920 Speaker 1: was when I learned how to be a versatile player 96 00:04:20,000 --> 00:04:22,200 Speaker 1: and how to adjust because when I went to Georgia, 97 00:04:22,279 --> 00:04:24,320 Speaker 1: it was literally the same thing, We're gonna put you 98 00:04:24,400 --> 00:04:26,520 Speaker 1: at safety, We're gonna put you at lineback, and it 99 00:04:26,640 --> 00:04:30,000 Speaker 1: was like a musical chair situation. And it really wasn't 100 00:04:30,080 --> 00:04:33,920 Speaker 1: until two thousand and three or two thousand and two 101 00:04:33,920 --> 00:04:36,440 Speaker 1: when one of our safeties got hurt, the same situation 102 00:04:36,480 --> 00:04:40,520 Speaker 1: in Carolina when college branch got hurt um that they 103 00:04:40,560 --> 00:04:43,160 Speaker 1: decided to just leave me at safety, and you know, 104 00:04:43,200 --> 00:04:45,640 Speaker 1: the rest was history from at Georgia at that point. 105 00:04:45,960 --> 00:04:47,839 Speaker 1: So let's let's this thing that is because the last 106 00:04:47,839 --> 00:04:49,440 Speaker 1: couple of years, we had a few different safeties that 107 00:04:49,480 --> 00:04:53,360 Speaker 1: have come into the league. Um guys like um come 108 00:04:53,520 --> 00:04:56,480 Speaker 1: a little safety from my corner. My linebacker from Clemson 109 00:04:56,600 --> 00:04:59,520 Speaker 1: came to the lady went to Arizona Isaiah, but he 110 00:04:59,600 --> 00:05:02,520 Speaker 1: came in and we think about like, it's so easy 111 00:05:02,560 --> 00:05:05,920 Speaker 1: from a scouting standpoint to think about, Hey, this guy 112 00:05:06,000 --> 00:05:08,719 Speaker 1: has all these talents, he has all these tools, he's 113 00:05:08,720 --> 00:05:10,479 Speaker 1: able to do all of this stuff if we just 114 00:05:10,480 --> 00:05:12,040 Speaker 1: bring him in the league and a coach you can 115 00:05:12,080 --> 00:05:15,280 Speaker 1: just move them around. But as the player, how hard 116 00:05:15,360 --> 00:05:17,800 Speaker 1: is it to bounce around and play multiple positions at 117 00:05:17,800 --> 00:05:20,880 Speaker 1: the highest level. It's tough. It's tough. It's extremely tough 118 00:05:20,960 --> 00:05:24,400 Speaker 1: because for one at this level, you gotta be able 119 00:05:24,440 --> 00:05:27,360 Speaker 1: to focus in on your position group because you gotta know, like, hey, 120 00:05:27,400 --> 00:05:29,799 Speaker 1: I'm going to get certain guys, I gotta do certain things, 121 00:05:30,560 --> 00:05:34,719 Speaker 1: especially for the positions that you have to communicate in 122 00:05:34,760 --> 00:05:37,440 Speaker 1: the secondary, you gotta be able to communicate. At linebackers, 123 00:05:37,440 --> 00:05:39,840 Speaker 1: you've got to be able to communicate, but the communication 124 00:05:40,000 --> 00:05:42,600 Speaker 1: is different. So you once you get into a position 125 00:05:42,600 --> 00:05:45,280 Speaker 1: where you're moving back and forth like that can mess 126 00:05:45,320 --> 00:05:47,960 Speaker 1: up your head, especially as a young player, and you 127 00:05:48,000 --> 00:05:50,960 Speaker 1: know not to make any excuses. I didn't prepare myself 128 00:05:51,000 --> 00:05:53,960 Speaker 1: like I needed to my first year in Carolina. And 129 00:05:54,000 --> 00:05:55,760 Speaker 1: I tell people that story all the time, and I 130 00:05:55,839 --> 00:05:59,200 Speaker 1: think that's a huge part of what made me become 131 00:05:59,240 --> 00:06:03,080 Speaker 1: a successful linebacker in this league because I understood it's 132 00:06:03,080 --> 00:06:05,760 Speaker 1: not about where you get drafted at. Yeah, you get 133 00:06:05,839 --> 00:06:08,440 Speaker 1: drafted in the first round, you have a lot of expectations. 134 00:06:08,680 --> 00:06:10,440 Speaker 1: That doesn't mean that you're gonna get to start and 135 00:06:10,480 --> 00:06:13,640 Speaker 1: play football. So I lost my starting job after that 136 00:06:13,720 --> 00:06:15,839 Speaker 1: first year, and that humbled me in a way that 137 00:06:15,880 --> 00:06:19,480 Speaker 1: I never imagined. I didn't start anymore after that first game, 138 00:06:19,480 --> 00:06:22,120 Speaker 1: but I started every game after that that I played. No, 139 00:06:22,320 --> 00:06:24,760 Speaker 1: So Asaia Simmons was a linebacker that I was thinking about. 140 00:06:24,800 --> 00:06:27,520 Speaker 1: They went from Clemson to the Arizona Cardinals. Who's bounced 141 00:06:27,520 --> 00:06:29,800 Speaker 1: around And we've, like a scouts like we kind of 142 00:06:29,839 --> 00:06:32,720 Speaker 1: see the tools and the trades to speed and all 143 00:06:32,760 --> 00:06:34,920 Speaker 1: those things, and I think a lot of times maybe 144 00:06:34,920 --> 00:06:38,800 Speaker 1: we underestimate that part of it. Now, I want you 145 00:06:38,839 --> 00:06:41,240 Speaker 1: to help me as a scout. What is it that 146 00:06:41,320 --> 00:06:46,479 Speaker 1: evaluators are missing when looking at linebackers. What is the 147 00:06:46,560 --> 00:06:49,599 Speaker 1: one thing that maybe we don't pay enough attention to 148 00:06:50,120 --> 00:06:52,120 Speaker 1: when we talk about the position and the guys that 149 00:06:52,120 --> 00:06:54,640 Speaker 1: should be playing well in that position. I think one 150 00:06:54,640 --> 00:06:56,440 Speaker 1: of the things like when you're when you're scouting the 151 00:06:56,480 --> 00:06:59,080 Speaker 1: guy is you know, just used Isaiah as an example, 152 00:06:59,120 --> 00:07:02,120 Speaker 1: Like you talk about first and foremost, when you're thinking 153 00:07:02,160 --> 00:07:05,680 Speaker 1: about transitioning the guy and and seeing what he can do, 154 00:07:05,720 --> 00:07:07,640 Speaker 1: you want to look at his size first. You gotta 155 00:07:07,680 --> 00:07:10,520 Speaker 1: make sure that if you're just gonna take a safety 156 00:07:10,560 --> 00:07:12,320 Speaker 1: and try to put him in that position, that he's 157 00:07:12,360 --> 00:07:15,840 Speaker 1: not to undersize the way. He's gonna just gonna get 158 00:07:15,840 --> 00:07:18,000 Speaker 1: pushed around and people are gonna take advantage of he 159 00:07:18,040 --> 00:07:21,040 Speaker 1: can't hold a point of attack when taking on offensive alignment. 160 00:07:21,080 --> 00:07:24,239 Speaker 1: Because that was my biggest learning curve coming from being 161 00:07:24,280 --> 00:07:26,640 Speaker 1: that safety, being the free here to coming down. Now 162 00:07:26,680 --> 00:07:28,760 Speaker 1: I gotta take on lineman, I gotta take on full 163 00:07:28,800 --> 00:07:31,160 Speaker 1: back back at full backs back in the day, that 164 00:07:31,280 --> 00:07:33,880 Speaker 1: was one of the biggest transitions that I had to make. 165 00:07:33,920 --> 00:07:37,440 Speaker 1: But you gotta understand that guys gotta be in a 166 00:07:37,520 --> 00:07:39,800 Speaker 1: position where they can react to the game a lot faster. 167 00:07:39,880 --> 00:07:43,120 Speaker 1: It's gonna be on you a lot faster, and for us, 168 00:07:43,120 --> 00:07:46,400 Speaker 1: you gotta make sure guys are committed to doing the work, 169 00:07:46,480 --> 00:07:49,520 Speaker 1: making sure that they're strong, making sure that they're instinctive. 170 00:07:50,240 --> 00:07:53,080 Speaker 1: Instincts you are they go on match. It don't really 171 00:07:53,160 --> 00:07:55,400 Speaker 1: matter how fast you are. You can be the fastest 172 00:07:55,400 --> 00:07:58,000 Speaker 1: man on the field. If you're not an instinctive player, 173 00:07:58,040 --> 00:08:00,720 Speaker 1: If you can't go out there without like sitting there 174 00:08:00,760 --> 00:08:03,240 Speaker 1: guess and thinking what's going on, you're gonna get caught 175 00:08:03,280 --> 00:08:05,440 Speaker 1: up every single time. You can run the four three, 176 00:08:05,560 --> 00:08:07,600 Speaker 1: you can run the four two. I don't care. If 177 00:08:07,640 --> 00:08:11,160 Speaker 1: you can't see and react to what's going on quickly, 178 00:08:11,640 --> 00:08:14,120 Speaker 1: doesn't matter. It just takes away from your plans, your 179 00:08:14,160 --> 00:08:16,640 Speaker 1: playing style, and your ability to play the game. So 180 00:08:16,720 --> 00:08:20,040 Speaker 1: you have to be able to go out, line up 181 00:08:20,360 --> 00:08:22,600 Speaker 1: and react to what you see. So that's one of 182 00:08:22,640 --> 00:08:24,720 Speaker 1: the biggest keys for a linebacker to me, to just 183 00:08:24,760 --> 00:08:27,080 Speaker 1: to answer your question, okay, so and and and thinking 184 00:08:27,080 --> 00:08:30,680 Speaker 1: about that because we talked about instincts, because to me, 185 00:08:30,840 --> 00:08:32,760 Speaker 1: I feel like those things and more you kind of 186 00:08:32,840 --> 00:08:37,280 Speaker 1: have them at linebacker. How do you like figure that 187 00:08:37,360 --> 00:08:40,360 Speaker 1: part out? You talk about reacting quickly? Is that something 188 00:08:40,400 --> 00:08:43,800 Speaker 1: that we developed what coaching? Is it film study or 189 00:08:43,840 --> 00:08:47,319 Speaker 1: is it just I got it? It's film study. Um, 190 00:08:47,640 --> 00:08:50,960 Speaker 1: it's film study all day. And one of the reasons why, 191 00:08:51,160 --> 00:08:53,400 Speaker 1: you know, and I'm circling back talking about Luke kick 192 00:08:53,480 --> 00:08:56,480 Speaker 1: Lee again. One of the reasons why that he became 193 00:08:56,520 --> 00:09:00,600 Speaker 1: the player that he became. He never left the facility 194 00:09:00,880 --> 00:09:03,640 Speaker 1: when we where he left eventually, if you got to understand, 195 00:09:03,640 --> 00:09:06,360 Speaker 1: but when we left, he he was there four or 196 00:09:06,360 --> 00:09:09,200 Speaker 1: five hours a day after we left. And you could 197 00:09:09,200 --> 00:09:10,920 Speaker 1: do that when you don't have a family, you don't 198 00:09:10,920 --> 00:09:13,559 Speaker 1: have have kids or anybody to go home to, you 199 00:09:13,640 --> 00:09:16,400 Speaker 1: can spend that extra time. But he benefited from that 200 00:09:16,520 --> 00:09:20,320 Speaker 1: because he knew exactly when when offensive alignment got in 201 00:09:20,440 --> 00:09:23,800 Speaker 1: certain stances. He knew when they were in certain spots 202 00:09:23,800 --> 00:09:26,920 Speaker 1: on the field. And him understanding and knowing that, he's 203 00:09:26,960 --> 00:09:29,760 Speaker 1: telling everybody else, and that's making all of our game 204 00:09:29,880 --> 00:09:32,920 Speaker 1: elevate to a whole different level. When he's talking to everybody, 205 00:09:33,080 --> 00:09:35,240 Speaker 1: he knows what the offense is running. You will see 206 00:09:35,240 --> 00:09:38,000 Speaker 1: a lot of times teams come out in certain formations 207 00:09:38,040 --> 00:09:40,360 Speaker 1: and before as soon as the ball is snapped, Luke 208 00:09:40,440 --> 00:09:43,040 Speaker 1: run right to the play, like literally runs right to 209 00:09:43,120 --> 00:09:46,319 Speaker 1: the play and I'm like, Luke, man, look, you gotta 210 00:09:46,320 --> 00:09:48,120 Speaker 1: slow down a little bit because they're gonna think I'm 211 00:09:48,120 --> 00:09:50,360 Speaker 1: losing the step, but you're running this fast and getting 212 00:09:50,400 --> 00:09:53,400 Speaker 1: that that fast. But you know, for me as a competitor, 213 00:09:53,480 --> 00:09:56,200 Speaker 1: it made me watch more family. It made me, uh 214 00:09:56,480 --> 00:10:01,120 Speaker 1: really start to learn more about the importance of watching 215 00:10:01,160 --> 00:10:03,560 Speaker 1: film and seeing how big of a difference that made 216 00:10:03,640 --> 00:10:09,880 Speaker 1: my game. So you had a unique opportunity because in 217 00:10:09,960 --> 00:10:12,760 Speaker 1: talking about defense and playing fast, you played for head 218 00:10:12,800 --> 00:10:15,400 Speaker 1: coaches who came from the defense of the ball. Ye 219 00:10:15,559 --> 00:10:17,920 Speaker 1: John Fox, and you have Ron Rivera. What is it 220 00:10:17,960 --> 00:10:21,280 Speaker 1: like playing for a head coach who really knows that 221 00:10:21,320 --> 00:10:23,480 Speaker 1: side of the wall and can kind of lean on 222 00:10:23,520 --> 00:10:25,360 Speaker 1: you a little bit more when he doesn't feel like 223 00:10:25,400 --> 00:10:28,400 Speaker 1: you give him him everything that he needs at that position. 224 00:10:28,520 --> 00:10:31,439 Speaker 1: It was tough. I mean, I love coach Rivera, the 225 00:10:31,559 --> 00:10:35,000 Speaker 1: deaf man. He literally helped elevate our level of play 226 00:10:35,080 --> 00:10:37,560 Speaker 1: and and really got us to the Super Bowl um 227 00:10:37,640 --> 00:10:40,200 Speaker 1: with his coaching style and he allowed One of the 228 00:10:40,200 --> 00:10:43,360 Speaker 1: biggest things I say about Coach Rivera and you just 229 00:10:43,400 --> 00:10:46,480 Speaker 1: talked about it, he understands the game. He played the game, 230 00:10:46,720 --> 00:10:49,120 Speaker 1: and he understands his players. So he allowed us to 231 00:10:49,160 --> 00:10:51,440 Speaker 1: go out and really be who we were. But on 232 00:10:51,480 --> 00:10:54,040 Speaker 1: the deepest side of the ball. He made it hard 233 00:10:54,120 --> 00:10:56,560 Speaker 1: for us, Like, man, we would be in practice and 234 00:10:56,600 --> 00:10:59,640 Speaker 1: we would literally shut the offense down, and like he 235 00:10:59,760 --> 00:11:03,040 Speaker 1: was give him the first down, and so like, when 236 00:11:03,040 --> 00:11:05,200 Speaker 1: that's happening and you in a too minute situation, like 237 00:11:05,240 --> 00:11:08,160 Speaker 1: we started to complain as as defensive guys, and he 238 00:11:08,200 --> 00:11:11,840 Speaker 1: would always come tell me, TD, it's gonna be hard 239 00:11:11,920 --> 00:11:14,400 Speaker 1: on the defense. I'm setting it up that way. It's 240 00:11:14,440 --> 00:11:17,000 Speaker 1: gonna be hard on you guys. Deal with it. I'm like, 241 00:11:17,000 --> 00:11:19,960 Speaker 1: all right, coach, that's fine. So now I'm with him 242 00:11:20,000 --> 00:11:22,880 Speaker 1: and pressing this upon me. I'm letting all the other guys, 243 00:11:23,240 --> 00:11:26,120 Speaker 1: this is not a situation where you you're gonna complain 244 00:11:26,160 --> 00:11:28,680 Speaker 1: about what happened when we get an interception. Get ready 245 00:11:28,720 --> 00:11:30,760 Speaker 1: to line up and keep this two minute drive going, 246 00:11:30,880 --> 00:11:34,960 Speaker 1: because in essence, it's gonna make us better as a defense, 247 00:11:35,120 --> 00:11:37,640 Speaker 1: but it's gonna also teach the offense, like, hey, you 248 00:11:37,720 --> 00:11:40,040 Speaker 1: gotta take care of the ball, you gotta sustain drives. 249 00:11:40,559 --> 00:11:42,840 Speaker 1: And I mean, that's one of the things that I 250 00:11:42,880 --> 00:11:45,240 Speaker 1: love the most about coature Vera. With him having that 251 00:11:45,320 --> 00:11:48,400 Speaker 1: defensive background, he allowed us as a defense to go 252 00:11:48,440 --> 00:11:51,640 Speaker 1: out and play in tough situations that way when it 253 00:11:51,679 --> 00:11:56,000 Speaker 1: happens in the game. We never panicked. So one of 254 00:11:56,040 --> 00:11:58,199 Speaker 1: the things that has come up of lad and I'm 255 00:11:58,200 --> 00:12:00,720 Speaker 1: always creat because I have my opinions on this, but 256 00:12:01,480 --> 00:12:03,400 Speaker 1: what is it like when you are playing the National 257 00:12:03,400 --> 00:12:05,800 Speaker 1: Football League but you have an opportunity to play for 258 00:12:05,840 --> 00:12:08,400 Speaker 1: a coach who is also played in the league, be 259 00:12:08,440 --> 00:12:11,600 Speaker 1: a position coach coordinator or whatever. Is there a difference 260 00:12:11,600 --> 00:12:14,200 Speaker 1: in having a guy who is played the game as 261 00:12:14,200 --> 00:12:16,640 Speaker 1: opposed to someone who hasn't necessarily played. That's a huge 262 00:12:16,679 --> 00:12:19,080 Speaker 1: difference in having a guy who played the game. Um, 263 00:12:19,240 --> 00:12:21,240 Speaker 1: you know, and I love Coach Fox to death. You 264 00:12:21,280 --> 00:12:23,520 Speaker 1: talked about him a little bit, and Coach Fox we 265 00:12:23,679 --> 00:12:26,960 Speaker 1: felt like at the time was and and this is 266 00:12:27,000 --> 00:12:29,600 Speaker 1: from hearing other stories from guys that played on other teams, 267 00:12:29,600 --> 00:12:32,320 Speaker 1: We felt like Coach Fox was the ultimate players coach 268 00:12:32,800 --> 00:12:36,440 Speaker 1: until we got Ron Rivera. Ron Rivera came in and 269 00:12:36,720 --> 00:12:40,200 Speaker 1: just having a coach that understands certain stages of of 270 00:12:40,320 --> 00:12:44,000 Speaker 1: the season, certain stages of training camp and when we 271 00:12:44,040 --> 00:12:46,240 Speaker 1: go to him as players, and like coach Listen Man, 272 00:12:46,480 --> 00:12:50,360 Speaker 1: we had a tough day yesterday, like our bodies. It 273 00:12:50,440 --> 00:12:52,760 Speaker 1: was taxing on our bodies, like we we need some 274 00:12:52,840 --> 00:12:56,160 Speaker 1: extra taking off, we need some some some time, you know, 275 00:12:56,240 --> 00:12:59,120 Speaker 1: to recoup. We would have we he would literally set 276 00:12:59,200 --> 00:13:01,559 Speaker 1: up a day where we just had a recovery day 277 00:13:01,760 --> 00:13:04,400 Speaker 1: from listening to the players, or if we went to 278 00:13:04,480 --> 00:13:06,600 Speaker 1: him as as players that were like, Coach, look, that 279 00:13:06,679 --> 00:13:09,840 Speaker 1: practice wasn't good enough, it wasn't hard, like we didn't 280 00:13:09,880 --> 00:13:11,960 Speaker 1: get enough out of that practice. Then we would amp 281 00:13:12,040 --> 00:13:14,960 Speaker 1: it up the next day, just simply based on coach 282 00:13:15,120 --> 00:13:18,280 Speaker 1: understanding that we as veterans are not just gonna come 283 00:13:18,440 --> 00:13:21,560 Speaker 1: to him looking forward to be easy, and just having 284 00:13:21,559 --> 00:13:23,720 Speaker 1: that kind of relationship with a guy that has played 285 00:13:23,720 --> 00:13:25,840 Speaker 1: the game. I mean it made the world a difference 286 00:13:25,840 --> 00:13:27,959 Speaker 1: for us as a football team. Yeah, I think people 287 00:13:28,320 --> 00:13:31,120 Speaker 1: um kind of have a weird definition for what a 288 00:13:31,160 --> 00:13:34,880 Speaker 1: players coaches. But listening to you, it's about communication. I 289 00:13:34,880 --> 00:13:37,880 Speaker 1: want to ask you about um quarterback play because I 290 00:13:37,880 --> 00:13:40,480 Speaker 1: think everyone talks about this being a quarterback driven league 291 00:13:40,520 --> 00:13:43,000 Speaker 1: and quarterbacks and those things. So obviously you had a 292 00:13:43,080 --> 00:13:45,200 Speaker 1: chance to play with Kim Newton during his prime when 293 00:13:45,200 --> 00:13:48,000 Speaker 1: he was super cam and all that other stuff, when 294 00:13:48,080 --> 00:13:50,480 Speaker 1: Kim was at his best. So when your franchise quarterback 295 00:13:51,160 --> 00:13:53,160 Speaker 1: it's one of those guys who are special, what does 296 00:13:53,200 --> 00:13:54,840 Speaker 1: it do for the confidence of the rest of the 297 00:13:54,880 --> 00:13:58,600 Speaker 1: team man. It it it elevated everybody level of play 298 00:13:58,679 --> 00:14:01,400 Speaker 1: man because it and then I tell people this all 299 00:14:01,400 --> 00:14:04,280 Speaker 1: the time. It really started in practice because Coach Vera 300 00:14:04,320 --> 00:14:08,760 Speaker 1: allowed our practice to be super competitive. Anybody that ever 301 00:14:08,880 --> 00:14:11,800 Speaker 1: came to a Carolina practice, there are two voices that 302 00:14:11,880 --> 00:14:16,679 Speaker 1: you would hear none stop every single practice, Cam Newton 303 00:14:16,760 --> 00:14:20,840 Speaker 1: Thomas Davis. Every practice. We're going back and forth. We're 304 00:14:20,880 --> 00:14:24,280 Speaker 1: going at every single practice. And if it ever came 305 00:14:24,360 --> 00:14:27,560 Speaker 1: a point and Coach McDermott, it used to drive him crazy. 306 00:14:28,000 --> 00:14:31,160 Speaker 1: It used to drive Coach McDermott crazy. But Coach Vera 307 00:14:31,200 --> 00:14:33,680 Speaker 1: would literally come over to me if we got quiet 308 00:14:33,720 --> 00:14:36,720 Speaker 1: from listening to Coach McDermott, he would come over to me. 309 00:14:36,720 --> 00:14:39,880 Speaker 1: He was like like like kind of signal his hands, 310 00:14:39,920 --> 00:14:42,800 Speaker 1: like hey, but it no is that I can't hear you. 311 00:14:43,160 --> 00:14:46,240 Speaker 1: He knew that that brought the best out of all 312 00:14:46,320 --> 00:14:48,720 Speaker 1: of us. He knew in order for us to talk trash, 313 00:14:49,080 --> 00:14:50,880 Speaker 1: we had to go out on the field and back 314 00:14:50,920 --> 00:14:52,920 Speaker 1: it up. He knew that that brought the best out 315 00:14:52,920 --> 00:14:56,400 Speaker 1: of our quarterback because he's highly competitive, he want to 316 00:14:56,400 --> 00:14:58,680 Speaker 1: win at everything. He knew we wanted to win at 317 00:14:58,760 --> 00:15:01,320 Speaker 1: everything on our side, and you could just see the 318 00:15:01,440 --> 00:15:04,240 Speaker 1: level of play elevate each year from us just being 319 00:15:04,280 --> 00:15:07,120 Speaker 1: out competing against each other day in the day out. 320 00:15:07,560 --> 00:15:09,920 Speaker 1: So it's funny. So I played in Green Bay during 321 00:15:09,920 --> 00:15:12,200 Speaker 1: the time with Bread four won three straight m v ps, 322 00:15:12,560 --> 00:15:15,680 Speaker 1: and on defense, we felt like if we gave him 323 00:15:15,720 --> 00:15:17,760 Speaker 1: the ball back, no matter what the situation was, we 324 00:15:17,760 --> 00:15:19,640 Speaker 1: were gonna figure out the way to win. And so 325 00:15:19,680 --> 00:15:21,480 Speaker 1: I wonder did you ever get to that point? Did 326 00:15:21,520 --> 00:15:23,480 Speaker 1: your team ever get to the point. But because Kim 327 00:15:23,600 --> 00:15:25,360 Speaker 1: was playing at the level that he's playing at, if 328 00:15:25,360 --> 00:15:27,000 Speaker 1: you're like, hey, man, we just get the ball back 329 00:15:27,320 --> 00:15:29,480 Speaker 1: to number one, We'll figure he'll figure that thing out, 330 00:15:29,480 --> 00:15:31,640 Speaker 1: I'm telling you That's exactly how we felt as a 331 00:15:31,680 --> 00:15:35,280 Speaker 1: team in we we literally felt like we were not 332 00:15:35,360 --> 00:15:38,720 Speaker 1: gonna lose a football game. We literally felt that way 333 00:15:38,720 --> 00:15:41,280 Speaker 1: because even when we had games that we ended up 334 00:15:41,280 --> 00:15:44,320 Speaker 1: getting down, it's like he had this aura and this 335 00:15:44,600 --> 00:15:48,520 Speaker 1: look about him, like like the confidence level that he 336 00:15:48,560 --> 00:15:51,640 Speaker 1: had that year was through the roof man, and um 337 00:15:51,720 --> 00:15:54,920 Speaker 1: we we we wrote the wave on that man because 338 00:15:54,960 --> 00:15:58,240 Speaker 1: the the amount of fun and excitement that we had 339 00:15:58,280 --> 00:16:01,440 Speaker 1: within that team, within that organ zation within that city. 340 00:16:01,480 --> 00:16:04,840 Speaker 1: It just felt electric. It felt different than any other 341 00:16:04,920 --> 00:16:09,240 Speaker 1: season that we had ever had. Man and Um. Obviously, 342 00:16:09,280 --> 00:16:11,040 Speaker 1: we came up short in the Super Bowl and we 343 00:16:11,320 --> 00:16:13,280 Speaker 1: we ended up losing the game that we should not 344 00:16:13,360 --> 00:16:16,080 Speaker 1: have lost to the Atlanta Falcons. But Um, for the 345 00:16:16,120 --> 00:16:19,880 Speaker 1: most part, Man that season in itself, I watched Cam 346 00:16:20,280 --> 00:16:22,800 Speaker 1: Cam Newton mature and growing to the m v P 347 00:16:22,960 --> 00:16:25,840 Speaker 1: of our our of our league. So off there's experience 348 00:16:25,920 --> 00:16:27,800 Speaker 1: because you guys didn't win the Super Bowl, but you're 349 00:16:27,840 --> 00:16:29,960 Speaker 1: able to get there. So now, if you had an 350 00:16:30,000 --> 00:16:32,520 Speaker 1: opportunity to talk to a coach about, like a what 351 00:16:32,640 --> 00:16:35,200 Speaker 1: are the essential things that are necessary to building a 352 00:16:35,280 --> 00:16:37,800 Speaker 1: championship team? What would you say? Some of those things are, 353 00:16:38,040 --> 00:16:41,320 Speaker 1: I think you gotta have you gotta have guys on 354 00:16:41,440 --> 00:16:44,200 Speaker 1: both sides of the balls that are not both sides 355 00:16:44,240 --> 00:16:47,240 Speaker 1: on all phases that are gonna be leaders. You gotta 356 00:16:47,280 --> 00:16:51,400 Speaker 1: have a healthy mix of veteran guys and young good talent. 357 00:16:51,800 --> 00:16:54,080 Speaker 1: That's one of the things that that I think teams 358 00:16:54,640 --> 00:16:57,920 Speaker 1: as the years have gone on, they've kind of devalued 359 00:16:57,960 --> 00:17:00,960 Speaker 1: that veteran leadership and it makes world of difference on 360 00:17:01,000 --> 00:17:04,199 Speaker 1: all teams, especially the good teams, and you gotta be 361 00:17:04,240 --> 00:17:07,760 Speaker 1: able to allow players to be who they are. You 362 00:17:07,800 --> 00:17:10,440 Speaker 1: can't try to shelter them and change who they are. 363 00:17:10,560 --> 00:17:12,960 Speaker 1: You drafted them for a reason. You drafted them because 364 00:17:12,960 --> 00:17:14,959 Speaker 1: you knew that they could play, or you signed them 365 00:17:14,960 --> 00:17:17,879 Speaker 1: in free agency because you knew what they were capable of. 366 00:17:18,560 --> 00:17:21,840 Speaker 1: They were good players when you brought them in for 367 00:17:21,880 --> 00:17:24,359 Speaker 1: a reason, So don't try to change or shelter them. 368 00:17:24,440 --> 00:17:27,320 Speaker 1: You can literally try to work with them and elevate 369 00:17:27,440 --> 00:17:29,679 Speaker 1: some of the things that they need help with or 370 00:17:29,880 --> 00:17:32,159 Speaker 1: try to help them get better, but don't try to 371 00:17:32,200 --> 00:17:34,360 Speaker 1: completely change who they are. And that's what That's why 372 00:17:34,359 --> 00:17:36,280 Speaker 1: I think a lot of teams fail. That you you 373 00:17:36,760 --> 00:17:40,040 Speaker 1: bring a guy in based on what he's able to do, 374 00:17:40,240 --> 00:17:42,080 Speaker 1: and then you try to change them, and that's what 375 00:17:42,200 --> 00:17:44,720 Speaker 1: you see guys that just fall to the wayside sometimes 376 00:17:44,720 --> 00:17:47,480 Speaker 1: in free agency. Man, I love this conversation. I love 377 00:17:47,520 --> 00:17:49,480 Speaker 1: having a conversation where we can just talk about ball 378 00:17:49,520 --> 00:17:51,720 Speaker 1: and talk about all the things. I look forward to 379 00:17:51,760 --> 00:17:54,240 Speaker 1: bring you back on the six podcast because we gotta 380 00:17:54,240 --> 00:17:56,440 Speaker 1: do it again because there's so many more things ready. 381 00:17:56,480 --> 00:17:59,000 Speaker 1: But I'm ready, man, Thanks so much. Man. That was 382 00:17:59,000 --> 00:18:02,520 Speaker 1: Thomas Davis All Pro linebacker who's making his way into 383 00:18:02,560 --> 00:18:04,480 Speaker 1: the TV biz. Thanks so much for joining the podcast. 384 00:18:04,480 --> 00:18:05,520 Speaker 1: I appreciate it. Thank you.